HAITI
MISSION TEAM 2017 PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES…IN MEMORY OF BOB
FEATHERSTONE (HAITI 2010)
TEAM
MEMBERS: PASTOR DALE OSTEMA, JEAN COONROD, SUSAN NICHOLS, ANN PORTER,
ALLIE KESSEL, KEVIN AND LISA HAHN AND STATON LORENZ.
LISA
(140 AND ALLIE (19) RECEIVED FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE KYLE SONNEMAN
YOUNG MISSIONARY FUND AND DISTRICT FUNDS AVAILABLE TO 1ST TIME
INTERNATIONAL MISSIONERS.
TWO
BASIC TEAMS WERE CREATED; ONE TO WORK ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND
THE OTHER DEVOTED TO TEACHING MUSIC, ENGLISH, CRAFTS, PHOTOGRAPHING
OF STUDENTS AND CREATING CULTURAL AWARENESS.
WE
EVALUATED AND LAID OUT PROSPECTIVE AREAS FOR THE NEW BIRTHING CENTER,
STORAGE FACILITY, INCINERATOR, SEPTIC TANK AND DRAIN FIELD, ACCESS
DRIVEWAYS AND OPEN SPACES.
WE
REMOVED, REBUILT AND PAINTED A CEMENT BLOCK INCINERATOR ENCLOSURE AT
REAR OF THE CAMPUS.
BUILT
FOUR ELEVATED CORNER PIERS FOR 20’ X 8’ STEEL SHIPPING CONTAINER
ARRIVING IN MARCH. DESIGNED
COMPLETE DRAINFIELD 20’ X 42’ IN AREA…EXCAVATED THE AREA,
FILLED IN WITH ROCK AND LAID DRAINFIELD PIPE (AFTER DRILLING HUNDREDS
OF HOLES IN IT), COVERED WITH MORE ROCK, LANDSCAPE FABRIC AND
DIRT…READY FOR SEEDING.
EXCAVATED
A 12’ X 6’ SEPTIC TANK HOLE, HAD A TWO-CHAMBER TANK BUILT AND
PLUMBED TO THE FIELD. STAKED OUT THE POTENTIAL SITE FOR THE BIRTHING
CENTER AND ACCESS DRIVE.
MADE AND
HUNG A TIRE SWING USING CHAIN HUNG FROM A LARGE MANGO TREE.
INSTALLED
CEILING RAFTERS IN TWO STOREROOMS, ATTACHED PLYWOOD TO MAKE A CEILING
IN EACH, CUT AND PLACED TRIM BOARDS AROUND THE PERIMETER AND CAULKED
ALL SEAMS TO PREVENT DIRT AND BUGS FROM ENTERING THE ROOMS. TRIMMED
OUT & CAULKED THE PHARMACY & SOLAR ROOM.
REMOVED,
WASHED, PAINTED AND ATTACHED HARDWARE CLOTH (HEAVY DUTY SCREENING) TO
MOST WINDOWS IN THE CLINIC. REMOVED RUSTED ‘RAT WIRE’ IN THE
EAVES AREA OF THE CLINIC…THEN CUSTOM-FIT NEW GALVANIZED ‘HARDWARE
CLOTH’ SCREENING BETWEEN ALL TRUSSES…80’ IN ALL. INSTALLED
A NEW INVERTER IN THE SOLAR ACCESS ROOM, TESTED THE SYSTEM, NEEDS NEW
BATTERIES.
