February 2018 update

Haiti Mission Team 2018 Update! 

Central you did it again...your toys, games, puzzles, sewing supplies (even machines) have exceeded our expectations and have 'maxed-out' our carrying capacity!! Your caring hearts also surpassed our financial goal of $4,500. This will enable us to add a project and any remaining funds will be passed along to Ann Porter's team going in late March for their projects. Ann and Sara, Lisa Myers and Jack and Kevin and Lisa Hahn have 'cultural immersion' goals and projects selected by Laura Elliott, Soaring Unlimited's new executive director. Both groups will experience a variety of church services and participate in Leadership Classes with young men and women aged 18 - 35 who speak English and include a wide spectrum of occupations; tax collector, musician, public defender, hospitality services and teachers. Even the head of the 80-person Helping Haitian Angels orphanage where we will teach sewing to young ladies ages 18-23 will be there. 

Thank you Central, you have richly blessed our teams.

Staton Lorenz 

January 2018 Update

Project funds have reached over 2/3 of our $4,500 goal and soccer balls, puzzles and Hot Wheels Cars are coming in fast.  Thanks for your generosity Central!  Our team of 8 will be immediately followed by a medical team of 10 from MSU including Kathy Gray, Jim and Diana Huckle from Central. Dr. William Cunningham will have doctors, interns, nurses and a pharmacist from TC, Julie Botsford.  Our team will prepare the clinic for them to treat up to 150 patients each of four days. Additionally we plan to visit and establish a relationship with 'Helping Haitian Angels' orphanage 1 mile from our clinic where 80 boys and girls reside.   These and other relationships are possible because the clinic in Pistere is the core and the catalyst for health, education and welfare of the village.  Need more info or like to help? Contact Staton Lorenz, 231-492-2121.  Be a blessing to someone today.

New Haiti Videos have been posted on  Central's UMC YouTube channel.  Check them out at the link below.


https://www.youtube.com/user/tccentralumc

Haiti Highlights February 2017

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

Mango Tree Haiti 2017

Dedication of a mango tree in memory of Bob Featherstone at Soaring
Unlimited's Medical campus in Pistere, Haiti on February 3, 2017.
The 2017 Haiti Mission team thanks everyone for their financial and
prayer support!

Upcoming Mission Trip 2017

Our Haiti Mission Team Trip 2017 is planned for 2 weeks in January. We are dedicating this trip in memory of Bob Featherstone ( Haiti 2010).

Our trip will be to Soaring Unlimited in Cap-Haitien, Haiti and Soarings' Clinic in Pistere.  Our intended projects include; layout of and breaking ground for the new Birthing Center, installing a septic system, begin a storage building, teaching music, crafts, English and nutrition classes, distribution of books, clothing, shoes and food to school children.  A list of team members is posted on the church bulletin board.

Haiti is the most dangerous place on earth for a mother to give birth! Soaring's Birthing Center will offer a safe, sanitary, clinical environment with trained midwives assisting.

Planned projects are estimated to cost $6,500 USD. Eaton Rapids' 1st United Methodist Church will match the first $2,000 we raise and we're off to a good start. Gifts of any size to: Haiti Mission Trip 2017 Acct: 20376 (memo line) are welcomed. Questions? Call Staton Lorenz, team leader at;  231-492-2121. Be a blessing to someone today.

Thank You,

Staton

Haiti Trip 2016

Five people represented Central on a VIM Trip to Soaring Unlimited in Cap-Haitian, Haiti.  Jean Coodrod and Susan Nichols dedicated their time to working with the children who came to the Soaring Clinic each day after school.  They played games, learned how to play one of the three violins that Jean provided, learned new songs in English and Creole, and had their pictures taken.  The pictures were framed and presented to the children at a graduation ceremony before the team left.

Kevin Hahn, David Conrad and Staton Lorenz spent their working days preparing a boys orphanage building for a new roof.  They worked with and trained three Haitian men during that time.  This project was part of an ongoing collaboration among Soaring Unlimited, Heartland UMC, Faith Reformed Church and Central UMC.

Daily devotions, great food each night, a chance to further relationships with our Haitian friends and visits to two Methodist Churches and a couple area attractions made for a great trip.

Thank you for your support!

Haiti Team Highlights 2015

Linda Poindexter, Susan Nichols, Pastor Chris Lane, Brandon Worden, Jean Coonrod and Staton Lorenz from CUMC were joined by Jean Bissainthe (Ford diesel mechanic from Boston) for either one or two week stints at Soaring Unlimited in Cap-Haitien, Haiti. Dorothy Frederickson is the missionary who hosts VIM teams six months of the year, attending to the needs of widows and orphans, teaching leadership classes, English and gardening classes, pre and post-natal care, providing tuition, school books, shoes, uniforms and nutritional supplements to those in need.

Soaring also operates a year-round clinic in Pister four days a week that serves a remote village of 2,000 or so. This is where our team spent our time; building and painting picnic tables for a nearby government school so kids could eat and study off the ground. We assisted in a vaccination clinic, English classes, made repairs to infrastructure in preparation for the MSU doctors arriving in March, paved the floor of the teaching pavilion, converted a 26’ x 13’ storage building into living quarters for two resident guards, created two new storage facilities, repaired earthquake damage to a building, trained a young Haitian how to maintain the diesel truck, replaced all four tires on the Toyota truck, played numerous games, musical instruments and sang with children of all ages each week. Pastor Chris conducted two highly- anticipated Leadership Classes to 20 young adults. We attended two distinctly different church services and met their congregations, ate some wonderful Haitian food, spoke a little Creole and made new friends while strengthening previous friendships. This was made all the more meaningful by the tremendous boost our team received from CUMC members’ financial and prayer support. 

