Haiti Eyewitness
Photography and Article by Andy Langeland
True Generosity in the Midst of Sorrow
 I had never really spent much time aspiring to be a photo-journalist, but taking documentary photos for missions work becomes second nature when you are “the guy with the big camera.” I have visited third world countries a number of times in Africa and Asia and taken quite a few photographs along the way. However, I could not have predicted the opportunity to travel to Haiti that arose this month to photo-document the ongoing need there with ministry partner Tom Benz of Bridges of Faith, as they began to lay the ground work for a project to help Haitian orphans.
I’m sure that everyone is aware that the people of Haiti suffered greatly when a giant earthquake rocked the capital city Port-Au-Prince and surrounding villages in January. With about a third of the country’s population living in the quake zone, everyone in the country is touched personally by the tragedy. The death toll is said to be well over 200,000 people. Every person we asked, even in a town hours away, had a personal connection to a quake death. After spending time in Port-Au-Prince and viewing the layout of the city, the shoddy construction standards, the overpopulated conditions, the lack of heavy machinery and rescue equipment/personnel, it is clear how so many people could perish and yet still amazing that more people did not die trapped under the bricks and concrete with which most every structure in that area is built.
 However, in the midst of all of this sorrow - I experienced something unexpected. As we travelled around meeting pastors and orphanage directors in and around Port-Au-Prince it became very apparent to me that Haitian people are very hospitable, open and generous. People who had never met us before took us in to their homes and fed and housed us, based only on a referral. One particular evening we arrived at a quake-damaged orphanage unannounced and the director provided us with a tent (everyone there was sleeping in tents), showers and a warm meal. None of these things were in abundance for them, mind you.
In another instance we arrived at yet another orphanage where the director warmly received us with cold bottled water (no doubt part of their own supplies) and left his own reconstruction project to find me some eye drops when he saw one of my eyes was severely irritated from the combo of dust, pollution and not taking out my contact lenses!
 The most extreme instance of local generosity occurred while we were walking thru the village outside of Port-Au-Prince where the epicenter of the quake was located. I saw a mother with her three children cooking in the front yard of their small quake damaged home. I asked if i could take their picture and they happily invited me to come into the yard. I motioned that the food looked tasty and the teenage boy immediately handed me his plate of rice and beans and he and his mother insisted that I have some!
On paper, this may not seem so amazing. But try to imagine this scene - a family who had lost everything - offering an American who presumably has “everything” - a portion of their meal when food is difficult to locate even if you have money!! I was blown away at this family’s attitude of automatic, selfless giving - when in these circumstances a hoarding mentality would have seemed perfectly logical to most people, myself included. Even writing this now brings tears to my eyes. I now aspire to have a heart of automatic generosity like I saw over and over in Haiti - giving what one could - not holding back out of selfishness or fear of future lack. This reminds me of the Bible story of the widow’s two coins. Jesus commended her for giving what she had, amount aside.
 Unfortunately, it is clear from observation and impromptu interviews of volunteer medical workers - the crisis is only beginning. The overall impoverished conditions that most Haitians were already subject to prior to the quake means that all injured survivors treated in the weeks after the quake are at risk for serious infection without follow-up medical care. Furthermore, the rainy season will begin any moment and like every year in Haiti, this means an outbreak of malaria cases. The situation is further exacerbated by the fact that practically everyone in the quake zone is living outdoors in some type of tent or makeshift shelter, because they either lost their home completely or if it is still standing, it is structurally unsafe. The widespread fear of entering still-standing buildings is very apparent as you drive through the city.
 I would implore anyone reading this with ANY medical experience and the ability to travel to Haiti for even one week, to contact me. Haiti is a quick flight south from Florida and because of this trip I now have connections to several volunteer medical outreach groups who will continue to offer care to Haitians as long as they have teams to send. If this is on your heart please email me at andy@operationlazarus.com.
Also, please pray for the local Christians in Haiti. While I was there, the churches had begun a nationwide prayer and fasting movement asking the Lord to bring lasting transformation to their land. Several people we talked to said that they believe this situation may finally “shake” up the 200 year old status-quo and local Christians are seeking the Lord to bring about true change.
Lastly, if you are interested in Bridges of Faith’s efforts to help Haitian orphans or are interested in adopting a Haitian orphan, you can learn more by visiting www.bridgesoffaith.net/blog. If you’d like to view more photographs from my trip to Haiti - click here.
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