Steve in Haiti - the end is around the corner

Hello Friends and Family:

This past week has been a great transition.  Elias left a week ago to go to Santo Domingo hoping to catch an earlier flight home to Kenya than Thursday, so he could attend his brother's funeral on Saturday.  Not only did he not get on an earlier flight on Wednesday, but his Thursday flight was cancelled due to the volcano in Iceland.  (His flight was from Santo Domingo to Paris, then on to Kenya.)  He stayed in Santo Domingo until yesterday, hoping he could get home.  It is unknown when he will be able to travel.  I am glad he is back here for me, but I am sad he has missed an important time with family and was alone in the process.

Nelson Warambo, the Kenyan whose Logistics position I filled in for, returned on Friday morning.  As he arrived I was amazed and thrilled to see how the Haitian staff greeted his return.  There were handshakes, hugs, kisses and even someone who wanted to rub his head.  I handed him his keys and he smiled and said, "I am not working until Monday!"  I was a little taken back.  I had written a 4 page briefing about what I had done while he was gone and the status of vehicles and staff.  As I scurried about the Logistics chores, he sat and read the briefing.  We then talked about it.  I scurried off again and when I returned, he had resumed the throne (his chair and computer.)  So I simply handed him the keys and returned to my place upstairs. 

With Jillian left to carry on the emergency department functions in Elias' absence, I was to be available to help her in any way.  At least until Nick Archer, WC Deputy Director, was to arrive on Monday.  I did help Jillian with some busy work but also some counsel and encouragement.  She was a little disappointed that Nick was coming - it is easy to think that he is coming because she is not trusted.  But that is not the case.  He is coming because she is new to World Concern and a young, intelligent but fairly inexperienced business woman, with a lot of potential.  Nick canceled his trip with Elias' return.

The weekend was very different.  I actual did not have to work on Saturday with Nelson back and I slept in until 7 am.  Not like my normal 5:00 to 5:15 am.  I spent the morning trying to get the computer to see the wireless printer so I could scan documents.  It was frustrating.  Rogers is another Kenyan who is visiting here helping with the Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) program.  (I tell you there is a Kenyan Mafia here!  - it is a running joke with Elias.)  He and I went to Epidor (our fast food place) for lunch.  We were dropped off and another driver was to pick us up.  I did not have a phone - I returned the Logistics phone to Nelson.  Rogers had a phone but the language barrier was a problem.  Eventually we were picked up.  While we were eating, Frank Thorpe, Jillian's husband entered to buy croissants for Sunday breakfast.  I called out his name and a very surprised Frank spun around and was shocked to see us.  Port au Price is a large town and we were quite a ways from the office.  Too funny.

When I returned I brought my recliner to the balcony I exercise on.  It is mostly protected from the sun in the afternoon and yet is open on two sides.  I spent the afternoon reading and napping.  I am finally reading "The Shack".  I have started it on a couple of occasions and yet have never completed it.  I was in a section that was very emotional for me.  It has allowed me to think about my own life ( a lot of who I am is like Mack) and my relationship with God and Jesus.  It makes me think of my children and what they mean to me and I wonder how much of their upbringing is helpful for their future and how much will they have to work through.  The alone time, though I dislike it, has been good for me.  I also have been writing a letter to my children and their spouse and spouse to be for over a year.  I was able to spend some time on that as well.

Sunday was 6:30 am church with my 4,000 new Haitian brothers and sisters.  Rogers and I went and we stopped for Fig-banans (bananas vs plantains,  which Haitians call "Banana") and two onions.  The rest of the day was like Saturday, except that my daily hour long Skype call to Patty was earlier than normal because of small group and a concert.  My workout was after our call and then I set about to make my mom's spaghetti sauce.  It took forever to boil the noodles but I feared it would be too spicy for Nelson.  It turned out not!  I had one helping left over and was about to put it away when I thought of Edmond, the janitor/laborer who lives on the compound, whom I exchange "Chicken and spaghetti, too" greetings each day as he shows me what English words he knows.  Though it was about 9:00 pm, he was still up and I handed him a bowl and said, "American Spaghetti."  Later he told me it was very good and Jillian told me that Haitians eat spaghetti, usually for breakfast.  Oh well, we often eat breakfast foods at night.

Speaking of food, I wanted you to see what I have eaten most lunches since I have come to Haiti.

This is my classic lunch.  Top left salad which I do not eat: the cleanliness of fresh produce is questionable.  Top right a chicken thigh, baked (and really good.)  Between the rice and beans and the lettuce is a cooked fig-banan (banana) - I tried it once.  Not good!

My friend Elias says, "we have great variety at lunch; you can have chicken with rice and beans or rice and beans with chicken!"  In fact once a week or so we get to have goat.  It is actually pretty good - a little bony but tasty.

The goat is in the top left and top right are beans in a sauce.  In this case the rice is white with the yukky  fig-banan.

While we are on domestic issues and pictures, I wanted you to see me in my Penthouse suite, sporting my cool REI recliner. 

I am going to write REI and tell them what a lifesaver their chair has been.  Though I have slept really well, I am sure looking forward to sleeping in my bed next Monday night! 

TTFN

The reason I am in Haiti

Hello Family and Friends:

Last Thursday (April 8th), in my post "Steve in Haiti - the halfway point", I wrote the following:

             "Patty reminded me tonight that on several occasions these past two months, as we have shared this interval in my professional journey, instead of the traditional, 'oh, I am sorry to hear that you are having to look for a job!', people have said to us, 'Oh Great! Now you will get to see the Lord move in wonderful and mysterious ways!'

