A Retreat Into Reality
Last Updated 19 January, 2008
From 8 October to 12 October, 2001, I was privileged to be able to visit Haiti, arguably the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Words and pictures cannot convey what I saw. I hope that this site will help to motivate you to think about, and pray about, the people who are less fortunate than us, and believe me, no matter how poor or wretched your existence, there are those who consider you rich, and they are right.
Each day, we drove in our air conditioned bus through streets that don't deserve the name. We visited pockets of hope in the midst of the desolation, operated and/or funded by our sponsoring organization, Food for the Poor. We saw clean, smiling kids mere feet from others who were filthy and starving. Each night, when we returned to our hotel, I tried to write my impressions of what I saw. You'll read those words here, and see the pictures I took. I also hope to add pictures taken by others on our journey. I will also ask them to write their thoughts and reflections on what we experienced.
There were 19 on our journey, plus our guide. It was an intensely spiritual experience. Food for the Poor is a non-denominational organization that provides help in many countries in South and Central America and the Caribbean islands. Our own journey was intended for Catholics, with a priest accompanying us as a spiritual advisor, and daily Mass. As a non-denominational organization, Food for the Poor includes representatives of several Christian denominations and also members of the Jewish faith. They all work together to help the poor. They have provided information to the Better Business Bureau; the report is available at http://charityreports.bbb.org//Public/Report.aspx?CharityID=590.
Two years later, in 2003, a school was being built in St. Michel Archange Parish in Jacmel, Haiti. You can see pictures on the Construction page. Supplies (carpentry tools, sewing machines) are still needed. You can still help.
A note about pictures and copyrights: All pictures on this site are copyrighted and include a copyright notice. All writings are copyright by the original author. Higher resolution versions of all pictures are available, and they will be provided at no charge with permission to publish granted for any not for profit purpose that has as its objective the furthering of the goals of the Food for the Poor organization.
