Jacmel

Friday, January 30, 2015

January 2-4, we made our first visit to Jacmel, one of Haiti's most famous cities - known for its culture & art, history, and its annual Carnaval celebration.

We stayed at the picturesque Cyvadier Hotel, with a dining and pool area that overlooks a cove. The soundtrack of crashing waves keeps you company all day and night. It's beautiful!

While I am tempted to overwhelm you with pictures of this gorgeous town, full of street art and galleries, I will control myself, and just share a few gems that will hopefully have you thinking about the next American and Delta flights to Haiti!

Old buildings still showing their color in downtown Jacmel. Screaming for new paint but still speaking loudly of their history.


Jacmel was a major coffee export starting in the 1770s, until Port-au-Prince became the preferred port under the U.S. occupation in the early 20th century.



Street and boardwalk art... love it!



The ooolld market. Filled with thousands of sellers and buyers on market days.





A view of Jacmel from the mountainside on our way to the famous Basin Bleu for a hike and swim.


To see my many Instagrams from Jacmel, go here.

And finally, the view from our dining area, each morning and evening. Not bad, right?!


The beach, delicious food, and the many artistic treasures of downtown Jacmel made us excited for a return trip. It's just two and a half hours from Port-au-Prince. While the windy and mountainous drive may have you reaching for your Dramamine, the destination is clearly every bit worth the journey. :)

Along for the ride

Last week, Ted and I had a “first.” The University of Maryland made its third annual Learning Tour to Haiti, with MCC as their host, accompanying agency and logistical guide. And we were along for the ride!

After their Week One in the Dezam countryside, the group of 8 students plus their fearless UMD staff leader, made it to Port-au-Prince for a week that was largely guided by Ted and yours truly.

From Day One, meeting them at the Ouanga Bay beach on National Route 1 for their “take a breather” day, to the final night of free-styling songs and sharing their personal reflections on the trip, Ted and I came away with many good memories of meaningful conversations, sight-seeing “firsts” around Port-au-Prince, and opportunities to see our Haitian partners and their work with fresh eyes.

On Day Two of the group’s stay in Port-au-Prince, Ted and I had the opportunity to roll out our first Advocacy 101 Workshop, something we had given thought to periodically over the past months. Starting with a “definition of Advocacy” and moving into the “how to,” we enjoyed the rich dialogue that developed from the students’ very thoughtful reflections and contributions.  UMD is definitely a group that prepares well and comes ready to learn.

The UMD group before arriving, photo cred: Kristina Mondesir


A couple memories we will not soon forget:

Rocking to RAM

We enjoyed our first ever RAM concert with the Maryland group. RAM is a racine band led by the owner of Haiti’s famous Hotel Olaffson. Every Thursday evening, starting at 11pm, RAM plays a two-hour show. All we knew of RAM beforehand was … not much. The awesome horns and jumpy beat surprised us and kept us awake enough to drive the group home at 1am!

History changes

A 3-hour lecture from friend and former MCC Advocacy employee on Haitian history kept the group engaged and reminded me why I love history so much. The gentleman who provided English interpretation for our group even said that this session “changed” him. He hadn't heard the history of Haiti from colonial times to present conveyed through such a stirring narrative.

Three days later, the group traveled to visit Na Sonje, a private foundation couched in the hills beyond Port-au-Prince. This foundation is dedicated to the retelling of Haitian history with an emphasis on raising global consciousness on the horrors of colonial oppression. The Na Sonje theatrical production takes you swiftly through seven centuries of Haitian, African, and European interaction. It is a moving experience that is hard to forget. One goal of the Learning Tour is to expose groups to a variety of perspectives so they can better understand the rich and varied landscape of Haiti today and in its past. The visit to Na Sonje definitely serves to meet this goal.

Musical goodbyes

On our final night the team remixed the final rendition of their "farewell song"for Ted and me. Starting with their traditional "So long, farewell, to you my friends," they then broke into a rap that explored their highs and lows, and key learnings from their two weeks in Haiti. How often do you get serenaded at the end of a "work" day?? This group was a real pleasure for us to visit with. We wish them well, and hope several will make their way back to Haiti in the near and long-term.

All in all; an unforgettable "first"for Ted and me!

