Today, our team got the privilege of driving to Jelly Beach in Les Cayes to see one of the beaches Haiti has to offer. If you are standing on the beach and look inland, you’ll see trash littered everywhere. But, if you look out to sea, you would think you were on a private beach with a perfect view of the ocean and a view of mountains along the coast.

After Jelly Beach, our team split up a bit. Doug and Jill went over to the Clinic and worked through lunch to provide their assistance to people of all ages. And since Doug is a Pediatric doctor, some of the patients were tough for him. But he is an amazing man, and is doing the best of his ability in the circumstances surrounding him. Karen, Emily, and Tim went over to the children’s village before right after lunch to visit some of the young kids that get off school around noon. All the kids want is someone to listen to them, watch them, interact with them, and take pictures. You don’t have to speak the language, or be the best at soccer, or even be in a good mood to see them. Because they will surely put you in that good mood right as you step foot on the soil of the children’s village.

In the late afternoon, we had Junior bring some of the middle aged boys and younger boys and girls to the Guest House area so we could do some coloring. It was unreal. You put a coloring book in front of these kids and they are quiet and attentive to their project. It is amazing how such a simple coloring project could bring such joy to someone that doesn’t normally get the chance to do something we take for granted in the States.

Then the normal. Eat, devotional, reminiscing about the day, and then sleep at 8pm. See you all in the States tomorrow.

-Tim

To see a video from today, click HERE

Yesterday (Tuesday) we went into Les Cayes to see some of the sights in town. It takes some time to really process the things we are seeing, thus the day delay in blogging about it.

I am really struggling with my purpose here in Espwa. I thought maybe I could contribute a little bit while I was here, helping in the business office or with specific projects, but that is not really how things work around here.  I go play with the kids, love on them, and that is valuable to them, but I still feel like I could contribute more to the Project.  I feel a little numb by all we have seen, like I need some time to process.

On the other hand, I am surrounded by beauty. It is amazing in a country so impoverished, how much natural beauty surrounds us.  The people are clean and beautiful, the mountains surround us, the ocean is Caribbean and absolutely beautiful. I believe my main purpose, at least the one I can see immediately, is to share with you the experiences we are having here in Espwa.

The mountains in Haiti are breathtaking.

The homes surrounding Espwa are small but beautiful. Country living at its finest.

In order to really understand the conditions, I want to show you some context. Yesterday, we went to the City Hospital, pediatric ward.  There are no pictures allowed, so let me try to paint you a mental picture.  Women waiting with their tiny babies, babies in ICU-type beds without ICU treatment.  The smell was clearly not sterile. People looked hopeless. It is difficult to describe. The hospital grounds were beautiful, really, nice gardens and buildings. The surgical recovery room was military style with lines of beds all in one room, but the people just looked beat. Nurses were kind, people were walking around barefoot, in a hospital where disease is clearly present. I would imagine that often people leave the hospital with illnesses they didn’t bring in. That is true in the States, but it’s not the same thing. When you go to the hospital in Les Cayes, you must bring all your own bedding, and your family must be available to bring you food and medicine. These things are not available from the hospital. People here are very very sick.

Next, we visited LaMadonne, the original location for Espwa in Les Cayes. I believe it was originally a large house that was converted into an orphanage for up to 250 kids before they moved to the current location. It’s not large enough for that many kids by any means. There is a small school, very small courtyard, kitchen, cafeteria, chapel and a few bedrooms that held many bunk beds. Biondy, our translator, grew up there. He came when he was 13 or so (he is not sure of his age) and remembers living there. It was very emotional to be in the place where this all started with one of the boys who was rescued there. Father Marc is clearly a man of vision, wisdom and patience.

This is the entry for LaMadonne.

This is the courtyard where the children would play. Kind of a small playground for 250 boys.

Classroom. This is still a working school, there were children in class in the next room over.

Then we drove to the port, which is not a working port because it lacks governmental infrastructure (customs) to import.  That is so interesting because Les Cayes is a 5-hour treacherous drive from Port-au-Prince, which has the only port, so things have to be driven here from there. Gas is expensive, it is really mind boggling to think that there is a beautiful port right here that could be used.

