Haiti Earthquake

THE Report

In 2010 Haiti was hit with a massive earthquake

Soar was able to Sponsor Redmond’s Josh Wasden to help the people of Haiti recover from the after math.  This is his report…

Six years ago I, Josh Wasden, left Haiti after serving an LDS church service mission among the Haitian people.  Two weeks later they evacuated all foreign missionaries from the Island due to political madness. The people were manifesting against their long time corrupt government. The president at the time was forced out of the country and since then the people have found themselves  trying to develop or rebuild an economy that would be sustainable….

I have often thought that there  is really no book or picture that can describe Haiti, it is just something that has to be lived. Haitians are so friendly and accepting of foreigners in their country. They are looking for a better way, a new light to the future. I could spend all day elaborating on how difficult the situation is and how poor and terrible the conditions are for them but I won’t because they don’t. Everywhere I went I saw eyes with hope and smiles with kindness. These people CHOOSE to be happy.

This leads me into my thoughts on the earthquake that hit the country. You may all call me crazy but I can’t help but feel this is going to be a positive for the people in Haiti. So many eyes have been opened and many of which have the potential to make a difference. I traveled to Haiti with 120 other members (Utah Hospital Task Force) which included Doctors, EMTS, Nurses, Contractors and Translators. While in Haiti I saw so many great things going on. A lot of food, medical supplies, equipment and service has been donated.

Three of my days were spent just outside the city along with 15 others building a latrine, kitchen (covered area to cook and eat under) and 9 tables for an orphanage. We employed many of the men in the neighborhood for the 3 daysspent there. It was amazing to see what they could do with the tools they had. Many of the local children brought mangos, oranges, and bread for us throughout the days. It is so easy to build relationships and fast with these people. We hated to leave the area after just that short time.

Another mission of ours was to assist doctors in hospitals. We wouldwalk into tents that had approximately 20 patients in each one. I thought it would be difficult seeing what was in those tents, imagining the injuries  how could one sympathize with them. But believe it or not, the atmosphere in those tents was almost impossible. They were all astounded that we could speak Creole and that we knew so much about their culture. All of them were just happy to be alive and before long everyone was telling Haitian proverbs and singing Christian songs. Talk about Celebrating what is right.

Throughout the city there are what they call tent city’s (large masses of people living under sticks and bed sheets because they lost their homes) Celebrity Sean Penn set up a  clinic among one of these tent cities. There were approximately 75000 people in this specific location. Word spread to Sean that our group had Creole speakers. So we spent a few days helping his group with their efforts.

These people are so poor in possession, however they are so rich in spirit. I spoke with an 86 year old lady that broke her leg, and lost her house in the quake. When I asked how she was, quickly she smiled showing her one and only tooth and responded “I am great with Jesus”. Marcia a 16 year old girl lost both of her legs after a wall fell on them. She made the comment “I don’t need my legs to live”. Throughout the duration of our trip, I spoke with over a thousand people and not one complained of their current situation! I know that when I left Haiti 6 years ago and now again last week. I have come away with a renewed gratitude for EVERYTHING that I have. I have no right to choose to be unhappy. If I do, I am limiting myself from all kinds of opportunity that life has to offer.

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