PlanetRockwall.com

Hope and Determination in Haiti

Published: October 19, 2011

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Apparently, presiding over Rockwall's Downtown Merchant's Association, running two restaurants including Rockwall's own El Cayote Rojo, raising a family, and performing in at least two musical groups, is just not excitement enough for Norma Valles. Early this month she decided to add a trip to the most impoverished nation in the western hemisphere to see what she could do to help.

The dust from the earthquake that struck Haiti nearly two years ago may have settled, but the results are still very much in evidence today. Tent cities filled with those made homeless by the disaster still line major highways. Tens of thousands of orphaned children still fend for themselves in the streets of the capital city of Port au Prince.


Many private and government organizations have stepped up to help the people of Haiti with various forms of relief. On October 3, Norma joined members of Mission of Hope Haiti on a three-day tour of their campus, located about 20 miles north of the capital. The tour, known as a "Vision Trip", is designed to give potential volunteers a chance to see the kinds of programs they have in place and the ways that volunteers can participate.


Led by local MOH Haiti member Doug Barker, vision trips are scheduled monthly. Participants who become inspired to get more involved can sign up for longer term missions, internships or the chance to sponsor a child through school at the mission campus. Sponsored students are provided with daily meals and tuition; the students return home to their families in the evening.

In preparing for the trip, Norma said that one of the biggest challenges for her was the language. While fluent in both English and Spanish, she found the national language of Haiti, French, to be "just different enough" from Spanish to be confusing. "I learned a few basic phrases to try and get by, but the first time I said 'bonjour' to someone I met and they came back with a rapid-fire response, it all just went out the window." Fortunately, translators were abundant, and locals who knew any English at all were proud to show it off.


During their tour of the capital city, the group witnessed not only devastation and grinding poverty, but also an undiminished spirit of determination in the Haitian people. Resources and money for cleanup and rebuilding are scarce, but the people remain full of hope and ready to work. Even so, Norma noted that the enormity of their plight showed on their faces as well. "It seemed like so many people were walking around in confusion. Like they didn't know where to begin."


"These few days really brought home to me just how fortunate we are in the states. Things like water, electricity, even food, things we take for granted here, are a constant struggle to find in Haiti."

Would she go back? "Absolutely! Anybody want to join me next spring?"

For more information on Mission of Hope Haiti, you can call Doug Barker at 316-519-8060, or visit their website.

Photos by Norma Valles.

Posted Wednesday, October 19, 2011 in Living, Travel, Volunteers,

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