Larry King Interview

Watch Haiti video with new Eddie Vedder song: www.jphro.org/gallery.html

CNN – Watch: Larry King’s interview with Sean Penn and Diana Jenkins, discussing the Jenkins/Penn Haitian Relief Organization (J/P HRO) and the ongoing efforts to bring water filters to survivors in Haiti.

Waves for Water was created by Father-Son team, Jack & Jon Rose. Jon is currently traveling & working with Sean Penn’s team in Haiti.

All of us would like to extend a special acknowledgement to Dennis Haysbert, Sean Penn,Diana Jenkins and Patricia Arquette for their extensive donations of time, talent & funds. Together we will continue to bring our clean drinking water systems to the survivors in Haiti.

To those who have already helped fund our relief efforts – “Thank you, thank you, thank you”.

Yours in friendship, Jack Rose / Jon Rose

update # 4, Trip 2 -’Everybody Needs Everything’

Yesterday was flat out awesome! It’s so great to have such a big stockpile of filters to work with. In the morning, Paula (from David Belle’s network in Jacmel), came with a huge truck and picked up the 1500 filters I promised to the Crose Network. It feels so good to follow through on my word. Paula is a dread-headed Rasta woman with honest eyes and a calming presence. When I was coordinating with her on the phone she told me she was a little surprised to hear from me again so soon. Paula was there for my filter workshop in Jacmel a couple weeks ago and heard that I had flown back to the states. Now, when she heard from me again so soon, she said to me on the phone (while chuckling) “yes I, back so soon… What are you doing? You crazy mon!”. I guess since this is a place where every one is trying their hardest to leave, she was shocked to see me returning to the front lines.

But here I am handing off thousands of filters to Paula – and have already received an email from her telling me about her amazing distribution process and the clean water it’s providing. Already I am filthy dirty, and smiling. I know we will be working with this group for a long time to come.

After Paula left, I went to a meeting with Sean and Oscar (operations guy at our camp), to see the pastor who helps govern the tent camp we have directly below us – now at 50k in population. Since I first arrived on the scene, I’ve been trying to find a way to distribute filters in this camp, but can’t come up with a civil and just way to decide who gets what. Everybody needs everything and they all deserve it, but because we have a limited amount, it has to be planned out or riots will erupt. Our strategy meeting went well. I could see that the pastor really does care about his people and wants to work out a fair protocol to distribute our filters through the camp.

Later in the day I ventured out with enough materials for 30 systems to a district of 3-4 tent camps in an area called Delmas 31. This area is where Sylla’s family is now living. I wanted to use the camp with his family as a test-run for the area. I had no real distribution plan other than letting Sylla coordinate once we got there. Plus this particular camp only has about 50 people in it so it would be more manageable. Just Sylla and I on this outing, so if things got out of hand we could be in real trouble…very fast.

It was awesome… as grass roots as it gets. I did a demonstration at the entrance to the camp with about 30 people. Men women and children all crowded around. They watched with curious eyes and as soon as they GOT IT, things went from casual, to everyone wanting one. We were able to manage it but I don’t have to speak creole to know that there were some bad f%#@ing words being thrown back and forth. We were able to give the stock to the camp organizer so he could get a list of names and pass them out the next day. If you don’t have some kind of order, then people on the street will rock up and crash lines and start grabbing stuff, because they see the crowd.

By days end, I felt damn good about our efforts. This whole thing feels like I’m constantly swimming upstream… and that’s to be expected. But days like yesterday make the currents feel less strong… and made of beer. Why not?
Adios!  Jon.

Wednesday in Haiti

Jon is traveling & working with the team: Jenkins/Penn Haitian Relief Organization.

Google ‘Sean Penn Haiti‘ to read more stories

Update # 4  -  Jon Rose on the front lines in Haiti.

Top o’ the morning!! With each new day, operations get smoother. It’s great to see  progress and synergy becoming more consistent.

I ventured out with the medical team and set up a mobile station in a downtown section of Port-Au-Prince that was hit incredibly hard. These people have had very little attention – mainly due to inaccessibility. Many of the roads are blocked because of rubble, etc.

We stopped at the top of a hill in the middle of the destruction so we could scout for locations to set up shop. The stench from decaying bodies was stronger than anywhere else  I’ve been so far. Almost every building in this area is collapsed and there’s just no way for people to get the bodies out. They have been trying to burn the rubble in areas where they know bodies are still entombed to eliminate the smells. A woman was walking around on the street, cutting orange peels, and handing them out for people to put under their noses.

This next part may be a bit graphic for some, and I apologize in advance, but this is part of the reality down here. Down the road a bit I saw the lifeless body of an unclaimed little boy. He was mostly covered by a sheet, but dogs had chewed away at his flesh and now just bones were left sticking out from under the sheet. In situations like this, it’s important to stay focused on your individual goal for the day, because if not, your emotions will surely get the best of you…and furthermore, hinder your ability to help.

We finally found a little shanty church courtyard where we could set up. The locals were inside singing sweet music and smiling despite all they’ve been through. These people are amazing!!! Being around them has impacted my life forever.

By the end of the day we had treated 340 people with varying ailments. One guy had his nose entirely ripped in the quake and it had been sewn back on by a first-response team. But he had not been looked at since and was developing an infection around the stitches. We were able to have our wound specialist restitch and dress it.

I had a personal moment that I’m still greatly touched by: A woman came in with a broken hip and her newborn. After the doctor was done checking them out she placed the baby in my arms because the mother needed her hands free to walk. I was instructed to carry the infant to the pharmacists, get some solution, and feed her. As I fed the child I realized that I was holding and nurturing the future of this country. I was overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude when I connected that. It was a symbolic moment that represented every reason for us being here.

Last night I had my first cold beer since I’ve been here. It was the best beer I’ve ever tasted! Still no shower, and my few items of clothing could stand upright on their own. I’ve gotten very accustomed to my daily baby wipe session.

All is good, and when I return home, there’s one thing I know for sure … My life will never be the same as it was before this.

If anyone is still wondering what, as a people, the purpose of our existence is…? Let me say, it is this! … To support one another and collaborate on making our planet better for those who will come after us.

Much love, Jon
Sent from my iPhone