Loose Leaf Notes

The following are Facebook messages that many of us in Floyd are following. They are the direct comments of our friend Asa, who arrived in Haiti last Tuesday to volunteer with Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team (AMURT), an organization that works around the world providing support in the form of education, health care, and shelter to victims of disaster and poverty.  More about Asa and his trip will be forthcoming in The Floyd Press and here.

~ I am finally here, got a chance to slow down, no sleep since Sunday.  All is well, my camp is set up.  Wonderful people, visited four refugee camps today, very intense, folks are so nice though.  Spent the day with a translator talking to community organizers about ongoing projects needed.  Took lots of photos!

~ First job:  I will be working with some engineers as project manager to install a retaining wall behind the school to keep the hillside from moving any closer.

~ Getting ready to drive through Port Au Prince to pick up some people at the UN compound. Our driver is not here and the ladies do not use stick shift, it us up to me to get them there … this should be interesting.

~ Health clinic evening:  We just had a woman’s health clinic here this evening, a huge group of girls and grown ladies came in the compound, lots of singing, dancing, stretching, screaming, drumming and more dancing, then they all laid down and tried to be quiet which do not go over to well.

~ The day’s thoughts: Many little orphans here. The didi’s found a home where there were tons of kids squatting, no one taking care of them, little babies, dehydrated and skinny.  Very sad, some had to go to the hospital, and some came here …

~ Off to take my bath from a bucket, no showers here.  Life is simple but ok.

~ Thanks to all of you at home who have helped me do this.  It would not be possible without you, so know that you have helped these people as much as I am.

~ Plenty for all: Just got done with the community meeting.  Four representatives came to the school.  We explained my plan to them in detail and they love it!  So nice to get a positive response from them.  In their words, they can not wait to be married to me with this project and to see it working …

~ Logistics and a crazy life: Working with engineers, writing back and forth with co-workers about ideas, and giving proposals, so we can get funding and approval from AMURT headquarters. Learning a lot about logistics and communication.

Note:  Asa’s most recent message described some of the most intense sights and signs of death and destruction he has witnessed so far while delivering some interns to  downtown Port-au-Prince.   He took the above photos.  Stay tuned…