MISSION
HOUSE IN CAP-HAITIEN: HAD GUERCY CHANGE THE OIL, ADD A BATTERY AND
REFURBISH THE GENERATOR CABLES FOR THE MAIN GENERATOR. HE PURCHASED A
HEAVY DUTY SWITCH FOR THE WELL AND INSTALLED IT, RAN A CIRCUIT,
SWITCHES AND NEW FIXTURES FOR LIGHTS IN GABO’S COVERED AREA, THE
OUTDOOR YARD LIGHT AND DEPOT (STORAGE) ROOM. HE REPLACED TWO TOILET
FILLING ASSEMBLIES AND MADE A SOLAR CIRCUIT ASSESSMENT FOR DAVE
BARRETT WHO IS PROVIDING NEW FIXTURES, BULBS, INVERTER AND BATTERIES
AT A LATER DATE. ACTIVITIES
WITH CHILDREN AND STUDENTS…AT THE GOVERNMENT SCHOOL AND AT THE
CLINIC AREA.
EACH DAY
VARIOUS GRADE LEVELS WERE TAUGHT HOW TO PLAY RECORDERS (FLUTES), WORK
ON CRAFTS FOCUSED ON SMALL-MOTOR SKILLS, PUZZLES AND GAMES INVOLVING
CONCENTRATION OR MEMORY, CRAFTS USING BEADS, COLORFUL THREAD ETC.
ENGLISH
CLASSES FOR VARIOUS AGES AND ON SPECIFIC DAYS BLENDED WITH SOUNDS OF
MUSIC LESSONS ON VIOLINS AND GUITAR. CHILDREN LEARNED ‘JESUS LOVES
ME’ IN ENGLISH AND CREOLE IN PREPARATION FOR THE FAMILY CELEBRATION
ON OUR LAST FRIDAY. ALL THE HARD WORK PAID OFF IN SINGING, PLAYING OF
INSTRUMENTS (RECORDERS, VIOLINS AND GUITARS) PRIOR TO DEDICATING THE
MANGO TREE IN HONOR OF BOB FEATHERSTONE.
ALL WEEK
LONG PHOTOS WERE TAKEN OF EACH CHILD AND OF SOME FAMILIES AND THE
CHILDREN SPENT TIME CREATING THEIR OWN PHOTO FRAME USING COLORFUL
SHAPES AND DECORATIONS THAT THEY GLUED TO THE BORDER OF THEIR VERY
OWN PICTURE FRAME. OVER 100 SUCH FRAMES WERE CREATED.
‘GOODIE
BAGS’ WERE ASSEMBLED THAT CONTAINED THEIR PHOTO, SCHOOL SUPPLIES
SUCH AS A NOTEBOOK, PENCILS, PERSONALIZED RECORDERS, HOT WHEEL OR
BEANIE BABY TOYS AND STRINGS OF BEADS…AFTER THE CEREMONY EVERYONE
RECEIVED TWO OATMEAL COOKIES BAKED BY NANA AND DOROTHY FREDERICKSON
AS THEY LEFT THE CAMPUS FOR THE DAY.
SELDOM
DID A DAY GO BY THAT A VIGOROUS SOCCER GAME WASN’T IN PROGRESS.
LOTS OF CURIOSITY AND HELPING HANDS WERE AVAILABLE WHEN NEEDED WHICH
KEPT CHILDREN AND ADULTS OCCUPIED.
OUR TEAM
STARTED EACH DAY WITH A HOT BREAKFAST PREPARED BY OURSELVES ON A
ROTATING BASIS. ONCE THE STAFF ARRIVED, AROUND 8AM, WE’D HAVE ALL
OUR TOOLS, WATER SUPPLIES, LUNCH SUPPLIES (LOTS OF PEANUT BUTTER AND
JELLY FOR SANDWICHES AND SOME FRUIT), SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND/OR CLOTHING
TO DISPENSE AT THE CLINIC READY TO LOAD ON THE TOYOTA PICKUP TRUCK.
PEOPLE SAT IN THE TRUCK AND IN THE BACK ON THE GUNNELS OF THE TRUCK
BED. ADDITIONAL STAFF WOULD BE WAITING ALONG THE ROAD IN TOWN FOR
THEIR RIDE AND THEN WE’D SHOP FOR BUILDING SUPPLIES, SECURE THE
LOAD AND PROCEED TO THE CLINIC IN PISTERE…40 MINUTES AWAY.
