Hope you enjoy my last installment!
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
"Woodley 1&2. Making Beds" - Shruti's Reflection pt. 4
So. I have both been extremely busy and extremely lazy since I came back from Port au Prince two weeks ago. I've been traveling a lot for interviews and when I'm not traveling, I'm watching A LOT of TV or reading Count of Monte Cristo (it's massive and a great read!). Carmen SanDiego meets the Sloth equals Shruti.
Hope you enjoy my last installment!
I'll risk being cliche with this statement, but my last day was bittersweet. On the one hand, I was ready for hot showers, being able to brush my teeth with tap water, personal space and to see my family. On the other hand, I felt like I was just getting to know the children and the people on the trip I had befriended.
Hope you enjoy my last installment!
"A lot to process" - Shruti's Reflection pt. 3
THE WEEKEND EDITION
Before I start, I just wanted to thank you all for the amazing emails I received about your reactions to reading about the kids. There is a lot more I want to say about working with the underserved, but I'll save that for my next message. This message is going to be about another side of Haiti, a side that highlights the country's potential and the people that are coming to help push it towards realizing that potential."Treatable and Not Treatable" - Shruti Reflection pt. 2
So, when I asked Dr. Nelson if I could join the trip, the only questions I asked her were 1. Will my being a vegetarian be a problem? 2. May I wear scrubs? 3. Will I be able to do laundry? (Yes, be proud, I packed for 6 days with a messenger bag...and I wore Chacos...on a plane.)
"So. I'm in Port au Prince" - Shruti's Reflection pt. 1
So. I'm in Port au Prince, Haiti.
HOW
Two weeks ago UTCOM's Dean of Students sent an email about a clinical opportunity in Haiti. I typically delete any email I receive through my UT account, but for some reason I decided to open this one. A UT faculty member, Dr. Susan Nelson, runs an organization known as the West Tennessee Haiti Partnership. A trip leaving after Thanksgiving had two people drop out, so Dr. Nelson had an email sent out among the med students to see if anyone could join the trip last minute. The dates of the trip were November 28th-December 4th. The last interview of my November tour was November 26th. My next trip wasn't until December 6th. I immediately emailed Dr. Nelson and after a phone conversation with her (and my anxious mum in India), my trip to Haiti was set.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
The Most Courageous Boy I Know
On Monday we were there for only a few minutes when I saw my buddy Jasper. He scoots past everyone and comes straight to me. This brought tears to my eyes because I have been praying for him since we first met a year ago. I think he is one of the most remarkable people I have ever met.
He is now six and has the biggest eyelashes I have ever seen on a person. They look like someone has put two sets of fake lashes on him with these big brown eyes that just beam happiness. He is all boy, very smart and quick on his feet. The biggest thing you first notice is he has only one partial non-functioning miniature arm. I picked him up and gave him a long hug. He was all smiles and after a while I put him down and he just stayed looking up at me.
Later on, we are all sitting down and ready for the church service at the school celebrating the holiday for the handicapped children. I look down and there stands my buddy Jasper again, so up he climbs onto my lap. I introduce him to Shruti and to my embarrassment I find out my buddy's name is Branson and he only lives at the school Monday through Friday. He goes home with his mom for the weekends, a mom who obviously loves and cares for him since he is dressed from head to toes in clean pressed clothes and his face and hair are clean.
That's when it hits me--the faith this mom has in the school to allow this young boy to stay with St. Vincent's School during the week. She does it in hopes that he can learn to care for himself with no arms. They have done this before with other children. The difference between St. Vincent's and any other school in Haiti is their ability to teach these children to overcome there handicaps. This child has the intelligence, we just have to teach him.
I look down and this time see big tears streaming down his face. When I ask what's wrong he says, in perfect English, "I want my mommy." At this, I can only hug him closer and wipe away the tears with a tissue I just happen to have in my pocket from a package Sherye had given me just that morning. I can only say she knows me well since we have been to Haiti together before.
At this point, it's time for communion. I feel blessed that Branson will get to receive Communion as I carry him in my arms up to the stage. As we walk back to our seat I feel all things are possible with God's help. We have to do all we can to make Saint Vincent the best we can.
That includes helping those who don't know how to help themselves, learn they can, with Gods help! Branson and his mother must share a lot of faith being separated for a week at a time. Can we answer their prayers? I am praying we will succeed with your help and God's grace. I never thought I would believe that one of the most courageous people I know is a six year old boy with no arms, crying for his mommy.
-John Mutin
He is now six and has the biggest eyelashes I have ever seen on a person. They look like someone has put two sets of fake lashes on him with these big brown eyes that just beam happiness. He is all boy, very smart and quick on his feet. The biggest thing you first notice is he has only one partial non-functioning miniature arm. I picked him up and gave him a long hug. He was all smiles and after a while I put him down and he just stayed looking up at me.
