Haiti Bonjou

Haitian Senate Fires Prime Minister

2009-10-30T07:33:00.001-07:00

The latest on the political scene in Haiti:

Training Of Trainers- A First Step In Advancing Education in Schools Of The Diocese Of Haiti

2009-10-29T14:05:00.000-07:00

While researching funding sources for my daily living expenses and special projects in Haiti. I learned of a special grant program available through St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Annapolis, Md. They had several priorities in their giving, among them education. I spoke with one of the members of the Grants Committee before departing for Haiti, so I had a sense of the competition for these awards and the kind of projects that might be most appealing. I did not have enough substantive information to complete the application in advance of my departure for Haiti. However, I did know that my goal as a Missioner and the hope and expectation of St. Margaret’s was the development of a sustainable, capacity building project. I began to imagine a peer training programs for teachers of the schools administered by the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti. I looked forward to testing the idea out on Rev. Oge Beauvoir, Dean of Seminaire de Theologie and Executive Director of the Bureau of Anglican Education of Haiti (BAEH).

Once I got my bearings in Haiti, one of my top priorities was the grant to St. Margaret’s. The deadline was the end of November, so there not time to lose. As I shared the premise for the proposal, I was thrilled to learn that Marianne Palisse, an education missionary and Assistant Dean at the Episcopal University of Haiti, had the very same idea. I received all the additional details needed to complete the proposal, including the fact that only 8% of the teachers in the private sector are trained and 15% in the public sector, and submitted it on November 30. As projected, we received word in February that we were among the proposals that made the cut. We were ecstatic. Following two rounds of follow up questions and a couple of conference calls, we anxiously awaited the final decision. In May, we were thrilled to receive word that teacher training project had been awarded $10,000. It was a wonderful start to what we hoped to be a three-year training program.

The months of planning and preparation passed quickly. Soon August 24^th arrived and the beginning of the first 2-week training of trainers was here. Virginie Hoareau, the BAEH Director of Pedagogy, was recovering from surgery, so I served as an administrator for the program. This included gathering all the personal information on the teachers, producing name tags, tracking attendance, taking pictures and assigning a different participant to write a daily blog entry on the experience. Greeting each person as they arrived and managing these details really gave me a chance to get to know the different teachers. There were 20 participants, representing all 5 Archdeaconries. Many came long distances, some making the trip on a daily basis and others staying with family and friends in and around the Port au Prince.

The days were LONG and HOT. August was, without question, the steamiest month of my residency. We began at 8:30 a.m., took a 20-minute break around 10:30 a.m., had lunch at 1 p.m. and concluded the day at 4:30 p.m. The training was facilitated by Monsieur Rouille and Monsieur Maucouvert, two members of GREF, an organization of Retired French School teachers who offer their extensive experience to provide training to other teachers in French speaking countries. Though Haiti has a long history of rote learning, Monsieur Rouille and Monsieur Maucouvert emphasized the didactic approach to learning. This was reinforced in the training experience through small group discussions and individual and group presentations. Furthermore, with 4 female teachers in a group of 20 participants (a ratio, representative of the overall teaching population in Haiti), some important attention was given to encouraging their confidence and leadership in the academic arena.

Through the two-week session, the group focused first on philosophy of teaching, followed by an overview of Haitian curriculum and requirements of the Haitian Ministry of Education, instruction on the creation of a lesson plan, and, finally, a presentation of a class in each of the core subject areas. The last day was spent reviewing the overall training and determining, as a group, what should be placed in the training manual that would be assembled and sent to the team electronically by Monsieur Rouille and Monsieur Maucouvert.

The next training will take place during the two week around Mardi Gras in February. Although it was originally to focus on the newly trained trainers being observed training others, the GREF facilitators felt that another two weeks with the original group would be beneficial. July 2010 will be a month long training by the newly formed Haitian trainers throughout the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti, with GREF representatives offering counsel where needed.

It was very rewarding to see one of the projects first envisioned during my early weeks in Haiti come to fruition. The Teachers Training Teachers program is a perfect example of an initiative where I was only tangentially involved and which can, therefore, be easily sustained after I return to the states.

To learn more about this training, please visit the BAEH blog, baehdioceseofhaiti.blogspot.com.

Haitian Prime Minister on the way out

2009-10-29T10:09:00.000-07:00

An update on the probable removal of Haiti's Prime Minister:

Food crisis in Haiti: an interview with Myrta Kaulard of the World Food Programme

2009-10-29T09:44:00.001-07:00

Food crisis in Haiti: an interview with Myrta Kaulard of the World Food Programme

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Latest Political News from Haiti

2009-10-29T09:33:00.001-07:00

Click here to read the latest political news from Haiti:

A Dental MASH Unit in Gwo Jan

2009-09-13T05:33:00.000-07:00

While on leave in the United States, Dr. Trey Wilson ordered some dental supplies for Joseph Antony, one of the Haitian dentists who participated in the Tabasamu dental clinic and T3 training in May. I brought them back with me and called Joseph to schedule a time for him to pick them up. When he stopped by, Joseph mentioned that he was organizing a dental clinic in Gwo Jean during the third week of August. He had brought a beautiful young woman with him, Falide, who was also a dentist and his girlfriend. I was thrilled about the dental camp in Gwo Jean and asked if I could be of assistance. We decided to meet the following week and finalize all the details.

Joseph had already done most of the planning for the clinic. I made a few suggestions and offered to help on the first day. The only remaining concern was transportation (Surprise! Surprise!). I offered to contact one of the drivers who drove to Gwo Jan on a regular basis. However, Joseph assured me that he was pursuing some options.

In the course of the final e-mails the week of the clinic, I learned that the clinic was going to be held at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. I envisioned providing important dental care amidst pews and altar, truly sacred space where God was laying his healing hand upon those who required it.

The first day of the clinic arrived. I had done all the necessary shopping, including the purchase of an Igloo and cooler (not easy commodities to find in Haiti!) and was ready to be picked up. Joseph’s friend had been unavailable to drive, so he secured a tap tap driver. I wondered if this driver was actually familiar with the final road to Gwo Jean- a decidedly steep and rocky climb. However, I decided to keep my thoughts to myself. As was the case with the reforestation initiative, we found ourselves about ½ to Gwo Jean when the chauffeur pulled over and began to negotiate for a higher wage. At this point, he argued that he had not been aware of the distance. His attempts failed and, soon, we were back on our way. As we made the arduous ascent to Gwo Jean, there were another 2-3 occasions when the chauffeur stopped and groused about the condition of the road, the challenge to his brakes etc. Ultimately, however, he continued to drive us to our final destination. He backed the tap tap up to a little incline to the left hand side of the road. A small group of volunteers appeared and, as we unloaded the supplies, willingly took items and started to walk up the hill. I was a little surprised that there was no road access to the church. However, I folded in and went along with everyone else, taking pictures along the way.

As we arrived at the crest of the hill, I saw before me not a bricks and mortar structure but, rather, a mission church created from woven palms and supported with small tree trunks. I had to laugh- I had lived in Haiti for 9 months and it never occurred to me to ask about the physical construction of the church. Silly me, I should have known better!

In approaching the church, I could see that the right front corner had been designated as the operatory. Volunteers had already created a sterile space with sheets. They had also placed a sheet over that section of roof to reduce the intensity of the sun’s heat.

Before Joseph and Falide set up the operatory, we added a second sheet to the ceiling. Though it was only 9:30 a.m., the sun was already beating down on the church. Joseph also switched out one of the sheets on the back wall for a sterile covering typically placed over a patient during surgery. Joseph and Falide unpacked and organized all the instruments and set up the collapsible dental chairs. Simultaneously, the registration volunteers reviewed the list of patients and created additional numbers for “walk-ins”. Within about 30 minutes, we were ready to see the first two patients.

Before receiving those patients, Falide stepped outside of the operatory and made some introductory remarks. I beckoned Joseph who introduced himself and shared a few details about the schedule for the day. I was taking pictures during their presentation. When they had finished speaking, the three of us started to re-enter the operatory. An older gentleman shouted out something in Creole. Joseph apologized and told me that the man wanted to know who I was. They introduced me and then it was time to begin.

My responsibilities included sterilizing instruments, providing patients with bibs (paper towels) & cups of water for patients and disposing of cups filled with spit. At the end of each cleaning and/or evaluation, I presented the patient with a toothbrush and two instruction sheets, translated into Creole, on how to brush teeth and general dental hygiene. Of course, I also documented the day with lots of pictures.

Around noon, a 3rd dentist, Francois, made the scene. He had spent the morning in his clinic at the hospital in Pernier. He would now spend the afternoon volunteering with us.

Despite the cramped quarters, everyone honored their own space and the operatory remained remarkably sterile. I kept thinking of “MASH”, one of my favorite movies and TV series. This experience gave me a glimpse into what it must have been like to offer medical care in what some might define as a “hostile environment”. Though the setting was rustic, the atmosphere was anything but hostile. There was a true sense of partnership and teamwork. Laughter and lively conversation filled the operatory. There was also important care given to each patient, including counsel on ways to improve their oral hygiene and more complicated dental issues that could not be addressed during this particular clinic.

Just before the last two patients, around 3:30 p.m., we took a break for lunch. The timing was perfect, as I was starving. We all ate quickly and then Joseph and Falide treated the final patients. We packed everything up and left most of the supplies in Gwo Jean for the next day. The tap tap driver arrived, loaded the few things we were taking to Port au Prince and we headed home.

It had been a good day. We treated about 20 patients. We might have treated more if we had not charged them. However, we felt it was important to set a small fee for the dental care that they received. This also helped to offset the cost of the program. Joseph and Falide treated about the same number of patients the next day. Since then, word of the quality care that the patients received has spread and there is a cry for a second clinic in Gwo Jean. Joseph, Falide and I hope this can happen in the next couple of months.

Joseph, Falide and Francois represent the wonderful spirit of Haitian people and the incredible ingenuity and determination of their generation of young professionals. I think it is very important to encourage their commitment and vision, for they are truly the future of Haiti. Joseph, in particular, has a contagious energy and important understanding of the need to lend a hand to serve the underserved while pursuing one's professional dreams. It is a joy and blessing to work with Joseph and all the special young adults that he brings to his initiatives.

Meeting Milhous Rabel in Thiotte

2009-09-10T19:47:00.001-07:00

Today’s technology has revolutionized the way we interact and also the capacity to connect and re-connect with others. When I prepared to depart for Haiti, Hannah Powell, one of Trinity’s youth group members, urged me to establish a blog and get on Facebook. I took her advice on both and, through these forms of electronic communication, I have met new people and had others long since absent return to my life.

My 35th high school reunion was last April. A member of my class set up a Facebook page and, within a very short period of time, names and faces of people who I hadn’t seen or heard from for over three decades, began to surface. It was wonderful. Along with this pre-reunion reunion came a string of old photographs that prompted all kinds of great memories and much laughter.

Since I was not able to attend the reunion, I sent a message to my fellow classmates, sharing a little bit about my work in Haiti and letting them know that they would be in my thoughts and prayers as they came together. This e-mail prompted a response from Jeannette Pittman. Now living in England, Jeannette sponsors two children through an organization called ActionAid (www.actionaid.org). One of these children is located in Rwanda and the other in Haiti. When I learned this, I let her known that I had visited a child in Nairobi, Kenya sponsored by the sister of a friend of mine through another organization. I offered to visit Jeannette’s child in Haiti. I explained that, in such cases, the sponsor needed to make the request of the organization.

Jeannette was excited by such a prospect and said that she would contact ActionAid. Some time passed, during which Jeannette sent a couple of e-mails to me expressing diminished confidence that this was going to happen. Eventually, though, she did receive a response from ActionAid and, almost simultaneously, so did I.

Edithe Mathieu, Sponsorship Junior Officer in the ActionAid Port au Prince offices, became my contact. She was extremely efficient, both in terms of communication and also making all the necessary arrangements. We began the planning before I departed for my leave in July. I learned that the little girl’s name was Milhous Rabel. She was 9 years old and lived in a town called Thiotte. Thiotte is in South Haiti, about 3 ½ hours from Port au Prince. It is the #1 producer of coffee in Haiti and about a 2-hour drive from the border of the Dominican Republic.

As I investigated transportation options, I learned that a journey from Port au Prince to Thiotte required changing buses three times. Since I was not familiar with this part of Haiti, and still somewhat limited in speaking Creole, I decided that this was not viable for me. I contacted Edithe and asked if someone from ActionAid might be traveling to and from Thiotte and could give me a ride. She responded by saying that round trip transportation would be provided by ActionAid. As a result of the distance and the length of the visit with Milhous, Edithe said that we would spend the night at a Guest House in Thiotte and return the next morning. We set the date for August 18.

Time passed quickly and, soon, I was back from leave and ready to finalize the details for the visit with Milhous. ActionAid does not endorse having a single child receive gifts or benefits over and above others. Along with Milhous, I would meet with 9 other children. I was invited to sponsor a pizza and ice cream lunch and/or bring small gifts for all of them. I chose to do both.

August 18 arrived and I was picked up by Edithe and another gentleman. I quickly learned that we needed to purchase the ice cream and pizza in Port au Prince. It was another reminder how much Americans take for granted with regard to easy and immediate access to virtually all things. We picked up the ice cream at one of my usual markets, Piyay National. Then it was on to Epidor for two large home made pizza pies.

Once we had the essential items for the party, we began to creep our way out of Port au Prince and through Croix de Bouquets (the home of Haiti’s beautifully crafted iron art) during the morning traffic. After Croix de Bouquets, the road started to open up. After we drove past Fon Parisien, the rest of the trip was going to be uncharted territory for me. And uncharted it was. I have traveled on some pretty bad roads in Kenya, Guatemala and Haiti. However, this trip was, without a doubt, on the worst roads that I have experienced.

The balance of the drive was filled with narrow paths of rubble, up and down steep mountain, around hairpin turns and down into valleys, all with enough jockeying and bouncing to destroy the best of shock absorbers. Guard rails are almost non-existent in Haiti, so one was keenly aware that one sudden swerve or slip of the tires and you might well find yourself down a mountainside. One is particularly aware of this when a large truck on tap tap passed by. Thankfully, our “chauffeur” was an excellent driver.

Amidst the “adventure”, I saw the greatest spectrum of landscape-vast expanses of land devastated by deforestation and a major flood in 2004, resulting in miles of boulders and other rock where a small river and various communities once stood; a beautiful pine forest; exquisitely terraced farms; and lush, almost jungle like areas representing the heart of the coffee business.

Once in Thiotte, we first visited the regional offices. We were greeted by officials of both ActionAid and their national partner CROSE. A lovely snack of boiled eggs, fresh bananas, bread and coffee were provided. Within about 20 minutes, we were off to meet Milhous and the other students.

As we approached the school grounds, there were two brightly painted buildings, one to the left and the other to the right. In the center, there was a large tree providing significant shade. Under the tree, we found Milhous, her parents, the other 9 nine children and about half a dozen adults seated and patiently waiting.

I was first introduced to Milhous and her parents. Milhous wore a beautiful cream-colored lace dress. Her parents were also impeccably dressed. It was an emotionally charged moment for me as I became the conduit through whom Jeannette was linked to Milhous and her parents. I fought back the tears and joyfully shook their hands. I then greeted the rest of the children and adults.

After introductions, we began to serve the pizza and the ice cream, still surprising cold, to everyone. The children were incredibly well behaved, each patiently waiting to receive their serving.

Following their snack, I distributed a few gifts to each child: a beenie baby, box of crayons, pencils and 3 toothbrushes. Given my involvement with Tabasamu, I always try to provide toothbrushes wherever I visit. The children seemed to like everything. One little boy received a bright yellow duck for his beenie baby. He clung to it all afternoon, even in the group pictures. Edith Evans, my mother-in-law, had donated the beenie babies. Her loving gesture brought great joy to the lives of these children.

Since I provided dental instruction sheets in Creole, I was asked to do a small presentation on good dental care. The children were attentive, though clearly the length of the day was beginning to effect their energy level. As so often happens in Tabasamu programs geared for children, the adults who were present seized the opportunity to ask their own questions.

