It is not uncommon to face challenges in our work in Haiti. Those challenges vary in size, scope, and impact. On one side of the scale, someone may arrive late to a meeting, throwing off an entire day’s work, but this happens in America too. A more major challenge may result due to severe weather or concerns over security. America has faced these challenges too, especially in recent weeks.
Our challenge in Haiti this week: a diesel fuel shortage throughout the entire country. As you can imagine, not having fuel makes it pretty difficult to travel to the different communities we serve; everything from a routine check in check-in with families enrolled in our programs to delivering supplies has been complicated. We have had to determine where we absolutely need to combine deliveries of life-sustaining items like formula.
Many of the areas where our families live are more than an hour drive from Haitian Families First’s headquarters in Port-au-Prince. One of the main towns we commute to is Saint Marc, which is almost 60 miles from the capital. The main road was paved recently, which makes the drive fairly smooth and safe, but it is still quite a drive. Traffic in the city is similar to that of any major city, and Jamie sometimes spends two-and-a-half to three hours commuting each way.
It is not always easy to understand what doing work in a third world country looks like. From fuel shortages, to inconsistent and unreliable electricity (generally electricity is given for just a few hours per day), one thing we have learned in our years of work in Haiti is to roll with the punches and take every day in stride. There’s no sense in complaining about the circumstances, we just work diligently to adapt. This week, Jamie is prioritizing, perhaps doing less, and hoping that no serious emergencies arise that prove life threatening for those in our care.
Having recently experienced significant economic challenges in establishing our Pittsburgh headquarters, the Haitian Families First organization wants to acknowledge the amazing contributions that so many of you have made toward our work in Haiti this year. We are grateful to you. We strive to do more with every dollar you give us and always work to honor the trust and faith you’ve put in us to help others. We are especially grateful this holiday season for the love of our family.
From our family to yours we wish you peace today and throughout the coming year.
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