One year ago, the capital of Haiti was essentially leveled in a massive earthquake. Over 300,000 people died, with many more suffering injuries. Disease was an after-effect of the quake, killing many more people.
Today, the nation of Haiti took the day to mourn. We had a moving two hour worship service with the community in the morning. Even though most of the service was in Creole, we felt the emotions of the congregation and mourned with them. As Pere Bruno said, everyone in the room knew someone, had a family member, or were friends with someone who was injured or killed in the quake. But the service did not end with mourning. A passage from the Gospel of John was read and we were reminded that Jesus is indeed the Resurrection and Life! The service ended with a very joyous song and much dancing and clapping.
The capital took a moment of silence in the early afternoon to reflect on the loss they have experienced as a nation. The country is rebuilding. Lives are being put back together. Homes are being built. Hope is returning. And we their hope is in Jesus Christ!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Haiti Trip Days 5-7
I am sorry that I was not able to post recently. Since my computer has not been working, it has been difficult to get online.
The past several days have been eventful, to be sure! Sunday, I worked with a massive cholera awareness campaign, where more than 150 volunteers traveled to Fort Libertie to pass out small bottles of Clorox and to educate people on the dangers of cholera. Each volunteer visited 25 homes each, so many, many people were informed.
While I was working with a group of people presenting information (we had a Haitian who did the speaking for us), we came to the home of an elderly lady. She was sitting outside of her wood and mud home, and before we could get too far into what we were doing, she stopped us so she coudl retrieve a chair for each of the Americans at her house! She found three chairs and insisted that we sit while we explained what we were doing. The guests were offered seating (the Haitian with us, Kismel, had family in that neighborhood, so he was from there, even though he does not live there). To me, her act showed the generosity of the hatian people.
We spent most of the day walking through the neighborhoods meeting people and explaining the dangers of cholera. We did not have much energy after that!
On Monday, we painted the main office of the clinic. A fresh coat of paint brightened the place up quite a bit. Many people commented on how much of a difference it made when they cam in on Tuesday to see the doctors and nurses.
On Tuesday, we began eye tests for the children of the school. With so many children, we are spreading the tests over several days, but we have already identified a couple of children who might benefit from glasses. Tomorrow, we will see more children and are ready with two eye charts and enough volunteers to help make things flow smoothly.
The Haiti trip is almost finished. While Athens is covered in several inches of snow, we are enjoying sunny and 90 degrees! This experience has been amazing, and I look forward to sharing it with you!
Peace,
Adrian
The past several days have been eventful, to be sure! Sunday, I worked with a massive cholera awareness campaign, where more than 150 volunteers traveled to Fort Libertie to pass out small bottles of Clorox and to educate people on the dangers of cholera. Each volunteer visited 25 homes each, so many, many people were informed.
While I was working with a group of people presenting information (we had a Haitian who did the speaking for us), we came to the home of an elderly lady. She was sitting outside of her wood and mud home, and before we could get too far into what we were doing, she stopped us so she coudl retrieve a chair for each of the Americans at her house! She found three chairs and insisted that we sit while we explained what we were doing. The guests were offered seating (the Haitian with us, Kismel, had family in that neighborhood, so he was from there, even though he does not live there). To me, her act showed the generosity of the hatian people.
We spent most of the day walking through the neighborhoods meeting people and explaining the dangers of cholera. We did not have much energy after that!
On Monday, we painted the main office of the clinic. A fresh coat of paint brightened the place up quite a bit. Many people commented on how much of a difference it made when they cam in on Tuesday to see the doctors and nurses.
On Tuesday, we began eye tests for the children of the school. With so many children, we are spreading the tests over several days, but we have already identified a couple of children who might benefit from glasses. Tomorrow, we will see more children and are ready with two eye charts and enough volunteers to help make things flow smoothly.
The Haiti trip is almost finished. While Athens is covered in several inches of snow, we are enjoying sunny and 90 degrees! This experience has been amazing, and I look forward to sharing it with you!
Peace,
Adrian
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Haiti Trip - Day Four
It is a small miracle from God that I am able to continue to post on this blog with my computer out of commission. One of the people staying with us is allowing me to use her computer tonight. Yeah!
