Marble Matches, Majestic Mountains, & Michael Jackson

Marbles are gold in Haiti.

Monday ended with Jon going over to ARC for soccer, Dr. Scottie, HHI and Shana, PT helping out in warehouse and I treating 2 patients in tents at ARC then going over to “futbol/soccer” practice. ARC at night is a different camp. There is this ground area that has been made into a marble field and there are SERIOUS marble games going on. If you are lucky enough to have a marble, you can play. Adults and children both play and man it is serious stuff. Marbles are like GOLD in Haiti.

People are gathering and talking to each other, some are playing their Ipods and singing to Backstreet Boys, Michael Jackson and others with the songs written down—they made me sing with them tonight and my singing voice is something NO ONE wants to hear, and TONS of others gather to watch the “futbol” players practice.

All I know is that when I stepped over to watch the “futbol” game between ARC players with my son, Jon, included. I noticed that it was cooler, the sun was setting in the mountains with the pink, gold and purple colors, and the giant lightening bolts were seen in the distance. I talked to several friends, gathered up a baby that was throwing “raspberries” with her lips and laughing at me, I held her close, she snuggled up and fell asleep on my shoulder amidst the cheering of the ARC futbol game, surrounded by all the many Haitians that I have grown to love—I breathed it all in and felt complete and utter peace and joy! What a way to end a tiring long day! How could I ever ask for more…

Bon Wee!

Nancy

Haiti

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This entry was posted by Nancy on June 15, 2010 at 7:46 am, and is filed under Haiti Updates. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.

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Update from Junior: Massaging away the cold

about 1 year ago - No comments

That picture is from the evacuation. Everybody asked for a massage because the cold weather gives some people pain.

Move-in Day is here!

about 1 year ago - No comments

Our 40 Camp Hope amputees will move into the new houses today! Big celebration going on at Camp Hope at 12:30 pm put on by Love A Child Orphanage as these people move in! Have a great day, Camp Hope!!

Camp Hope Photos

about 1 year ago - No comments

We placed many photos on the walls of the PT tent for people to review which turned out to be the most popular event of the party. You could see people gathered in groups or individually looking intently at their photos. Many of the children and teenagers would gather together to view each other’s photos and remember the months from Jan to Oct. The adults were seen sharing their photos with the kids or sharing their photos with each other. Smiles and laughter but also tears were brought out with the photos. Even some would go off a little ways from the party, sit by themselves and view their picture when they thought no one was looking. You could see the thoughts/emotions. For me, it was a tender time for I just watched the expressions and the grouping of the people of Camp Hope as they shared with each other but also they processed their progress and life up to this point…
On my last night, I was at Camp Hope late for I had several people wanting to have their picture taken before I left. We will be sending these pictures down for handout next month. All I can say is THANK YOU, THANK YOU, and THANK YOU for the volunteers that took the time and effort to send photos to me to share! It meant the world to Camp Hope!

Cholera outbreak north of PaP

about 1 year ago - No comments

Cholera outbreak north of PAP, Haiti. It has not infected our camp at present. Any volunteers returning to Haiti–read up on preventions and the cause.
Article on CNN.com: Sick desperate to get help as Haiti cholera outbreak kills 138

Partners in Health report as the numbers rise throughout the day: Cholera in Haiti: Another Disease of Poverty in a Traumatized Land | Partners In Health

Nou Pa 2

about 1 year ago - No comments

The uniforms were presented as a HOLIA gift at the party. In the typical dear fashion that our Haitian friends have, the uniforms were accepted with great joy, some awe, and thankfulness. The girls and the little ones were so excited that we had uniforms for them also! After the party, I had a discussion with Camp Hope Leader, Patrick. Back to LAC the uniforms would go until we could figure out where they would be kept safe from the weather and other concerns.

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When the earthquake happened, the Haitian people looked upon HHI, HOLIA, ARC and LAC as volunteers just trying to help them all. He said that many of the HOLIA volunteers began playing soccer with them all. At that time, Camp Hope still looked at the volunteers as volunteers playing against the Haitians.

My son, Jon came in June to volunteer for 2 weeks. At that time, the soccer coach recruited Jon to play on Camp Hope’s Soccer Team. Jon practiced every day with them and played 2 games against local competition upon which he scored the winning goal in 1 of the games. Patrick said that while watching that game—they realized that we were not separate. Suddenly all the volunteers and Camp Hope—WERE NOT 2 —WE ARE ONE!

Could Camp Hope ever give us a greater gift?

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Jessi’s photos from her trip

about 1 year ago - No comments

Jessi White took these photos of her time that last week in Haiti!
(Click on the photo to see the album on Facebook).
I will say more about this incredible group in a future post but for now–enjoy her photos!
Thank you Jessi! You are a huge light that always seems to shine brightly!

Kevin’s pictures of his 2nd trip

about 1 year ago - No comments

Kevin just posted his pictures of his 2nd volunteer trip to Haiti (click on the photo to see the album on Facebook).
Thanks Kevin for all the great food that last week!

“Therapist Moove” by Jean Robert Fontaine

about 1 year ago - No comments

A wonderful painting was gifted to me by Nancy! I will cherish it always and remember our time in Haiti through it. Nancy requested the painting from Jean Robert Fontaine (the painter who now lives at Camp Hope). The painting is titled “Therapist Moove.” When facing the painting, the top left corner represents the earthquake; the arms, legs and body represent physical therapy; the faces represent the Haitian people; the sun and moon can be seen near the center repsenting hope; the bottom right corner in blue and represents ‘calm.’ More of Jean Robert Fontaine’s paintings can be found at www.lobey.net/Jean_robert_fontaine.html.

Reflecting

about 1 year ago - No comments

As I reflect, what we all did was so massive and really great that I do not know how to put this all in words to have all 100 plus of you volunteers understand just what we all have accomplished. Also, the last week was so filled with strong emotions from one end of the spectrum to the other that I am having difficulty putting that last week down in words. Just processing it all but soon will take the time to try to express and tell the story of our last week.