The few days leading up to a volunteer trip to Haiti are always the most challenging for me. More challenging than packing up my family to go to the beach, more nerve racking than getting ready for a cruise. My checklist are numerous and loooooooooooong. Going to Haiti is such that you literally have to pack everything AND the kitchen sink. Do I have my passport? Is my will up to date? Did I leave enough money for my in-laws in case of emergency, I have to record the bedtime story book for the girls before I go to bed, Contact list for in –laws…is it printed out?, My daughter is going to kindergarten orientation while I am away..I have to lay out two outfit options for her and make sure the paper work is clipped to it for my sister-in-law who will be taking her for me. Did I pack all the pieces to the projector? Do I have the right size batteries for the speaker, should I bring my zinc or leave it? Is the house clean, gotta wipe the counter down or the ants will invade. Gotta text my cousin for my uncle in Haiti’s phone number, Reviewing, reviewing, double checking. I only got 1 hour of rest. The time was pouring out before me like sand. I couldn’t stop it. I laid down on the couch and soon I heard the chirping of my cell phone alarm. Its show time. The airport check in experience will be a bear . We have 40 pieces of luggage t o check in and I don’t want to be rude or snappy so I must breathe, Pray and remain calm for all of us.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Correspondence is good
Hello Katty,
I just got into Tampa. Email did not work well these past days in Haiti. I could not wait to get in the States to check my mail. Did you guys make it home safe?
I brought the camera one of you left back. Can you please find out whose is it? so, I can mail to you or to the person. I am only going to be in the State for a week. I must return for a meeting with the Ambassador and a rencontre with OCHA,. I am so very excited about that. I just pray something will pan out for, I can only do so much alone. Please call or email.
I would like the group email so I can thank them personally. I am still cannot believe you could pull this off. Katty, you are incredible, Words alone cannot express Pastor and I gratitude to you and all the volunteers. Gressier people were amazed that such a large group of wonderful people, would come and be with them. They are talking about you all everyday. You sure have left your mark.
Please hug Eric and the girls for me. Pastor says hi and thank you.
Love,
Marlene
Marlene Berthelot, Executive Director
Haitian Mission Par La Foi
(727) 543-0867
www.saveourhaiti.com
I just got into Tampa. Email did not work well these past days in Haiti. I could not wait to get in the States to check my mail. Did you guys make it home safe?
I brought the camera one of you left back. Can you please find out whose is it? so, I can mail to you or to the person. I am only going to be in the State for a week. I must return for a meeting with the Ambassador and a rencontre with OCHA,. I am so very excited about that. I just pray something will pan out for, I can only do so much alone. Please call or email.
I would like the group email so I can thank them personally. I am still cannot believe you could pull this off. Katty, you are incredible, Words alone cannot express Pastor and I gratitude to you and all the volunteers. Gressier people were amazed that such a large group of wonderful people, would come and be with them. They are talking about you all everyday. You sure have left your mark.
Please hug Eric and the girls for me. Pastor says hi and thank you.
Love,
Marlene
Marlene Berthelot, Executive Director
Haitian Mission Par La Foi
(727) 543-0867
www.saveourhaiti.com
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
HOME
You feel that? Like someone is blowing up a water balloon in my chest. I learned years ago from a doctor that that feeling in my chest is not my heart. I thought I was dying or at least suffering with some type of heart problem. I went to my aunt's doctor because at the time, I didn’t have one. She hooked me up to the EKG machine and then she broke the news to me. I had already finished explaining to her that I was short of breath and that nothing I did could relieve the tightness in my chest. She said to me...I'm sorry to tell you this but that feeling is not your heart...Its anxiety.
I can honestly say that in all my time in Haiti, en route on a sometimes turbulent plane, surrounded by strangers on a mountain sprinkled with voodoo paraphernalia on walls and trees, riding in a beat up truck, sucking down fumes and exhaust, sleeping outside in a tent right next to a gas run generator with boards of wood propped up as my gate, with a group of 21 people depending on me and my husband to make critical decisions, in the heat and relentless schedule...I never ONCE felt this feeling in my chest. Back in the states 3 days and my rib cages is propped up on the imaginary shelf above my diaphragm. It won’t ease down or soften. The anxiety is back.Leaving Haiti I realized that I was completely in my element when I was with the people in hills and by the beach. There was no question I was doing what I loved and enjoying every aching, tiring minute of it.
In the next couple of days and weeks, I will do my best to once again dig into my soul and paint the picture for you. It is literally a physical task for me. It is the reason I haven’t written in so long. I am working on being more consistent. Sometimes I just psych myself out and don’t want to "go there". I know it’s the going there that brings awareness and eventually interest and eventually help and more support and it is why I have returned. Notebook full of notes and points and topics to remember. Stories to remember to tell. I will try to ignore the water balloon in my chest and hopefully take many deep breaths as I put to paper the pain, the joys, the victories and heartaches of my personal experience in Haiti. I can’t and won’t speak of anyone else's personal moments good or bad so please don’t be offended if you don’t find your story here. These excerpts are from my eyes. I hope you will subscribe to this blog and help bring awareness to what is going on in Haiti. I know in the end we are all but a mist and truthfully you may ask, will any of it matter? I find great joy in using my 50-70 stretch on this earth to do what I am doing and when it’s over...well...it’s over and after that...only God Knows. I believe it matters to Him and to that end...I labor.
