From April 19, 2021 While the rest of Haiti struggles with kidnappings, at Santa Chiara we have kidnannies.

From April 18, 2021 Six years. Six very long, very difficult years. Just to reach a point where it all could fall apart. Forsix years, I gave every ounce of my being to the Santa Chiara Children’s Center, giving hope andhealing to hundreds of abandoned kids, even giving life to a few discarded infants who were justdays old when they…

From April 17, 2021 Yesterday, I went to Mass at the MC sisters. Following the reports I shared with you in yesterday’s Journal about the escalation of violence and kidnappings, I drove in the predawn darkness filled with more apprehension than normal.

From April 16, 2021 The bishops of Haiti issued a long statement on the unrest and violence in Haiti. One sentence captured the essence of what I experience on a daily basis. It read: “…the country is at the edge of an explosion. The daily life of the people is death, assassinations, impunity and insecurity. Discontent is everywhere, in almost…

From April 15, 2021 Yesterday morning I knew I had to do some shopping to get a few things for me to eat. I had two choices: go to the nearest local large supermarket or drive to Pétionville and go the Caribbean Market where I could get all the things that I liked and needed that would last a few…

From April 14, 2021 I walked out of the airport terminal three minutes before the scheduled arrival. The preboarding and on flight buzz was about the kidnapping of the five priest and two nuns, two of whom were from France, and the on-going violence and utter chaos.

From April 13, 2021 Most of the children at Santa Chiara began life in a place of death: Cité Soleil. Early on Sunday morning (Mercy Sunday) Jarline walked through the yard as her cell phone captured the early morning energy of our children.

From April 12, 2021 On this trip, I walked out on the jetty every day. I tried to create art with my cell phone camera. When I photograph, I forget all the problems in Haiti for an hour or so and am able relax and enjoy myself.

From April 11, 2021 Enter the stillness, silence & beauty.

From April 10, 2021 When human connection is contingent on a good wifi connection we have truly lost something. Digital friendships do little to stem the tide of an epidemic of loneliness.