Lori at the Port de Cayes. Dreaming of the days gone by.

Then we went to La Savonne, the slums or “Land of Misery.” It was a rough area, not as bad as the tent cities in Port-au-Prince (1 million still living in awful tent cities…unthinkable), but still very very rough “neighborhood.” After you go through La Savonne, you end up on a gorgeous beach with brightly colored fishing boats. It was absolutely beautiful, but the contrast is insane. Trash and slums to your left, vacation in paradise(ish) to your right.

A typical home in La Savonne. The nicer ones are by the street, and the shacks continue behind as far as you can see.

Crystal clear, blue waters, bright fishing boats, sail boats, mountains, islands. Such a beautiful place with beautiful people who are living in unimaginable conditions. Hard to comprehend.

Tropical vacation.

This is the environment that the children of Espwa come from. They are so much better of here in this awesome oasis. That goes without saying, but there – I said it anyway.

Father Marc and the children of Espwa are so blessed to have each other! What a blessing to share this time with the fantastic folks of Espwa.

- Emily

Click HERE for a video from our trip.

We’re five days into the Espwa experience, which started with the memorable five-hour trip from Port-au-Prince. Traffic is amazing; size rules the right-of-way. People in Haiti have never pondered the age-old question ‘Why did the chicken cross the road?’ Because in Haiti the chicken never makes it across the road!! Splat!!

Jill and I have had the opportunity to work together in the clinic now for several days. I have felt like a first-year medical student trying to learn how one treats diseases I have never seen with medications I have never used.

Being obsessive/compulsive about the practice of medicine may not be an admirable trait in the present environment. I definitely pray for wisdom and ask for your prayers.

The children are beautiful and all are dressed meticulously when they come to see the doctor – one does not want to disappoint them.

Father Marc is a rare individual who has a strong focus on doing what is best for the children both in a material and well as a spiritual way. He remains first a priest serving as God’s servant in an extremely harsh environment which many times is in conflict with his beliefs. It also takes approximately $125,000 a month to underwrite the bare essentials.

The other night we discussed (Luke 18:31) “He…said to them ‘Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem…” Christ followed His Father’s will in pursuing the path to Jerusalem even though he knew he would suffer and be crucified – for us. I look at that same path being pursued by a Catholic priest in Haiti.

How blessed am I to be able to share this journey with members of this group particularly my daughter Jill.

As one of the Catholic deacons said, ‘You have to love the Haitian people to see past all else that is around you.’

I think I may finally be catching on: you find yourself respecting and even loving a people who daily strive against impossible odds in an impossible environment to live one more day.

-Doug

I’ve been hanging out on the roof of the guest house every morning in Haiti around 5 a.m. watching the sun rise. Waiting. Hoping to hear God tell me a way that I can put my culture, language, and way of life behind and focus on the Haitian culture, language, and way of life. The first 2 days were rough. I didn’t feel comfortable around the Haitian kids or adults, I wasn’t comfortable walking around the property of Espwa, and I did not feel I was the right person to be here.

Then I met Junior. A older Haitian boy that has been put in a leadership position among his peers and the younger children within Espwa. As I was walking to the children’s village, not knowing what I was going to do or say, Junior passed me and asked me in broken English, “What are you doing?” Taken by surprise, and thinking I was in trouble for going to the children’s village, I said, “Going to see the kids.” He said, “Come with me.”

He took me by the wrist and pulled me by his side into the children’s village to show me around. Junior took me past colorful yet old and cracked concrete homes built for the children. Ducking under clothing line after clothing line crowded with battered, beaten, and worn out clothes, we came to two very young boys making some sort of art out of sticks and orange fishing line. Junior grabbed the project rather forcefully from one of the young boys and told me to watch. While he started to weave the fishing line in and out of the sticks, I was distracted by the other boy grabbing my wrist to inspect my watch. Junior smacked me right in the middle of my chest with the back of his hand. “See,” he said. He had made a kite out of sticks and trash. Then, took it all apart and handed it to me, “Now it is your turn.”

