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On That Day, Everybody Ate: One Woman's Story of Hope and Possibility in Haiti -- With Post-Earthquake Update
Following her husband's untimely death, Margaret Trost visited Haiti to heal her broken heart through service. Struggling to make sense of the extreme poverty, and touched by the warmth and resilience of those she meets, she partners with a local community to develop a food program that now serves thousands of meals each week to children and others in need. On That Day, Everybody Ate, which now includes a post-earthquake update, tells the story of her remarkable journey.
- GenresNonfictionTravel
168 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 2008
7 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Trost
2 booksFollowing her husband's untimely death, Margaret Trost visited Haiti to heal her broken heart through service. Struggling to make sense of the extreme poverty and touched by the warmth and resilience of those she met, she partnered with a local community and together they developed a program that now serves thousands of meals a week to those in need. On That Day Everybody Ate tells the story of her remarkable journey.
For more about this author and book, including her full schedule of readings, click on the icon of the globe."
For more about this author and book, including her full schedule of readings, click on the icon of the globe."
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
October 28, 2008
This is a life altering book in my opinion. I personally know the author and she is an amazing woman who suffered a great tragedy in her life but managed to turn it around and help A LOT of people in the process. A definite favorite
February 22, 2017
Margaret's story is one of vulnerability at a time when life can seem at its lowest. The weaving of God's hand in her life, from tragedy to inspiration is told remarkably well with colorful stories. I can't imagine anyone reading this who would not be encouraged to DO something to help so many millions around the world with so much less. For me, I chose the people of Haiti because of this book. The What if? Foundation is a constant reminder to me that it only takes one little step b followed by another to make good and lasting changes in the world around us. If i have an idea now that seems far fetched, I stop and say, wait. What if....I moved forward on this? Only God knows the answer but,as Margaret discovered, we can't ever see his answer if we don't take that first little step.
November 16, 2010
"I was a 39-yer old white, middle class woman, who didn't speak Creole, had never studied Haitian history or politics or global economics or grass-roots organizing or fund raising or anything like that. I didn't know what I was doing. The problem was too huge. The number of people in need was too large."
"...I would be getting on a plane in a few weeks to fly back to the Bay Area to my house with wood floors, painted walls, and furniture in every room. I had lamps and a computer, a full refrigerator and hot showers, a closet full of clothes and a car in my driveway. I had an education and a job, a doctor and a dentist. I had everything I needed to live in comfort. The contrast was overwhelming."
These paragraphs really moved me, and explain how I feel about the inequities of the world. If you have a desire to change the world for the better, I highly recommend this book as motivation of what we can do.
"...I would be getting on a plane in a few weeks to fly back to the Bay Area to my house with wood floors, painted walls, and furniture in every room. I had lamps and a computer, a full refrigerator and hot showers, a closet full of clothes and a car in my driveway. I had an education and a job, a doctor and a dentist. I had everything I needed to live in comfort. The contrast was overwhelming."
These paragraphs really moved me, and explain how I feel about the inequities of the world. If you have a desire to change the world for the better, I highly recommend this book as motivation of what we can do.
July 23, 2012
This worthwhile book is a quick read for anyone who is interested in Haiti, and what people in developing countries like the U.S. can really do to help. The author is oriented before her first trip to Haiti to understand she is going to Haiti on a trip called "a reverse pilgrimage" and "designed for the transformation of the participants". It was truly life changing for the author.
April 7, 2010
Read this book for the book group I participate in. Margaret Trost gives some good insights on Haiti and the group had a great discussion around the book. We must be thankful for what we have and find ways to give to those less fortunate no matter how small we think the contribution might be.
September 29, 2021
My rating may have more to do with how personally relevant this book was for me: figuring out how to be of service, having a relationship of some kind with the Catholic Church, understanding the importance of a community helping itself, understanding the nature and impact of the privilege of my own lifestyle. This book provides a devastating inside look at the situation in Haiti given by a person on the ground, and works through the authors own journey to discover that it's ok to do only what you can do in the moment with love and not get ahead of yourself or the community in need.
Piti piti na rive.
Little by little, we will arrive.
Piti piti na rive.
Little by little, we will arrive.
April 1, 2018
It was as if I was reading my own thoughts. Haiti has captivated everyone I know that has been there. Margaret is able to articulate that sentiment perfectly.
May 31, 2020
Well- written. Informative, challenging, clean
March 27, 2015
Trost first went to Haiti a year and a half after her husband died. It was a volunteer trip, but the idea was—explicitly—less for the volunteers to transform the lives of others than for them to learn something...about Haiti, about themselves. Trost was grieving, and this seemed like a step in the right direction.
This is the story of that trip and the next few that followed as Trost worked to secure funding for a lunch programme based out of a church—they provided, every Sunday, a meal for several hundred children (and, if enough was left over, adults). With donations, they could expand the programme.
