Nolan's Trip to Haiti

[persephone33]

Nolan was changed by his trip; he's always thought globally, but this was an eye opener for how different our culture is from others. I don't even know where to begin. I've cried listening to his stories, and I feel deeply for the people that live there, and continue to try and make a difference. There are pictures under the cut.



They arrived in Port Au Prince, and then had a four hour ride (in the back of a pick up) to the orphanage in Deschapelles. Nolan said that the roads were horrific. Sometimes paved, sometimes not.


This is huge sheets of rice, drying on the side of National Highway #1.


Haitian children


Port au Prince, Haiti. The building beside the rented hall for church. It looks as if it could collapse at any second.


The children of the orphanage. Aren't they gorgeous?


Nolan and a little girl named TiFi, she just learned how to walk this year.


The orphanage's baby bed. :(


The school. The classroom. Those are the desks the children use. Wood is in short supply.


the kids get one meal a day at the orphanage - rice, soy and barley fortified with vitamins and minerals.


This is the kitchen at the hospital Albert Schweitzer.


One of the boys that lives at the AIDS Orphanage, for children who are HIV positive


And just beyond all the poverty is this beauty.

Comments

[ticklethepear.livejournal.com]

I'm glad he had a chance to see this reality. Wherever I've worked (and this is with people who are toughened by careers in developing countries) Haiti is the last choice posting unless you have personal reasons for living in a place where you have to return to the US quickly.

[heyurs.livejournal.com]

Yes, I have heard stories and seen pics of the horrors from my fellow church members who have been there, too. It is so much to wrap around in your head. It is so humbling and yet I wonder how many of us really take it to heart and realize just how truly blessed we are with our healthy, happy babies, our homes and schools and jobs, and just the peace of mind that we don't realize we do have when we lay our heads down to sleep. I am often ashamed and humbled.

Thanks for sharing this, Carrie. ♥

[maureen.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing... that's heartbreaking and inspirational all at the same time. Good for Nolan... and good for all of us in the sense that we all need to be reminded to get off our asses and help those less fortunate.

[mynuet.livejournal.com]

It really makes you amazed and appreciative of just how good you have it, y'know? I may not be a candidate for Southern Living, but just a roof overhead and food to eat is abundant riches on a world scale.

[seegrim.livejournal.com]

The children are beautiful. I love the pictures of them in their uniforms. It's encouraging to know that at least they have someone looking after them.

What got me thinking the most was the picture of the hospital kitchen. That, and the crib at the orphanage. :(

These pictures are a good reminder of all we have to be grateful for--and what we can and should be doing to help others...

[mugglechump.livejournal.com]

Goodness. It is incredible that that sort of poverty exists while we sit comfortably with proper sanitation, air conditioning, food, and the biggest complaint is that we have too much stuff cluttering our space.

[nbaeker.livejournal.com]

Brent and I want to go sometime. Do some of his permaculture... by helping grow good food, it can only help, right?

It is eye opening.

I'm glad Nolan went.

[dragonsangel68.livejournal.com]

It saddens me that in a world as wealthy as ours there are still millions living in poverty that is beyond our comprehension. Thank goodness for people like Nolan, who take the time to do what they can for these communities, especially the children.

[slitherhither.livejournal.com]

ONE meal a day? I'm staggered.