New Hope in Dominican Republic

April 12, 2008
by Rodney Olsen
6 Comments

We’ve had an amazing time today here in the Dominican Republic. We visited two Compassion projects and visited a couple of homes of sponsored children.

I have some amazing stories to tell but I am so tired night now that those stories will have to wait. I may not even get another chance to blog until I make it home on Tuesday afternoon but I’ll see what I can do. If I wake up early enough tomorrow I might tell you some of the exciting stories we encountered today.

In the meantime, you might like to hear a little bit more about our departure from Haiti. I spoke to Tim Long at Sonshine FM yesterday morning. You can hear our chat by clicking play on the audio player at the bottom of this post.

By the way, I haven’t had the change to reply to those who have left comments over the past couple of days. I’ll thank you personally when I can but until then, thanks for your kind words and wishes.

I’ll catch you soon.



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Escape from Haiti

April 10, 2008
by Rodney Olsen
9 Comments

I have only a couple of minutes online right now so I can’t say too much.

I just want you to know that our team managed to get out of Haiti yesterday under some extremely trying circumstances.

It was very difficult getting to the airport and at times we were in very real danger. We finally hooked up with some armed police who escorted us to the airport.

We were to fly to Dominican Republic but the flight was cancelled. The airline was not prepared to fly into Haiti. We’re now in Miami. We got a good night’s sleep last night and will fly on to Dominican Republic to see more of Compassion’s work later today. We’ll stay there for a few days and I’ll be flying home on the originally planned flights. I should be home on Tuesday afternoon.

You can read more on the situation by going to this article at Times Online.

The Haitian capital was paralysed by food riots yesterday as the United Nations gave warning that soaring food prices were spurring unrest around the world.

Rioters returned to the streets in Port-au-Prince a day after UN peacekeepers had to fire rubber bullets to prevent hungry Haitians from storming the presidential palace. Columns of smoke rose over the city as demonstrators, demanding that the Government take action over the rising price of foodstuffs such as rice, beans and oil, set fire to barricades made from tyres.

At least five people have been killed and more than 20 injured. Protesters compared the burning hunger in their stomachs to bleach or battery acid.

I will write more soon and hopefully be able to post an interview. I’m hoping to chat to Arthur Muhl during the breakfast programme on Sonshine FM tomorrow.



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Don’t Panic

April 9, 2008
by Rodney Olsen
1 Comment

There is so much to say about the past 24 hours but internet access is limited so I’ll be quick.

We had a wonderful start to the day with a visit to a Compassion project. There is so much I want to tell you about the amazing work they’re doing here.

I think it’d be better to wait a day or so until I say more about the rest of our day.

You may have heard of the rioting here iin Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. You can check out a few more details via this story at BBC News.

I chatted live with 98.5 Sonshine FM Breakfast Announcer, Arthur Muhl, this morning. You can listen to our chat by clicking the play button of the audio player at the bottom of this post.

I’d appreciate your prayer for the situation here. The unrest is likely to grow and many innocent people could be caught up in the violence.



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Beautiful downtown Miami

April 7, 2008
by Rodney Olsen
6 Comments

Here I am in Miami. We’re staying here tonight before flying to Haiti tomorrow.

It’s been the longest day of my life. I think all up that Sunday the 6th of April will run for 37 hours for me this year.  I’m not  good at  sleeping  on planes and so I  think  I’ve been awake for  most of it.

There’s lots to say about the journey so far and meeting up with the rest of the team. Unfortunately I’m using a very small keyboard and so I can’t write too much.

It’s around 10 o’clock on Sunday night here and there’s a big electrical storm outside the hotel. The news is on the wide screen in our room and they say that the storms will continue and will be severe.

The stormy weather already delayed our flight into Miami but not for too long. We’ve had dinner and now I need a shower and a sleep.

I’ll have a lot more to say in the coming days if I can get internet access.



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Haiti's getting closer

March 12, 2008
by Rodney Olsen
9 Comments

compassion.gifIt’s now less than a month until I join representatives from other Australian radio stations to observe the work of Compassion Australia in Haiti. I’ll be leaving Perth on Saturday the 5th of April.

I had a jab to protect me against Typhoid last week. The immunisations I had for India in 2003 and 2005 cover pretty much everything else though I’ll need to start taking anti-malarial tablets in the next couple of weeks.

Haiti is a small Caribbean nation of almost 9 million people where an estimated 80% of the population is living below the poverty line with 54% in abject poverty. Around 6% of adults in Haiti are living with AIDS.

Compassion is an international Christian child development ministry, committed to child advocacy and working in partnership with local churches around the world. Compassion fosters the spiritual, economic, social, physical and emotional development of children living in extreme poverty in over 25 developing countries.

Our tour group will be able to see first hand the great need that Compassion Australia is working to fill.

98.5 Sonshine FM’s annual Compassion Day is on Thursday the 15th of May. I’ll get the opportunity to share details of the journey throughout the day and encourage listeners to get involved with Compassion Australia through child sponsorship.



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