Bonswa! Komon ou ye?

Oh yes, I am trying to learn some Creole. While in Haiti I worked in the Wound Care Tent (are you tired of hearing that yet?) and I learned to say a few phrases so that I didn't need an interpreter for the easy stuff. I can say hello, where are your papers, are you OK, sit down over there, are you hungry, stay well, and good-bye.

For tonight's blog I want to start at the end of my journey to Haiti.
And I want to tell you about Jordon. Jordon was our interpreter for the WC Tent and he was great. The commute to work from his home takes 1 and a half hours each way. He worked 10-12 hours a day. He was on time every day, looked nice, was polite and worked hard. The first day he came to the camp not knowing if there would be a job for him but came any way because he wanted to work. He was hired that afternoon.

There are no days off when working in Haiti right now. It's a 7 day a week go as fast as you can kind of pace but we did get a "break" the Sunday I was there. Of the 22 people tick marked on our date list to come in only 11 showed up for care. We knew this was because it was Sunday and church day and we also knew we'd get slammed come Monday. So we took our rest when we could and were able to sit and spend some time really getting to know each other.

Jordon has a mom, sister and a daughter. Their house was badly damaged in the earthquake. They are living outside on their street in a lean-to which they share with the neighbors. They are able to store things in the house and go in to get them but only one at a time and there is always someone waiting and watching from the outside in case the house caves in even more. They need to find shelter before the rainy season. I asked him where they sleep and he said, On the ground. I ask what they do when it rains he said, We stand up.

Before the earthquake Jordon was a Science teacher and he taught computer classes. He hopes the schools will open soon, some how, some way.

That evening the WC team talked about how we wanted to help Jordon. We decided to give him everything we had left over from our own supplies. Chuck "the wound care guy" had a large empty suitcase and we all brought things and filled the suit case and more. Blankets, sleeping bags, food, water, t-shirts, toiletries, the list goes on.

The crew kept a list of what was given and I went to the Logistics tent and asked Tamara to write a letter on the camp letterhead so he could take everything out of camp passed the guards. Petty theft is a problem so we wanted to go through the right channels. Big Tom, a wonderful Dr. and man gave Jordon enough money to take a cab all the way home without transferring and walking with the suitcase and bag. The fear is he would get mugged for his goods.

Jordon was so happy he cried. He hugged each of us over and over and was shaking a bit when he talked. He was so grateful for a bar of soap and a blanket!

Most of our group was leaving on Monday night and all day long Jordon kept saying, I am just not sure how I am going to feel tomorrow when I come in to camp. We felt the same way about leaving.

That night when it was time for him to go he asked me if I would walk with him to the gate and passed the guards. Before we left the tent I asked him to tell me something he really needs besides the things in the suitcase. I told him I knew he needed a tent but what else? He looked at the suitcase full of things we all put in there and he started to cry. He was so happy that his family will have some basics for a while. Then he said, Do you think your tennis shoes will fit me? I took my shoes off and he tried them on and they fit! (I've never been happy about having big feet until that moment). I hope he is able to wear them and be comfortable or to give them to someone else who needs them.

I walked Jordon and Mario (that's us in the picture, me, Mario and Jordon on the right) to the gate. We showed the guard the letter, etc. I gave them both big hugs and said goodbye (my flight was leaving that night...but didn't, more later) and Jordon kissed my cheek and whispered in my ear, You'll forever be in my heart. Needless to say I was once again glad for my big Jackie-O sunglasses! I cried walking back to my tent.

They need so much help there. They need tents and tarps and sheets and blankets. I am asking you readers to help me get those items or help with monetary donations and I will buy them myself. I will work on getting them there. I want to "adopt" Jordon's family. I want everyone who helps to know exactly where their donation is going. I will send updates and photos and follow his story. Please write me with ideas and thoughts.

Mesi,
Christine