Tomas November 5, 2010

Today many prayers were lifted up on behalf of Haiti and her people. Thanks for including us too! The storm veered away from a direct hit on Haiti. And even though the storm was not what it could have been, don't be deceived into thinking that all is well in Haiti tonight. Tonight, 1.5 million people are still living in tents and under tarps. Many of these shelters are in tact still, and there are those that do not have this anymore. And let me just note that many, many of these donated tents do not have flooring in them. For example the children at the Karade orphanage that I have posted on do not have floored tents. So last night they could not lay down to sleep because even though up above they were sheltered from the rain, it rushed in all around them on the "floor", bringing cold water, mud and debris.
And I've heard people say (foreigners) that the people here are used to getting wet when it rains ,with having to use public transportation or going by foot every where they go. And that is true, but does it mean that it doesn't  bother them, that it doesn't matter to them, that it is good for them. Or are they a people who have learned to accept the good and the bad (like Job)? As Americans maybe we haven't learned this lesson as well as our Haitian counterparts. Think about it - you, your children, have to walk wherever you need to go, or stand and wait for an open or semi-open tap-tap to pick you up and take you where you need to go - well, close to where you need to go, then you walk some to get to your destination. Or you are a vender in the market or roadside - no shop for shelter - just a stand for your goods, maybe with a tarp overhead.  It rains - torrential rain and you get wet. With these torrential rain comes strong winds, which feel chilly to a dry body, but  now the body is wet and blown and cold. And then you go home to your tent or even your shack or one room cinderblock house.  Maybe you have a towel, maybe not. You surely don't have a clothes dryer to dry out all the family's clothing - plus all the household items that also got soaked. So you stay wet, with a lowered body temp for a good while. But you're used to it - right? Hmm...
On top of that chances are good that your immune system is already at least somewhat at risk because of malnourishment or undernourishment. And don't forget, you don't have access to healthcare and something as simple as a tylenol for that throbbing headache. But, it's what you're used to, right?
Sorry, I'm just a little pissed today after seeing so much disparity up close and personal for a while. And I get sick of myself. I sat here today, know that these kids at Karade needed some help with the shelter - sat here wondering what could I do, feeling overwhelmed by all the need. Feeling overwhelmed by my inability to help all the numbers of people who ask me personally for help. How trite does it sound to these people for me to say, "I'm sorry, I can't help you, but I'm praying for you", then I go away to my home that is dry and has some food in it, while they walk away to a tent that is 10 months old and leaking or ripped up by the winds. Did I mention there's no food in the tent too? Sometimes this is just so overwhelming! Why do I have everything I need when so many all around me don't have some of the very basic necessities of life? That's a rhetorical question, because I know that no one has the answer.
But, back to the Karade orphanage. I wondered out loud how in the world I could do anything. Tim said, "well, there's not a lot you can do, but think of the contacts you've made - who could you call for help?" I know of a church in the area, but I didn't want to call - I think something like pride or some other sinful thing was keeping me from asking this church to allow these kids to come stay there at least for the night. I finally made the phone call and then called the orphanage director back. I know there was a lesson in this specifically for me - to break that in me by having to ask for help someplace I did not want to seek help from.  The orphanage director said they would stay put and see if the weather turned worse again. In the meantime I had emailed two Minustah commanders I had made contact with earleier in the year.  Talk about rapid response! The Brazilian unit immediately donated a large tent  and the Pakistani unit is donating some food and supplies in the morning. Pakistan had it ready for me this afternoon, but I got lost and called the commander who told me I could some in the morning since it was  getting dark. (For those who do not know, I get lost all the time. I recently told someone that it is not a complete day until I have gotten lost, so if I find myself at home and have not yet been lost that day, I need to go back out and get lost before entering the house for the night!)
Anyway, I got the tent to the orphanage and Mme Desamour was happy to have the tent since everyone would be able to sleep tonight.
So I guess I don't sound very grateful about the storm not making a direct hit on Haiti - but don't get me wrong - I am very grateful for that. I just don't want the world to be lulled back to sleep where Haiti is concerned. I saw a statement the other day in an article: "Haiti does not exist to the rest of the world unless she has a crisis". Haiti is a crisis every day because of the way that the people here have to live day in and day out. Don't let your self be lulled to sleep on this one. And it's not just Haiti - only something like 20% of the world's population lives like the US.
Okay, so it looks like I could go on and on with this, so I'll make this "inside voice", that has made a prison break on the cyber world tonight,  get back inside.

There were many, many people on either side of the river today, watching the river rise, to see if it would spill its banks. Where will they go if it does? Who will help them if it does? As you can see the water level is high - this is not the norm. It's usually more like a creek running through a deep ravine.