Monday, April 12, 2010
A Celebration: Don't Forget Haiti
Hi! Here is the Promo Piece for Las Vegas. Pass the word. Do you know anyone in Las Vagas? Or anyone in the press? Pass this on. Thanks!
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Las Vegas Baby!
I am proud to say that I have been asked to speak at a Celebration Event for Haiti in Las Vegas on Saturday the 17th if April. Cassandra Hepburn is putting this together and she is terrific. Cassandra and I met in Haiti and became fast friends. She is a wonderful human being who is doing some really terrific things to help orphanages in Haiti.
We want to come together with music and speakers to let everyone know that Haiti still needs help but that great things are being done. It shows what can happen when people put religion and politics aside and work hand-in-hand for their brothers and sisters.
I am happy! I am looking forward to this opportunity.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Wondering If I Made A Difference
I have been home a week now and I am in reflective mode. I miss being at the Project Medishare Field Hospital. I miss living in my Shelter Box with Lisa. I miss the heat, the smell, the noise, helicopters and airplanes 24/7, I even miss the 4:30am wake-up call from the speakers at the airport. I learn something new about myself each time I go to Haiti and each day that I am there but I often wonder am I really helping? I do what I can and I try to do it from my heart and for no other reason than this is what we need to be doing - helping our fellow man- but once I get home I wonder if I made a difference at all.
And then I remember:
When friends from home and fellow volunteers learned I was going back for Round 3 they rallied around and donated much needed items. When I needed a place to sleep for a few hours before heading to Haiti and a room for a night on the return my new friends opened their doors to me and gave me transport. I continue to be amazed at the American Spirit and the large hearts of the people I've met from all across the globe. I have seen first hand what can be done when people unite. There are no politics, no history, no religion. There is just a group of people who have a common cause and work together toward a common goal.
By the time I got to the airport for the trip to Port-au-Prince I was lugging 2 large roll duffel bags, a roll bag, a tent that holds up to 19 people, and 8 boxes. All these boxes and duffel filled with sheets and kid's clothes, shoes and toys, crayons and coloring books, bubbles, stuffed animals, suckers and books for kids. It was amazing and I worried that I couldn't get it all checked in for cargo but of course it all worked out. I was able to deliver a tent to Jordan from Dr. Michelle along with shoes and sheets. It felt so good to get the goods down there and be able to give them out.
Still I wondered that first night, am I making a difference?
The next morning I woke up early and went to work learning my way around the Logistics Tent. With the help of the crew I learned what my duties would be and shadowed a couple of the workers to learn the ropes. Unfortunately first thing in the morning (6am) we were met with 2 deaths, both babies. This is something I will go in to in detail in another post but needless to say it's not pleasant. As the day wore on the heat came (funny how you can block that part out when you get home) and the fans were blowing hot air.
A beautiful Haitian girl that I hadn't met greeted me by name and said she had something for me. She handed me a folded piece of yellow lined notebook paper. It was a letter from Jordan. Here are his words verbatim, I have left out some of his personal information but I think it's important to post this in his words. This letter answered whether or not I belonged in Haiti and I no longer wonder if I made a difference.
Dear Beloved Christine,
I search all around the universe to find a sweet word in order to thank you, unfortunately, that word is not exist yet. Allow me to greet you in the precious name of Love, because everything was created by Love.
Christ, you are more than a friend for me...some say there's no fate, for me it's different, if it weren't for fate I would not have you. I write to you just to let you know exactly the way I am living, you show me too much, I have nothing to hide to you.
Christine, I am from a poor family, where my dad didn't care of my mother nor me, but since my childish I thought of being something in life, that's why I went to school, after high school I studied Electronic, Computer programming besides all I became a teacher.
...My friend, I have so much to explain to you, because by now I feel that I find a friend who cares of me, thank you for what you did for me, thank you for what you have done for me, thank you for what you are doing for me and for all that you'll have to do in the future. I am not ashamed...because I know what God wants no one can prevent it from happening.
...you make me happy again, I didn't think that I would find someone who so cares of me. Once more, thank you my guiding star.
