Damou Christian Mission in Haiti
(Tina Eisenhower)
January 27, 2010

Today Dad and I went to the school and worked for a little while in the morning. Then we decided to go to town and visit the camps that people are staying at who lost their homes. I could not handle it. I kept looking away so Dad would not see me cry. People made little shelters out of cloth. People were begging Dad and I to help them. I just had a hard time seeing the children suffer. We watched them unload a food truck. Dad and I continued walking thru the camp and talking to people and I heard a little voice saying “Blan, Blan” (which means foreigner) I turned around and a little girl about 3 years old was running towards me with her hands out stretched and 2 little boys about the same age were right behind her. One smacked Dad on the rear. I bent down to talk to the children and one of the little boys placed his hand on my cheek and rubbed it gently. Both he and the little girl had the biggest smiles on their faces. I thought to myself if these children can be happy in their horrible circumstances I must not cry, I must find a way to help them. Dad and I then finished our tour and went to the second camp.

As Dad and I waked thru the camp I could hear some little children crying and others were running around playing. I was appalled at the conditions. This camp was worse than the other one. One lady begged me to take her 2 little children (3 yr old girl, and 5 yr old boy). She said her husband had been killed in the quake and they had lost everything but the clothes on their backs. Another family was letting them sleep under their make shift shelter. I thought that was amazing. I told her I couldn’t because she would never see her children again. She told me that if I didn’t take them they would die a slow death. She could not take care of them. I looked at the little boy and he had a nasty gash on his forehead. It needed stitches. She had no money to get him stitched up. I made sure he got the medical treatment he needed. She followed me to the jeep and kept begging me to take them. I told her she would have to sign before a judge and the mayor (thinking she would walk away) and she said let’s go. I told her to think about it and I would be back on Friday. I made sure she had food for her children.

Around 11:00 a.m. and Dad and I headed for a community in the mountains called Cape Rouge. We took food up to the mountain people. They were so appreciative and kept waving as we drove off and yelling Mesi, Mesi (thank you, thank you). I told Dad I had to return to the second camp again and show Mom and Linda. I also wanted to check on some of the people I had seen that morning. We took enough food to provide 2,160 meals. We also took empty rice sacks so the people could open them up and would not have to sleep directly on the ground. We also went and bought medicine for some of the people. They had seen Doctors who had come to the camp but they did not have all the medicine that they needed. Again, it was so overwhelming. I talked to one of the leaders over the camp and we are going to take cases of soap, tooth paste, tooth brushes, deodorant, and laundry soap to the camp tomorrow. I am so thankful my parents and Linda are here. Dad runs most of the errands with me while Mom and Linda take care of the children.

I have decided after talking with some people in the States and Haiti that we definitely are going to start “Damou Christian Mission Haitian Family Homes”. We will try and help as many children who have not only lost their parents but also who only have one parent and that parent is unable to take care of them. We will build small house and put 6-8 children in a home with a Christian Haitian Family. We are not doing any adoptions. Please pray about the land next to the mission house. I am going to ask the owners tomorrow if they will sell it to me. Even though it is not for sale. I know if God wants this project to work he will put it in the owners heart to sell it to me.

Well it is 11:00 p.m. so I think I will go to bed. I have a busy day ahead of me tomorrow.