From Haiti with love: Part 1
The trip to Haiti was a life-changing experience on so many levels.
A lot can happen in one week, so let me share with you the highlights. Dr. Lyles and I flew into Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic and took a taxi to the Haitian border. Let’s just say that the 4 1/2-hour journey to the border was filled with pot holes big enough to swallow a Mini Cooper!
We arrived just before they closed the border around dusk. The atmosphere was chaotic, with people yelling, pushing and negotiating their way across to Haiti. Once the sun went down, it was pitch black (no electricity) and as we waited for Bishop Mardy we made sure to stick very close to the police station.
With our Red Cross badges around our necks, we nervously waited for a couple of hours until he arrived. Getting in his SUV was a welcome relief. The Foyer de Sion orphanage in Port-au-Prince was about an hour way. Even though it was incredibly dark, it was impossible to miss the damage once we entered the capital.
Provided by Elia Gourgouris.
By the time we arrived, all the children were asleep. Infants and toddlers were in their cribs on the main floor, while the older children slept on the tile floor on the second floor. Our “bedroom” was the balcony upstairs. The property was very secure behind a high wall so we felt quite safe.
The first night was filled with the neighbor’s music across the street until midnight, the dogs barking nonstop until 2 a.m. and then the roosters joining in around 4:30 a.m. Needless to say, sleeping on the floor combined with the abundance of sounds made for an interesting and very long night.
Around 5 a.m., a sweet young boy by the name of Benadu came to the balcony and just sat next to me and started talking in French. Although I haven’t spoken French in years, I was able to piece together that he was hungry. The only thing I could find in my backpack in the dark was a piece of gum, which I gladly shared with him. He broke into the biggest grin I’ve ever seen and went back inside.
I would find out later that he shared the good news with the rest of the kids because when they woke up, they all started asking for “chicklet,” meaning gum. Luckily my wife had filled my bag with packs of gum, so I decided to share one pack with them.
It was a huge mistake, innocent as it was. Each pack has 20 pieces and by the time I had dispersed them, many of the children were left empty-handed and were crying at the top of their lungs. It was a complete frenzy, with the oldest and fastest getting the prized possessions. I felt terrible for causing such a disruption to the older lady taking care of these kids, but I learned my lesson.
The next morning, I preemptively broke each piece of gum into three pieces on the balcony before I entered the room. This time all of the 60 children were able to get a piece. I have never seen such genuine joy over one third of one piece of gum! Most of them were still chewing it several hours later. This ritual took place on a daily basis and became one of the highlights of the trip.
Provided by Elia Gourgouris.
These children totally stole my heart! They are beautiful children, who amazingly are still filled with light in the midst of tragic circumstances. Whenever we ventured out and came back to the orphanage, they would surround us and would want to get picked up — imagine having 20 kids each who clamored to climb on me non-stop. Their need for physical affection and love was both heartbreaking and wonderful at the same time. Needless to say we spent a lot of time holding them, and that was another of the highlights of this trip.
We also took pictures with all the kids individually who are up for adoption, with a sign that has their names and ages to show the families that have expressed an interest here in the United States. My biggest hope is that ALL of these beautiful children can find a loving home. If there’s anyone interested in adopting from this orphanage please let me know and I’ll pass the information along.
Bishop Mardy and his wife, Marjorie, are amazing people! Even though they had lost so much in the earthquake (mother, sister, brother and others) they were full of the Spirit! Unfortunately their youngest boy, who’s been kidnapped, has not been returned, although he survived the earthquake. I would like to ask that we all pray on their behalf for the safe return of their child.
Next week, I’ll share with you my impressions of Haiti and its people, their tremendous needs and also their brightness of hope.
Until then, God bless you and keep the faith!
Dr. Elia Gourgouris is a nationally known speaker, relationship coach, and the president of LDSCoaching.com. With over 20 years of experience, he has inspired thousands of individuals and couples to find greater happiness and fulfillment, both in their careers and their personal lives. He holds a degree from UCLA and a Ph.D. in psychology. Dr. Gourgouris speaks to groups around the country regarding women’s issues, self esteem, communications skills, and relationships. He is also a favorite presenter at both BYU and BYU-ID Education Weeks, and Time Out for Women conferences. He is the author of “DTR: What You Need to Know Before You Get Married” and he has an upcoming CD entitled “The Multi-Platinum Marriage: Going from Just Surviving to Thriving!” He and his wife, Sona, live near Boulder, Colorado, with their children.
