In the two day trip with Kyrk, I was so suprised by all of the diversity. The landscape and geography, the climate and vegetation, the people, and the resources were all so varied. It is still amazing to me that on one island there exists two countries as different as night and day.
This city, Goniaves, was submerged in 8 feet of water two years ago. Kyrk said that just two weeks after the hurrican hit, and as soon as the water subsided that the people were quietly shoveling mud out of thier homes, trying to pull together what little resources they had left to sell at market. Life went on. What a contrast to New Orleans! Some of them are still whining and begging for government hand outs!
This is at Ft. Jaques. On our way back, you can see the contrast to the previous pictures.
3 comments:
I think that the first time I went it was one thing that impressed me, too. Haiti is definitely a land of contrasts - a small woven wood/mud hut next to a large block house. The mountains - the valleys - the homes that look like you picked them up and took them out of Africa surround by similar vegetation - the rice fields . . . And multitudes of people that pull at my heart. Looking down into Port au Prince one time the verse from Matthew about Christ having compassion on the multitudes because they were like sheep without a shepherd really came to have some meaning.
Love you, Kari -
Aunt Ruth
While you are in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, we are in the second poorest - Honduras, and we are experiencing similar things. It is amazing how a vurtual castle can stand on a hill overlooking an orphanage with kids that are in need of food, clothing, soap, and love!
Now that I have been up north I too see Haiti as a land of contrasts. It's so different up north but so quaint. I really liked it. It was away from the buzz of the city and the people there live so simply and are happy. Definitely an experience I will never forget.
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