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Haiti #4: Leaving to Port-Au-Prince again today!

Jorge Fusaro — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 09:03:50 +0000

You might be wondering, why so many updates on Haiti? April 12th, will mark 3 months after the earthquake struck on January 12th. Media outlets have many other “news” to broadcast and Haiti has lost center stage. Many people have made generous donations, but the restoration of Haiti, will take a lot more money and a longer time commitment.

The living conditions are terrible. Some areas and tent cities are far worse than they were last month. The rainy season has destroyed communities and tent cities, once again, displacing the displaced. There is a growing concern for sanitation, medical aid, and safety. This issues and hunger are still considered emergency issues in need of emergency assistance.

After returning from my first trip to Haiti in February, my life has become quite busy planning, working, and mobilizing. There are new updates on life (recently became an uncle to twins) and word (more to come soon!). It’s been tough to catch up with friends, supporters, and family. There is much to report and share. Stay tuned…I will try to write more posts on my blog to keep you updated.

Leaving today: April 1, 2010

Early morning, I’m going to join a team of friends from Puerto Rico, including Andrea Perez, Mitzy Rivera, and Pastor Eliacim. I’ll be on the same airplane with a team of 14 Puerto Rican doctors. Andrea and Eliacim have been in Haiti since Monday, setting up the clinic and meeting other members of the team coming via Dominican Republic. Eliacim’s ministry filled a 43 feet container at full capacity!! The container includes tons of food, water, medicines, relief aid, clothing, and 552 tents. As you all know, the rainy season in Haiti is rough and has severely affected the relief work on the ground. You can see a video interview (Anderson Cooper interviews Sean Penn) where Penn talks about a tent city with 45,000+ people.

In my previous visit, it was difficult to witness the horrendous living conditions. The photos and videos on the media do no justice to the realities on the ground. It is FAR WORSE than you think it is. Therefore, the HELP IS FAR MORE important now than it was at thte beginning.

My commitment, along with Andrea Perez (good friend, servant-leader, and missionary) is to keep Haiti on the radar so the people receive the help and the resources necessary to get back on their feet and THRIVE, NOT JUST SURVIVE. We want to fuel sustainable change in Haiti. There are visions, ideas, and plans in motion. You will hear more about it all in due time. For the moment, we covet your prayers and support. If you want to get involved email us.

Below are more photos from the first trip:

Funeral at Carrefour

Local teenagers at La Lycee Petion, now a football field behind the Cathedral in Port-Au-Prince.

When you feel a 4.8 quake at 1:30am followed by a 4.7 just ten minutes later, you want to sleep outdoors. Just in case.

Happy kids in Leogane.

Village life in Leogane.

Downtown Port-Au-Prince.

Haiti #3: On the street, when the sunsets, HIV, and photos

Jorge Fusaro — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:06:59 +0000

This past week has been intense with work, deadlines, and Haiti-related meetings. Therefore, my time to edit 3000+ photos and write new blog posts has been limited. I want to continue sharing more thoughts and reflections from our humanitarian mission trip to Haiti. Here are some excerpts from my journal.

After a couple of days on the ground, I quickly realized that the need is far greater than the help. Port-Au-Prince and the surrounding areas are destroyed. There is dust, debris, and garbage everywhere. Many times trash is burned in public places such as in sidewalks or in the middle of the street…it is intoxicating. It smells really bad. The trouble with sanitation does not stop there. Anywhere you look men and also women are urinating on the street…a serious side of need.

The streets are noisy, chaotic, dirty, and overcrowded. Being a passenger is like being part of a race…driving is insane. Never experienced anything quite like it.

Thousands of people are out in the streets with no roof, no food, and no clean water. They are displaced with no tents, no jobs, and not much to do. Many of them are wandering and watching cars and people drive by. Sometimes they sit on the same place for hours or days.

