What to pack for kids going to Haiti

The most important thing is to admit what comforts your kid.  Does your fifteen year old still sleep with his blank y.  Then you better pack his blank y.  Haiti is so alien that I have seen seasoned travelers have complete meltdowns.  Before you commit to going own the fact that there is a mortality rate associated with in going to a third world country.

My suggestions:
1) What makes them comfortable.
     Blank y
     Ipod
     Bible
     Book
2) Sunscreen
3) Bug repellant
4) Water bottle


Take the medicines your doctor gives you.  I choose the Haitian Tap-Tap to travel in  I think this provides a more engages trip.  The smells, sounds, involvement with Haitians is added.  But nice AC vehicles can be found for the same price.

Make sure you have a translator.  Then remember the translator is in charge you and your kids need to do exactly as told.  This should lead to an experience that will unite you as a family.  An experience you share and can refer back to in difficult times.

Bedtime stories from 2000 miles away

I have seen this feature advertised for months.  I honestly had no desire to try it.  I took my three young boys to Haiti.  My wife had to stay home.  My boys are well traveled.  I didn't think much about the trip.  My six year old started complaining about missing mom.

I tried Google Hang Out, I'm in Haiti.  Odd we have internet for free but no cell coverage($3/min) equals no cell coverage.

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I sent her a Facebook message to try Google Hangout.  The whole process took a few minutes to get it to work the first time.  This was a great experience, the next night the fun of playing with the funny hats and sounds was done and Annette got to make her normal funny sounds.  The boys loved it (including me).

Mayor

This picture does not do this man justice.  In Haiti a country that has been plagued with corruption the leaders are very hard to meet.  This mayor is different.  The open door policy is literally practiced.  I think if anybody (Haitian, American, Canadian) had an idea and the means to make his city better/cleaner he would act on it now.

This garbage pile is a great example.  The garbage has been building in this spot since 2008.  This is before the earthquake.  As an American this is unimaginably disgusting.  The mayor to his credit was offered the chance to make it go away, and he took it.

I think we are going to have a good relationship.  I know he is the one in charge, has the power, the ability to help things happen.   I like the fact that he has been rational and predictable in our talks.  

A mayor in any country showing up and cleaning a garbage pile all day would shock the people they represent.

For this to happen in Haiti is amazing.

New to blogging. Why do my blogs not appear in the order posted?

Push Back

Ralph Waldo Emerson described this truth of human nature accurately:
Men succeed when they realize that their failures are the preparation for their victories.

POINT #1: YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES AREN’T YOU

POINT #2: YOU CAN’T CONTROL WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU, ONLY YOUR REACTIONS

POINT #3: WHEN YOU STOP BLAMING, YOU TAKE BACK YOUR POWER


Today when I look at the kids in Haiti. I have more hope for them than I do my own kids.
The statement that has stuck with me about Annette's ordeal is "shocking to one's sense of fairness."

The Haitian kids don't expect things to be fair. But, they do expect to be able to have a rational and reasonable conversation.

They don't expect to be treated fairly by the government. The expectation by Haitians is that if you are noticed by an official (doing above average) your lively hoods, business, kids and land will be taken by the government.

When I am able to take a step back and look at the situation from Haiti. The most likely direction for the Haitian kids is up. My kids the next leg will likely be even further down.

Drop off

The little kids in the back of the tap-tap are being dropped off at a Haitian orphanage.

The whole experience brings back memories of taking livestock to market in the back of a pickup with my grandpa when I was a kid. The only difference being that at least some paperwork was done on the livestock(a check if nothing else).

https://www.meaningfulmedicine.org/donations

Cleaning up the Garabage

Preventive Health Strategies

This garbage pile has been her since 2008. Every time we drive by it Annette gets pissed "Why? Hasn't anybody cleaned that up?"

God works in amazing ways. This week I met the mayor of the community with the garbage pile.

Thanks to the many supporters on this trip the mayor is personally overseeing the cleaning up of this garbage pile today. On a Sunday!

Let me make that clear "today!"

New mayor!

God put us in the right place at the right time!

I wonder how many times the previous mayor was given the resources to do this job.

Happy birthday Annette!  It is because of you that this garbage is being cleaned up today.

Getting this garbage cleaned up is going to prevent lots of health problems both long term and today.

This is meaningful. Thank you to everybody that supports

www.meaningfulmedicine.org
God is good!

Michael St-Vilien

I'm sitting next to Michael in the back of a Haitian Tap-Tap (painted pickup/Haitian primary form of transportation) as I write this.

Michael Does an excellent job of negotiating for the organizations we work with in Haiti.

We have used Michael as a negotiator in government negotiations.

We have used Michael to calm an angry mob.

We have used Michael to calm angry clergy.

We have used Michael in negotiating supplies from Haitians and other organizations that have what we are lacking. We have had times that the thing we need is not available for sale in Haiti.

Michael is very well connected and was able to help us get what was needed. Michael has done this type of negotiating for us on things like fans, medicines, medical care. For those who have not operated in a third world country. I can not express the importance of this skill set. We have used other interpreters. The difference is like driving a 1982 Chevy Pinto and a brand new Ferrari they both do the same thing. But? How do you describe the difference to somebody that has never driven.

Michael understands the nuances if the English language this has come in most handy when we have been in danger and did not know it.

Personally the scariest place i have ever been in Haiti. It was after dark and the place that I had arranged to stay with my kids changed their mind.

Michael was not with us. Michael dropped everything and helped us to find a safe place to stay on a moments notice.

Michael is well connected in the Haitian community. Michael has helped us scale up quickly for events. Michael has with little notice get us 25 good English interpreters for a medical team.

Michael is always willing to do what is needed.

Michael's phone number 5093837508

Michael St-Vilien

Michael Does an excellent job of negotiating for the organizations we work with in Haiti.

We have used Michael as a negotiator in government negotiations.

We have used Michael to calm an angry mob.

We have used Michael in negotiating supplies from Haitians and other organizations that have what we are lacking. We have had times that the thing we need is not available for sale in Haiti.

Michael is very well connected and was able to help us get what was needed. Michael has done this type of negotiating for us on things like fans, medicines, medical care. For those who have not operated in a third world country. I can not express the importance of this skill set. We have used other interpreters. The difference is like driving a 1982 Chevy Pinto and a brand new Ferrari they both do the same thing. But? How do you describe the difference to somebody that has never driven.

Michael understands the nuances if the English language this has come in most handy when we have been in danger and did not know it.

Personally the scariest place i have ever been in Haiti. It was after dark and the place that I had arranged to stay with my kids changed their mind.

Michael was not with us. Michael dropped everything and helped us to find a safe place to stay on a moments notice.

Michael is well connected in the Haitian community. Michael has helped us scale up quickly for events. Michael has with little notice get us 25 good English interpreters for a medical team.

Michael is always willing to do what is needed.

Michael's phone number 5093837508