A JOYFUL
WELCOME AWAITED US EACH DAY AS WE DROVE THE ONE MILE DIRT ROAD TO THE
CLINIC, LOTS OF ‘BON JOUR’ SHOUTS FROM US AND THEM AS WE GOT
CLOSER. THE SUPPLIES WERE SPLIT UP AT THE CLINIC AND THE REST WENT
THE ADDITIONAL 2 MILES ON THE TWISTY, RUTTED AND WASHED-OUT ROAD TO
THE GOVERNMENT SCHOOL…SOMETIMES THE SCHOOL WAS CLOSED MAKING FOR A
VERY BUSY DAY AT THE CLINIC.
A
TYPICAL MORNING AT THE CLINIC BEGINS WITH THE STAFF, PATIENTS AND
THEIR CHILDREN AND SOME OF US SINGING A COUPLE OF HYMNS AND HAVING A
PRAYER. SICK AS SOME OF THE CHILDREN WERE, THEY WERE ALWAYS WELL-
BEHAVED AND SO PATIENT.
YOU’D
THINK LANGUAGE WOULD BE A BARRIER TO UNDERSTANDING ONE ANOTHER BUT
THE CLINIC STAFF, THE RESIDENT GUARDS (JEAN MARY AND ANTOINE) AND
TEACHERS WERE ALWAYS NEARBY TO ASSIST WITH TRANSLATION WHEN NEEDED …
GOOD OLD SIGN LANGUAGE STILL WORKS.
RIDING
TO AND FROM THE CLINIC AND THROUGH TOWN IS ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE…NEW
SIGHTS, SMELLS, SMOKE, AIRBORNE DUST AND EXHAUST MADE FOR QUITE AN
ATMOSPHERIC COCKTAIL…WE HAD NO RAIN SO THINGS WERE VERY DRY AND
DUSTY.
THE
CUSTOM IN HAITI IS TO GREET SOMEONE WHEN YOU PASS NEAR THEM…THIS
TURNS A COMMON STERN LOOK INTO A BRIGHT SMILE AND ‘RETURNED’
GREETING WITHOUT FAIL. COUNTING HOW MANY PERSONS CAN FIT ON ONE
MOTORCYLCE TAXI (MOTO TAXI) KEEPS YOU BUSY AS DOES NOTING THE MOST
UNUSUAL ITEM BEING CARRIED ON THE BACK OF A MOTORCYCLE. THIS YEAR WE
SAW A COFFIN, A LIVE CALF, A DOOR, VERY LARGE ANALOG TV AND UP TO 8
ADULTS AND CHILDREN ON ONE MACHINE.
WE
ATTENDED TWO CHURCH SERVICES AT THE DOWNTOWN METHODIST
CHURCH…ARRIVING AT 9AM AND LEAVING AROUND 11:30AM…ALLIE KESSEL
GAVE A GUEST SINGING PERFORMANCE OF ‘AMAZING GRACE’ AND PASTOR
DALE INTRODUCED OUR TEAM WITH THE BISHOP TRANSLATING FOR HIM. THEY
HAVE SEVERAL CHOIRS THAT PERFORM, SMALL GROUPS, PLUS AN ORGAN,
KEYBOARD AND GUITAR OFFERING ACCOMPANIMENT.
LUNCH
WOULD FOLLOW EACH SUNDAY’S SERVICE AT A LOCAL HOTEL AND WE SOON
LEARNED TO ASK BEFORE WE ATE IF THE CREDIT CARD MACHINE WAS WORKING
SINCE INTERNET AND ELECTRICITY IS SPORADIC. FOOD WAS EXCELLENT AND
VARIED…WHERE CAN YOU GET GRILLED GOAT IN TRAVERSE CITY THESE DAYS?
