I had the privilege to go to Haiti for a week in June. While we were there, I, along with my teammates, were able to do our little part to help in an area where it will take many more people and many years to accomplish all that needs to be done. We saw much devastation in Port Au Prince, with-out even going to the earthquake's epicenter. To us seeing it six months later, it looked like the earthquake had just happened., collapsed buildings, rubble everywhere.

There were emotional moments for me when the people would come up to us and ask for food, etc. and we couldn't help them knowing that if we did there would be a mob scene. There was a mom who was so malnourished she couldn't produce milk for her newborn baby and so many others. We were able to take 850 lbs. of supplies, flip flops, etc. that were distributed to families and used in the clinic and the school.

I was able to help teach in the school, and to see how thrilled the children were when we handed out pony beads and pipe cleaners to make bracelets was an eye opener. We learned real quickly that you can't bring out jump ropes, bubbles or sidewalk chalk on the playground without being mobbed.

I also got to help out in a clinic and see how patient people were who made a day of it to get to and from the clinic and wait long hours to be seen by a nurse or doctor. And also to see how ailments that can usually be treated simply in the states, like an eye infection can go untreated for so long and become a major issue.

One day I went to help build a house. For four hours some of my teammates and I searched around the site for the appropriately sized rocks (avoiding poisonous snakes and scorpions) to be used for the foundation. There are no bulldozers, no cement trucks, everything is done by hand. It will take years.

One of my favorite days was when we went to a village across a large lake on a homemade sail-boat near the Dominican Republic border. The people there have nothing (except that one hut had a small television where many were watching the world cup.) Medical people from our team held an all day clinic at the village, while others of us spent time with the children doing activities.

My time there went so fast. Things I will remember: the welcoming people, the children's faces, the stories of the earthquake, the relationships built with my teammates, how we seemed to have longer hours in our day, time slowed down, though the peoples circumstances were devastating and difficult there was no complaining and ironically life was in a way simpler focusing on basic needs and relationships, the many, many tents in the tent cities, having the option of ordering goat off the menu of the one restaurant that we went to, sleeping on the sleeping porch covered by a mosquito net, with a rat in the rafters and lizards climbing on the walls, drips of water coming out of a pipe (our shower), the school bus (our Haiti transportation) that broke down many times, but amazingly (almost) always got us to where we were going, that pedestrians don't have the right of way and honking horns and fast driving.

I was reminded: to not take things for granted, to be thankful for every blessing, that rela-tionships are important, not things, to have continued hope and faith in God, that God is in control, and to continue to share God's love and serve others.

Thank you to everyone for your generous prayers, support and supplies that were given.

Christi T

The Oregon Hunger Task Force presents its 5-Year Plan to End Hunger in Oregon Wednesday, August 11—9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at TaborSpace (in Mt. Tabor Presbyterian Church), 55th and SE Belmont,  Portland, OR 97215

Ending Hunger Before it Begins: Oregon’s Call to Action is designed to guide Oregon’s collective efforts over the next five years to make sure all Oregonians can put healthy food on their tables every day.  Your actions will have a measurable impact.  A personal-handwritten letter matters.  Constituents matter. Having all your friends write matters!

Emily Georges Gottfried, Executive Director. Oregon Area Jewish Community

503.295.6761

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http://ofrah.wordpress.com/

Saturday, August 28, 2010, 10am-6pm

• Readings & Healers
• Jewelry & Gifts
• Kids, Make Your Own Rain Stick
• Speakers, Seminars & Classes
• Massages & Sample Healing Sessions
• Alternative Doctors
• Energy Healers
• Music & Entertainment
• Food Booths

Support Family Bridge, your local homeless family shelter, with Drumming For Dollars – 3 to 6 pm:

RoseSprings Center for the Healing Arts
5215 NE Elam Young Pkwy West
(1.5 blocks North of Hawthorne Farms Max Station)
Hillsboro, OR 97124
503-693-9101

rosespringscenter.com