All week I have been receiving message from people telling me how much the images I have posted from Haiti have affected them. Good. That was my intent. I want everyone who reads this blog to be made aware of the disaster and condition of Haiti. You all know how touched I am by the fact that there are millions of people starving and homeless, but it blesses me to know that you are also touched.

Honestly, I didn’t expect the situation in Haiti to be as bad as it was and I am not sure I was prepared for it. I wanted to leave. I have never wanted to leave a place as much as I wanted to leave Haiti and it was not until the plane ride home that I could really begin processing what I saw….and trying to think of ways to help.

I wanted to take this post, my final post from the trip to Haiti, to shed a bit more light on how the situation in Haiti is affecting the children. You may have read a bit about it when you met Boots. So many of the basic foundational things pertaining to living and existing as a human being are nonexistent…basic hygiene, clean water, proper food, proper housing. The government is entirely corrupt.

In a country that is ridden with corruption, destruction, congestion, and pollution, I want you to know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

There IS hope for Haiti….

A homeless child…

Bathing in a dirty stream.

Children left for hours to “play” with nothing but a couple teacups and some sticks.

Orphans packed into a room because their building collapsed.

Flies are buzzing around everywhere, landing on children and staying on them.

Such a beautiful little girl, left to fend for herself.

But there is hope!

Through Bless and Orphan, many of these children will now have homes to go to. Granted, they may not be stable structures, but these tents were designed in such a way that they are weather-resistant and can withstand most natural elements for up to 10 years.

Pictured here is the tent designer, Mark Purcell (left) of Purcell Construction, being interviewed for a broadcast on TBN. Mark, together with Bless an Orphan, is taking tents and building them in secluded areas and appointing a community leader (pictured right) to oversee the tent city and insure proper distribution of the tents.

Children are now able to sleep soundly, protected from the weather and from animals roaming the streets.

And not only are those tens being used for homes, but also for makeshift schools. The open ends allow for air to pass through freely, which provides better ventilation than most school buildings in Haiti. And, more importantly, the education of these children has not been stopped due to the earthquake. If you talk to some of these children, they will tell you that their dream is to go to college in the US, and then come back to their country and help it. Such an inspiration!

Singing and reciting loudly…

Pure joy in the middle of chaos 🙂

If you have not done so yet, go donate a few $$$ to Bless and Orphan to allow them to continue proving tents and schools for these children. 🙂 Let’s, together, keep providing a glimpse of hope to Haiti.