Debt relief and sustainablity

The challenges in Haiti continue. Last night I participated in a conference call sponsored by ONE.org. Speakers on the call included Former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist who went to Haiti to perform badly needed surgeries. He traveled with Samaritan’s Purse (a faith based organization that helps around the world in times of need). Other participants included Representative Gregory Meeks of NY, Dr. Joia Mukherjee, Medical Director from Partners in Health, and David Melter of the American Red Cross.

The call began with each of the speakers providing a 5 minute summary of their role in the disaster/relief effort in Haiti. There was also a discussion about debt relief for the Haitian government which would allow the funds that are pouring into Haiti to be used for rebuilding the country. Towards the end of the call, several callers were able to ask questions about the relief efforts in Haiti.

Each of the speakers offered an interesting perspective. Dr. Mukherjee from Partners in Health, however, was articulate, accurate and honest about the struggles of the Haitian people. She profoundly stated “Haiti is not a poor country, Haiti is an impoverished country.” She discussed the economic isolation that Haiti has experienced over the years including the US aid embargo imposed between 2000 and 2004. She encouraged the listeners to realize that solutions for Haiti need to come from the Haitian people.

She spoke of the success of Partners in Health spearheaded by Paul Farmer, MD. All of the permanent employees of Partners in Health in the central plateau are Haitian. Partners in Health has worked for years to enable to public sector involvement and organize/mobilize participatory members of Haitian society. Because of this amazing work, PIH was able to establish 20 operating rooms in and around Port au Prince within three days of the earthquake. This effort was successful because of the partnerships that have been forged within the community of Haiti.

There is a great deal of discussion about rebuilding a sustainable Haiti. Hopefully, we have learned from past efforts to re-forest Haiti. The forgotten piece was that Haitians use charcoal as their primary source of fuel. The re-forestation effort lacked sustainability as alternative fuel sources and education were neglected. If a person is in survival mode and they need charcoal, they will harvest trees.

Partners in Health has been successful because of its efforts to enable the Haitian government and mobilize the people of the central plateau to create a sustainable solution for treating TB, malaria and AIDS. Hopefully, more organizations will follow suit. Think of it, the prime growing season begins in about two months. What if organizations provided the farmers in the countryside with seed, fertilizer, and knowledge about irrigation to enable Haitians to help develop an economy and feed hungry Haitians.

And so, today I urge those of you that are politically inclined to contact your representatives and encourage the work of Maxine Waters and Gregory Meeks for the treasury to cancel Haiti’s debt. When sharing your generosity in dollars or service to help Haiti, please remember to look for organizations that have missions of sustainability. This is the hope for Haiti.

Nawe,
Charlotte and Robert

The call of Hope

This morning around 4:15, the phone rang. Thankfully, the voice on the other end of the line was our son Jean Ronel (aka Chi Chi). We had heard reports that he was alive and well, but there is nothing like hearing the voice of a loved one. Thankfully, he is doing okay.

We initially applied for a visa for Jean Ronel in April, 2008. We have been moving through the familiar bureaucracy of the USCIS since the time of application. In light of the recent situation, we have enlisted the assistance of our Congresswoman Doris Matsui to help us navigate the system. Please keep the positive thoughts and prayers flowing for an expeditious process.

I have been following updates on the What if Foundation. You can find the website at www.whatiffoundation.org Margaret Trost published her amazing story in a book called “On That Day Everybody Ate.” She describes her remarkable journey of hope, faith and determination in developing a community based program to feed the children of Port-au-Prince. The website reports updates about the devastation in Haiti and the efforts made by the community of St. Claire to continue to feed those during this challenging time in Haiti.

We want to extend another heart felt thank you to everyone who has acknowledged the plight of Haiti. Our hearts are filled with gratitude. Your loving and compassionate support has provided us with hope in humanity. The journey ahead will be long. Robert and I are hopeful that we can have a positive impact as the people of Haiti stand up, dust off their bodies, refuel their bellies and move forward with faith and hope for their future.

In the light,
Charlotte and Robert

6.1 shakes Haiti

4:03 am High speed winds rip through Sacramento. Rain is pouring out of the sky. I am in bed comfortably wrapped in my beloved Robert’s arms under the warmth of covers sheltered by the 120 year old walls and roof of our home, affectionately called Spirit Mountain. The telephone rings and I wake Robert to answer the call. On the other end of the line is our sister Herline. I breathe a sigh of relief as I listen intently to the exchange in Creole, gleaning the gist of the conversation. The call is brief as she doesn’t have much time on the calling card. Robert hangs up the phone and reports that Haiti has been rocked by another 6.0 magnitude earthquake. The shaking of the earth was felt by those in Cap Haitien. Herline ended the conversation expressing fearful concern, grounded by her faith in God.