HOW ABOUT FRIED PLANTAINS? MY FAVORITE IS A CABBAGE SLAW CALLED
‘PICOLI’…PICKELED IN VINEGAR WITH HOT PEPPERS SHREDED VERY FINE
THAT SERVES THE SAME ACCENT AS HORSERADISH MIGHT HERE.
CAP-HAITIEN
IS A VERY OLD CITY WITH HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN VARIOUS STAGES OF
DISREPAIR BUT GIVING EVIDENCE OF A GLORIOUS PAST OF WEALTH AND ISLAND
CULTURE STOLEN BY THE VARIOUS DICTATORS OF RECENT DECADES.
HISTORY
SPEAKS OUT LOUD AT THE ‘CITADEL’, HAITI’S MOST FAMOUS
ATTRACTION AND A GIANT EDIFICE SITUATED ON A 3,000’ HIGH MOUNTAIN
NOT FAR FROM CAP-HAITIEN OR OUR CLINIC ACTUALLY. THIS FORT CLAIMED
THE LIVES OF OVER 10,000 SLAVES DURING CONSTRUCTION, HAS 135 CANNON
FROM THE TIME OF NAPOLEON PEERING OUT OF PORTALS, WALLS THAT ARE 3
AND 4’ THICK IN MOST PLACES AND HAS NO STEEL IN IT OTHER THAN
HARDWARE. NO SHOT WAS EVER FIRED FROM THIS FORT AND CANNON BALLS
REMAIN STACKED IN PYRAMID FORMATIONS FROM THE DAY THEY WERE PLACED
THERE IN THE EARLY 1800’S.
IT’S A
DIFFICULT CLIMB TO THE SUMMIT OVER A COBBLESTONE ROAD THAT WINDS PAST
SMALL HOMES PERCHED ON EITHER SIDE AS SPACE PERMITS…ENTERPRISING
ARTISTS, MUSICIANS AND CRAFTSMEN TRY TO SELL THEIR WARES TO YOU AS WE
PASSED BY. SMALL HORSES ARE AVAILABLE WITH A HANDLER AND FIVE OF OUR
TEAM SPENT THE $10 AND FOUND IT TO BE A GREAT INVESTMENT…ALLIE, ANN
AND DALE MANAGED TO HIKE THE MILE OR SO THAT REMAINED AFTER WE LEFT
THE 2,000’ LEVEL ATTAINED BY OUR TRUCK. AN AMAZING VIEW AWAITED US
EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A HAZY DAY…ALL ONE COULD THINK OF THOUGH WAS…HOW
MUCH LIFE WAS LOST IN BUILDING SUCH A STRUCTURE AT A TIME WHEN NO
MOTORIZED VEHICLES WERE EVEN INVENTED…SUCH AN IMPOSING THREAT
PREVENTED ANY ENEMY ATTACKS FROM THE SEA.
TOURISTS,
AKA ‘BLANC’ (MEANS WHITE OR FOREIGNER) ARE LITERALLY THE ONLY
FINANCIAL HOPE THAT QUITE A FEW ARTISANS HAVE OF MAKING A LIVING AT
THE BASE OF THE MOUNTAIN IN THE LITTLE VILLAGE OF MILOT…UNLESS YOU
ARE A GUIDE OR HORSE HANDLER. THESE WONDERFUL PEOPLE SWARM YOU UPON
YOUR ARRIVAL AND SMOTHER YOU AS YOU PREPARE TO DEPART THE PARKING
AREA…TRYING DESPARATELY TO SELL YOU SOMETHING…ANYTHING. IT WAS
VERY UNCOMFORTABLE FOR MANY OF US.
OUR
DAILY ROUTINE, ONCE WE RETURNED FROM THE CLINIC…DIRTY, SWEATY AND
HUNGRY INVOLVED A QUICK WASHING OF HANDS PRIOR TO SITTING DOWN TO A
VERY NICE HOME-COOKED MEAL PREPARED BY NANA AND HER ASSISTANT. IT WAS
USUALLY NEARLY DARK AT 5:30 AND NANA HAD TO WALK A HALF MILE TO CATCH
A TAP-TAP AFTER THEY DID DISHES…FOR THIS REASON IT WAS IMPORTANT
NOT TO BE LATE FOR DINNER.
