Testimonials

  • Dr.Vakesh’s Testimonial – January 12

    Day 4 - 04I returned to Haiti a year after my first trip. The first time had been a fulfilling experience and this one proved to be just as rewarding.

    Arriving in Port Au Prince, conditions were still deplorable but I saw small signs of change. Stepping out from the airport a local man wearing a tropical print shirt and a big grin put a glossy travel magazine in my hand and said “Welcome to Haiti, Sir”. Outside there were other ‘tell tale’ signs of progress. The dusty roads were lined with vendors and  people appeared less beaten down. Seeing the children at the orphanage was wonderful. I was especially moved when one of the girls showed me a picture she had kept that I had drawn for her a year ago.

    Each clinic day has a different feel but the patients are always eager to be seen, sometimes waiting for hours for their turn.  They often have ailments they’ve been living with for much longer than most of us in the U.S. would ever tolerate.  People were more willing to talk, sharing stories not only about medical concerns but also about their daily lives. Over the course of the trip I was reminded many times of how More…

  • Wendy’s Testimonial – January 12

    Day 3 - 19My first trip to Haiti was very eye opening to the point that most of my time was spent in shock.  On my second trip, I knew what to expect on my journey……..During this trip, I had to spend less time trying to figure out what I should do and where I should be. Instead, I was able to just be there, let my guard down and wrap my arms around as many children as I could.

    The most wonderful thing about Haiti is the people.  Even though they have been through a lot of tragedy, they greet strangers with open arms.  In America, it is typical for children to be closed off and weary of strangers.  In Haiti, the children enjoy being able to crawl into your lap and fall asleep in your loving arms.  This is the reason I will keep coming back to Haiti.

  • Tammy’s testimonial – January 12

    IMG_0080Anniversary Trip

    This trip to Haiti was an Anniversary trip.  My one year mission trip anniversary was celebrated on my 5th trip to Haiti.  But this wasn’t just “my” anniversary.  It was also the 2 year anniversary of the catastrophic 7.0 earthquake that quickly turned an already fragile Haiti into a land of utter devastation… over 300,000 lives lost, another 300,000 injured and over 1,000,000 homeless… those that were already famished became completely helpless.  It’s hard to believe that it’s already been two years since the earthquake, and even harder to believe that the tragedy of hundreds of thousands seems to be a faded memory to many…. but not to our missionaries… No matter if you have been to Haiti one time or five times… once your feet hit the ground, your eyes, your mind and your heart will never allow Haiti to be a faded memory.

    When I am in Haiti, the rest of life’s stresses are far from conscious thought… I feel different.  I am focused.  I am always watching for ways we can help… thinking of how we can influence change … hoping we can play a role in bringing about an improved way of life.  As I think, and as I continue to observe, my heart cries out and tears fill my eyes … many times a day… much like they are now as I recall my experience in Haiti…

    More…

  • Erica’s Testimonial – January 12

    Day 4 - 28I’ve been following PHF since it’s inception and know of it’s many accomplishments but it was absolutely delightful to witness PFH at work in Haiti. I just got back from my first trip, what an experience!  I don’t even know where to begin…I experienced so many emotions and it has been extremely hard to make sense of it all.  As a Nutritionist I witnessed things that I had only read in textbooks, as a Mom my heart broke with every sick child, with every orphaned child.  There were so many incredible moments during this trip and it would take a few pages to list them all but I will never forget a little girl whom I met that first afternoon in Haiti when Guiga and Robert took us to a neighboring village to  follow-up on a set of twins who were very malnourished.  As we arrived we were greeted by a mass of children, some were wearing only a shirt, a few were completely naked, playing in the dirt.  Then a little girl starts pulling on my lanyard and asks me my name.  Her name was Erica and she was so excited to find out we shared the same name, she held my hand the entire time we were there and pointing at me saying “Erica” and pointing at herself saying “Erica”.  She held my had so tight the entire time and when it was time for me to go she More…

  • Dr. Dilip Ghanekar’s Testimonial – January 12

    Day 4 - 45It has been two weeks since I returned from my second trip to Haiti. My experience on this trip was once again incredible and reaffirmed my commitment to PFH. The dedication of the PFH volunteers is humbling.

    Some of the children that I remember from my last trip had gotten older. Some were no longer there. I was once again struck by the children’s need for close contact and comfort. As we travelled to different clinics and drove past different communities I came to realize that things are very slowly improving. The people, however, still need help.

    One memory that will stay with me for a lifetime is that of a little 1 year old child who was very malnourished. Through an interpreter, I learned that the mother, who had another month-old baby at home, had no way of getting food.  Looking at the baby’s condition, it was obvious that without food the child would most certainly die. We were able to give the mother some formula for the baby. Many times, I wonder what is happening to that baby. It is disturbing to think of the possibilities. I know that in the future People For Haiti will be able to make a deeper and longer-lasting impact on the lives of the people of Haiti. I look forward to that future.

