A Leading Light On Haiti's Dark Road Through Tragedy
In a small but gleaming reflection of the true human spirit, piercing the turbid and dusty shadows of the poverty stricken and earthquake shattered country of Haiti, works a graciously tenacious man who epitomizes the sober wisdom and unpretentious dedication of a true good Samaritan image. In an article on the MSNBC website detailing the tireless endeavors of Ramon Crespo, a career mission worker, part-time poet and director of Lifechurch mission, one can get a glimpse into the soul of a man who realizes that the many complacent and detached donations now conscripting huge foundations and allegedly non-profit organizations to do the work each and every person on this planet is required to engage in daily, is robbing humans of their humanity. While it may appear doting of the cause to indict the many contributors of charitable donations for shirking their responsibility in such a way, the fact is that the act of enabling huge foundations and organizations to swell with power and revenues has created a great deal of corruption and misfeasance. Furthermore, there are many foundations which first began as entirely benevolent entities, created with the best of intentions, only to falter under less auspicious men. Unfortunately, as the main benefactors began to pass away, and take their ideals and principles with them, those to whom the foundations were placed in trust have too often abused their station, even creating alliances with organizations which possess entirely opposing aims. These alliances were many times formed merely for the tax shelters and profit margins they could construct. Thus, the derived mission morphing out of this veiled collusion began to take on increasingly nefarious and destructive collaborations which now walk arm in arm with eugenicists, despotic leaders, corrosive ideologies and shared hatreds. It is imperative that this entire world begin to follow the example of the Ramon Crespos of the planet. Moreover, it is critical that each and every person make the effort to daily engage those around them. Allowing themselves to truly understand the very special nature of compassion when "reaching out" to people - needy or otherwise - and stepping out of the "comfort zone" far enough to feel a little uncomfortable. This helps people to understand that it is okay to feel a little uncomfortable sometimes. It is entirely acceptable to see one's self as a little unacceptable, and be encouraged by nothing more than the conviction that one is doing what is primarily right. Morality is merely logic in action, and there need not be any reward nor punishment to impress upon people to engages in such active reasoning. One of the most important lessons contemporary society can learn, and in a most corporeal fashion, is that the act of compassion is not something which can be taught. Nor is it a primary feeling or engagement which stands alone. But rather that compassion is merely a reflection of one’s ability to truly see the world around them without fear or animosity. Compassion, and the example it elicits, is simply an acceptance of the good and the bad, the pleasure and the pain, in such a way that one becomes as comfortable with the first as they are with the latter. The true good Samaritan does not only seek to minister to those in their time of need, but as well offers wisdom and rebuke to those detached by their lack of deed. In the article Mr. Crespo finds need to chide a woman who came to him with check in hand, expecting to hand him a donation thus absolving herself of any actual responsibility for its utilization. While one may initially seek to denigrate Mr. Crespo for “biting the hand that feeds”, the fact is that he has done not only a service for the needy children of Haiti, but simultaneously aided a young woman in her efforts to get involved. He recalls in the article that “I gave her a list. I told her, what I need is for you to go to the store and buy 10 soccer balls. Buy 12 pairs of reading glasses and bring them to our church. You buy stuff, you have to touch it. You remember better. It gets you out of your comfort zone.” After the woman settled down, “she did everything on the list” said Crespo, adding with a smile “I took her check too”. (excerpt from article) As stated in the article ‘helping -- not just paying someone else to help -- is what the people of Haiti need. And it helps givers, too. That’s one of the philosophies of Lifechurch, which operates an orphanage in the Santo neighborhood, a little over a mile northeast of the Port-au-Prince airport’. Too often actual volunteerism is refused by charitable organizations who merely expect to be enabled to offer their brand of help to whom they see fit, and most importantly in such ways as they see fit. Unfortunately, this “help” is far too often being implemented in the form of mass sterilization, or