( CNN ) -- A piece of tarp that reads , `` Welcome to you , God Bless You '' marks a barely-enclosed dirt field . At this orphanage , the only traces of shelter are the few tents that have n't yet been stripped by the strong winds . It 's my last day in Haiti , and I 'm on a trip to bring food , water and supplies to Haitians still displaced by the 2010 earthquake . The first stop is the orphanage , in the middle of one of Port-au-Prince 's largest tent cities . When I step out of the Land Rover , I begin to see the children -- they come out from behind the tarp . They 're dusty , sun-burnt , and smiling shyly . I 'm again thankful for the camera in my hand , my constant companion this week . The lens is always ready to capture the utter desolation , which has my mind reeling even after a week . At the sight of the vat of water that 's brought out from the car , the children abandon their toys : a soccer ball , a ragged stuffed animal , a paint-chipped wooden car . The youngest , still a toddler , takes the first sip . His cries , when the bottle is taken away from him , ensure one last turn before the water runs out . In Haiti , even a few drops of water can stop a boy 's tears . My intentions of going to Haiti were less than purely philanthropic . As a journalist , I planned on seeing the devastation firsthand , but I also wanted to be productive and lend a helping hand . It was n't without chagrin that I realized volunteering means choosing to give up control and becoming available and malleable to meet the needs of others . I 've traveled to other developing countries , but I was still unprepared for the the chaos that met me when I arrived . After several lost-in-translation phone calls and hours of waiting at the airport , I took a leap of faith , got into an SUV with two men I 've never met before , and prayed that I would survive -- literally . It was more than luck that led me to New Life Children 's Home and Rescue Center , a different orphanage from the one I had originally signed up to work with . Here I was taken in with open arms by one of Haiti 's ultimate volunteers , Miriam Frederick . Frederick has been fighting for Haiti for more than 30 years . She 's the founder of New Life Children 's Home and Rescue Center , which was established in 1977 and currently houses 130 children . On my first day at New Life , I met 8-year-old Lavita in the infirmary . She had been suffering from severe malnutrition at the tent-city orphanage , and Miriam took her in . `` When a child comes in here , many , you would not give a nickel for their life because they are so far gone , '' Frederick says . By the end of the week , Lavita is asking me to help twirl ropes with her , so her younger girlfriends can jump in on a match of double dutch . `` These kids do n't just need basic provisions , they need love and they need brothers and sisters to play with them and teach them , '' says John Poitevent , a pastor at Christ Fellowship , in Palm Beach , Florida , which supports New Life . `` We felt like it was time that we ca n't just send our money . We 've got to send ourselves also . '' It 's not often that painting church pews and scrubbing floors can generate the same enthusiasm as joining in on a game of soccer or playing a round of spoons after a long day . During my one-week stay with New Life , I witnessed entire bunk beds get built from scratch in a matter of days , boxes of medicine get organized , and water filters get distributed to the outskirts of Haiti . None of which could 've been done without volunteers . As much as I felt productive organizing suitcases of donated clothing , the trip was an opportunity to be inspired through the people we met and by the selflessness we saw amid disheartening conditions . Take Frederick , who -- despite knowing that for every one child she helps , there are hundreds of `` tent-city orphans '' still suffering -- continues to fight . `` I have been just challenged by her and inspired by her to just step out in faith and to step out of my comfort zone , '' Poitevent says . He 's not the only one . I met a high school soccer team , an older couple , a fellow Atlantan -- each a volunteer , a title that transcends age , race , career and even the fact that I only know two phrases in Creole . I went to Haiti expecting to walk away with images of a devastated Haiti -- and I did . The scene on my last day at the tent-city orphanage is unforgettable . However , I realize images of suffering are n't what drive volunteers to come back . It 's doing even the small tasks so that a recovered Lavita has the strength to love on her fellow peers , which keeps us wanting to do more and believing that it can make a difference .
CNN 's David Cross traveled to Haiti to witness the earthquake devastation and help rebuild . Ahn met Miriam Frederick , who has been volunteering in Haiti for the past 30 years . Frederick helps care for Lavita , 8 , suffering from malnutrition after living in tent city . Seeing Lavita 's recovery encourages volunteers to continue working .