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

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

First photos from Haiti team

Here's a link to the Soaring Unlimited website showing photos taken by Cyrus Sibert the Haitian board member who worked with us a couple of days...enjoy. Go to Soaring Unlimited Blog

Tuesday, Cap-Haitian Haiti

Tuesday, Cap-Haitian Haiti
Each day we cook our own breakfast and pack sandwiches for lunch. The breakfast topic of choice is "how many critter noises kept you up last night?" Roosters, dogs, cats, rare birds, frogs and the human critters playing music up to a mile away....sounds of a crowded city. Bob and Carla have to have coffee, so they make it, Elena, Laura, Linda and Sybil cut fresh fruit, bake oatmeal or french toast or pancakes. My job is to start the generator to pump water and load the truck.

Big news: no flat today! We're all praying the new tires come in this afternoon from P.A.P. I rode the tap-tap, my first time, with the staff, and videotaped the daily opening ceremony, the doctor's prayer, the hymn, the Lord's prayer and a second hymn. A beautiful thing since patients and staff both participate.

Margaret the nurse has labeled all the medical supplies in creole, Laura and Carla painted new shelves for the ceiling and pharmacy. Yves, the gardener and English teacher, invited me to video his class held under a mango tree while he taught two 5-member teams (men and women) how to create a compost area. He's a brilliant, passionate 24-year-old who wants every Haitian to learn how to grow their own food and speak English. His students maintain a garden and nursery on the clinic property.

The solar system was acting up. We couldn't trace the problem so we called Allen Rainey from Son Light Power, our mentor, and began back-checking our work. No luck. Tiling is progressing. Hard work for everyone, it's heavy. They should make it out of aluminum and put it on countertops only, not floors.

We picked up three hitch-hikers. Their tap-tap broke down. "Not speak English," but Laura, Elena and I had a few laughs, and so did they, riding in the back of the pickup.

Elena did devotions. We expect to sleep well.

Wednesday, Cap-Haitian, Haiti
Clinic is closed. But first we must see if the tires came in. Edrick, Bob and I went to Top's Tires and there they were...praise the Lord. While they mounted them, Joe, the owner who is Haitian born but his parents were Italian, gave me a nice video interview and a good deal too.

The two guards, one mason and 20 children welcomed us this morning at the clinic. Today we must get a ton of work done. We paired off. Two tiling teams, a tile cutting team, a layout team and Sybil ran for everyone, and taught the children some songs like "Itsy, bitsy, spider." The sound of those children singing and playing joyfully was uplifting to us all. Bob and I worked on Solar over the phone, but even thought the changes helped one problem persisted. We returned to our teams. Three hours later the solar problem was found after a call by Allen to Dave Barrett, here last week, revealed he had installed a pair of wires that were redundant. Problem solved.

Everyone is spreading the word that Friday is going to be special. Solar and water well dedication, toys for the children, singing and our farewell to a place and people we've come to love.

Spaghetti, fresh avocado, carrot and cabbage slaw, baked militone squash, fresh green beans and banana pudding awaited us at 6:00pm. We'd all like to think we're losing weight. A bright sunny day, but not too hot. No snow here. Linda is doing her daily bookwork. We all miss Dorothy.

It's a bustling place. Horns honking, it seems there couldn't possibly be anyone inside a building as they all appear to be on the street. Everyone seems to be kind and friendly. The only thing we have to be careful of is not to take a photo unless they agree. It's very offensive to some of them. So we always ask. But the kids love it, especially video. The go nuts over that.

We've been too busy to get out for any shopping or souvenirs yet. We all have something we'd like to bring home, we just have to get time to do it. It would be nice to go up to the hotel, get a Coke and show everyone who hasn't been here before.

Speaking of Coke, there's plenty of Coke-a-cola around, but you never see beer. I've only seen two people smoking a cigarette. They can't afford it. They sell bales of clothing, t-shirts and such, that came from the U.S. It was part of a program President Kennedy started. Everyone takes good care of themselves, are well groomed and very proud. We look filthy by the end of the day, on the other hand.

First Report from Haiti

Sunday
We flew in to the Bahamas to get gas because there's no airplane fuel in Cap-Haitien. We made it safe and sound, but our luggage did not arrive. Big disappointment.


Monday
11 people for breakfast. Seven from Michigan, four from Minnesota. Still no luggage. Bummer. Clinic busy. 44 patients from 9 different villages. Cap-Haitien is bustling, people are friendly. We had a flat tire halfway to the clinic, which took 3 hours to fix. Long story. We started the wiring on the clinic but had to work around the patients. A little hectic.


Tuesday
Luggage arrived, except Elena's. All solar parts accounted for. No customs (no security check before we took off either). Minnesota team: one nurse, 3 professionals who are drilling and rebuilding water wells. Drilling wells for 18 years in Haiti. 22 patients only at the clinic today. Meals are excellent and plentiful.

Wednesday
Clinic closed. Market day. Full steam ahead on solar. Installed most lights and wall plugs and control panel. Began tile project in doctor's exam room. Rained really hard overnight. Linda, Elena, Sybil (Lansing) and Irene (MN) assist in the clinic each day. Anemia, malnutrition, pain and parasites are the main maladies. Thankfully Elena's luggage arrived today.