So it's partly a story of helping with that expansion, of meeting the people responsible for it and learning a bit about their lives and what they were doing to foster hope in an area deep by poverty...and it's partly Trost's own story of reaching beyond herself and the world she knew and finding another purpose.
The book was written, I imagine, in part as a way for Trost to tell her story and in part to raise awareness—of the plight of many Haitians and of the What If? Foundation. The part of the story she tells is in many ways the easy part; she talks in the epilogue about the further difficulties that ravaged Haiti after the time period she focuses on. And then, of course, the book was published in the fall of 2008, and the earthquake came less than two years later. Leaves you wondering how the people she describes fared. (Also, for what it's worth: the Wikipedia entry for Fr. Gerry.)
I'm sorry that the book wasn't longer; although I admire the restraint of the focus, it feels as though there are many stories yet to be told. For some reason (even though I'd spent time on the GR page) I expected a behemoth of a hardcover (with a blue spine...I don't even know), and my gaze skipped over it at the library several times—thin orange paperback? Nope. Would have loved something like the scope of The Blue Sweater, but of course that would have made it a very, very different book. It's more of a feel-good book than a learning(?) book, then, but an interesting read.
This is the story of that trip and the next few that followed as Trost worked to secure funding for a lunch programme based out of a church—they provided, every Sunday, a meal for several hundred children (and, if enough was left over, adults). With donations, they could expand the programme.
So it's partly a story of helping with that expansion, of meeting the people responsible for it and learning a bit about their lives and what they were doing to foster hope in an area deep by poverty...and it's partly Trost's own story of reaching beyond herself and the world she knew and finding another purpose.
The book was written, I imagine, in part as a way for Trost to tell her story and in part to raise awareness—of the plight of many Haitians and of the What If? Foundation. The part of the story she tells is in many ways the easy part; she talks in the epilogue about the further difficulties that ravaged Haiti after the time period she focuses on. And then, of course, the book was published in the fall of 2008, and the earthquake came less than two years later. Leaves you wondering how the people she describes fared. (Also, for what it's worth: the Wikipedia entry for Fr. Gerry.)
I'm sorry that the book wasn't longer; although I admire the restraint of the focus, it feels as though there are many stories yet to be told. For some reason (even though I'd spent time on the GR page) I expected a behemoth of a hardcover (with a blue spine...I don't even know), and my gaze skipped over it at the library several times—thin orange paperback? Nope. Would have loved something like the scope of The Blue Sweater, but of course that would have made it a very, very different book. It's more of a feel-good book than a learning(?) book, then, but an interesting read.
April 14, 2016
This is why I shouldn't wait 2 weeks before writing a review. I can't, for the life of me, remember why I gave this book 3 stars. I am sure I liked it, but it was not memorable enough for me to remember the whats and whys. And maybe that, for me as a reader, is what is the difference between the five star books and the three star books -- I can still remember clearly what I was thinking and how I was feeling when I was reading them. They stick with me long after the book is complete. This one, unfortunately has not.
A quick look back at the book reveals that this is an inspirational tale that speaks of how being on mission tends to change the giver just as much as, if not more than, the receiver. Trost poured her life into Haiti, spending much of her time and energy there attempting to meet the needs of people as she saw them. And thanks to a very active priest and his church, she is able to see some success in bringing hope to a group of people. As with many of these types of books, the author's experience can get in the way of the place and the people, and that for me will drop a book from 5 stars fairly quickly. This book, fortunately doesn't promise to be more than that -- it states right off the bat that it is Margaret's experience of hope in Haiti, rather the experience of the people. And her experience was rather interesting and she shares the stage well with the real actors in this book -- the priest and the members of his church.
This is a good, if not particularly memorable, book to add to one's collection on Haiti in particular and poverty in general. I'm glad I took the time to read it, but I doubt I will remember much about it beyond this month.
A quick look back at the book reveals that this is an inspirational tale that speaks of how being on mission tends to change the giver just as much as, if not more than, the receiver. Trost poured her life into Haiti, spending much of her time and energy there attempting to meet the needs of people as she saw them. And thanks to a very active priest and his church, she is able to see some success in bringing hope to a group of people. As with many of these types of books, the author's experience can get in the way of the place and the people, and that for me will drop a book from 5 stars fairly quickly. This book, fortunately doesn't promise to be more than that -- it states right off the bat that it is Margaret's experience of hope in Haiti, rather the experience of the people. And her experience was rather interesting and she shares the stage well with the real actors in this book -- the priest and the members of his church.
This is a good, if not particularly memorable, book to add to one's collection on Haiti in particular and poverty in general. I'm glad I took the time to read it, but I doubt I will remember much about it beyond this month.
