I want to share with everyone this special note on my relationship with Nazer Gardy. Nazer is a restovic ( child slave) living in one of the worst slums of the world. When I was on www.pinpartnership over a year ago today, I saw his eyes and something inside of me told me ..this is the one you will help. I began to correspond with him and then I went to Haiti to help people in need partnership and to finally meet Nazer Gardy. This is a sole testimony of how important and unique a relationship can become and how important it is for all of us to do are parts and help the people in extreme poverty.

My relationship between my partner and I…



My partners name is Nazer Gardy. He caught my eye sometime ago and from that moment I wanted to only protect , and help him survive the conflicts and struggles he faced day and night. I began to write to him on the website, at people in need partnership. I was not sure at the time if he would receive the letters or would be able to reply back to me. One day, checking my emails I saw it jump out of the page. It said , “ you have received a letter from your partner Nazer Gardy. I was so excited and began to cry. I must have read his letter four or five times. I was full of joy and tears. Then we began writing back and forth , sometime it was two or three letters in one month. My heart longed to hold him in my arms like a mother to their child. I wanted to be a part of his life and to visually see him and hear his voice. I had already been involved with PINP , getting people in the community involved with the devastating needs effecting Haiti and signing people up as partners. I clearly understand the connection between the two worlds that are so far apart and now so close and dear to my heart.



In December, I decided to travel to Haiti to help volunteer for PINP and start on the review pages and updates on partners. I also wanted to see Nazer Gardy and to hear his voice and give him a hug in person. One day, as I had arrived to work and planned to meet with the children at the mini- center to review their future page the staff told me I had a visitor in the room that wanted to see me. I instantly thought of Nazer Gardy. When I walked into the half lite room , there he was standing , looking at me shyly and smiling so innocently at me. I burst into tears, and held him in my arms. I told him that I was always thinking of him and his well being, that I did not forget our promise. ( to come see him in Haiti) and that we will share wonderful memories while I am visiting PINP and Haiti.



The next day, Marcel , the director in Citi Soleil told me we must go to Citi Soleil and see the children and mothers with starving children at the Mini - center. One of the staff asked Nazer if he would like to go with us. Nazer replied, “ yes. I want to protect her there.” We all went to Citi Soleil and during the walk through the worst parts of the area, Nazer watched over me. When I looked at the living conditioned and the sanitation problems that are so extremely horrific and the children with malnourishment and at such a high degree ..Nazer looked up at me. When his eyes met mine that day, there was a deep understanding. We truly connected at that moment. A deep and powerful understand swept over me. Nazer later told Sophia back at the mini center, that it was the worst thing he ever saw. He couldn’t believe people were living in those conditions.



In Citi soleil , there is no running water., no televisions, garbage spread out like a junk yard in confined areas of our busy city and the people there live in houses made out of sheets of metal and floors of dirt. When Nazer said this I was alarmed . Because Nazer told me before in one of his letters that it is his two brothers and parents staying in a small house. The house is smaller in size then a small bedroom ..they eat very little and have to save all of what they make for days. When I discovered that Nazer was genuinely concerned about the other Haitians living in Cite Soleil , our relationship became even strong.



He already has a many struggles and it is difficult to think this once child restovic ( slave) , had deep heart felt compassion and need to help the others when he is malnourished and each day is a struggle for him and his family. We went out to dinner one night, and I could see this glow in his eyes. I never asked if he has ever been to a restaurant before however his eyes were saying so much. There was an electrical santa claus on the counter and Nazer pressed the button , jumped back so frightened and then began to laugh.. I realized that we take so much for granted have so much at our disposal and do not see the same as for those who have never seen what we have. If we go to a store for holiday celebration, birthday gifts ..we already can almost close our eyes and see what is already in the store. There is no more suspense or surpsise look in our eyes when we have a pretty good idea what we will in fact see each holiday at the stores.



When we sat at the restaurant and ate this very greasy chicken with rice and vegetables. I looked at Nazer and he was in heaven .. He had his fish sliced up nicely and was eating it like it was a medium rare steak. I smiled at him.. And was remember the look of fright and joy with the holiday decoration, or walk through

Cite Soleil earlier that day…and how grateful we should be for everything we receive . How many people in our society take advantage of the material and livelihood that were given to them freely, when across the globe their our lives that are still not free and still have no voice in their own country.



The fun craft project we did together at the mini centers, the joy and tears of our meeting. I knew I would miss him so much. He has little foot prints on my heart. I was very busy with the projects and the future review page, updates on our partners, and with the email requests from the many partners that had personal requests . I felt so bad that I couldn’t spend more time with him. We do often get to busy and miss the moments that matter dear to our hearts. It felt that we should allow equal time for both.



On the day of my departure from the mini-center, Nazer came to wish me a safe trip back. We cried so much and it was so painful watching him walk out of the mini- center and down the road to the tap-tap. My heart sunk for a long time . I looked at our pictures the whole flight back to Portland.



