Haiti Now

by Jennifer Louise Johnson

St.Joseph has collapsed but the joy remains,
Father Michael's laughter so real,
everyone hoping for no rain,
As the children are all safe in Jacmel..
Marcel still hoping for help in Citi Soleil,
Covering his family in tarps to pray,
Wishing for a safe haven to find,
and a restful piece of mind..
While people fight for water and food,
others are forced to move off their land,
Praying for salvation and justice,
as the tide moves the beach sand..
Moving his family miles from his side,
Cajuste thinks about friends who died,
Keeping his faith and commitment strong,
as he tries to resolve what went wrong..
Aid ,security,and food distribution,
Trying to give aid to the Haitian nation,
While bodies are decomposing in buildings,
Political control is needing humanity reforming..
Sofia is thankful her children are safe,
Keeping her spirits held high,
As people gather around a Voodoo tree,
at Myriams compound,singing and praying..
Haiti has many stories to tell the world,
Justice needs to come to Haiti,
Haiti has seen their share of injustice,
it is time for the world to see..
From slavery,warfare, hunger and disease,
extreme poverty to political ciaos,
mud pies to land slides,
and the inflation of merchandise cost..
This is a cry for humanity,
Not to just see, hear , and think,
But an act of kindness and compassion,
For the world to share in this moment..
To bring nations, race and religions,
To rebuild a land that once had promise,
God once said, "moved and done away with"
then this is my hope for Haiti list..
To rid the injustice, Hunger and Slavery,
To rebuild the land,rebuild politics,
Open the eyes of every man to see,
Help the people and those that are sick..
This old man stopped me before leaving,
Stared me in the eyes,and said
"Do not give them a fish, but teach them how to fish.",
To work with love,you must use your heart..
______________________________________
My message about this poem:
Do not look away and say it is not our problem,
Do not close your ears and deny what you have heard,
Open your heart to the endless possibilities that man kind can and must see through..
Open your heart to Haiti, and help make a difference..
Remember, you don't have to save a million lives, but saving one is just as well..
Jennifer Louise Johnson

Copyright © 2010

Haiti To Me

by Jennifer Louise Johnson

It has been two months since I combed the sand in Jacmel,
Spoke with a local artist on his style,
ate fried bananas from the car window,
and saw the cheerful laughter and smile..
Before locals crowded the streets to sell anything from Tupperware to car batteries,
sandwiches to Lemon’s and oily grill..
After the earth quake, there was panic , fear and hunger in the worst way,
almost everyone local or foreign getting sick..
after dark sets in you can hear prayers, the people singing to God,
Crying children and darkness to bare..
and the air,black smoke and toxic smell, stench of the bodies decomposed,
Every other building fell..
Haiti to me,is a vision for Humanity,
a 911 call to the world to do something,
of the greatest per portion ever seen..
Copyright © 2010

 

One of the Mothers to our partner at the mini center

You can see from her expression the devastation she has gone through.

 

a make shift tent city in Delmas.

Most of the tent cities are made with sheets, and have dirt floors. When the rain season arrives in less then a week , there will be a huge problem for the shelter and sanitation of most of the millions of Haitian people living outside in these sheets. There is an immediate need for tents, water tablets, food, and land for many that have been asked to leave the area that they are using for encampment. There has been over 40 tremors since the earthquake that shock Haiti on January 12th, 2010 at 5pm. The dangerous are immeasurable as far as why they do not return to their homes. The cement used to make most of their homes is not safe cement it is flimsy grits that were used , which with a small amount of pressure with cause it to crack or crumble into cement rocks the size of car tires. We are trying to organize fund raisers and asking everyone to contribute to our website to help us in our efforts to help those living in the tent cities and our partners who have been misplaced and some have even lost everything they owned. Please help us. www.pinpartnership.org

Garbage piling up from the waste and debri

These images are from the sides of the roads close to Cite Soleil, in Port au prince, Haiti. Not only is there a problem with food, shelter and clean water but the waste is building up at such an incredible level that it is unsafe to even breath the air. There is this thick scent in the air and when the humidity is high, it makes it impossible to find clean air to breath. There is still a problem with decomposed bodies in buildings that have not been removed, on delmas before I left I saw a dog, pig and cat eating waste like the ones pictured. I wondered if they also eat the animals that graze these garbage compounds. It is a tragity the events that Haiti has indured, even before the earthquake there was an extreme amount of poverty, sanitation and problems with clean water. Now it is at such an extreme amount that at times it is hard to even imagine the damage, living conditions and extent of help needed for Haiti.