We thank you!

Mission Team Log 2014

2014 CUMC Mission Team Log

Jan 14 : Travel Day

Flight to Ft Lauderdale from TC via Detroit. Left TC at 1:30 pm arrived in Ft Lauderdale at 8:30pm. Stayed at the Hilton Airport Inn because it has a 24 hr shuttle. We were joined there by Irene Lundby and Paul Beckman from Minnesota who will fly to Haiti with us. The IBC plane leaves at 6:30 which means we have to be on the 4:00 am shuttle to the airport. Not much sleep tonight.

Jan 15: Our First day in Haiti

My Impressions as a 1st timer…. 

The beauty of sharp angled mountains rising out of Atlantic; 

The blast of humid air and curious smells when jet door opened; 

The passionate push and pull of humans pressing together; 

The fine tuned dance of near collisions on every road; 

The image of God on every child’s face; 

The spirited drumming and dancing at Pentecostal revival tent; 

Stench of river paired with enterprising coffin maker’s shop; 

Legions of goats strolling unimpressed by busy roads; 

Boy with Huck Finn adventure letting Mike clean his bloody knee; 

Another boy dancing buck naked full of joy at water pump; 

Giving and receiving respect across language barrier; 

Passion to serve in Joshue, Hanania, Gabo, Nana. 

By: Chris Lane

Jan 16: Thursday

Up at 6:00 a.m. First cup of coffee was great! Chris was not too familiar with the percolator but between us we figured it out. Staton was quiet and deep in thought at breakfast and broke the news that he may have been pick-pocketed while on a walk last evening. We are still hoping and praying he just put the money someplace for safe-keeping and will remember where soon.

After another fascinating drive through the heart of CapHaitien, and a couple stops at the Health Department and to buy bricks, we arrived at the clinic at 9:30 carrying 15 people in the truck. A busy day was spent on different tasks. The masons are finishing putting up the walls for the new room being added to the Clinic. Staton and Mike worked on the water system, diagnosing the problem and figuring out how to fix it. Many parts are needed and shopping for them takes longer than you think it should. I taught an English class for two hours. I had not been planning on doing that, but Juvenal, the regular teacher, talked me into it. The students said they liked my teaching because I laughed a lot. They are used to a more formal style of teaching. I think they are coming back for more tomorrow. Everything was pulled out of the storage room and sorted through, which was a big job!

Dinner was on the table when we arrived back home at 5:30. Nana made a Haitian style meal with chicken legs and beans in sauce over rice, fried breadfruit, mangos, tomatoes, and spicy coleslaw, which the Haitians call ‘picklee’--delicious. During devotions we discussed mentors, or people who have had an influence on our lives. Learn more about each other.

Time to shower off the dust and sweat, and get ready for another full day tomorrow.  We are going to start on the culvert and ditch project tomorrow, so that a bridge or ramp over the ditch can be built. Staton and Mike will work on the plumbing. 

By : Carla Roberts

Friday, Jan 17 Haiti Day 3

Our day starts at 6 am. We are ready for our car pool ‘truck’ by 8 am. We settle into our commute from Dorothy’s House to the clinic. The drive thru the city is always an adventure. There are no traffic lights! The one or two traffic lights that are still in place do not work or are shut off. Driving is more like a dance or rhythm. Thank God we have a great driver.

A couple of great memories already: Carla teaching the students. Their eagerness and energy to learn is refreshing. Chris was using the hand water pump to help a very young Haitian girl fill her water pails. In the background were two cows and a goat drinking the runoff. It is a blessing to work with these people. Everyone you meet is very kind. Blessings are certainly going both ways. 

By: Michael Conlan

Sat, Jan 18 Vacation Day

Since we had accomplished so much work yesterday….

· finished emptying the ash pile and hauling all trash to the dump 

· cutting the door into the new storeroom 

· cleaning and sorting the Lab 

· digging the caked dirt out of the culvert 

· building up the area on top of the culvert to prepare for a bridge/sidewalk 

· progress on the plumbing repairs

….we headed out to Comer Plage, a nice resort, restaurant and beach on the ocean. After a few stops 

for errands and to buy Dorothy a new phone, we drove over the mountain on a very steep road with 

many switch backs. Hanania and Joshue came with us. Beautiful views of CAP and of the ocean from the mountain roads. What a great improvement in the road since the last time I made this trip!  Staton and Chris went snorkeling in the ocean near a coral reef.  Beautiful weather.  Nice swim in the ocean.  Good food and friends.  God is good. 

By: Linda Poindexter

Jan 19, 2014 Day 5 Sunday

Even Sunday begins at 6 am. Chris is the first to rise at 5 and make the first of 2 pots of coffee. Another sunny day and pancakes with guava marmalade or syrup.

Mike is finally feeling like his real self, reporting a good night’s sleep, but Chris put in his order for a sleeping pill to overcome the din of dogs fighting over a chicken wing somewhere.

We left for church at 9am arriving just in time for us to hear the end of the male choir’s beautiful hymn. We were greeted warmly by the two pastors and listened to a vigorous 45 min sermon. The congregation was younger than I remembered from years past. When the young boys began leaving for the bathroom the pastor seemed to get the hint it was time to “wrap up” his sermon— preached with no notes.

Home again for lunch of Sloppy Joes, fruit cup and chips and then arranging chairs for perhaps 20 guests for pastor Chris’ leadership lesson which was to last 3 hours…and it did! Pumpkin soup, hot chocolate, banana bread, yellow cake and frosting, water and juice—a real Methodist meal for all.

