Laura and Aubrey Serventure Haiti

We had a very special day.  We got to visit the National Museum of Haiti.  Here they shared with us their history. I found myself feeling a great sense of respect for this people after I learned just some of what they've been through.  In 1492, Columbus landed in Haiti.  They found 4 million Tinos (native people) living on the Island.  Columbus was an Italian who was being supported by Spain.  When they arrived they spent the next 50 years torturing and mutilating all the Tinos.  Not one survived.  They would cut off their arms and noses and blind them with knives.  They would then leave them to bleed to death.  Because the bodies were so numerous they brought dogs over from Spain (Haiti did not have dogs) and let the dogs eat the bodies of the Natives.  To this day Haitians do not like dogs.  You will see "pirate dogs" as I call them, who are descended from these spanish dogs roaming the streets but people do not have them as pets.  The present day Haitians are descend

We woke to a wonderful surprise.  NO WATER.  That meant no hand washing, no showers, no toilets.  There was drinking water but the tank wouldn't be filled for another day.  Everyone was supposed to be taking "military" showers; this was a very hard natural consequence.   Then we found out our van was broken.  We were so fortunate to find another one to take us over the mountain because we wanted to spend time at Respire Haiti.  Riding over the mountain was like riding the Wild Mouse at Lagoon for 3 hours.  I didn't even dare look out the window or I would've been so sick I wouldn't never recovered.  One time, someone in the back yelled "there's someone on the van".  We looked in the back window and a young boy about 12 had jumped on the van and was hoping to get a ride into the city.  This is not uncommon.  All the Tap Taps have people on the roofs, hanging off the back or sides.  If you can get on-you can get a ride.  We, however, did not want t

The leader of the Village offered to let us go to some of the houses and visit the people in their own homes.  As we went, they each shared with us things they needed.  These were not new dresses, or food, or furnishings.  Some had homes that were falling over.  The cement had crumbles or the wood rotted so their homes were collapsing.  Thatched roofs were completely worn out so wouldn't protect them from the rain.  We asked one little lady who didn't know how old she was but was probably about 75-85 what she needed.  She had been there since 1950 and said "I don't need anything, God will give it to me if He wants".  She sat on a hand made stool that didn't sit flat.  her legs were so fragile, she had to use a cane to walk.  I seriously could hardly walk in my tennis shoes without slipping, I have no idea how she was able to walk with her crippled legs and worn little sandals. On the way down a 94 year old woman with worn out plastic sand

We traveled through Jacmel and parked on the side of the road.  I wasn't sure what to expect but there were 4 or 5 ladies, medium height and thin who met us there.  They were excited to see us.  We had brought supplies in 50# duffel bags.  I had a hard time carrying them through the airport and certainly could hardly lift them.  These women grabbed the bags, lifted them up on their heads and started up the mile trek up to their village.  They often carry things on their heads because it leaves their arms free to hold children, carry other things or have their hands free if needed.  We could not begin to keep up with them. The weight sagged on both sides of their heads and they were in cheap flip flops or bare feet.  The trail was very steep, rocky and slick.  A number of people in our group slipped and feel.  We had to stop 2 or 3 times to rest on our way up and most weren't carrying any supplies.  The heat, humidity and steepness of the trail made for a difficult hike.  Upon r

 garbage piles on side of road  Our Serventure Group  These 2 dogs belonged to the owners of the group home.  She is from California  This is the grocery store. Mostly for "White people" or those with money  Typical landscaping  LDS Church  Garbage pile along the main road in Port-au-Prince  Water way full of garbage  Aubrey doing what she does best.  Beautiful Haiti  Shell art on concrete furnitures First view of Jacmel Day 4,  To Jacmel We left Port-au-Prince and traveled over the mountain to the south side of the Island to Jacmel.  All along the way there were piles and piles of garbage EVERYWHERE-along the streets, in river washes, alleyways. There is no waste service so people just throw their garbage whereever they are.  You will see pigs, goat, chickens tied up in the garbage piles to try and find something to eat.  They are literally eating garbage.   The whole time here I've not seen a bank or post

Laura: Haitian dogs start barking as the sun goes down and don't stop until the sun rises the next day.  Seriously! they never EVER stopped!  So drippy, sticky, sweaty underneath the mosquito net with barking dogs outside your window-it couldn't be better. lol  Today back to the Orphange to work on their medicine supply.  There were boxes and boxes of medications, most written in French that were either outdated or not for pediatric use.  Well meaning people give donations without the thought "is this something they really need".  There's pacifiers, toothpaste, baby toys, etc.  You've got about 150 children and a handful of "nannies".  It is all these nannies can do to get the children fed and care for their basic needs let along brushing teeth or playing with toys.  Pacifiers would become nothing but a health hazard.  Boxes of old books, falling apart and often without covers, that groups think the kids will read.  My thought was "if it wasn&#

Aubrey in SLC Airport Flying over the Caribbean Port Au Prince Aubrey ready to step foot off the plane to begin her Serventure Filling out Customs paperwork (no chairs) High end grocery store, drinks make us happy! Love to play with her hair Loving the attention This is a picture one of the orphans took.  He thought it was pretty cool. Yes, this was the photographer Aubrey's buddy.  The little girl would not let go of her. typical housing, but often there are only tarp walls Tap Tap Bus.  The riders "tap" the outside of the bus when they want to get off  The gang (I didn't have my glasses when I took this) Laura: It's hard to believe we're actually leaving on our Haiti adventure.  We've been saving money and preparing for almost 2 years.  Aubrey has a teacher at her High School who takes humanitarian trips to the Haiti Orphanages to help with supplies, funding, etc.  I have always had humanitarian work on my bu