Sunday, September 5, 2010/ Monday September 6,
Today was a busy day getting everything ready for Haiti!! I didn’t even realize how many donated items we had…
There were clothes, red sox hats, toys, games, arts & crafts, notebooks, crayons, medical supplies-syringes, gloves, sutures, medical supply kits, medicine, toothbrushes, sneakers, tools, parts for truck, etc.… We had four suitcases to pack with the supplies and each one was overflowing as we tried to zipper them shut! John and I brought a carry-on for our own clothes and belongings to bring with us.
After an extremely long day, we finished packing everything at 2:25am and Joe Scaramuzzo (Stephanie’s husband who came on our last mission trip) picked us up at 2:30am to drive us to JFK airport in New York for our 5:30 am flight. (No, we were not able to go to sleep_)
We met Dr. Franco (The CEO of the orphanage) in Miami around 8:30am. I am now sitting in the airplane descending to Port Au Prince airport in Haiti! I am a bit nervous about the chaos at the airport- people bombarding us as soon as we walk out and onto the street. However, I can’t even explain my excitement of seeing the children again in just a couple of hours!!
It is now almost 9pm Haitian time and we still haven’t slept at all, but we had a great day!! It took over an hour to get to the orphanage from the airport. When we arrived we received a warm welcome of all the children running up to us, giving us huge hugs, and calling us by name. We spent the entire day playing outside with them. We had several walks and piggyback rides, played duck, duck goose, and an intense game of football (soccer). My favorite time of the day here is before dinnertime when all of the children gather in the room to sing and pray. It is the best feeling in the world when I close my eyes and just take in and appreciate the sound of their voices. I spoke to the children with a translator telling them how excited I am to spend time with them and I gave the blessing before dinner.
Of course it is always sad to hear some of the Haiti updates. Dr. Franco told us that the older orphans (18+) can no longer stay at the orphanage and have to find somewhere else to stay. This means that they will be out on the streets and on their own if they do not have a family or friends to go to. This is a very sad and scary situation because many have not had much life experience outside of the orphanage walls; however, there is a maximum capacity of children that can stay at the orphanage and there needs to be room for new children to come in. Today I saw a newborn baby that the orphanage had just taken in. The baby had deformed hands and feet and the mother had abandoned him at the hospital. Dr. Franco explained that this happens often and many mothers leave their babies just anywhere on the street. In conversation Dr. Franco also mentioned how life is very difficult in the tent cities, which of course I assumed it to be. People are hungry, spreading diseases, and he talked to a young girl the other day that has been getting raped (this happens often). Life can be very difficult here, but the people are always hopeful.
I look forward to the rest of the week!
Brittany,
ReplyDeleteThank you for all of your updates :) You, your team, and the people of Haiti are in my prayers. May God bless and protect all of you. Thank you for caring and for loving God's people. I am so moved by your efforts. I am so inspired and so privileged to know you. I look forward to reading the rest of your journey there. All my love to you, Allison Demers Campagna xoxoxoxo
I grew up in cho, don't know if you know my brother Lubens Romulus. He does a lot of work down there. Very nic epicture, brings back some good memories.
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