Reflections....

I went to bed thinking by this time tomorrow night I will be home, walking down the hall of Portland Int. airport scanning the faces to find the familiar...I expect to see my sons and can hear their voices greeting me...Hey mama welcome home.... whats up mothe... hey mom...and Laddie saying how was your flight? Do you still want to stop at Taco Bell. It is what it is every trip home from Haiti! Welcome home.

Up at 6 am, make sure I have everything which is actually nothing but my suitcases and trunk- basically empty but hopefully will be packed full upon return.

I am going home for Thanksgiving holiday...about 8 days. I’m looking forward to the break, of spending time with the family and friends. Touch base. Be thankful.

On the two hour flight to Ft. Lauderdale the first leg of my journey home, the sky is beautiful blue, under the plane someone shook out a bag of cotton ball clouds that dot and shadow the sea underneith. The changing blue, green, aqua, turquoise jewel tones of the water give me peace. Maybe I was a mermaid in a former life.

As I glanced up at the little TV’s suspended from the overhead consol and saw the images flashing, wondering what they represent- images of presidents Kennedy and Obama, olympics, soldiers, injured (amputees), athletes, and more- my mind went to more simple thoughts like hot water, hot tea with milk and sugar, bloody mary’s, omelets. Funny little distracting thoughts that mean nothing in the big picture book. I will dwell on the big picture later when people ask me, is it getting better in Haiti? I want so badly to respond positively but I can only say that I see baby steps. The flight attendant asked me if I was scared. For some reason, that surprised me. I said no, I'm not. Its true, I'm not scared. I'm not scared for myself. I am scared to think we won't see the changes that the country needs to see, needs to have, needs to know is coming soon.

Sitting in the airport with a long layover forces on to do several things...continue to write (ramble or reflect? ) the blog, and since I can't seem to find an appropriate place to nap, guess I'll write.

This week is the opportunity for Hait to make a big step. On sunday- 1 week from tomorrow is the presidential elections. The opportunity for Haitians to make their voices heard. Here is the opportunity for the top candidate make a statement and bring change to this country. I can’t honestly say that I am hopeful that this will happen. I’ve read news stories, books based on past history, talked with people and asked will you vote? its hard to find hope in their eyes, in their voices, in their hearts. Its hard to drive down the street and imagine it to be any different next year. I’ve encouraged them to vote - this is the way to voice the will of the people. This is a way to make a change. People blame the government- Al responds, who is the government? Aren’t they your uncle or cousin, your neighbor? I’ve heard people say they want Aristide back; they want Baby Doc-Jean-Claude Duvalier back. I suspect these are the people that are too young to understand what Duvalier did to this country. I suspect they don’t even understand that Aristide was becoming more like Jean Claude and his wife. Little chance of either returning, the race is looking more like Madame Manigat and Mr. Celestin will be in a run off election in January. Unless a candidate wins by 50% or greater of votes, they will have run off elections Jan 16. Term of office- inaugural day I believe is February 7th.

Mrs. Manigat, former first lady, and I believe former senator in her own previous political career is 70 + years old. Mr. Jude Celestin, a 40 something is head of a governement department building/ repairing roads. I believe the possible first woman president of Haiti is currently leading the polls. There is a history of turmoil around elections but I suspect people will take a watchful eye to see how a new president deal with the aid money, the lack of permanent housing and all else in need of fixing in Haiti. A daunting job for 10 heads of state...let alone for 1 new one that will spend months placing the people of his / her choice into government positions. Lets hope the cholera epeidemic will not scare people into staying home. Lets hope apathy doesn’t claim the day. Let’s Hope. Let’s give them hope.

International Red Cross supports Healing Hands for Hiait Int.

This past few weeks we have been busy first in preparing for cholera outbreak that is reaching epidemic proportions in the north of the country followed by threats of Hurricane Thomas. We have received teams and rearranged schedules, provided education to staff and as well to patients that have come into our clinic. At this point, we are receiving reports that cholera is reaching Port au Prince but all of the organizations in the city are stepping up to provide people with the means to fight and to control the inevitable~ we can imagine that as cholera invades the tent communities, it will cause further disruption to weary lives. We were extremely fortunate to not have to deal with the effects of the hurricane as well. It was bad enough on the west coast of the island. Here in Port au Prince, we had several days of rain, again lucky that it was not the torrential down pours that washes everything in its path to sea- we call it street cleaner rain- but steady, drizzly rain. Enough to keep everyone and everything wet. and miserable. in tents.