I want to embrace that exciting thought. Maybe that is why I am here - but I am very far from sure."

Well, this past Sunday, I finally know why I am here. 

This is my new brother, Elias Kamau from Nairobi, Kenya.  He is the World Concern Haiti (WCH) Emergency Director.  He is the second of probably several Emergency Directors - he (and the first Director) left his home and his family and came to stand in the gap and make these new programs happen for the people of Haiti in the Name of Jesus.  He arrived on or about March 12, just 11 days before me.  He joined a fellow Kenyan, Nelson Warambo, head of Logistics for the Emergency Program Haiti.  (They did not know each other prior to Haiti - Nairobi is a BIG city.)

As you may remember from earlier posts, Nelson had been scheduled to have some R&R with is family in Kenya and left on my 4th day in Haiti.  I took over his position as the WCH Logistician, which is a little frightening when I know no Creole or French.  I wondered if that was why I was here, so Nelson could go home and Elias and Jillian (the Emergency Program Support position) did not have to do his job, too.  (I found it curious that my timing of arrival was based on being back for Nate's graduation from Pepperdine, not Nelson's departure.)  And a reason I wondered if I came just to spell Nelson, because he is returning to Haiti long before I return to the states. 

In addition, Susanna Asin the Bolivian Chief Financial Officer also left when Nelson did to spent time with her family in Bolivia and will telecommute from there until the end of the month.  So after Nelson and Susanna left, the only ex-patriots living at the WCH office were Elias and me.

But now I know I am here.  On Sunday, Elias received some very bad and surprising news:  his eldest brother Peter had died.  I should not tell you how, but suffice it to say it was not foreseen by anyone, he was a young man, younger than myself, anyway,with a wife and two teenage children and has left the entire extended family wondering why, including Elias.

If I had not been here, Elias would have spent Sunday alone.  It is hard to be over 7,500 miles away from your wife, children and extended family in and of itself.  But when this kind of tragedy comes, you can not be alone.  And Elias was not:  he had me.  We had been sharing each others story - and most of you understand he has heard several stories from me about my family and life itself.  We had come to enjoy each other's company more everyday. 

With Elias leaving today to try and get home by Saturday, I am also available to help Jillian (the Emergency Program Support position) the Creole speaking American who started with WCH the same day I arrived.  If not for me, she would also be alone in her position until help from WC Seattle arrives later this week or next. 

So last night Elias and I had our last time of sharing and praying together ( and finishing "Lord of the Rings -The Two Towers")  He had heard my story of my transition from Young Life to CRISTA and my recent resignation from CRISTA Camps (which is the only reason I was available to come to Haiti.)  As we prayed, Elias asked the Lord to reveal the next adventure in my employment.  He said to me,"Steve, you are a strong man of God and there is something more for you to do; I can feel it."  I shared with him the Brandon Heath's song, "He's not finished with me yet" (see April 8th's post).  He said that the words to the song and my having been writing about the same words was a confirmation of what he had heard from the Lord in his own mind and heart.  He sensed that it will be revealed soon.  I sure hope so. 

But I am full of joy that I could be here for Elias and stand in the gap for him and be there for him when Phelista, his wife and children, Shalom and Emmanuel could not be.

Please pray for Elias' journey.  He flew on a UN plane today to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic but as of this morning, he is booked on a flight tomorrow and will not get to Kenya until Saturday morning the day of the funeral.  Pray he can catch a flight today and be home either Friday morning or afternoon (or earlier.)

 

 Thanks for following, thanks for praying!  TTFN

Interviews with families receiving new housing or repairs from WCH

The Cash for Work program includes building new temporary structures and repairing existing structures that were damaged in the earthquake but not severely. WCH works with local neighborhood organizers who prioritize who should receive assistance. WCH has or is soon to complete some new houses and the repairing of housing in at least three quartiers. (Quartiers are like the French Quarter in New Orleans but in Haiti’s case a much smaller area, serving 7-25 families.)

This is just some of the debris that the people living in this quartier, in the Dardean community, had to remove to allow new construction and space to live. Below is a picture of the quartier from the steps of the new structure pictures below. In the center of the photo are three structures repaired by WCH.

The new home, nearly complete, in the picture below will go to Samuel , the man on the left. He will live there with his wife, sister, brother and two children. He was with one of his children in the house and ran out when the earthquake struck. His entire home collapsed. None of his family were hurt but they lost everything. I asked him what he would say to the donors who gave to make this happen and he replied, “I would say ‘merci (thank you) for the new house and saving us from the rain’.” The man on the right is the Engineer responsible for designing, building and repairing the houses. The house is 4 meters (13.1 feet) by 4 meters or 16 square meters (172 sq.ft). This is the total space for a family.

The next home is occupied by Vaneta. She lives there with her children and cousins, 7 in all. She was in her house when the earthquake hit and ran outside. The one side wall of her home collapsed but none of her family was injured. They had to live in tents until their home was repaired. I asked her what she would say to the donors and she replied, “I would say, ‘thank you’ and that we could not do it without you. Thank you!” She and two of her children are pictured below. Below that is the repaired wall.

