When I was a girl, one of my mother's friends was from Haiti. "Marie" and her family fled the country back in Papa Doc's day. She would visit but being educated, despising voodoo and freedom loving she and her family had no intention of ever going back to stay more than a few days. When I was a teenager "Marie's" only sister was murdered in Haiti. Her body was cut up and stuffed in a barrel. I don't recall if anything was stolen from her home. "Marie" went back to arrange the funeral but did not allow her children to come with her. She buried her sister, asked no questions, made no waves and fled back to Maryland on the first flight out. She told my mother that she would never set foot in Haiti again and she did not.
If you go to Haiti to volunteer do not eat anything but packaged food. Do not drink anything but bottled liquid. Do not go anywhere alone, especially if you are a woman. Do not ask questions about voodoo. Every Haitian I have ever met expressed love for their country but being realists don't want to go back---ever for anything. Our Lady of Perpetual Help, patroness of Haiti, pray for us.
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