We are Jillian and Frank Thorp, a 23 and 25 year old married couple, living in Haiti after surviving the earthquake on January 12, 2010. We are continuing the commitment we made in the summer of 2009 to call Haiti home for the next few years. Our hope is to live out the love we feel for the Haitian people by working with them to rebuild their lives.
Frank is a freelance journalist, who has worked for major broadcast news networks. Jillian is the Emergency Program Support Manager for a non-profit organization in Haiti, and a former Acting Director of a different non-profit also in Haiti, who is returning to the Haitian family that, in the aftermath of the earthquake, saved her life.
Our goal is to, in conjunction with the Haitian people, make a difference. This blog will serve as a record of our ups and downs, so that family, friends, and strangers can enjoy this experience with us.
F & J, May god hold you in the palm of his hand until I see you again.
Love,
Nanners
Congratulations, Frank & Jillian
Google the Robert Frost poem, “The Road Not Taken”.
The last two lines are;
“I took the one least traveled by
And that has made all the difference”–Uncle Mat
Uncle Mat rocks!!!!!!!!
I think if Robert Frost had seen Haiti, he might have titled the poem, “Taking the Goat Path.”
Never let go of each other, never forget that you have friends and family behind you always, and if one of you falls behind, well, you know.
Frank and Jillian,
I just ran across your blog tonight while checking up on the Livesay’s.
I’m not sure if you remember Patrick and I, Jillian, but we met you during Lent 2009 and saw you in the embassy before you were evacuated. I’m so happy to read that you are back and doing what you set out to do (with a few adjustments) prior to our worlds shaking.
I have to admit, I have read through your blog like a woman hungry for news. Frank, thanks for your honest and descriptive writing. You bring me back home… a home I miss so much… a home we aren’t sure when we’ll be able to return to. I find it also interesting that so much of the conditions you write about are similar to pre-quake Haiti… sad, no?
I want you both to know that we keep you in our prayers. Patrick was able to return to Haiti in April, but I haven’t yet been back. I’m hoping to plan a trip in September for the closure I need as we try to patch together a life in the STates while feeling the life we had chosen in Haiti was trunkated. I would love to see you both if at all possible.
My e-mail is kimdunback@yahoo.com.
All the best to you. Thanks for daring to go back and living the life you set out to live. Bravo.
respe e honor,
Kim
Hi Frank,
I am the International Business Editor for a custom publisher in Germany. I work on the English language magazines and websites we produce for our customers. I am looking for an English language journalist who lives in Haiti to cover a story on Solarworld projects. Ideally I need someone who is a technology or economics expert. If that fits for you and you are interested, please contact me with a resume and links to writing samples and I can forward a briefing of the assignment. If not, maybe you could recommend a colleague? If so, I would really appreciate it.
Best regards,
Laura Schulte
Business Editor International Communications
BurdaYukom Publishing
We love your blog, a favorite of the Haiti bloggers … Frank manages to get the humorous digs in and we chuckle and nod often.
We did meet Jillian at one advent meeting right before Christmas (as Advent tends to take place in that time-frame) and are so amazed at your insight and humor and strength … our family is looking forward to getting home to PAP in the next couple of months and will be praying for you guys.
T.
Really happy to find you folks, and I’ve added you to the Blogger list on H5N1 (http//crofsblogs.typepad.com/h5n1/ ). I’ve excerpted a couple of your posts, with links to your site; my readers should be equally happy to know about you.
Let me know if I can be of more assistance.
Cheers,
Crof
Interesting and useful. Frank, please write to me via email, I am trying to find you. Thanks – Jane Regan
The Huffington Post would like to talk to you to corrorate your Haiti Story.
Can we have a number or email where we can contact you.
Thank you,
Regine
Regine,
I just sent you an email, but it was waitlisted. Let me know if you have a better way to get ahold of you.
Cheers,
Frank
Hi guys, I grew up with Alyssa Gibbs in Santa Cruz and she sent me the link to your blog. What an amazing experience, thanks for sharing your journey!
Natalia
Hi -
I have been passionate about the re-building of Haiti ever since the January earthquake and i even managed to raised £1600 for the disaster response in February. I am eager to travel to Haiti and be involved in Haiti’s new journey. I have researched other volunteering organisations, however a lot seem to only want experienced or medical trained volunteers. I have no experienced in humanitarian work, however please do not put this against me. I am passionate, hard working and trustworthy.
My name is Mark Connor, I am 19 and live in Liverpool, United Kingdom. I have no medical conditions and I am fit and healthy. I wish to pursue a career in the humanitarian/international development field and most importantly I truly have Haiti at heart.
Could you put me in the right direction, thank you.
Many regards -
M Connor
EMAIL – markconnor05@hotmail.com
so much great information on here, : D.
My girl friend and I have been living in Haiti for a few months now. We both work for a D.C. based non-profit and work primarily in Port-au-Prince. I recently discovered your blog and have been both moved and inspired by it. Haiti is not an easy place to live and work and reading your blog, makes it in some inexplicable way a whole lot easier. Thanks for your hard work and dedication. I wish the both of you the best.
b
hello frank and jillian -
i stumbled upon your blog somehow –
i have been to petion-ville three times – i first went in 2010 to bring some items to pere joseph simon of TIMKATEC home for kids – timkatec has four homes in petion-ville – it does great work and teaches young kids and adults vocational skills – it is operated by private donations on most part i believe – best of all it is operated by haitians for haitians – it would be great to do story on the homes, the kids and pere of simon (he is a salesian priest and don bosco parish – nice church – i went to mass there –
i should be in petion-ville from sunday – april 9 to wednesday april 13 to visit my girlfriend jasmine pierre (she lives on rue stenio vincent about 5-minute drive from place st. pierre up hill from jalousie)
i am journalist myself – it would be great if you could contact me and we could meet while i am in haiti – my number is 1-401-440-2981 (ADAMS1@ME.COM- i will be staying with jasmine 1 night and at hotel karibe 2 nights – I FIND YOUR BLOGS INTERESTING
M’ALE NA WE PITA YON ZAMI – MWEN PALE KREYOL ANPIL E PANOL E ANGLE
Hi Frank,
I see you were in Jacmel over Kranval. I was wondering if you can tell me if Jacmel is standing… How much damage was done from the earthquake.
I am coming to Haiti this summer with my adopted son from Haiti. We are planning to visit with his family and then I wanted to take him someplace different so he can see other parts of Haiti. He is from Cite Soleil and we have been all over PAP…
Also if you can recommend a place to stay in Jacmel that would be great.
Thanks for your time.
Deneen