Kirstin Pauken in Haiti
Kirstin is a Physical Therapist from Milwaukie, OR volunteering with our Advantage Program in Haiti.
The Advantage Program aims to meet the physical and spiritual needs of persons with disabilities in Haiti in the name of Christ. Our goal is to provide long-term, sustainable assistance to those who need it, regardless of religion, creed or ability to pay.
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by
Website Editor
| Oct 29, 2010
Never have I prided myself on my direction sense, but today, I needed to draw on any and all of my abilities in this area. I did not realize it but Irold, our driver from Les Cayes, had not had much experience with driving around Port-au-Prince. Getting to the airport, we stopped five times to get directions and confirmation. I realized that the words you use to tell someone where to move their body were the same words needed to tell someone where to “move” the car. Between my spotty Creole and Irold’s spotty English, we were able to communicate our directional sense and find our way to the airport. I made it through security with a generous 15 minutes to spare at the gate! Why is it, no matter how early you leave to get to your departure, there is still something that happens to put a little more “edge” into the moment? Today I will be culturally inundated by spending the day in Fort Lauderdale and then overnight in Dallas. A long journey home continues.