Last February I was in Haiti. The year before I was there in April. Knowing the seasons--dry, rain, and hurricane--causes pause just now. Last night it rained and rained hard. Below is an email fro Gaelle Louisgenes (18 years old; she is supposed to be at the American University in Paris; daughter of Stephanie Millien & Luc Louisgene; granddaughter of Jean-Elie & Mona Millien). I couldn't finish reading Gaelle's email because I was crying.
Hi Maman,
 I wanted you to be one of the first to know from the states: it's pouring rain. The rain started around 4:43, I immediately got up and ran to get buckets because I noticed wholes in the metal ceiling a couple weeks back. Papa's tent is plastic so he's not getting wet. He's somehow sleeping through all of this. Our medicine was recovered, I had to move my tent around a bit to avoid the leaks. Unfortunately we only had so many buckets so all the other leaks created massive pools of water on the floor. Oh, what the day will bring. This is the most depressing event I've ever experienced. Imagine, all of the people laying on the streets, on boxes, or simply on rocks are now drenched. There's no hiding from it. All the buildings are destroyed. To make matters worst, the very few things people managed to recover are now gone. I saw a man enjoying the comfort his battery-powered radio brought him. I hope it's safe. I only know of two tents in the area that are waterproof, Papa's and the other is a tent we gave away to a family who lives nearby, on the street. I made a friend early last week, she showed me where she lives. From our hotel 2nd story patio, You can look on your right and see a landfill. Trash, pigs and everything in between inhabitates that landfill. She lives on that lot, behind all the trash. Her home is made of sheets and boxes and is held by a couple of sticks. She's an orphan and has been since the earthquake. Now her home is destroyed. What's to come of her? And what about Papi Ben? He's living in a tent in College St. Pierre. Is it raining there? And the bishop, tante Edith and the rest of the family. And all those families in the "tent cities?"  A couple weeks ago, while talking to a guy named Jean-Marie, I took note of the grey skies coming this way. I asked him does he think it's going to rain. He immediately replied, "No, because God wont let rain." I didnt understand his answer, what did God have to do with whether or not it's going to rain and why wouldn't he let it rain. So I asked, "Why wont God let it rain?" His response, "We've already been through so much, we've lost so much, God knows that and God wont let it rain." I now wonder, has he lost his faith (religion)? My problem with Haiti is that they have too much faith. They dont question anything. It makes the situation even more depressing. I figure, all things tangible can easily be taken away, as many have come to realize. Faith is intangible. It's consistant. It's real to them. More power to them. I know that I would have already converted had I been such an over zealous Christian and was put through all of this. It's too much. It's just way too much!!! I'm going to rest a bit, I can feel a big day coming ahead. Tell Tati "hi" for me. I love you, Gaelle |
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