A little taste of Ouanga Bay for us; first day



Awesome horns! At RAM

Mural above the stage, at RAM

January 12th: five years after Haiti's earthquake

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Tomorrow, January 12th, marks the five-year anniversary of the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti, killing over 200,000 people and leveling much of the capital. So many people lost loved ones, neighbors, homes. A co-worker pointed out to me last Friday that some entire families were lost. There is also a mounting political crisis in Haiti that comes to a head tomorrow. Please be in prayer for this country this week.

In honor of this difficult anniversary, we'd like to offer a couple brief reflections and specific suggestions for ways you can pray for Haiti.

First, a short meditation. I think this is a very important way to frame our approach to the many challenges in Haiti. It also serves as a prayer request for us, specifically in our day-to-day policy and advocacy work, which is often focused on crises and injustices in Haiti.

"Surprised by Joy"
by Henri Nouwen


Are we surprised by joy or by sorrow? The world in which we live wants to surprise us by sorrow. Newspapers keep telling us about traffic accidents, murders, conflicts between individuals, groups, and nations, and the television fills our minds with images of hatred, violence and destruction. And we say to one another: "Did you hear that, did you see that... isn't it terrible...who can believe it?" Indeed it seems that the powers of darkness wants to continue to surprise us with human sorrow. But these surprises paralyze us and seduce us to an existence in which our main concern becomes survival in the midst of a sea of sorrows. By making us think about ourselves as survivors of a shipwreck, anxiously clinging to a piece of driftwood, we gradually accept the role of victims doomed by the cruel circumstances of our lives.

The great challenge of faith is to be surprised by joy. I remember sitting at a dinner table with friends discussing the economic depression of the country. We kept throwing out statistics that made us increasingly convinced that things could only get worse. Then, suddenly, the four-year-old son of one of my friends opened the door, ran to his father, and said, "Look, Daddy! Look! I found a little kitten in the yard...Look! ... Isn't it cute?" While showing the kitten to his father, the little boy stroked the kitten with his hands and held it against his face. All at once everything changed. The little boy and his kitten became the center of attention. These were smiles, strokes, and many tender words. We were surprised by joy!

God became a little child in the midst of a violent world. Are we surprised by joy or do we keep saying: "How nice and sweet, but the reality is different." What if the child reveals to us what is really real?

(Here and Now, Henri Nouwen, pgs 33-34, 1994)

Haiti Post-Earthquake

The statistics are out there, and they are startling. High percentages of extreme poverty and income disparity in Haiti. But here we would like to share a couple of stories with you.

Our boss and the MCC Haiti country representative wrote a beautiful reflection, posted by mcc.org this week, in the form of a letter to his baby daughter. He shares about Haiti right after and 5-years after the earthquake, as well as his love for the country. 



Ted and I wrote a blog post that was posted to MCC Ottawa Office site this week. It's a reflection on what we see as the direction of our work dealing with advocacy in Haiti, as being "bridge builders" across some of Haiti's social divides.

Politics


This January 12th also marks a crucial political juncture for the country. Much of the political stalemate from the past several months comes to a head, as we see whether U.S. influence, and negotiations among opposing parties in Haiti will have led to a solution to Haiti's pre-electoral crisis. Tomorrow, without a resolution, Haiti's legislative branch will become defunct as all remaining senators' terms expire. NPR offered brief coverage of the crisis just a couple of days ago: Haiti's political crisis expected to come to head next week.

For months, demonstrators have been crowding the streets of downtown in frustration over the president's administration. This week, more demonstrations are expected.

Prayers

 Here are specific ways you can pray for Haiti:

  • Sincere commitment on behalf of Haiti's leaders to reach a peaceful consensus to this electoral crisis.
  • Healing across social lines. Most Haitians feel very alienated by their government and the business-owning "elite." Fairly rigid social divides have been in place for centuries in Haiti. Pray for peace and reconciliation in this area.
  • There are still 85,000 people lives in camps since the 2010 earthquake. They are vulnerable to poor sanitation, lack of drinking water, inclement weather, and even forced evictions by landowners and police. Pray the Haitian government will ensure their safety and come up with durable housing solutions for the very poor.
  • Education is highly valued in Haiti, yet access to quality education is a challenge for most children. The adult literacy rate is 49%. Pray for greater, more widespread, educational opportunities for Haiti's poor.
  • For the great work being done across the country to improve Haitian's access to preventative and curative medical services. Pray for greater access to these services in each part of Haiti.
  • Food security. Environmental, economic, and climatic factors have made Haiti's agricultural sector unproductive. Pray for healing of the land and new abundance. 


God bless.