Please help us in our efforts to bring relief for the tent cities in and around Delmas and Petion Ville, located in Port au Prince. We need to help them in any way possible. www.pinpartnership.org

Photo's and Videos From Haiti 02/2010

Stayed at The Hotel Kinam 02-09-2010

This weekend I stayed at the Hotel Kinam. There were many reporters and camera men everywhere. I spoke to many of them and each one told me that the most important news right now is on the orphan case, about the two women who tried to kidnap 30 some children from Haiti. I agree that this is important news but so is thousands upon thousands of haitian people who are bracing for the rain season and have no tents that are rain standards and do not have food or water to provide for the needs of their family. It worries me - I don’t know about them. I think that it will be very difficult once the rain arrives. Especially on the hills, where there are houses upon houses - and then account for the mud slides that may also occur then we will have more devistation after the devestation of the earth quake , and the extreme poverty crisis before that. What then ? Why haven’t the larger organization came up with a plan for the tent cities outside of port au prince in a controlled medical, food and water distribution? There are already people fighting over the food after they recieve it and the weak lose their food over the fights.
It rained this weekend for a moment and I raised my hands up and said stop raining. after 10 minutes it stopped but many of the reports and film crew at the hotel were thinking of their equipment. I wonder if they stopped and thought about the children, families and the handicapped that are in sheets right outside the gates of the hotel.
The riots have started on the street and I watched alot of americans leave since I have arrived here. If you go to the international airport in Port au prince you can fly to florida for free if your american. But once they leave the problem is still here in Haiti.  Is there a solution to this level of need? I studied many scholars at the restaurant while sipping my coffee and watched the puzzled gazes in their faces. It was like they had no clue what to offer them or a solution to the food and water crisis.
We did our food distribution on Monday , thanks to the donations received from our members on http://www.feastandfamine.org, partners on http://www.pinpartnership.org and special contribution from AMDA , Japanese Medical Doctors , and a grateful thank you to Nithian. We are sincerely grateful in all the donations and contributions to everyone and organizations, who have contributed to our efferts in helping the people in Haiti. We sincerley thank you and so do the people in Haiti.
I will try to post more before my return to America. I appreciate all the prayers and wonderful thoughts from the partners. I hope that you can keep a candle burning for Haiti, our partners, and staff and my safe trip back to America.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Johnson
Head Coordination Director

02-15-2010 Returned From Haiti

When I arrived in San Domingo , Dominican Republic - I was confused because there were many lines and no formal signs indicating what they meant. I kept asking until I was sure which one to stand in. Then they okay ed my visit with out paying the $10.00 us since I said I was going into Haiti. I thought , maybe there felt sorry for me or that they knew that I would be going into the unknown. I kept going until we were hovered around this belt waiting for the luggage to fly out of this whole in the middle. Then I pushed to the line for clearance and finally arrived to the exit door of the airport. I was confused because Geoff said to get a hotel by the airport and from the way it looked even in the moon lite night that there was no hotel near the airport. I decided reluctantly to ask the police for help with no Spanish or french translator. It was quite an event. I over hear the others say they were staying at Hotel Lena, so I followed. In the taxi however, I started to get really nervous because he kept driving forever and I knew we were going far from the airport. My phone had no signal and Geoff did not know where I would be. So I began to worry..a lot.
I arrived at the hotel that looked like a larger level designed from the 60’s era . It had the look and feel of some old movie scene. But I was tired and all I wanted was to leave a message for Geoff and sleep. It turned into conversations with reporters, red cross, volunteers and church organizations. Then after using a few of the journalists phones I was able to let Geoff know how to find me.
After waiting for 2 hours at the bus station the following day in the hot dry air of Dominican Republic , we met up. The next day we went to the market and checked the prices of food , and later Geoff and nathian went back and purchased the food to bring to Port au Prince. We planned to leave in the morning and I was so nervous about the unknown trip and had a hard time sleeping. I walked over to the ocean and gazed over it until I could only see the horizon..but my mind was thinking back in December when I saw so much hope and development coming forth for Haiti. I was wondering what it would be like this time for me and the fact that what I saw before was so much need..now what?
There was a lot of tension at the bus stop in the morning of our departure. We were thankful when the food arrived then worried if it could go with us on the same bus. Geoff started to get really sick and I was just having heat stroke for the fast change in the culture from Alaska to Dominican Republic. The bus we were getting on looked a lot like the greyhound buses and I was relieved to discover this because I thought we were taking a tap-tap all the way to Port au Prince.
The ride was torturous and very rough, our first driver had been drunk and was driving like a crazy chicken all over the roads , in through construction sights and hit a latter on the side of a truck parked on the road. Then our second driver had a stroke before we even got close enough to the border. Geoff was starting to get a fever and was in and out of sleep. I watched over him and gave him food and water when ever he needed it. After we crossed the border , you could see the signs of the earth quake , detestation in the eyes of the locals, and the thick cloud of dust and cement in the air which made its own cloud .
We arrived very late into Port au Prince, it was pitch dark and people were grabbing bags left and right from the bus. I became so worried of the supplies I brought in Alaska and our belongings. We met Cajuste and some of Cajuste’s friends , then went to the office. Cajuste was talking about what had happened and Geoff was responding some. . all I was thinking about was we made it to Port au Prince alive. wow.
We slept at the office and Geoff kept getting sicker. I started to show signs of something but was able to look over him and take care of him. As the first days of my arrival passed by, I started the translation form from English to Creole, helped with the computer programs, and stocked all the special supplies I brought with me. I had not yet been any place to see the devastation and did not want to ask Geoff to show me since he was clearly not feeling himself at all. I took care of him until he flew back to America.
The day Cajuste and I took him to the airport, is when I was seeing for the first time the real destruction of what had happened. As anyone else , who had seen something a month ago would react- it shocked me. Imagine going to a place and spending two weeks there , coming back a month later to destruction- and how would you feel? I was overwhelmed and then Geoff took off on the plane, cajuste took me to downtown Port au Prince, took me by the apartments that I use to know, the bank which was ruins now...I was with out words. I was thinking over and over to myself, why hasn’t anyone taken a bulldozer to search this and why hasn’t anyone moved the soil over here..but no words spoken. Just looking and taking in all of it .
I thought night and day after that tour of destruction that cajuste took me on..and still could not come up with a solution for the problems I saw left and right, in front and behind me. It surrounds you in Haiti, almost consumes you - if it could.  You are not thinking about yourself when you are in something so tragic, you think to save, heal and rebuild and work every fiber of your being to come up with a constructed plan or method to all of what you see, hear and experience.  There is a huge cry for help every where you look or hear. and it echos not just verbally but in the eye of mankind. I saw many things under the same moon, same sky, and same sun as them.
I will write more later.
I am still sick and slowly recovering . Thank you for all you prayers, support and thoughts.
Sincerely
Love and Light
Jennifer
Head Coordination Director

