Homeward Bound

11/3 – Day 8

I’m on the first of two flights back home. After a good meal, good night’s sleep and a hot shower, I’m appreciating being back in the US again. My mother asked me last night what do I remember most about Haiti, good or bad? Interesting question. I’ve been pondering that and this is what came to mind.

Before I begin though, I want to answer a common question that I have been asked. We only really traveled in the northern and central part of Haiti so we never saw the devastation caused by the earthquake. From those who have been there, it really is bad and many people who survived are still suffering. I’ve spoken to missionaries that have assisted there and it’s the same stories as we have all seen on the news. With regards to the places we traveled, the people are living their day-to-day lives as they were before the earthquake struck.

As far as third world countries goes, Northern Haiti seems to be coping better than other countries I have visited. Sure, there is still poverty, unemployment, suffering and sub-standard living conditions but it certainly could be worse. The towns and villages often have their own wells with constant water supplies. Many of the locals are dressed well in shoes, slacks, jeans and button up shirts. There are lots of pick-up trucks and motorcycles on the roads. Lots of people have cell phones. I see the women and children carrying water, fruit and other produce on their heads as the walk along the streets. There are proper shops or stores with all the common groceries items you would expect. The gas stations may not always have gas but at least there is some supply of fuel. I did not see any homeless people on the streets or mal-nourished people begging for food.

As you drive through the more remote areas, things do change obviously. Maybe not every child is clothed. People bathe in the rivers. The food is all locally grown and sold at markets. But yet you still see lines of children on their way to school complete with their school uniform. The motorcycles are still running as they taxi people from place to place. Generators and solar panels appear so people can charge their cell phones. Families hang their clothes on the cactus fences so they will dry under the sun. The homes have four concrete block walls and a metal roof. Life is basic, simple but at least they have lives and seem content.

Naturally, one of things I won’t easily forget is the condition of the roads. It is amazing vehicles last as long as they do with the number of potholes, ruts, sinkholes, rivers and trenches they have to navigate for miles upon miles. A 10-mile journey to the next town can take an hour and you are constantly bouncing up and down and all over the road. River crossings 100 feet across are considered quite normal. With all the hours we drive, I only remember seeing a handful of road signs and I don’t remember any street signs. Our local Haitian team member would navigate via cell-phone. That is when he calls up his friends in different parts of Haiti to find out which roads are passable. We constantly stopped and asked people for directions just to make sure we didn’t get lost. Every time we asked our local guy “Is this the right way”, he simply replied, “Yeah, I think so”. That really inspires confidence eh? There is no concept of time. If you ask how much longer, you either get “half an hour” or “just over the hill”. Which usually meant you had several hours and many hills to cross.

Another thing that struck me is just how friendly and cooperative people are on the road. The only time a horn is beeped is to warn someone you are coming around a blind corner or you are overtaking them. Never out of anger or frustration. Motorcycles and trucks are jockeying all over the road but people still wait and let the other person pass when the roads are narrow. In general, everyone seemed happy and content. Little children laughed and waved as we drove by. Everyone was friendly when we needed directions. The locals are always willing to help. We woke up one morning and discovered someone had washed our truck during the night. Sure, they wanted money but we were happy to pay.

Given this was a mission’s trip, I’d like to close by saying I have a whole new appreciation for the missionaries in the field and those that support them in the US. There is no way we could have accomplished what we did without their help. The local missionary drove for days/hours to get us from place to place. He helped coordinate the food, hotels and was responsible for our safekeeping. The day after we got back, he is back to work helping the next missions’ team that just arrived. When we decided to leave early because of the hurricane, one email was sent to the US. From there, all our flights were changed, hotel accommodations were made and we had a rental car waiting at the curbside. Our team leader organized the trip and all the equipment so all my friend and I had to do was show up and work when needed.

For anyone that feels inclined to contribute to a foreign cause, I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to coordinate with the local resources and those people already in the field. They know what the needs are and they know what it will take to get the job done. It was really gratifying to see all this action and personally contribute to the cause.

As we were coming back from dinner last night, a complete stranger asked us if we had just come back from Haiti (there was another team staying in the same hotel). I replied we had and without even asking what we did, or where we went, he started to thank us for our effort and contributing to the cause. He told of us of his brother that was in Haiti and some of the conditions he was experiencing. I’m not positive but the stranger talking to us may have been Haitian himself. Two complete strangers connected by a common cause. That is what this trip is all about.

I’m not sure if this is my only mission’s trip or the first of many to come. But I do know anytime I contribute to a foreign cause (Haiti or any other country), I will feel much more confident about how my money is being sent. While I was in Haiti, a missionary told me about the “Starfish Kids” program where they have private schools and children can attend school by having sponsors that help pay the expense. The program was named after the story of someone that was throwing starfishes back in the ocean after they were washed up on the shore. Another person asked, “Why bother? There are so many of them, it doesn’t really matter”. The person responded, “It matters to the one I just threw back”. I know this is starting to sound like one of the many commercials you see on TV but one person can make a difference even if they are just helping one person at a time such as the school children. In other words, pick your cause, pick a dollar amount and make the effort. Somewhere in the world, that effort will be greatly appreciated.

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