After Junior went out of his way to make me feel comfortable in his culture, I realized that self-centeredness was my downfall at the beginning of my trip to Espwa. Once I took down my guard, my trip has turned a 180°. This is a life changing experience.

Philippians 2:3-4

“In humility, count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

-Tim

Check out a video by clicking HERE.

Doug Painting Nails

I hope everyone is sleeping as well in Haiti as I am! Nothing wakes me up..not even the roosters or dogs! The food has been great as well. As a vegetarian, I thought I might lose weight in Haiti, but not so!

This morning we went to big mass. It was very hot, but very moving. Father Marc introduced us all, and the whole crowd welcomed us each individually. My favorite part was the dog sleeping underneath the alter for the entire service.

After lunch I went with my dad to the clinic. There wasn’t much to do. I think the nurse felt sorry for him and let him see one little boy who said he didn’t feel well. He looked nine or 10, but was really 16. We will go back tomorrow when the clinic is full.

Then we got to see the girls again. All 28, divided into groups of two. This afternoon we were painting fingernails and toenails, sometimes over and over again with different colors. Even my dad took part. He wasn’t very good, but he sure tried! The girls are very sweet, but they know exactly what they want. They love to show off their finished look. One girl wanted to return the favor and painted Karen’s fingernails.

Tonight, a group of Haitians has gathered at the guest house to pray for the safe travel and future of pregnant Paige and her husband, Wilson. They are leaving early in the morning for the States, and you can tell how much they will be missed. Can’t wait to see pictures of beautiful Lydia Rose once she is born!

- Jill

Prisoner Hygiene Kit

This morning, we made 500 packages for the prisoners in Les Cayes. Each contained a small container of toothpaste and one of those toothbrushes you get for free at a hotel. About 250 of them also included a very small (hotel) bar of soap and a washcloth. For the women, we brought a large (standard size) bar of soap, toothbrush/paste and washcloth.

The prison defies explanation, but I’ll attempt it. These people include about 400 men, about 30 children and 26 women who may be criminals, but most of them have yet to be formally accused of crimes. There is some chance that they have quite a wait to see a judge, as in YEARS. The cells are 4×12 feet to 8×12 feet and hold as many as 50 people per cell.  The conditions are unspeakable. However, with the
help of Espwa, there is HOPE.

These prisoners may or may not have family in the area. If so, they are allowed to bring things for them, but not see them. If not, they are on their own. In crises, like the earthquake, the food supply (if you call slop a food supply) is cut off, but Espwa has and will step in to help providing vitamin enriched rice and whatever else they have.

We went from cell to cell, with our friend Paige (an American woman who works at Espwa) as she introduced us to her other friends, who live behind bars. They chatted and caught up, while the guard told us the count of prisoners and we counted out the gifts. We handed the gifts to the prisoner in charge of the cell, shook some hands, smiled and went to the next cell.

When Jesus said to “visit the prisoner” this is what he meant. It is truly hollowed ground. The people behind bars were kind to us, not rude or pushy. They thanked us warmly for our extravagant gifts (from their perspective) and shook our hands. They are just people. I could go on forever, but I do want to tell you where we saw Jesus show up.

Remember, we had special packages for the women. These contained a full bar of soap (Irish spring or Ivory). Well, we set them aside and went to the women last. The guard told us that there were 26 women. I went back to count the women’s packages, nervous that we wouldn’t have enough. Well, as I was counting…21..22..23..24..25..and all the blood ran out of my face, I had chills and goosebumps…there were
EXACTLY 26!

Good thing we brought Jesus with us.  The Lord provides.

- Emily

We arrived in Port au Prince today via American Airlines and immediately started looking for Johnny, our driver, after we got through the chaos that was Port au Prince customs. After our 4 1/2 hour drive from Port au Prince to Les Cayes, our team was ready to get out of the SUV.  Once we arrived at the gate to Espwa, Lori was “home.” She gave our team the tour of the orphanage, introduced us to the staff, including Peter, Paige, and Father Marc. After a delicious dinner at the guest house, we are ready for bed.

Good night from the beautiful gift of God that is Espwa!