The house next door to the left is occupied by Orelus. (see below) She lives there with her husband, two children and a sister. She is a cleaning lady. She was in the house alone when the earthquake struck. She ran out of the house, and then to church. Then she searched and found all of her family and they were unhurt. They lost the front porch off their home and she lost her eating plates. WCH was able to repair her porch as a part of this project. I asked her what she would say to the donors and she replied, “I would say, ‘thank you very much’.” She is pictured with her two children.

Next door to Orelus, to the left, is Rosena. She lives here with her Mom, dad, 2 sisters, 2 cousins, and 2 of their children – 9 in all. When the quake hit, she was in the house and ran out as a wall inside collapsed, along with the roof. They lost a bed and a table. I asked her what she would say to the donors and she replied, “I would say, ‘thank you ’.” She is pictured below with her sisters and her cousins. The picture below this is the new wall inside and the new roof.

We went to the next quartier near Toussainte Brav . (see below) There appeared to be 7 or 8 families living here. Some of the debris had been cleared from this site.

The next picture shows a multi-story building next to this quartier and how precarious the surrounding buildings can be.

The new house built by WCH is shown above with Widzer, in the center, with his son and daughter. Widzer was at a neighbor’s house when the earthquake hit and injured his shoulder and knee as his neighbor’s house collapsed. His own house collapsed, killing his 5 year-old daughter, Bettina, and destroying all their possessions. They have been living since the quake without a tent! He will move in soon with his wife and his 5 remaining children, see below.) I asked him what he would say to the donors and he replied, “I would say thank you for building us a new house and I hope that other families will get help from WCH, too!’.”

The final quartier had about 25 families living there. Most of the structures were destroyed. They have cleaned up the site and built a “model” house, but the local organizer has not assigned a family, yet. The local organizer is waiting for an agreement from WCH to build other structures before he assigns families.

Hopefully this gives you a more personal way to pray for the people of Haiti.  We all need to be so very thankful for what we have because it is exponentially more than most people in Haiti have ever dreamed of.  Thanks for caring enough to read and pray!  TTFN     Steve

Steve in Haiti - the halfway point

Hello Friends:

I said at the end of my last blog that I would have more contemplative thoughts.  Well, by mid-day tomorrow, April 9th, it will be my halfway point of my time in Haiti.  I have been asking God to speak into my life in a fresh way.  As I flew to Haiti, I was listening to my IPod and the words of Brandon Heath.......

GIVE ME YOUR EYES

Looked down from a broken sky

Traced out by the city lights
My world from a mile high
Best seat in the house tonight
Touched down on the cold black top
Hold on for the sudden stop
Breath in the familiar shock
Of confusion and chaos
All those people going somewhere,
Why have I never cared?
Chorus:
Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
(emphasis is mine)
Ones that are far beyond my reach.
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
Bridge
I've Been there a million times
A couple of million eyes
Just moving past me by
I swear I never thought that I was wrong
Well I want a second glance
So give me a second chance

To see the way you see the people all along
*****************************************
Some of the contrasts here are heart and head bending.  Last night I had the privilege of having dinner with Christon, the World Concern Haiti Country Director, Elias, the WCH Emergency Director and a Kiwi from New Zealand, named Ian.  Ian used to be the WC Country Director for Sri Lanka and is here in Haiti in an emergency capacity with Tear Fund New Zealand.  He and his team are rebuilding schools and homes in the high country above PaP, using local labor and creating jobs.  We were at a Latin Restaurant that would rival most restaurant ambiance and decor in Seattle or any other US city.  And right across the street must have been a park that is now wall to wall tents with poor Haitians struggling to survive - and we are having a very nice dinner.  Still mind bending for me.

I do want to see the people here the way God sees them. 

Then I read this the other day:

"One author speaks of an 'existential ache' that permeates every human spirit, a kind of unnamed pain inside, deep within us, a restlessness, an anxiety, a sense of 'all aloneness' that calls out to us.  ....... It is a persistent longing in us and it happens because we are human.  It is as strongly present in us as autumn is present in the cycle of the seasons (except in Haiti).  I believe this ache is within us because we are composed of both physical and spiritual dimensions.  Our body belongs to the earth but our spirit does not.  Our final home is not here, though 'here' is where we are meant to be transformed by treasuring, reverencing,and growing through our human journey.  No matter how good the 'good earth' is, there is always a part of us that is yearning and longing, quietly crying out for the true homeland where life is no longer difficult or unfair."  From "Praying Our Goodbyes", by Joyce Rupp

Those words I exaggerated above are what I pray for the Haitian people.  Most of them knew life as difficult and unfair BEFORE the earthquake, much less what they know now.  And I want them to know Jesus so that this can be true for them - that they can go "home" to that place with no more sorrows and tears.........where life is no longer difficult or unfair.

And then I think of my employment situation, or lack thereof.  I might have said to myself in the last 24 hours that my life is " difficult and a little unfair"  And then I think of my Haitian brothers and sisters and then I feel guilty for ever having the thoughts.........

