Hey You!

We started our day riding the Tap-tap (our taxi by Healing Haiti) to the water distribution station. It kind of seemed like organized chaos. There were trucks and people everywhere! At the same time, people were working hard to get the water out, truck after truck.

As we drove into Cite Soleil (the poorest slum in the Western Hemisphere), the kids started running after the truck, some trying to jump on. Many of the others were yelling “hey you” and waving. When we stopped and got out there were kids everywhere wanting to be held. They were fascinated by mustaches and tattoos. Some of them wanted to wear our hats and glasses, but most of them just wanted to be held and loved. 

There was one girl who was holding onto my shirt for nearly the whole time we were at our first stop. A little later there was a boy who needed help carrying his tub of water back to his shack. The little girl walked with me and held onto my shirt. When we had delivered the water to the boy’s shack, she grabbed my hand and led me back to the water truck. 

In the afternoon, we served FMSC food to about 50 young people who were part of an after-school soccer program called Haitian Initiative. They play soccer, they get a meal. It gets them off the streets. It gives them hope. 

We served the food and I talked to the soccer coach who has been to MN 5 times. He has family that moved to St Paul. He took my picture and said he was going to send it to his family. That was neat. 

To see the work that they’re doing with the kids after school to keep them out of trouble, it made me wonder if there are any soccer clubs that might want to donate some of their used equipment to help these kids. 

All we did today made me feel needed, but also insignificant…helpless. There is so much to do here.

Darwin Stromberg & Team