May 24, 2008
After savoring a delicious rainfall overnight to cool the air, we sat down as a group and talked with the head cook chez Bette to gain a better understanding of the social network here in Jeremie. It was fascinating to hear about her relationships within Jeremie, her social groups, her church and her family structure. She’s been working for Bette for 14 years, and one of the most striking things she said was that she goes to Edwin (Bette’s husband) and Bette first if she has any sort of problem or need. It speaks highly of her relationship with them.
We walked into town and had an amazing tour given by Roxane. After the tour, we spent the day at the Sisters of Charity. The Sisters are dedicated to service, doing truly inspiring work of taking care about 50 kids spanning from a month-old infant to school-aged children. Additionally, the Sisters care for over 50 adults, both men and women, who are recovering from major illness and/or dying. The most common diagnoses for the adults are HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. Despite very limited resources, the Sisters do an amazing job of providing a place where children and adults who are hungry, sick, or dying can find a home.
We arrived about a half-hour before lunch and engaged the children in coloring pictures, which was a blast (thanks for all of the coloring book and crayon donations!!) A few of the visiting family members even colored with us. When lunch arrived, we all helped feed the youngest babies. Many of the children come to the Sisters of Charity to live because their families simply do not have enough food or resources to take care of them, not necessarily that their parents have passed away. Needless to say, many of the children arrive very malnourished. Rocking one small child in my arms today, I was in disbelief that the child I held was one-and-a-half years old: she could not hold her head up, did not make a sound and maintained a listless expression on her face. The baby that Cezanne was feeding could barely eat because he coughed so much (most likely pneumonia) that he kept choking. With care and good nutrition, the children show remarkable changes, and transform into bundles of energy. After saying our goodbyes to the children, we began our activities at the adult hospice (men and women live in separate buildings). We made tissue-paper flowers, painted the women’s nails and gave the men hand massages. Seeing the smiles and excitement of everyone was incredible.
Leaving the Sisters of Charity left us, as Sara says, “ just one hill more to walk up.” The hill, however is a solid one-mile uphill hike that made even the fittest of us a bit winded. On our way up, we stopped off at another community-run orphanage that housed about thirty kids. These kids were incredible. We walked in to drop off coloring books and other supplies and were treated to one of the most surreal experiences of a very surreal day: two teens brought out musical instruments for all of the children, who then chose their appropriate musical instrument: tambourines, reed flutes, drums, clappers, a keyboard piano. The children then began to sing perfectly choreographed hymns in English. We all sang along to “This Little Light of Mine” and “The Saints Go Marching In.” It is hard to convey in words the enthusiasm of these kids, swaying back and forth, singing their hearts out. Incredible. Just incredible. As we finished our sweaty walk up the one hill of Jeremie-- a long, long hill--we were overwhelmed by the immense need in Haiti, yet uplifted by the spirit and work of the people of Jeremie.