Chris took his message from two books:  Jesus CEO by Laurie Beth-Jones, and Leading Like Jesus by Ken Blanchard.  He challenged everyone to pick an action to act on this week using one of the nine principles he discussed. Most everyone is planning to return next Saturday to share the results of their ‘action plan.’

Chris, Carla and Staton took a brief walk around the neighborhood in two directions as the sun began to set behind the mountain with some clouds giving a hint of the first rain in nearly 4 months. 

By: Staton Lorenz

Monday, Jan 20 - Teachers Manifestation

The teachers were demonstrating in the streets of CAP by the bridge so we had back track and find another way to get around the city. Took at least another half hour for that and we found some very bad roads that were like I remembered from past trips. Bud, Iren and Paul came with us to the clinic. Irene helped Carla teach English class. Bud wired up the solar—now it works OK.

Samuel, an English student of Juvenal’s is a plumber and he volunteered to help us install a vent pipe on the chatadeau to allow proper water flow. He showed up with fittings, some tools and Make, Staton, and Bud all played a role in getting the plumbing fixes made.

In the afternoon, Chris, Carla, Dorothy, Paul, Juvenal, Jean Mary, Carlos and a few others went to Bor de Mer, where Christopher Columbus landed in Haiti. Nothing to mark the spot though. It is a fishing village and we watched some sailing boats come in and unload their catch. A man walking on the beach wanted to sell us octopus.

One of our jobs has been to dig out the ditch and culvert in front of the clinic. At first Chris worked alone, bur soon the elder of several 20-30 yr old men told him in broken English/Creole there was a problem that there are so many of his friends in need of work but no one was hiring.  Chris consulted Hanania who negotiated with the man.  Chris offered approx. $3 US dollars plus 

100 goudes. Somehow that was acceptable for 2 men to work an hour with Chris. It seems we’d shown them dignity by negotiating over their time, even though it was far less than wages in US (ie approx. $2 per hour) We moved much dirt. The hired men were thorough. We worked wordlessly alongside each other being equals as common laborers. 

By the group

Tuesday , Jan 21

Another ride out to the clinic after a stop at Staton’s favorite hardware store for some materials, including a very long 2 x 4 that we tied down for the ride. We also had a very large box with the 

incinerator in it, making it quite cozy in the back of the pickup. I enjoy it though. So many things to see and hear and smell as we travel through the heart of the city, across the bridge, and out in the countryside where the clinic is located.

Staton and Mike continue to fine-tune the plumbing. Mike built some frames for the window screens. The incinerator was installed and tested, and we played with the hoards of children.

The highlight of my day was the motorbike ride to different villages to deliver school supplies to the 

children in the school sponsorship program with Chris and Mirlene. Our ne the University I saw a dead cow on the side of the road. When we came back through, the cow was completely butchered, only the head was left.

At Tru du Nord it was market day and we circled through the marketplace a few times trying to locate the school. It did not appear there was enough space to ride a motorbike through it, but we did it, occasionally ducking under the tarps hanging quite low overhead. The motorbike drivers are very skilled. It turned out the school was closed because the teachers have not been paid, which seems to be an issue at many schools. 

By: Carla Roberts

Wed, Jan 22 Airport Day

We picked up Laura at the airport at 8:30 am and took her to Dorothy’s. After making school packs, we then took Chris and Carla to the airport at 11:30 to leave at 1:40pm. Staton, Mike and Mirlene took a tap-tap to Hanania’s house to meet Bud Dennington in order to scan the codes in the Ford truck parked there.

Hanania lives about 4 miles in the opposite direction of the city when leaving Dorothy’s road. Her home is very nice, single story with beautiful gardens in the front yard—tall plants of a great variety. 

The Ford truck has a flat tire and a flat spare and it started right up but it made a loud popping sound 

and would not reveal any codes for us. We looked at her roof which continues to leak on winddriven 

rainy days.

Returning to Dorothy’s we had lunch with Nana, Madam Ovian (Mirlene’s neighbor), Mirlene and 

Renaud—scrambled egg sandwiches on Haitian hamburger buns, oatmeal cookies, and fresh squeezed juice. Today Renaud packaged beans, rice and maize for the nutrition program.Once Chris and Carla were safely on their way, Linda, Laura and Dorothy returned home so we all could head right out to shop for building supplies—plywood, 2x4s, 1x4s, paint, brushes, roofing tin, and roofing screws—were obtained in 11/2 hr (a record) and just as the 16 ft lengths of lumber were loaded it began to sprinkle. Mike and Staton donned slickers and kept the load secure. We had to tip the men who felt they had played a role in securing our cargo—also a first.  We rode the 15 miles to the clinic at 25- 28 mph to avoid a cargo shift. Once there we checked on the mason’s progress, secured the new room and jumped in the truck just before it began to rain hard.  All in all-- a pretty good day.  Linda had devotions and most in bed by 9. 

By: Staton Lorenz

Thursday, Jan 23

It’s good to be back in Haiti, with this wonderful group of people on the Mission Team and Dorothy as our host. I (Laura) started the day at the clinic assisting with the English class of 7 students. It was a class of eager students who wanted to learn anything I wanted to teach. They asked very thoughtful questions and enjoyed practicing their proper pronunciation of words and sentences. Linda joined in the last half hour or so, as I was there longer than I anticipated (until about 12:15). 

In the morning we stopped at a number of places on the way to the clinic looking for a part for the 

chatedeau/cistern to no avail. The guys fixed the generator and got it working in the AM.

Staton and Mike worked on building the trusses for the new room. Linda and I also painted the 3 screen frames and attached the screen material to the frames so they are ready to install after the plaster/stucco dries on the new room walls and painting is done. The clinic staff saw a few patients today and distributed food and it was nutrition day (rice, beans, sugar, evaporated milk).