Finally there is this thing called finding a job.  I have applied for at least 30 jobs over the last few months and I have received a few, "we are not going to pursue you" and one "let's talk on the phone if your willing to make less money that they are paying you on unemployment."  And the rest are at best, "Thanks for submitting a resume.  Don't call us, we'll call you."  Then here comes another song from Brandon Heath,

WAIT AND SEE
Chorus
There is hope, for me yet

Because God won't forget
All the plans he's made for me
I have to wait and see
He's not finished with me yet
He's not finished with me yet
Bridge
Still wondering why I'm here
Still wrestling with my fear
But oh, He's up to something
And the farther on I go
I've seen enough to know that I'm not here for nothing
He's up to something
Verse
So here's my time to be a man,
Follow my heart as far as I can
No tellin' where I'm ending up tonight
I never slow down or so it seems
But singing my heart is one of my dreams
All I gotta do is hold on tight
Chorus
There is hope, for me yet
Because God won't forget
All the plans he's made for me
I have to wait and see
He's not finished with me yet
He's not finished with me yet
He's not finished with me yet
He's not finished with me yet
***************************************************

I love these words and I think I believe them.  I must confess though my head agrees that

"God won't forget,

All the plans he's made for me
I have to wait and see
He's not finished with me yet"

my heart wonders if there is something to come.  I don't think I am wrestling with fear - but more like doubt.  (And yet I rejoice at Matt's acceptance to Boston U and how God has blessed his path; and how, it appears that Joe and Alison may be able to buy a home they are excited about - after maybe these same doubts.)

Patty reminded me tonight that on several occasions these past two months, as we have shared this interval in my professional journey, instead of the traditional, "oh, I am sorry to hear that you are having to look for a job!", people have said to us, "Oh Great!  Now you will get to see the Lord move in wonderful and mysterious ways!" 

I want to embrace that exciting thought.  Maybe that is why I am here - but I am very far from sure. 

Thanks for reading, thanks for thinking of me, thanks for praying if you so incline yourself.  TTFN

Day 7 through 11 in Haiti

Hello Family and Friends:

I am sorry I have not written sooner.  I have been very busy and have been doing quite well.  It has been "Cho", very hot.  So this post will be a little different  - a photo post and not as much a diary.

This is my suite in the penthouse.  You can see the mountains surrounding Port au Prince (PaP) in the background.  If I were to turn around, we could see the ocean, off in the distance.  A beautiful view of sunrise and sunsets.  The ropes you see running along the roof are tied off to re-bar that penetrates the roof that forms columns below.  I was told in the event of an earthquake and the building were to begin to collapse, I could hold on to the ropes and ride the building down.  Gee Haw!

 

Many buildings and homes in PaP are located in compounds.  These compounds are usually surrounded by a 10 to 12 foot cinder block wall and access is controlled by locked driveway and walkway doors.  This is a picture of the driveway and parking area inside our compound.  A tarp has been stretched overhead to make shade for local workers to prepare food and other basic needs for distribution. (more on this below)  The brown doors in the background is a storage area "Garage" that I manage.  In the foreground the man in the green pants is carrying a shotgun - he is our contracted security guard.  They were unarmed until the earthquake and we have had no problems here. Praise God!

As you are probably aware, the earthquake impact has been astounding.  World Concern surveyed the residents of the area near the office, an area that the Mayor of PaP and the other Non-Government Organizations (NGO's) have agreed to let World Concern Haiti (WCH) to be responsible for.  The survey was made on January 18-19th, 6 days after the earthquake :  6% of the pre-quake population in their survey area were killed; 10% more have been injured and 18% had already been homeless.  19% of families said the had received little or no damage; 48% said their housing was destroyed and 33% said their houses were severely damaged.  99% of those surveyed said they were living in the open air and 77% of those had no shelter.

This picture is taken from the "penthouse"; this is a compound 2 doors down from the WCH office.  Their home(s) have been damaged (or not) but they are sleeping in tents in the yard.  Bermande's house was not damage and some in his family sleep in the house, but Bermande and many others sleep in the yard out of fear.

This picture is also taken from the "penthouse - you can see a damaged building in the foreground and a small sea of tents towards the background.  These are really small neighborhood or even family groupings but the following pictures tell a very different story.

These tent cities are everywhere - and I have seen so little of the city. 

On Wednesday I was informed i needed to go with Elias to the US Army base, on the waterfront in downtown PaP.  WCH had arranged two very large generators to be donated to Haiti and shipped by the US Army - one for the Mayor of PaP and one for a hospital.  We had to meet with Capt Orr from the 82nd Airborne and introduce him to two representatives from the Hospital.  Our journey took us past some amazing and heartbreaking scenes.

Here is a hospital no longer able to care for patients.

Even the Haitian Presidential Palace was destroyed. 

The eerie part is that the building on the left and right are nearly undamaged and the one in the middle is totally collapsed.  At least there was a chance for some to survive this one.  However, 10 bodies were pulled from this building and 8 others remained buried.

This was at least a 4 story building.  Each red layer is a floor.  My guess is no one survived this.

I took many more pictures, you can view them on Facebook when i figure out how to do that.  I finally had to stop taking pictures -on most streets, every third house was a total ruin.  It was over whelming.

This is literally right across the street from the WCH office.  This was a two or three story building that totally collapsed on itself.  There are several residents still buried in the rubble.

One of the programs being operated by WCH is a food and supply relief ministry, funded by a Great Britain charity.  My numerous trips to and from the warehouse was to support this effort and the dozen or so local people who were employed by WCH to put relief kits together for local residents.  (see below)

WCH works with an existing local neighborhood organizer that creates a list of names of people who need distribution in their neighborhood.  Then a day and time for distribution is selected and the staff checks people's ID s to verify they are on the list and the local organizer is supposed to be there. 