At the end, I asked if there were any other questions that the group had for me. Milhous’ father asked if it was possible that Jeannette might visit Haiti some day. I explained that she lived in England and that it might be difficult. I was then told that I was the first person to visit a sponsored child in Haiti. Perhaps those who are reading this posting, and who sponsor a child through ActionAid in Haiti, will consider making a visit. It was certainly a blessing for me and was clearly meaningful to Milhous, her parents and the broader community.

Following the dental program, everyone assembled for group photos. Then it was time to say goodbye and head to the micro finance coffee business. The coffee company has been in existence for several years and exports coffee to various countries, including Japan and the United States. This enterprise not only provides income to sustain ActionAid’s regional programs, it also offers employment to a significant number of parents of the sponsored children. It was an impressive operation and a wonderful example of local business supporting community development.

We left the coffee business and headed to the Esperanta Guest House, stopping briefly to purchase some of the wonderful coffee that we had witnessed in production.

Esperanta was a lovely multi-room guest house, which also hosts banquets, weddings etc. We checked in and had time to relax a bit before dinner was served. Given the altitude, the air was delightful. I sprayed the tops of my sheets and the balcony doorway, so that I could keep everything open.

Dinner was delicious-rice, beef with sauce, plantains, salad and fresh juice. After taking a shower, the rest of the evening was spent catching up on a few e-mails via my BlackBerry and reading Mountains Beyond Mountains.

Breakfast (classic Haitian spaghetti with ketchup & fresh juice) was served at 7 a.m. the next morning and we were on the road by 7:30 a.m. Edithe and the chauffeur were quite gracious in allowing me to request a stop whenever I wanted to take pictures. I took full advantage of their kindness, particularly in the forest and in the area of the terrace farming.

When we returned to Port au Prince, Edithe took me to the central office. She provided me with a full tour that ended in the sponsorship office. I completed the visit evaluation form on line and, as I got up to leave, was presented with a lovely collection of ActionAid gift items. The straw hat and the travel first aid kit would definitely come in handy! I thanked everyone for all of their efforts in making this memorable trip happen, especially Edithe. Then Edithe and the driver took me home.

Sometimes we think the world is very large and disconnected. My visit to Thiotte brought three countries together- England-Jeannette’s home; the U.S.-my home and Haiti. It took a team effort to make this amazing encounter take place. And, for a brief time, the world became very small.

Haiti should take care of disabled children - Editorials - MiamiHerald.com

2009-09-07T21:00:00.000-07:00

http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/story/1213496.html

The Episcopal Diocese of Haiti & Trees for the Future-A Reforestation Partnership

2009-08-23T21:00:00.000-07:00

A Little Background

Before leaving for Haiti, I made a special presentation to the members of Trinity Youth Group (TYG). At that time, I announced my intention to facilitate a two-week summer mission trip to Haiti. Participants would return to Haiti with me following my leave and share in both cultural immersion and two community-based initiatives. I had hoped for a strong representation of TYG members in this trip and was therefore eager to learn in which projects they were interested. Among other things, I shared the long history of deforestation in Haiti and the devastating effects that it has had on the landscape, wildlife and economy of the country. Megan Piette, a high school sophomore, expressed real concern over this issue and wanted to know hoe group could offer assistance.

Megan’s passion over the challenge of deforestation, coupled with a connection I had already established with a member of a greening organization working in Haiti, actually confirmed that one of the summer mission projects would focus on the issue. For me, Megan’s concern and interest was a sign that this was an area of high priority for the future of Haiti.

Weeks and months passed, more extensive materials were distributed on the summer mission trip along with monthly articles and other promotions. Despite these efforts, which spanned far beyond my home parish, no youth expressed an interest in participating. Though I could certainly invest time trying to analyze the reasons and examine what I could have done differently to successfully launch the program, I chose to accept the situation and decide how I might best execute the two projects that I had identified.

Since Timote Georges, the Field Manager in Haiti for Trees for the Future (www.treesftf.org), and I had been strategizing this project throughout my time in Haiti, it certainly seemed feasible to identify an all-Haitian volunteer team. As I also discussed this with Oge Beauvoir, the Dean of the Seminaire de Theologie, he expressed a desire to involve the youth of the Episcopal Church in Arcahaie, St. Thomas. Timote and I scheduled a meeting with Pere Deveaux, head priest of St. Thomas in mid-May. As we shared the mission and vision for the project, Pere Deveaux told us that the Church’s scout troop had been eager to participate in such an initiative and should, therefore, represent the volunteer force from St. Thomas. He called one of the scout leaders who joined the discussion. Soon dates were confirmed and preliminary logistics set.

While I was on leave, Timote held a couple more detailed meetings with the scouts. When I returned in early August, Timote and I had a final planning session and arranged to spend a morning shopping for all the necessary supplies.

The Project Itself

During my years of leadership in the youth program at Trinity, a week long residential outreach program in the city of Philadelphia called Mission Philadelphia had been created. Initially, the group engaged in a wide variety of projects throughout the city. During the past 7 years, they have partnered with a greening organization call Urban Tree Connection (www.urbantreeconnection.org) and helped to transform abandoned spaces in the West Philadelphia corridor into inviting, community utilized gardens and parks. The key to the success of these projects is the significant relationships that are forged within the neighborhoods where the work takes place. Community members not only participate in the week’s experience, they continue their commitment to the initiatives throughout the year.

The model for Treesftf is quite similar. As Field Manager in Haiti, Timote receives requests from communities in the regions most affected by deforestation. He holds meetings with them and, together, they determine the best way to move forward in the given area. Trees for the Future supplies the equipment, seeds and other associates supplies for each sponsoring area. The ongoing stewardship of the project is the responsibility of each community. Thus far, this approach has been a most successful one. However, there continue to be two consistent challenges to the growth and sustainability of the reforestation program- food for community volunteers and transportation.

Hunger is probably the number one health challenge in Haiti. Since most of the reforestation work is taking place in outlying areas, the issue of starvation is even more striking. Thanks to the generosity of my Mission supporters, especially those who made some special gifts in the late Spring and during my leave, Timote and I were going to be able to offer both breakfast- coffee and bread with mamba (peanut butter) and lunch (rice, beans, beet salad, meat and pikliz (a kind of spicy cole slaw-delicious!) along with unlimited water and juice throughout the day. We took comfort in knowing that both the scouts and community members were guaranteed two meals on the days we partnered in their area.

Transportation is another major issue in Haiti. Few individuals have their own vehicles, especially in rural areas. The roads are in terrible condition, often requiring a 4 wheel drive or pick up. This is especially true in the rugged and mountainous regions where much of the reforestation occurs. Again, because of the support of so many to my work in Haiti, we were able to rent a truck for the two days of the program. This not only allowed for the transport of supplies but also all the workers.

Since this was a first experience for the scouts of St. Thomas, Timote identified two established programs located 20-30 minutes from the Church. The first was located in Bercy. It included a significant parcel of land on which to plant trees, a tree nursery and a large compost pile. The second location was in Caryies, a hilly and rocky region where the community leader, had established the nursery on his own property.

Timote and I left Port au Prince late Sunday afternoon with a truck full of supplies. Junior, the driver for the LAMP Clinic of Cite Soleil, had graciously offered to serve as the driver for most of the project. What a God send! We arrived at St. Thomas to find the scouts assembled and waiting to meet me, receive marching orders for the next day and ask any questions. They were very excited about the program, and eager to receive their t-shirts! Some questions already anticipated future programming.

Given the August heat, we woke up at 5 a.m. and prepared for a 6:30 a.m. departure for the work site. One group pulled all the equipment out of the storage area and began to assemble the two wheelbarrows and a couple of the tools. Another small group left to purchase 7 five-gallon jugs of purified water. I was on bread and mamba duty, while a few men pulled the HUGE block of ice off the ice truck (a sight no longer seen in the states!). The cooks prepared coffee avek anpil sik (with lots of sugar!) and everyone gathered for breakfast.

Junior was not available until later in the morning, so Timote recruited a local tap tap driver to take us to Bercy. All was well until we turned off the main road to “uncharted territory”. As we moved through ever-increasing high grass and brush on a narrow dirt path, the grumblings of the driver and his partner also increased in both length of complaint and volume. At one point, they stopped the tap tap and refused to go any further. After some negotiation, however, we were back on our way. Within another 15 minutes, it was clear that the rest of the journey was going to need to be on foot. We paid the richly deserved fare, and began trudging through the terrain with all of the supplies. Perhaps this is a good time to mention that there were 28 scouts who ranged in age from 9-16. There were 4 troop leaders, all in their early 20’s. Everyone took something, whether a handful of tools or a 7 gallon jug of water, and moved through the high vegetation, under an already intense sun. Soon we arrived at relatively open space. The nursery and the beginning of a compost pile could be seen beyond some banana trees to the far left. Straight away there was a nice shade tree on a small rise. This would become our central location for equipment, hydration, food and rest. To the right, there was a partially cleared field of banana trees. This area would be prepared by the group. There was a third location where the ground needed to be loosened with pick axes for tree planting. Given the intensity of the labor, this project would involve the some of the older volunteers and Timote.

Work began around 7:30 a.m. Intense progress was made for the next few hours. Beverage igloos were deployed to the different locations. It was incredibly hot. My job was to make sure that the Igloos remained full and iced. This was a fairly constant activity. I also manned the central gathering place.

There was a group break around 10:30 a.m. People returned to their assigned areas until around 12:30 p.m. As the middle of the day approached, all but the older crew stopped and waited for lunch. I had a little bread and Mamba left from breakfast to spell those who were hungry. A parade of cooks and Jr. arrived around 1 p.m. Even after 8 ½ months of being in Haiti, I continue to be amazed at the volume and weight that Haitians can carry, especially on their heads! Large metal pots of rice and beans, more jugs of water and the rest of the wonderful meal were quickly arranged in a buffet line. Everything was delicious and rapidly consumed.

Everything was packed up and the first part of the group headed to the vehicle with Jr. He shuttled them to the road and headed back for the rest of us. Timote and I were part of the second group. As we headed to the pick up point, we stopped to speak with two farmers along the way. Interestingly, they were engaged in some of the very environmental work that Trees for the Future is training other Haitians to do. As we proceeded, Timote remarked that, in his mind, Haitian farmers are the foundation and heart of the country. While formally untrained in certain areas, they have a keen awareness of surroundings and man’s impact on nature. They work to diminish these problems on their own property.

After making two runs back to St. Thomas, we thanked the scouts for a hard day’s work and bid them farewell until 5:30 a.m. the next morning. We headed for the public beach and experienced a brief relief from the heat until a thunderstorm rolled in. We quickly gathered up our things and ran to the car. On the way back to the Rectory, we picked up some BBQ (chicken in a clear pike spicy sauce-delicious!). It was the perfect end to a perfect day.

I woke up at 5 a.m. the next morning and assembled 60 sliced rolls with mamba. The scouts gathered, formed a circle for their group prayer and the first group jumped into Jr’s car. The ride to Cariyes took us down the main highway toward the beaches. Suddenly, we made a quick right and began to ascend a narrow and rocky road. About 10 minutes later, we stopped in front of a fenced property. As we entered the gate, there was an outdoor dining area, a charming little stone house to the left, a cooking area toward the back and, to the right, a well established tree nursery.

The first order of business was breakfast, Everyone sat down and I doled out the bread and mamba. The cooks had prepared coffee and also offered fresh avocado (in season at this time of year) and bananas. When this group finished eating, they began to process enriched soil for the seedling bags. This was done by first stomping on piles of manure and then adding it to a large pile of soil along with an enriched grain like substance. The soil mixture was properly tossed and blended, resulting in a mountain of dirt. A number of youth and adults gathered round and began filling the seedling bags. As they were filled, other youth took them into the nursery, where they were topped off and carefully lined up. Within a few hours, the HUGE pile of organic soil had disappeared and the nursery was, once again, filled with little seedlings.

While this work was taking place, there were two other teams planting more mature seedlings, one above the nursery in a large open area and the other on a rise along the road we used to arrive at Cariyes.

One of the reasons that our second day of work started so early was that a 23-year old member of the scout troop had died recently and his funeral was scheduled for that afternoon. I was told that he died of anemia. I suspect it was Sickle Cell Anemia. Certainly a sad time for the community.

We stopped work around 1 pm. We returned to the nursery, washed hands and shared in a fabulous lunch of fish (the best I have had during my entire stay in Haiti), chicken, beet salad, and rice. Then it was time to load up the truck and say good-bye. Just before departure, we took a group picture. It was great to have the volunteer team in their lime green shirts. Of course, the community leaders and the cooks were also an important part of the day.

We shuttled the crew back to St. Thomas in the same fashion as we had the previous day. I drove with Jr. on both runs between Cariyes and St. Thomas. The first group created the following song about deforestation and sang it during the entire ride back to the church:

Escout sen toma yo: we
St. Tomas Scouts: Hey
Nou sot plante: bwa
We come to plant: Trees
Poun rebwaze: Peyi a
To reforest: Our country
(Repeat many times)

Fok nou plante: bwa
We should plant: trees
Poun rebwaze: Peyia
For reforesting: The country
(Repeat many times)

It reminded me of the many wonderful mission trips I had shared with youth at Trinity. These scouts had not only deepened their own community though this experience, they had developed a real commitment to environmental work in Haiti.

When all had returned to St. Thomas, there was a brief gathering to offer thanks and allow for questions and comments. The overall theme of this time was the enthusiasm over what the scouts had done during the past two days and the eagerness to continue the work. Of course, identifying funding sources is going to be critical. I offered some suggestions. The scouts also have a few ideas. Certainly, anyone reading this blog who wishes to offer support can contact me. This assistance can be provided by individuals, churches and organizations.

I returned home dusty, sweaty and filled with a sense that the intergenerational, community based approach to reforestation is the ideal model for sustainability and capacity building. I was also excited to see the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti take a major step in Arcahaie toward being good stewards of God’s creation.

A Seminarian’s First Trip to America

2009-08-13T18:07:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday, August 5th, Marie Carmel Chery, a rising third year student at Seminaire de Theologie, took her first plane ride across the Atlantic Ocean and began an exciting visit in the United States. Carmel and the only other woman at the Seminary, Margarette Saintilver, were offered summer internships with Episcopal parishes in the United States. This is a rare opportunity for any Seminarian from Haiti, let alone a female student.

Margarette left for her post at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Bangor, Maine a couple of weeks ago. I was on my leave when she departed and not able to share in all of her final preparations. I was pleased that I returned to Haiti in time to support Carmel as she readied for 6 weeks in the Diocese of Upper South Carolina.

It had been a long journey for both Carmel and Margarette to be eligible for such an experience. They each had to secure passports and then Visas. It is extremely difficult for Haitians to obtain Visas, especially single young adults who appear to have the least motivation to return to their homeland. Once Carmel and Margarette had their passports, they visited Sogebank, paid a fee and made an appointment at the American Embassy. They left the apartment at 6 a.m. and returned at 11 a.m., having successfully secured their Visas. They were particularly excited about receiving their Visas since they had stood in a line where the representative was issuing them to very few people.

Ongoing communication followed with the sponsoring churches and respective planning committees, arranging housing, schedules of activities and, of course, airline tickets. Soon it was time to make final preparation for departure.

When I returned to Haiti last week, I found Carmel feverishly washing clothes and organizing her personal things for the trip. She also secured all prescriptions and other items that she might not find in the states. When it was time to pack, Carmel loaded a large suitcase with an ample supply of outfits, toiletries, books etc. We went to bed around 11:30 p.m.

Carmel and I were up at 5 a.m. the next morning. She had a beautiful new outfit on and was packing the last of her items. Her father, also in a new shirt and pair of slacks, joined us to spend a little time with Carmel and travel to the airport. We quickly ate breakfast and loaded the car.

At 6:30 a.m. in Port au Prince, there is certainly traffic. However, it is not nearly as bad as later in the day. We arrived at the airport in record time. We unloaded her suitcases and made sure that she had a “red cap” (an airport sky cap) to assist her. Then it was a group picture and she was off to manage security and check-in on her own.