DEVOTIONS
WERE ANOTHER SHARED ACTIVITY. ALLIE PREPARED A DETAILED CHART
OUTLINING WHO THE BREAKFAST CREW, JOURNAL WRITER AND DEVOTION LEADER
WAS EACH DAY. NICELY DONE.
A HOT
SHOWER WAS SOMETHING TO DREAM ABOUT AS OUR WATER SUPPLY RESIDED IN
THE ‘SHATADO’ (TANK ON THE ROOF) AND BECAUSE WE NEVER KNEW IF
WE’D HAVE ELECTRICITY TO PUMP WATER INTO THE TANK…CONSERVATION
WAS IMPORTANT. WATER PRESSURE WAS BY GRAVITY AND THE COOL WATER
ACTUALLY FELT PRETTY GOOD ON OUR WARM BODIES. SO…WE’D GET WET,
LATHER UP AND RINSE IN STAGES.
DEVOTIONS:
EACH NIGHT, AFTER SHOWERING EVERYONE IS PRETTY RELAXED AND ONCE THE
LEADER HAS GOTTEN THE BALL ROLLING IT SEEMED TO ALWAYS LEAD TO
MEANINGFUL DISCUSSION AND PERSONAL SHARING…SOMETHING TO ACTUALLY
LOOK FORWARD TO…EVEN IF YOU WERE THE LEADER.
EACH
SATURDAY FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS, DOROTHY HAS CONDUCTED ‘LEADERSHIP
CLASSES’ FOR A GROUP OF YOUNG MEN AGED FROM 17 TO 35 I’D SAY. HER
GOAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO IMPROVE THEIR ENGLISH VOCABULARY, GRAMMAR,
PRONUNCIATION AND TEACH THEM IDIOMS. THESE ARE BRIGHT YOUNG MEN WHO
HAVE VARIOUS SKILLS, EDUCATION BACKGROUNDS. THEY WORK AS TEACHERS,
MUSICIANS, A TAX COLLECTOR, IN TOURIS, LAW, COMPUTER TECH, MECHANIC
AND ELECTRICIAN FOR EXAMPLE. SEVERAL HAVE GONE ON TO BECOME LEADERS
AND ALL ASPIRE TO DO SO.
PASTOR
DALE LEAD THE CLASS TWO SATURDAYS, THE FIRST CLASS BEING TWO HOURS
AFTER WE ARRIVED. DOROTHY STARTS EACH CLASS WITH 30 MINUTES OF
ENGLISH AND LEADERSHIP SKILL TRAINING THEN MOVES TO THE IDIOMS…ONE
OF THE FUNNIEST WAS WHAT IT MEANS TO ‘THROW SOMEBODY UNDER THE
BUS.’ THERE’S ACTUALLY A 1” THICK BOOK OF AMERICAN IDIOMS
AVAILABLE.
OVER THE
YEARS, THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN TO HAITI, HAVE MADE CLOSE FRIENDS
WITH THESE MEN (FEW WOMEN COME AS THE CLASS ENDS AFTER DARK AND MANY
LIVE SOME DISTANCE AWAY) AND HAVE SEEN THE HUGE IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR
CONFIDENCE, LANGUAGE SKILLS AND THE HOPE THEY HAVE FOR THE COUNTRY.
THESE ARE NOT PEOPLE WHO WILL EVER BE FOUND ON A BOAT ESCAPING THE
HARDSHIPS OF A THIRD-WORLD COUNTRY…THEY PLAN TO SUCCEED AND REMAIN
THERE.