offered amid requirements of religious conversion. Even more alarming is when it is offered in an effort to undermine the ability of those receiving aid by preventing or discouraging them from becoming a viable social and economic provider. Lifechurch volunteers were in Haiti before the earthquake, rescuing children from an abusive, failing orphanage. They are doing what they can to help these children and the neighboring populous. But the need in Haiti is massive and far reaching. Crespo has also worked in Cuba, El Salvador and Nicaragua, and is a professional in his capacity. Taking nothing for granted, he insists on action in tandem with faith, rather than expecting good intentions and prayer to sustain those in need when resources wane. “Its not a lack of faith,” he say’s. “But faith doesn’t bring me more diesel.” His indefatigable dedication to others can be seen in the nickname given him by Church youths who call him “Major Pain,” because of his military-like work ethic. Allentown PA. volunteers, at their Rescue Children orphanage in Haiti, typically rise at 5:30 daily. On Sunday, despite a serious asthma attack the night before, Crespo was back at work before breakfast, distributing food. “In life I have a limited time frame. I’m afraid to not use it.” he said. Other contributing members like Frank Andino, a former NY Bronx paramedic, set up a small medical clinic at the orphanage, offering care to at least 50 people so far. Pastor, and Lifechurch founder, Randy Landis also ministers to those both giving and receiving aid, heartening them with words of encouragement from Psalms such as “we will not fear though the earth should give way, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea.” The orphanage has enough fresh water supplies for people to take showers in the evening, using a bucket to rinse themselves. And there are for now enough purification tablets to produce needed drinking water. There are a few days worth of diesel for the generator and SUV, and some workers have cell phones and Blackberry’s which work sporadically, and they must carry the washing machine to an area where they can fill it by hand. In the evening the neighbors gather in the darkness to sing songs while the children play dominoes inside under dim lighting. Unfortunately those in Port-au-Prince are suffering far more than those in this small microcosm of relative tranquility. “This is heaven compared with everyone else.” Crespo said. A lone four year old girl walks along the main road carrying a machete as tall as her. Mass graves in vacant lots form a grid along the highways. People wearing bandanas to cover their mouths say bodies are dumped four or more times a day. Fallen bridges force drivers to find alternate routes where they can cross low waters to get to the city center. Collapsed buildings host crowds of journalists where people dig, searching for bodies and survivors. Massive tent cities are the norm like the one in a church square of Petionville where thousands of people pack together, and children linger next to mothers standing naked in the street, taking hand baths while cleaning their young. A paltry amount of distribution points for humanitarian aid can be seen. Children only were allowed to line up at a U.N. van to receive food, with hundreds waiting in line, cups, jugs and bowls in hand. Some vegetable stands are open, but no Supermarkets. Fueling stations are closed, and openings are tentative as stated by those standing guard with guns. Regardless of the few stores which possess potable water and edible food, it is only available to those who can afford the price. Most areas, if not all, have no electricity, or lights, except those that are powered by generators. Plainclothes guards with automatic weapons sit at outdoor cafes eating sandwiches, watching hundreds quietly waiting outside the U.N. camp at the U.S. Embassy. Streetlights are working with the aid of solar panels, but few stop at intersections. Clearly the need is great, to say the least.
In another great article by Bill Dedman at msnbc.com, the Haitian children rescued by Lifechurch and its volunteers, led by director Ramon Crespo, are finally transported to facilities in Fond Parisien.
FOND PARISIEN, Haiti -- After a tense week at their crumbling orphanage in Port-au-Prince, the dozen children protected by Lifechurch volunteers were evacuated on Monday afternoon to a beautiful orphanage 40 minutes away, nearer the Dominican border. Two of the men and two women stayed behind for the night to guard their food, generator and other supplies.
The security situation deteriorated quickly at the Rescue Children orphanage early in the day, with scowling men knocking on the gate demanding food. And looters showed up for the first time in the Santo neighborhood, about a mile northeast of the Port-au-Prince airport.

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