Today
44 patients. Lots of children came to visit and play games with Amanda. Dave completed the solar frame. We completed the wiring indoors and the outdoor underground wiring. Very long, but productive day. Drillers fixed three wells. Hand pump wells just wear out. Tonight, fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, fried tomatoes and cake for dessert. The ladies issued rice rations to patients also. Two and a half small bowls of rice apiece.

Tomorrow the plan is to mount the solar array. It's 53" x 99", bigger than a sheet of plywood. And it has to be raised on a 20' steel pole, with 4' buried in the ground. It's going to be a huge job. Hopefully there will be no wind.


General update
The team is working well together. Calls out of Haiti are free, thanks to AT&T. Several phone companies are doing the same, so it pays to check. But there's no internet.

Not too many people speak English. Half the group is traveling to the wells and the other half to the clinic, so it's been more difficult traveling separately. The people are very proud and clean, despite the fact that dust is everywhere. You get used to the feel of dirt on your hands. So far the folks we've met have no family or direct connections with the people in Port au Prince. You couldn't tell there was a tragedy here. Except for the traffic. Anything with wheels on it has people hanging off it like a Christmas tree. And we've noticed a lot of cement being moved around.

Temperature has been tolerable, typically in the 80s. Today was 100. But generally pleasant. My roommate is Bob. We've had electricity every night from 6pm to Midnight. It really helps a lot. Last trip we only had it for one hour each week. What a difference.

Haitians can go over to the Dominican Republic on Mondays and Fridays without a passport. So they travel 50 miles to cross the border and buy food and supplies to consume or sell.

Bananas in Haiti take year to grow. In Dominican they produce them in 4 months using fertilizers. But Haitian bananas are much sweeter and are treasured. Gasoline right now is readily available. Diesel is $3.00/gallon and gas is $4.00. It's coming from Dominican Republic now. Last year, when we were here the costs were $8.00 and $10.00 respectively. So that's an improvement.


Everyone at home is on our minds. We've had so much support and are glad to be able to give you all some feedback. So far, as they say in Haiti, 'No problems'. Except, can't locate a rim for our spare tire. (Thus the long story with regards to the flat tire).

-Staton (transcribed by Brandy via phone conversation with Staton)

Editors note: The internet service they had was provided by a tower in Port au Prince. So while calls can come in and out, email and blogging won't be possible. I'll post info when I hear from Staton by phone.

Lots of news today...

When calling into Haiti...don't give up. After dozens of attempts to reach Linda from TC, it happened today! Very good to hear her cheerful voice and to share news both directions. She was at the airport waiting for whatever might come in, the ambient noise was fierce at first but she found an isolated spot. Since all calls are cutoff at some unknown length of time...we talked fast and we did get cut off after a generous 5 minutes.

The most interesting and heartening news, was that the tiny "Clinique Medicale Soaring de Pister", that CUMC and so many others have had a hand in, is serving the injured from Port au Prince. The mayor of Pister made arrangements to bus in overflow patients from Cap-Haitien to the remote clinic...CAP is FULL but managing the influx. Our first day at the clinic in '08 found us listening/observing the animated mayor giving a speech on the porch to the workers, Dorothy and the four of us. He promised to grade the road to the clinic..."next week", he was making a promise that even Dorothy thought would never be kept...two months after we left, the road was graded...3' deep trenches were filled in. "It looked like a four-lane highway," said Dorothy who had to admit she had misread the mayor's intentions. Good things happen when you trust in the Lord. The mayor is proud of the clinic and the staff!

I told Linda to expect the 500 feet of romex wire and the solar panels on the Thursday plane from MFI and our reservations were confirmed for Sunday for the six of us on the plane to Haiti. You may recall that Linda and several MN team members were delayed. Linda will obtain 3 batteries, even better quality than we expected, and the steel pole. To keep the pole secure, which will stand 16' tall, in strong winds we decided to attach guy wires/cables to it. Sounds like a small thing but it's not cheap. Jason, the manager (owner?) at Maxbauer Ace Hardware on Front St took a real interest in our project and made sure we had the best of everything. Best of all he ran the $117 tab through his account and Soaring Unlimited's Solar Project paid $17. Praise the Lord...people care and this is just one example, support is everywhere it seems.

There's plenty of food and fruit in CAP, the new well is working, there is more electricity in CAP than Linda has ever experienced but there is no Benadryl (I think we can handle that)and while banks aren't taking checks the normal money changers seem to have ample funds for conversion. Haitian dollars are ONLY used in Haiti.

Three of the MN men may stay over for a few days when we arrive, "It's going to be a little crowded but I think you'll find the men pretty interesting," according to Linda. OK! For some reason there doesn't seem to be very many tools lying around the house...hopefully they have been secured at Edrick's home as we'll need a variety of things that we're not taking...expecting them to be there.

Because there is so much cargo for even the passenger planes...when visitors check in with their luggage they are "sized-up", literally, to see how much they themselves weigh as well as their baggage. For this reason some luggage and cargo is "bumped" to the next flight or the next. We are counting heavily on our checked baggage to make it with us as we are each carrying important components for the jobs at hand...something else to pray about.

Speaking personally and for other team members who have shared with me...the sincere best wishes expressed by friends, families and strangers (see above), proves that the Holy Spirit is alive and working in and around us.
Staton