Haitian Soccer Amputees Assist Wounded US Soldiers

Members of a Haitian amputee soccer team were in Washington this week to conduct clinics for wounded American troops from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.  It was the Haitians' way of saying thank you to the U.S. military for providing assistance to Haiti after the devastating earthquake last year.

It’s called the Haitian Inspiration Tour, and nearly all members of the "Team Zaryen" soccer team lost limbs in the 2010 earthquake.  The team's visit is being co-sponsored by a U.S. service group, the Knights of Columbus.

Pat Korten is the group's spokesman and told VOA about the impact the team is having.

"Many of them were playing soccer before the earthquake, before they lost their limbs.  Now they're relearning how to do that, and showing everybody in Haiti," Korten explained. "This is a big deal in Haiti. Everybody's watching.  Everybody knows about this in Haiti.  These guys are ambassadors to the United States this week and everybody is really happy about that."

Life goes on

Team Zaryen’s founder and captain is Wilfried Macena, 27, who lost his right leg in the earthquake. 

“I did not know if I could play soccer anymore when I got physical therapy by Medishare hospital in Haiti, and I felt very confident and used my crutches very well and I saw I could play soccer again,” Macena said.

Zaryen is the Creole word for tarantula and Macena explained the team's special jersey logo.

“One side has four legs.  The other side has three legs.  That means if that spider [tarantula] lost one leg, his life still continues.  You can do everything like you have two legs," he explained.

Got skills?

It was clear the Haitian soccer players are skilled, as they demonstrated a number of drills for the amputees in the U.S. military.

Bradley Ritland, the head of physical therapy for amputees at the Walter Reed Medical Center outside Washington, said it was inspiring.

“It’s been an outstanding experience for their team as well as our guys," Ritland said. "I think a lot of our guys see the positive outlook on the patients from Haiti, and see how they’re dealing with their injuries and how through sport they’re able to maintain a positive outlook.”

The Haitian team played an exhibition game here in Washington against the U.S. national amputee soccer team.  For all matches, prosthetics are removed and left on the sideline.  Players use their one good leg and their crutches to move the ball.  Goalkeepers have both legs but only one arm.

Newfound love

Army First Lieutenant Cameron Kerr, who lost part of his left leg in Afghanistan early this year when he stepped on an explosive device (IED), said he played soccer when he was younger and now has a newfound love for the game.

"Especially in those first few months of recovery you come back from Afghanistan, you’re missing a leg or two, or like an arm and two legs, you just don’t know what life is going to hold for you in the future," Kerr said.  "So this is pretty critical, events like this, and adaptive sports like this are instrumental in helping us see what’s possible, and then helping us get there too.  So not only seeing that it’s an option, but really helping us in terms of the training, and the actual fun of playing soccer again."

Kerr added that he and other amputees have to get used to what they call the new normal - that is, realizing that their legs are not going to grow back, and they need to keep pushing ahead and making the best of it.

(Courtesy VOA)

Reflection time

Priye pou Ayiti

 Anpil evénman pase nan bèl ti peyi nou e tou dènyeman sa ki te pi frape nou an se tranblemandetè- a! Anpil moun pèdi lavi yo. Anpil san kap, ap domi nan lari! Yo pa menm konnen ki kote manje yo ap soti! Yon bann timoun lage nan lari a san paran! Tout moun ap tann! Tann kisa: èd!

Eske nou sonje priye pou Ayiti? Eske nou dezespere tèlman jiskaske nou jis pa fè anyen anko.

 Non, pa dekouraje bagay yo ka chanje ak Bondye! Si ou te konn priye, priye pi rèd! Si ou pat jann konn fè sa, li lè pou ou komanse! An nou priye pou eleksyon yo kap vini an, pou kandida yo e pou prezidan kap vini an! An nou priye pou moun sa yo ki sou pouvwa-a kounye-a pou Bondye ka louvri je yo epi ede yo pran desizyon ki pi bon pou pèp la!


Priye pou benediksyon Bondye sou tout moun kap ede Ayiti yo!

Pa janm neglije priye! Priye san nou pa janm lage!

Bondye beni-w! Eske ou gen yon priyè pou Ayiti?

Just wondering...

Have you ever been in a situation where you have to wonder why? Why me me? Why him/her? Why us? And then there is no logical answer?

Have you ever wondered about justice? Have you ever wondered about fairness? Have you ever wondered why do you deserve this and not someone else? Have you ever wondered why are we getting so much of this unwanted attention in this unfortunate moment or why not enough attention on a particular occasion? Have you ever wondered why not me? Why not us?

Those are all the questions going through my mind right now! My faith in Christ is holding me tight and the love and support of friends family and more over complete strangers keep me going!

Let me be clear on this, I am not going crazy (at least I hope not ) but I just have been asking a lot of questions lately, been very frustrated and at the same time been very peaceful inside! This is just a feeling I just can't express properly and I hope I am making sense if not, please forgive me.

As you have noticed by now this blog is all about Haiti and my love for this beautiful country! How do you make peace with yourself when you know deep down that your fellows are dying cause they can not get a bottle of water? How do you sleep at night noticing how cozy you are in your bed while others are forced to abandon their house for fear of it collapsing on them and therefore they choose to sleep in the open street which is their safest alternative?