February 2, 2010
I really liked this book for its simplicity. Margaret Trost arrives in Haiti completely overwhelmed by what she sees and doesn't try to hide it. She admits she doesn't have all the answers. She struggles with her feelings of inadequacy in the face of terrible poverty. She knows almost nothing about Haitian culture and politics. She doesn't speak Creole. Despite her limitations, she manages to help a small community in Port-au-Prince have a hot meal every Sunday.
There was no pretention or judgement. She clearly does not see herself as some amazing person who has done what no one else could do. She readily admits she had many lessons to learn from her Haitian friends. The book illustrates beautifully what love and compassion can accomplish.
There was no pretention or judgement. She clearly does not see herself as some amazing person who has done what no one else could do. She readily admits she had many lessons to learn from her Haitian friends. The book illustrates beautifully what love and compassion can accomplish.
August 17, 2012
Reason for rating: Nonfiction is not at all interesting to me. In fact, I find it quite boring. Especially with something like this. Very boring. This book took the longest to read out of all my summer reading books (though you could blame that on the fact that I was grounded which was the reason for finishing the other books one per day) even though it was the shortest. It was repetetive and never-ending, okay? Of course, I should be saying it was inspiring and stuff, which it was to me, when I was brainwashed by the book's boringness. (That IS a word. In my mind.)
Anyways, I hope that everyone else finds this more interesting, inspiring, and all those other good things that are supposed to be in a heartbreaking nonfiction (because I really didn't). Thanks for reading!
Anyways, I hope that everyone else finds this more interesting, inspiring, and all those other good things that are supposed to be in a heartbreaking nonfiction (because I really didn't). Thanks for reading!
July 19, 2016
Devastating
This is a raw, revealing look at life in Haiti. The history of Haiti is absolutely fascinating. The poverty described left me breathless & heartbroken. We have supported two charities working in Haiti. We are regular supporters of a small school with a feeding program. This book made me thankful that we have been sending money for a few years. Those of us born in the US are sincerely and richly blessed beyond measure. We should be sharing more of our resources and helping our neighbors. I HIGHLY recommend everyone read this. If you want to get involved in a small school/feeding program in Haiti, check out Grace&glory.
This is a raw, revealing look at life in Haiti. The history of Haiti is absolutely fascinating. The poverty described left me breathless & heartbroken. We have supported two charities working in Haiti. We are regular supporters of a small school with a feeding program. This book made me thankful that we have been sending money for a few years. Those of us born in the US are sincerely and richly blessed beyond measure. We should be sharing more of our resources and helping our neighbors. I HIGHLY recommend everyone read this. If you want to get involved in a small school/feeding program in Haiti, check out Grace&glory.
September 24, 2012
As many others have pointed out, this is an important and inspirational book! The author, Margaret Trost, also happens to be the sister of a very dear child hood friend of mine and I have always admired her and her family greatly! I highly recommend reading this compelling book and supporting the What If? Foundation (www.whatiffoundation.org).
May 11, 2012
I found myself really understanding and enjoying Margaret's personal transformation and internal call to action following her initial experience in Haiti. A great read that covers not only the emotional stirrings of Margaret that led her to action, but also some of the historical context for how Haiti became as it is today (or at least as of 2008). I really enjoyed this book.
August 17, 2009
Given to me by a neighbor who has been involved in Haiti for years. A quick personal account of how one woman became involved with a church feeding program in Haiti. Inspirational and thought provoking.
March 14, 2010
Excellent and moving account. It is a very short easy read, but quite moving. A nice overview of Haiti, as well as a motivation to do little things that wind up changing the world. Little by Little we arrive, she says in Creole.
October 29, 2008
The starvation and grotesque conditions in Haiti and how Jesus' Kingdom is present there.
January 19, 2010
Great book about humanitarian aid to Haiti (before the quake).
January 26, 2010
Really placed the current Haitian crisis in perspective for me...
February 22, 2010
woman addressing hunger in Haiti on a very personal micro level. inspiring!
June 5, 2010
A short easy read that will give you one woman's perspective on how visiting Haiti changed her life.
June 21, 2010
A touching look at pre-earthquake Haiti through the eyes of a mother and recent-widow.
August 30, 2010
Another book reminding me to be the change you want to see in the world. What an amazing person!
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August 5, 2011A truly inspiring story of one woman's determination to make a difference in Haiti. Wish it were more widely known. Everyone should read and then pass along! And then give!!
November 16, 2011
After having just been in Haiti, it's amazing how accurate her descriptions of the state of the country are. So many needs . . . but inspiring to see how one person can truly make a difference.
August 1, 2017
A fast, intense, heart stretching read. A must for anyone interested in Haiti or economic inequality, wherever it occurs.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews