Haiti Adventure – Saturday, June 21, 2014

At Friday night’s reflection time as we shared what we hoped to get out of our visit to Haiti, Brian shared the line from the movie Lord of the Rings – where Bilbo Baggins states as he enters the boat, “I am quite ready for another adventure.”  We found ourselves fondly referring to this statement as we trekked today from Port Au Prince to Grand Bois.  Our journey was really quite an adventure with several stops along the way.

Today’s focus would be examining the problem communities face with having access to clean drinking water. We do know there are still 100,000 Haitians living in tents since their disastrous earthquake in 2010.  The earthquake and its aftermath were not the only thing that created a serious issue with safe drinking water for this country.  Lack of quality roads for travel adds to the lack of technology and education that would lead to advancements.  One of the beliefs of ServeHAITI is that one who travels  here, should through outreach get into the community and develop an understanding of the Haitian culture.Many of us felt we had preconceived notions about this land of contrasts, but our eyes were opened as we entered their world today to hear their stories.  We stopped to observe a group working diligently to drill a well for ServeHAITI.  It was a community event as people gathered round to watch the workers continue seeking water, a search that has gone on for several days.  Some of us stood up on the roadside, not taking the steep climb down, and spent time contemplating how to solve the problem of hauling the water up to a more well-traveled road, considering a pulley system or a water tower.  In third world countries, women spend 1/4 of their lives gathering water and many people travel 6 hours one way to gather decent drinking water for their families so access to water is a major issue.

Our next stop was an orphanage supported by ServeHAITI.  The children were spending nap time giggling and doing gymnastics with our workers.  A group of girls were outside doing their hair, and Gary delivered bracelets to them made by several young girls in DeWitt, Iowa.  Our hearts were touched as we considered the future that awaits this group of children.  Many of us asked ourselves, “How can we take these children with us?”

Next stop?  A new school building whose construction is a partnership with ServeHAITI.  The community constructed the building but now ServeHAITI will assist with putting in a floor to adequately prepare it for classes.  There were many gathered here; they knew we were coming.  The group gathered in the school house and continued to discuss other needs of their community.  They walked us back behind the school house to show us their current water source – a mud hole where animals also drink.  A member of our group Gary came forward to state that his church, St. Joe’s in DeWitt, Iowa, would support the building of a well on the spot where we were standing.  The people began to call him, “White Lion,” and handshakes were extended with a commitment to solidarity between the community and ServeHAITI.

Just when we thought we would not stop again until we reached the Clinic in Grand-Bois, we were greeted by over 200 people bearing bouquets of flowers and a sign welcoming ServeHAITI to their area.  They then escorted us to the sight of their potential well – a 20 minute hike through the countryside.  As we walked they sang to the tune of “Happy Birthday” the following song:  “Happy welcome to you!  Happy welcome to you!  Happy welcome, happy welcome! Happy welcome to you!”  They sang in both English and Creole and their sweet voices echoed up and down the path.

 

Once we arrived at the sight of the well, we were introduced to the man who made the cinder blocks for the school.  We could feel the appreciation by this community. ServeHAITI is partnering with these citizens to create roads to access the well and the digging of the well itself.  There is an emphasis of a “hand up and not a hand out”, and the necessity of a partnership between the community and Serve HAITI was continually emphasized by Dr. Leo.

In the evening our discussion focused on the people of Grand-Bois.  It was expressed the need for increasing the distribution of Gift of Water buckets that help to purify the water that is unfit for consumption in Haiti.  Currently, there are 3000 of these buckets in use but there are over 12,000 families who would benefit from receiving a Gift of Water bucket.  ServeHAITI has found that families must be responsible for paying at least a small fee when acts of mercy are given them.  Each family must pay 20 Haitian dollars or $2.50 US dollars for these buckets but the benefit of the clean drinking water cannot have a price attached that would adequately express their benefit to Haitian families.  ServeHAITI will continue to seek ways of distributing more of these buckets to better enhance the life of families in this country while emphasizing dignity not dependence.

Tomorrow we will be well-rested and quite ready for another adventure!