Some Thoughts on Haiti

So I have seriously been putting off writing this blog, but I need to just get some thoughts down on paper (or computer screen). I apologize if this is long and/or very jumbled. 

I read an article that Relevant had in their most recent issue on my first flight from TUL to MIA.  It is actually a really good article if you are at all interested in the history and current state of Haiti http://www.relevantmagazine.com/digital-issue-46

One quote from this article said, "This is not reconstruction-it's construction". Another quote, "Some of the reports I heard about the chaos, well, that's just the way Haiti normally is. Being used to that, I guess it was often easy to overlook the earthquake." 

If there is one word I could use to describe most aspects of Haiti, it would be "chaos" or on a lighter note, "disorganization." I was in an area of the country that was not directly affected by the earthquake and it was highly disorganized and things that are simple in the US are difficult in Haiti (transportation, electricity, water, etc). 

I have been to other third world countries (Jamaica, Venezuela, Mexico), but none of them compares to the poverty that I encountered in Haiti.  It seemed more normal there to not have electricity than to actually have it.  It was so dark at night. Seeing the people bathe in the river leads me to believe that most people don't have running water.  I also noticed what seemed to be a bathroom just outside of the hospital that had hours posted on the front, so I am assuming a lot of people don't even have that at their houses.  Limited access to health care- I had one man tell me that he fractured his leg a long time ago and instead of going to a doctor, someone made him some sort of homemade brace. 

Change, how does it happen?  As a disclaimer, this is my opinion from my limited time in Haiti and my limited communication with people there.  I think (like most things) that change must happen from the inside out. There is definitely a culture of "this is just the way it is", and "degage-do the best with what you have".  These can both be very positive, but sometimes it can cause you to not take action to change anything. 

Another aspect of the culture is that I noticed is one of handouts.  I did not notice this as much in the clinic, but I did with people on the streets.  They almost have this notion that if you are white, you are supposed to help.  I was told a few stories from some of the people who are there full time that helped confirm this. Apparently, if there is an accident of any sort on the roads motorcycle, bicycle, etc, if there is a white person involved, he is automatically at fault and owes the Haitian money.

 A couple examples of this on my own. One boy said he wanted to be "our friend", but quickly after meeting us was asking us to help him find a laptop.  He made it sound like he would try to raise the money, but quickly it seemed like he wanted us to give him a laptop.  Another guy asked us to help him find a translator job, which is exactly what you would like to hear, "help me help myself", I am all for that.  However, he came to the clinic and while I was working with a patient, he basically said, if the translator job doesn't work out, I would like to ask you to pay for my school. I admire his desire to go to school (this is definitely what a lot of people need), but there is an element of I just want someone to get me there rather than working hard to get there. One good thing about both of these boys is that they were thinking more forward.  One was thinking about a laptop to research things and another was thinking about school.  This, from what I understand, is also rare.  Most Haitians think about how to survive right now, not so much about what will help me in the long run.  A lot of what they do is "survival".  This is why 80-90% of Haiti is deforested, because they don't think about the long term consequences.

I think this culture of "take care of me" and living on handouts is most likely rooted in their culture of slavery. Unfortunately, that is how the country started, as a place to import African slaves. The article explained that to pay the debt owed to France for their independence, the Haitian government closed all schools and stopped investments in infrastructure.  This is horribly sad, because the country and the people have definitely suffered because of it. 

If I sit and think about all the needs, where to start, how to help, how to "save" Haiti, I can get very overwhelmed.  I know I don't have the answer, but thankfully, my God is big and he is not overwhelmed by it all. 

I have been wrestling with what is my role?  I can't claim ignorance now that I have seen.  It reminds me of a song written by Brooke Fraser called Albertine.  It is about her trip to Rwanda and more specifically, a girl named, Albertine

"Rwanda

Now that I have seen
I am responsible
Faith without deeds is dead
Now that I have held you
In my own arms
I cannot let go till you are... "

"I will tell the world

I will tell them where I've been
I will keep my word
I will tell them, Albertine"


Now that I have seen, I am responsible.  Those are powerful words. I am responsible to pray, I am responsible to give, I am responsible to tell about the people, tell their stories, tell about their needs.  I am responsible to support the full time workers there.  I am still praying and considering my specific role in Haiti, am I supposed to go for longer next time?  Am I supposed to mobilize more people to go and give?  Am I supposed to invest my time there more long term?  All of this is so hard to know. 

It has really been difficult to come from a land of such poverty to a land of such affluence.  Some things here seem so frivolous.  I sat yesterday on a pier in Miami watching college kids party on big, fancy boats.  I drove past the fancy shops of Nordstrom, Saks, etc.  Almost every other car here is a Mercedes or BMW.  The homes here are so fancy and flashy. 

I really hope and pray that I don't just go back to my normal life and forget all about my experiences, the people I met, and the need in Haiti.  I pray that I stay thoughtful and prayerful about Haiti and my role there.

Thank you so much for your prayers for me and for Haiti.  I could not have had this experience and helped the people without your support and prayers.