I texted her a couple of times while she was in the Port au Prince airport . She let me know when she had boarded the plane. Then all was silent until I received confirmation from the sponsors who met her at the Charlotte, South Carolina plane that she had arrived safely.

Given my age, the fact that I am a mother and my professional background working with youth and young adults, I have been particularly committed to seeing that Margarette and Carmel felt well prepared for their internship experience and making certain that their time in the states would be fulfilling and transformative. Though Carmel has only been in South Carolina for about a week, I have the sense that she is both enjoying her time and learning a great deal. I also have no doubt that the members of her sponsoring parishes, particularly those on the Internship Planning Committee, are also appreciating the opportunity to better understand the rich and vibrant culture of Haiti and the depth of training that postulants receive in the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti.

Bill Clinton to Haiti With Entrepeneurs-Let's Hope This Visit Yields Financial Benefit For Haiti!

2009-08-09T13:40:00.000-07:00

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090809/ts_nm/us_haiti_clinton_1

A Wonderful Time In The States & A Return To Haiti

2009-08-09T12:54:00.000-07:00

I apologize for the month of silence. I really tried to honor my time with family and friends while in the states. As urged by my Bishop, I also needed give myself time for rest and renewal. This is not an easy practice for me. However, I did manage to designate some personal time into the weeks at home.

As I suspected, my visit passed very quickly. I scheduled many appointments and social get togethers well in advance of my arrival. This was done to assure that I took care of all the personal and professional needs as well as the very important reunions with those who I love and who have supported me throughout my discernment and execution of mission. Despite the best of intentions and heartfelt desires, there were several people who I did not have a chance to see. I felt very badly about this and hope that they understand. I will certainly look forward to seeing them in November when I conclude my service in Haiti.

The end of my time in the U.S was met with some difficulties related to my flight back to Haiti. Delta began to fly to Haiti in late June. I was thrilled by this news. American has been the only commercial airline to fly into Haiti and they are long overdue for some competition. I booked my last round trip excursion with them and looked forward to experiencing what I assumed would be the utmost professionalism and great customer service.

I had a 9 a.m. non-stop flight out of JFK airport in NYC, a hub for Delta. I arrived at 6:45 a.m., allowing plenty of time to process a boarding ticket, check baggage and board. I pulled up to what appeared to be curbside check-in. I was excited, as this would both save time and eliminate the need to drag three heavy suitcases inside. Within 15 minutes, it was clear that these representatives were not really doing anything other than confusing the passengers. I proceeded inside, loaded a cart and joined a HUGE line of passengers, all being served by half the number of representatives who should have been on duty for such a large group of customers. General chaos and inefficiency reigned, resulting in many, including me, missing our flights. I found myself faced with spending the day and evening at the airport in anticipation of boarding the same flight on Monday morning.

Despite my disappointment and frustration, my “stay” at JFK actually proved quite interesting. During the hours that followed, I observed the comings and goings of countless people from all possible nationalities and was truly amazed by the diversity of travelers passing through the airport. I had personal interactions with a Ghanaian gentleman named Derek who was based in South Dakota and had traveled to many countries including Russia, China and Tanzania, engaged in community-based initiatives on behalf of a Christian non-profit. I also had a delightful conversation with a 9-year-old Irish girl while her mother ordered their dinner. Apparently, she travels to the U.S. each summer visiting different parts of the country. She was remarkably poised and worldly for her age.

My observations at JFK airport are a clear reminder that our world has truly become quite small. We are called to embrace such opportunities, to deepen our understanding of each other and open our hearts to the rich and abundant cultures of the globe.

Now, back to my 48 hours journey to Haiti! My check in process on Monday morning went a little more smoothly. The waiting area for the flight was filled with Haitians. It was wonderful to hear the banter in Creole and re-aquaint myself with the wonderful Haitian spirit and laughter. As we landed in Port au Prince, all the passengers cheered. They were equally responsive when hearing the live Haitian music being played as we entered the terminal. Once I passed through the customs, baggage claim and security clearance areas, I exited the building. Oge Beauvoir, the Dean of Seminaire de Theologie, had arranged to meet me. However, much to my surprise, I was also greeted by Moliere, a gentleman who has provided transportation to me and my friends visiting Haiti. Although he knew that Oge was meeting me, he wanted to welcome me back to Haiti as well. I was so touched. Moliere was an instant reminder of the warmth and remarkable commitment to friendship that is inherent to Haiti. Though I know I will miss my family and friends in the U.S. during my final months in Haiti, I also know that the love and comradery that I experience here with so many people will sustain me. In fact, it is that same sense of community which will make it very difficult to say goodbye on November 2nd.

Drumming Performance at St. Joseph's School of Boys, Port au Prince, Haiti

2009-07-18T19:16:00.000-07:00

A Visit to Einstein Albert’s Woodworking Studio

2009-06-29T09:45:00.000-07:00

Jacqualine Labrom, a wonderful travel and tourism agent, had shared her passion for the artistry of Einstein Albert, the second-generation owner of a local woodworking business, with me. I was eager to go, especially before heading home on leave. I have a special wedding to attend in July and wanted to select something handcrafted in Haiti. This was going to provide me the perfect opportunity.

Jacqualine picked me up around 10 a.m. There were five other people joining us, three of whom were staff members from the United Nations. We proceeded through Leogane and Carrefour, driving about 40 minutes. At a certain point, the driver u-turned and then accessed a small side road. As is so often the case here, you proceed down an alley like road where there seems to be little of interest. Suddenly, however, you turn a corner and find that you have discovered one of Haiti’s treasures.

Einstein greeted us at the gate. He first took us the open-air work area where some of the women were sanding pieces in various stages of production. Einstein began with the family history. His parents came to Haiti from Jamaica in the 1940’s. They founded the woodworking business. As word spread of the quality and craftsmanship of their product and demand increased, it was suggested that they develop their own tree plantations. They settled on the Obechee tree, a kind of gum tree. They chose this tree for a couple reasons. It was a soft wood and, therefore, not viable for making charcoal. It was also very fast growing. Within 9 years, an Obechee tree can have a circumference of 90”. They now have multiple tree plantations from which they draw their wood.

They woodworking center averages 40 employees although, at their busiest times, they employ as many as 80. 60% of their work force is women. The women are primarily responsible for the sanding. The men are engaged in aspects of production requiring heavier labor.

Every piece is of the highest quality. The varnishes are produced organically from other trees. The color of the varnish varies with each species of tree and therefore affects the color of the final product. Each piece is varnished 13 times and then receives a final matte. This enables all the products to be used for food. They are also temperature resistant. In addition, the pieces are specially treated against termites. This is particularly important given the softness of the wood.

Einstein shared the story of one of his most popular pieces. Some years ago, he attended a special gift convention in New York City. A woman came to his booth and raved about his work. As beautiful as everything was in his display, she was interested in finding something unique. Einstein asked her if she had an idea of what she wanted. She said yes, borrowed his pen and sketched it for him. He said he could have it produced in two week and shipped to the U.S. She handed him her card and told him to contact her at her hotel when it arrived.

After the woman left, the person in the booth next to Einstein said “Didn’t you know who that was?” Einstein said no and looked at the card. It was Lady Diana! The bowl arrived, as promised, two weeks later. He delivered the bowl to the hotel. When Lady Diana asked for the price, Einstein said that it was a gift. In exchange, he asked permission to associate her name with the design. To this day, it is known as the Diana bowl.

Einstein has a great business sense. While not sacrificing quality, he is coming up with some new, simpler designs to keep costs down during the recession. One of his innovations is what he calls a plate. It is available in various sizes, about ½” thick and can serve any number of functions. I bought a small one to use as a cheese board.

Today was both delightful and informative. It I always heartening to witness successful, family owned businesses that also provide important employment opportunities for the community. Einstein is a remarkable man, open to sharing his gifts and collaborating with others. He entrepreneurial spirit demonstrates hope and promise for Haiti’s future.

Coming Home

2009-06-29T09:32:00.000-07:00

Eight months in Haiti. Wow! In some ways, it feels as though I just stepped off the plane. The time has passed so quickly. There are many places yet to be seen, people to meet and, most importantly, work to do. In another sense, I feel immersed here, almost forgetting what it is like to live in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. There is a different routine to my day in Haiti. The smells, sounds and surroundings quite distinctive, almost exotic, in contrast to those of my hometown. What will it be like to come home?

My husband, Eric, visited me for a week in early April. He was the first member of my family to come to Haiti. As I suspected, when he left I realized how much I missed my family, and the months that followed were a little more difficult that the first six. Once June arrived, I began a countdown for my leave, eagerly anticipating reunions with my family, Trinity parishioners and other dear friends. As I write this article, I am ten days away from departure and starting to clean my room and make other preparations to ready for my month in the states.

As excited as I have been to head home, I was thrown a curve ball last Sunday. I attended the 9 a.m. service at St. Trinite Cathedral. I have become quite accustomed to hearing the liturgy in French and, sometimes, Creole. My comprehension has improved with time and, since we share the same Book of Common Prayer, I feel very much a part of worship. As Pere Sadoni, Dean of the Cathedral, made announcements before the last hymn, I gazed at the beautiful murals of the birth of Christ, the crucifixion and the ascension, which serve as a backdrop to the high altar. I realized that, because of another commitment the next week, this would be my last service in Haiti before going home on leave. I began to think about hearing Holy Eucharist Rite II and all the music in English with American voices. Suddenly, I was moved to tears. I now understood that, as much as I longed for the people and places that I love so dearly, I had found a second home in the past eight months – Haiti.

So, I ready for my trip home on Thursday. As I share glimpses of my experience of the past eight months with family and friends, I suspect some, maybe all, will see how Haiti has become a part of me and, maybe, how I have become a part of her.

Bill Clinton: Haiti has chance to escape poverty - Kansas City Star

2009-06-16T09:52:00.001-07:00

Bill Clinton: Haiti has chance to escape poverty - Kansas City Star

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Guess Who’s Coming To Haiti?!

2009-06-12T09:46:00.000-07:00

Immediately following the Tabasamu program, I received a visit from Rev. Lauren Stanley, an Episcopal priest who hails from the Diocese of Virginia and serves as a Missioner through the Episcopal Church Center. She has spent the past four years in the Sudan, teaching English and a number of courses at the Episcopal Seminary there. She endured relentless heat, living in a mud hut with no running water, no electricity and, given the significant political unrest, prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice. As with those truly called to Mission, Lauren immersed herself in the daily life and culture of the Sudan. She is fluent in Arabic, speaks some Dinka and embraces many of the traditions of the Sudanese.

Lauren recently returned home from this assignment and wanted to consider Haiti for her next post. I invited her to stay with me not only as an extension of hospitality by a fellow Missioner but also to provide her with an opportunity to ask questions about my experience and share some time with the Seminarians.

As part of my Missioner training last summer, I attended an Episcopal Mission world conference called Everyone Everywhere. I heard Lauren speak at the conference and was very moved by her experience in the Sudan. Little did I know that our paths would cross again so soon and that she would be considering an assignment in Haiti!

Lauren is a ball of fire, passionate about service as a Missioner. We exchanged a few e-mails before her arrival. She was eager to learn about Haiti and, in particular, my perspective on the country and the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti. I took full advantage of her visit, asking her to bring a guitar and recorder and some hand made book bags with school supplies for St. Vincent school for Handicapped Children. She did so willingly and eagerly.

Lauren’s stay in Haiti allowed me to meet another priest in the Diocese, Pere Ajax Kesner. As with all the priests of the Diocese of Haiti, Pere Ajax carries many responsibilities. A primary duty is the management of the Partnership Program. This initiative involves oversight of all partnerships between schools administered by the Diocese of Haiti and their U.S. sponsors. There is a keen interest in growing the number and scope of partnerships, so much so, that it is a goal included in a special resolution to be presented at the National Convention this July. Though Lauren certainly spent individual time with Pere Ajax, I was also able to join them for a number of meals and help to share some of the culture and traditions of Haiti.

One of the highlights of her stay was when she co-celebrated Eucharist with Rev. Fernand, the only ordained woman in the Diocese of Haiti. They led the Wednesday morning liturgy at the Seminaire de Theologie. What a great example for all the Seminarians and an inspiration for Margarette and Carmel, the first, and to date, the only two female Seminarians.

Lauren met with Bishop Jean Zache Duracin last Wednesday and was formerly invited to serve in the Diocese of Haiti. She will be situated in Petionville, a suburb of Port-au-Prince, and live in an apartment over St. James the Just Church. In addition to focusing on the Partnership Program, she will also help with communications, and serve at the English-language 8 a.m. service on Sundays. Many expatriates, including a lot of AID and embassy personnel, attend this service. Lauren hopes to foster deeper relationships with them.

About a month after I arrived in Haiti, I spoke with David Copley, the Mission Personnel Officer for the Episcopal Church, and urged him to begin considering who might follow me when I departed in November. I could never have imagined that a Missioner with Lauren’s experience would choose to serve here. I am additionally blessed to be able to work with her for two months before I head home. God has truly provided abundance in ministry for the Diocese of Haiti.

“Stone Soup”, A Community Effort For Dental Health

2009-06-10T16:16:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite children’s stories is Stone Soup. It is a tale of a man who gathers the community for a wonderful soup. He starts out with a stone and needs “just a little something more” from each and every person who arrives to partake. In the end, the entire group contributes to the soup and it is, in fact, a feast.

Such was the experience during the dental care, education and training program that occurred during the last weekend in May. It began with a partnership between Tabasamu, a Bucks County, Pennsylvania based non-profit focused on free dental care and education and LAMP, a Philadelphia based non-profit committed to health care in Cite Soleil. LAMP identified a site to provide a three-day program of dental care, education and teacher training- the Becky Dewine School of Hands Together, a Catholic holistic initiative for children in the Brae Neuf section of Cite Soleil.

This triad was exciting enough. However, in the course of planning the weekend extravaganza, several Haitian dentists expressed interested and sacrificed one or more days of work to participate in the program. 8 Haitian dentists, representing LAMP, Partners in Health and private practice, not only gave their time and talent, they pooled their instruments, equipment and supplies to make the clinic day come to fruition. With only 500 dentists serving 8 million citizens in Haiti, it was no surprise that they knew each other and looked forward to working together.

The Tabasamu team arrived mid-day on Thursday, grabbed lunch and headed to Hands Together for a team orientation. 15 lay and skilled American and Haitian volunteers gathered in the school library to strategize the best way to proceed with the combination clinic and dental education program the next day. All the dentists wanted to be a part of the clinic and were willing to take turns between providing dental care and dental education. The dental education team, known as ”Tooth Tour”, decided to rehearse early on Friday morning, leaving the rest of Thursday to set up the clinic operatories.

There are always unexpected twists and turns in health care mission work. The most consistent challenge is to be assured that you have all the instruments necessary and that all equipment is in perfect working order. On Thursday afternoon, we determined that neither was the case. The shortage of instruments and supplies was easy to resolve. The dentists in attendance immediately offered to bring more items the next day and provided me with a list of things that they did not have for me to text to another dentists (Believe me, texting a list of dental instruments with code numbers and quantities is no easy task!)

On Friday morning, we were met by 150 patients hoping to have their needs addressed. It was soon determined that the drill cart was not in working condition. The clinic team decided to focus on extractions and cleanings. Seven dentists worked through the day, some alternating treatments and even rotating between the clinic and the Tooth Tour.

While the clinic occurred, three members of the Tabasamu team made dental education presentations to individual classrooms and larger groups. All the students said that they brushed their teeth two times a day. Tabasamu had agreed to cover the cost of two students per class who required immediate care, in all probability an extraction. In almost all cases, Gary Rabinowitz found that the 6-year molars had been destroyed over the course of time due to poor dental hygiene and diet. This is the same phenomenon that is seen in Kenya.

The Tooth Tour circuit was foreshortened by virtue of the length of the school day. Once the students went home, the dental education team worked with the clinic to move them through the rest of their patients and clean up. Despite a number of challenges, all patients had been seen and the day had gone quite well.

