An Incredible and Humbling Experience Part One

If someone were to ask me where my favorite place in the world Iʼve been to I would honestly say Haiti. An incredibly poor third world country is usually not most peopleʼs favorite place to visit, then again it is unlikely that many people have experienced something so breathtaking and humbling.

The shortest and simplest way to describe it is this: Itʼs so sad to see the way the people live there in terms of resources and overall low quality of life, but so inspiring to see how happy they are, and their abundance of love is what makes my heart sing.

It all started with a Cutco Rep Andy Jeanty. He was born and raised in Port au Prince, Haiti until he was 20 when he moved away for College in Miami. After the earthquake he went back home to see his friends and family and was taken back at the horrible condition of his country.

It was then that Andy and his fellow friend and Cutco Rep Carl Drew committed to building a medical clinic. Both Carl and Andy have been to Haiti at least ten times in the last three years along with other reps, doctors, friends and anyone willing to help. This trip was truly special as there were 25 of us which was the largest trip so far. We spent on average 7 hours a day building the clinic but we were still able to see the country and experience all that it had to offer.

The First thing I noticed when we got off the plane was the pour quality of life in terms of infrastructure and sanitation. There was garbage literally every couple of feet, even the large area under bridges that used to be filled with water was dried and overcrowded with garbage. I saw countless dogs, pigs, and goats freely walking around the garbage looking for something to keep them going. The dogs really stuck out to me, since I come from a place where dogs are treasured, spoiled, loved dearly and to many considered a best friend. In Haiti they are all just strays, the people do not have enough money to feed and thirst themselves let alone an animal.

The most needed necessity in life that most Westerners take for granted is clean water. The water there is undrinkable, the people there drink water through little plastic bags that have probably 10 oz in it. While most families are making $8 a month it is difficult to imagine how undernourished they really are. The extreme also applies to their sanitation or lack of, most houses/huts do not have a washroom, leaving no option but to go in the river or alley. The toilets created for the public ratios to on average 200 people/toilet.

Stay tuned for more from Jenny's amazing trip to Haiti in part two ...