Good Morning everyone!! I received this little post recapping Day 1 in Haiti yesterday from Emily this morning. Hope you all enjoy!!
She is already posting pictures of today and we will be adding those on the Travel4Souls facebook page and on our Travel4Souls Twitter Page . ALSO---we have had so many sign ups this week and are so excited--if you want to learn more about the trips please read about them on our webpage http://www.travel4souls.org/ !!
And I typically don't do this but for some reason I want to portray to whole picture. I know Emily did not write about this because I used to only blog about the overall of what we did, never the hiccups along the way. But everyone needs to understand what is happening and how it effects us and the teams. This was a message I got from Emily on my phone yesterday after I left work.
"So today was a little crazy. This morning was pretty typical but a little hectic at first because of sizes, but we were able to get crocs and flipflops which worked out well. Lunch was nice and everyone enjoyed New Vision and playing with the children. When we went to the 2nd distribution for teenage girls/women, we gave away to everyone we had planned and given tickets too, but there were at least 100 more that showed up wanting shoes. We could have probably given decent amount of shoes to them that we had from leftover sizes, but they were pushing and shoving and would not get in line. They were yelling at our partners so I made the decision to leave. I did not want the participants to feel unsafe or any of the Haitians to end up getting hurt. I told everyone why we were doing what we were doing and they understood and agreed. I tried so hard to be strong, but I don't know why but after I explained everything to them my eyes watered up. I know we gave shoes to everyone who was promised a pair of shoes and received a ticket, but my heart just hurts because I know we have no control over the crowds..the fact there are always going to be more people than shoes. Everyone here is in great spirits and understands that to be safe we have to do it this way, but I am just sad because I want to do more......."
As I was reading I started crying--because I know how she feels and I hate that she has to feel it too--but also, I am thankful. I told her it is okay to cry--As a leader we do have this feeling of "being strong" and really showing the participants that what they are doing is helping...but as a person--yes, we are helping in a huge way but it is heartbreaking because there will always be more. If she did not get upset--she would not be right for this job, because it is that passion and desire to do more that motivates us each day. We BEG people to sign up for trips because the more people that go means the more trips that occur which means more people getting shoes! The way we do it is safe--and at times I want to throw that out the window, but safety is important, just as teaching those that argue and fight to get their way will ruin what could be good for everyone.
I was telling someone yesterday that it is absolutely amazing to see all the good that is accomplished and so many happy and smiling faces and I wish so badly I could just take away all of their pain and poverty---but I don't know the solution to the world's problems. I do know that instead of being frustrated by it and giving up--I need to let it motivate me to do more. I know not everyone can go on a trip and see all of this first-hand, but I am being transparent with mine and Emily's hearts so that you might be able to see what we see when we are there--and have that motivate you. Seeing that one precious little boy jump up and down in his new shoes is the best feeling, now we just need to see more doing it. Help us do that in anyway that you can. There is ALWAYS something MORE you can be doing.
XOXO,
Katie Lentile
Hello from Haiti!
Today is the day that we are traveling back to Port. We will see the presidential palace and the iron market, and have some good Haitian lunch! After that we are visiting an orphanage with 50 kids aged 5 to 10. I am really excited to see the kids and to give them all the soccer balls that this group brought with them. Right now we are on the bus ride and everyone is really enjoying the sights of Haiti... The water the trees and the beautiful sunshine! 85 degrees isn't bad for January!
Yesterday we had an intense day of distributions. In the morning we fitted just under 200 infants and toddlers for sneakers and crocs. They were adorable! We had lunch at New Vision and got to see the kids again there. It is an orphanage of about 15 so we played with them and had a great meal.
After lunch we went to distribute to women ( a lot of the mothers and sisters from the morning distribution). We washed and fitted the feet of over 100 women.
Stay tuned for more about this week and all we are doing in Haiti. We are excited to meet up with CEO Wayne Elsey today in port.
Emily
She is already posting pictures of today and we will be adding those on the Travel4Souls facebook page and on our Travel4Souls Twitter Page . ALSO---we have had so many sign ups this week and are so excited--if you want to learn more about the trips please read about them on our webpage http://www.travel4souls.org/ !!
And I typically don't do this but for some reason I want to portray to whole picture. I know Emily did not write about this because I used to only blog about the overall of what we did, never the hiccups along the way. But everyone needs to understand what is happening and how it effects us and the teams. This was a message I got from Emily on my phone yesterday after I left work.
"So today was a little crazy. This morning was pretty typical but a little hectic at first because of sizes, but we were able to get crocs and flipflops which worked out well. Lunch was nice and everyone enjoyed New Vision and playing with the children. When we went to the 2nd distribution for teenage girls/women, we gave away to everyone we had planned and given tickets too, but there were at least 100 more that showed up wanting shoes. We could have probably given decent amount of shoes to them that we had from leftover sizes, but they were pushing and shoving and would not get in line. They were yelling at our partners so I made the decision to leave. I did not want the participants to feel unsafe or any of the Haitians to end up getting hurt. I told everyone why we were doing what we were doing and they understood and agreed. I tried so hard to be strong, but I don't know why but after I explained everything to them my eyes watered up. I know we gave shoes to everyone who was promised a pair of shoes and received a ticket, but my heart just hurts because I know we have no control over the crowds..the fact there are always going to be more people than shoes. Everyone here is in great spirits and understands that to be safe we have to do it this way, but I am just sad because I want to do more......."
As I was reading I started crying--because I know how she feels and I hate that she has to feel it too--but also, I am thankful. I told her it is okay to cry--As a leader we do have this feeling of "being strong" and really showing the participants that what they are doing is helping...but as a person--yes, we are helping in a huge way but it is heartbreaking because there will always be more. If she did not get upset--she would not be right for this job, because it is that passion and desire to do more that motivates us each day. We BEG people to sign up for trips because the more people that go means the more trips that occur which means more people getting shoes! The way we do it is safe--and at times I want to throw that out the window, but safety is important, just as teaching those that argue and fight to get their way will ruin what could be good for everyone.
I was telling someone yesterday that it is absolutely amazing to see all the good that is accomplished and so many happy and smiling faces and I wish so badly I could just take away all of their pain and poverty---but I don't know the solution to the world's problems. I do know that instead of being frustrated by it and giving up--I need to let it motivate me to do more. I know not everyone can go on a trip and see all of this first-hand, but I am being transparent with mine and Emily's hearts so that you might be able to see what we see when we are there--and have that motivate you. Seeing that one precious little boy jump up and down in his new shoes is the best feeling, now we just need to see more doing it. Help us do that in anyway that you can. There is ALWAYS something MORE you can be doing.
XOXO,
Katie Lentile
This made me cry. :( Looking forward to Tanzania in 2 weeks....
ReplyDeleteGreat post Katie.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Katie (and Emily), for being transparent. You are absolutely right...knowing that Emily has tears over not being able to do more DOES mean she's right for the job!! Sometimes our tears are the most honest form of communicating. You ARE making a difference.
ReplyDelete(My daughter and husband are going to Jamaica in March)
Great post. Please tell Louis T. His daughter said Hi and I am proud to call him my dad.
ReplyDeleteDean J.
Thanks for sharing all sides of our trip, Katie. Emily has such an amazing heart and is a great leader-she absolutely made the right decision in that moment, tough as it was. Having a heart so big it breaks every time you can't help all you want is such a blessing and we are just lucky to be in Emily's orbit. <3
ReplyDelete