All of these problems are causing another major problem as manifestations have broken out in Cap Haitian with the UN being blamed for the cholera. All of this just coming weeks before the presidential elections. Are they ready for elections? Will everyone be able to vote? There are 19 candidates. Some are well publicized and known- There are posters plastered every where including on some cars parked (broken) on the streets. NO wall, gate, post goes un-postered. Graffiti claims walls and gates. Hopefully, voting will go smoothly and democratically and without violence. Unfortunately, this is Haiti and history dictates there will be problems. No doubt increased with the view that this government has done nothing to make life better, prevented cholera, provided jobs and homes, cleared rubble or given voting rights to every eligible person. I'm pretty sure we'll see more manifestations, more tires burring and hear that more rocks are being thrown at cars.

Weather has been cooler- quite tolerable and enjoyable low 90's during the day and mid 70's during the evening / night hours. I've even had some long sleeve shirt and jean evenings sitting. I had a volunteer here who was deaf and signed...and luckily another volunteer who could sign and translate. Apparently, I can pick up some signs, just not the appropriate ones.

Anyway a person doesn't need to many signs/ words to play Rummicube or cards.

The big news this week was the ceremony we held on Monday to sign the memorandum of understanding with the International Red Cross of Switzerland that will support our funding for building our out patient clinic and prosthetic and orthotic workshop. Pictures below. Its such a huge step and they will get it done- I am so excited to follow this progression to rebuilding HHH even bigger and more beautiful for the Haitian disabled people.

Its exciting to meet people that can make it happen! Imagine me having dinner with the head of the ICRC! I can't even imagine it! But it happened.

I'm headed home for some R&R and turkey this week. Will spend a week with my family and friends, do some Christmas shopping and try to relax.

HHH Executive Director Eric Doubt signing MOU

Andreas Lendorff, International Red Cross of Switzerland

HHH, ICRC at table to sign MOU
Peter (ICRC), Dr. Pierre, Ministry of Health for Disability- Margaret and Dr. Peon.

Goodbye Thomas!

Me at Sodo Falls,
Bernice and me
Karen, Fiona and me...

We spent the better part of this past week planning for hurricane Thomas to strike Haiti. Throughout the week we kept close tabs with frequent checks, preparing staff and making sure we had what was needed should we get hit. Fortunately, Thomas basically was a tropical storm that included a lot of rain here in Port au Prince- most of the day Friday and on through the night. No wind which is fortunate for those living in tents. I'm sure the western part of Haiti had a much much tougher time. Most of Port au Prince was closed down from about noon Wednesday for people to prepare for storm. Our clinic was closed Thursday and Friday. All team members worked at Wings of Hope with one eye on the weather at all times.

By Saturday, it appeared the worst possibilities were past and we chose to make an outing by driving to Sodo to see the waterfalls just over 2 hours drive away. I heard about and read about these falls and water for several years not and have not gone. Every July 14-16, Haitians make a pilgrimage to these waters, performing or participating in the voudou ceremonies and ritual cleansing. They pray for many things from financial assistance to health issues to protection.

There are 2 actual falls and and a lot of water is coming through there. While it was cold, it was very tolerable to sit in the waters rushing and swirling and spraying as it hit the rocks. We had plenty of help from the local guides and boys to help us climb up- and down the rocks between the two falls. I'm amazed at how sore my thighs are today!

History per wikipedia: Saut-d'Eau (Creole: Sodo) is a municipality in the Mirebalais Arrondissement, in the Centre Department of Haiti. It has 34,885 inhabitants.

Its name is French for 'waterfall', named after a large waterfall called 'Le Saut'. The area holds cultural significance in Haiti, to bothCatholic and Vodou practitioners. In the 19th century, it is believed that the Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel (or the closely associated VodouLwa, Erzulie Dantor) appeared on a palm tree there. A French priest, afraid of the superstition this would inspire, cut the tree down, but it nonetheless became an important religious destination for Haitians, akin to the Virgin of Guadalupe in Mexico.

Annually, the falls are the site of a large, important religious pilgrimage, during the festival of Our Lady of Carmel, from July 14–16. A Eucharistic rite is held during the festival, as well as various vodou rituals, but the penultimate devotional activity is bathing in the waters of the falls, and asking favors of the Virgin or Erzulie. The water is also sacred to the lwa Damballah and Ayida Wedo, the book The Serpent and the Rainbow is named for their appearance at this site.

After supper last night we went to the Montana Hotel- Much of this hotel crumbled in the earthquake killing many Canadians and others and memories of many visits there over the years came flooding in. A few tears were shed at the site and it was bit overwhelming at first - everyone on teams past have their experiences here. There isn't much left- the main patio area over-looking the city and the conference room center and a few hotel rooms. After a couple of drinks, some of the team members returned to guest house while the rest of us went to Karamel to dance the night away.

Today was a quiet day, resting and relaxing. A bit of rain but mostly very cool and cloudy. I made a couple of airport runs- 1 for pick up and 1 for departure. Some of the team members went out to dinner late this afternoon. Since I didn't sleep much, I stayed at home enjoying the effects of the climbing up and down the waterfall, wishing the healing powers were a bit stronger.