Well it's been going on nearly a month since Cesil Raphino and Lesly Elysee had been in Haiti. The trip in February was a fact finding trip and to establish some firm contacts in and around Port Au Prince. Also to see the level of help being administered to the people over there.
Currently, and unfortunately the Haiti disaster has become old news. Also things are somewhat winding down. For us, and especially for some of his Shears for His Glory team it isn't old news nor forgotten. It should be pointed out that at the time of the Haitian quake, Lesly's family was there and his house was leveled. Lesly was stuck here, and hearing comments from his boy "wanting just some water". About a week and half later his family was taken back to Boston, thus allowing Lesly to focus more at the task at hand when he went over there.
For Cesil that was his country of origin, with family ties back there. So for both men the quake was personal.
What they found was large areas nothing but rubble or what few buildings still standing as being unstable. For the most part the people had pitched tents on the street side of their properties. They observed whole houses that had collapsed killing all occupants and similarly a collapsed school (killing the children).
Cesil also befriended a small group of children who are now orphans.
During their fact finding tour, it was frequently observed of human remains both amongst the rubble, and near it too. By the time of their arrival most was just skeletal remains. Like a leg bone with a woman's shoe beside it. If this sounds gruesome, it was, and is. ( I make no apologies on this but it is a reality of the depth of the disaster). The official estimate is at 230,000 matching that of the 2004 Asia Tsunami, (it is well expected to climb far higher).
Basic essentials such as water and shelter are barely being meant at the time of their trip. Tent communities where observed all over the city and lack of power. Line ups for water.
It should be noted the Power Bar contributed a good quantity of power bars to Cesil's and Lesyle's trip. They were handed out, to eager hands. Now begins our task of sorting out where we can help, help as in aiding people to getting back on their feet. As Ces observed their is only so much the Red Cross can do, with their disaster and humanitarian efforts. What ever we can do to contribute to helping out we want to.
2010-03-23
2010-03-19
The Starfish.
We are up and running with our blog for Shears for His Glory, and I have a lot of things to catch up on. Projects and ideas that need to be posted, and results of our first trip into Haiti after the recent earthquake. First can we make a difference to the World's needy? That is a Yes/No answer. To start our Blog off let's begin with a story*:
One day after a strong storm, the weather for the day was fine and sunny. The man was out enjoying the refreshing sunshine and the walk along a beach. The beach was littered with hundreds of starfish stranded and dying. Off in the distance he saw a young boy was running along, dashing up and down from the water's edge.
As he approached, it was noticed the boy was picking up the starfish and gently tossing them back into the ocean where they would survive. It was indeed a futile project to save them so the man thought, as the beach stretched for miles. Once within range of conversation, he asked the boy "What are you doing?"
The happy youth replied " Throwing Starfish back into the ocean! If I don't they will die with the tide and surf going out."
"It is futile my lad" the man stated "the beach stretches for miles and there are hundreds if not thousands of starfish, you surely can't save them all. It'll not make a bit of difference"
After hearing the man out, politely, the young lad bent down picked up another starfish and again rushed to the receding waters and tossed it in. Then came back and replied "I made a difference for the one!"
Yes we can't help everyone, but we can make a difference to some and in turn they can help others too.
Our objective is to help people with livelihood projects, teaching or assisting what skills they have so they can provide a living for themselves and their families. Projects can be portable barber shops on tricycles, block making machines, so on. Or community projects such as a water wells for a village.
Our next post will be a report on Haiti.
*: Note this is based on "The Starfish Story" Original Story by: Loren Eisley
One day after a strong storm, the weather for the day was fine and sunny. The man was out enjoying the refreshing sunshine and the walk along a beach. The beach was littered with hundreds of starfish stranded and dying. Off in the distance he saw a young boy was running along, dashing up and down from the water's edge.
As he approached, it was noticed the boy was picking up the starfish and gently tossing them back into the ocean where they would survive. It was indeed a futile project to save them so the man thought, as the beach stretched for miles. Once within range of conversation, he asked the boy "What are you doing?"
The happy youth replied " Throwing Starfish back into the ocean! If I don't they will die with the tide and surf going out."
"It is futile my lad" the man stated "the beach stretches for miles and there are hundreds if not thousands of starfish, you surely can't save them all. It'll not make a bit of difference"
After hearing the man out, politely, the young lad bent down picked up another starfish and again rushed to the receding waters and tossed it in. Then came back and replied "I made a difference for the one!"
Yes we can't help everyone, but we can make a difference to some and in turn they can help others too.
Our objective is to help people with livelihood projects, teaching or assisting what skills they have so they can provide a living for themselves and their families. Projects can be portable barber shops on tricycles, block making machines, so on. Or community projects such as a water wells for a village.
Our next post will be a report on Haiti.
*: Note this is based on "The Starfish Story" Original Story by: Loren Eisley
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