There is Hope Thursday, March 31,2010

Will write as though I am talking to myself because that is what I do, works well for agreement of ideas. My levity for the day.
Early morning rise after little sleep as our SanteBusses didn’t leave Port, that left me going to bed tired.

In NYC 7 am, UN 7:30 lengthy entry. Nice time to observe function and operation of UN. Wonderful, free Malaria exhibit I highly recommend. Waiting period indoors a bit stressful and frustrating needed to practice patience. Finally linked with a group or team and good chemistry from a spiritual perspective, lunched with Old Haitian friends, Ray Joseph Haitian Ambassador to Washington and Chavannes Jeune another old friend 12 years, Pastor Chavannes. I didn’t know they knew one another. Lunch for my memories sake also was with Isabel and Allan, she from Texas and he from Florida, nee Georgia.
Afternoon meetings are what I witnessed, Close to one hundred nations each with 3 minutes sharing the pain they felt and their genuine caring for Haiti. The meeting Chair was passed several times. Kushner from France began and ended with the Female VP from Spain. Her name escapes me.

The genuine love I felt nation for nation was palpable in the air, small or large each giving to their means, some citizens matching what governments gave. One small country could give 500 thousand and the citizens matched, he proudly offered one million 12 thousand dollars. It was a special day in my life. One where a bigger hand was evident and spoken freely about with Isabel and several others.

I cannot short write on this day. It was a day of passion and compassion, a day all shared hope for a better or a new Haiti. All vowed to support the just and fair government, each nation offering its advice and offer to focus on specific topics, waste, psycho-social, food, housing to name a few.

The room was not the General Assembly but certainly a stately one where the delegates from all countries sat and the guests, myself, sat in the back in a raised area, very comfortable, freely moveable, audio with translation clear. Friendly people and smiles everywhere.

There is hope alright. Not a cliché or taking of anothers campaign theme, but genuine hope, by all. We not only can we will see a new Ayiti rise. It will be our collective show place, the world coming together respectfully of the Haitian peoples nation, heritage and culture. The world dreaming together of a better place, a more just place. A future place of travel, housing, energy. It had the spark of planning a worlds fair where we all could dream of a future Utopia. The amazing thing is it is real and we can build a Utopia. It is happening, Ayiti is the place, the poor are the winners. Those in last will be first. I write Ayiti as such, as it is how it is spelled in the native language. I like it.

I will sleep tonite and hope for dreams. I should take time to pray or meditate or at least take a few deep breaths and look at the nite sky. A new day is dawning I sense it, I lived it, it is happening. There are no worries it is all good and we can all help.

Dare I speak of faith and risk alienating another by words? I know I can speak of love because I felt it. Good night.

Update, late night Monday.

Waiting for SantéBus’s arrival in safe Haven of Jenkins/Penn landing has been akin to waiting for a newborn. Angst until delivery is safe and complete. We have been having contractions for a week. Tomorrow is delivery date and work hopefully shortly thereafter.

Our in country Director Yvon Kernizan has been tireless working with the J/P camp, Alison, Aleda,  David. Creating new friendships with a common goal, to help those in need. How wonderful. How easily we can all come together when helping others in need. No differences, no religion or color, Just the common thread of compassion. We can live like this always if we choose. It need not be on the heels of a catastrophe. It can be our choice. To quiet our inner fears and insecurities and rise to our commonness. We can celebrate everyday as a joyous day and seek others in need, be it material or spiritual. To find one who is down trodden and lift them up.

A new day can dawn if we let it. Our little bus has guided us in laughter and joy and taken us to wonderful places, rapidly. We have connected with kindred spirits. Let this be the time, let Ayiti be the place, why not? Haven’t enough suffered and died? Can we not see the light that shines when we seek to help another. Not the light in the other , but the light in ourselves.

I am often reminded of the song “come on people, smile on your brother, everybody get together gotta love one another right now”

To all working so hard in the final step to our first step, Thank you from the bottom of my heart. 14 years have passed quickly and to see so much in so little time I am humbled and appreciative. Together our hands can move mountains we need not walk alone. I welcome any and all to pitch in and help. In helping others we help ourselves and that is the gift from beyond. A bit kooky? Maybe? So is life these days. I look around and see pent up anger, I prefer to see love. That’s enough, Tomorrow is delivery day and I need sleep. Besides big day in NYC on Wednesday. I will update.

Peace all. jpb

What a day. Really, day and last night but I will summarize today. Morning began with a wonderful visitor who brought over 1,000 diapers maybe 2,000. A mom with her child from the Sparta Methodist church raised from the schools. She unloaded herself with baby in arms. I was already seeing patients. We will deliver to an orphanage she has supported in the past. She was the spark of faith I needed to day. Messengers come in all ways.

After a stressful day worrying about getting fleet in, through customs and ready to roll all fell into place. I was going to go to Haiti on Sunday for two days to hand hold the process. Spoke with Jenkins/Penn contact they will help go to Port in St. Mark. David Perez (Penn contact), indicated the team is tired and needs rest and recruits. Anyone interested please reach out to me. 12 weeks of hard work in a tent helping tens of thousands makes one weary. Much work to still do.

Our fleet will make it to Port-au-Prince on Monday. Yvon Kernizan, our in country director, will guide the process. He is a dear friend and like a brother. His feeding program for the children is at www.pousoleilleve.org . The first fleet of one SantéBus and two SantéBus Suburbans will be offered to the President and Minister of Health. They will be parked at the Jennings/ Penn tent. We hope to have them in action by Wednesday at the latest. As photos appear we will share.

I am not going down to Haiti, as I need to be at my office and have been invited to an economic summit at the UN for Haiti. I felt this had priority and is an opportunity to share the Santé Plan with others.

The Second fleet will ship as soon as we have a bit more funding. I am reaching out to my medical school classmates as well as my college classmates. My high school classmates have been helping and we all appreciate it. Even a five dollar contribution helps and multiplies when many give.

To the team, we are doing it and next week we will have succeeded a first step, thank you all. It is truly our collective effort that is making it all happen. Again thank you, thank you, thank you. God Bless, jpb

What a day. Really,

What a day. Really,

What a day. Really,

What a day. Really,