Marching On

"Where pain, loss and suffering are present, the grace of God is present even more." Fr. Rick Frechette

It has been a quiet day here, as the country pauses to reflect on the horrible losses of this day two years ago. Yesterday we journeyed out to the site of the mass graves in Titanyen, where thousands of people were buried out of necessity. We stood over their graves and celebrated mass, where Fr. Rick spoke of the humiliation poverty brings and the absolute imperative that we must dig into the deepest core of ourselves, never forgetting the compassion which is a critical part of this life, for the living, for the dead, and for each moment between birth and death. Today at midday, the bell at the chapel rang as the names of the dead from the NPH family were read. These names include two American volunteers who gave their lives in service to the Haitians. Three more foreign volunteers were pulled from the rubble of the hospital and survived, and have since returned to Haiti to work with the people they love.

My life was changed two years ago today, in ways which I had yet to know. Having never given Haiti a second thought, I watched the coverage of the earthquake and my heart was absolutely compelled to be here. Through the work of providence, I was on a flight 11 days later, and was privileged to work alongside some true American and Haitian heroes caring for the injured and suffering. We witnessed births and deaths, miracles and tragedies. And my heart was deepened more than I thought possible. Over the subsequent months, as you know, I listened and waited for the right time to make a career change, as God continued to work on my heart. And I can tell you that I would be nowhere else but here today. Haiti does not reach the headlines much anymore, with the exception of days like today, when the worldwide media outlets write the progress of the country since the earthquake in a negative light. What is not reported are the massive changes and improvements that HAVE occurred here, and how organizations are diligently working to repair the damage the country has endured and sustained over the last 200 years, before the devastation of the earthquake was even present. I am honored to care for 200 of Haiti's littlest heroes, children who embrace life, love with their entire selves and are the embodiment of hope. Haiti marches on, Haiti will not die, and Haiti cannot die.

If living and working here has taught me anything, it is to be present to those important to you, to truly give them your attention, to validate them, love them, listen to them and dignify them. Cherish those whose lives have influenced yours, and do not rule out new opportunities or possibilities. Relish the moments you are given with the ones you love, and for goodness's sake, tell those in your life how you feel about them! We are all desperate to know we are loved and important, and in the age of crazy, instant technology and material overload, the basics of relationships are often forgotten. Yet they are the most important.

As an aside, and appropriate for today, the following article gives some perspective in response to the numerous outcries about how money is not being spent in Haiti....
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dave-mudcat-saunders/haiti-usaid-reconstruction_b_1199254.html