Today, we went to visit the Citadel that rests on top of a large mountain. Now, when I saw large mountain, think something coming straight out of the ground and going up about 3,000 feet. We drove up most of the way, but then it got too steep for the 4 wheel drive vehicles, so we walked. We were so high when we got there, we were literally in the clouds. A cloud rolled in on us while we were walking in the Citadel and cooled things off a bit. Visibility was reduced a lot, which was good since we could not see the straight drop off one side of the building...
In this blog, however, I don't want to focus on how awesome the Citadel was, but the state of the Haitian people around it. When we arrived at the base to purchase our tickets to get into it, there were several people there trying to sell us little items: hats, pictures, boxes, carvings, etc. These people were determined to sell to us, no matter how many times we said no. They kept lowering the price. One vendor selling paintings kept calling it a "Blue Light Special," getting some chuckles from us Blancs (whites). When we reached the parking lot where we left the cars and continued up on foot (or horse if you chose to pay), there were many more people with the same items ready to sell to us. When our group headed out, we had ten people walking up to the Citadel. However, about 30 people walked with us. Even though we had procured the services of a guide through Father Bruno of Bethlehem Ministry, we had several unofficial guides along for the walk. They told us the same things we learned from our official leader. Arriving at the top, we went into the Citadel, where tickets were required for entrance. Our legion of unofficial guides waited outside for us to return. When we finally emerged a couple hours later, they were waiting for us to accompany us on our walk down, pointing out good picture opportunities, coffee trees, small cannon balls in the bush. Each of our new guides expected to be paid for his service (no women walked up the mountain). Most tipped their respective person a dollar. I had two very polite gentlemen, so I tipped them each a dollar.
But then the "vultures" came. The women with the goods surrounded us and kept asking us to buy, no matter how many times we said no. When one person purchased, more came to that person, hoping to sell him or her their stuff, too. The prices were always negotiable, but it was relentless. The only way to make it stop was to get in the cars and drive away.
Speaking to a couple of the regular folks from Haiti, it appears this is their profession. In one day, we only saw two groups go up: our group of ten and another group of three. There are not many people who make the walk to the top, which means there are not a lot of people who are willing to buy their wares. What does this do to their economy? That area was completely tourist driven. What happens when no tourists come for a day? A week? A month?
These people have learned to prey on tourists. It is how they receive their income. There is no easy fix for this problem. I certainly do not have the answers to it. I don't know what would happen to these people if folks did not come their way. I do not know what would happen if those that did come refused to pay for a service they did not ask for.
Today was difficult, not because of the walk to the Citadel or the staggering heights we were standing next to (I can't wait to get home and upload pictures of it for you!), but to see these people in that state of desperate need for me to buy a box or a flute or a small statue. A dollar might not seem like much, but as I have already learned, when one person gives a dollar, many more are there with hands out. That is why people like the men I am rooming with are so important: they want to gainfully employ Haitians. Move them from asking for tips for services unwanted to being able to provide for their families.
The work Bethlehem Ministrydoes helps support this thinking. It is important and needed. It is slow, but important work!
Since I am not sure how often I will be able to post on the blog, if you have a question about a youth ministry international mission trip to Haiti, please ask in the comments section. I will do my best to answer them. It will be easier for you to ask while I am here and can find answers if I do not know them than to wait until I am back in the states.
Please continue to pray for this trip. And pray for my family, who is without Daddy!
Peace,
Adrian
Today, we went to visit the Citadel that rests on top of a large mountain. Now, when I saw large mountain, think something coming straight out of the ground and going up about 3,000 feet. We drove up most of the way, but then it got too steep for the 4 wheel drive vehicles, so we walked. We were so high when we got there, we were literally in the clouds. A cloud rolled in on us while we were walking in the Citadel and cooled things off a bit. Visibility was reduced a lot, which was good since we could not see the straight drop off one side of the building...
