TWO EXTREMES **The Haiti Diaries(THD) Day 5**

We started off our day knowing that later on we would soon be enjoying the sunshine and the breath taking views of the Caribbean, but before we left we had an orphanage to visit. Everyone got ready and we ventured through the village and down some pathways until we reached our destination. A small little orphanage that was falling apart bit by bit. Not only was it externally falling apart, but so were the children inside of it. One little boy had a broken arm, another child had a broken jaw and there was also a little girl with a broken cheek bone. No one knows how they were all injured, but only because no one would tell us. The kids were very skinny and the only real joy we saw from them was when we sang and played games with them. It was a very sad place to see, especially because there were a lot of young children there.
        Later on as we walked back to the Mission we found out that the owner there was not a good one. Mission Lifeline has sent them countless containers of food, sheets, clothing and many other things for the children. Instead of showing up for a visit and seeing these things Lifeline finds that they're nowhere to be seen. The owner, instead of giving these things to the kids, is selling it for money. I will be the first to openly say that the money is not going towards the orphanage what so ever. My heart broke for the children at that orphanage as I imagined them staying in a place like that. Where every waking moment someone is taking advantage of your loneliness for their own personal image.
      On the way back a team member of mine became extremely dehydrated and had to sit down. Her first reaction was to fall asleep and we tried as hard as we could to keep her awake but nothing seemed to work. Soon one of the Haitian boys, who we all knew as Daniel, offered to carry her the rest of the way. Here was this boy who barely knew any of us and he carried my friend all the way back to the Mission on his back. He walked faster than any of us because he knew she needed to get out of the sun. He took her inside, put her on the couch and tried countless times to get her to drink some water. Fortunately we arrived soon after and our amazing leaders were able to get her awake and taken care of.  Daniel really showed sacrifice that day and was a true friend, someone that we all learned to trust throughout the rest of the trip.
     After returning to the mission we quickly got ready and set out for a resort named Wahoo Bay. We spent the remainder of the day there swimming in the ocean and relaxing after a rough morning. It was kind of surreal at first. Not only was the resort full of post card worthy beauty but it was also one of the nicest places I had seen in Haiti. I will admit that for the first hour or so I could not fully enjoy myself. No matter how beautiful it was or how relaxed I felt I couldn't take my mind off that orphanage. Here I was enjoying myself on a beach while there were kids who were being treated poorly. It really affected my outlook and reminded me of how blessed I truly am.
      Later that night it began to storm and as we sat on the porch at Lifeline relaxing after our amazing day at the beach we stared in awe at the beauty of the storm. I'm not sure why but the thunder was so powerful and the lightning was so bright that it literally amazed each and every one of us. Shortly after the storm had ended me and my friend Marie decided to once again go tarantula hunting. We were probably quite a sight as we set out across the compound towards the warehouse, Marie holding a flashlight and me clutching my machete. It was quite an adventure and a great way to end the day!