When the sun sets, around 5-6pm, everything goes dark with the exception of a few candle lights or occasional lights powered by one of the few generators in the country. It gets dark, lonely, and dangerous. Many women have been victims of rape and sexual abuse due to the circumstances and lack of security. The percentage of HIV carriers in Haiti is very high. “Haiti is one of PEPFAR’s 15 focus countries, which collectively represent approximately 50 percent of HIV infections worldwide.”

Sometimes we forget that privilege to have electricity. Most people on developing countries don’t have that luxury and half of their days are spent in darkness. When you arrive from a country such as Haiti, you realize that we have so much. Sometimes we are not happy we what we have or complain that it is not enough. Reality check!

Street in Leogane.

People on the streets.

Some streets are inaccessible by car.

Collecting mattresses for a better night sleep.

Local street vendor.

Woman praying in front of the Cathedral in Port-Au-Prince.

Locals Kency and Esai and one of our nurses, Varleen.

Haiti #2: The team and more photos from Port-Au-Prince

Jorge Fusaro — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:08:19 +0000

Many have asked about our team. I was part of a team of 17 people led by Pastor Jean Pierre Milleroy from (BBC) Beraca Baptist Church in Brooklyn, NY. BBC is a predominantly Haitian community with 800+ members. BBC has been serving and ministering in Haiti for many years. When the earthquake struck, they quickly responded.

I couldn’t have asked for a better group to go and serve in Haiti. I was the only white (Latino), non-Haitian, and non-Creole speaking member. Each and every one brought so much love and compassion to the mission. We were brought together in our desire to serve.

More photos from Haiti:

Cathedral Port-Au-Prince.

Aid, surveillance, or press.

Young woman waiting for her turn at the clinic.

Happy smiles!

Mothers and daughters leaving the clinic.

Tent city: waiting in line for food.

Edmond, team member.

Haiti #1: Back home safely and a photo preview

Jorge Fusaro — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:00:23 +0000

Excuse the cliché, but words are not enough to describe what we saw, what we did, and what needs to get done. Haitians refer to the earthquake as “the event” and I am starting to understand why. Events change us and I feel that deep within, what I saw, smelled, heard, touched, and tasted, has begun a change in me. Every trip—be it for pleasure, work, or mission—has the potential for incredible growth and change.

This is the first of several blog posts about my trip. I will be sharing stories, photos, and videos. As the team’s photographer, I was responsible to document our relief efforts and Haitian life after “the event.” We have all seen the terrible destruction, death, and chaos in the media. I felt that was an incomplete picture. I believed that in the midst of this brokenness and pain, there is joy, beauty, peace, and hope to be found. I am happy to report that was true for us.

I tried my best to capture the full range of emotions while honoring human dignity. Our hope in sharing the story is that you will better connect with the Haitian experience and be part in helping rebuild Haiti.

I am still processing images, but here is a quick preview. I will announce when photos are ready on Flickr and [maybe on] Facebook. On the next post, I will be introducing the wonderful team I served with under the leadership of Jean Pierre Mullery (Beraca Baptist Church: Brooklyn, NYC).

The team on the way to Leogane to setup the clinic.

Flore, one of the nurses

Joe and Ketlyan

Patients waiting for care at the clinic

Mother and daughter at the clinic

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My Haiti Trip: Postponed…

Jorge Fusaro — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:15:55 +0000

Dear friends, family, and supporters:

I have sad news. My trip to Haiti, scheduled for February 8th, has been postponed. I don’t know the full details, but I trust the decision is in God’s best interest. On a positive note, it gives me more time to prepare and raise support. For those of you just tuning in, I was chosen as the documentary photographer to join a team of 30 relief workers, nurses, doctors, and humanitarian specialists leaving to Haiti on February 8th. We are hoping to leave soon and distribute bundles of relief medicines, supplies, and resources in Port-Au-Prince and nearby towns.

I also want to take this opportunity to THANK all supporters. This is the first time I raise financial support for a humanitarian relief trip and was overwhelmingly surprised by the quick and generous response. Thanks you for the positive thoughts, prayers, and donations.

Lets continue to pray and support Haiti. This is only the beginning of a long process of reconstruction.