Great Trip

IT WAS POIGNANT TO LAND IN PORT AU PRINCE ON JANUARY 12, 2017,  THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE 2010 EARTHQUAKE THAT SHOOK THE PLACE TO THE GROUND, CAUSING SO MUCH DEATH AND DESTRUCTION. WALKING ONTO THE FIELD AT PARK IZMERY AND SEEING ALL THAT HAS CHANGED OVER 7 YEARS.  CHILDREN RUN AND PLAY SOCCER WHILE OUR WORK CREW CONSTRUCTS THE NEW BASKETBALL COURT. THAT’S WHY WE’RE HERE.  RICARDO, HOTFUTBOL’S COUNTRY DIRECTOR, MANAGED TO COLLECT ALL OF US AT THE AIRPORT IN PORT AU PRINCE, WHERE HE HAS EXPERTLY COORDINATED ALL ACTIVITIES FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. TWELVE AMERICANS WHO HAVE JUST MET WILL STAY AT OUR HOUSE AND WALK TO THE PARK EVERY DAY FOR FIVE DAYS TO WORK WITH THE HAITIAN CREW TO MIX AND POUR CONCRETE FOR THE COURT. THEY’RE FROM BUILDING BRIDGES WORLDWIDE, AND THEY HAVE RAISED OVER $20,000 AND ARE BACKING THAT UP WITH THEIR OWN LABOR – WHAT A GIFT!   THE FOLKS WHO’VE COME TO HELP ARE LED BY THREE HOLY CROSS ALUMS WHO STARTED A NONPROFIT CALLED BUILDING BRIDGES WORLDWIDE AND GO SOMEWHERE EACH YEAR TO COMPLETE A SINGLE PROJECT. THIS YEAR IT’S HOTFUTBOL IN HAITI, AND WE ARE THRILLED. STEVE RIBAUDO, THE TRIP LEADER, HAS COME WITH HIS DAD, TOM RIBAUDO WHO ALSO GRADUATED FROM HOLY CROSS.   IT HAS BEEN A WEEK OF  GREAT CONVERSATION, PHYSICAL CHALLENGE, CULTURAL EXPOSURE, AND A TREMENDOUS SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT. WHAT A TRIP!