Haitian Tzu Chi Volunteers Reunion

I was so excited to see my Haitian Tzu Chi Family again! It has been almost three months since the last time we all met up here in Haiti. I ran and hugged everyone and they were all surprised to see me, since no one knew I was coming, not even me! So that was a great surprise for everyone! We all chatted and caught up with what has been happening in our lives and it seemed to be just yesterday that we were all together!

The U.S. Tzu Chi volunteers are only here for one week and that consists of Curtis SB, Austin SB, and Patrick SB (who is actually only here for three days!!!). The main project of focus for this trip is the Moringa Project, the miracle tree as they call it. In Haiti, it is most commonly known by its Haitian name as Benzolive. Apparently this tree is full of all kinds of vitamins and minerals. Not only that, but it is a fast-growing and drought-resistant tree. Which suites perfectly for the dry lands of Haiti. It can grow at a rapid pace even when there is little to no water. It is considered one of the world’s most useful trees, as almost every part of the Moringa tree can be used for food or has some other beneficial property. You can eat the seeds, the root, the leafs, the flower, and even use the oil that derives from it. The leaves are highly nutritious and they have a significant source of beta-carotene, Vitamin C, protein, iron, and potassium. This little-known vegetable is a great way to combat malnutrition among children and nursing mothers, boost food security, foster rural development, and support sustainable land care. This miracle tree is the new hope project for Tzu Chi in Haiti. We have already teamed up with Food for the Poor and Mme. Michaelle in establishing a Moringa planting farm, which is located in Pierre Payen. There is already 8,000 Moringa seeds planted on and off the farm location and it is looking very good. Because the weather in Haiti is full of sunny days and a consistent amount of rainfall, the Moringa grows at a very rapid speed. It only takes about 3 to 4 weeks before it can be harvested and put to good use. I am very excited about this new project and I really hope that this can solve the malnutrition problem among the villages in Haiti and also give the people a way to be self-sustainable. Let's keep praying for a bright future for the Moringa Project in Pierre Payen!


We spent the whole day at Pierre Payen, which is just beautiful, because it is near the NW part of Haiti, where it meets the Caribbean Sea. The village itself is a fishing village, so everywhere you look are just endless coastlines. We spent some time at Mme. Michaelle's beach home and took some pictures of the awesome view. It was my third time being in Pierre Payen and the view never seizes to amaze me.



Tomorrow I will be heading back to the Lamardelle creche...no more Asian cuisine for a while...