Robert and I move out of the warmth of our cocoon to turn on the television in the living room. Our stomachs churn as we expect the worst. Thankfully, Anderson Cooper is reporting not much new damage with the latest 6.1 aftershock. The epicenter of this quake was reportedly northwest of PAP. Mr. Cooper continues his plea for help in Haiti. The images behind him are of people frantically running around PAP. Citizens of the world are donating generously from their wallets and sending compassionate wishes from their hearts. Where is the help? Organizations like Doctors without Borders struggling to get medical assistance into Haiti with their planes being diverted to the Dominican Republic. Then they have to traverse the roads to get into Haiti; a challenging task in the best of times. We understand the challenging logistics presented by this disaster. We are comforted when we receive a trickle of information that our family and friends are alive. I complain of the difficulty as the days drag with our feelings of helplessness. Robert replies, “Sweetie, only God knows”.

Always,
Charlotte and Robert

Hope in the children

We all need a little piece of hope. Kelly, one of my fellow physical therapists, walked into my office and blessed me with a delightful envelope today. The carefully packaged envelope was decorated with the names of her daughters Kelsey, Dale, Grace and many of their friends who gathered together to eat pizza last night and raise money for Haiti. The back of the envelope said “We raised $158.00 and 40¢”. I could hardly wait to bring the envelope home to show Robert. He was so grateful to receive $58 to help the people of Haiti, but when I told him that it was $158 his eyes grew big and he said “and 40¢…from kids…amazing!” The children of Haiti are blessed to have such heartfelt advocacy in their American friends. Thank you, thank you, and thank you to all who contributed.

Two phone calls came through on Robert’s cell phone with Haiti’s country code 509, but there are no voices on the end of the line. We still cannot get through and reach our family in Haiti. We maintain hopeful hearts and pray for the safety of our family with each passing minute.

There has been concern expressed by John Robert Cadet about the restaveks in Haiti. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this term, it comes from French reste avec that means “one who stays with”. Haiti has a long history of moving its children into servitude. Poor families often send their children to live with other families in hopes of opportunity for schooling and a better life. Unfortunately, many of these young boys and girls become slaves and never have the opportunity to go to school or to have a better life. They often sleep on dirt floors and eat scraps of food that remain after a family has eaten. Many times they are physically and emotionally abused.

Mr. Cadet escaped his life as a restavek. He had an opportunity for education in the U.S. He has dedicated his life to his foundation based in the US and Port au Prince to offer restavek children an opportunity for a better life with education and food. Fortunately, the headquarters in Haiti was spared significant damage in the earthquake, but many of the restavek children that this organization supports are missing. You can read more about his foundation at www.restavekfreedom.org

Zanmi ou yo (your friends),
Charlotte and Robert

Holding out with hope

Rain is falling from the skies of Sacramento on this day to honor the late Martin Luther King, Jr.

We have not been able to make additional contact with our family in Haiti. The phone lines continue to be down in the entire country. Our family has very limited ability to access a computer so that option is not available to us. Robert and I continue to have faith in something greater than this tragedy. We are trying to move through our daily life with hopeful hearts. We shed tears daily, but we are grateful to have each other as support other during this extremely difficult time.

While some are avoiding the news, we hold on to that as the only connection with our Haitian family and friends. Occasionally, we see a familiar face on the television and celebrate life. We hold onto the hope-filled stories of rescue and aid reaching those in need.

Understandably, tensions are growing in Port-au-Prince. Our Haitian brothers and sisters are thirsty and hungry clinging to precious life. I am always amazed by the echoes of patience expressed by my husband who has been tested so many times before. His empathy for those who are hungry and thirsty stems from a genuine understanding of what it means to have a dry mouth and pangs of hunger in your belly. I am humbled with every bit of food or drink that I have available to me.

The ILAC program which afforded me the opportunity to volunteer in the Dominican Republic and become connected with Haiti is sending supplies, water filters and actively setting up triage centers with surgeons and healthcare professionals along the border. Partners in Health and Doctors without Borders are actively trying to get medical care to those in need.

As news of the Haitian struggle begins to fade, I have been encouraged to continue communicating through our upcoming trip to Haiti. I will do my best to honor my Haitian family in this regard. Our blog address: http://haiti-norton-laneau.blogspot.com
For those of you, like me, who are technologically challenged I will continue to send emails. Please feel free to let me know if you don’t wish to receive these emails any longer and I will remove your address from the list.

One of my professors from when I attended physical therapy school retired and now has a business with Mary Kay. She sent the following message and attached flyers for those of you who may purchase these types of products. Thank you Dr. Knutson for helping Haiti.

“I’m attaching the flyer in the event you want to share it with others you know and build the contributions resulting. I can do even more than the flyer states and include this on all products of $10 or more now through the end of January. Those who order could do so at my website http://www.marykay.com/LKnutson . They can use secure online payment and should enter “Charlotte and Robert” on the comment line. I ship free for orders over $40 but if they want to pay shipping I will contribute that additional amount to Red Cross.”

Thank you to everyone who is sending positive energy and powerful prayers to Haiti. We appreciate all that you do!

Always,
Charlotte & Robert

Limited contact

We were finally able to make contact with a family member in the northern part of Haiti to confirm that our son Jean Ronel (aka Chi Chi) is safe and that Cap Haitian survived the earthquake with only minor damage. We feel a sense of gratitude and relief that our family in the northern part of Haiti are alive and out of immediate harm. Our relief is shallow as we understand the reality of dependence on the limited infrastructure of PAP.

