hump day

welp, i am pretty sure that i have an additional ten pounds to come home with, and unfortunately, i am not talking luggage.  beans, rice, 1/2 liter cokes.  it seems so ironic that i have eaten more - and better - in haiti than i have been doing in new hampshire.  and i am not sure what to do with that fact.

again, excuse the lack of caps, this keyboard doesn't shift well. 

today was another crazy, yet fulfilling day in croix des mission.  i did notice a ton of united nations vehicles and several fully armed trucks driving through port au prince.  it just seems so strange.  i have not felt out of place or in any danger at allllll since being here.  perhaps that is my ignorance, but i do believe it is something more.  people really do appreciate the help we can give.

by the end of today, i could barely move, and believe it or not, didn't want to talk.  so i sat in the back - waaaayyy back of the van so i could just be with my own thoughts and take in the view on the way home.  what i experienced was:  crowded streets, beautifully dressed children, women, and men, garbage everywhere, burning garbage, fires, tires, rubble from the earthquake, guns, several UN helicopters, chickens with bags over their heads (to keep them calm before they are butchered), vendors selling everything from drinks, bread, chicken, pills, phone cards, furniture, tires, bottles, wood, wigs, shoes, clothes, ice, water etc., etc., etc., tent cities (so many), dirt, smog, LOTS of horns, dogs, cats, wild goats, pigs, cows, pigeons, people peeing in the street, naked children, beautiful mountains, beautiful people, and lots and lots of belief in something better - faith - and even perhaps - peace.  how strange, huh?

on the subject of faith, some of our group met up with the mother and young child i mentioned on my blog yesterday (the little girl with the tumor), and drove them to the children's hospital this morning.  unfortunately, it was too much for them to handle there, so bob drove them to doctor's without borders - they were set up in one of the tent cities.  and again, our group was told it was not something they could handle within their clinic....so onto the national hospital where they finalllllly took her in.  they will stay there for tests etc., and by friday we are hopeful there will be a plan in place for her sugery....and in the end, her new life.  i am just completely thrilled.

we worked all day with the children again, which makes me incredibly happy to see their smiles and feel their hugs, but have to be honest, is more exhausting then lugging bricks and cement (as we did last time).  try to imagine having a few american adults (us) with about 50 children varying in all ages and sizes who only speak creole....add onto that their parents and others from the community (we fed over 150 today at lunch) who also mainly only speak creole....pair that up with a ton of the children wanting your attention, asking you questions, begging for a crayon, a pair of scissors, a ball (all in creole) pulling your hair, pinching your nose, climbing up your torso to be held, telling you they are hungry, thirsty, sick, asking for us to help them....all the while trying to understand them, and then thinking how to respond with the bit of creole and french i know.  AND all of this in a very poor, dirty, and i mean dirty place - garbage strewn across much of the property, glass broken, sick and mangy dogs and goats walking around looking through the garbage for a small bit of food, and a smell that might knock a vermonter for a loop.... this is not only physically draining, but emotionally nutty......the children are so happy to hold a crayon, to kick a ball, to use stickers on a paper plate.....what is so exciting is stevenson, our musician, was there teaching the kids a few songs, and i kiddingly sang, '"we are the world, we are the children"and in no time, he began playing it, and the kids began singing it -- IN ENGLISH.  my friend patty and i had tears coming down our faces as they sang, and more kids ran over to join in, and the voices grew louder.  then arms went around eachother to share in the song......THIS is why i am here and while i will continue to do outreach in this impoverished, unlucky country......to perhaps spread a bit of joy, song, and love....because at the end of the day, its not the things we have, but the people in our lives and the love we share...

Too corny for today, huh??  so i close.....

we are the world, we are the children, we are the ones who make a brighter day so let's start giving.  there''s a choice we're making, we're saving our own lives, its true we make a better day, just you and me.

namaste.