In this blog, however, I don't want to focus on how awesome the Citadel was, but the state of the Haitian people around it. When we arrived at the base to purchase our tickets to get into it, there were several people there trying to sell us little items: hats, pictures, boxes, carvings, etc. These people were determined to sell to us, no matter how many times we said no. They kept lowering the price. One vendor selling paintings kept calling it a "Blue Light Special," getting some chuckles from us Blancs (whites). When we reached the parking lot where we left the cars and continued up on foot (or horse if you chose to pay), there were many more people with the same items ready to sell to us. When our group headed out, we had ten people walking up to the Citadel. However, about 30 people walked with us. Even though we had procured the services of a guide through Father Bruno of Bethlehem Ministry, we had several unofficial guides along for the walk. They told us the same things we learned from our official leader. Arriving at the top, we went into the Citadel, where tickets were required for entrance. Our legion of unofficial guides waited outside for us to return. When we finally emerged a couple hours later, they were waiting for us to accompany us on our walk down, pointing out good picture opportunities, coffee trees, small cannon balls in the bush. Each of our new guides expected to be paid for his service (no women walked up the mountain). Most tipped their respective person a dollar. I had two very polite gentlemen, so I tipped them each a dollar.
But then the "vultures" came. The women with the goods surrounded us and kept asking us to buy, no matter how many times we said no. When one person purchased, more came to that person, hoping to sell him or her their stuff, too. The prices were always negotiable, but it was relentless. The only way to make it stop was to get in the cars and drive away.
Speaking to a couple of the regular folks from Haiti, it appears this is their profession. In one day, we only saw two groups go up: our group of ten and another group of three. There are not many people who make the walk to the top, which means there are not a lot of people who are willing to buy their wares. What does this do to their economy? That area was completely tourist driven. What happens when no tourists come for a day? A week? A month?
These people have learned to prey on tourists. It is how they receive their income. There is no easy fix for this problem. I certainly do not have the answers to it. I don't know what would happen to these people if folks did not come their way. I do not know what would happen if those that did come refused to pay for a service they did not ask for.
Today was difficult, not because of the walk to the Citadel or the staggering heights we were standing next to (I can't wait to get home and upload pictures of it for you!), but to see these people in that state of desperate need for me to buy a box or a flute or a small statue. A dollar might not seem like much, but as I have already learned, when one person gives a dollar, many more are there with hands out. That is why people like the men I am rooming with are so important: they want to gainfully employ Haitians. Move them from asking for tips for services unwanted to being able to provide for their families.
The work Bethlehem Ministrydoes helps support this thinking. It is important and needed. It is slow, but important work!
Since I am not sure how often I will be able to post on the blog, if you have a question about a youth ministry international mission trip to Haiti, please ask in the comments section. I will do my best to answer them. It will be easier for you to ask while I am here and can find answers if I do not know them than to wait until I am back in the states.
Please continue to pray for this trip. And pray for my family, who is without Daddy!
Peace,
Adrian
Friday, January 7, 2011
Haiti Trip - Day 3
Today was an intense day of work. It began by cleaning out a 40' storage shed behind the school. Normally, that is not too bad, but the Haitian heat (even in January!) made it difficult. There were all kinds of tools and supplies and builiding materials in it. Long, tough, hard work. Then we made the packets and bags for the next cholera campaign. We must have packed close to 1,000 bags and 10,000 flyers. We will bring that information into rural Haiti on Sunday, educating people on how to use Clorox to keep the water clean and not get sick. Then we have soap for them to use to wash their hands. It will be interesting seeing this in action, since I don't speak Creole and my French is very bad! (It has been a LONG time since my last French class in my second year of college!)
The living arrangements here have been fantastic! We have little "pods" that each have three rooms that house up to four people each. Each room has its own private shower and toilet. The showers are COLD, but it feel really good after a long, hard day of working! The food is awesome, and the people that come through here are fantastic to meet and greet.
Today, we also walked around Terrier Rouge, the town near where we are staying. The people are very friendly and willing to smile and wave to us. The language barrier is a problem for real conversation, but we can manage small phrases in French. The area is not wealthy by any stretch, but the people live in better homes than other parts of the country. They have concrete walls where some areas have only wood and mud huts. Dr. Gary Fleming played soccer with a couple of little boys in the street, and they loved it! He also saw a little a little girl he has seen since she was 4 weeks old. She is around 2 or so now. Her mom sought him out to thank him for all the care he has shown to her daughter over the years. He invited her to come by the clinic to have her girl checked up by him.