Later on, we are all sitting down and ready for the church service at the school celebrating the holiday for the handicapped children. I look down and there stands my buddy Jasper again, so up he climbs onto my lap. I introduce him to Shruti and to my embarrassment I find out my buddy's name is Branson and he only lives at the school Monday through Friday. He goes home with his mom for the weekends, a mom who obviously loves and cares for him since he is dressed from head to toes in clean pressed clothes and his face and hair are clean.
That's when it hits me--the faith this mom has in the school to allow this young boy to stay with St. Vincent's School during the week. She does it in hopes that he can learn to care for himself with no arms. They have done this before with other children. The difference between St. Vincent's and any other school in Haiti is their ability to teach these children to overcome there handicaps. This child has the intelligence, we just have to teach him.
I look down and this time see big tears streaming down his face. When I ask what's wrong he says, in perfect English, "I want my mommy." At this, I can only hug him closer and wipe away the tears with a tissue I just happen to have in my pocket from a package Sherye had given me just that morning. I can only say she knows me well since we have been to Haiti together before.
At this point, it's time for communion. I feel blessed that Branson will get to receive Communion as I carry him in my arms up to the stage. As we walk back to our seat I feel all things are possible with God's help. We have to do all we can to make Saint Vincent the best we can.
That includes helping those who don't know how to help themselves, learn they can, with Gods help! Branson and his mother must share a lot of faith being separated for a week at a time. Can we answer their prayers? I am praying we will succeed with your help and God's grace. I never thought I would believe that one of the most courageous people I know is a six year old boy with no arms, crying for his mommy.
-John Mutin
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Grieving
Our last day in Haiti is bitter sweet as you can imagine. Thoughts of leaving these children behind crowd in your mind with watching them play and smile and steal your heart.
John Mutin has made a particular friend of a boy at the school. His name is a difficult Haitian name for us Americans, and I believe he is the same boy who captured Dr Sue Trzynka's heart on her last trip. His name is Benissoin, or something like that, but Clark (a CBU nurse) apparently nicknamed him "Bennie".
A year ago, Bennie first met John when he crawled up into his lap during the Sunday Eucharist. Bennie has no arms, and he found the welcoming arms and big lap of John Mutin to contentedly spend the rest of the service.
John Mutin has made a particular friend of a boy at the school. His name is a difficult Haitian name for us Americans, and I believe he is the same boy who captured Dr Sue Trzynka's heart on her last trip. His name is Benissoin, or something like that, but Clark (a CBU nurse) apparently nicknamed him "Bennie".
A year ago, Bennie first met John when he crawled up into his lap during the Sunday Eucharist. Bennie has no arms, and he found the welcoming arms and big lap of John Mutin to contentedly spend the rest of the service.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Beer and Benadryl
Sleeping in Haiti is always a challenge. I am a light sleeper by nature, and an early riser even in the States (hence my occasional blog posts at 4 AM). Add to that the excitement of being in Haiti, not to mention the barking dogs, crowing roosters, and strange cries of the "monkey birds". Falling asleep is difficult under a mosquito net with bug spray on my face.
This was my tenth trip to Haiti.
This was my tenth trip to Haiti.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Blessings and Thanks from Haiti
Dear brothers and sisters,
It is with great honor and pleasure that I am writing you today, on behalf of the coordination of the Partnership Program of the Diocese of Haiti. As I think about the past year with the Partnership Program, I am overcome with gratitude to you as our partners for having a huge hand in making this year as successful and wonderful as it was. I cannot begin to express how thankful I and everyone here are for all of your continued love and support. You have shown us how important our mission is to you, and how much we mean to you in many ways. We have thoroughly enjoyed your visits, and there are not words for how thankful we are for your support with tuition for the students, the support in the feeding program, the healthcare, and not to mention all the thoughts and prayers we know you are sending each day. As we close out 2012, and move into the next year, we are so filled with hope and excitement. We cannot wait to see how God uses all of us together to change lives in Haiti in the coming year.
I wish you and your families the very merriest of Christmases and a Happy and Blessed New Year!
Kesner Ajax
It is with great honor and pleasure that I am writing you today, on behalf of the coordination of the Partnership Program of the Diocese of Haiti. As I think about the past year with the Partnership Program, I am overcome with gratitude to you as our partners for having a huge hand in making this year as successful and wonderful as it was. I cannot begin to express how thankful I and everyone here are for all of your continued love and support. You have shown us how important our mission is to you, and how much we mean to you in many ways. We have thoroughly enjoyed your visits, and there are not words for how thankful we are for your support with tuition for the students, the support in the feeding program, the healthcare, and not to mention all the thoughts and prayers we know you are sending each day. As we close out 2012, and move into the next year, we are so filled with hope and excitement. We cannot wait to see how God uses all of us together to change lives in Haiti in the coming year.
I wish you and your families the very merriest of Christmases and a Happy and Blessed New Year!
Kesner Ajax
Rev. Dr. Kesner Ajax is executive director of BTI, a high-quality post-secondary school in Les Cayes, Haiti supported by the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti and ER-D. He also coordinates the Partnership Program of the Diocese of Haiti.
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