Friends of the Orphans - Robin Schwartz

Our Stories: Volunteers

Robin Schwartz

A volunteer at Nos Petits Freres et Souers/Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPFS/NPH, French/Spanish for "Our Little Brothers and Sisters") Haiti in 2008-09, Robin was previously the National Manager of Child Sponsorship Operations for Friends of the Orphans. Originally from South Elgin, Illinois, she arrived in Haiti in September 2008 and is planning to stay for 13 months. Robin had visited the NPFS/NPH home and hospital sites in December 2006, and decided she would return as a volunteer some day. Following is her account of that visit.

Reflection on Direction Found
December 2006

Driving home today after running errands and suffering from a minor case of culture shock, I decided I needed to put all my feelings of the last week into words and share them with all of you. I have spent the last five days in Haiti for the 20th Anniversary of the NPFS/NPH orphanage and the Inauguration of St. Damien Hospital. I have made new life-long friends, had my eyes opened to another part of NPH that I did not know previously, fell in love with some children, been inspired, and found the direction for my future that I thought I would be forever lacking.

During the week I spend my days working on sponsorships for children that live in the orphanages run by NPH. I hear all the time from co-workers and people I come in contact with how amazing their experiences are when they visit the orphanages and interact with the children. I am privileged to read letters on a regular basis that go back and forth between godparents (sponsors) and the children they sponsor. In the letters it is easy to see the love shared in these relationships. In almost every letter the children say how they love and pray for their godparents each day. The letters show the true emotion that is passed back and forth and essentially helps the children to know that they are loved. I will get back to this later.

I arrived at Port-Au-Prince Airport with at least 30 other travelers, and was surprised to find out that 103 visitors in total were in Haiti to celebrate the events of the week. I have traveled to a third world country before and remember how it could be overwhelming for someone who has not been to one previously. When we walked out of the terminal we were bombarded by Haitians who wanted to help carry our bags in hopes of receiving tips. This may be the only money they would get for the day or even days. NPFS/NPH had people waiting to help us and get us to the vehicles that would take us to our hotel. I was fortunate to ride in a truck with Adele, a volunteer who has been in Haiti for years, and have a narrated tour about what we were passing as we made our way. I have developed such an admiration for those who work and volunteer in Haiti for many reasons – one that they have learned to navigate the road system (many unmarked), and have learned how to maneuver around the endless potholes and avoid hitting the many people who are walking in the crowded streets. Elections were ending as we were driving and surprisingly we did not run into any problems in the roads.

NPH Haiti

Our first stop was the new St. Damien Hospital in Tabarre, Chatueablond. Many visitors were staying at the new hospital. I met Sister Lorraine here and was greeted, as we all were, with a huge hug and Sister knowing who almost everyone was by our first names. I said my first name and she finished with my last name. She is quite amazing and full of life and is so pleasant even with 50 things to do at one time. I only wish I could make people feel as welcome as she has the ability to do. On Monday I was lucky enough to spend about half an hour with Sister in her brand new classroom that she will use to have school with the children at the hospital that are well enough to come upstairs during the day. The joy and excitement that she has for her program is infectious and I was captivated as she showed me the games and puzzles, where the blackboard will be, where the practice board for the children will be, the new bathroom, and all the things that she will use to teach the children. For some of the children it will be the only time they will attend school in their lives. Some have never colored before, or seen a puzzle or played with a toy. Her excitement and love for what she does for the children is infectious and I caught it standing in the room with her. I do not think I can find a word that encompasses all of what Sister Lorraine is. I cannot say enough about how the little interaction I had with her affected me.

The hotel where we stayed was much fancier than I thought it would be. We had two double beds and a bathtub with hot water. We only lost electricity two times while I was there which also took me by surprise because I was prepared to have electricity and running water maybe 50% of the time. Aside from having several wonderful conversations at the restaurant with new found friends, the hotel really was not important to me on this trip.

Monday morning we were picked up and taken to the hospital. In Tabarre the weather is HOT and the sun is bright. We had mass and the dedication of the hospital. The bishop said wonderful things about Fr. Rick and the hospital. It was funny because he asked Fr. Rick to translate to English, and he had to say what the Bishop was saying. He is not one to talk about himself especially to sing his own praise and commendation – but the bishop speaks English fluently so Fr. Rick had to do it!

