First Day in Jacmel

Team Trinity, aka our team of volunteers, arrived in Jacmel, yesterday after an amazing drive from Port-au-Prince to the Southern coast of Haiti. Along the way we traveled through the neighborhoods surrounding the center of Port-au-Prince and drove past the Palais National, the Haitian Presidential Palace. This "Haitian Whitehouse" suffered much damage during the January earthquake, and the center of this beautiful building was almost completely collapsed. In the square across from the presidential palace the famous statute Negre Marron celebrating an unknown Haitian freedom fighter (google it) is currently obscured by a tent city full of people displaced by the earthquake.

After navigating the embouteillage (traffic jams) out of Port-au-Prince we drove through Léogane, the epicenter of the earthquake. Virtually every building was leveled, and it seemed that almost everyone was now living densely packed in tent cities, creating shelters for their families with whatever materials were available. We saw USAID tarps, UNCIEF tarps, and many others. Ubiquitous along the road were taps-taps (Haitian buses), each uniquely painted and decorated with everything from extra rearview mirrors to "air france" logos and everything in between. Almost every tap-tap gives thanks to Dieu, Jesus or someone else. After navigating the mountain pass, we understood why.

Following the winding road up into the mountains brought us more dust, but also cool breezes, and absolutely breathtaking views of the country. After crossing the rise we wound down to Jacmel. Jacmel is a much more laid back town by the sea with beautiful historic architecture, even despite many buildings being destroyed or damaged in the earthquake. Less crowded than Port-au-Prince (but then where isn't?), we have met all welcoming and friendly people in Jacmel.

Upon arrival we were given a tour of the St. Joseph's Trinity Center by Melshi, the Director. We saw the chapel where all 22 boys pray, sing, and give thanks every morning at 6 am and again every afternoon at 3 pm. The boys living at Trinity center each arrive with their own story, but all face the difficulties of poverty, lack of a family that can take care of them, and some are former child slaves. Waking up to the soft sounds of boys clapping, singing and celebrating their lives at St. Joseph's, is, every morning, a humbling and uplifting experience.

We also saw the newly constructed bakery where the older boys and members of the surrounding community will begin baking and selling bread to help generate income soon. And we saw the completed classrooms and the soon to be finished classrooms and computer room-- our worksite for the next two weeks. Following the earthquake, many families in the community around the Trinity Center lost their homes and the Center gave over its football field for temporary tent camp. After our tour, Sonson, one of the boys living at the Trinity Center, walked us down to the beach and gave us a tour of the two best local swimming spots. Dipping our dusty, sweaty, tired toes into the Caribbean felt great. But as Andrew remarked, it was certainly "more wet than cold".

Walking back up to the center we met many of the children who live in the camp surrounding the Trinity Center and spent a wonderful hour or so navigating our significant language barriers with the universal language of PLAY, aided by a bottle of bubbles, a frisbee, and some bracelets (a big hit with the boys).

More soon as almost every minute here brings some amazing, challenging, or enlightening revelation. Know that we all miss our friends and family, but at the same time, are appreciating and enjoying getting to know our new family here at the Trinity Center.

Meryl Zendarski,
Jacmel Team Leader