Saturday morning brought the inauguration of T3- "Teach The Teachers". A concept fashioned by Gary Rabinowitz and a Kenyan community leader, James Korir, this trip to Haiti was the first opportunity to put it into practice. Once the Tabasamu team was ready to begin, I gathered all the participants into the common room. Though teachers from the Becky Divine School had been expected, it initially appeared as though only the clinic volunteers from the previous day had come. I could tell that the group was disappointed and made one more sweep of the halls. I found a teacher and confirmed that it was time to begin. He disappeared down a set of stairs and promptly returned with approximately 30 teachers. It was an emotional moment to say the least. The classroom was now filled with dental professions and educators ready to learn more about dental care and how to share it in the larger community.

The team decided to conduct the first two segments, the introduction and puppet show, with the entire group. The participants were then asked to count off into three groups. Each group went to three modules on rotation- 1. An introduction to dental education; 2. Puppet making and a demonstration of disclosing plaque and scaling; and 3. The study of the tooth, oral disease and decay. Altogether the program ran three hours.

At the conclusion of the morning, everyone gathered in the common space again. Questions were fielded and then each participant received a certificate and Tabasamu t-shirt. It was quite moving to see each person presented with their certificate and shirt and proudly and gratefully shook the hands of each member of the leadership team.

Once everything was packed up, the volunteer team headed for a special appreciation lunch. Despite the three long days, the spirit remained high and the private dining room was filled with conversation and laughter. In true African tradition, each person spoke during the lunch, offering thanks for the opportunity to work together and expressing hope for an opportunity to continue the work together. It was the perfect end to a remarkable and memorable partnership in dental care and education.

Saturday afternoon and evening, the Tabasamu team spent time reflecting on the previous three days- lessons learned, the joys of new friendships and dreams and aspirations for what might occur in the future. What may have started as a one-time visit during a Tabasamu member's one year residence in Haiti, evolved into a transformative experience that may well prompt an extension of the mission and vision of the organization. Heartfelt thanks to Trey, Otho, Gary and Lisa for coming, and profound appreciation for the abundance received by the American team from our Haitian brothers and sisters.

An important postscript....Many thanks to the "behind the scenes queens", Evenlyn Pantuso and Tonia Richard, for their tireless support of this initiative and all Tabasamu's projects. In particular, heartfelt appreciation to Evelyn for burning the midnight oil to create thre new sets of Tooth Tour puppets. You are amazing!

Deep gratitiude to Yves Augustin for his beautiful translation of all the dental education materials that are being used in Haiti. Yves, you are helping to spread the important message of dental care across the country. Thank you!!

Reflections provided by Dr. Joey Prosper of LAMP
I was very pleased with the level of dedication and professionalism of the doctors of TABASAMU and also the Haitian doctors. On behalf of LAMP for Haiti, I would like to thank and congratulate the members of TABASAMU on their humanitarian sense and vision for such a project. Of course, this was a first time experience with LAMP and there are things that could be done the next time to make it even more successful. One of the things is to have the local medical staff make some advance arrangements and plans for the benefit of the patients, since they share the same profession and know the environment. And we hope that coming to Haiti will become part TABASAMU's program as it is in Kenya. Personally, I want to change the date of my trip to Uganda and Kenya to the same time that the members of Tabasamu will be working there. I also want to thank Kyle over and over again for been such wonderful person.

Flag Day in Haiti

2009-05-24T18:48:00.000-07:00

The Seminaire de Theologie Eglise Episcopale d’Haiti does not have an official calendar posted anywhere. As a result, I often find out about holidays or special events at the last minute. However, I can always count on my English classes to make me aware of an upcoming holiday, especially if it falls on a day when we normally meet!

Last Friday, I was told that Monday, May 18 was Flag Day. I know the United States' Flag Day is June 14. I suspect every country does. However, to the best of my knowledge, it is a relative non-event in the states. In Haiti, however, it is a BIG deal. The greatest focus seems to be on the creator of the flag, Catherine Flon. On of my students her a national hero. She is not alone.

Catherine Flon, an Arcahaien (a town located outside of Port-au-Prince) seamstress and Goddaughter of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, sewed the first Haitian flag on May 18, 1803, the last day of the Congress of Arcahaie. After Catherine Flon sewed the bicolored flag, the Generals of the Haitian Revolution at the congress "solemnly swore an oath of fidelity to Liberty or Death on this flag which was to lead the slaves to victory and freedom. This oath has been named the Oath of the Ancestors.

Haiti’s Flag Day is synonymous with unity and liberty. Catherine Flon’s rendering of the first Haitian flag commemorates the tumultuous struggles and heroes of the past, Toussaint L'ourverture, Jean Jacques Dessaline, Alexandre Petion, and Capois La Mort.

The Evolution of the Haitian Flag

In the early days of revolt in St. Domingue, the slaves did not have a flag. However, they did notice that their former masters were using the French Flag. From 1791 to about 1793, the revolt became more widespread and gave rise to a number of large groups still fighting independently. In those times, each main leader would use any piece of cloth as a flag. Slowly the slave movement found some synergy and came to follow the leadership one main person: Toussaint Louverture. Realizing that you cannot fight three enemies at the same time, Toussaint and the army of revolted slaves fought successively for the Spanish against the French (1793-1794), for the French against Spain and England (1794-1802) and ultimately against France. As such, he carried the color of whichever European power he was fighting for. Eventually, he designed his own flag, a white piece of cloth with a Negro head to represent the blacks.

After Toussaint’s deportation, the Indigene Army went back to the French flag for a while. The French flag as we know it now is a product of the French Revolution. It was made up of Red and Blue, the colors of the City of Paris, and a band of white representing the monarchy. On the white portion of the flag was the emblem of the French Republic. The Revolution of St. Domingue was, in some ways, motivated by the French Revolution and for years, the masses main objective was to secure freedom and better treatment. To them, the French Flag represented the ideals of Liberty and Fraternity. They hoped that those same principles would be applied to them, non-whites. According to Thomas Madiou, a renowned historian of the 19th Century, they also saw in that flag a symbol of blacks, whites and mulattoes living in harmony. Therefore, carrying the French was an expression of their ideals.

As time went on though, a break with France seemed inevitable. To symbolize their resolve, they removed the French arms from the blue white and red flag they were using. As early as February 1803, Petion, leader of the mulattoes and Dessalines had decided to create a unique flag to represent their troops. Thus, starting with the French Flag made up of three blue, white and red bands placed vertically respectively; Dessalines removed the white and created the first unofficial flag with blue and red bands placed vertically. By so doing, he also wanted to impart on the French the message that they had lost that colony forever. To them the blue symbolized the mulattos and the blacks while the red symbolized their blood.

Symbolism of Today’s Haitian Flag

The meaning behind the Haitian Flag is as follows: the red symbolizes the blood and the sacrifices made by the heroes of the Haitian Revolution, and the blue is emblematic of hope and unity. The coat of arms of the Republic, placed in the center on a white square. It is a Palm tree surmounted by the liberty cap. Under the palms is a trophy with the motto: "L'union Fait La Force" (“In Unity We Find Strength”).

For most Haitians, the flag incarnates the spirit of freedom and rebellion against mental and physical slavery.

Flag Day is a major national holiday celebrated with great fanfare on the grounds of the national palace. All government officials worship at the Catholic Church in Archaie and then particioate in a large parade. Flag Day is also observed by Haitians in the Diaspora. In the United States, for example, teenagers give homage to the red and blue in some form for at least a week.

Haiti certainly has many, complex socio-economic challenges. However, the Haitian flag is a daily reminder of the first and most successful slave rebellion in the Western Hemisphere. It was a fight for independence that fueled a widespread movement for freedom throughout Latin American, the Caribbean, and Africa, and served as an inspiration to African-American leaders in the 1900's. The Haitian revolution has challenged the world's concept of supremacy by being the first independent Black nation in the world and the second independent nation in the Western Hemisphere.

Mango Season!

2009-05-22T11:19:00.000-07:00

First, apologies for the sub-standard pictures in the next couple of entries. My camera has been compromised (a story for a later entry) and I am awaiting another. I promise to substitute the current pics for local shots in early June.

Apparently, May is Mango season in Haiti. I first became aware of this when I approached Partners in Health in Cange about holding a two-day Tabasamu dental program during the last weekend of May. There were a few reasons that particular weekend was not viable. Among them was the surge of activity because of Mango season. Wow, I thought, a reorientation of daily routine over mangoes!

Starting the last weekend in April, Margarette and Carmel appeared with mangoes from their fieldwork locations of Darbonne and Leogane. Last Sunday, upon returning from a parish visit with the Bishop in Leogane, I saw lines of vendors in the street markets with towers of mangos. Truly this is an annual phenomenon.

This actually reminds me of living in New Hampshire during my early years of marriage. Everyone had gardens and a primary crop was zucchini. You didn’t really need air conditioning in the summer in West Lebanon, N.H. Safety wasn’t a concern either. It was common to see rows of parked cars on the main road with the windows down. Of course, this also allowed those with an overabundance of zucchini to “gift” them to each and every citizen who was running errands in town! It was a common occurrence. I won’t be surprised if we begin to find mangoes at our doorstep before the season is done!

I decided that the mango was a worthy topic of discussion for my intermediate English class. Given that so many of the Seminarians hail from the mountains and rural areas, I guess I should not have been surprised by their level of knowledge about farming in Haiti. In addition to specifics on the mango, they were able to share the growing season and primary location for every native crop. It was quite impressive.

Back to mangoes. The largest production of mangoes occurs in the North and Central regions, Gros Moine and, you guessed it, Leogane. In addition to the visible density of the trees, the Seminarians seems to feel that the soil of these regions provides the ideal environment for mangoes.

Of all the varieties produced in Haiti, the Francisque (also known as Francine and Francis) mango is the most coveted. It is also the main national variety distributed in the global market. It is a fleshy fruit whose special flavor captivates those that consume it. Though other countries have tried to replicate this variety, they have, as yet, been unsuccessful.

261,000 metric tons of mangos were produced in Haiti in 2005. But this is a sector that can do much better taking into account all existing potential of the industry and considering the growing demand of the Haitian mango in the international market. With an increase of mango plantations, improving transport conditions and the capacity of processing enterprises not to forget the marketing system, many Haitians could increase their income through this important sector.

Mango exports harnessed 7.93 million dollars into the Haitian economy in 2007, according to the National Bank of the Republic of Haiti. Estimates by the National Association of Mango Exportation (ANEM) reported $10 million. From the profit it generates, the mango industry has dethroned the coffee and cocoa industry in Haiti, despite the fact that these products have long been regarded as the country's two major exports.

In addition to enhancing the export business and ensuring employment for Haitians, mango season also provides an easy food source for the many undernourished citizens. In fact, when the season ends in July, hardship in securing food returns for Haitians.

Mango season is a natural phenomena of Haiti that invites spirit and energy while also serving a vitally important role in the economy, employment and sustenance of its people. As with many things in Haiti, it is my hope and dream that Haiti can expand on this significant export to further opportunity and stability in the country. For the short term, it’s fabulous to be able to consume mangoes every day!

A Week Of Adventure, Romance, Reunion And Deeper Knowledge of Haiti

2009-04-26T19:57:00.000-07:00

After five months of separation from family, my husband Eric scheduled a weeklong visit to Haiti. Unlike my other visitors, I did not expect that Eric would fold into my daily routine. In addition, the Seminary was going to be closed for most of his visit because of Holy Week, reducing the scope of my responsibilities. I had wanted to head north and visit the historic Citadel Fortress and San Souci Palace, both constructed by Henri Christophe in the mid 18th century. This was the perfect opportunity.

I was introduced to Jacqui Labrom, a travel agent who specialized in arranging trips to Cap Haitian and Labadie. I explained our parameters-comfortable and simple- and she knew just where we should stay-Norm’s Place. Jacqui also took care of all the other details such as air, ground and, yes, water transportation. She was in constant communication with me and not insulted by what I am sure seemed like some pretty elementary questions. In short, she was a dream.

April 1st arrived and I couldn’t wait to see Eric. I arrived at the airport a little early. The time seemed to creep along. About a half hour after the plane was supposed to land, I received a text message from Eric, “I have a bad luggage feeling”. Hmmm, this was not a good start to Eric’s experience of Haiti. Within another half hour, though, he came through the exit door. I was standing right in front of him but he was looking out not down. I had to call his name so he wouldn’t run over me! He gave me a huge hug and kissed me all over my face. It was great!

We headed off to the Ollofson for dinner and an overnight before flying to Cap. The Ollofson was, at one time, a prestigious hotel. Many historical meetings have taken place there and well-known individuals stayed there. Through the course of time, however, it has become a bit worn. Nevertheless, it has a wonderful wrap around porch and, if you request a room on what is called the “Maternity Ward”, you have a great view of Port au Prince.

The next morning we headed back to my apartment, so that Eric could re-pack in a small suit case and headed to the small airport. Flight delays resulted in landing in Cap Haitian after daylight. Azanar, our driver for our time in Cap Haitian, picked us up. Once we moved out of the city limits, there were no streetlights. In fact, there was really no street! The roadway was essentially dirt and a fair number of rocks. As we drove along, I could see the foamy tops to the waves below. Despite my 5 month residency in Haiti, I had only been this close to the ocean during my two visits to Acahaie. I was really looking forward to some time at the beach.

After about 45 minutes, we arrived at the shoreline. There, waiting for us, was a water taxi. Eric was not convinced that this was the way we needed to travel to the little inlet where the guesthouse was located. Eventually, he was persuaded.

Though dark, I could see the outline of the central building of Norm’s place. The main doors were open and the warm lighting allowed you to see the stone walls and
Haitian furnishings. We were greeted by Norman and his wife Angelique, the co-owners. Norman was a delightful senior American. He was very warm and informal while also possessing a refined, distinguished quality about him.Angelique was a lovely Haitian woman, petite with a quiet strength about her.

Norman took us to our room, beautiful and spacious with stone walls and a bathroom constructed of tiles from the roofs of old French houses in Cap. We unpacked and then joined Norm for dinner.

Norm enchanted us with stories of his first career as a NY fashion designer and first marriage to a model who died very young. This was followed by a visit to Haiti and the purchase of the fort. Eventually Norm met Angelique and, together, they transformed the fort into the intimate and inviting place that it is today.

While we were eating, I noticed a man stretched out on one of the couches watching television. He did not participate in the conversation. Of course, we did not invite him into it either.

The first full day in Labadie was unscheduled. This was the first leave time that I had taken while in Haiti. It felt very strange #1 to be with my husband and #2 to be without obligations. Though I certainly have some regularity to my days, primarily dictated by the schedule of English classes, I define the rest of my time. Since my arrival, I have felt driven to accomplish as much as possible. Given that my family is not here and I do not have significant domestic responsibilities, I work most of the time. The next week was going to require some adjustment.

The fist morning, I woke up to the familiar sound of sweeping. This is a daily ritual for every home or business owner in Haiti. On this particular property, there are many trees, and, consequently, lots of leaves that fall in the course of a day. Beautiful white sand is spread on all the walkways and everyone is invited to walk barefoot, so it is deemed important to keep everything pristine. And it was.

I spent much of the first day reading The Blue Sweater by Jacqueline Novogratz (which, by the way, I high recommend) and watching children tracking the boats and the big cruise ship which was in view from the house. Eric was also settling into a more relaxed frame of mind.

Friday night we were joined at dinner by Eggy Suarez, the gentleman who had been watching T.V. the previous night. He was a Marine Biologist from Cuba whose company was interested in enhancing some of the beach areas of Labadie, including the development of a dolphin reserve and aquarium. While these plans were being formulated, the company was sub-contracting with the cruise line and offering coast line tours during their day long shore leave. Eggy was committed to the area for the next three years and was actually living at Norm’s Place. Eggy’s English was excellent and we enjoyed hearing him share his knowledge of the sea. It was a delightful evening.