    I am thankful to PFH for giving me an opportunity to help.  I will be back next year.

  • Jill White’s Testimonial – January 12

    Day 4 - 10This was my third medical mission trip to Haiti with PFH in a year. No, I am not a doctor or a nurse but I am someone who cares about the people of Haiti.

    We usually see more than 1,000 patients over three days. The doctor’s working tirelessly with the translators to diagnose illnesses that here in the states could easily be treated with a trip to the local drug store. Unfortunately, the people of Haiti don’t have that luxury. Tylenol, Motrin, and antibiotics are given to those that need it. We give out a months supply of children’s and adult vitamins to as many as we can.  And while what we do in the short amount of time that we are there is nothing short of a miracle, it is but a drop in the bucket of need in Haiti. But, if every time we go back we are adding more drops to that bucket, eventually it will overflow.

    And so, I keep going back to Haiti adding my drops to that bucket…..

  • Allison’s Testimonial – January 12

    Day 3 - 08Mere words are not enough to adequately express my feelings about my first trip to Haiti.  It is hard to write this testimonial, because how do you put into words an experience that has changed your life so profoundly?

    When the earthquake in Haiti first happened, I knew I had to do something.  I wanted to help, I just didn’t know what or how.  Sure, I donated money and clothing to a few organizations, but I felt it wasn’t enough; I wanted to “DO” something.  I wanted to make a difference!  So, when the opportunity to go to down there with People for Haiti presented itself, I jumped at the chance.  “Finally, I would get a chance to give of myself and my time to these people who have so little.”  Now, I’ve lived in poor countries and I’ve seen poverty, homelessness, etc., even in my own country, or so I thought…  I hadn’t seen anything!  I thought I was prepared. I thought I had a notion of what it might be like, but in reality I had no idea and it affected me a lot more than I ever thought possible.  I fell in love with Haiti and with the people, especially the kids from the orphanage. More…

  • Willy’s Testimonial – January 12

    Day 4 - 05As a Guiga’s stepfather, I have been following the activities of PFH since the beginning of its efforts after the earthquake of 2010.  I must admit, that I was very proud of her.  I was presented with the opportunity to join the group, so I decided to give a little part of my time to help this amazing organization do the job it has been doing for the past 2 years.

    One of my first impressions was to confirm that all the team members really are doing this job with the sincere purpose to help other people that needs help and love from persons that had the luck to be born in a place that gave them the opportunity to have a better life. And these team members are making things happen. As everything was new for me, arriving at the orphanage I also felt very proud as I realized that I also was helping to do something to other people, simply giving some attention to all this kids. I also found out that these kids were well maintained in their basic needs as well as in their behavior. In the next three days, I followed the team clinic work as a member of the team, and had More…

  • Dr. Robert’s Testimonial – January 12

    This is my 9th trip to Haiti with PFH.  Each mission trip seems to touch me in a different way.  This last one was no different….

    One of our interpreters told us they thought an epidemic was occurring in a certain mountain community and asked for a doctor to come help. After Guiga and I set up the team to do our usual planned clinic, she and I left and headed to this mountain community. We drive into the community, if it can be called that. If you’re standing at one makeshift hut, you can’t see the nearest neighbor’s hut.

    They bring a boy out to me. He is naked from the waist down, filthy and is being carried by his father. His father sets him down and the boy immediately goes to a squatting position. His name is Richele.  He is nine years old and, up until 7 months ago, used to be “normal”; walking, talking, playing. Now he has this far-off blank stare and cannot stand. He can no longer speak. He hardly acknowledges my More…

  • Claire’s Testimonial – January 12

    People say, “You don’t realize what you have until it’s gone.” Going to Haiti this past January changed that phrase for me. To me it should be, “You don’t realize what you have until you see how little others have.” When I went to Haiti, it was nothing like America. I saw people who lived in tents, people that could die because they didn’t have any medicine to get them well, and people that just had nothing. We pretty much want everything. But in Haiti, the smallest little thing like a lollipop or even seeing your picture off a camera could make a person happy. This trip changed me. Even though I’m only thirteen, I felt like I made a big difference.

