Hope.: Another Side of Haiti

This past month has been filled with so much I hardly know where to begin. I have been able to experience more of Haiti, witness more hardships, and count more blessings. My life in Haiti is proving to be more eye opening than I ever imagined.

I want to thank you for all of the prayers over the past few weeks with the cholera outbreak and hurricane threats. The teachers and I were safe from the epidemic as we have access to clean drinking water and took extra precautions. The reality is that most of Haiti does not have the same connivances as we do and do not have clean water available to them. In the midst of this tragedy we were then informed of the threat from Hurricane Tomas. As school was canceled on Friday, we waited anxiously in our apartments as the rains came down and we couldn’t help but think of the 1.6 million people in their tents. The day ended with an overall feeling of relief as the storm passed Port-au-Prince with only some rain. Our hearts still go out to the other parts of the island that were hit and all the people living in conditions that are so heavily affected even by the lighter rains.

This past weekend also allowed me the opportunity to see another side of Haiti. Some other teachers and I made the hike from just outside of Port-au-Prince to the southern coast by Jacmel. It was like experiencing a whole new country after being here in Port-au-Prince for so long where we can so often feel overwhelmed by the craziness and congestion of the city. The countryside was beautiful and I was so glad to be hiking it and not just driving past it all. It was incredible to have little interactions with families going about their lives as we came on through. The reality is that the poverty and hardships of Haiti run deep and even when my spirits were lifted by the beautiful scenery, my heart was still breaking for the people.

Life here in Port-au-Prince is still going at full speed. Second grade is still an amazing time and I am gearing up for my parent-teacher conferences starting tomorrow. My ESL students are doing a fantastic job and we have been hitting some heavy topics in their conversations. The after-school program for street children is up and running and the children are very eager to learn. Our residence home for street kids and orphans is almost ready as one job after another is done. You can’t help but look around and see how much the Lord is at work here.

We are nearing the opening of the housing here in Port-au-Prince and we should be moving in the first children in just over a week. Wiseley and Melissa are the first two children that will be taken into our care with H.E.R.O. The brother and sister lost their mother before the earthquake and their father tried desperately to find a home for them. The earthquake then took their father’s life leaving them orphaned and under the care of their aunt who cannot provide for them. It is hard to describe all the emotions that are building as all of this is falling into place and we make these children part of our family.