The next morning Eric and I left early to experience a day of Haitian history. We were scheduled to visit the Citadel Fortress and San Souci Palace, both constructed by Henri Christophe. The drive to Milor, the home of San Souci, took about 1 ½ hours, over typical “rugged” roads. We met up with our guide, Maurice, and first went to the Citadel. We drove to a parking area from which we could view the mammoth Citadel. We then mounted horses for the final approach. Horses, like many things in Haiti, are small. Viewing Eric on one of these little horses was amusing to me and the Haitians along the route. We arrived at the Citadel and I was amazed by the size and structure of this fort. Very impressive, especially for the early 19th century. As I walked the top of the fortress, I was keenly aware that I was 300 feet high. A little daunting to say the least.

Then it was on to San Souci. From the Citadel, we approached the back of the palace, allowing you to see the scope of the property and its structures. Though now a ruin as a result of a 19th century fire and earthquake, it is still clear to see the magnitude of the palace, associated buildings and grounds, including gardens. It must have been spectacular when first constructed.

We finished the day with a visit to Maurice’s cultural center, Lakou Lakay (family compound in Creole). It is actually a family project. Maurice’s children, nieces and nephews provide the music and his wife prepares a delicious lunch. Lakou Lakay has been a life long dream of Maurice and, after 20 years in the making, he is finally at a point where only the final touches remain. We bid farewell and returned to Norm’s Place.

Sunday was Palm Sunday. Eric was not enthused about making another trip on the road to Cap Haitian. I, however, wanted to go to church. I had contacted Pere Noe weeks earlier and he was expecting me. It was a wonderful service that began with a procession around the block. The church was packed. Azanar had driven me. He knew Pere Noe and attended the service with me. Afterwards, Azenar drove me to the center square of Cap Haitian. We were also able to access the municipal building that offered a great view. We even met the mayor! Then we drove along the “Boulevard” a central road of Cap that runs along the ocean. Soon it was time to return to Labadie.

Sunday afternoon, three young adults arrived at Norm’s place. A young man named Jamie was part of an initiative called Meds & Food For Kids (medandfodforkids.org), providing health and nutritional support, including a nutrient rich peanut butter call Medika Mamba. He lived in Cap Haitian. Rebecca Heidkamp was a nutritionist with GHESKIO (gheskio.org) a non-profit focused on HIV/Aids, and lived in Port au Prince. was a friend of Rebecca visiting for a week. She taught 4th grade in an innovative K-8 private school in Nashville, Tennessee. We spent our days engaged in our own activities. However, we came together over dinner each night, exchanged adventrues and got to know each other. Jamie, Rebecca and were all Cornell grads. They had already been involved in significant work to help effect positive change in the world. Incredibly bright and motivated, they made me long for the years that they had ahead of them to have a long-term impact around the globe. Though they left on Tuesday morning, I suspected that Jamie, Rebecca and I would intersect at some other point during my residency.

As luck would have it, Eric’s brother and family were on a cruise scheduled to dock in Labadie on the Monday of our visit. Jacqui knew someone affiliated with the cruise company and obtained clearance for us to spend the day on the beach with them. I had not seen them since my Commissioning in early October and was really looking forward to the day. Norman and Angelique operated a shop on the cruise beach. They had traveled to the states on Saturday and Angelique’s son, Franck, was now in residence at Norm’s Place and running the shop. He took us over to the beach and introduced us to the Site Manager. My sister-in-law Sandy and nephew Sam found us before we were given the green light by the management. What a great reunion! We had a great day on the beach together, laughing and sharing stories and adventures of the past five months. The time passed all too quickly. At 3:30 p.m., we said goodbye and parted ways, Curt, Sandy Katie and Sam to the cruise ship and Eric and I to our little water taxi. What a gift for me.

Franck returned to Norm’s Place later in the day. As is so common in Haitian culture, he touched base with me to make sure that we had successfully connected with our family and enjoyed the day. I said yes and affirmed that rules are rules and process and protocol in such situations need to be respected. With that remark, the typically soft-spoken, unassuming man began to share his opinion of the cruise company policies and soon ventured into some fascinating and distressing history of Haitian politics. Some of the history had touched his life and that of his family personally. We must have talked for over an hour. I learned a great deal, not the least of which was about the depth of Franck’s character and the sacrifices that he and his family had made along the way.

Tuesday was our last day in Labadie. Originally, I had planned a day in Cap Haitian. In the course of our stay at Norm’s Place we had developed a special relationship with Eggy. There was no cruise ship scheduled on Tuesday and he offered to take us out on his smaller boat. We would spend most of our time on a nearby beach called Little Paradise. Eric and I were both thrilled by the invitation.

We headed out around 10 a.m. with Eggy and his crew. As we rounded the point and approached Little Paradise, I was struck by the simple, elegant beauty of the shoreline. The beach was pristine. You could see where fresh water met the ocean making a brackish pool. Once we dropped anchor, Eric and I hopped off the boat and headed in different directions. I was drawn to the shady area where the fresh water entered. As I moved through the area and took pictures, I could hear men singing up the hill. I climbed up and moved toward their voices. They were breaking stone and also cooking their lunch. I would have stayed and talked with them. However, I suddenly found myself covered by mosquitoes. This precipitated a quick descent to the water!

The rest of the day was spent wading through the water to find various forms of sea life and just enjoying one another’s company. We were also able to witness two boats bring in their catch of the day. In both cases, I crawled into the boats to photograph the yield. They were happy to display unusual sea life that had also gotten trapped in the nets. It was a perfect ending to a perfect week.

I greeted Wednesday with reluctance. Eric and I had had a magical time together. In the midst of getting reacquainted, we had met some amazing people. We stood midway through Holy Week I already experienced a taste of the Easter light ,cast through the love of a husband who traveled from South Africa not only to spend time with me but to understand more fully my call to Haiti and service as a Missioner. I was incredibly grateful and knew that this reunion and retreat would sustain me until my one-month leave in July.

2009 Chain of Love LAUNCH

2009-04-22T19:57:00.001-07:00

This is a great example of how a group of young people can make a difference. The priest seen early in the video is Pere Walin DeCamps, an extraordinary member of the Diocese of Haiti. Rev. Roger Bowen, a contributor to the video, is dedicated to building partnerships between Episcopal schools in the U.S. and Haiti. Enjoy. Perhaps you, too, will be inspired to lend a hand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InSosE0WBzk

Kriye Bode Montage: Annual Colloquium on Haitian Dance and Drum on Vimeo

2009-04-22T18:11:00.000-07:00

A must see!!! Check out the video clip.

http://vimeo.com/4218309?pg=transcoded_embed&sec=4218309

Hillary Clinton Visits Haiti

2009-04-17T16:17:00.000-07:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/17/world/americas/17diplo.html?ref=americas

The Unexpected Guest

2009-04-13T18:22:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the best visits are those made by unexpected guests. Haiti seems to be a thoroughfare of individuals and groups engaged in diverse, vitally important work in every sector of the country. With today’s technology, it is easy to make introductions and connect people. My family dentist and fellow participant in the Tabasamu dental mission in Kenya, made me aware that Mary Burns, my middle son’s orthodontist, was making a weeklong trip to Haiti to assist with a medical mission in Fond Parisien. Christopher had had preventative orthodenture work when he was in Junior High, so I hadn’t spoken with Mary in years. Paul provided us with each other’s e-mail addresses and we began communicating. I quickly learned that Mary’s 25-year-old daughter, Erin, also wanted to come. Unfortunately, however, there were no volunteer openings in the medical mission.

I believe that one of the reasons that I am situated in Haiti is to provide an opportunity for people to see and understand this country through a different lens than that of the national and international media. One of the best ways for this to occur is through actual visits. Without hesitation, I told Mary that Erin was welcome to stay with me. Despite not knowing Erin, I was confident that there were projects and activities within the Diocese in which she could become involved for a week.

As Erin and I began to communicate via e-mail, I learned that she had never had a mission experience. In my years of working with youth and young adults, I have always set high standards for psychological, physical and spiritual readiness for such experiences. Certainly, any young people traveling overseas with me, have been required to participate in some stateside outreach, if not international work. I also demanded a fairly rigorous set of expectations in building community among all participants and helping to raise funds for the initiative. Needless to say, this was not going to be the case with Erin. My primary concern was that she feel safe while in Haiti and that the experience encourage her to do more of this work here and elsewhere.

I could feel the enthusiasm through her e-mails. Her mother had been on a number of these medical missions. Though Erin’s brother had gone on a couple of them, Erin’s schedule had not allowed for her to join Mary. Erin had recently been laid off from her job and, though she had secured a part-time position, now had the flexibility to engage an adventure- testimony that there is a silver lining in every situation!

Erin is an interior designer by profession. However, she was willing and eager to do anything. She has a sister with mental and physical challenges, so I knew that she would be comfortable volunteering at St. Vincent School for the Handicapped. I met with the Direct of St. Vincent and Trinity Music School. They anxiously awaited her arrival.

I picked Erin up at the airport on a Saturday. We had a relatively quiet schedule on Saturday afternoon and Sunday. Monday, we met with Pere Sadoni at St. Vincent and Pere Cesar at Trinite Music School. As soon as both priests heard of Erin’s talents in interior design they requested that she address some particular needs at both schools. Erin’s first task was the re-design of the central office space at St. Vincent. She took measurements and drew a rough sketch representing the new layout. The rest of the work would need to be completed at home, where she had specialized software.

I do not teach English classes on Tuesdays. Consequently, I am able to schedule off-site activities. Erin and I decided we would visit her mother in Fon Parisien. Fon Parisien is about an hour from Port au Prince. The road took us toward Saint Marc and by more agriculturally rich land than I am accustomed to seeing. As we entered the Love a Child compound, we saw numerous, recently constructed buildings all painted in bright yellow. The three school buildings were situated toward the front of the property and, since it was time for the mid-morning break, we could see all the children playing. Their school uniforms included yellow cotton shirts and navy skirts or pants, a wonderful combination.

The driver delivered us to the entrance of the newly dedicated Health Clinic, called the Jesus Healing Center. There we discovered a crowd of people patiently waiting to see Mary for their designated extraction. We entered Mary’s operatory and found her hovered over a patient in an army regulation portable dental field chair. As drawn as I am to the medical arena, Erin is proportionally unsettled by it. I moved in to see exactly what Mary was doing as Erin turned her back and plugged her ears. It is all part of my theory of professional interests skipping generations!

Throughout the day, Erin and I divided our time between exploring the Love a Child facilities, including the school, church and orphanage and returning to Mary’s room to view her latest procedure. In time, Erin found that the best distraction for her was to hold the children of the patients. We were also able to distribute the adorable hand knit Duduza dolls to each child who visited Mary. A real treat.

The day passed quickly and soon we were on our way back to Port au Prince. The day was capped off with a celebration of Carmel’s birthday. Erin was now truly a part of the Seminaire de Theologie family.

Erin spent Wednesday in Acahaie with Timote Georges learning about the challenges of deforestation in Haiti. She also had an opportunity to visit a small school. I hope she will add to this blog in the coming week to share those experiences.

On Thursday, Erin went to St. Vincent in the morning and Trinite Music School in the afternoon. Instead of interior design, she has been recruited to help the new Administrative Assistant at Trinite Music School with an English newsletter highlighting the many events of the year. She would return again on Friday afternoon to complete the project.

Friday morning, Carla and Ari, co-founders of N A Sonje Foundation (nasonje.blogspot.com), visited my apartment to share some of the history and culture of Haiti with Erin. My roommates, Carmel and Margarette, were in the apartment as well and soon joined in the conversation. Soon there was a brief exchange between Margarette and Carmel and followed by a call to the rest of the Seminarians. Everyone was riveted by what Carla and Ari had to share, some of which they did not know and some with which they resonated.

Mary arrived Friday afternoon and we wisked her off to St. Vincent’s. Despite the fact that the dental clinic was amassed with equipment and other inventory from an surgical area being renovated, Mary could visualize the operatory and decided that she would return to lend a hand.

We celebrated our time together with a dinner at the Ollofson, an historic, gingerbread style hotel minutes from my apartment. Erin and Mary spent Friday night at a hotel closer to the airport where I said goodbye on Saturday afternoon. The week had passed very quickly. I had enjoyed every minute of Erin’s stay. I hope that Erin will be able to return. Regardless, I suspect that Haiti has made an impression on her that will linger for some time if not for all time.

A Little Dream Comes To Fruition, “Step by Step”

2009-04-13T06:47:00.000-07:00

The more time I spend in Haiti, the more I understand the importance of small initiatives in helping to build and re-build a sense of hope and promise. Such was the case with the creation of a guitar class at St. Vincent Center for Handicapped Children.

The last week of November, in partnership with Haitian and American artists, I facilitated an art camp at St. Vincent’s. It was a wonderful experience and Mona Augustin, the drama instructor, was particularly popular. His guitar was an integral part of one of the two original plays that he wrote. At the end of the week, Jonas, a blind young man who was of his students, asked Mona if he would be willing to teach guitar. Mona asked me what I thought. Since I feel it is critically important to deliver on a promise, especially when there is a difference in culture, I said that we had to get permission from the school administration and then collect some guitars before making a commitment.

Mona communicated this to Jonas and we began working to fulfill Jonas’ dream. We received easy approval from the Director of St. Vincent’s and then launched a campaign to collect gently used guitars. While Mona scouted the Port au Prince markets, I contacted Gary Rabinowitz, a dear friend of mine who has participated in Tabasamu and is also a gifted musician. I asked him if he was willing to search for used guitars and he enthusiastically agreed. We were off and running!

Soon, Mona found a guitar. We met at the Cathedral and I gave him the money to buy it (the price usually goes up when a Blanc or white person makes the scene). Then Gary e-mailed that he had found two guitars on Craig’s List and had made appointments to go see them. This was followed by another call from Mona who had negotiated a price on two other guitars. Again, we met at the Cathedral and “closed the deal”.

Once Gary had the two guitars in his possession, the next task was arranging for people to bring them to Haiti. The first recruit was, David Zadick, a dental colleague and friend of Trey Wilson, who I had only met virtually. After a couple of e-mail exchanges I posed the question “Would you be willing to bring a guitar to Haiti?” “Sure”, he said. I contacted Gary whose only concern was that he did not have a case. Halted only momentarily, he constructed a sturdy box, lovingly packed and padded the guitar and handed it off to David. David needed to bring a lot of dental supplies, so he unpacked the guitar, lovingly repacked it with cotton rolls, 2” x 2” gauze squares and other materials. He then took a picture for Gary, so Gary would be assured that the guitar was secure. I met up with David at Partners in Health in Cange, volunteered for a couple of days and took possession of the guitar.

Tonia Richard, my family’s dental hygienist and a member of the Tabasamu team, was the next emissary. Tonia was also blessed to be able to meet Mona and many of the St. Vincent students interested in the class. In addition, she had the privilege of giving Mona an extra set of strings and two “love” notes from Gary, wishing him all the best and sending his regards to the students.

Friday, March 13 (can you believe it?!) was the first class. There are 16 students and about 70% of them are blind. Mona started with a full introduction to the guitar and the various chords. He also did some vocal work with them, which not only familiarized them with the sound but also strengthened their choral ability (I have just learned that there is no choral program at St. Vincent’s so this is going to be an added bonus to the program).

It started with the dream of one blind student and, “step by step” (a popular Haitian expression), the dream became reality. In a country where daily life is an intense struggle, especially for those with physical challenges, it is wonderful when a young man can share a hope and see it bloom. This initiative was also proof that a handful of people from separate countries, various stations in life, different professions and even diverse faiths can come together to bring a small project to fruition.

There is a desire to grow the musical program at St. Vincent’s Center for Handicapped Children well beyond this guitar class. If you are interested in helping Jonas’ dream, please post a comment on my blog.

Tabasamu Goes To Haiti!

