Monday, September 19, 2011

Broken and Beatiful

I'm not sur how to describe the country of Haiti, but everytime I think of it, this song pops into my head.

There is so much contrast in this country.

It is broken.

It is beautiful.

As I sort through the pictures (all 1300 of them) there is such a difference.

Here, a collection of the broken and the beautiful.
On our first trip, fresh arrived from the airport, we encountered this situation.  Power line down, electric lines strewn across the street. We tried to fit underneath but did not succeed. Broken.

If you have something nice, you protect it.  Barbed wire, gates, locks on everydoor and then some.  Broken.


The view from Adoration school.  The airport, some well built homes, vegitation, and a tent city. Broken and beautiful.

On our way to buy some coke we walked through the closest tent city. Some children were playing with stones and a drawn square.  Beautiful!

This lady asked me to take her picture in front of her house and then told me to pay a dollar.  Broken and beautiful (doesn't that little boy just break your heart?)

A road side grocery store. These are very common in Haiti. Everyone is trying to sell something in order to make a little. Here some rice, oil, beans, fruit. Beautiful.

On that same table, clay.  For eating.  Broken doesn't even begin to describe my feelings.

The school supplies we brought with us, the result of many donations.  Thank you!  Beautiful!

Soccer, fun, fellowship. Holes in shoes, a torn ball, pavement.  Beautiful.

The veiw of downtown Port au Prince.  Houses stacked on top of each other. Since Haiti is so mountainous and hilly they start at the bottom and add layers on top.  Most houses have rebar sticking out of the top just incase another layer is needed.  And now imagine the earth shaking. Houses crushing on top of each other.  Broken.

The U.N. has a strong presence on the streets of Port au Prince. From what we could figure just being there prevents violence.  They never seem to be actively stopping people or preventing things except through their presence. Broken.

The presidents palace, more than a year after the earthquake.  Still there. Still broken. There was a gentlemen clearing the rubble with a wheelbarrow. Broken.

The down town core had three main parks/ green space with a statue in each of the four major revolutions.  Now, each a tent city. It is said that at least 50% of the people are not living here, just pretending during the day in case someone comes with food or a handout. Broken.

The three workers at Adoration (who live there as well) put on a soccer tournament that culminated in a final game when we were there. Beautiful!

VBS was also run while we were there (the church and school are on the same property).  Children came, sang, heard a Bible story and were fed. Beautiful!

Adoration also has an education program for men to learn the basic trades of building a house.  Here, the culmination of the days lesson. Beautiful.

It's a country that gets deep inside your heart and stays there. It hurts. It is in dire need of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is beautiful.

1 comment:

  1. Clay, for eating. I will not soon forget that picture. In a way it is so hard to see the need, because it makes me feel so helpless about fixing it. I'll be praying for Haiti. Thank you for posting.

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