Travel With Mrs. International S4S Haiti - Part 1

Bonjour!

I have been excited for this trip for months, the official Soles4Souls travel with Mrs. International trip to Haiti!!!!

The fun thing about writing this blog right now is I am still in Haiti and can hear the roar of the Atlantic Ocean outside my window☺

If you have read previous International Pageants blogs, you would know that this country is very special to me, so it is such an honor to serve the people of Haiti with others from all across the United States. We have 10 people as a part of our official Soles4Souls travel team.

Here is the team minus our photo taker Paul. You will notice each person is wearing a “sash” or “crown”. Since this was the Mrs. International trip I wanted each trip participant to feel special, thank them for making the investment to travel and celebrate our system in a unique way!

There is one particular team member I am really excited traveled with us because not only is she an amazing woman passionate about serving humanity, but she is an International Pageant sister! Miss North Dakota International 2011 Stacy Schaffer was a part of our travel group and ended up being a wonderful travel partner. I see more trips together in our future!

Our first night after dinner we ended with a short team meeting discussing the logistics for the following day.

Up and early our first distribution day, we sorted supplies and then headed to our first site serving over 200 children with shoes.

Our first site was a large area, similar to what we just experience in Costa Rica.

The need in Haiti is above and beyond any other country we travel to. These pictures cannot depict the level of poverty that truly exists here. I tell people there is the “face value” of the houses that lines the main roads of Haiti, but try to peek back if you can when driving and you will see the real Haiti and true poverty. For these kids shoes is absolutely life changing.

The second site was a small room, and we served over 300 children. Although the room was small and we served more, it is more effective to have 4 walls around you in a distribution and one way in and out. Children in developing countries just by nature can go in to survival mode and grab items before they are handed too them out of the fear they will not receive any. It is understandable when most of these kids can go for a day or two days without a single meal. We served every last child and wrapped up day 1. A lot of happy kids in Haiti thanks to a wonderful travel team for Soles4Souls!

I am excited for what day 2 holds, early morning church awaits us and a afternoon distribution! I can never thank all of you enough your donations and support of Soles4Souls, so THANK YOU!!!

Live What you Love,

Maggi
Your Mrs. International 2014

#GiveShoesGiveLove