2009-03-11T21:31:00.000-07:00

Kyle's Reflections
Tabasamu is a non-profit that provides free dental care and education in and around Kitale, Kenya. The Executive Director, Trey Wilson, made his first to Kenya in May 2004. There has been an annual trip since then and, seemingly, an exclusive focus on the needs of this African country. As time has passed and the interest and passion for such work has grown, members of the Tabasamu Board and friends of Tabasamu have been part of smaller initiatives in other locations. The first such pilot occurred in Summer 2008 and involved young people from my home parish who participated in a mission trip to Guatemala. They used the dental puppet show, wonderfully created by Evelyn Pantuso, and basic dental materials to share the importance of good oral health with children in various schools and churches. Given my presence in Haiti and previous involvement in Tabasamu, it seemed ideal to replicate the same pilot here. My own family’s dental hygienist, Tonia Richard, enthusiastically committed to join me for five days and lead the initiative. She booked her flight and the plans began!

Before my arrival in Haiti, I became aware of the Lamp for Haiti Foundation. They provide free health care for the residents of the Bwa Nef section of Cite Soleil, the largest slum in the Western Hemisphere. They already have a mobile dental clinic and are eager to establish a dental clinic. They were excited by the prospect of a dental education program. Consequently, we scheduled a combination of school visits and community presentations during three of the four days that Tonia was in country.

The Lamp Clinic is run by Joey Prosper and Myrlene Marie (Mimi) Dominique. Joey is a doctor and Mimi serves as the Clinic Manager. They were both born in Haiti and relocated to the states at a young age. They returned to Haiti recently to help address the incredible need for quality health care. Joey and Mimi are people of remarkable character, spirit and dedication. They are passionate about the work and, most especially, the community. I feel privileged to know them and work with them.

There was a rhythm to each presentation. We began with the puppet show, followed with specific instruction on brushing teeth and then, my favorite, disclosing everyone’s teeth to show where they needed to brush more thoroughly. Friday was first program day and included three school visits. The children were all attentive, as were any adults who were present. In each location, community members peeked through the doors, hovered by windows and even looked on from nearby buildings. It was great to see the interest.

Saturday began with a community program in the Lamp Clinic’s seminar room. People began to assemble as soon as we were on the scene. Soon, the room was overflowing with people of all ages, ready to learn about their teeth. There were great questions posed and answered. They were followed by the distribution of hygiene kit soap, washcloth, a package of Kleenex, toothbrush and toothpaste (The group was too large for disclosing). There were not enough hygiene kits for everyone, which prompted some discord. Three Haitian men from the community maintained order by asking everyone to exit the seminar room and re-enter in groups of ten. They also stipulated the children as the recipients. It was really quite remarkable to see such initiative rise from the community. One of the things that I have observed and experienced first hand is the way in which individuals within Haitian communities assume a role of advocate and, if necessary, protector to others. They may care for those within the local family or those who are visiting. It is really quite something to experience.

Following the health presentation, we moved on to a small community of Croix de Bouquets called La Hatt, where we provided a dental program to about 20 youth and a handful of adult observers. This was at the request of Mimi and “Jr.”, a young man who volunteers some time at the Lamp clinic. They were among the most attentive of the audiences. It was great fun to perform the puppet show from the porch of Jr’s grandmother’s home. His grandmother observed from her rocking chair!

Tonia and I had a brief respite on Saturday night with Carla and company at N A Sonje followed by a day in historic Jacmel. Monday morning, we headed to St. Vincent School for the Handicapped. We facilitated four presentations, starting with the oldest students. Many of the participants had been involved with the Diaspora of Hope Artist on Call art camp in November. It was so great to see them again. Two of the four groups included children who were blind, missing limps or sustaining some debilitating physical condition. The remaining two groups of children were deaf. The mirroring of Tonia’s presentation in sign language and the children’s response was an art form in it self. The visit to St. Vincent was the perfect cap to the program.

My primary call as a Missioner is to hear the needs identified by Haitians and work with them to develop sustainable, capacity building systems and structures that can continue following my departure. Tabasamu’s dental education program provides the perfect platform for such a model. In a few short days, Mimi, Patrick, our translator, Moliere, our driver and Jean Robert, Administrative liaison at St. Vincent’s were all drawn into the program. They learned a lot personally, quickly adapted to the needs of the presentation and are enthusiastically awaiting another opportunity to “go on the road”. It was a great few days for us and for a few communities in Haiti.

Tonia's Reflections

I am so fortunate to have been able to travel to Haiti and spend some time with Kyle during her year-long mission stay. Five days was not long enough. Kyle is involved in so many projects and is such an inspiration and motivation to so many people. She is tireless (quite literally!) and is certainly fulfilling the definition of her missioner job description, (to hear the needs identified by Haitians and work with them to develop sustainable, capacity building systems and structures that can continue following my departure).

We had a very productive time presenting dental education to the children. The children received us well and seem inherently happy everywhere we went. I was surprisingly moved with the adults who helped and those who heard the presentation. They were very interested and expressed how much they had learned. We cannot assume people have knowledge - even how to brush their teeth! It is wonderful to share information. Knowledge is powerful.

For those who have served in any capacity before, you know that the "take away" is so much greater than the giving. Please note Kyle's last picture that is posted on March 11th. As I was distributing toothbrushes to the children at St.Vincent's, I found myself handing one to a child without arms and she reached up with her foot, held the toothbrush between two toes and began brushing. I will never forget that moment for the rest of my life. I bring that home with me, and to my job, and to my family and it makes you a better person. That beautiful child without arms puts life in perspective.

Haitians are wonderfully spirited people. They are very hopeful for the future of their nation, yet discouraged by the way they are portrayed by the media. I felt very safe on every part of my travels - even on the public bus with a live chicken under the seat and a stranger practically sitting on my lap! It is a beautiful country that indeed needs help but they are not sitting back letting us do all the work. The Haitians have their sleeves rolled up and are ready to dig in.

One project seems to inspire another. There is so much to be done - one step at a time. I was able to experience the coming together of so many people and talents. A group of woman from Bucks County sent 50 hand-knit "duduza" dolls for us to distribute. Another friend, Gary Rabinowitz, sent two guitars for the children to learn on. Kyle has arranged for free lessons for 15 children at St. Vincent's School for the Handicapped. Tabasamu granted us money for translation and toothbrushes. The dentist I work for, Paul Leventhal, sent me with supplies and helped with the trip preparation. And that was all before I left the ground!

I don't know how to close this blog because I don't want it to end! I hope all this good stuff keeps going and going! Thank you so much Kyle!!!!

A Special Beginning to Lent… Training Aspiring Sunday School Teachers and Visiting The Partners in Health Center In Cange

2009-03-11T21:03:00.000-07:00

Part 1-Sunday School Training in Mirebalais

During my year of service, the Diocese of Haiti has asked me to focus much of my attention on education, both formational and academic. I have been involved in a fair amount of grant writing related to the establishment of training programs for the teachers in the 250 schools administered by the Diocese. There are experts from France, Canada and Haiti who will help actualize the Teachers training teachers. With this work in motion, I was now able to turn my attention to Sunday School teacher training, my own particular area of expertise.

Most of the churches in the Diocese have no Sunday School Program. If children are brought together on Sunday mornings, the groups usually represent a very large age span and no formal program. The priests in the Diocese and their established or potential volunteers were eager to begin basic teacher training and establish a uniform framework and curriculum. My first stop was Mirebalais.

Mirebalais is the center of the Central Plateau Archdeaconry. Pere Jean Jeannot is the Archdeacon and Priest in Charge at St. Pierre. It was a three-day training taking place Saturday, Sunday and Monday of Mardi Gras. All normal business shuts down for the five days of Mardi Gras. Churches often schedule youth retreats (which they call camps) and other positive programming to provide a healthy alternative to the raucous atmosphere of Mardi Gras. Participants hailed from both St. Pierre and parish in Las Cahobas. There were about 12 members of the program. I had used many of the materials created at my home parish and translated them into French. I also began the training series with the Children’s Charter of the Episcopal Church. In my opinion, it is the foundation of all parish ministry with children. Established in the 90’s, it reminds the Church community that it “takes a village to raise a child”.

The group was excited by that approach and it set the stage for three days of interesting dialogue on ways to deepen commitment to children throughout the congregations. During our time together, it was also apparent that there had been no experience of a didactic and varied formational Christian Education experience in the Diocese. I had brought a wide range of materials with me and chose to focus on four areas- the introduction of ritual of prayer and routine in the classroom, multisensory presentation of the given lesson in the classroom, developmental levels and positive, loving approaches to discipline. As I focused on these basic principles, I was reminded that Sunday School does not need to be a complex, intense academic experience. Rather, it should be a simple and fun way for way for children to meet God. Americans, particularly of the current era, are inclined to make ministry far too intricate and multifaceted. Perhaps, given everyone’s busy lives, it is why we struggle to secure the volunteers needed to lead ministry.

Though my three days in Mirebalais only scratched the surface of sharing information, cultural nuances and theological exploration, it was a good start. As is so often the case, I felt I gained more than I had given. Three things stand out for me- simple is better, for a Diocese which part of the Episcopal Church and, specifically Province II, no work has been done provide Haiti with information on Episcopal programming and, specifically, to offer translated or original curriculum in French and/or Kreyol. There are dedicated, loving adults ready and willing to be a part of children’s Christian formation. They just need the right tools.

Part 2-Partners in Health in Cange, Las Cahobas and St. Marc

However, given my involvement in other areas, including dental health care through Tabasamu, I hoped to broaden the scope of my work. The first opportunity to engage the dental field in Haiti was recently made possible through Trey Wilson. Trey had a colleague, David Zadick, who was making his first visit to Haiti to volunteer at Paul Farmer’s Partners in Health (PIH) facility in Cange. David and I connected by e-mail and made plans for me to join him in Cange for a couple of days. I had been eager to visit Paul Farmer’s compound and this offered the perfect opportunity. Let me share a few highlights.

For those who may not be aware of Paul Farmer and his work in the community health arena, let me provide a little background. First started as a small clinic in 1985, Zanmi Lasante (“Partners In Health” in Haitian Kreyol) in Cange has grown into the Sociomedical Complex, featuring a 104-bed, full-service hospital with two operating rooms, adult and pediatric inpatient wards, an infectious disease center (the Thomas J. White Center), an outpatient clinic, a women’s health clinic (Proje Sante Fanm), ophthalmology and general medicine clinics, a laboratory, a pharmaceutical warehouse, a Red Cross blood bank, radiographic services, and a dozen schools. The program has grown outside the walls of the Cange site to include eight other sites across Haiti’s Central Plateau and beyond. Today, ZL ranks as one of the largest nongovernmental health care providers in Haiti – and the only provider of comprehensive primary care, regardless of ability to pay, for more than half a million impoverished people living in the mountainous Central Plateau (for more information, go to www.pih.org).

I had originally planned to travel to Cange with a PIH driver from Mirebalais, where I had been facilitating a three-day Sunday School teacher training. Those arrangements fell through and I ended up getting a ride with a group of women from California parish who were visiting their sponsored schools. This turned out to be most beneficial, not only because we could exchange information about our ministries but also because they introduced me to Jackie Williams, a person of significance in the PIH story. Jackie’s husband, Pierce Williams, was a hydraulic engineer and, in 1985, installed an elaborate water system to bring clean water to Cange. He and Jackie remained committed to Partners in Health. Though Pierce died in 1997, Jackie has continued to live in Cange, running a needlework and fine art center for Haitians and teaching nightly English classes to Haitian staff. What a privilege to meet Jackie and learn of the integral role that she and her husband played in the fruition of PIH in Cange.

I spent the next 1½ days with David Zadick in two dental clinics, the one in Cange and another in Las Cahobas. I was very impressed by the physical layout of the operatories and the quality and availability of dental equipment. Contrary to my work with Tabasamu, I did not really feel that David needed my assistance. I did help with a little translation, provided occasional pastoral presence for a patient and took lots of pictures. Nevertheless, it was a helpful learning experience and I certainly enjoyed witnessing the exchange of knowledge between David and the Haitian dentist in each clinic.

On Wednesday morning, I had the privilege of attending the Ash Wednesday service at Eglise San Saveur, an Episcopal Church on the PIH Cange grounds. The celebrant was Father Fritz Lafontant, the priest who first inspired Paul Farmer to establish community based health care in the area. Now in his 80’s, he continues to provide a commanding presence both to liturgy and the vital, broad sweeping ministry that he has lead for over 40 years in Cange.

A final snapshot of my experience occurred when I was being driven back to Port au Prince. PIH partners with certain hospitals in the states on difficult pediatric cases. A nine-year-old little girl, named Maranatha, had suffered extensive burns. She and her mother were returning to Haiti, following her recovery at Shriner’s Hospital. The team wanted to pick them up before taking me to my apartment. Though some scarring was visible, the doctors had done an incredible job on what was clearly a severe burn injury. Maranatha wore a beautiful dress and matching coat. We extended our hands to each other, both said Bonjou (Hello in Kreyol) and kissed each other on the cheek. I was very moved by her graciousness and also pleased to see joy in her eyes. PIH and Shriners had renewed hope in her life. I felt very blessed to be a part of the group welcoming her home.

Paul Farmer and Partners in Health have literally changed the face of community health care in Haiti and around the world. The clinic in Cange has blossomed into a sizable complex of comprehensive medical care, microfinance and education. It has also developed satellite clinics throughout the Central Plateau and in six other international locations. Paul is to be commended and celebrated for his vision and ingenuity. He has truly transformed the lives of those in the Central Plateau and elsewhere.

As I spent time at the Cange center, I was reminded why my work with Mission Philadelphia, Mwamba, Tabasamu and now, service as a Missioner has been so meaningful for me. I enjoy being a part of grass roots, smaller scale initiatives. I want to be immersed in the environment in which I engage ministry. For many reasons, the Cange Center is very protected and, to some degree, isolated form the day-to-day existence on the other side of their compound walls. I understand all the reasons for this and deeply respect and admire all that they are doing and continue to do. As for me, I am called to live and work on the outside of those walls.

Bill Clinton, UN chief seek aid for Haiti

2009-03-09T13:17:00.001-07:00

UN's Ban, Bill Clinton visit Haiti to aid recovery

2009-03-09T12:54:00.000-07:00

Valentine’s Day in Haiti

2009-03-02T19:37:00.000-08:00

The United States is probably one of the most commercial countries when it comes to marketing holidays and special occasions. This is, of course, done more for the benefit of the merchants than to truly mark the occasion.

Though I might have expected extensive decorations at the Christmas season in Haiti’s capital city, I was somewhat surprised by the modest displays. With that in mind, I certainly did not anticipate much show for other smaller scale celebrations. However, I was apparently quite wrong. Similar to American campaigns, the Christmas adornments were barely down when hearts, cupids, streamers and other Valentine’s Day decorations were in found in every store and public venue. Shelves were stocked with cards, boxes of chocolate, mugs filled with candy, assorted gifts and, of course, silk roses (artificial flowers are popular here, primarily because they are cost effective). I contributed to the economy by buying Valentine cards for my family and Doug McArthur, a 92-year-old member of my church who is like a member of my family. They were all in French, which, I think, added to the romance of the gesture.

The day before Valentine’s Day, which was a Friday this year, the sidewalks were filled with individual vendors offering a wide range of candies, stuffed animals, jewelry, cologne and more. I was heading out of town to join one of the Seminarians on their fieldwork and regretted not having my camera. It was quite the display.

It was nice to see that, in the midst of many daily challenges in Haiti, love and romance is still very much alive.

How We Become God’s Poetry?

2009-03-02T18:23:00.000-08:00

I know that it is March and I am still sharing experiences from February. I will get caught up soon, I promise!

On February 9, I attended a meeting sponsored by Sous Espwa, a Haitian faith based non-profit which partners with other organizations committed to radical urban ministry. They serve as a transformative agent in some of the hardest, most challenged communities of Port au Prince. The purpose of the gathering was to introduce leaders of another organization called Strategies of Transformation. Strategies of Transformation works in Latin America and the Caribbean, equipping church leaders to serve and assist, youth, families and communities located in some of the toughest places of the world. Joel Van Dyke, who leads the program in Guatemala City, a Guatemalan priest named Edwin, Mario, the liaison from the Dominican Republic and an intern for the D.R. operation, and Carl, the program coordinator for Venezuela, were all in attendance.

