Haiti Vision Trip 5.28–5.31

Friends! First and foremost, thanks for all the New Story donations and support. We were in Haiti this weekend to see progress and meet the families first hand. The trip has been a huge success so I wanted to share my experience.

If you don’t know, New Story was started by my good friend Brett Hagler to directly connect donors with homeless families living in Haiti post 2010 earthquake.

The New Story model is simple. See pictures of the family you’re funding. Raise $6,000 for said family. Boom, a video is uploaded of that family in their new home. Super transparent.

New Story’s local partner, Mission of Hope, documents the families and employs the local contractors to build the homes. Working with a local, well established charity, is a HUGE part of ensuring your donations are going to the right places.

View from the Mission of Hope house where we stayed.

Most of our time was spent in Leveque, Haiti. This is ground zero for where New Story is trying to build a home for every family living in a tarp. These tarps were initially built as a 6 month solution post earthquake and 5 years later there are still about 140 families living in the tarps in Leveque.

First takeaway…these tarps are hot. So hot that people have gone blind from the lack of ventilation and heat. It’ll make you think twice the next time you complain about a bigger closet in Buckhead.

The kids in the tarp cities were great. They’re not used to seeing muscular people and called us “Captain America.” They grab your arms and chest and make the flexing gesture. Needless to say, Brett was a big hit.

Once we hit the ground, we had a posse of 10 kids around us at all times. These kids literally have nothing and you couldn’t get them to stop smiling.

Brett’s brother, Josh, in the front with his new buddy.

Tim in the back. The picture doesn’t do it justice but he’s 6' 5". The kid on his shoulders said he’s never been so high.

All three have lived their whole life in a tarp. Aside from head to toe dirt, you’d never know it from the smiles.

My dude Jonlee hanging on tight.

Before we left the first morning we got to meet a mom who was getting a new home from New Story.

She had been living here for 4 years and gave birth to one of her two children inside the tent.

She had a huge Florida Gator flag inside blocking off her bed…we didn’t hold it against her.

Her two kids currently don’t live with her because it’s too unsanitary and dangerous in the tarp. Once she moves into her New Story house next month she can live with them again.

Rachel on the right, from Mission of Hope, was asking what she was most excited for.

“Getting a new life.”

Another tent family. We gave them the good news that they were moving into a New Story home this week. Clap hands!

They have been living here for 4 years. The mom told us she lost two kids here. Crazy.

The inside of their tarp was depressing. You can see how unsanitary the kitchen bowls are on the bottom left.

You couldn’t make this up. The daughter of the tent was studying in the street when we walked up. We asked her what she wanted to be:

A Bank Technician.

“I want to be close to all the money.”

About a half mile down from the tarp city are the New Story homes and school.

Mission of Hope has a funded school for the kids living in Leveque. One of my favorite parts of the weekend.

Swarming Captain America.

Mother’s Day was the Sunday we were in town. You can see the kindergartners made pictures for mom.

“Bonne fete Momma”

Down from the school is the New Story construction. Lots of activity going on here. Six houses were being completed at the time.

Mission of Hope contracts a Haitian construction company, which helps build the local economy.

Our second day we painted two new houses funded by New Story.

The mom and daughter clapping hands above will be moving here today (June 3rd).

Kristi putting some work in.

This little one along with a few others wanted to paint with us. They were actually a big help.

Very strategic of her to wear the same colored pajamas so mom can’t see how much paint she is wearing.

Don’t underestimate these kids.

Finished product with the Vision Team.

A new home means everything to these families. It’s a fresh start.