Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Little Paul

Update: "BREAKING NEWS: Ruling has been handed down by the Judge. NOT enough evidence to charge paul waggoner with kidnapping. Papers are being sent to the prosecutor to be signed for his release."

See the statement from Paul below...

http://mmrcglobal.org/a-message-from-lp

Makes my heart happy that justice has been served..I wish the same were so for the many wrongly incarcerated around the world...

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

update on Little Paul

I'm just writing to let you know the updates on Little Paul who is still being held in the Haitian National Penitentiary. Innocent until proven guilty is not the way in Haiti. The letter from Little Paul is sad and heartbreaking...I can only hope that he will be freed and exonerated of these charges so he can not only be free but be able to carry on his work in Haiti.

http://mmrcglobal.org/paul-waggoner-update-december-22-2010

Lise

Thursday, December 16, 2010

A plea for a fellow AID worker.




I wanted to tell you about a situation occuring in Haiti that involves a fellow AID worker by the name of Paul Waggoner. I have never met Paul but he and have "spoke" over facebook on many occasions and as far as I can tell he's a great guy with a huge heart helping the people of Haiti in amazing ways! The situation saddens me and infuriates me at the same time and I hope it will be resolved very soon.


I strongly believe that the core of people is good, I also know that when people are desperate and grieving they have the potential to do almost anything even going so far as to commit injustices against people who are trying to help them. But that does not excuse the continuation of injustice once the facts are known. I know that situations like this are occuring more and more around the world and AID workers are no longer immune to violence and injustice . But the thing that I know for sure is in most situations like these, it is a small few that give a bad name to the many. The people of Haiti love and appreciate people like Little Paul and Big Paul (as they are known there) and as our hearts are breaking watching him go through this I am certain theirs are too! This wrong needs to be righted and Paul needs to get back to what he does best...helping the people of Haiti!


Please share this story with anyone you know who can put pressure on to get him released. There are phone numbers at the end of the article you can call (I have) and by just passing on his story maybe we can get him some justice and freedom. There are many people working in Haiti and in the US and Canada to help him but every little bit counts. Please read his story and follow whats happening on the MMRC blog.




here is the latest release from MMRC

Paul Waggoner Transferred to Penitentiary
December 17, 2010 By
Nanci K. Murdock Leave a Comment
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Port-au-Prince, Haiti (December 16, 2010)–Materials Management Relief Corps (MMRC), a nonprofit corporation that provides humanitarian aid to the people of Haiti since the January 2010 earthquake, is urging Americans to contact US government officials demanding the release from jail of Paul Waggoner, co-founder of MMRC.
Waggoner is being held at the notoriously dangerous National Penitentiary, accused of kidnapping an infant last February. The child in question died at Haitian Community Hospital in Petionville late February while Waggoner was organizing supplies at the hospital. Waggoner did not administer any medical care to the infant. Despite the fact that a board-certified, US physician has signed an affidavit stating that the child in question was deceased and the father viewed the body, the father has accused Waggoner of kidnapping the child. The doctor’s affidavit also acknowledges that the father declined to take the child’s body as he did not have the resources to bury it, instead allowing the hospital to dispose of the body.
Since Waggoner’s arrest Dec. 12, 2010, it has come to light that he has dealt with legal troubles in the past, including a misdemeanor of assault and battery against a convicted sex offender in 2007. According to Waggoner’s attorney in the former case, Waggoner’s sentence was suspended and he served two years probation.
“We acknowledge that Paul Waggoner has dealt with legal issues in the past. However, we stand firmly committed to his innocence in this case,” MMRC spokesperson Nanci Murdock said. “When looking at the facts of this current situation, there is no bearing for these accusations. We have a signed affidavit from a US doctor proving that the child in question was, in fact, deceased and that Paul showed tremendous care and sympathy toward the child’s grieving father. Since racing to Haiti in the wake of devastation caused by the January 2010 earthquake, Paul has worked selflessly to save thousands of lives.”
Orphaned himself at a young age, and left with the responsibility to raise his younger sister, Waggoner is well known and well respected in Haitian circles for his humanitarian work in local orphanages and hospitals. He also has assisted in the re-building of various structures within Haiti.
MMRC Global, members of the Waggoner family, various non-government organizations within Haiti, and friends from around the globe stand in solidarity behind Waggoner and are working tirelessly towards his release and exoneration from these false accusations.
American businessman Jack Aronson, founder of Michigan-based Garden Fresh Gourmet, a $90-million company specializing in fresh salsa, recently worked alongside Waggoner in Haiti. Aronson staunchly stands by Waggoner and the admirable work he has done in the still-ravaged country. “Since arriving in Haiti, Paul’s work has been phenomenal. I spent time working beside him and personally witnessed his extraordinary care for this country’s children,” Aronson said. “I saw how dedicated and altruistic this man is. He risks life and limb to rescue Haitian orphans.”
To help secure Waggoner’s release, people may contact their government officials; contact information may be found at
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm. People may also contact Suzanne Grantham at the State Department (202-647-4956 or Overseas Citizens Services (202-647-5225).