I had actually met Joel Van Dyke and worked with members of his team in Guatemala City during a visit in March 2008. I was there with Nathan Corbitt, Co-founder and President of BuildaBridge, a Philadelphia based non-profit bringing wholeness and healing through the arts to children in the most difficult areas of the world. Joel’s Guatemala program assists with a school called Veda Plenas in the slum community of La Limonada and provides chaplaincy programs in a few of the City’s prisons. I had witnessed first hand the in positive and powerful way that Strategies of Transformation helped to return hope, faith and promise to individuals who otherwise felt lost.

The meeting took place at the Evangelical Baptist Union of Haiti (UEBH) in an area of Port au Prince called Bolosse. On the second floor of the main building, there were two large classrooms separated by a divider. We took over the entire space. As the time of the meeting approached, the room quickly filled with people. Joel was the first to speak. Though I knew of Strategies of Transformation’s mission, I had never heard Joel speak about it. As powerful and, sometimes heart-wrenching, photographs appeared on the screen behind him, Joel first referenced Psalm 137:4- “How could we sing the Lord’s s song in a foreign land?” As we are called to venture into “foreign land”, places very different from our own home, places where, sometimes, few others want to go, Joel asked us how we sing the Lord’s song? Similarly, how do we become God’s poetry and invite others to join? It was a beautiful image. As one whose first-born son is an artist, I resonated with it. Joel went on to compare classical music and jazz. He spoke of the discipline and precision of classical music as opposed to jazz in which each musician plays intuitively while also responding to the sound and rhythm of his fellow musicians. Jazz then serves as the metaphor for the nurturing of relationships, with anyone really, but especially with those in “foreign places”.

I have spent must of my life feeling called to be in “foreign places”. When I was young, those experiences were relatively brief. As I have gotten older, the commitment to deepen relationships and enter a level of residence in certain communities and cultures has grown. The desire to try to understand and connect more fully through actual immersion is what brought me to serve as a Missioner. Having said this, I am keenly aware that I will never “know” the life and struggle of those faced with daily poverty, homelessness, hunger and violence. And yet, as a fellow human being, part of “God’s handiwork”, isn’t my responsibility to try? And what is my hope- that, someday, “the city shall be filled with boys and girls playing in the streets” Zachariah 8:5. Thank you, Joel, for reminding me through the invitation “to be God’s poetry”, why I am where I am doing what I do.

A Trip To Hinche

2009-02-08T21:41:00.000-08:00

I apologize for the lapse in my blog entries. It has been due to my schedule and very inconsistent internet access. I will do my best to return to my usual weekly postings from this point forward.

The weekend of January 23-25, I had the pleasure of visiting Hinche (Ench in Kréyòl), located about five hours north of Port au Prince. Hinche is a city in central Haiti, in the hills of the Cordillera, near the border of the Dominican Republic. It has a population of about 50,000. It is the capital of the Centre department. Hinche is also the hometown of Charlemagne Péralte, the Haitian nationalist rebel leader who resisted the United States occupation of Haïti (1915-1934).
The city of Hinche has, at different times, belonged to either the Dominican Republic or Haiti. The border treaty agreements of 1929 and revisions to the treaty in 1936 left it permanently in Haitian territory.

Two of the fourth year Seminarians, Michelin and Reginald, have been placed there for extended field work. It is somewhat unusual for two Seminarians to be assigned to one location. However, the head priest, Pere Wally DeCamps, had fallen from a ladder about eight months ago and suffered some serious head injuries. Victims of brain trauma need to minimize stress in their lives and get plenty of rest. It is hoped that Michelin and Reginald’s presence will support Pere DeCamps during his recovery and also provide broader service to his extensive parish community.

Traveling to Hinche is quite an adventure. The road between Port au Prince and Mirebalais is decent. In fact, there is a beautiful new highway that takes you through the mountain on the last stretch to Mirebalais. After Mirebalais, however, the road is little more than silt and rubble.

Reginald, Michelin and Pere DeCamps were all quite concerned about me traveling by road and, in particular, via public transportation.. If only they knew the roads I have travelled in Kenya! After much discussion, I finally acquiesced to taking the plane to Hinche with Pere DeCamps. Plans in Haiti change on the turn of a dime. There was no seat available on the plane, and so I ended of traveling in a public pick-up. As with Kenya, the drivers pack their vehicles with as many people as possible. The back of the pick up had been enclosed and two benches installed. There were four of us on each bench. An older gentleman and I were positioned at the end of each bench and had to straddle each other’s legs to fit in the vehicle.

We made one bathroom stop, which meant either going on the side of the road or behind a bush. We traveled a while longer and then stopped in a little community that was clearly the central place for food and refreshment. Everyone bought their desired soda, water, fried fish, chips and plantains and we were, once again, on our way. The second half of the trip was definitely bumpy and dusty, though not radically different from experiences that I had had in Kenya. The driver dropped me off right at Paroisse St André (St. Andrew) Church, where I was greeted by Michelin. After a hug, he immediately asked if I wanted to take a shower. I said no, that I first wanted to spend some time with Reginald, Pere DeCamps and him.

We entered the Rectory and chatted for a while. Father DeCamps left to pick up his wife from work and Michelin again asked me if I wanted to shower. After two urgings, I decided that I should take a shower. When I went into the bathroom and looked in the mirror, I could see that my hair was literally white from the dust of the road. You have to love Haitian men- they would not think of telling you that you were a dusty, dirty mess and needed to take a shower!

After I cleaned up, we had lunch. This was my first opportunity to meet Madame DeCamps and their children, Kedora and Freddie. It was Kedora’s 2nd birthday and she was very excited. Her brother Freddie was 7 months old. They were both adorable.

The afternoon and early evening were spent getting ready for the party- preparing food, blowing up balloons, setting up chairs etc. Around 7 p.m., children started arriving, all beautifully dressed and perfectly behaved. Soon the living room was filled with children. Pere DeCamps began the festivities with a prayer, particularly giving thanks for Kedora and his recovery. Some brought gifts. Everyone paid tribute to Kedora by singing a song to her. It was really touching. Plates of food were distributed and, eventually, it was time for the cake. Throughout the entire evening, all the children remained in their seats, their manners impeccable, and socialized with one another. It was certainly unlike any American birthday party that I had attended. It had been a lovely evening.

The next morning Michelin and Reginald left for a Mission at about 7 a.m. They took a truckload of other leaders of the church. They would not return until sometime on Sunday afternoon. I then spent the morning with Kedora, whose nickname is Noo Noo, and Freddie. It was wonderful. During their naptime, I walked into town and experienced market day. I must have spent two hours walking through the streets and in the covered area viewing the wide array of fruits, vegetables, livestock, 2nd market American clothing and a few handcrafts such as hats, makout (woven bags) and baskets. All forms of transportation, including motorcycles and even ox drawn carts, moved quickly throughout the streets. You really had to be attentive.

Upon my return to the Rectory, I found that it was time for lunch. This was followed by Noo Noo and Freddie’s naptime, which gave me an opportunity to catch up on e-mails. Throughout the day, beginning as early as 7 a.m. that morning, I had observed parishioners and others from the community coming to see Pere DeCamps. The demands of this parish and community would be great for a person in perfect health. I marveled at the way that Pere DeCamps managed it all while fully engaged as a very loving father and recovering from a serious head injury.

The evening allowed more time to enjoy the DeCamps family and, especially Noo Noo and Freddie. As I stayed up to finish some work, I also reminisced about the early days of my life as a parent. While days are demanding, they are filled with lots of laughter and fun times. It is clear that the DeCamps revel in every moment as Eric and I did. What a special time in a family’s life.

Sunday morning came quickly. I was reminded by the difference between a household of boys and girls as Mme. DeCamps painstakingly pressed Noo Noo’s beautiful cotton dress and carefully braided her hair adorning it with color coordinated clips and ribbons. Needless to say, I managed to arrive at Church on time and Mme DeCamps, Noo Noo and Freddie followed.

Noo Noo spent much of the service “visiting” various parishioners, including me. At one point, she had some kind of disagreement with her mother and came running to me. She climbed up into my arms and, eventually, fell asleep. What a long time it had been since that happened to me!

Pere DeCamps provided a very warm welcome to me, sharing the fashion in which I travelled there and that it was evidence of my eagerness to visit the congregation. Everyone applauded. I was very touched.
After the service, we had a brief lunch at the Rectory and then headed off to Saints Innocents (Holy Innocent), one of the 14 Missions associated Paroisse St André with in Hinche. The lay leadership team from the main church hopped in the back of the pick up truck and we were off! It was about a 40 minute drive, mostly on a rocky, dirt road. The sanctuary was a natural structure of sticks supporting a roof made of palm branches. A wall had also been crafted with woven palm frons. It reminded me of one of the worship spaces I had visited in Lodwar, Kenya. It was a lovely service, this time in Creole. Again, Pere DeCamps introduced me and the congregation responded with a round of applause.

We returned to the Rectory after the service at the Mission. The rest of the afternoon passed quickly. Before I knew it, it was 5 p.m., and time for the special youth meeting. As I headed over to the Church, Michelin and Reginald pulled into the driveway. They looked exhausted. Apparently, there had been a change in their transportation to their Mission church. They were driven part of the way and then had to ride horses for 2 hours! Of course, they needed to do this both ways. I went into the church and waited for the children to arrive. Haitian time is somewhat different than American time, so it took a while for everyone to assemble. Once they were there, I asked them to write down their names and ages. Then, with Pere DeCamp’s permission, I had them congregate on the steps leading to the altar space. Noo Noo had been given a copy of The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein in French. What a find! I began reading the story and then Pere DeCamps stopped me. There were younger children in the group who had not yet begun French in school. So I started the story again and, as I read a page in French, Pere DeCamps translated it into Creole. We made quite a team! After reading the book, I asked them a series of open ended questions. It was a nice experience. I enjoyed being back with young people and doing what I loved.

As I finished the story and discussion, Reginald and Michelin appeared to run to a brief choral practice. Within 20 minutes, it was time to call it a night and head to the house for supa.

I was originally scheduled to return to Port au Prince with Michelin and Reginald using Pere DeCamps’ car. However, they now needed to stay an extra day in order to transport a choral to the opening liturgy of the Diocesan Synod. I was, once again, left to travel by public transportation. Though Pere DeCamps had some reservations about this, I assured him that I would be fine.

The return was actually more comfortable than the drive to Hinche. Though “cozy”, I was in a conventional back seat of a pick up truck. There was certainly more leg room. Our routine was identical- bathroom stop on the side of the road and a brief respite to purchase breakfast. We made great time back to Port au Prince and, as I stepped out of the vehicle, found Sonley parked only two cars behind us.

It had been a wonderful three-day visit to Hinche. In addition to reveling in the playtime with Noo Noo and Freddie, I gained a deeper understanding of the scope and demands in parish ministry for the Episcopal priests of Haiti. In addition, I once again proved that travel in Haiti, though certainly crowded and sometimes bumpy, is perfectly safe and actually quite enjoyable.

A Powerful Day In History for America and the World

2009-01-20T12:15:00.000-08:00

I could not let today pass without speaking to the incredibly emotional and profound experience of witnessing the Inauguration of Barak Obama, the first African American President of the United States. As one who grew up in Washington, D.C. during the 60's and whose community based and spiritual work has taken me to many urban areas and international settings where racism and injustice pervade, I am not sure that I would have anticipated the U.S. being prepared to lovingly and longingly receive an Executive Officer of color in 2008. How thankful I am to have been wrong. The entire inaugural program was quite moving. However, I want to point to two places which were particularly significant to me.

The first was a section of President Obama's Inaugural speech, early in his remarks, where he says:

"On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom."

Recently, there has been discord and turmoil within a community that I love very dearly in the U.S. Their pain and woundedness runs deep. In addition, my daily walk here in Haiti makes me keenly aware of the daily struggles and challenges within this country and, consequently, my call to respond and stand side by side with the people to help address such challenges. President Obama's words therefore resonate with me at many levels- at the National level, the community level, the international level and the personal level. He has provided all of us with an inspirational mandate-"choose hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord". We have an opportunity to be a positive and effective force again.

The second touch point for me was Elizabeth Alexander's poem. I was not familiar with Elizabeth Alexander and obtained a little biographical information on her.

Elizabeth Alexander was born in 1962 in Harlem, New York, and grew up in Washington, D.C. She received a B.A. from Yale University, an M.A. from Boston University and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Pennsylvania. Her collections of poetry include American Sublime (Graywolf Press, 2005), which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize; Antebellum Dream Book (2001); Body of Life (1996); and The Venus Hottentot (1990). Alexander’s critical work appears in her essay collection, The Black Interior (Graywolf, 2004). She also edited The Essential Gwendolyn Brooks (Graywolf, 2005) and Love’s Instruments: Poems by Melvin Dixon (1995). Her poems, short stories, and critical writing have been widely published in such journals and periodicals as The Paris Review, American Poetry Review, The Kenyon Review, The Southern Review, Prairie Schooner, Callaloo, The Village Voice, The Women's Review of Books, and The Washington Post. Her work has been anthologized in over twenty collections, and in May of 1996, her verse play, Diva Studies, premiered at the Yale School of Drama.

One critique says that her "poems bristle with the irresistible quality of a world seen fresh," while another noted her "instinct for turning her profound cultural vision into one that illuminates universal experience."

Elizabeth Alexander's stirring Inaugural poem is as follows:

Praise song for the day.

Each day we go about our business, walking past each other, catching each others’ eyes or not, about to speak or speaking. All about us is noise. All about us is noise and bramble, thorn and din, each one of our ancestors on our tongues. Someone is stitching up a hem, darning a hole in a uniform, patching a tire, repairing the things in need of repair.

Someone is trying to make music somewhere with a pair of wooden spoons on an oil drum with cello, boom box, harmonica, voice.

A woman and her son wait for the bus.

A farmer considers the changing sky; A teacher says, “Take out your pencils. Begin.”

We encounter each other in words, Words spiny or smooth, whispered or declaimed; Words to consider, reconsider.

We cross dirt roads and highways that mark the will of someone and then others who said, “I need to see what’s on the other side; I know there’s something better down the road.”

We need to find a place where we are safe; We walk into that which we cannot yet see.

Say it plain, that many have died for this day. Sing the names of the dead who brought us here, who laid the train tracks, raised the bridges, picked the cotton and the lettuce, built brick by brick the glittering edifices they would then keep clean and work inside of.

Praise song for struggle; praise song for the day. Praise song for every hand-lettered sign; The figuring it out at kitchen tables.

Some live by “Love thy neighbor as thy self.”

Others by "first do no harm," or "take no more than you need."

What if the mightiest word is love, love beyond marital, filial, national. Love that casts a widening pool of light. Love with no need to preempt grievance.

In today’s sharp sparkle, this winter air, anything can be made, any sentence begun.

On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp -- praise song for walking forward in that light.

One of the common threads of the Inauguration ceremonies was the reference to light. America has a chance to return to the light and rediscover what it means to be a country of pride, unity and promise. Elizabeth also speaks to the "face" of America- it is the common man pursuing an every day existence. We are all an integral part of the change that Barak Obama has inspired throughout his campaign.

As I did on election night, I witness Barak Obama's Inauguration in the dining area of the Seminaire de Theologie, alongside the Seminarians and many clergy from the Diocese. Faculty and students from Union Seminary who are facilitating a two week class series on Pastoral Care and the Gospel of Mark were also part of the community of viewers. Simultaneously, I was receiving spirited text messages from Kenya. It was truly an international moment, one I will never forget.

Seminary Classes Resume and Bidding Farewell to Abiade

2009-01-10T19:39:00.000-08:00

The Seminaire de Theologie was closed from December 20-January 4 for the Christmas holidays. Seminarians headed to the homes of their immediate family or split their time between friends and extended family. As a result, I was able to see a few of the Seminarians during the vacation, especially the 4th year students. Time with the "seniors" was particularly important to me, since they would not be returning to the Seminary. They would begin their final field work before ordination to the deaconate, scheduled for this summer. Some would be posted hours from Port au Prince. It was going to be very hard for me to experience such a lapse in time in being with them.

