Moxie

Much has been said and written about the resiliency of the Haitian people. Moxie, doesn't even begin to describe the people. I wish I had more of it. Last July when my sister and I were in Port-au-Prince we when to an outdoor Mass, celebrating a saint's feast day. We took an umbrella as the sky was grey and the clouds appeared pregnant with rain. There appeared to be 1000 people if not more in this square. On either side of the square people were on top of their roofs sitting in neat rows or peering out their window with out stretched arms, clasping their bibles and rosaries.

Maybe 15 minutes into Mass it started to pour. We huddled under the umbrella, Mass formally stopped, but few people left. I was soaking wet and frankly ready to leave. The rain was an intermission of sorts; in the meantime people sang religious songs and used the time to pray. As the rain subsided, Mass quickly resumed.

At the present moment, the Haitian government has yet to reveal a plan to move people to more suitable lands and tens of thousands have inadequate shelter. There is growing evidence of severe lack of coordination on the part of humanitarian aid organizations on the ground. The latest report revealing high levels of frustration coming from the UN's top humanitarian relief coordinator John Holmes. Five weeks since the quake these tent cities are taking on signs of permanency; lotto stands, barbers, bakers, cooks and others return to the business of life. Scraps of metal and tin are used to reinforce flimsy structures.

People march on despite the harsh and squalid conditions. I know it will take more than moxie to get through this misery but maybe the can-do spirit of the Haitian people will be enough to encourage the rest of us to stick it out in the rain too.