We each find our own answer. My answer is bringing the kingdom of heaven closer to earth, by serving as two of the hands of God. My special passion is water, sanitation, and health promotion in developing countries -- and my legal scholarship, teaching, and service now reflect this passion.
For four years, I have had the privilege to work with the Mouvman Peyizan Papay, MPP or the Peasant Movement of Papay, as they develop water, sanitation, and health promotion projects in the Central Plateau of Haiti.
But this blog is not devoted to that work. Instead, it shares my reflections on the remarkable experiences that I'm having as I watch the people of rural Haiti build a better life. They are remarkable people with amazing faith, joy, and hope in the future. They are astonishingly resilient in the face of difficulties.
Others stand in solidarity with them. Some spend their entire lives trying to help the Haitian people build lives of simple dignity. Some, like me, are laborers hired in the late afternoon.
I honor both the Haitian poor and those who truly seek to assist them. And I deeply reject the self-serving agendas of people and nations who treat Haiti as just a play toy and the people of Haiti as objects to be used for their own selfish purposes.
I treasure every day I am able to spend here. Each day is rich and meaningful. This is life!
susanlsmithor
Mon Depase Tet Mon 