Unfortunately, today, I also broke my computer, and now it will not turn on. I popped a small wire on the power button, but I cannot fix it right now. I do not know how often (or if at all!) I will be able to continue to update the blog. And I apologize for no pictures, but the internet connection here is slow, so I was asked not to upload pictures.
I hope this is not my last blog entry for this trip, but if it is, I have had a wonderful time so far on this trip! Coming to experience a different culture and different way of life is amazing. Please continue to leave comments and I will do my best to be able to respond to them.
And thank you for your support of this trip and and of the idea of a youth international mission trip in 2012! May God continue to bless you in all you do!
Peace,
Adrian Martin
The living arrangements here have been fantastic! We have little "pods" that each have three rooms that house up to four people each. Each room has its own private shower and toilet. The showers are COLD, but it feel really good after a long, hard day of working! The food is awesome, and the people that come through here are fantastic to meet and greet.
Today, we also walked around Terrier Rouge, the town near where we are staying. The people are very friendly and willing to smile and wave to us. The language barrier is a problem for real conversation, but we can manage small phrases in French. The area is not wealthy by any stretch, but the people live in better homes than other parts of the country. They have concrete walls where some areas have only wood and mud huts. Dr. Gary Fleming played soccer with a couple of little boys in the street, and they loved it! He also saw a little a little girl he has seen since she was 4 weeks old. She is around 2 or so now. Her mom sought him out to thank him for all the care he has shown to her daughter over the years. He invited her to come by the clinic to have her girl checked up by him.
Unfortunately, today, I also broke my computer, and now it will not turn on. I popped a small wire on the power button, but I cannot fix it right now. I do not know how often (or if at all!) I will be able to continue to update the blog. And I apologize for no pictures, but the internet connection here is slow, so I was asked not to upload pictures.
I hope this is not my last blog entry for this trip, but if it is, I have had a wonderful time so far on this trip! Coming to experience a different culture and different way of life is amazing. Please continue to leave comments and I will do my best to be able to respond to them.
And thank you for your support of this trip and and of the idea of a youth international mission trip in 2012! May God continue to bless you in all you do!
Peace,
Adrian Martin
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Haiti Trip Day 2 - Roommates with a Purpose
Today I learned quite a bit about why people come to stay in this little slice of paradise. It is not just to serve others, but to help people develop a sustainable economy. At present, I have three roommates whom I have never met before. One is working with a tree that produces a bean that will be used to generate fuel and a couple of other needed things. He is teaching farmers how to properly grow and care for the tree and how to harvest the bean correctly. Another gentleman is setting up sustainable businesses all around Haiti, run by Haitians, using Haitian goods, serving Haitians. The last man staying with me works for the government of Haiti in the agriculture department.
Bethlehem Ministry is intent on Haitians creating and running jobs for and with Haitians. At times, outside help is needed to get started. And outside expertise.
Today, our group of six broke into three different work groups: our two doctors went to the clinic to see patients, two people went on a Cholera prevention campaign to a rural village, and two people stayed behind to work on some of the storage issues around the camp. It is interesting to listen and share stories from each of the three groups. There is plenty to do here in Haiti, that is for sure!
Adrian Martin
Haiti Trip Day 1 - We Made It!
I've been spending a lot of time with Eli, my youngest son (2 1/2 years old), watching his favorite show with him. Today, I felt like an episode of Dora the Explorer! We checked the map, had to get from Atlanta to Miami to Port-au-Prince, Haiti to Cap Haitian and finally on to Terrier Rouge. After setting out at 2 a.m., we finally arrived in Terrier Rouge around 4 p.m.. The traveling was not an issue, but arriving in Haiti was a somber sight. The airport had a large section of it shut down due to damage from the earthquake last year. They were still trying to repair it. Rubble and trash lined the street as repairs were slow to be made. People all over were looking for simple work, even as much as carrying our bags from the airport to our cars. And there was a lot of poverty. Everywhere we looked on our drive through Port-au-Prince to the small airport for our short flight to Cap Haitian was filled with people trying their best just to get by.