DOROTHY
FREDERICKSON WILL LEAVE HER MINISTRY THIS JULY 1ST AFTER 24 YEARS AS
A MISSIONARY SERVING THE NEEDS OF WIDOWS AND ORHANS, BUILDING HOUSES,
PROVIDING CLOTHING, SHOES, EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS,PROVIDING ENGLISH,
GARDENING, NUTRITION, HYGIENE, PRE AND POST-NATAL TRAINING AND
OPERATING A MEDICAL CLINIC IN A REMOTE RURAL VILLAGE OF 2,000 AND
NEVER TAKING A SALARY. A CLEAN WATER PROGRAM IS ABOUT TO START AS IS
THE BIRTHING CENTER.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF SOARING UNLIMITED HAS SEARCHED FOR AND FOUND A
PERSON, LAURA ELLIOTT, WHO HAS BEEN OFFERED THE JOB OF EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR AND HOPES TO ACCEPT AND START HER TRAINING IN LATE APRIL AND
MAY. WE MET HER ON OUR TRIP…SHE’S A DEACON IN HER METHODIST
CHURCH IN NORTH CAROLINA, HAS EXPERIENCE FUND RAISING AND WORKING
WITH LOW-RESOURCE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. SHE FEELS ‘CALLED’ TO
SERVE IN HAITI AND IS PREPARING FOR THE TASK.
HAITI IS
COMPLEX…POVERTY IS EVIDENCED EVERYWHERE BUT IS OFFSET WITH A
DETERMINED PEOPLE WHO AREN’T AFRAID TO SAY OUT LOUD THAT THEY LOVE
JESUS AND LIVE IT TOO. SOME ARE VERY HUNGRY, EVERYDAY, HOW THEY
MANAGE IS HARD TO TELL.
THE
HAITIANS ARE ENTERPRISING…LITTLE VEGETABLE AND FRUIT STANDS LINE
THE ROADS OF THE CITY AND RURAL AREAS, YOU CAN BUY ANYTHING YOU’D
FIND AT A K-MART ALONG THE ROAD, VENDORS EVEN APPROACH YOUR VEHICLE
WITH T-SHIRTS, WATER, SNACKS, CASHEWS…SUGAR CANE.
COMMERCIAL
STORES, OPEN MARKETS, BICYCLE SWAP MEETS, BARBER SHOPS, LOTTERY
STORES, TRANSPORTATION CENTERS WHERE TAP-TAPS ORIGINATE AND
MOTO-TAXIS GATHER ARE PLENTIFUL, VENDORS WITH WHEELBARROWS (MUST HAVE
A LICENSE TO OPERATE ONE), LARGE CARTS CALLED ‘BOURETS’ FOR HEAVY
CARGO ARE MOVED BY TWO MEN…ONE PULLING AND THE OTHER PUSHING THE
12’ LONG DEVICE IN THE CITY.
WHAT YOU
DON’T SEE IS ANYONE SMOKING A CIGARETTE, DRINKING A BEER OR PUTTING
TRASH IN A CONTAINER…SADLY, THE ONE THING THAT HAS GOTTEN WORSE
OVER THE YEARS IS THE PROBLEM OF TRASH. DESPITE THE BEST EFFORTS OF
SOME PROPERTY OWNERS IN CERTAIN AREAS OF TOWN THE FACT REMAINS THAT
TRASH ENDS UP AT THE SHORE. RAIN, WIND, GARBAGE TRUCKS AND PEOPLE DO
THEIR PART IN GETTING ALL MANNER OF DEBRIS TO THE LOWEST POINT IN THE
CITY…THE SEASHORE.
