Update 2: 02-18 9:57am PST
Now at JFK airport and are about to get on the plane back to Seattle.
Take care,
Team Kitsilano

Update 1: 02-17 10:30am PST
At Santo Domingo Airport, just about to leave for the first part of the flight to New York
Take care,
Team Kitsilano

There are hundreds of patients at the University of Miami field hospital and a lot of the injuries, illnesses and infections being treated there are extremely sad to witness.

Over the weekend, Sukhwinder also went to set up a community clinic in a mountainous area just outside of Port-au-Prince. He was gone for 3 days and saw around 100 patients a day along with a couple of other Sikh doctors. It was really sad to realize that most of the people up there had not seen a doctor in years. Some of them had never seen a doctor in their lives. Doctors are sorely needed in this country.

We’ve been combining the langar and medical aspects of our sevaa here. Yesterday, we went out to an orphanage of 400 kids to deliver food, toys and other items. Sukhwinder and some other Sikh doctors also provided a medical checkup for many of the kids.

Our time in Haiti is winding down but we’re working as hard as we can until the last minute.

Take Care,
Team Kitsilano

Sukhwinder has been helping out at the University of Miami Hospital and its been a real eye-opener. Medical school can never prepare you for this and the sheer number of patients and the slow progress due to limited Doctors and Nurses is heartbreaking. Everyone is trying our best and the medical teams are giving it all they got and getting very limited rest.

Take Care,
Team Kitsilano

Take Care,
Team Kitsilano

Take Care,
Team Kitsilano

Take Care,
Team Kitsilano

Yesterday, we went to a school to distribute the day’s meals.  Everything was going normally until a man brought forward a boy who had a terrible burn on his leg.  Apparently, they were in a kitchen and there was an accident where the boy bumped into a pot and boiling water fell onto the boy’s leg resulting in massive burns.  Unfortunately, the boy did not receive any medical attention even though the accident occurred several days ago.  We immediately took the boy with us to the hospital where the United Sikhs Medical Team was stationed.  The Medical Team was able to quickly treat his burns and provide him with medication.  The look of fright on the boy’s face was finally replaced with the look of relief and even a smile.

Team Kitsilano is finally here!  They’re a very motivated team and are getting right down to business.  Team Kitsilano will be taking full charge of our camp here once we leave in a few days.  Other Sevadars (volunteers) from Toronto are also setting up a second camp an hour and a half outside of the city in a location that has been largely neglected by the international relief efforts thus far.

-Team Jericho (below)

Take Care
Team Kitsilano

02/06/2010 – 4:33pm PST - update 3
Just arrived at the United Sikhs base camp and met up with Team Jericho and the rest of the United Sikhs Sevadaars here. We’re all good, just tired and will send more details later.

Take Care,
Team Kitsilano

02/05/2010 – update 2
Just arrived at the hostel, by the Dominican/Haitian Border. All 5 of the team members are great and we’re just resting and getting used to the heat. In the morning we’re going to be crossing the border and meet up with Team Jericho at the United Sikhs base camp.

Take care,
Team Kitsilano

02/05/2010 – 3:20am PST – update 1
Our first post! We’ve just arrived at JFK-NYC, safe and sound. Waiting for our flight that will take us to Santo Domingo (and then a 10 hour drive to Port au Prince, Haiti). Everyone is doing great and can’t wait to get to Dominican Republic and then to Haiti.

JetBlue, our airline was amazing. Allowed all of our relief supplies and the many boxes of toys and school supplies without any issue.

Take care,
Team Kitslano

The team consists of Karnail Singh, Jasvir Singh, Surjit Singh, Ramandeep Singh and Sukwinder Singh.
During the next two weeks the team will be sending updates about their journey and first hand account from the disaster zone.

Team Kitsilano – from left to right: Ramandeep Singh, Surjit Singh, Karnail Singh, Jasvir Singh & Sukhwinder Singh

Why I felt compelled to go on this mission:
I feel helping others gives me purpose and meaning in life, something integral to our personal understanding of faith and spirituality. Helping others leads us to rediscover our connection to the world. I believe this mission to Haiti will provide renewed hope and belief not only to me but also to those we help. Although each of us interprets the meaning of faith in different ways, we have seen that no matter what beliefs you ascribe to, all of the world’s major faiths emphasize the importance of helping others.

Why I felt compelled to go on this mission:
I have realized my human duties since I have seen the misery of the many Haitians. They are short on food and water. Parents have lost children and children have lost parents. We may not be able to fill the void, but at-least we can help them however we can.
It is hard to see the Haitians suffering and as a member of the Guru Nanak Gurdwara, its also vital that we see whats going on for ourselves. The Sangat of the Lower Mainland and in fact Sikhs across North America have rallied to this cause and alogn with United Sikhs, we’ll be looking at the needs and wants for the short and long term so that, funds collected from the congregation are spent effectively

Why I felt compelled to go on this mission
Tragedy both manmade and natural seems to find Haiti time after time, yet through this adversity the Haitian people
seem resilient.  The images on the news made me utterly upset, like it did many people across Canada.  The news stories of the sheer loss of life made me angry and most of all it made me feel helpless.  I wanted to be a small part of trying to help these amazing people on their long journey to rebuild their lives and to rebuild their country.
Feeding one hungry person or assisting another one medically, would be to honor the Guru’s wishes of us as Sikhs to help those in need.
The need in Haiti is immense, and I am humbled and thankful to be apart of this effort.
May Guru Nanak Sahib bless this mission, May Guru Nanak Sahib bless the people of Haiti.

Why I felt compelled to go on this mission:
While assisting with the fundraisers at the various radio stations, I came to realize how generously donors opened their hearts and pockets. The image of Sikhs in the media has changed since, and now that the opportunity to help them directly, in person. I would to take advantage. If some have given money, others are giving time. I, and the many other “sevadars” there are ambassadors of Sikhs, and have a great responsibility. I pray to God that fulfill this duty.

Why I felt compelled to go on this mission:
I am going to Haiti because the people of Haiti are in need of aid, relief, and love; the guru blessed each of us with the opportunity to go to these people and give of ourselves. I am honored to be of service and to fulfill my responsibility to my fellow people. The Haitian earthquake was a tragedy of untold proportions and it is the obligation of every Sikh to do what they can to help alleviate the suffering of our brothers and sisters no matter where they reside.