Changes in Haiti - Big and Small

Belo poster from my friends. Love this band.

Building progress...looking more like a clinic each week. Pictures from 19 August

Gracie, nick-named 'Protocol' by Haitian construction boss.

Beginnings of stairway to basement level

Villa Taino restaurant, near Grand Goave

Taino Beach (before crowd arrived)

Matchbox van, our new Ti Chou (mini me van) arrived 26 August

While its easy to get through traffic, one must remain alert to holes in the street lest we get lost in one.

me with Al Ingersoll

Change happens...eventually. We can see progress on the building site each week. Some weeks it may seem more subtle but none the less it is exciting to see. Hopefully, this week they will pour some more cement. This particular job is a week behind due to difficulty in getting cement delivered apparently.

Driving through the city, we often see new building in progress whether it is clearing a site of rubble, rebar spiking the air or walls in place where last week was rebar. Its exciting to see as well, giving hope that this is true progress but we know differently when just down the road lies a tent community. The tents are worn, torn, or in a few houses adorned with wooden doors, tin roofs or walls scavenged from some source by appearance of rust and what you would expect to see after nearly 20 months of living here (IF you can imagine yourself living in such conditions). As with any home, everyday you try to make improvements with what you have. If your home is near trees or water source (rarely) you might even feel middle class. What Haitians feel I can only suggest; I know I would feel bitterness that the government is slow to form; fearful for my family and home with each report of tropical storm pending; terrified in the dark that our home may be invaded; my heart breaking that I can not give my children enough to eat...these are just some of my fears that I would have on a daily basis. I am also sure that it is the same in all parts of the world -whether ravaged by storms, war or drought.

I also know how fortunate I am, my family is, my friends are. I know things can change in a moment, an unexpected instance - its an everyday thought and everyday I'm thankful that yesterday wasn't one of those moments for me, or my family or my friends. We deal with the bumps along the way, but how we deal with the big changes remain to be seen.

Haiti needs change- its a big picture thing. I believe it has to start with those in charge, the government. One might say the people are the government but in Haiti it doesn't not seem so easily identified by the people in the street. Its more likely the top 5% of the population that wants to be in control. I think its true that you can't change another person, only your own reactions to that person. Typical Haitians may react with manifestations or negative ambiguity and they don't truly feel that anything will ever change. It comes with a 200+ history.

We can only hope that the small changes will lead to big changes that Haiti needs. Unfortunately, these kind of changes don't happen in an instant.