Hope in the air
I recently spent two weeks in Austin, Texas. I think I may have watched Micheal Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11 one too many times as the picture I had in my mind was quite different than what I actually encountered. I pictured American flags on every house and George Bush bobble heads on the dashboard of every vehicle in addition to the standard, “God Bless America!” bumper sticker. I also pictured guns, lots of guns. Austin was so far from what I had imagined I was actually quite embarrassed!
The time I spent in Austin was multi-purposed. I was able to spend some time at Dell Children’s Hospital with the abandoned Haitian boy we were able to get a medical visa for a few days earlier. I was also able to catch up on some much needed sleep and lastly, but probably most importantly I was able to meet with a counselor to do some much needed debriefing, after the earthquake.
It was a strange thing to spend the day doing nothing really, far away from the rubble.
I experienced some major culture shock on this trip. I wandered aimlessly through department stores amazed that you could find everything and anything imaginable all in one store, and all just a quick drive away. I felt guilty just hanging out with friends, enjoying the evening, knowing my dear friends in Haiti were not so lucky. I had a hard time being in enclosed spaces with large groups of people and found myself constantly checking the walls and ceilings for cracks and always made sure I knew exactly where the exits were.
The earthquake has affected me in ways I had not realized.
I find it hard to believe it’s been over three months already. It feels like it was years ago but yesterday. The fear has decreased but not subsided. We’re not in “emergency mode” anymore, which is good. We’re now looking toward the future, pacing ourselves now instead of running. We’re moving from emergency care to long-term thinking.
After three months off, school has finally restarted at Mission of Hope and all other schools still standing firm. This means the kids are getting back into a regular routine which is great. The boys, however, are back living in tents since the school building is no longer available to us.
We’re hoping to finish the construction of the new orphanage buildings we had started pre-earthquake as soon as possible so the kids can get out of the tents and back inside.
The warehouse is still a buzz of activity every day as containers of aid come almost daily. We are still providing food to thousands daily as well as water and shelter.
A prosthetic clinic has been set up at our clinic and is starting to see patients. How exciting that we will be able to provide new limbs right here on campus!
The Canadian team here now, from Falls View BIC church, is heading to Source Matlas tomorrow to start construction on the first of many houses to be built by Mission of Hope post earthquake.
There is hope in the air. The rebuilding is about to begin!
Peace, love and brand new crack free walls!
Rachel
The time I spent in Austin was multi-purposed. I was able to spend some time at Dell Children’s Hospital with the abandoned Haitian boy we were able to get a medical visa for a few days earlier. I was also able to catch up on some much needed sleep and lastly, but probably most importantly I was able to meet with a counselor to do some much needed debriefing, after the earthquake.
It was a strange thing to spend the day doing nothing really, far away from the rubble.
I experienced some major culture shock on this trip. I wandered aimlessly through department stores amazed that you could find everything and anything imaginable all in one store, and all just a quick drive away. I felt guilty just hanging out with friends, enjoying the evening, knowing my dear friends in Haiti were not so lucky. I had a hard time being in enclosed spaces with large groups of people and found myself constantly checking the walls and ceilings for cracks and always made sure I knew exactly where the exits were.
The earthquake has affected me in ways I had not realized.
I find it hard to believe it’s been over three months already. It feels like it was years ago but yesterday. The fear has decreased but not subsided. We’re not in “emergency mode” anymore, which is good. We’re now looking toward the future, pacing ourselves now instead of running. We’re moving from emergency care to long-term thinking.
After three months off, school has finally restarted at Mission of Hope and all other schools still standing firm. This means the kids are getting back into a regular routine which is great. The boys, however, are back living in tents since the school building is no longer available to us.
We’re hoping to finish the construction of the new orphanage buildings we had started pre-earthquake as soon as possible so the kids can get out of the tents and back inside.
The warehouse is still a buzz of activity every day as containers of aid come almost daily. We are still providing food to thousands daily as well as water and shelter.
A prosthetic clinic has been set up at our clinic and is starting to see patients. How exciting that we will be able to provide new limbs right here on campus!
The Canadian team here now, from Falls View BIC church, is heading to Source Matlas tomorrow to start construction on the first of many houses to be built by Mission of Hope post earthquake.
There is hope in the air. The rebuilding is about to begin!
Peace, love and brand new crack free walls!
Rachel
Comments
Post a Comment