When we arrived in Terrier Rouge, we were greeted by a different sight: instead of trash-lined streets with people who seem to have lost a sense of purpose, the city was trash-free, and people all walked around with their heads held high and smiling. They had hope. Talking with people from the area quickly showed why: the school and the health clinic. Both have drastically increased the quality of life in the area, as children now get a fantastic education and are treated for their illnesses and diseases.
Our church's outreach through this area has been incredible. Giving hope to people is a powerful thing. It changes their entire outlook on life.
I look forward to spending this time in Terrier Rouge seeing the impact of the ministries of churches like ours: churches that work globally to spread the love of Christ!
Adrian Martin
When we arrived in Terrier Rouge, we were greeted by a different sight: instead of trash-lined streets with people who seem to have lost a sense of purpose, the city was trash-free, and people all walked around with their heads held high and smiling. They had hope. Talking with people from the area quickly showed why: the school and the health clinic. Both have drastically increased the quality of life in the area, as children now get a fantastic education and are treated for their illnesses and diseases.
Our church's outreach through this area has been incredible. Giving hope to people is a powerful thing. It changes their entire outlook on life.
I look forward to spending this time in Terrier Rouge seeing the impact of the ministries of churches like ours: churches that work globally to spread the love of Christ!
Adrian Martin
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Thank You, Meals on Wheels Volunteers!
Once again, First Presbyterians delivered meals to many in Athens and the surrounding area who may not have had a hot meal at Thanksgiving, Christmas or to start the New Year. Without the work of all these volunteers, this ministry simply would not exist. Thanks to those who volunteered their time to deliver meals and to those who donated funds to make those meals possible.
2010 Meals on Wheels Volunteers:
Diane Adams
Maggie Bergmann and Graham Gerbeau
Carl Bergmann and Carla Buss
Bob and Janet Bishop
Carole Black
Bob and Nancy Bostrom
Tom and Carol Brown
Tara Bulger
Judy Burch and family
Robert Burton and family
Carla and Abby Buss
Laura Clark and family
Maggie Davis and family
Kitty and Dave Donnan
Bertis Downs and family
Sarah Ehlers
Michael Gavrielides
Karen Gilmore and family
Bill and Lucy Hardell
Diane Hartzel and Carol HErzog
Steve Helwig and family
John and Sara Kipp
Sally Krisel and family
Fran and Richard Lane
Will and Trishanne Langford
Michael Law and fmaily
Sue Marion and Sally VanDiver
Terry and Lucy Nestor
Bob Oertel
Dorothe Otemann and Maggie Bergman
Diana Owen and Ernie Veres
Pam Prokasy and Kevin Weir
Tom and Peggy Reigle
The Simmons family
Rick Simpson and family
Margaret Smith and family
Wendy and Joseph Stunzi
Suzanne and Howard Sugiuchi
Dan and Leslie Trier
The Walters Family
Annette Wiggs
Smith Wilson and Family
2010 Meals on Wheels Volunteers:
Diane Adams
Maggie Bergmann and Graham Gerbeau
Carl Bergmann and Carla Buss
Bob and Janet Bishop
Carole Black
Bob and Nancy Bostrom
Tom and Carol Brown
Tara Bulger
Judy Burch and family
Robert Burton and family
Carla and Abby Buss
Laura Clark and family
Maggie Davis and family
Kitty and Dave Donnan
Bertis Downs and family
Sarah Ehlers
Michael Gavrielides
Karen Gilmore and family
Bill and Lucy Hardell
Diane Hartzel and Carol HErzog
Steve Helwig and family
John and Sara Kipp
Sally Krisel and family
Fran and Richard Lane
Will and Trishanne Langford
Michael Law and fmaily
Sue Marion and Sally VanDiver
Terry and Lucy Nestor
Bob Oertel
Dorothe Otemann and Maggie Bergman
Diana Owen and Ernie Veres
Pam Prokasy and Kevin Weir
Tom and Peggy Reigle
The Simmons family
Rick Simpson and family
Margaret Smith and family
Wendy and Joseph Stunzi
Suzanne and Howard Sugiuchi
Dan and Leslie Trier
The Walters Family
Annette Wiggs
Smith Wilson and Family
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