Comments on: A Day in Port-au-Prince

By: ron fox

ron fox — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 23:32:55 +0000

Hi I been there on a mission trip to fix car you gave a good picture ouline of Haita but I saw thing different like kids take a bath ouside with borad place at different high so you could see any thing and girls put on clothe outside that were dry on the ground thank you may god bless you

By: bill van Steenis

bill van Steenis — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 18:05:31 +0000

Amber,

I have been to PAP many times and you describe it well. Haiti assaults all of your senses. For those that have never seen real poverty it is often overwhelming. I was in PAP once during a hurricane. As we were trying to get back to the Hotel there were torrents of water running through the streets down the sides of the mountain and into PAP. There were dead animals, garbage and all sorts of things washing down what was a road but had become a river.

The hard part for me when this happens is that there is never enough rescue workers. So many people live in the mountains where mudslides often cover their villages, never to be seen again.

Additionally cities are sometimes cut off for days from any help. People are stranded on roofs with no water. Unlike Katrina no help from the government comes for them. As soon as they are able the mission organizations make their way to these towns as quickly as possible to bring food, water and supplies to the stranded.

I love going to Haiti.I get to look Jesus right in the eye every time I go to a project and interact with the children. There is no way to describe that experience unless you have been there.
These children would have no hope were it not for the dedicated staff of Compassion workers and the sponsors that faithfully send in their support.

By: Mike Stephens

Mike Stephens — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 00:10:38 +0000

Amber thank you for your post!!! I am so jealous you get to travel so much!!! I am trying to appease my jealousy by traveling myself!!! I went to Nicaragua last year on the sponsor tour and it was AMAZING!!! Why? b/c I actually got talk with, play, run, and eat with Osmari. It was interesting for me to meet her mom and even the project director!!! I am happy they were a little surprised I actually visited!!! I am going to the Philippines in June and am not trying to compete with you in visiting Compassion places. I just wanted to visit all the kids I sponsor once while they are young (under 10) and once while they are older maybe around 15. I read some of your book and really learned a lot. I believe I will get to meet and hear Olive speak at our SW Regional Advocates conference in Breckenridge!!! I read a little about her amazing story in your book. Keep up the GREAT work!!!

By: Chris Giovagnoni

Chris Giovagnoni — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:30:31 +0000

Judy, The post that you're thinking of is Focus on the Forest. I've shared your suggestion with the person who runs our online store.

By: Heather

Heather — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 18:45:37 +0000

Hello Vicki,
No I won’t be going on the Ethiopia sponsors tour next month. I’m out of work since November and just can’t justify putting it on one of my credit cards just so I can go. I haven’t been sponsoring both girls for all that long either-I don’t know how much that should be taken into consideration before going on a trip..

By: Amber Van Schooneveld

Amber Van Schooneveld — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 13:09:03 +0000

Hi Barbara! Thank you for your kind comments. Let me look into that question about the art for you, and let you know!

By: Tracy

Tracy — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:37:23 +0000

Thanks Vicki! And thanks so much for the nice comment. Keep in touch, I can’t wait to write more about the trip! 23 days and counting!

By: Judith Tremblay

Judith Tremblay — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:01:29 +0000

Speaking of purchasing paintings, I’m not sure where I saw it, but there was a posting that had a slideshow of different paintings done by children from different Compassion centers around the world. I’d be interested in purchasing prints of some of them–the purchase price could be donated to any fund that impacts the children from whose countries the paintings came from, or “where most needed”, or whatever. If this were to become an option in the store, *hint*.

By: Vicki Small

Vicki Small — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 23:29:30 +0000

By the way, Tracy, Jo Ann Stroup will be your tour leader from Colorado Springs. If you don’t know you, you’ll be glad of the opportunity. She’s terrific! If you have the chance to sit next to her on a bus, or anything, take advantage of the opportunity to chat with her. And tell her I said “Hi!”

By: Barbara Hall

Barbara Hall — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 20:56:23 +0000

Thank you for that story Amber… you write so very well.

I am somewhat new to Compassion. I started sponsoring a little boy in Rwanda back in May 2008.

Recently, I have been enjoying Compassion’s blog page and also have a site listed on the blog roll (God’s Hands, My Hands).

I was wondering, is it possible for me to purchase a painting from the painting teacher? I don’t know anything about the area he lives in, or how/if things could be shipped, but perhaps the opportunity for “us” to purchase his work could bless him with the money he is in need of for his schooling(?) If you could find out, I would love to know. It would be a true blessing for me to have an “original painting” from him.

God bless you,
Barbara