I found it interesting that many of the Haitians at the dedication had their cell phones plugged into the outlets in the chapel! In a country that is so afflicted with poverty it was such a surprise to me that so many had cell phones. I later learned that Digicell, an Irish company, has in the last seven months sold an exorbitant amount of cell phones and continues to grow by leaps and bounds. A phone can be bought for $23 and the minutes are prepaid. An interesting topic, but one for another day and another story.

There are many supporters who visit Haiti regularly and have put countless hours and time and labor and money into the building of the hospital. I took a tour led by Ronnie Pruhs. She is a well of information because she and her husband are frequently in Haiti and have a dental clinic at one end of the hospital that is really awesome. I admire the hard work and dedication they bring to St. Damien and the community by reaching out to the people in need.

Almost since the moment I got in the truck with Adele the night before, I knew I was going to go back and volunteer in Haiti. When Ronnie took us into the room that housed two abandoned babies, one with a cleft palate whose father had left him at the hospital, and another that has several problems and does not have a good chance of survival – I knew that is where I have to be in the future. All I wanted to do at that moment was touch the baby and let him know that he is not alone, to feel loved. Never in my life have I felt that this is where I need to be. I’ll get back to that too.

NPFS/NPH Haiti

We celebrated with the huge feast in the Hope for Haiti building. I sat with a former pequeño named Julien and was able to hear about his experience at the orphanage. He is one of those that falls into the 80% unemployment rate that is the reality in Haiti. He is so very bright and eager and it made me sad to hear his story. Afterward, Sister Lorraine had a Power Point presentation about the hospital and the orphanage. Fr. Rick shared with us his appreciation for all the people who were involved on the different levels of planning, developing, financing, building and all aspects of getting the hospital built. We learned that the US embassy is being built right next door. While the embassy has cranes and machines to dig and build the building, those who helped build the hospital were not afforded such luxuries and everything was basically done by hand from the beginning when the trenches were dug. Buckets were passed along a human train to get from one end to another.

Fr. Rick also shared with us about his outreach programs to the poorest of the poor in the slums of Cite Soleil and Warf Jeremy. These are areas that are the worst of the worst and most people I know would never willingly go to them. They are areas where people have no clothes and what most of know as homes is not even fathomable to the people who live there. He has medical clinics set up and also a school program that reaches over 3,500 children. I also have a deep growing admiration for Fr. Rick when I think about the abundant compassion for humankind that he displays in his daily life and how it reaches so many people. We should all be so lucky to have the grace and aplomb that is Fr. Rick. It is unceasing and is truly the hand of God in the midst of such a catastrophic situation for the people who know it.

On Tuesday we spent the entire day at St. Hélène, the orphanage up in the mountains of Kenscoff. We were greeted by the smallest children lined up waving flowing ribbons as we walked down through the gate. It was an overwhelming feeling for me and when they started to sing I was on the verge of tears. We continued down into the area that has seating for all the children and we had mass and a performance by several dancing groups. One of the groups was from Kay Christine which is the home for disabled children run by Gena, another woman I really admire after seeing her with the children – she loves them as if they are her own and it is obvious the children know how loved they are and they love her back just as much. The Kay Christine children were all dressed up in costumes and Gena was dressed as a priest and her wonderful volunteer, Katherine, was dressed as a nun. Gena spoke about how no matter what we look like on the outside we should always pay attention to what is on the inside. One of the girls sang, “In the Jungle” and the children danced and were so happy and loved every second of it. When it was over, one of the boys dressed as an alligator (I think?) kept dancing in the middle of the floor and all the other children watching were cheering him on and it was hard to miss how even though the Kay Christine children are a little different, they are not treated any differently or loved any less by their other brothers and sisters in the orphanage.

As soon as the program was over the real fun started! The children were enthralled with my digital camera. There are a lot of photos on the album of groups of kids who just wanted their pictures taken. And even though I do not speak French or Creole the ability to communicate is just there. I tried to tell them to smile by holding my smile up and they would then pose by holding their cheeks! They would not smile when I took the photo but immediately after the flash they would start laughing and giggling and want to see the picture.