The distribution includes Mazola corn oil, rice, beans, spaghetti, chicken bouillon, salt, sugar, shampoo, combs, tooth brushes, bar soap, laundry soap, a metal pan, toilet paper and a Bible in Creole.

One problem was the local organizer did not show and some residents whose names were on the list had no ID and many showed up whose names were not on the list and things go a little tense. See below.

No one got out of hand and those who received distributions were not hassled in any way.  I am in the shade to the left of this picture.  I am by myself and there is only one other white person there, Jillian, the new Emergency Program staff support - she is at the far corner of the truck.  I am amidst the crowd and obviously do not know verbally what is going on.  So I say to myself, "What can I do?"  So I began to sing - not too loud but audible to those around me.  "When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roar....it is well with my soul......."

As I am finishing the second verse, I think I hear harmony.  Then I realize a small Haitian woman has come up along side of me and is singing the song in sweet harmony and in Creole!  The turquoise arm in the left side of the picture above is mine and the woman next to me, with her arm raised and a navy cap on is my duet partner.  I looked her in the eyes at the end of the song and said, "Merci".

Trying to help make a difference.  Thanks for listening.  The next post will be a little more introspective.  TTFN.

Haiti Day 5 and 6

I found out from Elias that Saturday and Sunday are more casual days.  However Berman, our Purchaser has to buy some materials for our Cash for Work construction projects and David, our warehouse man was unavailable on Saturday.  So I told Berman that I would go with him since I also have keys to the warehouse.  Berman told me he would be in by 7 am and we would leave at 7:30.  I had a pretty good night sleep and was ready to go a little before 7 am.  Berman was nowhere to be seen.  So i returned to the upstairs office area where i hang out with Elias on the weekends.  I went downstairs at 7:30 am and still no Berman.  I left him a note saying I had been at his desk at 7 and 7:30 and that I was available upstairs. 

He arrived about 8:30 and we left for what I thought was the warehouse but it was to a building supply store.  Berman had to complete the sale, hire a truck and pay laborers to load it.  They loaded on 120 2x4x16 feet lumber, some doors, wire mesh and angle iron.  I sat in the air-conditioned car that Joseph, the driver, moved to get it in the shade.  There was some kind of argument with the truck driver over whether he was going to transport the plywood or not.  We headed out past a UN military compound and the US Embassy on our way to the warehouse.

When we arrived I was surprised to see how much food had been dropped off - the "mistake" that Nelson had spoken to David about:  600 - 55 lb bags of Rice, 81 - 50 k (22.7 lb) bags of Sugar and 64 cases of Mazola Corn Oil, each having 8 - 64 ounce bottles.  As Nelson had expressed to David, this warehouse was for construction materials. I took the inventory of all the additional food that was there before David's mistake, which includes 858 cases of rice; 45 - 50 lb bags of beans; another 30 - 20 lb bags of rice; 650 packages of Speghetti and 120 boxes of shampoo and rinse.

After the lumber and doors were unloaded, Berman informed me that the plywood he had ordered would not be delivered until Monday.  So we locked up and headed home to the office.  I updated Elias on my morning and the need for him to meet with the other program head, who are responsible for food and other distributions and our need for warehouse space.  We also asked Berman, who speaks a fair amount of English, to check on our one hot meal a day, our blessed chicken leg, with rice and beans. 

Did I say earlier that we do not have a kitchen?  We have an office space with a small refrigerator, a table for holding some dishes, some food items, like raisins (Praise the Lord), cereal, coffee, tea, canned food, some US military MRE's (haven't the faintest idea how to prepare them), peanut butter (yeah!) and beef Jerky.  In the refrigerator is some "nuclear" milk that does not need to be refrigerated, some native grapefruit, some bread and some unidentified food stuff.  This is how we fend for ourselves for breakfast and supper. 

Up to Saturday, I had a Styrofoam container with a chicken leg or thigh and beans and rice delivered to my desk sometime between 12 noon and 2 pm.  It usually included a cold (relative) bottle of coke or 7-up.  We finally had some food procured and I watched the elite 8 games on my computer, a little choppy, but doable.  I worked out and had a great call from Patty as I ate my PB and raisin sandwich, with a couple of slices of processed cheese on the side and a small cup of trail mix (from Costco) for dessert. 

I went to bed around 10 pm, in the first rain we have had.  It was not raining hard when I went to bed and the rooftop was dry when i arose at 5 am on Sunday - Palm Sunday.  We had to be ready to leave at 6:00 am to leave for a 6:30 am church service at Christ the Rock church, not far from us .  It is early to try and minimize the heat!  We arrived at a very large compound (almost all building are within a compound) that was a school and church.  "Home of the Warriors" painted on a wall of the basketball court showed our "western" influence.  We had passed scores of people all dressed up - woman in beautiful western dresses, complete with stiletto heels, trying to walk on non-existent sidewalks, strewn with rubble and debris.  (The church completely ccollapsed during the earthquake and 47 people were killed.)

After we parked with several cars, we walked down a packed gravel road to a area that had recently (post earthquake) that had been leveled the space large enough for a football field size circus tent with people poring in.  When we entered about 6:25 the folding chairs were 3/4 full and we took two seats together in the last row.  We could put 3 rows of these chairs and their spacing in the space of two rows at HCC.  We estimated the final standing room only , 3 deep in the back, to be between 3 and 4 thousand people!  The worship team was a drummer, a base player and a keyboard with 15 -20 singers.  The sound system was impressive, with the sound board at the mid-line of the tent about 5 rows ahead of us.  The tent floor was beautifully poured concrete.  

