A group from the Peace Dale Congregational Church was
travelling with Suzanne Swanson and Shirley Hardison of the RI Church of Christ.
They had both been to Haiti many times. I knew the trip could possibly be life
changing, but I wasn’t sure how. At a minimum, I thought it may inspire me to
give to one of the causes that the church donates to. We would be travelling to
a school for the handicapped, an egg farm providing school children with the
nutrition of 1 egg a day, jewelry manufacturing that employs women so they can
retain their own children, orphanages, and a metal work artisan village – the
church purchases metal works to sell at craft fairs and the proceeds fund medicine
for the Fontamara Clinic. Who knows, this could be my first of many trips to
Haiti. No, I wasn’t sure what my goal or goals would be but I was excited and
that felt good. I had been excited in a long time.
And then I
went for my shots – Hepatitis A, Typhoid, malaria pills, anti-diarhhea
medication. There were other recommendations on the travel sites – MMR, DTAP,
Cholera, Yellow Fever. But truth be told, I wasn’t worried. Wasn’t worried at
all. The doctor at the travel clinic, Okosun Edoro set my mind at ease. He was
from Nigeria or ‘both worlds’ as he put it. “Don’t assume that because of the
deprivation, that the people are unhappy.” He sees Americans chasing more and
more and many are depressed. He thought that people in Third World countries
were often happy just to have enough to eat. Less is more, we agreed. The wise
doctor saw the value in working less, acquiring less, and spending more time
with friends. Amen. The letters after his name should say MD, MPH, Philosopher.
He wished me luck and reminded me that Jesus said, “It is better to give than
to receive.”
Maybe that
was my goal: to acquire gratitude for all I have and my good fortune. The
little irritations and squabbles of everyday life were nothing compared to the
challenges some of the Haitians would be going through. An attitude of
gratitude.
And it turns
out I was right. When I got home, one of the first things I started doing was
clearing out closets and bagging up clothing to donate. We did not need all
this stuff! Secondly I was determined to be extremely grateful, every day, for
all that I have. Friendship and love is the most important possession.
Was Haiti
life changing? I don’t know. But I do think I will fulfill one goal of
ultimately getting involved in a defined charity effort there. This trip will
be the beginning of a lifelong commitment to that area. Members of the trip
wondered where to start if you were in charge of the country? A justice system.
A non-corrupt government. Public works projects for roads, sewage. Increase
agriculture. Birth control. Job creation with unemployment at over 80 percent.
We also wondered if there were equivalent areas in the U.S. - Detroit, Appalachia,
Mississippi. It would be hard to imagine they were as dire as Haiti. You can
only go to school if you can pay. Parents abandon their children because they
cannot feed them. There is no government assistance. Malnutrition is rampant. Most
children were a few years older than I thought they looked. There is no sewage
and no sanitation. Mounds of trash cover the sides of the road – with pigs,
goats, dogs foraging in the filth. Most homes do not have running water,
electricity, or bathrooms. A stench of burning tires fills the air.
As the wise
doctor said, ‘Do not assume they are unhappy.’ And most seemed to be going
about their daily lives but it was clear the children in some of the orphanages
were more than unhappy. They clung to us and wanted to be cuddled. They were
emotionally deprived, malnourished, and tired. Many had a dazed look in their eyes.
Had they recently been abandoned? In some ways they were lucky as unwanted
children can become ‘slaves’ or restaveks. In other orphanages, the children
did seem more at peace, more like a family. So yes there was suffering and
unhappiness. Medical care is limited and there are very few older people. One
boy laughed when I told him my age – 50. Age isn’t as much a part of their
culture but he probably didn’t know anyone my age.
Our trip
leaders summed it up nicely. “We don’t tell people what to do. Instead we ask –
what do you need.” The leaders seemed to take offense at white people coming
into the country trying to tell the Haitians what was best for them.
I hope the
images stay with me a long time. The disfigured boy with hydrocephaly, the
woman with a huge goiter, the boy at the orphanage with an umbilical hernia,
the woman at the handicapped school with no limps. They really don’t have a
chance. We have so much to be grateful for. The RI Church of Christ Haiti Taks
force has been providing education, health care, orphan relief, and community
services to the people of Haiti.
If you are
interested in learning more about the UCC Haiti mission, getting involved, or
donating - check out the Haitian Task
Force website at: http://www.richaititaskforce.org/ric-ucc
25 years of providing education, quality
health care, orphan relief and community-based services to the people in Haiti.
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