Correspond with your partner

Holli Griffiths went to Haiti with photojournalist Heather Fassio from Feb 14 to Mar 2, 2010, traveling via the Dominican Republic. They visited encampments in Port-au-Prince, conducted interviews, and used the funds that she raised for relief of immediate and longer-term needs. You can follow their progress here!

This is the place to find the latest updates from People in Need Partnership in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. We are working to reestablish our operations in the face of the disaster and the collapse of our office.

Thank you Gabriel for the beautiful drawing!  Thank you also for your prayers for my mother.  She is not suffering very much as she has very little pain so far.  I am sending a photo of us tonight with her.  Marcus’ aunt & cousins have come to visit my mother.  This has been fun for Marcus to see his cousins.  They are 6, 4 & 2 years old.  Younger children, but still fun to play with.  I will write more soon, as it is late now (almost midnight), but I was so happy to read your letter and see your drawing!  Sending you much love and many kisses, my sweet boy!

Jamie

Hi!
These pictures are of Juniper and Ren (my daughters) and other things.
A farmer nearby had many many pumpkins last harvest time.
We saw many hot air balloons go up all at the same time. It was very pretty, I thought you might like the photograph.
There is a monument in the USA called Mount Rushmore.  It is a giant mountain carved with the faces of 4 famous presidents.
My husband’s father died recently, so we had to travel for his funeral to a town near Mt. Rushmore.  We stopped there on our way driving home.
Hope you like the pictures!
SJ

Hello Dialine.  Yes, it is very cold here right now.  I am also sleeping in a big T-shirt, and we have a fire in our house to keep it warm.  It was snowing today, but the sun was shining. 

My husband does not like computers, and he only uses them at work.  He does say hello and he says he has been thinking about you often with all the things going on it Haiti. He is also so glad you are safe.

We have two cats. Their names are AJ and Boots.  AJ is orange and white, and Boots is black and white like a tuxedo.  AJ is smart and a good hunter of birds and mice, Boots is not smart and is just friendly. They are funny and are good pets.

Are you learning about computers at the mini center?  I am glad they have a place for you to go.  What do you do during the days?  Do you play games or learn things?

It is late here, I must go to bed now.  Good Night, Dialine.  You will be in my dreams.
Shelley Jo

Hi Melissa
How are things in the country? I trust you are doing well. Mary and I are getting along just fine. We had a nice trip out West. We visited old friends in Illinois. Next we traveled to Arizona. While there we did several hikes in the mountains. Next we visited my brother and his wife in Colorado. They live in the mountains. It is very pretty there with lots of snow. We went skiing two days. It was a lot of fun. We drove over 4600 miles by the time we got home. It was good to get back home. Next week I’m going on a ski trip with my son, Joe. We are flying to Jackson Hole Wyoming. We are leaving on Tuesday and returning on Saturday, so it will be a short trip.
The weather is starting to warm up here in Michigan. The snow is starting to melt and the ice on the lakes will be melting also. It is raining today and it is supposed to rain tomorrow.
How is your weather? When do you think you’ll be going back to Port Au Prince? What have you been doing with your time since you’re not in school. Do
you miss school? Who are you living with in the countryside? Do you have playmates there?
I put some money in your account to help you get some things that you need. Are you getting enough food? I hope you are in the best of health and spirits. I think of you often. I look forward to hearing from you. Hopefully you will be back in school soon. Hugs and kisses to you.
Love, Bob

Hi, Wilna!

I found some photos of my family in some old emails.

(Hopefully in order)

My sister, Heather, and my parents, Bill and Carol, at a baseball game

My parents, my mother in law, my husband and I in Vancouver, Canada

My inlaws (Tony and Margaret), my husband, and I after I ran a marathon (42.2 kilometers)

Hi Kettie girl, how come you didn’t receive my previous letter?
May be people there are busy and will translte it for you later on…
I pray that you are well and have food and shelter!
Keep helping everyone dear kid!  If you help others life will take care of you.
Hugs and kisses,
Irina.

March 10, 2010

To: Cathy

Good morning Cathy,
I am at the mini – center now where I have just finished to learn a couples of English words and now Sophia is showing us to spell our names and giving Dictation in French. That’s very great.

