A Heart For Haiti
I have a heart for Haiti. I had the privilege of visiting schools and orphanages in Haiti in 1997 because my husband Dick (an architect) and others had designed a church/school for 400 children that would sit right in the middle of Port-au-Prince. He volunteered his time for about seven years along with a group of other professionals who volunteer in third world countries.
The poverty in Haiti is devastating and unimaginable–– hundreds of thousands live in homes made of cardboard and tin. People are desperate and hungry. Their circumstances are heartbreaking but the people themselves––their humor, faith, and resolve in the face of despair is heart warming. These families have always needed our help, but now more than ever.
I can only imagine the number of orphans that will be added to the already alarming number. When we visited orphanges we attempted to bring a little light with a few school supplies and some lollipops––yes, sweet tooths in small children seem to be universal! A few years ago Dick and I met Dixie Bickle. She runs an orphanage in Haiti and was interviewed by Matt Lauer on the Today show this morning. I’ve never visited her orphanage, God’s Littlest Angels (it didn’t exist when I was there) but I have spoken with her about her programs and about volunteering at the orphanage. The great news is, all of her children are safe although they had to spend the night outside. Check out her interview on the Today web site and also learn more about the orphanage and international adoptions at her website: glahaiti.org
Update – Jan 17th Dixie appeared on Larry King.
Update - Jan 18th Dixie was on CNN. She had amazing news––the government is releasing orphans that have already been adopted. Sixty were going to the Netherlands, some to the U.S. and some to Canada. When those children are gone she says she will go down to the streets of Port au Prince to bring orphans back to Gods Littlest Angels. Funding for GLA is crucial. Dixie is amazing. Her spirit draws you in. If you can help, I know glahaiti.org is worthy!
And here’s another site I think you will appreciate. It’s another orphanage, Mercy and Sharingin started by another amazing woman, Susie Krabacher. Her personal story is inspiring––from former Playboy centerfold (read some of the archived information on her website, haitichildren.com) to award winning humanitarian. She also takes care of special needs children who have no home, and she has an abandoned baby unit in a hospital.
Update Jan 17th Some of her orphanges and schools have survived, others she’s not sure about, and she is concerned about the children and her staff.
As you can see from our pictures, the children of Haiti are beautiful. They have ready smiles and are adorable dressed in their crisp school uniforms ready to learn! Children sit on benches, shoulder to shoulder with very few supplies––that’s how 400 can have classes in a church basement. And though this is a private school, it costs only dollars a month and is attended by very poor children. Thankfully, when the earthquake hit, most likely school was not in session. We pray that the church is still standing and that there were no injuries at that location.
Update Jan. 21 Dick just found out that the church/school collapsed. We do not know if anyone was inside.
Edna and Dick, It is evident that you have a real caring for the Hatians. Thanks for sharing and keep us posted. The organizations you mention are really helping the people. I recommend everyone look at the sites.
Where did you stay while you were in Haiti?
Sorry i couldn’t get back to you right away. We stayed in a compound of small one-story units. It was clean but bare-bones. It had a huge wall around it with broken bottles on top and a huge gate that let cars in and out. It had cement floors and a shower that worked some of the time. The electricity was the same way––periodically it would just go out and there would be no more reading or seeing the hand in front of your face for the rest of the evening! There was a small pool in the middle of the units and also a meeting room and a kitchen where we took most of our meals. We were told the compound was used as a respite for missionaries especially those coming to Port-Au-Prince from the rural areas of Haiti. The sounds at night were unfamiliar and took some getting used to. We could hear drums in the distance and chinking all during the night. Just outside our compound was an older man sitting on a pile of rocks––he was simply turning the rocks into gravel.
I’ll return again, and I’m also subscribing to your feed, thanx.
Thank you.
Great. I’ll be sharing what i know about Haiti relief as I learn more.