We've had the opportunity to drive/walk MANY non-Haitian people through our city during the last 5 weeks. As we pass houses, many that look undamaged, you'll still see tents or makeshift shelters out in front of almost house. (My house included.) There will be random rows of tents in the city streets. On every street. And people ask this question over and over, "Why are people still sleeping outside?"
The short answer I usually give them is, "They are scared to go back inside." And to me that makes sense. To Nick that makes sense. He and I have moved back inside a few weeks ago. Hugues and our boys have moved back inside. But still our female staff and children remain outside in tents. Rains will come very strong some nights. Things will get wet inside the tents and they may venture into the house as far as the dining room (right inside the house), but they always congregate right next to the door and they always keep it open in case a quick escape is necessary. A few of them might even spend a night or two inside after that, kind of testing the waters. But inevitably there will then be an aftershock and (rains or not) they will again become firm in their resolve that they are never sleeping in the house again. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat....
It's hard to explain this to someone who wasn't here for the quake. A lot of people come in and see houses that appear intact (or nearly intact) and cannot understand the fear. It just doesn't make sense to people and logically many feel the need to explain to me how if I could just convince Haitians that they would be safe inside, so many of their problems would be gone-- disease risk wouldn't be as high, blah, blah, blah...
My friend Sarah used a great analogy to explain it to some people the other day. She said it like this-- imagine there was a gang shooting on your street. For a long time, you'd probably not want to spend a whole lot of time outside of your house. After time, you'd eventually begin venturing out. But then what would happen if you saw a gang member with a gun walking down the street? You'd probably head back in. Even if he didn't shoot you or anyone else, you'd probably be pretty hesitant as long as you thought there might be danger of it happening again.
Kind of the same thing with the earthquakes. We keep having these aftershocks. We've heard that there is a new report out that claims that we're going to have some relatively large quakes/aftershocks within the next 3 weeks. This news is actually causing ME to feel nervous and consider moving outside again... just for a bit.
I guess I don't know what the point of this post is except to say that it seems like there are a lot of people coming in right now that don't really fully comprehend what it was like to be here on January 12th. They have a lot of "solutions" for problems that they don't fully understand. Yes, there are some open and shut things that can be solutions for open and shut problems. But the majority of the problems here (and let's be honest, we've JUST hit the tip of the iceberg) are not open and shut. They are not something we can throw some money and rice at and expect them to go away. We need people who are in this with us for the long haul and will strive to see things from the perspective of the people who need help.
7 comments:
Gravitational security....it's a primal thing that impacts us on all levels. Emotional security/stability as well. When the earth shakes and messes with our gravitational security, it must be a terribly frightening thing. When one experiences that and then sees all the devestation that it causes, that fear increases. Then there are superstitions, rumors, more earth shaking. I think I would sleep in a tent also....
When I had my kidney problems 10 years ago I developed a "fear of night". It was really bad. I wondered if I would die and most of the times things were fine. But sometimes the bleeding would start again and I wasn't fine. It took a long time of being fine before I could trust that I was in fact healed.
I think part of what you are all dealing with is fear. Part of it is wisdom. It will take time and no more after shocks to feel safe inside again.
I pray you will be given a supernatural peace. I love you Gwennie.
Gwenn I totally think I would be right there with them, maybe venturing inside if the weather outside was bad enough to make it worth the risk, but all in all I think it would take me a long time to feel comfortable being inside. The whole thing with trying to fix it, well it just reminds me of the time when a group came and talked about how great it would be if we could only get this and if we could just go buy that....thing is we couldn't and had to make due. We Americans want the fast food, quick fix version of things and it's hard to get use to just making due with what you have. I know it must be so frustrating for you and I hope that all future visitors take a look at this blog entry and take it to heart that if they weren't there they will never understand the fear and apprehension.
Your mom spoke at Youth Breakfast Thursday morning (mount Olivet in Manteo) and her words were so similar to yours now. This is not a problem that we can fix now but something we need to be involved in for the long haul. Thank you to both of you for being able to express things so well.
Was there on January 12th. Would not be sleeping inside. Praying His mercies continue to be new for you each day.
I was in high school when the Northridge Earthquake hit in 1994 - I still get scared when it gets really windy some nights and I live in NC now... I remember I would sleep near the doorways rather than in my bed, wouldn't take elevators and got nervous stopped under bridges for the longest time. 16 years later those moments still haunt me and I don't really ever want to go back to CA for fear that another might happen while I'm there. It is a trauma that no one really understands unless they've lived through it...I think because earthquakes are so sudden and violent and come without warning. It gets better with time, but you never forget exactly where you were, what you heard, saw, etc. It's scary to not have control over that situation and controlling where you sleep helps you to feel safer. Still praying for you all.
I think it makes perfect sense that people are afraid to go inside. Considering there are still many aftershocks occurring, it really may not be safe in many homes that have not yet fallen. The instinct of self-preservation is overriding the discomfort of sleeping outside. My heart truly aches for Haiti.
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