School might be opening on March 15th, but I don’t really know that. How is Alex? I am really thinking of him.

What is he doing to school and what kind of fruit does he like?

Now I am enjoying myself in the mini- center with my friends.

Much love to you!

Your Partner
Naphtalie

March 10, 2010

To: Adam

Hi my wonderful,
I am feeling sick and I see my uperjaw is swellened. And I hope I will be good soon.
Were you never sich when you were a child? Did you like to play like me?

I am learning some English words,drawing and Computer class, spelling my name and so do my friends in the mini- center.

What is your father doing? Did see the earthe quake which was happened here?

Hoping that all is doing better for you !

All my love to you!

Your Partner
Vanessa!

March 10, 2010

To: Carroll

Hello! Carroll,
I have spent a very bad week because of the rain and I was wet where I am sleeping that’s very terrible.
Still now one, I don’t have the money that you sent to me, but I hope I will get it any time Mr. Cajuste receive it. I think that will help me because I need food and a tent to sleep.

By the way, is it raining by you? What are your children doing at school? I hear that school will restart on March 15th, so, I don’t think so that.

I am really sad and having much troubled where I am. 

Hug your wife and children from me!

Love!

Junior

March 10, 2010

To: Sharon

Hello! Sharon,
I have a long I do not hear from you. How things are going? Talk to me about your wedding? Was everything oKay?

My father’s house is destroyed by a fire and now I am sleeping out with my family.

I hope that all is better with you,

Kiss Sarah and Dave from me

I miss you so!
.
God bless you!
Your Partner
Betina

March 10, 2010

To:Dana

Hello Dana!
Is it cold by you or hot? Does your wife work? How is your company?
I am very glad to hear that school will restart on April 5, but I think so that because my school is cracked and it does not fix up.
I am learning so many new English words in the mini –center at People In Need and making drawing also. Did you see the earthquake on TV?

I hope that you are good with your family.

I love you!

Your Partner
Wideline

March 10, 2010

To: Mary

Hello!  Mary-Nash,
I hope all is well with you and family. What’s happening exactly about you?
I am really happy to enjoy myself in the mini-center with my friends where we are learning a few English words, drawing, couputer class etc.

After that, all my family is doing well.

By the way, how is your family? Your activity?

Love!

Your Partner
Wildeline

March 10, 2010

To: Irina

Dear my Partner,
I am really feeling a little bit sad to spend a couple of weeks without having any note from you.
How are you? Your family? What is your mother doing now?

I am really happy to go to the mini- center evry Wednesday because I enjoy myself there. I hear by the radio that school will restart on April 5, I will be happy if it’s true.

I know a lot words in English now and I love that. I will be glad if this program continue.

God bless you!

I am thinking of you!

Your Partner
Kettia

Hi Berloune, I am fine and my family as well. I know that it has to be hard but everything will get better soon. A lot of people is trying to help from Europe and the PIN PARTNERSHIP is trying to do the best! I will try to send some money for water and food and I really hope that everything will be better for you and your family. A big kiss from all of us.

Nancy Castrogiovanni.

Camai (Hello) from Alaska Delourde!

I am very blessed to have been sent to the People in Need Parternship website to find you. Miss Jennifer Johnson is the person who I have had the honor to meet and become acquainted with and learn all about this great organization. This movement to help and give hope to all of you in your land will persevere, as all the video clips I’ve been watching show to me that the Haitian people have great inner strengh. Haitians want change and hopefully the small amount of financial help I extend to you will help make a difference to the common good.

From your video clip, I heard you want to be a dress maker and sew a beautiful dress for your mother. You will make her a dress. You will make beautiful dresses for many many people. If there is a will there is a way is what I used to tell my son as he grew up to adulthood.

You are a beautiful child of God and you have a strong heart. I look forward to communicating with you as you grow into your adult years.

God Bless you Delourde,
Barbara Kaleopa’a
Anchorage, Alaska

March 09, 2010

To: Betty

Hello!
I want to greet
I am always thinking of you too all the time. But by grace of God me and my children are alive, I was not hurt, my children either, only my house has destroyed, I would like to take them back to school when it will restart because the government plan to open it next week, but I don’t have money to buy clothes for them, because they have lost everything during the earthquake.