Then the earth quake struck three weeks later. I was concerned of the safety of everyone, our partners, staff and Nazer Gardy. I could not stop thinking about him and it was so difficult at times not to cry, and so concerned of everyone’ accountability. I was devastated. While trying to find out about Nazer Gardy, I also was searching for many partners and staff members. I became the tool of communication for Haiti and our staff. I wanted to leave immediately however had to wait to go back to Haiti.



After the journey through Dominican Republic, We arrived at the new office and mini center. It is much larger then the previous one which was destroyed in the earth quake. We rested plenty and then the next morning Nazer came to see me . I began to cry so heavily and so deeply. There are no words to describe that moment with Nazer Gardy. He also was so thankful that I did not forget him, that I came to him and he was for ever thanking me for being there.



People in need partnership is an amazing way to connect with a person in extreme poverty . Living completely different lives then you and I , but forming a bond like no other imaginable. It is a gift I believe from God. It is a wonderful and joyful to help a life living in conditions unimaginable. Once you personally look into their eyes, and feel their soul. At that moment you are connected for life..



Nazer is waiting for me to see him soon and I too wish to hold him in my arms and tell him he is always with me.. Because he left his foot prints on my heart.



Sincerely,

Jennifer Johnson

Make a difference in a life in extreme need

...I want to start with a famous quote from Gandi,  " be the change you wish to see in the world.."

Making a difference in a life is so important in every view of humanity. Making a difference in a life to someone suffering in extreme poverty is everyones duty I believe. I believe that if we were not fortunate to be born in a place that has everything there for us then we also would be in the same situation as those suffering from malnutrition who have little to no food and proper water . What we all must do is answer the 911 call to help those living in extreme poverty.

So, do we become the "change" we wish to see in the world we live , eat and breath in and see our neighbors in a foreign land suffering from malnutrition and don't even know when their next meal will be and then we have ask ourselves , what can we do to fix this problem . It is a global issue of mass proportion and we must start now to help those in need.

We also need to start cleaning our rivers, our neighbors rivers. Our forests and our neighbors forests. We need to start cultivating a society that even our next generations children and enjoy just like our fore-fathers before us were able to do so. But how can we form this? How can we change a society  where there are thousands upon thousands who are self-serving, ego-driven, and self - righteous? How do we bring this mass together in each other, in each community and broaden it around the world?

Very soon .. there will be a website for such a transformation . I have waited for it's arrival for more then four years. It will be a visionary society , and we all must tke the different learning program tests and questions  ( just like in college) and after we pass it successfully then we will be apart of this new beginning for all of humanity to form together as one.

As soon as it is up and running .. I will announce it to everyone who views this blog , the other blogs and my facebook.

Right now, we are working hard on the issues in Haiti. You may view our website to learn more details on why we are doing this organization, how to become a partner and how to help make a donation to help Haiti.

The website is at : http://www.pinpartnership.org/


Tell someone today how much you love them. Open the door for an elderly lady at the store. Let the man in that car who is in such a hurry - go ahead of you . Open your mind and your heart to the possiblity of a meaningful change for all mankind. Open your heart and you will see.

Love & Light,
Jennifer

Hait needs our help

by Jennifer Johnson


It has been two months since I combed the sand in Jacmel,

Spoke with a local artist on his style,

ate fried bananas from the car window,

and saw the cheerful laughter and smile..

Before locals crowded the streets to sell anything from Tupperware to car batteries,

sandwiches to Lemon’s and oily grill..

After the earth quake, there was panic , fear and hunger in the worst way,

almost everyone local or foreign getting sick..

after dark sets in you can hear prayers, the people singing to God,

Crying children and darkness to bare..

and the air,black smoke and toxic smell, stench of the bodies decomposed,

Every other building fell..

Haiti to me,is a vision for Humanity,

a 911 call to the world to do something,

of the greatest per portion ever seen..

Copyright © 2010

Thoughts on Haiti

I walked the streets with bent paths leading all directions, and not with many pot holes and garbage lying everywhere . The air was filled with gas, burnt oils and stench from decomposed wastes. Sounds from cars and trucks siren through air and my feet were tired from the walk over the mountain of cement pieces that lay were a road use to be.. I noticed the vendors were gone, sadness filled the space were they use to sell goods to the people. There was a silence found beyond the siren sounds from the vehicle’s . A silence that I could not explain. Children looked lost and they held tight to their mothers. I saw dogs , pigs, goats, and cow eating trash beside the mound of garbage and debris in the city. I noticed that the sky was blue, that there were clouds far in the distant but looking around in the streets , each direction I faced there was many people search for something. Some for food, others for water and many searching for what they lost. There houses are no longer a safe haven, and millions flood the street s and side walks to lay down for rest. There was houses, buildings , markets, apartments, banks and gas stations completely destroyed. Beside them was a building standing , beside the building stand was one destroyed. It was everywhere the same situation. No one can be certain who’s would stand and who’s would fall. Each looked as strong or stronger then the other, and yet the weaker stood, then there were some buildings stronger then the weak that stood.. It is almost like a huge snake was below the ground moving around, and were he had moved the land had fallen.




