Today as I was preparing for to leave work, my colleague presented me with a gift from her children Aleesha and Hunter. I sit tonight in awe as I gently tuck their gifts into our bags as we prepare to depart for Haiti. Aleesha and Hunter created sixteen colorful greeting cards to present to the children of Haiti along with money to help their peers. The greetings carry words and symbols of hope for their Haitian friends. We are inspired by the generosity and wisdom Aleesha and Hunter display in recognizing a world beyond their own. Robert and I thank you with the deepest gratitude. We will deliver your gifts of hope with joyful hearts.
Thank you to all of our friends and family. We have been deeply touched by all of your warm thoughts, prayers of hope and generosity toward our Haitian family and friends.
L’union fait la force!
(Together we are Strong!)
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Our bags are packed
Greetings from Sacramento!
Our bags are packed. We are wrapping up the few loose ends required to leave to go to Haiti. Our dear friend Mary will transport us to the airport at 4:30 am on Saturday. One way to measure friendship is to see who is crazy enough to transport you during the hours when we should all be asleep.
Robert wrapped up his employment at Safeway this week. I am working long hours at UC Davis in preparation to depart for 2 weeks. I am grateful for the team that steps up to allow me to go on these adventures.
We will travel for one day and a half to reach our destination-Cap Haitien, Haiti. Chi Chi will meet us at the airport. He is feeling better with the antibiotics…thank goodness.
Thank you to every one for your warm thoughts and hopeful prayers. Please continue to hold us in your thoughts and prayers as we embrace our family and friends in Haiti.
We will try to blog a few times while in Haiti. You can type the address in your browser: http://haiti-norton-laneau.blogspot.com
Godspeed,
Charlotte and Robert
Our bags are packed. We are wrapping up the few loose ends required to leave to go to Haiti. Our dear friend Mary will transport us to the airport at 4:30 am on Saturday. One way to measure friendship is to see who is crazy enough to transport you during the hours when we should all be asleep.
Robert wrapped up his employment at Safeway this week. I am working long hours at UC Davis in preparation to depart for 2 weeks. I am grateful for the team that steps up to allow me to go on these adventures.
We will travel for one day and a half to reach our destination-Cap Haitien, Haiti. Chi Chi will meet us at the airport. He is feeling better with the antibiotics…thank goodness.
Thank you to every one for your warm thoughts and hopeful prayers. Please continue to hold us in your thoughts and prayers as we embrace our family and friends in Haiti.
We will try to blog a few times while in Haiti. You can type the address in your browser: http://haiti-norton-laneau.blogspot.com
Godspeed,
Charlotte and Robert
Friday, February 19, 2010
Haiti News from San Diego
Hello,
I apologize for the delay in my writing. Life is full of opportunities.
There is a significant amount of energy expended as we prepare for our upcoming trip to Haiti.
Robert and I continue to follow the events surrounding Haiti. Last week there was school that collapsed in Cap Haitien. Reports from Haitians were “another frightening earthquake”, but in fact the recent rains caused a landslide. The school was demolished and three children died.
On January 29, 2010, Paul Farmer, MD and others testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee regarding the situation in Haiti. He supported the debt relief initiative for Haiti which appears to have moved into the international political scene with support of the US Treasury. Dr. Farmer clearly understands the need for assistance in sustainable ways for the people of Haiti.
Another interesting story is that of “Crisis Camps” that have popped up all over the world. Individuals with knowledge and experience in the area of informational technology are gathering to create opportunities to help Haiti advance technologically as part of its rebuilding.
National Public Radio aired a story recently about a gentleman who went to Port au Prince and posed as a person wishing the services of a Restavek. The Haitian who was making the deal offered the child into servitude for $100 US. The American involved in the deal offered $50 US for a 12 year old girl that could provide service in the way of cleaning and cooking in addition to sexual relations. This story represents the tragic possibilities of trafficking in Haiti.
I am at a physical therapy meeting in San Diego. Today I spent a considerable amount of the day listening to ideas about building sustainability into local and global initiatives. There was a significant focus placed on organizations (mostly NGOs) that are currently working on the ground in Haiti. I am encouraged by the efforts put forth by many of my physical therapy colleagues who are committed to the call for help..
Chi Chi hasn’t been feeling well for several days. He was finally able to see a doctor and received the diagnosis of Typhoid Fever. Obviously, this weighs heavy on our hearts as our concern for Chi Chi’s health and safety grows. We are continuing to work with our Congressional leaders regarding his visa application.
The stories continue to traverse the spectrum of horrific to hopeful. The novelty of the Haitian earthquake has left the every day consciousness of many. Robert and I seek out daily information as telecommunications continues to be challenging. I return to Sacramento late Saturday night. It will be a crazy week as we pack our bags and prepare for our adventure. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers for safe travels.
Always,
Charlotte and Robert
I apologize for the delay in my writing. Life is full of opportunities.
There is a significant amount of energy expended as we prepare for our upcoming trip to Haiti.
Robert and I continue to follow the events surrounding Haiti. Last week there was school that collapsed in Cap Haitien. Reports from Haitians were “another frightening earthquake”, but in fact the recent rains caused a landslide. The school was demolished and three children died.
On January 29, 2010, Paul Farmer, MD and others testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee regarding the situation in Haiti. He supported the debt relief initiative for Haiti which appears to have moved into the international political scene with support of the US Treasury. Dr. Farmer clearly understands the need for assistance in sustainable ways for the people of Haiti.
Another interesting story is that of “Crisis Camps” that have popped up all over the world. Individuals with knowledge and experience in the area of informational technology are gathering to create opportunities to help Haiti advance technologically as part of its rebuilding.
National Public Radio aired a story recently about a gentleman who went to Port au Prince and posed as a person wishing the services of a Restavek. The Haitian who was making the deal offered the child into servitude for $100 US. The American involved in the deal offered $50 US for a 12 year old girl that could provide service in the way of cleaning and cooking in addition to sexual relations. This story represents the tragic possibilities of trafficking in Haiti.
I am at a physical therapy meeting in San Diego. Today I spent a considerable amount of the day listening to ideas about building sustainability into local and global initiatives. There was a significant focus placed on organizations (mostly NGOs) that are currently working on the ground in Haiti. I am encouraged by the efforts put forth by many of my physical therapy colleagues who are committed to the call for help..
Chi Chi hasn’t been feeling well for several days. He was finally able to see a doctor and received the diagnosis of Typhoid Fever. Obviously, this weighs heavy on our hearts as our concern for Chi Chi’s health and safety grows. We are continuing to work with our Congressional leaders regarding his visa application.
The stories continue to traverse the spectrum of horrific to hopeful. The novelty of the Haitian earthquake has left the every day consciousness of many. Robert and I seek out daily information as telecommunications continues to be challenging. I return to Sacramento late Saturday night. It will be a crazy week as we pack our bags and prepare for our adventure. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers for safe travels.
Always,
Charlotte and Robert
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
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 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
Thursday, January 21, 2010
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
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
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
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
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
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
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
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