We were also able to make contact with a cousin who is making her way from PAP to Cap Haitian. She described a horrific scene in PAP of stepping over the dead bodies that lined the street and the smell of death.

We have had limited email contact with a physician that we are familiar with in Port au Prince. He describes PAP as demolished and destructed. He says the needs are so great that it is overwhelming.

We are connected with our other Haitian family members and friends throughout the USA. Our hearts are comforted when we hear that contact has been made with family and friends in Haiti. We feel extreme sadness when we hear stories of loss and death.

The scenes on our television are disturbing. We continue to shed tears for our Haitian brother and sisters. Our feelings of helplessness appear to be echoed by those on the ground in Haiti awaiting assistance from the apparently collapsed government and the wealth of international support trickling in. The historical frustration of the lack of Haitian governmental leadership is painted very clearly with the paralyzed expressions of President Preval as he describes the situation in Haiti.

My faith in a higher power is challenged while I question what benevolent God or Goddess would put any souls on this earth through the struggles that I have observed in Haiti before January 12, 2010. My faith is challenged more now during the horrific aftermath of a natural disaster.

I hear the frustration in Robert’s voice as he communicates with Haitian family and friends. I see the tears in his eyes when there are stories about the orphaned children of Haiti on the television. The television flashes “Breaking News” and Robert says, “Breaking Hearts”. And yet, I sense his strength as he talks about hope for the future of Haiti. That strength is echoed as I watch reports of Haitians gathered in the streets at night singing hymns and praying in the darkness of misery. Haitians tirelessly pick up pieces of rubble by hand because they hear a voice screaming for help. Often they risk their own life to try to help their family or neighbor because the screams are becoming weaker and time is running out.

Haiti is a country with a history of struggle and resilience. Our prayers continue for water, medical care, sustenance and shelter for our Haitian brothers and sisters. Thank you for your continued thoughts, prayers and support for the people of Haiti. The world is trying to surround Haiti with hope. May Haitians walking this earth feel the strength of that energy. May the souls of those that have moved on from the hell on earth in Haiti right now have a sense of peace and comfort.

Godspeed,

Charlotte and Robert

Communication challenges

We are still not able to make contact into Haiti. We are hopeful that we will be able to make contact soon as there are reports of possible communication repairs soon. It is very difficult to watch and listen to the tragedy that continues to unfold in Haiti. We are grateful for the help that is moving in and hope that the obstacles can be minimized to get help to our brothers and sisters in need. Thanks to all of you have that have extended your voices of concern...it brings great comfort to us.

I stood in front of the sink this morning to wash the dishes and I was reminded of the things that I take for granted every day...running clean water, a refrigerator filled with nutrition for my belly, clean clothes, shelter. Once again my life changing experiences in the Dominican Republic and Haiti keep me humble and grateful. Robert is doing as well as can be expected, yearning to know that his family and friends are okay. He always amazes me with his perspective and the wisdom that life has given him.

May we not forget Haiti as the days roll on. This tragedy will have long standing effects in our beloved Haiti.

Nawe pita,

Charlotte and Robert

Donations for the Haiti Earthquake

Once again, Robert and I are overwhelmed by the thoughts and prayers sent by you for our Haitian Family.

We continue to be unable to reach any of our family as there are telephone lines appear to be down throughout the country. From the reports we have gathered from the news, the internet and family and friends throughout the USA, we have been able to confirm that three close cousins and their families had homes that were completely destroyed. They are trying to get to another family member’s home in hopes that they can stay there for a while.

We haven't been able to contact any of our family including our son Jean Ronel, our sister Herline, or our papa in northern Haiti. Reports indicate that they were not directly impacted by the earthquake however the entire infrastructure is based in PAP so there will be long term ramifications.

Many of you have asked about making donations. We have made donations to five organizations that we feel are legitimate with the best opportunity to get the money into Haiti to help the people. They are listed below.

whatiffoundation.org provides food for hungry children in PAP

www.pih.org provides medical assistance to people (especially with HIV, malaria and TB)

www.yele.org Wyclef Jean's foundation that will directly support affected Haitians

www.clintonfoundation.org/haitirelief organizing direct relief

www.doctorswithoutborders.org organizing medical relief

We will be heading to Haiti the end of February. Our luggage limitation will be limited, but if anyone feels compelled to send money directly, we will be happy to make certain that the money is used to directly help Haitians in need. Of course, you wouldn't be able use this as a tax deduction.

We will continue to keep you updated as we are able. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your thoughts, prayer and gestures of hope. We hold on to those things in this very challenging time.

Bon kourage kimbe fem pa lage (Have good courage and never give up),
Robert and Charlotte

7.0 in Haiti

Robert and I wanted to thank everyone for their thoughts, phone calls, emails and prayers for our Haitian family. Unfortunately, we are unable to reach anyone in Haiti at this time.

We are heading to Haiti the end of February.

Please continue to keep the people of Haiti close to your hearts and in your prayers during this very difficult time.

Godspeed,
Charlotte and Robert