Thank you my dear, because you’re still thinking of me even if I was not there. I have been so sorry to take long to not reply your letters, because I went to the countryside for a month just to refill myself psychologically that is the reason I didn’t come at People In Need center.

I have a little bit problems after the earthquake, sometimes I still feel my feet shake because I am scared and my heart is be

March 09, 2010

To: Rita

Hello my dear,
It makes long to not hear from you. What happen? Your family? Are you busy?
I want to tell you, today I come up at the mini-center to learn something important I didn’t learn before at school, cause school I am, it doesn’t have this program for example: computer class and lesson English etc. I want to thank you too for helping going in this program. I love it a lot. I hope they continue with this program even if school will restart.

By the way, I am okay by power of God and my family too.

Have a wonderful day!

Take care of yourself!

Your Partner
Jonel

March 09, 2010

To: Joseph

My dear,
It always a big joy for me to hear from you again after the earthquake. You show me how much you love and think of me. Rigt now, I see when you didn’t write me it seems you was busy with you work. I understand.

About your question: I do not have house to sleep but my mother make a tent with some sheep just to sleep with me. but it is not safe when it is raining. That is the reason I would like to have tent just to protect me with the rain.

My partner I also need clothes to wear because all my clothes that I had, they lost during the earthquake. It prevents me to go at the mini-center. Sometimes I lost some days because of that.

I do love this program, I make all my effort to come here, because they help me a lot while the school is not working. I learn computer class, English lesson, and Alphabetization. I would like this program will continue even if school will start again.

By the by I hope all is well for you and your family. And hope to keep contact oftener.

I love you so!

Your Partner
Balbaud

March 09, 2010

To: Jessica

Good afternoon,
How are you feeling? Your family? Your dogs?
By my side, I am not too good not too bad. I happy today to send you this note just to let you know how thing is by my side.

Is your mom doing better? I always pray God for her just to cure her.

I would like to thank you for your letter and your help that you continue to give me.

My dear, it is time to leave, I will write you soon

Bye!

I love you so!

Your Partner
Stevenson

March 09, 2010

To: Marcus &

Good morning my dear Partner
I am so sad to hear that your mother is very sick, it makes me unhappy for the way she can not do anything because her illness, but I usually hear this kind of sickness, but it seems there is no treatment for. But I pray God for her just to cure her mom a day. I know God can do all thing seems difficult for everybody. I hope you continue to take care of her and God will do the rest. Stay strong with.

Hello Marcus
I am doing well by grace of God and my family too, Marcus I received a bad news about your grandmother, I would like God still keeps her life for a while, not for a couple of month.  Her suffering seems very painful I am very unhappy about this news.

Answering of your question:
Yes, I have some friends: I have only tree friends: Micken, Sonson and Wilton.
And I do love to play with my friends oftener when I go back to school after studying my lesson or sometimes when I don’t have anything to do.

And you, do you have friend? Are you still going to school? What kind of subject are you learning at school? What grade are you in?

I am happy to hear from you. And read your note.

I kiss all of you!

Say kiss with your mom for me!

Your Partner
Gabriel

March 09, 2010

To: Sausan & Mia

Good morning my dear,
how you are doing. Your family?

Every Tuesday, I come up at people In Need center to learn some thing special I didn’t know before for example: computer class, lesson English etc. They teach me very well and help me to remind something that I forgot after the earthquake. By your support they help me a lot.

I do love this program because is helping during school is off.

I would like to hear from you, because each time I have your news, I am happy and proud of you

Bye
Have a nice day!

I am thinking of you!