I know you are going to tell me don't think this way! I can't help it! At least I am letting it out and I feel a little bit relieved now more than when I wrote the very first word on this special post.

I know that God is watching over us! it could have always been worse than it is now! Lord please help me understand 'cause this is way beyond my understanding!

This is why I am so glad after all this to know that there are out there people who truly care and I am telling you: you may not have the big money to give to someone, nor the means to help him but a special sincerly, heartfell word will lift this person's up and I have had a lot of it these days!

My family, in-laws and friends have really stepped up to the plate! I am so proud of you all! Thanks for your kind words! Believe me it is making a difference thus the power of a heartfelt word.That's what keep me going!

God is good all the time and sometimes we may not not know why or how or when or why not but all we have to always remember is that he is God all by himself, he cares for us! It can't stay dark forever and he still have our back!

Message of the week!

God's expectation from us! 

Ce que Dieu attend de nous! 

Press the play button to listen!

Message of the day

Stop worrying!

Getting ready for the new year!

Today is December 31, 2009! The very last day of the year! Can you believe it! Time flies literally! If you have been reading my blog you should know by now that January 1st is a big day for Haiti and click here the link about regarding this matter  and if you want to know about Haiti's history go on the labels and browse through we have compiled a lot of info for your leisure over the past year. If you are haitian and want to share your story about your independence day celebration please post it so that others can read about it!

 I am looking forward forward to making the blog better for the upcoming year. Your suggestions are the most welcome about how I should do to improve it so please don't be shy and let me know.

Have a happy new year and a very safe Independence Day Celebration! Don't drink and drive! This is my last post for this year and I can say that so far I feel like I have not let Haiti down! Do you agree with me?

He's risen!!!

Where is he?
I do not see his body!
The guards were watching 24/7
He huge rock was blocking the entrance
what happened who did it!
I know, 'cause the bible told me about it!
He is risen from the dead!
Which means, death has no power on us
We are now more than conqueror
They fought they really got rid of him
now he is the ruler forever and ever and ever

Thank you Jesus for dying on the cross
for the salvation of my sins
Thanks that you are not longer dead
but you will forever stay the great I am
the one who is, was and for ever will be
the great God almighty
The son of God
Lilly of the valley
Everlasting one!

Thanks again Jesus for your victory
Now I know every battle that I face
you have already won for me
and I can stay with confidence my redeemer lives

My easter message

I just can't imagine not being guilty and letting people accusing me,
I can't imagine being so powerful and not call the mighty angels when threaten,
I can't imagine the lamb of God being ridiculed, spit on
cursed at, humiliated and finally put to death
for a crime he has never committed!

Then I think again, well that's why there was no on else
To take upon his shoulders the sins of humanities.
The death of Jesus was not in vain
He died for you and I and I mean you and I
No matter your political affiliation
No matter your skin color
No matter your social status
No matter your country of origin
Whether you are a believer or an atheist
Whether gay or straight
A crook or a model citizen
A new born or the oldest person living
Jesus died for all of us

The question rather is what would you make of his death for you?
How do you appreciate it?
He died so that you can live and have ever lasting life with him
He was chained so that you would never be bounded
He paid what we owe! We are free! We are free! Praise the Lord
We are free!
The question is: Jesus died for, will you live for him?

Via dolorosa

Happy easter

Don't ever give up!!!

I know I haven't been posting too many blogs for the month of February. I am back with the first day of March to bring you all and encouraging word. Do not give up! Help is on the way! Jesus cares about you! I would like to share with you this youtube message that I posted in September 2006. I am not going to say too much, I strongly encourage you to view it by just clicking on the link above.However, I would like to add this: If you are going through some hard times and no matter the nature of it, whether it is your fault or there is nothing you could have done to prevent the situation, Jesus says in Matthew 11:28 " "Come to me, all of you who are weary and loaded down with burdens, and I will give you rest". International standard version. Please use it as a reflection for the day! Please forgive us for the quality of the video.

May the Lord bless and protect you! As always your comments are the most welcome! As always make to scroll down and turn off the music embedded on the blog in order to listen and enjoy the videos.

We all need Jesus!

I just wanted to start this first day of February with a special message, to any one who cares to read this blog and I know they are many of you who reads it. It is plain and simple and straight to the point: We all need Jesus!

If you turn on your TV channels and read the newspapers or listen to the radio, there is a common theme: the economy is going down! It is for real! It has been for years and for some people they live in an eternal mediocre economy. There a re many ways to deal with it, people who lost a lot of money in the stock market or lost their jobs or are just plain broke. Well, what do you do when you do not know how you are going to pay the rent or feed the kids? After you've done all in your power yet still fail!

I do not know what you are going through today or what you have been through or more what you will be going through but I just wanted to let you know that if you anchored on Jesus though things are not going to always be rosy but at least you will have the peace or heart and mid that the world can not offer to you no matter how much money you have, how much comedy you watch or whatever you do to get rid of your stress. Falling in love With Jesus is the greatest feeling ever!

Always remember to do surrender it all to Jesus and he will take care you. Let us ask Jesus to be our Lord and savior and let him be love of our life!
May you know that he is the only one who can satisfy all of your needs.