Forever Changed

A building next to the LDS Church

Helping put up a shelter tent

Tent city

Hair salon

82nd Airborne dancing at concert

82nd Airborne straight from Fort Bragg, NC

The past 2 days Garrett mostly assisted with translating for medical professionals. The teams were divided and went to different area make-shift clinics. They treated mostly minor injuries or follow-ups from previous treatments. His creole is coming along and he has been blessed to remember all of his medical terminology that he "crammed" for before he left.

They traveled through the city today in the back of a open bed truck, 9 of them standing. In Garrett's words, I (Brigette) would have "pooped my pants" if I saw how he was riding in the truck. I guess it wasn't the safest way of travel by my standards! They stopped a few times to treat minor injuries. When they would stop, they would immediately be surrounded by people. The small children would come and want to feel their hair or skin, especially the women with long hair in the group. Some of the very young children have probably never seen a Caucasian person before.

Garrett says that he can understand why there is a distribution problem. It is very hard to maintain control and eliminate chaos when you pass anything out. They were given strict instructions that they were not able to give any thing to anyone in a group setting. While walking through the city they came across a small merchant selling sodas. They purchased some and one of the guys on his team gave it to a boy alone. The walked ahead and turned back and within seconds the small boy was surrounded by others trying to take his soda. Later, Garrett saw a UN food truck and there must have been at least 1000 people waiting for food.

They are sharing their camp with the 82nd Airborne. They have been wonderful to take care of them, assist them, and get them to where they need to be. Garrett was able to ride around in their Humvee's today, too. He also was able to take a small shower, which he wasn't expecting the entire time. I sent 2 packages of baby wipes with him and that was going to be his shower for 3 weeks. Last night a Haitian band came and played for them. Everyone pitched in money for them after it was over. Garrett loved the music and it was good to feel a bit of "joy."

Devastation is still every where. It is heartbreaking for Garrett to see. Garrett said they stopped and found a little boy that had a severe head injury from the quake. His family said he drooled and peed at random, obviously because he had brain damage. The only treatment he had received was a bandage around the wound on his head. Their team was not sure how to handle the boy because they were not in medical facility. He obviously needed advanced medical attention. They were going to inquire about it back at camp and see if there was anything more they could do for him.

The living conditions mostly consist of make-shift shelters or "Tent" cities as we have heard on the news. Garrett saw one family that had draped a small blanket over 2 bushes and dug a hole for shelter. Trash and waste disposal is a serious problem, too.

One of the Bishops has been helping them, as well. Bishop Mardy is a remarkable man and has been through more than anyone should ever have endure. Weeks before the quake his young son (not more than 2 years old) was kidnapped and held for ransom. They believe his kidnappers were aware of the Bishop's association with the LDS church, therefore, assumed he had access to money. The earthquake happened while his son was still missing. For all he knows, his son and kidnappers were buried in the rubble during the quake. He has no way of knowing. His mother, brother-in-law, and dear friend were all killed in the quake. He personally pulled his wife out of the rubble. She suffered 2 broken legs. He owns 2 orphanages, 1 of which was completely damaged in the quake. His focus is finding shelter for all of the children that were in orphanages.

Garrett was able to travel to one of the LDS church buildings, which remarkably was not heavily damaged during the quake. Many of the ward members are staying on the property in tents and using the facility. They have had to have 24/7 security.

I am forever changed by this experience Garrett is having. It will be life changing for both of us.

Correction: Garrett did say that the roads were actually not as badly damaged as I reported below. They are just filled with people which can sometimes create "bottle-necks."