The music started after a prayer in Creole.  The songs were mostly in Creole but some started in English, familiar praise songs.  "Your my Prince of Peace and i will give my life to you" - all in Creole but unmistakable - i sang away in English.  Much hand raising and joyous praise from a people who were suffering by our standards before the earthquake.  I was very surprised to see a caucasian take the stage as the music wound down. He spoke to the audience in Creole.  Then he began to preach in English and a co-pastor translated.  The first thing he did was say a prayer to heal the earth - he then indicated that we had had another earthquake during the night.  Elias and I looked at each other in bewilderment.  (There was a 4.2 earthquake @ 2:17 am, 10 miles west of Port au Prince.  Our friend and co-worker Jillian, who was buried alive for 10 hours said she bolted up from her bed, ran through the mosquito netting and was ready to jump from the balcony as her husband, Frank, groggily asked, "Honey is there something the matter?")

His sermon was from Philippians  2 - having the same mind of Christ - that we should be the same person of integrity when people or watching as when we are unseen.  The pastor has led the congregation for 25 years.  This was one of two morning services and they have a youth service during the week. 

I spent the afternoon working on some unemployment documentation.  I just happened to be selected for an in-person job search log review on Monday at 10 am in Tacoma.  Not going to happen.  But I finally faxed and e-mailed all the info.  Started to watch the Lord of the Rings - a call from Patty, dinner and bed.  A very good day.  TTFN.

Haiti - Day 4 and 5

Good Morning!  I slept well again in my rooftop chalet au Coleman.  My computer was on the fritz so I had to watch the aerobics video without music.  I have no rhythm.  But I got a good work-out in.  Sweating like no tomorrow and the sun is not up yet.  Breakfast and quiet time on my exercise balcony. Cold shower (feels good) the bathroom has no ventilation and the concrete building holds heat.

I arrived at the logistics office downstairs at 7:00 am.  Nelson has me do the white board to set up the drivers for the day.  It is a fairly light travel day.  I am still sweating when others begin to come in.  They ask me, am I  "cho"?  (pronounced "show"), since my collar and the top of my shirt is wet.  I have to move my exercise until after work.  It took me two hours, or more with a fan to cool off.  I can honestly say I haven't felt cold since I arrived in Haiti.

Nelson, whom I am replacing, is not much of a check list kind of guy.  So I say to him, "When you have the time, I would like you to show me what I need to be doing while you are gone."  I have some small equipment and some supplies that I am supposed to check out - cameras and GPS units.  He hands me a thumb drive and says you should review these documents, about 30.  Many of them are forms to fill out or receive.  It doesn't take me long to go through them, but I know I won't understand them the way I will need to later.  We have a chance to go over the ones i had questions about.

Then we went to the warehouse.  I believe it is somewhere near the airport but don't ask me to get you there.  Nelson and I went with Bechamps, he is a Haitian who works with World Concern's (WC) "Orphans and Vulnerable Children's Program." He was going to meet some Haitian laborers to put some food packs together, rice and beans or 'diri e ous'.

Nelson and I went for me to see the warehouse and meet David who is the warehouse supervisor.  When we arrived a truck was there to pick up cement, corrugated metal sheets and 2x4x16' (real 2 inches by 4 inches) pine boards.  These were for the Cash for Work program of building temporary shelters and paying the unemployed Haitians to clear the rubble and build temporary structures - 11.5 sf per person under roof and 150 sf per person total space (including shelter).  For a family of 4.5 (ave in Haiti) this is a room about 13' x 13' on a space 27 ft x 27 ft..  My tent is 8ft x 7 ft and they say it is a 3 man tent -  but barely enough room for Patty and I to sleep, much less live.  The warehouse was rented for building materials but there is some left over food from the initial relief work.

Nelson pulls David aside and asks him about other WC programs using the warehouse.  He asks him about James.  Nelson says, "I am not going to change your decision, but James asked me about storing food here. And I told him 'no', two times.  Now you have said 'yes.'  So when you run out of room and have a problem, it is your problem."  David's eyes got really large and there was excuses like my phone was broken but Nelson wanted to make sure he knew that to get help he needed to ask for it and that you have to own the consequences of your own decisions. 

We got back and I finished looking at forms and called it a day.  I worked to try and help fix the audio on the computer for NCAA basketball and Skype.  I fixed myself a sandwich for dinner and waited to call to Patty.  We finally figured out that Skype has instant messaging and we did a Skype call without video and it was so delightful to hear her voice!  I got to see some NCAA basketball, albeit choppy video. And on to bed. 

Day 5

I was up about 5:30 am to jockey time in the bathroom with 4 others.  I was finished and down in Logistics by 7 am and Compare, the head driver, was working on the White Board - he needed some help so together we did well.  I went and grabbed a bowl of cereal for Breakfast.  Nelson and Susanna both went home today - Nelson to Nairobi and Susanna to Bolivia.  It will take Nelson until Monday (it is Friday) to get home!  I really like Susanna, she has been working here for 3 years - she has a husband and 1 yr old - she is trying to figure out how they can move here with her.  She returns to Haiti the day I leave - sad.

