It's about from here to there (Haiti, Day 4)

The government is required to perform a survey for the buyer of a property before purchase, all for the generous price of $250 / acre (the daily wage for a laborer is less than $10.)

Grace was given the Lambi property that we have been designing as long as they paid for the survey, which showed 7 acres, was obviously done in an office without a sight visit, and bore no resemblance to anything on the ground. As we performed a site survey based upon the marker description (painted tree, painted bush, old concrete column, and another painted tree), we found the site contained 4 acres. Having the government surveyor come out (for possibly the first time) to discuss the discrepancy, our project surveyor NEGOTIATED the land until we ended up with 6 acres:

Grant (our Surveyor): "With these markers, we only have 4 acres"

Gov't Surveyor: "Oh, well, how about you extend that line from here to there."
Grant: "That gets us about 5 acres"

Gov't Surveyor: "Hmmm, maybe you ignore this fence line and take that portion over there. That should get you your 7 acres"

Neighbor, standing to the side: "NO, that's my property!!!"

Gov't Surveyor: "Good Point, well, how about we just move the line to here. Will that be OK?"

Grant: "It's 6 acres, but we can live with it."

The ministry folks know this property (one of many they are master planning for permanent homes to re-house the 20,000 people on the front lawn) as the "7-acre tract". Tonight, in our presentation of the site design of the tract, we clarified: "The 7-acre tract has 6 acres".

They are still calling it the '7-acre tract'.

This Land is Your Land, This Land is My Land (Haiti, Day 3)

Property Rights are a fundamental right in the United States. Our first President was a Surveyor, our third was a major proponent of the Land Grant College system and sent two men into the pantheons of boyhood lore via the traversing of a newly purchased half-continent.

We do not generally conscious of the legacy of the our forefathers' priority in this matter. Without thought, we intuitively recognize our own right to 'our land', 'our house'. We bought it, we inherited it, we have enduring markers embedded in the ground displaying to others the extents of our ownership. We have deeds, records, courthouse filings. We have Clerks, Judges, Surveyors. All of these entities there to provide a proper security over our Title as Land Owner. And in the rarest of circumstances when even these features fail to protect, we have Chicago Land & Title company providing us a low-cost insurance plan in case some indiscretion is found later.

This is not true in many countries throughout the world, even some first world countries. This plays havoc on the poor of the world. If you do not have a proper title and legal system to uphold its validity, then land ownership is based upon 'power', and the weak, the poor, the orphans and widows of the world are forever prevented from obtaining land.

Such conditions deteriorate an economy, or rather, prevent its growth. If a person cannot trust that what they have is their's to keep, they will, over time, disregard the property itself, will be too hesitant to invest in its upkeep, will allow it to descend into disrepair.

There are many issues surrounding the individual Haitian. This is one I have experienced this week and found very frustrating.

Beyond... (Haiti, Day 2)

It is always a good reminder as you enter a new country to get a feel for 'timing'. This was achieved in 3 hours of waiting in the Port au Prince Warehouse (I mean, 'Airport'), as we stalled until our trip liaison arrived. The 10am site visit, per our well-intentioned schedule, began at 5pm and was a race against the sun.

Grace International is a light in a very dark storm. I cannot believe how unbelievable this place is; the team has tried to talk our way through the overall state of this land, and it does not add up. There are gaps at every level, and it would take a Dr. Vanegas-style flow chart to even establish the basis for a prognosis, not even beginning to lay out a treatment plan.

I struggle on multiple levels - this engineer is aghast at the trash, the rubble, the half-built buildings, the half-collapsed buildings. In my best John Wayne impersonation, I want to turn to the masses (the 20,000 people tented outside my window at the moment), and challenge, "Give me your best, who will work hard, long, with a vision for the future...", and then I realize I am not John Wayne, and this is not a Warner Brother backlot.

There are signs of life, and signs of death and signs of change and signs of stagnation. I am proud to be here and hope that what we are involved with provides opportunities and hope for people who have been given a fairly difficult lot in life.