We got stuck in a traffic jam on the way home at the end of the day. The police were directing traffic. I added an extra half hour travel time. We had hot dogs, fried taro, tomatoes, Haitian potato salad with beets, and oatmeal cookies. Mike had devotions. 

By: Laura Larson

Friday, Jan 24

Light, fluffy pancakes for breakfast courtesy of Mike—yummy! Picked up some more lumber, a big white plastic barrel for trash and a water dispenser pump for the house on the way to the clinic.  Couldn’t find the right kind of screws for the roof, so Hanania had some at her house that we were able to buy from her, as installing the roof on the new room was a priority today. Mike said his day was a “lot of ups and downs”(the ladder)-- pun intended.

Linda and I took measurements of the new room to plan for shelving. We cut 9 shelves, sanded, painted, all with the help of many darling children onlookers, full of curiosity. I think it’s part of the fun and meaning of coming to Haiti—the children. It seems like they know more English than last time I was here 4 years ago. Many say ‘good morning’ and ‘good job’, among other things, that always brings a smile to my face. Sometimes they surprise you on what they know. They surprise you on what they know. The railing was ordered for the porch, estimates for the sidewalk extension and posts for the new gate were received, workers were paid. Linda’s doing a nice job keeping it all straight. Staton’s also doing a wonderful job keeping it all moving along!

Pasta & meat casserole, mango, tomato, banana bread, and cherry pie for dinner. The team said I had 

better write about the “pie incident”, so here goes: Towards the end of dinner, Mike passed me the pie and said I have the honors, meaning I should cut the pie. So while I was cutting the pie with a 

sharp knife, Dorothy started saying that she hoped I didn’t need a buzz saw to cut through the crust as Nana’s crust are always so hard. So we all started giggling and passed the pie around to get our slices, making silly jokes. When I started to eat my pie and got to the crust I used the edge of my fork to try to cut through but a big chunk of pie slipped off the plate, and somehow shot under my arm and behind me and landed on Dorothy’s recliner. Mike said all he heard was me saying ‘oh, oops’ and then Dorothy laughing louder than he had ever heard her.  Everyone was almost on the floor laughing so hard.  Luckily the cherry pie didn’t stain the recliner and no one was injured in the “cherry pie crust incident.”  Oh, the memories on trips like these!  All in good fun!  I led devotions. 

By: Laura Larson

PS: We improvised and made washers for the roof screws out of an old rubber blood pressure cuff 

bladder. Linda cut little squares and we poked holes in the middle and put one through each screw. 

Ingenious!

Saturday, Jan 25 Sight Seeing Day

A bright sunny morning. Dorothy saw the sunrise and commented on it. We decided yesterday that if work went well those who wanted to could go to the Citadel (castle/fort) high atop a 970 meter mountain near the village of Milot. Linda’s ankle was swollen so she chose to stay home with Dorothy. She sorted dozens of boxes of stuff that arrived in Oct –shoes, clothes, pillowcase dresses and school supplies—down to a ‘fine sort’ in order to find items easily. Dorothy did some laundry.

Juvenal and Joshue arrived at 8:30 am as promised and Laura, Mike and Staton joined them for the ride to the Citadel—Haiti’s most famous tourist attraction. The road is paved then dirt then flat cobblestone for the intense climb to midway point where we parked the truck and were immediately besieged by vendors selling hats, flutes, wooden boxes, beads, artwork, some t shirts and horseback rides to the top.

The King’s palace ruins and a historic domed church were at this location as well. We paid the $15 entry fee for ourselves and the $5 fee for our Haitian friends and were assigned a guide who was quite good and apparently only receives income from tips according to him but not Juvenal. The palace was also the home of Christoph’s wife who has a Carraia marble bust of herself looking up the pristine valley toward the Citadel and away from a very old tree that was used for hanging.

The young men who tended the horses were quite sure that at least Laura would need a ride before long and one followed us half way (22minutes) before deciding to ride ahead and look for a more desperate person. The ride by truck to the parking lot was a series of severe switchbacks, all cobblestones that was cemented in place in the late 1980s. The mountains were covered with banana palm trees and very thick—homes were built on the slimmest of parcels perched on very steep carveouts.  Laundry was hung on nearly every cactus bush and rock to dry.

A look backwards revealed a serpentine river that wound its way to the sea-the “Grand River”—the very same one we get our mortar sand from near Limonade. Another smaller river, the Artibonne was also visible. The view was magnificent—reminding me of the Smokey Mountains but with more 

mountains visible behind mountains, hence the title of Dr Paul Farmer’s book, ‘Mountains Beyond 

Mountains.’ The climb was steep but not impossible and the occasional vender would pop up selling very heavy drums and/or bamboo tubes that made a deep sound—the music stopped the minute the prospects declined to buy—a tough life for sure. A lady breezed past us—our guide said she was housekeeper at the Citadel and lived in Milot and walked the trail every day to work.

We were all amazed at the scale of everything about the Citadel. French cannon, weighing tons were 

displayed near portals pointed to the sea—capable of reaching ships anchored there though several miles away. Cannonballs remained stacked in pyramid formation. Molasses and the blood of animals were used to mix the mortar at times when water was scarce—the entire castle was made of stone, concrete, brick and the lives of over 10,000 slaves who died in the construction years. Truly a marvel of engineering—vaulted ceilings, cisterns, latrine, living quarters for Christoph and is wife— cooking, baking, and vast storage for black powder required great thought and planning.