I worked on some forms until Nelson and Suzanne left at 11:00 am for the airport.  Before I really had time to come back to my desk, a woman, whose name I did not catch, came and said she was from the Emergency Program and needed to store some items in the "garage" storage.   I asked her when the truck would arrive and she said the truck was at the gate and had to wait for Nelson an Suzanne to leave to come in.  I reminded her that this was for temporary storage and asked her how much space she needed.  She said she understood but had a full truck.  I showed her what space i felt i could give her.  When they opened the side door of the truck, I could not believe how much stuff was in this truck.  It was packed from floor to ceiling - the size of a large moving van.  I asked her she had another warehouse - she said, "no."  They unloaded over 400 cases of items ranging from toilet paper, to Mazola Corn Oil to Body Soap.  When they filled the area I designated, the truck was still 80% full.  They wanted to put more in and i said no.  Elias arrived to save the day and reminded her it was 4 day storage only. 

They unloaded all the rest of the items in the compound parking area and covered them with tarps.  Later I spoke to Elias about the need for him reminding the other programs what the garage and warehouse is for and that by the end of the week, the garage should be empty.  This will be interesting.

When I returned to the office - I was planning on moving to Nelson's desk - when I walked in the door from the driveway, Compere, the head driver, was holding court at Nelson's desk, using Nelson's computer.  I waited until his audience left and then I indicated that I was moving there and he went back to his desk.
I finalized some new cards with emergency numbers and called it a day. 

I changed for my aerobics workout, in the evening this time.  Then as I cooled down, I made a sandwich and made a call to Patty.  Some more NCAA basketball - Go Duke!  Very good day.  Thanks for reading about my life in Haiti.  TTFN

Day 3 in Haiti

I awoke at 4:12 am, before my alarm at 4:30 am.  Nelson, who i will replace beginning on Friday, wanted me at work at 7 am.   I slept amazingly well in my REI recliner.  My carpel tunnel syndrome has progressed to the point where at home I would begin sleep in our bed but my arms would go to sleep and begin to ache.  Then I would move to the recliner in the living room by 12:30 or 1 am.  For some reason, the recliner position relieves the pressure on my arms.  I usually awaken 2-3 times per night.  I did not wake before 4:12 am. 

I dressed in the tent for my work out.  Patty bought me an aerobics DVD so I could work out every day.  I am such a dork with some of the moves – I worked out on a balcony and my head set was long enough to not disturb others with music. It must have been a sight for the Haitians that could see me from the street!  Did I mention that I am the sweat king?  I had my quiet time on the balcony with some local bread and a grapefruit - it is shaped like a pear, with very thick skin and yellow flesh.  Not bad at all. 

We have a bath and shower - no hot water but who cares.  I brought my electric razor that i have had for years but don't use very much.  I figured it would be better to use than to shave with a blade and questionable water.  The building stays warm at night.  You brush your teeth with a bottle of water.  There is very little water pressure from the cistern on the roof.  There is no ventilation in the bathroom and between the heat and my workout - I am sweating before i put my clothes on. 

WC owns 7 vehicles for getting around for meetings and supplies.  Staff send in written requests the day before and we place the need for drivers on a white board in the morning and assign drivers.  Compare, the head driver, does not speak English.  If there are conflicts with more cars needed than available, I will be responsible to resolve it.  I am not sure I will know how to do it.  Things work at a very slow pace here.

I spent most of the day on my computer - writing my blog, looking for some jobs to apply for. 

Lunch was provided again but not until 1:30.  It was strange - like some local staff received their food at 12:30.  i have not figured this out yet.  The staff finished their day about 4 pm.  We are own our own for dinner, except for special occasions.  I had some "clam chowder" from a MRE (meal ready to eat).  There were no instructions so I added to hot water.  Not very appetizing.  i had some crackers with it.  A little beef jerky and trail mix, for dessert.

I worked on job applications until Patty and I tried to skype call without video.  There is something wrong with my computer.  We finally were able to talk for a few minutes.  Her voice sounded like a chipmunk.  She could not hear me consistently.  I heard her just fine.  It was good to hear her voice!

I was one of the last to go to bed at 10 pm.  (It has not rained yet, since I have been here.)  TTFN

To get the ball rolling?

Haiti: Day 1 and 2

Hello Family and Friends:

I left Seattle shortly after noon on Monday, March 22nd.  I was a little anxious about getting on the luggage, including my cool lounge chair for sleeping and all the items I was "muleing" into Haiti, mostly clothes for Elias, the World Concern Emergency Program Director, whose luggage was lost on his arrival here last week from Kenya.  In my anxiousness, I left my cell phone at home, which I had thought about doing anyway, since I could only use it on Day 1 and Day 35.  It made Day 1 harder and will make Day 35 harder, too.

Check in was a breeze.  I was aghast to find myself at the gate over an hour before departure.  I'm turning into Robbie Robertson!!!!  It was a long trip to Chicago in the middle seat between 2 larger, frittering men.  Oooph.  I was able to snag an aisle seat on the leg to Fort Lauderdale, FL.  Landed at 11:00 pm EDT, had a 7:20 am flight to Haiti so I had to catch a 5:30 am shuttle after arriving at the hotel at 11:45 pm.  My shuttle driver was Haitian!  A short night! 

