Dajabón

Friday, March 6th - Dajabón. Theres nothing like it. The town of 25,000 sees another 25,000 people pass over the bridge each Friday and Monday when the market opens between Haiti and the Dominican Republic at Dajabon. We were told not to bring cameras, watches, purses, or anything of value on us to the market - pick pocketing and robberies are common in a place like this. I only had a copy of my passport in myfront pocket when I went to the market, only to find that by the end of the day it had been stolen.

So what happens in Dajabon each Friday and Monday is they open the border at this town for open trade and commerce in Dajabon. There is a tax for Haitians to pay as they buy, sell and trade but it is how many of them make there living. There is so few resources and supplies in Haiti that this is how they get their staples - food, water, medicine. So standing on the bridge between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, people are just constantly moving - people carrying huge loads of food, supplies on their heads, shoulders or wheel barrels. You can literally feel the tension and desperation standing on the bridge. People do not have time to wait for a car to pass, or for someone to get in their way. Their is desperation to get the supplies needed, some people are working for other people or companies where they get paid by each trip they make back and forth across the bridge.

Also there is a lot of bribery and explotation that happens on the border. The military men that patrol the border make the Haitians pay a bribe for bringing in certain items or for crossing the border by the river. However, whenever there are 'gringos' or foreigners there, there are actually less crimes against Haitians and less bribes that they have to pay, because the men patrolling won't take a bribe if they know we are watching. A few of us were actually standing on the side of the river (right by the picture above with the boys), down from the bridge and a woman and her child crossed the river. There was a military man taking bribes, but he wouldn't let her come up from the river because we were there. She handed him a $100 peso - but he wouldn't take it. We left the area and just minutes later the woman was able to come up from the river.

Later in the day we drove to the International Highway, which is the border separating

the Dominican Republic and Haiti. We drove about 45 minutes down the border, Haiti on our right and the Dominican Republic to our left. The contrast between the two countries was astounding. We'd look to the left into the Dominican Republic and the mountains were green, full of trees and vegetation. But as we looked to the right, the Haitian mountains and landscape were just brown, dry, and desolate. There were many isolated communtities in Haiti that we saw driving down the road, children would chase after the bus holding out their hand. Driving down the highway and seeing into Haiti was like this whole other world, going from the third world and seeing the fourth. Driving along the highway was an experience that will stay with me forever. Pictures, descriptions do not do justice to the feeling of this place. I had the strongest urge just to get out of our bus and pick up the little kids wandering the roads. I prayed the whole bus ride back to Dajabon over and over, Lord please be with these people - take care of them. Overall the whole weekend was amazing. It was one of the hardest things that I have witnessed, I found myself confused, upset, angry and dumbfounded. But I do feel forever changed by the experience, and I only pray that this day inspires me to live my life in service for and with others.

Revelation 7:16-17

Never again will they hunger;

never again will they thirst.

The sun will not beat up them,

nor any scorching heat.

For the Lamb at the center of the

throne will be their shepherd;

he will lead them to springs of living water.

And God will wipe away every tear

from their eyes.