Socialism? Maybe not...

Bonjou!

Hope you are doing well and the Lord is blessing you!

God has definitely blessed my life.. while in Haiti, and every other day since I have been on this earth. He is GOOD! Amen?

First, before I share my story, I want to say that we finished the greenhouse! But... the wind destroyed it..

Anyhow, moving forward from that experience; I was talking to one of the translators/workers, Bob (for his protection), around the Live Beyond compound today and learned some very interesting information. This will not be a long post (not long for me, anyway), but I want to give an insight on how blessed we are. It's easy to forget our freedoms when we aren't defending them or in a world where such does not exist.

We went to go check on some Haitian Olive (Moringa) with a farmer, to see if I could use the leaves for a study I am doing. The young man, probably late 20's, generously agreed with no problem. This man's home was pretty well kept and was a little better than the "typical" Haitian home in Haiti. He had fenced in turkeys, puppies that actually looked like they weren't neglected, and he and his family looked to be in pretty good health. As I noticed his nice stead, I couldn't help but wonder how a man so young could "have it so nice." Oh, and his farm is larger than average. 

With my curiosity turning the wheel in my mind, I thought on it as we traveled back to the compound on the rough, dirt and rock road in the TATA (Indian vehicle - I don't recommend them). I tend to be extremely overly analytical from time to time, if you're thinking that about me right now. With my "research-minded approach" that I've had for everything since being here, I decided to ask Bob how the farmer got all of the land. His response: "He claimed it."

He farther then, after more inquiry, explained that people who were born in Dalma (the community) had a right to all the land. Basically, the community owns all of the land, and a farmer can claim whatever is being unused. My first thought, besides "I'm so confused," was "Umm.. okay. Communal farming?" I have read about places, particularly in developing nations in Latin America and some in Asia, where there is communal farming. However, I was corrected; this is not the case. As I fished in the mind of Bob, it was like fishing as a child again; so frustrating because you want the fish, but exciting with each nibble of the fish. 

After finally breaking down my questions so we were on the same page, I got the explanation. The Haitians born in Dalma share the deeds to all the land in the community. If a piece of land is sold, then it is split among the individuals in Dalma. Right, so that's socialism? No.. someone born of Dalma can claim their land to farm on; that land and the "profit" from the farm is theirs until they die. Then, it is opened back up.

I thought this was kind of bazaar, and continued to press. Bob said in his home community some of the people lost their deeds, or "da papers" as he called them, so the government came in and kicked them out. I've also heard of another instance where this has happened. IF the family can keep up with the deeds (in their clay-built homes in an arid and tropical climate) they can pass the farm down, but if anything happens the government comes in and takes over. When the government gets in "they do what they want." 

Bob says many communities keep all of the deeds together so that they are not lost and they can keep the land where it belongs; in the hands of the community. 

Two things learned from this:

1. Never judge a person, group, culture, etc. for something without knowing the back story. It could have easily been left with "They share the money from sold land. They're socialists and that's that Haitian problem." Instead, I learned the back story, and honestly, who can blame them for doing it that way? 
2. WE. ARE. BLESSED. In places all around the world governments are oppressing people much worse than the American government (*not dismissing our own problems). We need to be more thankful that we don't have to worry about the government kicking us off the land we own or out of the houses we built. 

To end on a positive note: Bob told me a story of a community where the government came in and took over because the papers could not be found. Eventually a man found the papers and the people rose up and took their land back!

God bless you.. and remember to pray that He blesses everyone else in this world too; not just you, not just your family, not just America (or whatever country you may be in), but the entire world!

"And we know that all things work together for good to those that love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

Romans 8:28

-Audie

Wordless Wilson

This afternoon I was sitting at the table outside, with Paige across from me at the other end. A small boy, who had been paid to wash the truck for the Vanderpools, wandered up the steps to the concrete patio-type, covered dining area. He, without a word sat beside Paige, staring at her computer screen. Then, he picked up her iPhone and began trying to figure out what the crazy device was capable of. After all, it's not like he could read what it said and know what each app's function was. Soon, he was gone.

About five minutes later, here he came again, wandering once more to Paige and finding her white-cased cell. As he attempted to navigate through the applications once more, Paige looked on smiling as his curiosity. Eventually he found his way to the camera. However, he had no idea how to actually take a picture. Paige took it from him, showing him how to capture a moment of life. Then, she turned the camera around allowing him to see himself. He looked at it and tilted his head, like my dog, Millie, does when she's trying to figure something out. After changing the camera around, he began taking tons of pictures before, what I would guess, getting bored and sitting back in his seat.