Update From Me 02-21-2010

I will post in my blog soon. I apoligize for not doing so while I was in Haiti and when I returned. I went to Haiti on 01-30-2010, and stayed for two weeks. I became very sick and I recently have arrived in Alaska and working at the inn as well as doing fund raisers to help our partners as well as the many of lives living in encampment all over port au prince, Haiti. 

02-20-2010

 

Geoff and I participated in a fund raiser for www.pinpartnership.org  Here is the video from channel 2 news.

 

Pop Up Video

www.ktuu.com  -http://www.ktuu.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?vt1=v&clipFormat=flv&clipId1=4562144&at1=News&h1=%E2%80%98From%20Alaska%20With%20Love%27%20benefits%20Haiti,%20shot%20police%20officer&flvUri=&partnerclipid=&rnd=43635677

My last day with the Staff December 20, 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5M13qmY_kAs  My heart feels heavy, and  I wish I was there searching  for the staff of people in need partnership, children, the partners ,lives and families that I was personally involved with. Not only did we make many accomplishments while I was there but we grew into wonderful friendships. We spent a lot of time helping the lives in Cite Soleil, and Port au Prince and still we haven't heard from anyone.

I mentioned several times that I had stayed at St.Joseph's house, Father Michael is still missing. The earth Quake took place at 5pm , their time..and usually father Michael around 5 to 5:30pm would pray with the boys and guests before having  dinner at 6pm. . I pray that he is alright and that all the children  and guests are accounted for...

If anyone wants to donate to People in Need Partnership, please go to our website at : www.pinpartnership.org and click on the Donate button, then you can put in as much as you wish. Between $1.00 to thousands . Also we have a project that we started shortly after my return from Haiti, it is called Feast and Famine, if you wish to help deliver a package of food to a person or family in Haiti , you can donate just 50 cents or as much as you wish and a package will be delivered to a person or family in Haiti. Millions are in need of food, water and shelter right now.

We are asking for everyone's help. Please help People in Need Partnership help in the relief efforts after the terrible earth quake devastated lives that were already suffering and in need. This is a more unique way to help them in the disaster that hit their country and form a partner with a person desperately needing your help.

God bless and protect all of our staff, and pull them back together in Haiti. Bless the restovic's (children slaves) and all our partners and people in Haiti.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Johnson

Enlightenment On My Return From Haiti

One of the many things that I noticed in Haiti, is there are few to no street signs, and speed limits . Which means there are no speed limits. I think it is so dangerous to cross the streets, or walk through the cities with out noticing every car, bus or taxi. You have to always be alert  because they don't have any laws on the street for the safety of the pedestrians crossing the street or walking down the roads. I saw many people with out legs, or handicapped and thought , is this from the people driving? It is worse in the country and the roads are very narrow and wind all the way through the mountains and valleys. There is another think about the roads and streets in Haiti..there is many pot holes, and even sewer , work man holes that are open, so on top of watching the traffic- you also have to look down and make sure to not fall into a hole.  

