AND,big strong Marine with gun:
Monday, April 5, 2010
MISSION TO HAITI: DAY 3
There is no end to the sadness here. We discovered 76 starving children at an orphanage. I want to explain what an 'orphanage' is in Haiti. It is an open, outdoor space where children live. There may or not be a tarp to provide some shelter from the rain. The orphanage I was at yesterday, where I had Easter dinner, has a tarp. The one we discovered today does not. So......we try to figure out what to do. Getting anything done in Haiti, particularly in Port-au-Prince, is a logistical nightmare. Here are the particulars; a local store owner took in about 15 orphans a few years ago. He owned a grocery store and providing food and a little shelter was not a problem. Then, on January 12, 2010, there was the earthquake. Port-Au-Prince collapsed, including this nice man’s grocery store and the house he lived in with his orphaned children. In no time, his yard was filled with another 50 + children. Without any means to provide food, the situation quickly became desperate. To make matters worse, if his neighbors (who are all jobless, homeless and living outside in tents), see anyone come over with food or assistance, they steel the food or the little bit of money he may have been given. You see the problem? Even if we buy food, he has no place to put it and his neighbors will come and steal it. He has to be relocated. In the meantime, the kids need to be fed. Ultimately we found 4 bags of rice, some beans and a big strong Marine with a gun. We’ll go back tomorrow and see if we can make it better - but we can not make it 'right'. I’m not sure where all the money that has been donated is going. I see no signs of it here. I’m gonna hold off on the photos for now. I will provide a photo of my translator and body guard, Junior. He is responsible for making sure nothing bad happens to me:)
AND,big strong Marine with gun:
AND,big strong Marine with gun:
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sad - corruption at its best! How can the rich steal food, water, etc from the desperate and poor!
ReplyDeleteCory you rock. Tom and I are in awe. I am so glad you are down there. Wish I could just go there and help out like that. What org are you with there? Tom says "what a mess." It must seem like endless need that you can't possibly as one person satisfy, but I think it's really just being there and being a part of it that lifts other people. They see that someone cares and that is like gold. What can we do?
ReplyDeleteLove, Cathy and Tom
You can pray. Pray for these children, pray for Haiti but most important, pray that it doesn't rain. The rain will make the situation unbearable. THANKS XOXOX
ReplyDeleteYou are truly an angel -
ReplyDeleteone tougb, smart, innovative, compassionate
and loving angel. What a life-altering mission.
Stay strong,
Anne
Dear Cory:
ReplyDeleteGod speed and be safe.
Blanca
Cory, I have been wondering since you left what your eyes are seeing at any given moment of the day down there, and now I know... I can only imagine your frustration and I'm sure, anger, at what seems to be such a futile situation for these poor children. Don't lose heart. We all have your back here and are praying very hard that Divine Providence will happen when you least expect it... That's the way in which "HE" works. :) Love, Barbara & Pat
ReplyDeleteCory, you are amazing. I have been following every one of your blogs. How sad the situation is down there. The worst to deal with has to be the children.
ReplyDeleteCory I hope you stay safe and healthy,god bless you for what you are doing.
You are in a Divine plan. You must hold onto what you see, feel, taste, hear and smell. These senses will last a lifetime. You are the pulse for the world. You have put your finger on what others were afraid and ashamed to say. This country is without emotions. It's passion is for money. It has used the poor and disposessed as advertisement for their own gain. A land can not continue with blatant disregard for and disrespect for life.
ReplyDeleteI am fwding your blog to where we made our donation! G-d bless you for the wonderful work you are doing. Diane
ReplyDeleteHi Cory! Way to tell me you were going to Haiti! I had no idea. What you are doing is so admirable, courageous, thoughtful, altruistic, and just simply amazing.As hard as it is for people to believe that I would survive such an excursion, I have always wanted to be part of a relief team as well. This must be such a rewarding and life-altering experience. Your blogs are so descriptive and heartfelt, i look forward to the next one. The conditions sound horribly uncomfortable, and extremely depressing but you are doing a great job! Stay healthy and safe!
ReplyDeleteMy heart is breaking for these people.
ReplyDeleteYou are succeeding just by being there and supporting and caring for these homless and impoverished Haitians Last night the actor Sean Penn was on Anderson Cooper and said tents were very important and I am wondering if there is a direct location to dispatch these temporary shelters. It seems as if the money we have given never gets to those who are in need.
Keep up your strenght as you must feel frustrated and hopeless with the enormity of the situation and the fear of the coming rains.
Much love,
xoxo
Lisa
Cory, I am proud to know such a compassionate and helpful person. you are truly doing G-ds work. Stay safe and I will look foward to your blogs. G-d bless.
ReplyDeleteSharon
I want to bring them all back to the USA
ReplyDeleteI want to start a USA home without boarders
like physicians without boarders.
They have to leave there.
It is the sane solution.
How do I start this?
ReplyDeleteHOw many american families do I need to solicit-ate to take one family in in order for
Haiti to be helped. Then they go back in one year, or six months.
Would one million families be sufficient to
ease the burden there?
I need help in starting this movement. Thx
So sorry to hear the problems you are having--my thoughts and heart are with you. Your mother would be very proud of you, as I am too. (love, Lil)
ReplyDeleteI'm encouraging the people at my church to match their cable TV bill in donations to help feed Haitian children. Cory, perhaps you can give your readers information on how to wire money to someone trustworthy to buy and distribute food for the orphans. I have such information for a church congregation (about 30 families) in Cite' Soleil. The pastor sends photos of the food distributions. On Easter he gave out eggs and plantains. Our goal is for the people we've 'adopted' to eat at least once a day (not yet).
ReplyDeleteMay I add some humor in the midst of such utter sadness and say that your marine with big gun is adorable. :). Prayers for you and the children and for logistical improvements. Xoxo
ReplyDeleteHi Cory,
ReplyDeleteYou are amazing and I am proud to have you as a friend. When I worked for the military I saw things like you are seeing and you have to magine why the US and Europe can't do a better job in directing the food and funds better. Looking forward to reading your other E-Mails
Hi Cory,
ReplyDeleteSo glad to see you have found a way to surround yourself with attractive males! Seriously you are amazing! My friend, an ER doc, who just returned said the same thing, that there is no sign of the aid dollars at work anywhere! How awful. I am in awe of you.
Much love,
helayne
Corey
ReplyDeleteoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Love Barb
cory, this is so touching. you are inspirational to all!
ReplyDeletechris and frankie xoxoxoxo