Juan Guerra, Executive Director of Friends’ Florida Region, and I went into the Kay Christine house and there was one not-so-little girl who was hugging everyone that walked in the door. But this was no ordinary hug, it lasted five minutes and dragged me half way across the room. Juan thought this was so funny because she was so strong that I could not pull away from her – but I loved every second of it. I probably needed that hug as much as she enjoyed giving it to me. There was one point where a boy was playing a bongo and Juan, Jennifer Rayno, Executive Director of Friends’ Virginia Region, and I were dancing with the kids. They thought we danced funny and they tried to show us how to dance. It was so much fun. And sadly, this is where my camera battery died so it was the end of my skilled photography for the day, but it is burned into my memory. After we danced, we walked back toward the entrance because it was almost time to go. At this point I had five children semi-permanently attached to me, one on each arm, one around my waist and one holding onto my leg. The boy that walked in front and led me by hand insisted on carrying my bag and my sweatshirt and when we got to the gate he wanted me to write down something. I found Julien, my friend from the day before, and asked him to get the children to give me their names so I could find out if I can sponsor them. Of course, I already had Jeannie look them up for me today and only two are available to sponsor so first thing Monday I will be the newest proud godmother at Friends of the Orphans.

The headlights on the truck were not working so we had to stay a bit longer and the second I got off the truck the same five children were again semi-permanently attached to my body. We all walked to the side of the road to get ready for a fireworks display and when the first one went off all the children screamed and ran behind the adults. I am sure that some of the children in the orphanage have only heard similar sounds coming from guns and dangerous situations. Fireworks aside, it was great to have those extra few minutes with the children.

Later that night at the hotel, Kathy and I sat outside with our new friends Jean and Tom and continued the enjoyable conversation we had been having all week. Jean asked me if I thought I would come back and I responded, “There is no doubt in my mind that I will come back.” I told her my story of getting all set to go into the Peace Corps and then finding out I had a brain tumor. And then the unfortunate news that because of my brain tumor surgery, I could not enter the Peace Corps until I had 10 years clear because the areas I requested to go to would not have sufficient medical help if I needed it. In the next seven months I will have reached the 10 year mark and I have always wanted to revert to my original plan. However, I truly feel that God’s plan led me to Friends of the Orphans and in turn to feel so strongly about the mission of NPH, and that I should spend volunteer time at NPH with children I already have a huge affinity for instead of leaving it all behind and starting a program that I do not even know if I will like.

I told Fr. Rick in the truck on Thursday morning that I am coming back for a 52-week stay and someday going to Africa with him. I am sure he thinks I am off my rocker! A good friend from Friends of the Orphans has taught me that our plan is not always God’s plan and sometimes we need to slow down and listen to what God is saying. I try to live my life with a positive attitude because I am so grateful each day to have received a second chance and I try not to take it for granted. I know that sometimes some people think I laugh too loud and do not take every little thing serious enough but it is because I am convinced that each day truly is a blessing from God. And this trip has sealed that belief for me. We all have so much to be grateful for and thankful.

And now that I am home I look around my house and am again so aware of the privileged life I was born into. At the grocery store today I almost freaked out because there were eight…EIGHT…choices of apples and a whole building full of food and my first thought was of the country I was in 24 hours ago and how some of those people do not even have the option of one apple a day. I felt this way upon my return from Honduras but this time it is different. It is different because I know I will actively choose to return and choose to live a lifestyle so different from what I know now, even if my being there only helps one person to do their job better, or only comforts one child who is in pain, or helps one child to know they are loved. Even as I sit here typing and know that I will click a button in a few minutes to send this out, I am consciously not taking for granted the fact that I have an electricity connection and an Internet/cable connection that allows me to do this… because when I spent Wednesday in the Sponsorship office in Haiti we lost power three times and I was only able to connect to the Internet for about three minutes…and they rely on that not-so-state of the art technology to get business done.

I love my job and now I am invigorated again to find as many sponsors as possible for the children at NPH. Sponsorship plays an important role in providing the food, clothing, education and health care that the children would otherwise never have. So here is my plug to become a sponsor or tell someone you know to become a sponsor. I am happy to talk to anyone about sponsorship and send information if you will be willing to share it with someone you know. I am not a believer in one person can change the world, but I am a believer in the Mother Teresa philosophy of we can do no great things, only little things with great love.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

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