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A First Hand Account of The Situation in Haiti

Snapshots from Kate's Adventure

My friend Kate Westrate was recently in Haiti to help out with disaster relief. Kate was there to offer her nursing care expertise, as well as her caring heart. It’s so neat to actually know someone who was able to go and help!

Kate’s been kind enough to answer a few questions for me below and share a few of her photos.

WHEN AND FOR HOW LONG DID YOU GO TO HAITI?

I was in Haiti from March 19-31. This was about 2 months after the earthquake. We flew into Port-au-Prince and then flew over to Jeremie, Haiti.

WHO DID YOU GO WITH, AND WHY DID YOU GO?

I went with an organization called Haiti Needs You (www.haitineedsyou.com)

I have always wanted to go and do some sort of disaster relief, and when the earthquake happened, I knew this was it. I checked in with a number of different agencies and the type of work they would be doing, and Haiti Needs You was a perfect fit for me. They had been established in Haiti (because in a disaster in-country contacts are so important) and would be focusing more on the people that were migrating out of Port-au-Prince to other parts of the country. The outlying cities are over run with displaced citizens and their access to health care has always been minimal. I’m not a surgical nurse, so felt much more qualified to be able to tackle post-trauma/primary care issues. God really just opened all the right doors and led me to this group.

HOW IS THE SITUATION IN HAITI NOW?

I wish I could have seen Haiti before the earthquake, but from what I hear it was struggling then. No amount of words or pictures will ever clearly describe the devastation seen in Port-au-Prince on this trip. A couple of the people I traveled with had been to Haiti immediately after the earthquake and they said that not a whole lot had been done since then. Two months after the earthquake the city is still completely filled with rubble. People are getting medical care, but their living conditions are unreal. They are trying to go about their lives but their city lies in ruins and they don’t have the means to rebuild it or even start cleaning it up.

Almost everyone I met in Port-au-Prince is living in tents. Even if their houses have been deemed structurally sound, they will not sleep inside, as they are too scared of being crushed as many of their family and friends were.

WHAT SURPRISED YOU THE MOST DURING YOUR TRIP?

The people– always the people!! They’re amazing and beautiful! Everywhere we went we were greeted with smiles and loving hearts. They understand they need help and are so grateful for any help that is offered.

The Haitians are very proud people. I don’t mean this in a negative way at all. Everywhere I went, I saw people making the best of situations they were in and they were always well-dressed and clean. Most were living in make-shift shelters or tents, but they would come to our clinic or work (as we used local interpreters) in nice clothes–cleaned and pressed. They have so little but they use what are given in the best way possible.

One other thing that amazed me is, in Jeremie where were working, over 200,000 had migrated to this small city. The mission we stayed at had expected to have to open up the school to be used for lodging. However, the local families opened up their small homes/huts and every last person was taken in! There were sometimes 20+ people living in some homes, and some were complete strangers! Their hospitality and eagerness to help astounded me!

WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM YOUR TRIP?

I was so humbled and would often feel so guilty for my discontent in life after meeting the Haitian people. Here in North America we live in a materialistic society and take SO much for granted. Just something simple as complaining that I am “SO HUNGRY” if we get to dinner a little late, puts me to shame. Most of the people I encountered would often only be able to provide 1 meal/day for their families. I felt a little sick to my stomach on my first trip to the grocery store when I got back to the States. How is it that we SO much?

I think the biggest thing I will walk away from this trip learning is to pray to be more content in any situation that I am, but also that I don’t NEED some of the things I think I need in life.

WHAT’S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE REALLY NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HAITI?

The media coverage has died down tremendously, but Haiti is still in desperate need for help. They don’t need us to come down there and fix it all for them, what they need is for experienced builders, engineers, economists, etc to go down there and either hire or teach the Haitians how to rebuild their own city. There are so many looking and eager to work, they just don’t have the means/skill sets to do so.

I also met many very educated Haitians, many who were educated in the States, but cannot find jobs. They often work on a volunteer basis in the hospitals and clinics, but have no way of supporting their families that way. One Haitian doctor described it to me as, “We have very over-educated people for the type of economy we have.” They have the people– they just don’t have the jobs, and so they wallow in poverty.

WILL YOU GO AGAIN?

ABSOLUTELY! I left a little bit of my heart in Haiti, I think. There’s talk of another trip later this fall, but for me it will depend on my work schedule. It’s hard to find that balance of being involved and carrying on your life here at home.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO TELL PEOPLE?

Please consider helping down in Haiti in some way or another. If you can’t personally make a trip, consider helping fund an reputable organization that is working in Haiti. The government in Haiti is so corrupt and lost, but the people are wonderful to the core! They are asking for help and I hope the world continues to answer their cries.

Kate and I met during University when we were both volunteering as youth leaders for an organization called Young Life. She lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, but loves making a trip up north every once in awhile to visit friends in Canada when she can.

A photo video made by Kate:

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