Another article by MSNBC... scary stat that over 80% of people in prison there are still awaiting trial while spending many years in jail.




The Men's Journal Article about the Paul's




As I sleep in my warm bed tonight my thoughts will be of Paul and hoping and maybe even praying that he's safe...and that this nightmare will end soon!


Lise

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

AWAKE


AWAKE

How perfect a word to describe how I feel at this moment in time....yes, the past few years have awoken me to so much more then I knew existed...the good, the bad, the suffering, the joy, the injustices, the victories, the love, the sorrow, the destruction and the beauty that surrounds me... and when I say AWAKE I mean more then just living life and getting by day to day, I mean being raw and open to all that does and can exist for me out in this world...wow, its amazing..

I know as a person I have changed a lot over the past few years (those who have known me for a long time can, hopefully attest to that!) and its been a trying, sad, beautiful, frustrating, heart expanding and exhilarating process...and one that it is far from over...I know I am more aware then I was 2 years ago and that life and all it's happenings not only occur in my little bubble but also (and to a greater extent) outside that bubble...and I am slowly becoming more and more aware of that world, my world!


I'm not saying I want to get caught up in all the struggles of the world because god knows there are many but I honestly feel like I have a better understanding of what is happening out there whether or not I can/am involved in it. I have chosen to no longer turn away from injustices I see or from the beauty that also exists in this world. I have often found (and looking back on my blog posts of the past) that I dwell in the sadness and injustices of the world and don't revel enough in the equally abundant beauties. So from here on forward I am going to try to seek a better balance..

And now that I feel awake to it all I can see how I can have more of an impact on this world..how I CAN do the things that I only dreamed of once doing...I can also see that the needs of the world are endless and that I, as only one person may only be able do a little to invoke change on a grand scale but I know that even just a little bit can count in the long run....So the words of Mother Teresa hold so true to me for right now and for hopefully the future..

"IF YOU CAN'T FEED ONE HUNDRED PEOPLE,THEN JUST FEED ONE"

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Few Pics from last trip!

Amazing, strong Beautiful women who was a patient at Heartline when I was there in March! So wonderful to see her again!

Sweet little lady who is smiley when the camera's NOT on her!


Hands in the mouth when we're trying to keep Cholera at bay..hmm expliain that one to a one year old!

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Goody two Shoes....




The past few blogs posts have been heavy and unfortunately with elections result for Haiti to be announced today I fear that there will continue to be much more sadness and frustrations but in the space between...

I want to speak of something positive. As most of you know and have been helping me in our shoe collection over the past few months we are now finished! And wow!! I know you are all amazing but once again your compassion and love for others has blown me away! We have yet to count the shoes but lets put it this way Sherri's garage is getting more and more packed by the week! Once we have a final tally I will let you know.


As the weather changes here and I become more and more grateful for warm shoes on my feet, I can't help but think about all the people who will now have shoes because of the generosity of the people in my life and the people in their lives and so on and so on...So thank you once again!


For those of you who may be looking at donating your time or looking for a volunteer vacation check out the Soles for Souls website and their distribution trips! Looks like a very worthwhile and exciting trips!


Keep on being AMAZING people!!
love you
lise