Day 3 - Toumazu Orphanage

December 28, 2010
Day 3 - Toumazu Orphanage


Today we made about a 2 hour drive into the mountains outside of Port Au Prince to a very poor village called Toumazu. On our journey there, we had to go straight through the market district of Port Au Prince and got to see a bunch of the locals working. It was very interesting. We saw a woman with about fifteen chickens in a basket on top of her head! We also had to make a stop at a gas station and while we were stopped, we convinced Stefan (one of the interpreters) to jump off of the tap-tap and buy Haitian rum. He jumped off...and we might have left him in the market!! All of us were screaming at the driver to stop and there comes Stefan sprinting down the crowded streets in and out of all of the crazy drivers and cars carrying a bottle of rum for us crazy Americans!

Everyone loading on to the tap-tap after a pit stop.

When we got to the village, there was already a line for us waiting. We climbed out of the tap-tap and the orphanage director showed us around the compound. In one room was 7 beds for all 30 orphans to squish together and sleep at night. We also got to meet the orphans. In order to pick them out in a crowd and keep track of them so they couldn't run away from the compound, they had to wear bright green shirts.

The line that was waiting for us.

A shot of the orphans and Garry (orange shirt)

Garry started GCOM when he was only 18 years old.

The room where all 30 of the orphans sleep.

We set up our clinic, pharmacy and donation room and went to work. Chris and I worked in the triage area today with Matt and Tim. We saw so many children. Even though most of the children were orphans, they were still unbelievably happy and so polite. Every person we have come across here in Haiti is so polite and kind. Everyone says, "Merci" and listens to every word you are saying very intently.

Kelci working the pharmacy.

This man was the oldest member in the community. He was only 62. That is reallllllly old for Haiti. Their life expectancy is only about 50. He is a prestigious member of their community.

Kelci and Me :) Love that girl!

Isn't she just beautiful?!

While we were working in the medical rooms, Ben and Luke were filming for their documentary. The kids just thought this was great and Ben and Luke let them help film and take pictures. They loved it. Tim, Sean, Natalie and Teasha set up cinder blocks in the form of soccer goals so the kids could take turns trying to score goals past Luke! Their laughter was great to hear.

A video of the kids playing soccer with Luke.

On our way home, we learned it was Chris' 20th birthday! Good thing we bought that rum, huh Chris?! :) When we got back to the compound, everyone showered and gathered in the kitchen where we had a traditional Haitian meal and then the ladies presented Chris with a huge birthday cake! We sang to him in Creole, French, Spanish and of course English! One of the ladies, Watsue took a huge chunk of icing off of the cake and smeared it all over Chris' face. Happy Birthday! That started a huge frosting fight through out the whole house! No one was safe!

Happy Birthday Chris! :)

It was a great day and we feel like we are making a great difference to these people. Tomorrow we are going to the largest tent city in Port Au Prince. Garry told us we need to be well rested because tomorrow will be an experience we will never forget... As if we could forget all we've already done!

"Do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat, what you shall drink, or about your body, or what you will wear. Your Heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom." -Matthew 6:25,35