Day 3 - Sabbath

The church we went to before heading to the beach...

The Caribbean Ocean

Tent City right as we leave town.... Sign says We Need Help.

Today was Sunday, the day of rest. After yesterday I already felt like I needed it. There is so much to take in. We got around pretty late this morning and left at about 8:30, we were on our way to church. On our way out there we passed tent cities and the worst one we had seen yet. Each tent city has a leader and depending on the leader's ability will depend on how well the people in that tent city will do however some tent cities do not have a leader or are fighting about who the leader is and they seem to be doing worse. This tent city did not have a leader and so was not being provided food or water. Its alot like tribes and with Haiti not having their government to help them out Im afraid the division among the people is just going to get worse. Along the way we also passed the Mass Grave, Its marked with only one symbol that represents the resting place of 250,000 people. You can see the mounds of dirt they had piled on top of the dead, one pile after another and above all the symbol they had decided to place for those who have gone before us is a cross. I thought there is no other symbol more important than that one. As you continue to drive down the road a little ways you start to get this horrible smell, Our team called it Zombie swamp. Zombies in Haiti are very real and are still practiced today. If someone becomes too rich or annoying than the family or whoever can pay the Voodoo priest to preform this ritual, A man from Harvard named Wane Davis went to Haiti to study this process and best describes it like this..."The bokor creates a highly toxic mixture that includes poisonous plants and animals. Dumbcane is added because it harms the larynx, making breathing difficult and vocalizations impossible.The poison is mixed with food to be ingested or placed over an open wound to ensure it gets absorbed into the victim’s bloodstream. The person will lapse into a deep coma-like state so life cannot be detected, then buried before being “resurrected” by the bokor. The victim is aware of what is happening, but cannot react. The zombie is “resurrected” by being force-fed a mixture of sweet potatoes, sugar cane and Datura stramonium, referred to as zombie’s cucumber. The potion causes disorientation and hallucinations. The bokor gives the zombie a new name and a new life. Confused, the victim follows and totally obeys the bokor and his or her new master. There’s no antidote for the potions and zombies require little food. Salt is withheld because it’s believed that it can bring back the ability to speak and taste. Voodoo beliefs play an important role." For the shorter version, People are poisoned than buried alive in "Zombie swamp" than unburried the next day only to be taken back to the village in order to be slaved and worked to death, they are given very little to eat and live only about a couple of years after this incident. Voodoo influences the whole country no matter your religion, its something we had to face almost everyday. I could not help but to think about those who were alive underground as we passed, my heart ached for those we could not see but God could. He knew and was with each one of them personally. We continued on and finally made our journey to this little church in Achai. Although It was not very big, the people's hearts were Huge. And even though we could not understand the sermon it still refreshed my soul especially interacting with all the children. After church we headed to the beach and was able to swim in the Caribbean ocean. I could not believe such destruction and such beauty were on the same camera! I at first had mixed emotions, I didnt come here to enjoy my time at the beach while others were about 30 min away suffering, but after walking down the shore I quickly was able to enjoy my time but was definitely ready to get back to work. We arrived back at the tents and had our meeting, tonight's blessing ICE!!! Tomorrow I am going to an orphanage with 500 children with disabilities, I look forward to being in my comfort zone...... We have had a couple of aftershocks while being here so far, I quickly understand why everyone lives outdoors.