Haiti: Still the Pearl of the West Indies

In January, 2010, a magnitude 7 earthquake struck the heart of Port-au-Prince, Haiti and killed 300,000 people. As a result, fundraising began and volunteers were sent. I joined a team of 50 from my home church in Omaha, NE and brough my camera along to share in a gallery opening/fundraiser for an orphanage and the ministry that we worked with.

What struck me most was the strength and hospitality of the Haitian people and their resilience to overcome the difficult circumstances around them due to the earthquake. No one can describe this better than Mr. Almando Jean Louis, a lifelong Haitian and friend I made along the way, who works at Praying Pelican Ministries in Port-au-Prince. We've been reflecting on the two year anniversary of the earthquake, hoping that it's recent occurrence started many of the right conversations in the media and that more volunteers would be motivated to go to Haiti. Almando shares his thoughts as we look forward to the city's new improvements and rebuilding!   

1. Hello Almando, what is it like to live in Haiti today? What positive changes have you seen?   Living in Haiti has always been both the sweetest for those who are able to afford their daily needs and a struggle for those who can’t. It is still the same today. This year is called the year of reconstruction and I am so excited to see the roads that are being built, parks that are cleared off the tent cities, lots of hotels and new buildings... I am looking forward to seeing the rebirth of tourism in Haiti and the growth of our resorts, new infrastructure and stuffs.
2. Haiti was once called the "Pearl of the West Indies", do you think this is still true? What should we know about the Haitian people?  Haiti was called the Pearl of the West Indies and is still is though it is not called like that anymore. The news and some criminal or wicked journalist that are making money off their lies on Haiti and the politics of the super power to prevent the sons and daughters of the country that are investing in their country from coming back and invest in their country, tend to focus on the poverty or the dirty parts of Haiti to show how poor and small we are but our sun, our mountains, our beaches, our productions remain original and outstanding. As far as the people is concerned, besides being the first independent black nation, Haitian people is laborious, happy, friendly, passionate for the Lord and grateful towards and for life, despite of all.
3. What areas in Haiti still need help? Do you think more volunteers are necessary?   The whole country needs help in different ways. I am positive that we have enough fish but don’t have enough means to catch them (don't know if you know that Chinese proverb) teach me how to fish instead of giving me a fish. Haiti needs developers, more of the new technology, investors, guides and visionaries and no more rice, tents or expired or used stuffs. We do need volunteers J .
4. What is your favorite phrase, proverb,or saying in french or creole? (please translate) Men anpil, chay pa lou. That means literally " with a lot of hands the load is light. I truly believe that together, we can do immense things.
5. Do you think a picture is worth a thousand words? If you took a picture of Haiti right now what would you want it to say?  Yes a picture means a lot, It has more impact than a words have. I have been asked if Haitian have house, radio, tel, tv... Those people who have asked me those questions saw pictures of Haiti that show them bare foot and naked kids playing with trash. Only negative things and those kind of stuffs is a whole description of Haiti in their minds. If I had to take a picture of Haiti today I would picture the whole land coming out of an egg. Or Haiti as a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. What would that mean to you. I would actually draw something cause there is no where I could take such a picture.

BIG thanks to Almando and everyone involved with this initiative!

• For more information about volunteering in Haiti, <click here> 
• To view more fotos from the fundraiser, <click here>