The Citadel was built on no foundation and only one major crack exists due to an earthquake long ago. The view is spectacular, mountain ranges, rivers, small villages, Labadie, Cap Haitien and the route to the interior of Haiti. Above all it’s beautiful and worth seeing sooner rather than later if you visit. The trip down followed a ‘shortcut’ that Mike and the guide took on the way up—a goat trail of loose stone and rocks set in wet clay that made for potential twisted ankles. We were very careful and no injuries resulted.

The same folks who greeted us at the starting point were thoroughly disappointed that we didn’t buy from them on our return—they are polite, firm, friendly but the merchandise is mostly of not of much use. Staton bought 2 flutes for his grandsons near the midpoint though.

Now we were hungry—ate some power bars—headed back to the clinic to pick up some wood, check 

on the masons’ progress on our gate posts—a surprise for Dorothy—and then a quick visit to the new 

school so Laura could see it before heading to CAP to pump soccer balls up, buy roofing screws, a 

starter rope and fuel line for the generator and a snack at the Boulangerie (bakery).

We did all this in time to arrive at Dorothy’s 4 pm Saturday Leadership class which was attended by 10 men who stayed just past 7 and had a variety of interesting questions about the lesson and then discussed Pastor Chris’s two challenges he laid out for them last week.

We ate chili on spaghetti or macaroni, pickled beets, banana bread, mango, juice, and sliced tomatoes. Devotions and shower put this writer to bed at 10:30—latest night yet. 

By: Staton Lorenz 

Sunday, Jan 26

We arrived at church (Methodist) earlier than last week—9:15—but found out that they started at 8— 

so we were late again. Did not have any choirs this week or we missed them. We were out at 10:30 then headed for the village of Vodray (spelled Vaudreille in French) for lunch at Villa Cana, a resort and restaurant south of CAP. An hour and 1/2 later we got the food we ordered! The food was good and the resort was really lovely and a surprise at this location. The waiter did not speak any English. 

Then we went to Hanania’s house (turn left at the ASAP sign). We met her whole family—3yr old 

Hanisha (who seems to be getting over her malaria quite quickly), Hulda-- her sister, Hanania’s mother and dad, 3 step children ( 2 boys and 1 girl), and 4 nieces and nephews.

Staton and Mike went to work trying to analyze the Red truck problems. They spoke on the phone with the mechanic in Mass. Finally they decided on a plan of action for the truck involving the Haitian mechanic.

Hanania brought us fresh coconuts with a hole cut in one end. We drank the coconut water and the scraped out the soft coconut from the inside with a spoon and ate it. Very good—my first fresh coconut! We sat and relaxed in the shade of her beautiful trees and talked. Carol, Dorothy’s friend from high school, was there too visiting.

After driving home, Staton and Mike started sawing wood for the gate. We ate the stew Nana had made for us yesterday. Then the guys went to work putting the clinic gate together. They stayed up late working as the rest of us went to bed.

P.S. We did find out about the Living Water well drilling program. Samuel, who was related to the lady in white at the Methodist Church, is involved in this. It is different than the Life Water International program where Edrick works as a driller. Many water drilling programs are needed here. 

By: Linda Poindexter

Monday, Jan 27

Our second to last day of our mission work. I am not sure we will be able to complete all our tasks? Our commute was uneventful. I am still thankful for our former tap-tap driver, Joshue. On our ride out we had 17 people in the back of the truck—a record. We had some students hitch a ride for a while as the teachers are on strike-- “some teachers have not been paid for 6 years.”

Laura and Linda spent time painting the six 1”x 10”x 16 ft shelving boards which are to be used for the new room. Then they painted the interior of the new room—2 coats for both projects. Staton was busy working with everyone to make sure things continue to move along smoothly. He was able to wire the plugs and a light today.

The masons’ worked on the new sidewalk to the dirt road. I was able to finish the tin on the roof and side walls.

In the evening after dinner Staton and I continued to work on the gate “new”. We will try to hang it 

tomorrow if we can find the correct hardware—always a challenge.

I am happy to have the chance to meet the people of Haiti and work with them. I pray that they will be able to provide for themselves. They want to learn and work. 

By: Mike Conlan 

Tuesday, Jan 28 Last workday!

Shopped for cement screws and padlock with a long neck—couldn’t find either one. Gave up after 5 tries at different stores. Sent Joshue back for the screws after we got to the clinic—late as usual. A few patients were still waiting—3 small children and their moms. One baby was only a few weeks old.

We resumed our work. Laura and I painted the old storeroom walls and about 1 1/2 sides of the outside walls—the sun was so hot on the outside today. We also finished painting the window blocks. Used almost all of a 5 gallon pail of paint. Left the other 5 gal. pail for the staff to finish the outside walls.

Staton and Mike worked on installing the gate. We took pictures outside the new beautiful gate and sidewalk over the ditch. We paid the masons and arranged to have them come Thursday to finish a sidewalk widening project around the gate.

Staton and Mike fixed problems with the wiring in the storeroom and installed the screens and many of the shelves. The rest will be left to Joshue to finish.

I taught Joshue how to use the incinerator properly. He is to burn trash daily and empty the ash into the barrel the next day before burning a new batch. The incinerator is a great improvement over the old burn barrel—it is hot enough to burn needles up or into a clump with plastic. I am so happy with the incinerator.

I also installed the second doorknob set and made sure Joshue knew how to do the other 2 sets. He is very eager to learn anything and is going to be a great handyman for Dorothy as he gets more experience.

Staton finished the tool rack in the depot and closed off access from the guard’s room. We finished all but 1 1/2 items on the TO DO list before leaving for Dorothy’s for supper. We are all tired but are glad we were able to get most of our tasks done. Everyone has worked so hard. We gave away a lot of toys and balls today just before leaving. So long clinic!! 

