Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

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Haiti has had an unexpected impact on me.  When driving into the country I was


truly broken and hurt by the sights of Port Au Prince.  Just the amount of trash is disgusting, not to mention that people live, bath and cook in and around it daily.  The whole scene is frustrating and depressing. 


Working with Mission of Hope International, we are South West of Port Au


Prince, on the Southern Peninsula of Haiti. 


             

The earthquake did leave building in ruins, children without parents and people without families.  The dream of Mission of Hope International is to create a compound to house an international church, a school, pharmacy, library, kitchen, dorm rooms and storage.  The goal is to construct the building to CA and FL earthquake standards.  This will be a first in Haiti.  This month we are a blessing, with 46 capable people ready to enhance their construction effort.  We are not equal to but a few Haitian workers, but we are working hard in multiple areas to bring structure, organization and creativity to their dream. 

The MOHI site is a little world in itself.  As I mentioned, it is a hub of


construction for a future dormatory, library, church, pharmacy and school and therefore a demanding task.  In this world we are sheltered from walking the streets and neighborhoods, scouring the market vendors and general exploring.  We have walked through neighborhoods on occasion, but typically drive through the market area to get to the mission site.  Observing the area we see naked babies running around with chickens, goats and pigs.  There are tents, wooden huts, and cement remains.  At all times of day people are out of there homes, sitting outside, watching the white people walk by, hanging laundry, or getting their hair done.  (It is a wonder to me what people do with all their time.)  Dirt is everywhere.  Trash is dropped at will.  There is a main road; it is extremely unsafe.  Children are allowed to roam far from home, unsupervised and unclothed.  Solid, safe homes don’t exist.  One room cement buildings serve as homes.  They have dirt floors; a garage is unnecessary because no one drives.  Orphanage children are envied.  The air is not fresh, the scent of trash, poo, dirty animals, grease, sweat, sea water, and diesel mix together for a not so pleasant fragrance.



          The sites and sounds are not all as depressing as the area in Port Au Prince I saw

on the drive to Grand Guave.  I do realize I haven’t spent any actual time in the capital, though through the stories of others I am told it is as it appears: dirty and smelly with endless commotion.  Grand Guave has a bustling market with fruit, vegetables, seafood, meat, apparel, domestic supplies and an additional assortment of goods. 


            I have seen fishermen go out in their boats in the early morning, only to see people selling the daily catch in the afternoon.  No matter when you walk through town, women are stirring large pots of rice or frying something into an even unhealthier something.  To some degree you can see money exchange hands.  Goud is passed in cash or not at all.  ATMS do not exist in Haiti, nor do Haitian dollars.  Yet, all prices are set in Haitian dollars. J  American dollars are acceptable.  It’s a system, inefficient-yes, complicated-yes, working-barely.