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Today was a fantastic day on this trip. As I’m looking at the schedule it really doesn’t seem like we did a lot, but really… we did. The day began again with breakfast here at the hotel, Le Picolet. It’s an absolutely wonderful hotel. It is full of charm and personality and is easily one of my favorite places to stay. Breakfast this morning included the local fruit (amazing), pancakes, ham and cheese omelettes (also amazing), and of course the local Haitian coffee that I love so much. We met for breakfast at 7:15 with the goal of being on the road by 8:00. For the most part people made it to the 7:15 part but the 8:00 thing just didn’t quite happen due to one straggler.
Finally, after a picture on the stairs at the hotel, we made it on the road. In theory, we were headed for Huat Limbe and the two schools there where there are feeding programs. In practicality though, we were headed somewhere much different. The previous evening Dr. Manno and a few of us had been talking about a church where people would go to have their sins forgiving and then they would go outside and around the corner to double dip, quite literally, in a voodoo pool. From this conversation came the bright idea that we should go to this place. It was definitely an interesting experience. The pool itself was nothing special Interestingly enough, it was walled off and had crosses at either end of the it. Everyone that was there seemed quite serious and while I’m glad I got to see where this was and what it means to people, I don’t know that I would go again. The feeling there was oppressive, heavy, and dark and not what I would consider a “fun” place. However, it did add perspective into the lives of what Haitian people live so that definitely made it interesting.
Once this mission had been accomplished, it was time to make our way to Haut Limbe. This is the community where Dr. Manno grew up and now resides. His clinic is also there. The drive there is an absolutely beautiful drive as you wind you way up the mountains. The views are stunning. The roads, not so much. Finally as we came down the other side of the mountain we reached Haut Limbe.
Haut Limbe is a small little village in the midst of what I would call a jungle. The single road running through it is a dirt road with scatter patches of cement… and lots of rock. The houses on either side of the road are made of various materials and as you drive deeper into the community, the jungle seems deeper. Halfway in, at least that is my guess, is Dr. Manno’s home. A quarter of the way in is his clinic. Our time in Haut Limbe started with a brief rest stop at Dr. Manno’s house before we walked up to the local Baptist school, also known as St. Jude’s… in honor of the former principle named Jude. At St. Jude there are a LOT of kids. They are dressed in yellow shirts and are always super excited to see us. As we walked in, most of them were still in class. A few appeared to be on recess and we played with them before making our way through the school on a tour. The tour included a look at the new library and also the “kitchen,” an open room that was used to to mix the Reliv products for the kids. As we arrived up in this kitchen, the chocolate Reliv NOW for Kids was being made for a class.
After some playtime and business discussion it was time to feed a class. One of the workers there brought down two big five gallon buckets of the shakes to share with a class. Once we were in the class, he started pouring them shakes. Soon, we all got to pour shakes for the students as well and feed them. Each student had their own cup that they were supposed to bring from home. Some didn’t have their own cups and used empty NOW for Kids cans. The kids were VERY excited to get their shakes and it made for a very memorable experience. I think it is easy to take for granted things in the United States. However, when you saw how much these kids loved and appreciated their shakes it would be very hard to take them for granted.
Following the passing out of the shakes, we hung out with a bunch of students in the playground for a few minutes before leaving. Pictures were taken and then shown, the kids love that. We also just played with the kids and had a wonderful time with these little ones. It really was a lovely morning. Then it was time to head to Emmaus School.
Emmaus School is really not that far from the Baptist School. It is a teal/green color and has several hundred students there too I believe. We didn’t spend a lot of time there this trip but it did give the opportunity to reconnect with kids we had met before. The principle was very happy to see us there and was very thankful for the work of the Reliv Kalogris Foundation. That is one thing that seems to be consistent everywhere we go.
Once we had our few moments at Emmaus School, we made our way back through the community and down the hill to Dr. Manno’s clinic. Now this is a clinic that seems to do a lot with very little, as does Dr. Manno. Dr. Manno gave us a tour of the clinic that was absolutely incredible. We got to see the different rooms that have different functions in the clinic. In one room, he introduced us to a boy that looked like he might be 10 or 11. In reality, he was 18 and diabetic… which is a death sentence in Haiti. Dr. Manno explained that if this were anywhere else, just the diabetic testing strips alone would be a day’s wages for one test a day. He also said that once a child is diagnosed as diabetic, they have only a couple of years to live. But, thanks to Dr. Manno this child was not only diagnosed, but also should live a fairly lengthy life. This is due to the fact that this clinic gives kids like this care for free. If I heard what he said correctly, the clinic actually runs behind on budget on a monthly basis. Somehow he makes it work though! There is always a need for more money and more medications it sounds like. And after walking in and seeing a girl heading to town on the back of a motorcycle because she was so sick, this all hit home even harder.