By: Linda Poindexter

Wed, Jan 29 Good bye, Haiti!!

We are all packed and ready to go. Left for the airport at 10:30—too early… Went through check in 

procedures and paid our exit fees of $60 US. Their airport security is much better than in previous years—but still not as stick as in US. Had nearly 2 hours before our flight. Surprise they decided to leave early by about 1/2 hour. We even got a soda and a bag of chips on the plane—that’s new! Customs in Ft Lauderdale was totally empty when we arrived—was a breeze. Had to walk to the Delta building for our next flight home. Found out that Atlanta was having ice problems and all flights there were cancelled. Irene and Paul had tickets with a stop at Atlanta-- so they changed their tickets to our flight to Detroit. We left them in Detroit to wait for their flight while we went to our other gate for Traverse City only 1/2 hr. between flights. All was well and we made it home at 10:40pm. Later I found out that Irene and Paul spent the night in the Detroit airport -- their connecter to Minneapolis did not fly because they did not have a crew--probably stuck in Atlanta. They flew out in the morning. It was a big shock to go from 88 degrees in Haiti to 0 degrees in TC! But we are glad to be home.

Linda 

Haiti Summary - 2014

We had no rain delays this trip but experienced two days of no gasoline in Cap-Haitien but we were prepared. Sunny and pleasant except for the final two days of 95 degree weather that soaked my clothes with sweat so thoroughly that Dorothy actually thought I had "peed my pants".

We accomplished all of our goals and managed to squeeze in two side trips for various team members. Chris, Carla and Merlene (our Haitian pharmacist) visited the landing spot of Columbus, a small fishing village north and east of the clinic, they also delivered school supplies to orphans living nearby that Dorothy supports. Laura, Mike and I joined our driver, Josue', and Jovenel Thomas (Dorothy's English instructor at the clinic) for a long-overdue trip to the Citadel (castle/fort) built at the cost of 10,000 slave's lives, and who knows what else, completed in 1813 to keep the newly independent nation of Haiti free from French incursions. A remarkable feat, an engineering marvel of its day and Haiti's largest tourist attraction....set on top of a 3,000 foot mountain where you can see 50 miles in any direction on a clear day...a beautiful sight, reminded me of the Smokey Mountains. Dr. Paul Farmer wrote the book, "Mountains Beyond Mountains" and that view clearly shows what he meant, in addition to the mountains of obstacles that Haiti faces daily.

Dorothy was more like her old self, I think because she didn't have to any driving (she hired a very capable driver and handyman in Josue') and she didn't have to ration funds since we pretty much managed that.

Mike Conlan and I roomed together and he proved to be a wonderful team addition.  Together with many skills and no need for supervision, he took the initiative on several projects which really helped, since there were times I was being pulled in five different directions. We got the solar working nicely only to have an internal breaker in the Inverter go out when we tried to run the shop vac on the solar. Bad idea. The new addition was begun by the mason we hired that I worked with last year at the orphanage.  We sent money ahead so that 300 cement blocks could be made and the 9' x 12' slab could be poured and waiting for our arrival (it was and so were the four corner post rebar structures).  The building went up according to plan, one head mason and two or three tenders, Mike and I cut a door through the south wall of the old building leading into the new one so that no new exterior door would be required. We took a masonry blade for that job and it went well but it was very dirty.

A parge coat of finish cement was applied to the inside and outside walls and after two days Linda and Laura began painting two coats of paint, cutting shelves, making 4 window screens and putting up shelves.  I wired the room and the old storeroom for electric lights and plugs, together with Mike we made roof trusses, installed the purlins for the tin roofing material to rest on and Mike pretty much installed the metal roofing with the aid of a Haitian or two.  Josue and Jean Marie (one of the guards) helped us daily. The room looks fantastic.

The first week pastor Chris was assigned the job of cleaning out the old burning pit, hauling away the unburned ashes and debris and installing the stainless steel incinerator which had to be tethered by a cable to an eye bolt that he imbedded in a hole filled with concrete, same for the lid. It works great!  Temps reach 1800 degrees.  Josue and the guards were trained in its use.

Carla, Linda, Laura and Chris all took turns teaching English on Mondays and Thursdays in the morning. The water system hadn't worked in some time.  This was one of my first projects along with Mike and an English student named Samuel, we reworked a good portion of the system and water now rushes into each room instead of dribbling or not at all.  It was a big project that took parts of four days.

The early part of the days at the clinic involved sorting many boxes of "stuff" that had to be either burned or salvaged for the new storeroom.  We also cleaned out the storage depot, a separate building that will ultimately house the guards in one half and tools in the other half. We secured the two sections as one will be storage and the other used to house the guards.

Dorothy put a high priority on having a sidewalk from the road to the gate,  having a new gate to replace the fragile and cumbersome corrugated contraption in place at the time. The culvert that allows rain runoff to surge along the road and under the path to the gate was completely plugged with clay...hardened by four months of no rain until we arrived (we had three modest showers in the evening on several nights). Mike, Chris and numerous Haitians were recruited for this interesting job that gave both of them a great opportunity to interact with both adults and children for most of one afternoon.

Dorothy wanted a steel railing put up around the porch so children wouldn't tip the benches over and fall about 3' to the ground while waiting for the doctor.  We paid to have them made and they arrived the afternoon of our departure. We couldn't buy treated timbers in Haiti so I decided to have the mason make two concrete posts...8" square and 6' tall and 45" apart...these posts would accommodate a wood gate that Mike and I built after dinner and devotions on two evenings.  The quality of lumber there is quite good but you have to be a tenacious shopper to find most everything else in a timely manner. The gate went in just as we planned and we kept Dorothy off the property for three days prior to our final day when we were able to reveal the new 30' sidewalk, reinforced with rebar, that lead to the new gate.  She was VERY surprised and grateful.  She then saw the new room, observed a fire in the incinerator, made note of the working toilet, washed her hands with running water, saw the new railing and checked out the new storeroom, new roof and metal enclosure securing it, a great way to conclude the trip.