My itinerary said the flight to Port au Prince was 55 minutes, it was really 1hour and 55 minutes.  Haiti is in the eastern time zone but does not celebrate daylight savings time, so we are like CDT.  Flying in, it was hard to see from the aisle, but the destruction was hard to make out.  There was some.  There were several military (US?) units visible on the airport grounds.  We landed at a normal gate, traversed a section of the terminal and were directed to a shuttle bus that took us to baggage claim in a warehouse style building where we went through immigration.  As we passed the terminal, the damage from the earthquake was quite obvious.  All my bags arrived!  They move all the bags into this warehouse by hand - almost everyone rents a cart and there is no conveyor and no organization - crazy for a full 737.

I was being met by a driver and he and I were wearing a Turquoise colored World Concern (WC) shirt.  After passing customs who asked about my chair, a Haitian man became my escort (for a tip - of course.)  He took me by surprise, helped point out my driver behind a fence and escorted me and my cart to the car.  Several children came up begging for a dollar and my escort would slap them and chase them away.  I asked the driver, Compare, how much I should tip and he said $2.  I already showed the escort $5.  He refused and asked for $20 and he would "share it with the children, 'them'".  He finally took the $5 and we were off.  Compare then says, "I do not speak English." 

There are no traffic lights, stop signs or yield signs in Haiti.  They drive by their horn.  The damage was hard to see at first.  Many houses are damaged but not destroyed - many are destroyed.  Most of the streets we traversed were cleared of rubble but two were not, including the road the office is on.  We passed several "camps" where Haitians have gathered on limited empty ground and Compare commented, "Camps!"  I noticed a Hospital, one of many in the city.  There were hundreds of people on the street.  But I saw no children  Even in a playground that was empty and not used as a camp.  Compare then pointed out some men working among some houses.  This was a "Cash for Work" project sponsored by WC (more on that later.)

We pulled up to a solid gate and honked again and again.  A Haitian armed with a small caliber shot gun opened the gate and let us in.  I was escorted to the second floor.  I met a woman named Jillian.  It was her first day, too.  She is an American from Connecticut and she and her husband have lived in Haiti for 5 years.  Her husband works for NBC.  They lived in a house in a suburb of Port au Prince that was destroyed in the Earthquake.  Jillian was home alone and was buried in rubble for 10 hours.  She was able to text her husband, and even though he was in Northern Haiti, he was able to alert rescuers and was there an hour before she was rescued.  She had some cuts and scratches and was otherwise, unhurt. 

 

Other staff called her Gigi.  This was confusing.  Did i get it wrong?  Later i asked her and she said her name is unfamiliar to the Haitians and so the Haitians she worked with at her last job called her Gigi.  

 

Elias Kaman, the Emergency Coordinator, introduced himself, gave us a briefing and a tour of the WC Country director from Somalia.  He is bright, kind, gentle and funny.  He will be my boss, more or less.  He speaks English, Swahili, a Kenyan dialect and some Somali.  Jillian speaks Creole and was a real help for Elias even on her first day.  (Most of the Haitians speak both French and Creole; some speak English as well.  Creole uses several common French words, Bon Jour, oui, tres bien, mercy, all of which i have nailed already!)

 

I found out that Nelson, who is in charge of logistics, procurement, and security is leaving for two weeks, on Friday.  He is also a Kenyan (should be an NBA basketball player), speaks English but no Creole or French.  WC owns 7 vehicles and has 7 drivers.  One of my jobs will be to assign drivers to written requests for transport.  Compare, my driver, is the head driver and speaks no English.  Bunet, who does procurement and speaks English will be my go to guy.  This should be interesting.  I should have brought Patty along.  She could help with the french.

 

After my tour, we had our big meal of the day - it will be the same everyday - a chicken leg or thigh and beans and rice.  We were offered soda: Coke, Sprite and 7-up in 1.2 liter refillable bottles.  There is no Coka Light in Haiti or at least it is rare.  The food was pretty good. 

 

I spent the afternoon reading 3 proposals for funding special projects and just watching what was going on until i moved into my room - a tent on the roof of the building.  i will have pictures tomorrow.

 

The three proposals are:  partial funding damaged local business for repairs and inventory (this is for some businesses started by micro-loans from WC.)  A national "Cash for Work" program to pay Haitians to clear the rubble from their lot or a neighbor's and help build some semi-permanent housing before the hurricanes.  Finally, a program to help fund repairs to local churches.  The first two proposals were approved by US government and UN organizations.  WC is working in their neighborhood in Port au Prince and with the Mayor and the local "ward" leadership so that the locals are driving the focus as much as possible. 

 

Because it was my first day and the last day for Nick, CRISTA's International disaster response director, we went to a local restaurant for dinner.  Elias, Nelson, Nick, Susanna, a Bolivian Ex-pat who is the CFO,our driver, Compare and myself.  The drive was eerie, beginning with, "are all the doors locked?"  There is very little city power during the day, much less at night.  People on the street everywhere in the dark.  We went to a restaurant at a hotel that was undamaged in the quake, even the pool.  The choices were more limited than usual and I ( and two others ) had lasagna.  I passed on the Conch, the Brit, Nick had.  The Bolivian and Haitian had spaghetti and pizza respectively.  Compare was disappointed they were out of pepperoni.

 

Patty and I struggled for an hour with Skype.  We got video but no audio.  We gave up and i went to bed.  I slept well in my REI recliner, in the tent!  TTFN