Haiti: Day 4

After a horrible nights sleep at KKO due to a lack of air movement and tremendous heat, we spent the morning loving on kids. It was fun learning names and just playing kids even though they didn't understand me and I them...no compran.

After much convincing, we went into city sole to check out the urban garden project that Katie had set up. There had been a riot the night before and 17 people were killed, so there was no wonder it took us convincing our driver to do it. We're so glad we did because the garden we saw was so inspiring. In the middle of the most feared villages in Port Au Prince was this garden, focusing on restoring pride back to Haitians who have been taught that imports are the only way to live. They run an organized kids program, teaching them agriculture as well as organized soccer and basketball. It was great to think through the possibilities of partnering KKO with this type of program, especially to experiment with rooftop gardens.

We then went to the mega mart to get cleaning and cooking supplies for the orphanage. It was fun to be able to get them what they needed with a little of what they wanted. Thanks to donations we were able to give a great gift to them.

Today was filled with joy and hope even though there is so much despair here. What is sad is that the hope for a sustainable future is so far away, especially with the city culture that allows people to live off of donations and only buy imported products. Agriculture may be the economic salvation of Haiti, but that will take time, education and a lot of faith. Again, the only way to foster hope for Haiti is one person or one family at a time.

Lord have mercy.