Haiti: More Day 1

We loaded the bus and headed out.  As I mentioned, Amy was the only one who had ever been to Haiti before.  The rest of us were shell shocked by that night.

Pictures do not do it justice, friends.  And I know this.  For years I have looked at pictures on my computer screen of impoverished places.  I'm accustomed, no strike that, I'm numb to such images almost.  But, this was the first time seeing poverty with my own eyes.  There.  Real.  Oh my gosh, it is real.  And it hit me.  Hard.  To know my son, my son, came from a place similar to what I was seeing outside of my bus window rocked my world.  Seriously, why is this okay, people?  Their houses are made of tin and tarps and plywood.  There is no sanitaition system.  There is no sewage system.  And I sit here is my temperature controlled house with x number of rooms with running water and electricity and a pool in the backyard that is used for recreation.  What the what.  Friends, it is a blessing that you were born in America.  I know you know that, right?  Our rich people problems, (and you know you're rich, too, right?) make me sick to my stomach sometimes.

As we left the airport, we headed to La Piste, a temporary Salvation Army community that is doing little good to help the people in Haiti.  Oh, did I say that out loud?  Anyway, we were headed there to do what I love to do most-love on people.

Deaf Haitians, like others with differences in any part of the world, have been sent to the margins.  Outcast.  Pushed aside.  Not given a second thought.  Kyle and 410 Bridge are trying to build up the deaf community in this area by helping them move out of La Piste and into Leveque where each family would have a home and land.  Many challenges go along with that goal.  Please read about all of it in Kyle's blog.

La Piste is truly the least of these.  I'll talk more about it when I get to Day 5 as we spent our entire day there, but on this particular day we got to spend about an hour meeting some of the deaf leaders, learning some sign language, and witnessing some of the need of Haiti first hand.

It was very neat to hear some of the deaf leaders' stories.  Solomon (My favorite-so sweet and so handsome!) shared his via Elizabeth and also made us practice our signing!  Some of us got name signs this afternoon.  A name sign is given to you by a deaf person and is quite an honor!  My name sign is the letter S held to my cheek rolling the wrist twice.  After our lesson, it was time to head on.  Anywhere we went during the week we always headed home about 3:30 as it is not the best idea to be out once it gets dark.

To be continued...