Conditions in Haiti are very rough. A girl gets very sick and has to be held on the back of a motorcycle to be taken to a clinic. Many kids are dealing with issues that will threaten their life not because of the specific issue, but because they are simply malnourished. Because of these challenges, the mortality rate is much higher than it should be. It really is a tragedy. I’m very thankful that people like Dr. Manno exist to make a difference in the world.
After the tour of the clinic concluded, we returned to Dr. Manno’s house for lunch. Let me just tell you, it was absolutely delicious. It was all local food and it was all awesome. Oh, and it was all made by Dr. Manno’s mom. I would tell you everything we ate but basically it came down to Haitian chicken, Haitian rice and beans, a Haitian bean sauce you put on top of the rice, plantains, green beans, a spicy slaw, and tomatoes… oh and coconut! We had a lot of fun with the coconut as we attempted to not just get the juice out of it, but also the meat! Lunch was definitely a success at Dr. Manno’s.
After lunch it was time to hit the road. We piled back into the van for the ride back to Cap Haitien and this time the children’s home. The ride back was fun as we stopped to check out and purchase some cassava, a local treat that looks like a giant pancake. Basically it is dried out root (that looks like a sweet potato) that is made into a course flour-like consistency that is cooked an seasoned. It is very good. We also took a picture of us as a group on the top of a hill overlooking the bay that Christopher Columbus sailed into when he discovered the New World. At least, I think that is where he sailed into if I heard everything right. After the picture, we made our way to the new children’s home.
The new children’s home in Cap Haitien is very nice. It isn’t a percent structure as of yet but is instead leased. IT didn’t matter though because there were kids there that we knew and they also knew us. These kids are awesome. There is Kenny, T Manno, Peter, and Lovemia to name a few. It was so wonderful seeing so many of these familiar faces and having them feel the same was. We played with them for a couple of hours and then put on an ice cream party for them. Throughout the afternoon while we were there we played soccer, frisbee, jump rope, and the girls had their hair braided. The kids were absolutely precious and it was very difficult to leave them at the end of the afternoon. You really just wanted to take each and every one with you and just do whatever it takes to make everything right for them. Sadly, that just isn’t possible.
The day wrapped up with us driving back to the hotel where we had a couple of hours to rest before dinner. Dinner was at a local place that was quite lovely. While many people had Churasco, I chose instead to have goat. I will say this. Goat isn’t my favorite but I feel like it is just something I have to have at least once every time I’m in Haiti as it it’s something unique to hear. After dinner, we went back to the hotel and a few of us ended the night with a night cap. Cecil and Dominique (the owners of the hotel) joined us and it made for an absolutely perfect end of the day. Dominique’s personality shines through just about everything in this hotel and it was wonderful getting to spend time with them.
Our next big adventure is the Citadel. Ceril will be our guide and I’m very much looking forward to it. The last time he took us there, it really opened my eyes to the richness of Haiti’s history. I’m excited about what I will learn this time around and can’t wait to learn more. We also will be doing some shopping tomorrow and visiting a Catholic cathedral in Cap Haitien. It should be an absolutely fantastic day.
Today has been quite the day. We met a lot of amazing kids. These kids all have a hope for the future that they didn’t have before, due in large part to the Reliv Kalogris Foundation. This is something that is supported by people just like you and me and I’m incredibly proud to be a part of it. If it is something you’d like to help support, visit relivkalogrisfoundation.org. The Reliv Kalogris Foundation is an organization I have been backing for years and I have never once even slightly regretted it. All that being said, you should support it too. If I haven’t regretted it ever, neither will you. I hope you have even enjoying this trip vicariously with me through these digital platforms. If you have any questions about it, you know what to do. Leave me a comment in the comments section below. I’d love to hear your thoughts and questions and hopefully get them answered for you. I will at least try to find out anything you ask. I know I have been asking lots of questions and learning lots of things so will do my best to pay it forward.
Please feel free to follow along on our adventures on instagram (@relivkalogrisfoundation & @roebearlaird) and visit relivkalogrisfoundation.org for more information on the Foundation or to donate.
Thanks for sharing!