Eye Opening Trip to the Mountains

On Tuesday we went up into the mountains. Took the security guard, Odner, with us. These people are the poorest of poor. Although, to me they almost have it better in regards to where they live. It is prettier and not as cramped as they are in town, side by side and millions of people next to each other. Apparently, it is much more dangerous out in the country. On our way there we saw rice spread all along the sides of the road and sometimes on the road to dry. I even saw a cinema and restaurant!! Haitian style of course!! When we reached our destination there had been quite a bit of work done on the road since Karen had been there last.

Our reason for going was to visit a family related to Karen through her adopted grand daughter Mariah. It is Mariah’s biological father and family. His wife had come to Karen for help because apparently he had fallen into a hole and now couldn’t walk and the doctors at the hospital told him there was nothing more that they could do for him, so go home and put some kind of Haitian medicine on it. He could no longer work to provide for his family and now we were there to see how bad the situation was.

The family lives in a 10 X 8 one-room house with 3 kids. The 8 yr. old looks 5, the 5yr old looks 3, and the 3 yr old looks 1 1/2. They have only a ragged old shirt on and dirt all over them. There is nothing to sit on so the neighbors hurry over with some chairs. There is some cooking utensils outside and a few belongings inside (a few clothes, a small box with some of their possessions, and a bag of corn. The dad is lying on the ground floor but is able to sit up. He tells Karen that he fell in a hole but the neighbours said he had been beaten up.

He had been attacked in 2004 with a machete and lost his eye and almost his life. We could see that he had trouble moving his arm and looked like he had a lot of fluid on the knee. We were only there for about 20 minutes and in the afternoon we went to the hospital to get his hospital records. His records did not show a recent visit. We figured he still owed money and couldn’t come because of that. We are not sure if he did get beat up again and if so, why. Karen did give his wife some money to get her by and on Tuesday paid for the hospital bill.

We will go back up to visit again and bring clothes for them. Also, to let them know that he can go to the hospital now to get treatment

On Wednesday we went to a teacher’s house (the one who had the motorcycle accident) to see how he was doing. He has a broken arm and skinned knee. Other than that he seems to be doing fine. He will hopefully be back to teach on Monday. Karen and I went with two other teachers. After that we went to the town of Verette to purchase another telephone for Karen (The one she had with all her phone #’s on was stolen). We also went to the pharmacy where I picked up some Haitian Rum to bring back.

Just before it got dark we took the kids and walked along the canal just outside of the compound. It is a beautiful walk. Saw them working in the rice fields and lots of little goats around. I would love to do that more. Helped with Ti Fi to get her ready for bed. It was an early night for us as well

~Brenda