The first Saturday we went to Comer Plage (resort near Labadie) for a swim and lunch.  Chris talked me into going snorkeling with him and that proved to be a near fatal mistake, for me.  We returned to Dorothy's for the Leadership Class and about 15 young men and a couple women were there.  Chris observed and told everyone he'd be doing the class on Sunday afternoon, which he did and it was excellent and well received.  We attended church both Sundays and the second Sunday we all went to lunch near Hanania's home at a very beautiful resort called Villa Cana where a wedding reception was about to take place, however, it took 2 hours to get fed. We then met Hanania's family, all 13 of them, and Mike and I did follow-up work on the Ford truck (we had gone there another day with Bud Dennington) took some video of the way it ran, making very scary sounds, and Hanania brought fresh coconut milk to us while we were doing some testing.  Dorothy, Linda, Laura, Mike and I were there and enjoyed an hour with Hanitia, (Hanania's 3 year old daughter) entertaining us.  She is recovering from Malaria and is a real sweetheart.

I haven't mentioned Linda much but she is the best team leader you could ever ask for.  She split organizational tasks, she handled all the money and receipts, booked all the airline tickets and hotel rooms, built shelves, screens, did tremendous work with medical records and supplies, worked closely with Carla, Chris, Laura and some of the staff while Mike and I focused on the heavier construction.

We did have many light moments, enlightening rides in the truck (up to 17 persons in the back at one time), wonderful interaction with old friends and made new ones.  We did some souvenir shopping and the ladies were able to visit some homes and schools of the students Dorothy helps.  The poverty they saw was worse than previously witnessed in a couple of cases. On the brighter side, the leadership class displayed NO negative feelings about the future which was a sharp contrast to years past, testimony from the young leaders was hopeful and they each shared something about the leaders that affected their lives growing up to this point in their lives.  Parents were mentioned many times, a little unusual since some don't have both parents living at home or at all.

This was a very strong team.  No issues, lots of joy, laughs, good food, no flat tires, pretty good sleeping weather and Dorothy was happy and looking forward to the arrival of Jim and Diana Huckle, Kathy Gray  and the MSU medical team.

Thank you for your interest,

Staton

Haiti January 2014

So far so good.

Had to shift some items from bag-to-bag to meet weight restrictions.

Team members return to the clinic in Pister to add a room, make numerous repairs to infrastructure, build a foot bridge, a gate to the compound and teach leadership classes.  In February, Jim Huckle will escort a team of medical doctors and nurses to the clinic and treat over 100 patients each day there.  Both teams stay and work for Soaring Unlimited and Dorothy Frederickson, her 22nd year in mission.

Spoke with Hanania & Edrick today

News from Haiti arrives by; letter, email or phone...today it was by phone. We are trying to discover exactly which parts are needed for the F-250 Super Cab to start. The mechanic, who speaks English, lives and works in Port au Prince...lives under a tarp and relies on his cellphone for contact. However, his phone is "not in service" which means he has no place to charge it...today.

I spoke with Hanania...Dorothy's clinic administrator and jack of all trades...Edrick this morning. They are both well and safe as are all the others that work for Dorothy...a blessing. Hanania said that there have been no Cholera patients coming to our clinic in Pister...they would have to be turned away for lack of antibiotics anyway...that area is clear of it. However, her personal doctor has treated 600 patients so far and 20 have passed away. The hospitals are refusing Cholera patients...they are being sent to a school gym by the hundreds and are being treated by hundreds of doctors and nurses from the US and elsewhere.

Everyone washes everything with Clorox mixed with water and all drinking water is made safe with Clorox as well. The election results will be posted on December 20th to determine for sure who will be in the run-off election. Depending on the outcome there may be more riots in January but right now everyone is "calm."

Hanania and Edrick both sound very good and wanted me to pass their greeting along to their friends in Michigan and elsewhere who are following the blog.

Apparently it is known who took the items from Dorothy's home but their name will not be given out...out of fear. The home has been made more secure and someone stays there overnight.

Sorry to skip around so much...Edrick says the truck's water pump has begun to leak so we'll pick one up tomorrow and send it down along with whatever parts we know they need. Hanania said anyone thinking of coming to Haiti might want to wait until after January and the election results. Her daughter is growing fast and just fine.

Please keep Dorothy and her capable staff in your prayers as well as the people of Haiti who struggle each day with difficulties that we can only imagine...unless you've been there to see for yourself.
Staton

Limited news emerging lately

Spoke with Dorothy for 30 minutes this week but she's heard nothing from Hanania other than when the break-in took place several things have turned up missing. It happened on a Sunday morning so someone was keeping an eye open for their opportunity.

Apparently the entire solar system, which was stored inside, was removed...2 panels, batteries, inverter, charger, small generator, TV, VCR, and DVD player also are missing. Her computer, copier and office items weren't discussed. The brand new washing machine has its own room and appears safe.

Don't be confused about the solar systems...the one at the clinic is intact. Times are very difficult in Haiti, for everyone. Hanania has moved out of her family home...lots of family moved in from Port au Prince (10 in all) so she moved across town near where Edrick lives.

D.F. and Edrick went to PAP to get the truck fixed...no luck but it still cost $400 and nothing changed...Edrick thinks they need a glo plug so we'll get working on that when we learn more.