'Merry Christmas' in Photos

Monday, January 5, 2015

Did you know that Christmas is not yet over? January 6 marks the end of the 12 days of Christmas. For that reason,  I will share some photos that capture memories from this season for us - both in Haiti and in San Diego. We hope you had a very Merry Christmas.

Christmas in San Diego




Beach walk with my sister and the family




The whole Daulton family was together for Christmas. Stephanie and Steve flew in on Christmas Eve from Texas and Chicago, where Steve is in medical school. It had been 4 years!


Two days after Christmas, we got to see the Oswalds! Ted's parents flew in from India. PJ, Erica, and our niece and nephew drove down from Sacramento. It was a true reunion, after one year of being apart.

Doughnut time at Leucadia Donuts :)


Little nephew Liam covered in crumbs



The three of us paused for a moment of Rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer storytelling


The Oswalds!

Photo compliments of PJ

California Instagram

The beach views of San Diego and the 'wild west' environs of Apple Valley / San Bernadino County with Ted's aunt Becky and uncle Don. The bottom right picture is of Lee Ann and niece Kali at "Calico Ghost Town."

And finally... the Daulton gals on Christmas Eve.




Christmas in Haiti

Instagram

Co-worker Kristin brought the fun with some afternoon Christmas decorating in December


Haitian angels and pine cone centerpieces at Quartier Latin; quite festive!


Warm drinks and Christmas ornaments on our Haiti 'tree' made the season seem bright


And who could forget the supermarket? The most decked-out spot in Port-au-Prince!



'Just Mercy' by Stevenson

Sunday, January 4, 2015

I would like everyone to read this book. Please, please!

I first heard Bryan Stevenson speak at the Justice Conference in 2014. If you would like to get an idea of what Just Mercy is about, watch his presentation here:


Bryan Stevenson from The Justice Conference on Vimeo.

Stevenson is a capital defense attorney, based primarily in Alabama, who has over 25 years experience representing juveniles sentenced to life imprisonment as well as adults awaiting execution on death row. His book includes client stories, some memoir, and a sweeping look at the criminal justice system and prison life in the U.S.

Stevenson is a powerful storyteller, a tireless advocate, and he offers an astounding Christian witness in the work to which he has dedicated his life. I could barely put this book down.

(Stevenson is a also graduate of Eastern University and Harvard. Woop! *I went to Eastern.)

I highly recommend Just Mercy. Again, I think every American ought to read it. Please pick up a copy and share your thoughts. Stevenson provides a compelling call to action for us all.

'The Color of Water' by McBride

I just finished reading James McBride’s memoir and piece dedicated to his mother, The Color of Water. A friend had recommended this book to me for years, and I finally picked it up for the Christmas break. I am so glad that I did!

McBride also wrote The Good Lord Bird, winner of the National Book Award for 2013, which I highly recommend to history nuts or lovers of historical fiction.

Raised orthodox Jewish and an immigrant to America from Poland, McBride’s mother flees from her oppressive family structure in the South to get lost and find a future in the bustle of New York City in the 1930s and 40s. A white woman, she marries an African American man who introduces her to the Christian faith. Together, they build the foundation for a remarkable family. Twelve siblings comprise the household in which McBride is raised in New York. Living meal-to-meal, day-by-day, McBride's family is fueled by his mother’s resolve, nonstop movement, and incredible strength. Her wit and McBride's honest reflections string together this tight narrative that will have you instantly hooked.

I recommend this book to everyone who loves a good story, and also exploring the many angles of racial identity in America.

The Hundred-Foot Journey

Being at home in San Diego for Christmas meant we got to catch some of the more recent talked-about flicks, and all with the ease of a quick Redbox run or Amazon Prime rental. Whoa!

Christmas Day, our family watched The Hundred-Foot Journey, a comedy about an Indian, restaurant-owning family that travels through Europe in search of the perfect location for their new culinary venture. They settle in small-town France, but with some obstacles to overcome: the town is already somewhat xenophobic, plus a renowned, classically French restaurant is situated just one hundred feet from their front door.

Everything takes a turn when the prominent son and chef of the family, Hassan, starts to take an interest in uncovering the hidden secrets of French cuisine, with the help of a young chef-in-training, Marguerite.

In my view, The Hundred-Foot Journey scores major points for being a fun comedy/drama that covers unique territory – it’s the first French/Indian film I have seen. It will also leave you hungry and anticipating your next delicious meal!