The grocery store that I bought supplies for the office was still standing, and the restaurant we all went to was there still but the many that I had visited and visited where gone.. You never can tell what will and will not happen in the future. No one can know but God. I just knew in my heart that we could not let go of the project that was started. Everything in my soul kept telling me do not give up on these people. Even when everywhere you look is completely flipped upside down and back up like a puzzle from when you saw it 3 weeks prior.. And your mind. It will be completely shocked, almost traumatized if you have never witnessed anything in life like this before. I remember trying to figure out what can be done to help rebuild or how to bring fresh water to these people, and what about the rain that will arrive then what… There was never a silent thought.. It was consistent with all that came .. I believe nothing is done by mistake and all that we do is set forth by God before we even do it. He knew that I would be there and I never thought or knew much about the place until it touched my soul.. And moved me. Sometimes it is that which we can not begin to understand, that which we can not begin to know that moves and shakes our soul like a tree in the wind.. And we awake to what we are to do in life. He shock me completely .





I had seen before this town with the others and we stayed there for a little while. We met many people in the streets in this small village, so of them stared at us and others were friendly and smiled… I wonder if they are still there. That day, must have been a special day because everyone was out of their homes and in the street, and there was so many of them .. I looked many in the eyes.. And now I wonder if I will ever see their eyes again..



Back to the devastation, when I was searching for a place to rest my worries for a day, I went to the city to locate a hotel that I could lodge at for the night. On the way to the hotel, there was hundreds and possible thousand s of people in the streets . There was so many people in the streets the the car was going slower then the people walking beside us. I think they were walking to a demonstration or event. Not sure but I have never experienced anything of the sort in my life. When I got settled into the hotel, I went to see the streets and a lady was asking me to buy her painting from her. I was staring at the hundreds of tents on what looked like a turning island for drivers, and looked into the woman’s eyes and thought to myself, she is selling what ever she has to feed her children. I asked the guard to translate for me, and tell the lady to please take this money and buy food for your little ones, but I can not take the painting because I have no room for it and must help the people on this visit. One day , if I return and I see you then I will buy the painting. She heard the translation and a smile appeared on her face, she shock her head and told the guard to tell me thank you and she was wanting to buy food for them. She said to come see her when I return and then left with her small children and the painting.



When events like this occurred there, which was very often. I always thought are they selling their art work or the paintings in their house for food. I worried that these paintings might be the only thing left of their beloved and that how could I take something that is the last they have to remind them of their loved one. I would not want someone to do that to me. So I instead paid for her food and she kept the painting as well. I had many of tests, and lessons in Haiti. And at night , I would always look to the stars and think we share the same sky , we share the same moon…and in the morning we will share the same sun.



Often when God shows me these things, I can not express to man what I experienced verbally or explain it in casual conversation. I must write it down so that it is understood. So , I am writing so that everyone can understand what my eyes saw , and feel the sorrow and pain from those who survived a terrible event in history. One man told me , he felt like he died when the earth quake struck and he feels dead now walking and breathing still normal but inside he said he feels dead. I asked him why. He said I lost everything,. My family, my house, and my work is destroyed. I stand in front of you as nothing. I told him , that is not true because you still have a soul that is ever alive and in deed God has a job for you to do. He thanked me and walked on.. This happened a lot and some over lap the others, because multitudes would come to me with their stories or to ask me questions about God, or what they can do for their family. I then felt a need to be in Haiti. A very unique connection that grew from the last time I was there. They need reassurance for their souls, their souls need gentle guiding words to help them to become something which they lost who and what they are and will be.





More thoughts soon.. Lovingly , Jennifer Johnson

Before the streets were filled with hope , then after 4:35pm on January 12th, 2010 all had changed..Just before people were going home from work and just after classes were over. The tremors lasted for weeks and even while aid , volunteers and non-profit organizations who were already there before the earth quake came to rescue and help there was a series of 50-80 tremors felt . It was difficult to rescue people from the rubble, find aid on the ground and devastation and stench from decomposed bodies and waste filled the air. The noise was loud in the streets before the earth quake and after the earth quake it became worse. Then the questions rose from all angles and the need was greater and more needed then ever before. A nation that was already struggling , with thousands malnourished , millions in need and now misplaced and homeless... The need to stay was no question, we all must stay and help Haiti rebuild and grow.

Three Weeks Before The EarthQuake

This video was taken the day of my departure from Haiti three weeks before the earthquake struck.