How I see Haiti

Haiti is really hard to describe to someone who hasn't been there - especially if they've never seen a third world country. It is a beautiful island with mountains and Caribbean beaches and poverty. After years of political oppression and corruption, the only way I can describe it is a country of contrasts. The landscape and the people are beautiful, but the cities and the living conditions are filthy and not even close to adequate. The roads are barely passable; there is no sanitation; and the water sources are polluted beyond your wildest imagination.


In the midst of all of this is a nation of resourceful and resilient people with a faith and contentment that I believe is sorely lacking in America. Many of the people have the ability to make something of nothing. Everywhere you look you can see beautiful art. Carved wood, paintings, stone carvings, jewelry, hand-made toys -- all made from whatever they can find. The cars are pieced together and reinforced from scrounged parts, even the shelters people call home are from bits and parts they've put together from whatever they could find. They make due with what they have and are grateful to have it. One of the quintessential art projects in Haiti is made from tin. The final projects are amazing.



The biggest difference I saw between this visit and my January 2009 visit was the tent cities. We were right next door to one of the smaller settlements, and had a chance to interact with the people there. We took jump ropes over and spent some time playing with the kids. They have a small school tent, a medical tent, and a tent where people are recovering from amputations. These people have created a community environment including a "mayor" and other leaders who make decisions for the group. One of the experiences that will stick with me was hearing the entire community come out at 5 am each day and sing praises as a group.


I sometimes wonder if all of our affluence, resources, and busy schedules combined with endless striving to achieve, earn and acquire more stuff isn't exactly what keeps us from finding true happiness and contentedness -- stifling the desire to sing praises at 5 am...