Your partner
Naika

March 9, 2010

The main goal of the mini-center is preparing the haitian partners to have driect communication with their partners. As most of our Haitian partners are going to school late and they are young it’s hard for them learn the three important classes that we have to teach them to be in direct communication , first alphabetization, second computer, and thrid English lesson, as they speak different language with their partners that’s why the three classes important for them. Most of our Children are in the second guade at school.
Their progress is now they can turn on, shut down and write their names and their partners names in the computer. I would like to say that teach them to have direct communication with their partners is not impossible but that’s going to take a little longer. So we need to be patient because that’s going to take about three or four months. The Haitian partners are very interesting with the new programs that we have been created.
PINP staff is spending now more energy for making the direct relationship between the partners and we hope that program will be expending trough the world. PINP one relationship for the world.
Cajuste
Haitian Director of PINP

March 09,2010

March 8, 2010

Hi Misty
It was fun seeing you working on the computer. I’m glad that PINP is helping you learn while the school is not working. Hopefully it won’t be too long before the schools get going. How are you feeling? Are you still getting fevers? I hope you are in better health.
Mary and I had a nice trip. We visited friends in the State of Arizona and on our way home we visited my brother and his wife. They live in the mountains of Colorado. We went skiing for two days. Oh, by the way, today I skied with a man who was 99 years old. He is an amazing man. He has been skiing for over 90 years. His name is Lou and he was born in the country of Hungary. His wife is only 95 years old. I guess you can tell that we still have snow here. It is getting warmer but it still gets cold at night. It has been sunny for about two weeks. I heard that you have been having rain in Haiti. Is your house O.K.? Is the rain leaking in? What are you doing with your time since you are not going to school? Did you get the money that I sent for you?
I trust that you are getting food. Let me know what need. Well, I must close for now, it’s getting past my bedtime. I hope things are getting better for you. Mary told me to say Hi for her. She sends her love to you. I look forward to hearing from you.
Hugs and Kisses to you.
LOVE, Bob

Holli’s photos

Heather’s photos - General

Heather’s photos - Tent cities

Heather’s photos - Food distribution

March 08, 2010

To: Diane

Dear my beautiful,
I will be happy to receive some photos of your cats and I learn a little bit engilsh than nothing. how many words do know in creole? I can count from 1 to 12 and know some english alphabets, I can say where i am living, my full names, going to the bathroom, I know what people In Need is? ect. When will you finishing to study medical class?
I do not have enough food because some times I spend a day without food. Me too, I will need a special thing to put your photos. Yes, it has been raning a lot in Haiti. Now, it is blowing every night and I am always so cold. sorry , I have no shelter. I am sleeping in side of a church after the earth quake. Every time I have your note I am very happy.

I love you so much and did you send me the name of your kitties already?

Hug them for me!

Take care of yourself!

Your Partner
Fadia

March 08, 2010

To: Treva

Hello my beautiful!
I am happy to send a note jut to let you know I am still coming up in the mini center to learn some new thing. Today, I take Dictation, computer class and English lesson. My dear I like the way they teach and explain me also. Thank you for this program that you helping me to go every Monday.

My little brother is okay and I love him. I am palying with him all time and give him food for my mother.

What are doing down there?

Kiss Lamikins!

I am missing you a lot!

Your Partner
Rose

March 08, 2010

To: Shelley

Good morning my dear,
Are you not cold? It’s cold here and I am wearing a big T- shirt to sleep and do not forget that my house is very close to the ocean. How is your family? Please let me hear from you!

God bless !

I kiss you!

Your Partner
Dailine!

March 08, 2010

To: Bree

Hello!
I am not feeling well because I have fever and vomiting. I can not eat and I do not go to the hospital because my aunt has no way to help me but I hope I will good soon. How are you doing? Your family?

It’s Wendy almost everynight here. And about you?

I am thinking of you so!

Love !

Your Partner
Jolivert

March 08, 2010

To: Jodi

Dear my Partner,
I am enjoying myself in the mini- center to jump to the rope with my friends and learning some english words. I would like to hear from you because I have a long to not have your note.

How things are going? Are you okay?

It’s cold every night here and cover myself with my father’s T-shirt.

I would like to hear from you soon!

I am missing you so!

Bye!

Your Partner
Lise!

Here is a picture of me Balbaud that I just too last week!

Hello Balbaud!
I have sent in a letter to the administrator of People in Need Partnership to see how I can help.
Do you not have a home to sleep in, or just that you do not have clothes to wear?
I’m very sad for the devastation in your country, but the people in your country are very strong and are constantly doing amazing things!
I will continue to pray for you and your family!