I spoke with Elena today!

Hi everyone, I finally spoke with Elena and although we didn´t speak for very long she did convey to me that she is happy and doing well. Her plans are to stay in Leogan, Haiti for a bit more time. Although the original plan was for her to head back today she was asked to stay a bit longer to assist with translations and because of her fluncy in Spanish and English she can help communicate with the large number of US representatives that are in the area.

She´ll most likely head back to Santo Domingo on Wednesday for some R&R and then figure out the next step. She says that she´s happy in Haiti and wants to continue to contribute her time, love and help. They continue to be in the orphanage working with the children on everything from teaching them english to bathing and feeding them. She is even assisting with physical therapy with an amazing ten year old girl, Rose Michelle.

Rose Michelle was found and taken out from a crumbled building that collapsed after the earthquake. Her legs were crushed and she had been in under the building. She is currently in the orphanage receiving medical attention and MUDHA and their partners got her a wheelchair.

Elena says that what she finds to be the most amazing part of Haiti is the resiliance of its people, especially the children. Rose Michelle and so many of the children still have the ability to play, to smile and what´s even more amazing, to share. She says that although they don´t have much that everytime they have a snack or a meal that they always offer her something first. Their milk, their crackers, anything and everything they have. Some of the children even know that she loves mangos and climb the trees to bring her one everyday.

Her work continues with the MOSCTHA team. Aside from working in the orphanage, they also continue to look for people that may still be in the buildings, they do house visits with Doctor´s for people who can´t make it to their makeshift medical center and they continue to take a census on the over 2000 people who have lost their homes.

She says that there is so much more work to be done over a long period of time and that they are counting on continued donations and international assistance to help as many people as possible, but that there is a lot of red tape involved and it´s a long and lengthy process.

In the meantime, Elena and so many others continue to help. Let´s not forget to help as well.