Haiti Part 2

You have all asked and you will now recieve. H has come through with an update of her time in Haiti. She continues to work and help with the relief efforts. In everything she is seeing G-d and allowing G-d to be seen through herself. To you H, we are so incredibly proud of you in every way. Your work, your attitude, and your faith in something to behold. We pray for you always and love you endlessly. Enjoy everyone! G-d Bless!

I consider myself relatively tough on the mental side, having mental toughness in adversity or having control of emotions, having the ability to compartmentalize fear, that kind of toughness.

I've learned to place emotions in the right compartment so that years later, I just forget about them.

I think the last time I really cried was when I left South Africa.


Then I came here to Haiti.

I haven't shed so many tears in all my life. Most of us here can't go but a few hours without tender feelings rising to the surface in the form of tears. There are tears of sorrow for the tragedy and unfathomable destruction here, but there are tears of gratitude for G-d who helps us to make a difference every day.

And we are making a difference. You can see it in the eyes of this great nation. I see it in the eyes of the people I have met and helped.


In a medical ward of the University Hospital in Port-au-Prince, family members provide care during the night because there are not enough nurses, so relatives do the work. The world can learn so much from these humble, selfless people.


The few times that I have gone home for a break, have been good for me, even though each time I have left my heart back in Port-au-Prince. When it is time to return my family always say, "We will pray for you and the Haitian people." I think to myself that I need those prayers now because, I have to say I'm a little scared. Scared that I won’t be able to do enough for these poor people.

But then the answer comes: Just stop, listen, give it all to G-d and you'll be helped.

At this point, I'm going on pure faith that there are angels among us, and that it's time to trust in all prayers from friends and family back home and at the same time be thankful for all those prayers.

Miracles happen, and are happening every day in Haiti.



The children of Haiti are amazing. Yes, most are poor, but they love life, and they're so happy. I think there's a special resilience in them, due to many factors which include living conditions, which half of the world would consider awful.

But among the world's children, they are special because they testify that you don't need to have material things at all to be happy. From the naked, barefoot child waving to our convoy, between the sheets which are the walls of his home, to the children in hospitals and orphanages. They are genuinely happy.

We went to the Central Ward building in central Port-au-Prince again the other day. This place has had new births on the ward ping-pong table, at the back of the cultural hall a few times. It just goes to show. Who knew this was possible? A new infant joins the rest of these joyful children.

There are many families here, either homeless or too afraid to go back home. But what strikes me are the children. A young Haitian girl with the biggest smile and angelic countenance greeted me with a kiss to my cheek while speaking what sounded like kind words and thanks in Creole. I saw little kids playing soccer next to the ward building screaming with laughter. It made me so happy.

This feeling of happiness extended to the sick and injured children we encountered when we arrived at Central Community Hospital. It sounds like the LDS Church has committed significant amounts of resources to rebuild the wound care clinic at this hospital. G-d Bless them.

Here I met the sweetest 7 year-old girl. She was standing next to a wall when the earthquake shook. A cinder block crushed her pointer finger and thumb and deeply lacerated her legs and arms. She cried when I helped changed the bandages, but with tears in her eyes, she hugged me and said, "thank you" in English when I was finished.

Her little brother, meanwhile, got a kick out of swiping his finger across the glass of my iPhone while looking at my family pictures. He squealed each time a new picture came and whizzed by.

The first lady of Haiti commented a few weeks ago to the delegation that was here to ensure the safe transport of 66 orphans, "Take care of our children in America. They are the hope of Haiti."



The children are the hope of Haiti.



For as long as G-d needs me here whether it be in a legal capacity or to help change a bandage or just to give someone a hug, I will be here. The progress of recovery is slow, but it is happening. Our biggest prayer now is for all the funds that have already been pledged and donated to actually reach us. To date many of the funds have not yet been distributed in many organizations that are helping here. At home Haiti now has a small column here and there in the back pages of the newspapers; already forgotten by many. Please do not forget. These are people who in so many ways are so much better than any of us. Their humbleness and gratitude humble me. G-d bless you all and thank you for your continued prayers