Haiti Trip

Some of you know that I recently went on a mission trip to Haiti with a group from our church. I have been back a week now, and it's been a busy week which has been hard since my thoughts keep going back to Haiti. So I want to finally share a little bit about my trip.

Let's start from the beginning, the flight to Port Au Prince had a different feel. Almost everyone on the flight were going to help. There were at least 5 different large groups with matching colorful shirts like ours from various organizations. There were people coming to work at clinics, teach English classes, people coming to help supply clean water, and there were several soldiers coming to keep security or to work on engineering projects.

Flying in I didn't have a window seat so all I could see out the window was the beautiful landscape of the mountains and ocean. The airport has clues of the earthquake, cracks in walls and an impromptu military base on the air fields. But the amount of destruction doesn't hit you until you step outside of the airport.

I had an idea in my head of what it might be like from the pictures and news reports I had seen, but seeing it in person was a totally different experience. The destruction and living conditions for the people there are indescribable, but I will try anyways. Here are just a few pictures that our group took.

There were buildings toppled including the presidential palace, but the saddest part is all the tent cities and shelters put up wherever they can, including right next to roads or even in medians. It isn't just a few isolated areas, but the whole area. And I believe it would be a catastrophe if a hurricane were to hit there this season.

We stayed in Gressier, Haiti at the Joy House (haitijoyhouse.org). So we had an hour and a half ride in a retired Tampa school bus, even though it was only about 25 miles away. The road conditions and driving are scary.

There were 15 in our group so we divided into 3 teams and worked with pastors in their neighborhoods building Samaratan's purse shelters. They were 12'x12' wood framed shelters with tin roofs and wrapped with a tarp. No creature comforts but there is a waiting list to get them, based on need. The hillsides are dotted with the signature blue shelters. Our teams were able to build 24 in the week.

It was great working with the Haitian teams to build them and we formed some great relationships with them. The families and the neighbors in the areas often chipped in too. It was great having some opportunities to interact with the kids, because they were curious about us outsiders.

Along with building the shelters my team also cleared debris from a home site, so they could start to rebuild. The site could have probably been cleared in half a day with heavy machinery, but we did it the old fashioned way with sledge hammers, shovels, and wheelbarrows. It took us 2 and a half days with lots of help. It was definitely the hardest work we did down there.

This is long enough, so I think I will sum up the experience by saying the biggest thing I took away from the trip is how blessed we are to have homes, plenty of food, and A/C. We take so much for granted, and even complain about any little inconvenience. I was truly affected by what the people of Haiti have been through and the living conditions of so many there now. They need our prayers and our help. If you have the opportunity to contribute in any way, please do so because we have so much and they have so little.