July in Haiti
Early morning, and
Strung is crying, standing by himself in the courtyard, big loud sobs fill the
air. Guerdeline, 16, walks by, extends her hand and says something I can’t hear
from my balcony and he pushes her away disconsolately. Then Junior walks up to him: he is slightly
taller than 3 year old Strung and he too tries to say something but this time
Strung answers and Junior puts his arm around his shoulders and both little
boys walk away, apparently having found a solution to this mini-drama.
The Foyer is a family
with 96 children of all ages who cry, run, do chores, play domino endlessly,
chat continuously, tease each other mercilessly and laugh….. a lot and often.
It is a normal household! Yet, the only
shower for the forty some boys is broken again so it is back to hauling the
large tomato sauce can out of the well for mini showers behind a short hideaway.
The teenagers are
mesmerized by Facebook which makes you wonder about what is posted and how it
is interpreted. What image do they have
of the “friends” that came for a short time and they now see on Facebook?
Most of my goals for
this trip were met: I retrieved the receipts for the installation of windows
and doors on the large building so I can show accountability to Terre des
Montagnes, the French non-profit that funded this. Thanks to Julie Turner and
her group we had the visit of a US dentist and nurse: only 2 teeth had to be
pulled out! Several friends offered donations and Will Kennedy ( LUM class of
2011)and I brought to the Foyer craft
supplies, undies ( 100 pairs) , laptops, a camera. The children made colorful gimp
and friendship bracelets with Will Kennedy’s help .Many kept what they made;
they are not ready to share with others, they need to hoard this new treasure ,
but a few did give them out and I brought several back with me.
Elphania also learned
how to use old clothing to braid into placemats and pull rugs: it will be a
challenge for her to pursue this original idea on her own. I have faith: ideas
start small but they grow and I hope future volunteers or I will be able to
give her the support she needs and she will pass on what she learned to others.
Will also videotaped
the children's choir for Professor Lillie's fall digital editing class. I also
brought a volley ball and a net. Thanks to the Children in Need club, the Foyer
now has a new frig (one that doesn’t use a stone wedged underneath to close the
door!)
Part of this trip was
to help finish inside the bakery. The
cement counter was almost finished when I left and soon I hope, cabinets will
be installed and running water connected. Funding for this came from the Sisters
School of Notre Dame. A side benefit of my stay was to taste the daily
confections produced by the group of teenagers running the pastry program. They
sold out of their delicious first production of puff pastry "pâté"
and received an order for more that very same day.
Time in Haiti is both
slow and full. The pace of life slows
down but sounds, light, sight and heat fill the days so that when I leave the
country, no matter how long I might have spent there, it feels at least twice
as long but most of all, it captures your heart and stays with you.
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| Boys hauling in the new fridge |
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| Magdala facing George the dentist |
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| Bracelet making |
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| A new cake every day! |
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| Cosmetology class under a tent |
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| Will and boys working on keychains |
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| Remember Ricarlens? See what he built this time! Amazing talent. |
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| Kervens and Emma love that camera! |
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| Volleyball anyone? |
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| Today is rhum cake! |
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| Dieudonne making a bead bracelet |
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| Helping eachother making bracelets |
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| Elfania making rag rug |
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| Papaya tree donated by Ramon and Ana, doing well! |
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| Who thought of sending fur boots to Haiti? |