I can honestly say that in all my time in Haiti, en route on a sometimes turbulent plane, surrounded by strangers on a mountain sprinkled with voodoo paraphernalia on walls and trees, riding in a beat up truck, sucking down fumes and exhaust, sleeping outside in a tent right next to a gas run generator with boards of wood propped up as my gate, with a group of 21 people depending on me and my husband to make critical decisions, in the heat and relentless schedule...I never ONCE felt this feeling in my chest. Back in the states 3 days and my rib cages is propped up on the imaginary shelf above my diaphragm. It won’t ease down or soften. The anxiety is back.Leaving Haiti I realized that I was completely in my element when I was with the people in hills and by the beach. There was no question I was doing what I loved and enjoying every aching, tiring minute of it.
In the next couple of days and weeks, I will do my best to once again dig into my soul and paint the picture for you. It is literally a physical task for me. It is the reason I haven’t written in so long. I am working on being more consistent. Sometimes I just psych myself out and don’t want to "go there". I know it’s the going there that brings awareness and eventually interest and eventually help and more support and it is why I have returned. Notebook full of notes and points and topics to remember. Stories to remember to tell. I will try to ignore the water balloon in my chest and hopefully take many deep breaths as I put to paper the pain, the joys, the victories and heartaches of my personal experience in Haiti. I can’t and won’t speak of anyone else's personal moments good or bad so please don’t be offended if you don’t find your story here. These excerpts are from my eyes. I hope you will subscribe to this blog and help bring awareness to what is going on in Haiti. I know in the end we are all but a mist and truthfully you may ask, will any of it matter? I find great joy in using my 50-70 stretch on this earth to do what I am doing and when it’s over...well...it’s over and after that...only God Knows. I believe it matters to Him and to that end...I labor.
A match made in Haiti
Marlene Berthelot’s visit to the Central Jersey Church of Christ was truly inspiring. From the moment she arrived on Thursday evening the planning and discussions regarding the future began. Marlene is a savvy business woman with 20 years of experience owning and operating 3 Florida Nursing Homes. She holds a Bachelor of Science and master’s degree from Boston University. She has known the sweeter side of the American dream and even owned the Florida home of the famous Babe Ruth. She is no stranger to hard work and managing challenging and difficult situations. 36 years ago, she and co-founder Marie Jessie Pierre promised each other they would return to Haiti some day to help. This pact was made over a cup of tea.
Marlene met with volunteers and supporters to discussed her vision for the upcoming April 30th trip to Haiti. Plans include mentoring young men during a community project to construct a new park with recycled materials. There are plans for a daily women’s group to teach and train women about various health issues. Volunteers will have many opportunities to leave their mark in Gressier, Haiti. They will start planting a garden on a portion of a 15acre property donated to the orphanage by the Gressier, Parish. This will be the future site of a 60 plus bed orphanage, presently only a dream! There are other projects and plans too numerous to detail like daily eco-tours, painting of school bus, English instruction and more.
On Sunday morning, after our worship service, we viewed a CNN video briefly covering the work being done in Gressier by Marlene Berthelot with the help of volunteers from HOPE worldwide. Soon after, Marlene was introduced to the church and was presented with a banner that read “This work is supported by Hopeworldwide, Central Jersey Chapter”. It was truly an electric time and more than anyone could have hope for. In that moment it was no longer a handful of people championing this cause but an entire group united for this great and worthwhile cause. The weekend concluded with a meeting of members of our board of directors. During that time Marlene shared her heartfelt story detailing the moment she arrived to the United States 44 years ago all the way up to how the orphanage began along with the help they are seeking. When the meeting was over, it was clear that everyone now shared a passion for seeing this effort succeed. With God…anything is possible.
Marlene met with volunteers and supporters to discussed her vision for the upcoming April 30th trip to Haiti. Plans include mentoring young men during a community project to construct a new park with recycled materials. There are plans for a daily women’s group to teach and train women about various health issues. Volunteers will have many opportunities to leave their mark in Gressier, Haiti. They will start planting a garden on a portion of a 15acre property donated to the orphanage by the Gressier, Parish. This will be the future site of a 60 plus bed orphanage, presently only a dream! There are other projects and plans too numerous to detail like daily eco-tours, painting of school bus, English instruction and more.
On Sunday morning, after our worship service, we viewed a CNN video briefly covering the work being done in Gressier by Marlene Berthelot with the help of volunteers from HOPE worldwide. Soon after, Marlene was introduced to the church and was presented with a banner that read “This work is supported by Hopeworldwide, Central Jersey Chapter”. It was truly an electric time and more than anyone could have hope for. In that moment it was no longer a handful of people championing this cause but an entire group united for this great and worthwhile cause. The weekend concluded with a meeting of members of our board of directors. During that time Marlene shared her heartfelt story detailing the moment she arrived to the United States 44 years ago all the way up to how the orphanage began along with the help they are seeking. When the meeting was over, it was clear that everyone now shared a passion for seeing this effort succeed. With God…anything is possible.
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