Sincerely yours,
Jordan
I can add no more, I think this speaks for itself and it speaks volumes about how a little love and a helping hand can change forever the life of the one who received and the one who gave.
And then I remember:
When friends from home and fellow volunteers learned I was going back for Round 3 they rallied around and donated much needed items. When I needed a place to sleep for a few hours before heading to Haiti and a room for a night on the return my new friends opened their doors to me and gave me transport. I continue to be amazed at the American Spirit and the large hearts of the people I've met from all across the globe. I have seen first hand what can be done when people unite. There are no politics, no history, no religion. There is just a group of people who have a common cause and work together toward a common goal.
By the time I got to the airport for the trip to Port-au-Prince I was lugging 2 large roll duffel bags, a roll bag, a tent that holds up to 19 people, and 8 boxes. All these boxes and duffel filled with sheets and kid's clothes, shoes and toys, crayons and coloring books, bubbles, stuffed animals, suckers and books for kids. It was amazing and I worried that I couldn't get it all checked in for cargo but of course it all worked out. I was able to deliver a tent to Jordan from Dr. Michelle along with shoes and sheets. It felt so good to get the goods down there and be able to give them out.
Still I wondered that first night, am I making a difference?
The next morning I woke up early and went to work learning my way around the Logistics Tent. With the help of the crew I learned what my duties would be and shadowed a couple of the workers to learn the ropes. Unfortunately first thing in the morning (6am) we were met with 2 deaths, both babies. This is something I will go in to in detail in another post but needless to say it's not pleasant. As the day wore on the heat came (funny how you can block that part out when you get home) and the fans were blowing hot air.
A beautiful Haitian girl that I hadn't met greeted me by name and said she had something for me. She handed me a folded piece of yellow lined notebook paper. It was a letter from Jordan. Here are his words verbatim, I have left out some of his personal information but I think it's important to post this in his words. This letter answered whether or not I belonged in Haiti and I no longer wonder if I made a difference.
Dear Beloved Christine,
I search all around the universe to find a sweet word in order to thank you, unfortunately, that word is not exist yet. Allow me to greet you in the precious name of Love, because everything was created by Love.
Christ, you are more than a friend for me...some say there's no fate, for me it's different, if it weren't for fate I would not have you. I write to you just to let you know exactly the way I am living, you show me too much, I have nothing to hide to you.
Christine, I am from a poor family, where my dad didn't care of my mother nor me, but since my childish I thought of being something in life, that's why I went to school, after high school I studied Electronic, Computer programming besides all I became a teacher.
...My friend, I have so much to explain to you, because by now I feel that I find a friend who cares of me, thank you for what you did for me, thank you for what you have done for me, thank you for what you are doing for me and for all that you'll have to do in the future. I am not ashamed...because I know what God wants no one can prevent it from happening.
...you make me happy again, I didn't think that I would find someone who so cares of me. Once more, thank you my guiding star.
Sincerely yours,
Jordan
I can add no more, I think this speaks for itself and it speaks volumes about how a little love and a helping hand can change forever the life of the one who received and the one who gave.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
A picture's worth a thousand words
Little Boy Lost -PTSD in the flesh, he doesn't talk or smile or move from the bed. Poor Little one. He was trapped in his house with his family after the earthquake. He's the only survivor.
Mario and Jordan - Haitian workers
Jordan now has a tent courtesy of Dr. Michelle. He calls it a "mansion".
This little beauty lost her leg to amputation after the quake. She likes to have her picture taken so she can see herself on the screen.
A couple of the orphans in camp. They are so loving and smiley. It's unbelievable what they've gone through and yet they trust the adults completely. They are good soccer players too!
Even in their struggles they smile.
Tiny little bundles of love. It's great to go in to hold the babies and have to stand in line behind the soldiers who have come over on their time off to take care of the little ones, feed them, change them. A couple of young guys were arguing over who got to hold the baby next. "Time's Up" one told the other.
Want a shirt? Call 702-427-6667. $35 and proceeds go to 5 different orphanages in Haiti.
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