Dorothy was shocked at how extensive the tent cities are...it takes 8 hours to drive the 90 miles south to PAP and the tarp/tent cities are "everywhere"....it's "incredible" and such very unsafe living conditions.

She shared that the elections won't be settled for some time and no one is happy with the candidates or the supposed winners. Voting stations in the north were destroyed in areas otherwise considered safe in the past. Dorothy compares the scene in Haiti to the situation in Nineva in Johah's time...I think she's right.

Soaring Unlimited has it's annual meeting today and you can expect a newsletter very soon from them...we need to find room in our hearts for those we know and love in Haiti and those who serve the Lord there. Cholera is cured with antibiotics but the clinic is out and so is much of the country.

Good news? Well just imagine how bad things would be if the hurricane season struck Haiti full force instead of a glancing blow, no pun intended.
Staton

Dorothy's home for Thanksgiving - 2010

Good news and bad news...first the good. Dorothy wrote that she is thankful to be home with family for Thanksgiving, a precious time that gets short-changed during her busy summers. She will host a baby shower for her grandson's baby today.

Hanania emailed Dorothy last Monday that someone broke into her house and they have not heard what was taken yet...possibly one of the generators. "Things are terrible over there...we need to pray the elections come out okay on Sunday (today) when they are scheduled...they have 19 canditates vying for the Presidency."

She wishes everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.
Staton

2010 Soaring Update & Photo tour of Cap-Haitien

Good news...Dorothy is back in Lansing, tired but safe and bearing news of strife, death, disease, riots, election turmoil and the ravages of Cholera. So, where to begin?

There are approximately 12,000 UN troops in Haiti charged with keeping order in a nation of several million and Cap-Haitien has over 300,000 depending on who does the counting and how many refugees have migrated there from Port au Prince. The Cholera outbreak, not yet defined as an epidemic, is blamed on certain UN troops from Nepal and according to D.F. their compound is based along the Artibonite river about 40 miles south of Cap. The septic/sewage holding tanks for this camp overflowed into the river and shortly thereafter it was determined that folks living downstream from this camp were becoming ill with Cholera and blamed the Nepalese soldiers for bringing Cholera to Haiti.

The UN denied the possibility for several weeks but now is beginning to study the possibility after riots have broken out targeting the UN troops...regardless of where they are from. When we were there in February we knew that Canada, Brazil, Portugal, Bolivia had troops in place in Cap. The outrage has led to street fighting, death by gun shots from the troops as they put down rioters who have burned police stations, money transfer stations and UN vehicles. To fight the troops Haitiens have dug 3' wide and 4' deep trenches across city streets...camofladged the ditches and waited for UN tanks and troop trucks to plunge their front axles into them and become trapped and subject to barrages of rocks and other missiles.

Sadly, people have died as a result of the protests that mean to drive the UN out of the country. A French epidemiologist has been summoned to determine the source of the Cholera outbreak and Dr. Paul Farmer has taken an active role in trying to bring medicines and reason to the solution of the deadly disease. Haiti has not had a case of Cholera for over 100 years. Cholera migrates in water that has been poluted by fecal matter, few Haitiens make a practice of washing their hands after toilet activities (sound familiar?) and rivers are often the source of drinking, bathing, and sewage disposal waters.

D.F. reports that entrepreneurs are selling paper face masks to folks on the street in the belief that the mask will prevent Cholera. Wrong! Cholera is not an airborn disease. Take the time to research how it moves from person-to-person and how lethal it is.

D.F. also reported to us yesterday that people who have died from the disease are left in the street, they aren't allowed to be buried in the cemetaries, people are terrified of touching a victim and the government is not taking an active role of any kind.

UN trucks are being burned...the trucks are full of food for the poor...food that was frequently dispensed at the clinic whenever it could be obtained. BUT there is more...there are 19 persons running for the office of president and the election is Nov. 28th. Mr. Preval is term-limited and can't run and some have speculated that there are forces afoot that might rather see the elections postponed, yet again, they were to have been held 18 months ago.

Cholera needs to be treated with antibiotics and special salts to help rehydtrate victims...it can be treated successfully but antibiotics are scarce and so are the salts. No cases of Cholera have been reported at the clinic, yet but the main generator needs repair so water can be pumped. The solar is working nicely, praise the Lord and all staff and loved ones associated with D.F.'s work are safe.

However, the clinic is running on prayer, not fumes, not money...it's been so successful in meeting the needs of the area that the demand has exceeded the most optimistic expectations and the funding. Soaring needs help and fast so that the clinic doesn't deplete the funds dedicated to tuition, uniforms, books, and shoes for the cadre of orphans that D.F. helps each semester.

Dorothy was able to get the first flight out of Cap on MFI...the government came through with heavy equipment, with UN protection, to clear the roads...they removed the burning tires, filled the ditches, removed the welded car frames that were strung across the narrow streets and hired people to sweep up the broken glass that was everywhere. Will the truce last? Only time will tell.

Like to help? Please specify that your gift go to the "clinic at Soaring Unlimited". FYI the water well at the clinic is safe and so is the well across the road.

I'm going to try and post a large file of photos that were taken by Susan Rakoczy who lived at Dorothy's last spring while waiting for her home to be readied in Cap for herself, husband and children. She has captured the essence of the beauty of the children and their parents that can only be described as precious. These photos were taken earlier this year before all the disease and trouble. She is on her way back right now to supervise the well drilling team from Minnesota. Please pray for her family and all those who have impacted our lives over the years and for the country of Haiti.

View the photos that Susan took by checking the "Links" heading and clicking on "Children & Susan..." the reason for staying connected.
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Staton