IT’S
THE GOAL OF SEVERAL FROM THE LEADERSHIP CLASS TO HELP SOLVE THIS
PROBLEM. ADDITIONALLY, THE CITY IS ALIVE, TEAMING ACTUALLY, WITH
PEOPLE ON THEIR WAY SOMEPLACE AND MANAGING TO DO SO WITHOUT THE USE
OF TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND SHORT TEMPERS BUT IT TAKES PATIENCE AND LOTS OF
COURAGE TO BE ON A MOTORCYCLE. THE FAMILY CAR, IF YOU WILL, IS A
MOTORCYCLE…DAD DRIVING (WITHOUT A HELMET) AND WEDGED BETWEEN HIM
AND HIS WIFE WILL BE ONE, TWO OR THREE SMALL CHILDREN…SEEMINGLY
RELAXED AND CONFIDENT THEY’LL ARRIVE SAFELY AT HOME. THE STREETS
ARE NARROW, PUNCTUATED WITH POTHOLES AND FILLED WITH DUMP TRUCKS,
CEMENT HAULERS, SCHOOL BUSSES FILLED WITH PEOPLE AND TOPPED WITH
CARGO, TAP-TAPS JAMMED WITH BODIES AND RIDING LOW ON THEIR SPRINGS
AND HORNS BLARING TO MOVE SLOWER VEHICLES OUT OF THE WAY…OR ELSE.
MANY METALSMITHS ARE HAMMERING OUT COOK STOVES AND BEDS FROM SCRAP
METAL…CARS ARE DISMANTLED AT THE ROADSIDE RIGHT NEXT TO LARGE
ALUMINUM KETTLES OF WONDERFUL-SMELLING MEALS OF SOME KIND AWAITING
THE PASSERBY. YOU ARE NEVER FAR FROM THE SEA, CONTAINER SHIPS
FREQUENT THE HARBOR, SAILORS TOSS NETS FROM SMALL SAIL BOATS NOT FAR
FROM SHORE…BOATS THAT WERE HAND-CRAFTED AND QUITE HEAVY LOOKING BUT
FLOATING.
CAP-HAITIEN
LIKELY HAS A POPULATION OF 350,000 AND BECAUSE THE MOUNTAN(S) BORDER
THE CITY MOST HOUSES ARE ‘STAIR-STEPPED’ UP THE HILLSIDES…THE
BACK WALL OF THE HOUSE BELOW ACTING AS THE SUPPORT FOR THE FRONT WALL
OF THE HOUSE ABOVE…HUNDREDS OF FEET UPWARD. GOATS PICK THEIR WAY
ALONG NARROW PATHS WHERE IT’S TOO STEEP TO HAVE A HOUSE OR WHERE
ONE COLLAPSED.
OUR TEAM
VOTED TO HELP DOROTHY’S DRIVER, AND OUR CLOSE FRIEND…JOSUE, WITH
FUNDS TO FINISH ADDING A ROOM TO HIS HOME…HE’LL DO THE LABOR, WE
BOUGHT CEMENT, LUMBER AND TIN FOR HIS ROOF TO SHELTER HIS WIFE AND
TWO SMALL CHILDREN WHO LIVE IN THE FLOOD PLAIN.
ADDITIONALLY
WE HAD RAISED SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO FINALLY MEET ONE OF DOROTHY’S
LONG-TERM GOALS…PROVIDING MORE SPACE FOR NANA AND HER FOUR BOYS AND
HER MOTHER TO LIVE AT THE VERY TOP OF A NEARBY MOUNTAIN. THE
CHALLENGE GRANT FROM EATON RAPIDS UMC AND CENTRAL MADE THIS
POSSIBLE…HOORAY AND THANK YOU TO THE NEARLY 50 SUPPORTERS FOR THIS
TRIP!
THERE IS
MUCH TO LOVE ABOUT HAITI, IN THE NORTH WE SEE PLENTY OF GREEN, LOTS
OF MOUNTAINS BEYOND MOUNTAINS (NAME OF A BOOK BY DR. PAUL FARMER),
DAILY FLIGHTS INTO AND OUT OF THE CITY, A UNIQUE CULTURE AND A
MAGNIFICENT PEOPLE…CAN’T WAIT TO RETURN.
STATON
LORENZ