There was 5 children that I spoke to outside of St.Joseph, by the front gate.They  asked me for my help one evening. When I asked how I can help them, one of the little boys who spoke english a little said he needed water. Since I was a guest at St.Joseph, I had to ask Father Michael if it was okay to give the boys some water. Father Michael said "no Jennifer, you can't give our water to the boys. Because once you help these children , then many will come and then we won't have water for our boys."  It is sad that the simplest things that we take for granted , there is a life that desperately needs these things.

I thought about the Bette Midler  song , "from a distance"  and in the sound it states, " from a distance there is harmony" it goes on to say that from a distance everything is find, no hunger, no suffering, etc. When you actually arrive into the reality that surrounds you, then you truly see what suffering is.. what hunger is , and the truth that a lot of lives are starving , that there are countries that have slavery still and you see that the future in these environments needs immediate help. There are some American's, who look at a person in America who drops out of school- as trash, and then they think they will only end up in  a bad situation. Imagine living where only 10% even go to school. I was fortunate to finish elementary, secondary education and then some college but I stop and thank of how lucky I was to be able to have everything essentially that I needed growing up.

I was able to speak to many people either on the streets, food vender or just walking. I noticed that even the business owners were in desperate need and when I spoke to them they were trying to make me a deal to buy their merchandise. There are some wonderful artists, painters, woodmen and so many other forms of artists in Haiti. Each either learned from family or on their own. I was very fortunate to be able to bring many of these beautiful art pieces back with me for my family and friends. I spoke to an old man who said he has been working on his art since he was only 9 years old, and that is all he knows how to do. He was happy and had a very genuine  smile. He told me that he always creates something different with each one of his paints and he was so happy to show me all his art work. I bought many of my gifts from him. In Haiti he is very fortunate because only 20% of the population can contribute their work or can afford to learn the tectonic to develop their talents.

My work involved speaking to the partners with People in Need Partnership and write about their future goals, dreams and also review their program as well as find out what their immediate needs were from their partners. I spoke to 14 of  the partners, and the deep compassion and truthful suffering that I listened to for hours at  time and each day I would see these partners and we would go over details on their life, their struggles and hardship, and deeper into the conversations they would express to me their dreams. Most of the dreams or goals surfaced around Doctors, Nurses, Mechanics, Dress Making or Cooking. I can understand why most of them would state they wished to be a doctor or a nurse because of what they see and have seen. Many have died in their arms or beside them and there was a lot of tearful moments with some that have lost everyone in their life and they were just twenty years old. 

There was an interview I had one sunny hot day in Haiti and it was actually ironic that she showed up on the day that I had already scheduled the two interviews with partners and after I finished the young girls going to school now thanks to our program , who looked so malnourished and in desperate need healthy nutritious food .. I explained to Cajuste that I can interview since we still had a few hours left before closing the office that day. I had a translator with me that day and both him and I were not ready for what this young lady was about to tell us. I stop still thinking about the truthful pain, suffering and human abandonment that she must feel and yet she is strong and shows no sign of the struggles she faces day to day.

After we introduced ourselves to each other, I asked her the basic questions. Her age, year in school and then I asked her about her family situation. I think now, in my life I will be very careful to ask people "so how is your family or family life" because of this young lady. She was only twenty years old, and her mother died at the age of nine, her father at the age of fourteen and then she became pregnant . She had no family, all her uncles, grandparents, everyone was gone but her and her son. I asked her, after catching my own breath, "what about the father to your son? Doesn't he help you?" ..there was a long silent pause. I looked to my translator , worried now about the answer she would soon give me. She looked up with tears in her eyes, looked right into my eyes , and said, " after my son turned four months old..the father to my child died." I was speechless, and here I was trying to give encouragement, words of wisdom, light of hope and this young lady sat in front of me with only her son. She has many health problems and each day she goes to the main streets in Port au Prince to sell Lemon , and hopefully if she makes 50 gouds , she can have enough to feed her and her son. 50 gouds is like $1.00 in America. I had to drink some of my bottled water..paused for what seemed two minutes, then I turned to my translator and asked how her relationship is with her partner. She spoke only the kindest things about her partner and I could see in her eyes how special her partner was to her.

Most of the children or young mothers I interviewed seemed very malnourished and in desperate need for healthy food and water. At times, I would have to take a break to breath because when you hear the reality from the source, see with your own eyes what extreme poverty is and then you can't help but want to do anything and everything humanly possible to solve this crisis. There is so much need and so much help needed in Haiti, and I hope that people will also want to help these people in need.
I will write soon. Peace and Love.                                                                                  

Pictures of the children in Cite Soleil

With the staff in Cite Fequier