  • Dr.Mark’s Testimonial – January 12

    Day 4 - 48This was my third medical mission trip with People For Haiti so I was curious what that moment would be that changes everyone’s perspective on our personal lives and lives of the Haitians we care for.  I knew that there would be that one event that would put reality into our lives, but what would it be?  As we collectively sat around the dinner table, we were each asked to express our experiences and what these trips meant to each of us.  For the first timers, it’s very moving as each tears up with emotions that they never thought they would experience.  It quickly became clear that the moment that moved most of us was the lady who was brought into our first clinic in a dirty wheelbarrow by her son wondering why she woke up one day and couldn’t move half her body.  Can you imagine spending a year in a wheelbarrow, not knowing why you can’t move?  It was rewarding to find out that even though we couldn’t reverse the damage of her large stroke, we could give her a wheelchair to at least return dignity to her remaining days.  How incredibly special that was to the team. More…

  • Maria Zlotnistky’s Testimonial – January 12

    My third trip to Haiti in January 2012 was filled with a new sense of hope that I had not experienced on my first two visits.  For the first time since the Earthquake in January 2010, I witnessed real progress, not only in Port Au Prince and other town centers, but at the orphanage and in many of the faces at the medical clinics.  On my first two trips to Haiti, I fell in love with the people, but also felt overwhelmed and a sense of hopelessness in the likelihood of ever seeing real change in the Haitian people’s lives.

    This time around: the endless rubble that had lined the streets had all been removed and newly paved roads extended for miles; tent cities were harder to find; Marriot had signed a contract to build a hotel in Port Au Prince; the orphanage grounds have been cleared of debris, its living areas had been freshly painted a cheery yellow, and a clean drinking water system had been installed for both the orphanage and the community outside the orphanage.  In addition, now that my daughter, Elainey (and I) have reached our fundraising goals, we are moving forward to schedule the installation More…

  • Guiga’s Testimonial – January 12

    Each trip has its unique and special moments.. This one was very special, to begin with, for having my step dad gong with me.  For this reason alone, having him on my side, experiencing all those moments on my side, I knew it was going to be an incredible experience… and it was!!!  Thanks “tio” for coming!!!  It was awesome!!

    There were so many good, sad, happy moments – visiting the “Giving Hope” and seeing so many babies, some as small as 2-3 pounds…. it was incredible!!  But, I have to say, on this trip, “MY moment” was when, Dr. Robert and I went to do some “home visits” to 2 boys that were “normal” and recently had stopped walking and were acting “different”.  After driving for 1 hour, deeper and deeper into the mountains, we got to the 1st patient.  He was a 9 yr old boy, named Richele.  He was in his “home” (smaller than my bathroom) with his dad and his 12 yr old sister, wearing only a shirt.  His dad, grabbed him by his arm and brought him outside his “home” so Dr. Robert could examine him…. OMG!  He was full of dust and in a “squatting” position.  After asking many questions to dad… we found out that the boy stopped walking a few months ago.  He grinds his More…

  • Jenell’s Testimonial – Haiti Thanksgiving 2011

    “I jumped on a once in a life time opportunity to see Haiti in a special way with a special lady! This trip was amazing and humbling beyond belief. From downtown Port a Prince to an hour hike up the mountain to see an amazing school and tree. Through the villages and into the homes.  I will not look back at this Thanksgiving and think I was without my family and friends because I was. Cooking for two days smelling the aromas and waiting to taste. Serving those sweet children and the workers, then having nothing left for ourselves. Loving a new friend in a time of sorrow and slowly replacing traditions and memories. Haiti has stolen my heart. I am so blessed with these new people and experiences in my life. My heart is swelling with love. I will treasure these memories forever and cannot wait to make more! “

  • Guiga Vieira’s Testimonial – Haiti Thanksgiving 2011

    Image 5“Really?  You won’t mind if I go?”… this was my conversation with Leo after he arrived back from his trip to Haiti with the November team. It was so hard for me “not to be there”. It was so hard to hear all about the new kids and the stories that go with each trip. I just wanted to be there!  Thanksgiving is not a major holiday for us Brazilians; even more so after my mom died (4 years ago) on Thanksgiving day. It is DEFINITELY NOT my favorite time of the year, so being in Haiti was all I could think about and exactly what I needed!!!

    Haiti, here I come! Everything was great with the preparation and of course nothing left but the anticipation. I got really excited when I heard Jenell would go with me. I could not believe it. I thought to myself, “Just one more person that got the “bug”!! – how awesome!” I could not have chosen anyone better to spend these 6 days with. I got to know her on a whole different level; from laughing, crying, riding trucks, hiking, getting “some” tickets and more. All of them great memories! I came back with one final conclusion:  ATTITUDE!!!

    Your attitude toward Life will determine what kind of life you will live…

    How can I describe my time in Haiti?  The trip was everything I expected; I was happy, I was in peace, I was where I was meant to be!!! This trip was different than the other trips I had been on. There were things that I had and wanted to do; like getting to know each kid, getting to know each More…