After a bit he began to whistle, and I'm not sure how he was doing it, but it was loud. After a few times, I began to mimic his whistles, that is, until he accepted the challenge and began to do patterns that I could not follow nor replicate. As I struggled to keep up, he simply stopped and began laughing. This, maybe 12 year old, boy just laughed and smiled for the first time.

Mustering up what little Haitian Creole I've learned so far, I said, "Como ou rele?" or literally, "what you call?" (what's your name?). "Wilson," he told us, though it sounded more like "wheel-sohn." Paige introduced herself, "Mweh rele Paige," followed by me, "Mweh rele Audie," and Wilson relayed the names back to us.

I sat there thinking about how this young boy and Paige had created a connection through a cell phone, and the ability to capture a part of time on it. Then, I thought about how we had communicated and created a connection through the ability to whistle, even if mine were not up to par with his. We had no idea what his name was and vice versa. Sometimes we forget how much non-verbal communication can create a relationship; how it can destroy a relationship, or how it can directly affect the hearts and minds of others. English and North American cultures are considered to be low context, whereas many others like Haiti (French included, who colonized Haiti) are considered high context cultures. High context cultures depend more on non-verbal cues in communication. By only using words to communicate, we can often miss out on an emotion of thought of an individual. The Greek culture, considered by many to have the most descriptive language in history, is considered high context. Even with such a descriptive language system, they realized the importance of non-verbal communication.

Just a thought from the day.....

Might also add that I got to see Wilson rock out to "Back in Black" by AC/DC, and he taught me a great deal of Creole words as we used Google, pointed to things, and he took me to different spots to show me what things were. It is through children like Wilson that we can know we were created in God's image (Genesis 1:26-27). His tender heart and rare smile are assurance that we have a Father above.

-Audie

T-Minus 19 Hours and 20 Minutes Till I Board for Haiti

I have been thinking a lot lately about starting up the blog since I stopped about a year and a half ago.. I guess this is the perfect time!

At 6:50 AM tomorrow morning Paige Graves, a horticulture Master's student, and I will be departing cold (though not Kentucky cold), rainy College Station, TX, leaving our fellow Aggies behind only to create new ones.. in Haiti (insert prayer request here). We will be working as Graduate Researchers for Texas A&M University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Live Beyond in Thomazeau, Haiti.

Live Beyond is a 501(c)3 non-profit humanitarian organization, formerly Mobile Medical Disaster Relief. Their website defines the following as their mission statement:

"We are an organization that chooses to Live Beyond... ourselves, our culture, our borders & this life so that others can Live Beyond ... disease, hunger, poverty & despair."

Live Beyond was founded as, and focuses on, medical relief. However, they are looking to expand into agriculture in order to encompass human nutrition. I'm often told the story of how Dr. Vanderpool (founder, CEO) says that according to what he was taught in med school, the women should not be alive because of such a low BMI.. but they aren't just alive, they are nursing children, and often have another on the way! Through agriculture we hope to fight malnutrition in pregnant and nursing women, and in people in general. Furthermore, through agricultural development we can help in alleviating some of the heart-breaking poverty that exists in the poor nation.

While in Haiti I will be particularly focused on a few things in regard to research, while remaining open to additional opportunities for data collection. While Paige focuses more on the horticulture and crop side of things with the people, I will be focused on more animal science and social sciences. We (in regard to my research focuses) are looking at conducting some small holder projects with poultry, beginning effective goat production, and conducting needs assessments on about anything that can be observed, specifically livestock production and youth development via agriculture.

With almost no scientific literature on Haiti, the sky is the limit. The great thing about this whole shindig though is that during our pre-departure meetings/briefings (and we have had a lot) we have constantly been reminded about what it means to be an Aggie. Our professors and advisors have told us that research is important, but if we do not get involved with the community and some outreach to personally change lives, then we will not be as effective and we will not have the same personal reward and growth. They have emphasized over and over outreach. Atop of that, we are the "guinea pigs" of this "project" that has plans to be long term to shake Haiti and create better lives for Haitians. It is our job to help lay a foundation so that Aggies will always have a presence in the lives of the people, helping them, educating them, and showing them what it means to be a Fightin' Texas Aggie.

As I conclude my long rambling, I plan to update my blog as much as possible, so check in on it and share it with your friends, and I can only hope it inspires you to make an impact in this world. We can show people the Hope by helping them get a little taste of Heaven; whether it's in Clay, KY, the Philippines, Haiti, College Station, TX, no matter where it is.. we are the light on a hill.. so let's shine!

In Christ; Our Savior,

Audie Cherry