During my ten + weeks in Haiti, I have grown close to all of the Seminarians. However, the schedule of the 4th year students was more flexible than those of the underclassmen. Consequently, I had had the luxury of much more time with them. It was clear that they had formed a very close relationship during the past four years. They were like brothers. It was now time for that relationship to change, for them and for me.

The focus of attention was on Abiade Lozama, a 4th year student who had been awarded a two year scholarship for a Masters program and Virgina Theological Seminary in Alexandria, VA. This would be Abiade's first time out of the country and, actually first time on an airplane. I had helped with some of the paperwork and logistics for his departure. Now I felt we needed to do a Commissioning. Friday, January 2 was the last night that all the 4th year students were going to be together. They met at my apartment at 5:30 p.m. I lit a candle and explained the tradition of laying on of hands and anointing at my church, Trinity, Solebury. Since there are some differences in what is acceptable for laity to do in Haiti, I made sure that it was O.K. for me to anoint Abiade with oil. First, we read Luke 10:1-9, the Gospel that was read at my Commissioning. Part of the passage reads "...the Lord appointed seventy others and and sent them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go on your way.' " When Jean Fills finished reading the Gospel, I asked Abiade to sit in a chair and, and joining hands (kenbe), the rest of us surrounded him. I had encouraged everyone to offer prayers and I would close with the anointing. Sonley led with special prayers in French and then drew us into reciting the Lord's Prayer. It was wonderful. We concluded by anointing Abiade with oil.

Immediately following the Commissioning, we went down the street to a wonderful little cafe and all had rum punches and fish dinner. It was one of the best dinners I have had here. At the end of the evening, Abiade, Jean Fills and Sonley walked me to my door and each gave me a hug. Hugs are a rare occurance here (Haitian greeting and farewell is usually represented by a hand shake and a kiss on the cheek), so I was particularly touched. Abiade said he had not known what to expect and was truly moved by the Commissioning. .

The following Wednesday, January 7, we dedicated the morning service to Abaide and offered special prayers. I cried a little during the liturgy, which was probably better than doing so in front of Abiade. Then Pere Oge and I drove to St. Vincent School for the Handicapped to pick up Sonley and Abiade. Sonley was first on the scene, carrying Abiade's suitcase. Then Abiade came down the long metal stairs in the atrium of the school in a gorgeous new suit. He looked so handsome and completely ready to begin this new chapter in his life.

When we arrived at the airport, we parked the car and walked him to the security area. Then it was a final goodbye. He was on his way.

The Seminarians have become very dear to me. Saying goodbye to Abiade was like sending one of my own sons of to a new and strange land filled with opportunity and, undoubtedly, challenges. We have stayed in close touch since his departure. As I suspected, he is thriving at VTS. I feel privileged to have shared in this wonderful part of his training as a priest and I look forward to seeing what God does in His life during these next two years.

January 1-Independence Day in Haiti, A Celebration of Freedom

2009-01-01T15:21:00.000-08:00

Independence Day in Haiti is January 1, the same day as New Year's. You could certainly experience the spirit and celebration in Port au Prince. The festivities didn’t quiet until about 5 a.m. this morning!

On January 1, 1804, Saint-Domingue ceased to exist and modern Haiti was born. 500,000 slaves achieved their freedom under the leadership of General Jean-Jacques Dessalines, Toussaint L'Ouverture, Francois Capois and other great heroes. Many of the generals died while fighting for independence never seeing the first day of freedom. They were brave and zealous servants of their country, hoping that one day they would truly be unfettered. Haiti became the first Black Country to gain its independence.

When the French were in control, they established a law stipulating that they were the only ones to eat soup. In fact, a New Year's Day tradition was to eat soup. When Haiti proclaimed its independence, all Haitians started to eat soup. It was a way to demonstrate that everyone was equal. The custom of eating soup on Independence Day continues today.

Ayibobo! (Alleluia in Creole) to all free Haitians and cultures who claim the Haitian revolution’s great legacy and triumph over tyranny. It is an example of the human race’s universal thirst for freedom and Haiti’s great triumph against empire and slavery ever.

A Trip To A Reforestation Project In Arcahaie

2009-01-01T14:28:00.000-08:00

Timote Georges serves as the Field Representative in Haiti for Trees for the Future (www.treeftf.org), a non-profit reforestation organization headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland. Timote and I found each other through Kathleen McLaughlin-a member of the BuildaBridge staff-about eight months ago while planning the Diaspora of Hope art camp. Timote and Kathleen were both graduates of the University of Peace and Kathleen had made all alumni aware of the art program in Port au Prince. Though Timote was not an artist himself, he believed in the project and was solely responsible for recruiting all the Haitian artists.

I was eager to learn more about Timote’s work, not only because of its importance to Haiti’s future, but also because the Youth and Young Adult Summer Mission Program had identified reforestation as one of its projects. Haiti was once a beautiful island covered with trees. Beginning with colonization, the country was gradually stripped of its many resources including trees. Charcoal has remained the primary cooking fuel through the ages further depleting the trees. In 1929, 60% of Haiti was forested. By 2004, 2% remained wooded.

Trees are an integral part of the ecosytem and environmental health of the planet. Some of their contributions include: the preservation of water sources, the critically important retention of soil, a reduced threat of landslides and increased population of flora and fauna. It therefore goes without saying that the work of Trees for the Future and similar organizations is vital to Haiti.

Trees for the Future is engaged in work throughout Haiti. However, in the interest of time and easy access, Timote decided to take me to their operation in Arcahaie. Arcahaie is a small village along the Northern coast of the gulf and about two hours from Port au Prince. This community is very active in charcoal trading. As a point of historical interest, Arcahaie is also the birthplace of the Haitian flag. On May 18, 1803, members of the revolutionary army, led by General Jean-Jacques Dessalines, ripped the white section out of the French flag and introduced the blue and red Haitian flag during the final months of the slave rebellion.

It was a beautiful drive, especially since the ocean was in view most of the time. Surprisingly, I had not yet had a chance to visit the ocean, so this was a treat. First, we viewed the after effects of the four hurricanes that had struck Haiti in Fall 2008. This effected access for the local inhabitants as well as the farming industry. We then visited the primary nursery for the area. A major planting of 10,000 trees had recently occurred. Nevertheless, the small grouping of seedlings and remaining section of palm structure used for shading, gave me a sense of the program. A hand made irrigation trough had been created near the nursery, servicing it and the many banana trees in the area.

Following our time in the nursery, we headed north to Mitan, where we visited a dear friend of Timote. Alex and his wife greeted us warmly and we enjoyed a couple hours of relaxed time with them. Alex and his family spent about 40 years in the Chicago area. He worked for the Transit Authority and also had his own business that took him to both North and South Chicago. Once retired, Alex returned to Haiti where he uses his pension to serve his community. Though he has six of his own children, he has sponsored countless others in education. He also dreams of completing a clinic just down the road from his home.

The day had deepened my understanding of the challenges of deforestation and the exciting way that Trees for the Future was engaging the local community in effecting positive change. Timote’s goal is to plant 1 million trees in 2009. I hope that the Summer Mission helps significantly in moving him toward that goal.

Language Immersion, Cultural Awareness and Renewal

2008-12-27T06:51:00.000-08:00

I spent the four nights and three days preceding Christmas Eve in Gwo Jan, a blissful community about 45 minutes outside of Port au Prince. It is located near the town of Pernier, particularly known for the Battle of Pernier during the fight for independance. In the days of slavery, this area was probably a refuge for runaways or “marron”. I stayed on the property of N A Sonje Foundation (nasonje.blogspot.com), a non-profit whose mission is to raise and deepen awareness of the rich history of Haiti. They do this in many forms- guided tours, lectures, drama and interactive programming. The primary reason for my stay was to begin studying Kreyol intensively. The pace of my schedule in the first seven weeks of my residency had not really allowed time for me to learn Kreyol. I had patched French phrases together to try to communicate my thoughts, but really had no comprehension or ability in Kreyol. With the seminarians on Christmas vacation, this was the perfect time to have an immersion experience.

Before sharing the details of my experience, you may be interested in learning a little bit about the origin of Kreyol. When the French arrived in Haiti, the original Native American population, under the brutal oppression of the Spanish, had been decimated through suicide, unconscionable labor, cruel punishment and disease. The French travelled to West Africa, captured Africans and brought them back to Haiti to serve as slaves. Kreyol was formed out of the West African dialects and French. Though it has never been declared as the official language, it is truly the common language of Haiti or “Ayiti”.

I had learned of N A Sonje Foundation through a colleague at BuildaBridge. I had been corresponding with Carla for months, inspired by the mission and vision of their work. She showed up at the Diaspora of Hope training and was responsible for Mona joining the team. Following the art camp, the U.S. members of the Diaspora team visited the N A Sonje property. Though a whirlwind tour, we were completely taken by the beauty and tranquility of the land. In addition, we were graced with a mini concert by Carla’s band. Carla plays violin, her husband Ron, Levy, Nja and Mona on guitar and Welele on drums. They write their own music. The message is usually specific to tradition and circumstance in Haiti- very powerful and beautifully composed. I felt as though I had found place where I could learn the truth about Haiti in a retreat-like setting. I knew I would be back.

My immersion experience started on Saturday night at the wedding of the Goddaughter of Carla’s partner, Ari. We then headed up through the hills to Gwo Jan. We had a late supper followed by a band rehearsal. The added treat for me was that Mona’s daughter, Natalie, was also visiting. She laid her head on my lap and fell asleep during practice. After practice, we chatted a bit and then everyone headed off to bed.

The routine for the next three days would be the same- up at 6 a.m., breakfast at 7 a.m.; common phrases, vocabulary and grammar at 7:30 a.m., being joined by young adults from the community- Emmanuel, Williamson and Woodson; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. visiting neighbors and touring the area with Emmanuel, Williamson and Woodson to put Kreyol into use; 3 p.m. lunch; 4-6 p.m. break; and supper and informal personal and cultural discussion with Carla, Ron and, sometimes, Ari. Slowly but surely, I found that some basic questions and responses were coming more easily. My comprehension was definitely improving. It was also really nice to have this work married with a broader understanding of the history and culture of Haiti and new friendships in the community.

One of the most meaningful community visits that we made was to the home of Monavwa, an elder in Gwo Jon. He has been failing for some time and Carla had not had a chance to see him recently. Three generations of the family live together, the newest member of which is a three-month old baby named Kenya. We greeted all the family members in the yard and then proceeded into the house. Monavwa was laying in a bed of crisp, white linens. Though this was the first time that I had met him, it was clear that he was quite frail. He was also having a difficult time breathing. While we were visiting, one of his daughters brought in Kenya. I opened my hands toward her and she willingly passed him to me. What a joy! He was fine until he realized that he had only been partially fed. I took him to his mother so he could finish eating. He fell asleep and she placed him next to his grandfather, in the exact same position. I had stayed outside. When Carla saw how Kenya’s mother placed him, she called me in and asked me to shoot a series of pictures for the family. I was honored to do so. This is only one of a series.

The time passed quickly at N A Sonja, and soon I found myself getting ready to leave. I really didn’t want to go. This was certainly in part because I knew that my return to Port au Prince would be the beginning of two weeks alone and also because I felt as though I had developed both a spiritual and personal connection with the N A Sonje family and the members of the Gwo Jan community. I have been advised by several people to identify a place where I can go and feel I can be completely unfiltered about my experience as a Missioner. Though I have certainly not needed to do that so far, I take comfort in knowing that N A Sonje Foundation provides such a setting.

Merry Christmas!!

2008-12-25T00:49:00.000-08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Fete de Noel a Seminaire de Theologie

2008-12-24T17:17:00.000-08:00

The last day of classes before Christmas break at the Seminaire de Theologie was Friday, December 20. Sonley Joseph, a fourth year seminarian, was also defending his thesis that morning. With the students heading home for the Christmas break the next day, and Sonley’s achievement to celebrate, I felt a party was in order! Selfishly, this also allowed me to have one more night with the whole community before they joined their families for the holidays and I was on my own.

At Seminarie de Theologie, each student has a particular assignment or responsibility linked to the school. Wilden, a second year student, serves as the Comisaire, or coordinator of all the food and special functions. We discussed the possibility of a party and he loved the idea. So did the rest of the students. Wilden solicited input from everyone and finalized the plans.

For those who may not know me, Christmas is my favorite time of year. In many ways, it is probably the hardest season for me to be away from my family and the traditions that I hold so dear. Beginning the weekend after Thanksgiving, I begin celebrating Christmas by wearing holiday clothing including earrings, of course, and decorating the house from top to bottom. The decorating is definitely a team effort- I deliver the decorations from the attic and my husband Eric puts everything in its proper place!

So, all in all, this Christmas party was going to help put me in the full Christmas spirit. In addition to planning some simple decorations, I asked the seminarians to wear something red or green. When I learned that no one had red or green clothes, I told them that I would get hats. The initial response was “we are not children”. I chose to ignore them ☺

Beginning Friday morning, Wilden, Reginald (another seminarian), Youlen, Jeanine and I divided the task list and went to work. There were a few hours when everyone attended Sonley’s defense of his thesis-which, by the way, was FABULOUS- and then returned to the work at hand.

There were a couple of final details to address. I searched high and low for red and green paper goods. Not to be found in Port au Prince, at least not where I could venture on foot. I also had not found the Santa hats in the quantity that I needed. I was a little disheartened and decided to visit one last place. I settled for white paper goods and approached the check out line. Lo and behold, on top of the kioske by the register was an entire package of Santa hats! They were not ordinary hats either- they had electrified stars! I had brought a supply of AA batteries from the states, so we were all set.

As I arrived at the Seminary with the last of the needed items, ready to have the students start decorating, I was met by Father Oge. He needed to meet with seminarians for “10 minutes”. As is common in Haitian culture, 10 minutes turned into 45 minutes. By the time the students returned to the dining room, the space was decorated, the table filled with a wonderful buffet of food and all the hats loaded with batteries and in full chasing light mode! Everyone was completely surprised and excited by what they saw. Despite earlier grumblings, they eagerly took a hat. Someone got Father Oge, who opened the festivities with a prayer. This was quickly followed by popping the cork on the champagne and starting the music.

With this, the open space of the common room immediately turned into a dance floor-Compas Cha Cha Cha, Rumba and other native dances. Everyone was dancing for the next two hours. Students who had seemed quiet and reserved transformed into incredibly skilled and intense dancers. Wilden and Michel were probably the biggest surprises of the group. Wilden is usually soft spoken. He spent the evening dancing with every woman at the party and demonstrated the most intricate steps of anyone in the group. Michel, who rarely smiles let alone laughs, completely relaxed. At the beginning of the evening, he did not even want to stand close to women in photographs. As the party continued, he took the initiative to ask women to dance and was beaming from ear to ear.

Some friends of the seminary had been invited to the party. At 9 p.m., Sonley announced that it was time for them to go. Sonley later explained that, though acceptable for the seminarians to invite people from the community to events and have fun, it is also important to know when it is the time to bring the festivities to a close. Sonley felt this was an important reminder to the public that the seminarians, in the absence of the Dean, are able to act with wisdom and good judgment.

By 9:30 p.m. the seminarians began to call it a night and head to their rooms. The evening had really brought the community together and allowed me to get to know the seminarians better. It was also an important reminder that, colored musical lights, candy canes and flashing Santa hats aside, Christmas is really about a family bonded in the love of Christ. That is what Abiade, Jean Fils, Margarette, Marie, Michel, Micheline, Reginald, Sonley, Wilden and Wilkey have become for me. They do not replace my own family. Rather, they are an extension of my family, having joined others that I love in Kenya and elsewhere.

Las Cahobas -A Visit to Sonley’s Hometown

2008-12-20T12:09:00.000-08:00

Sonley Joesph, a 4th year student awaiting his ordination and parish assignment, was the first seminarian to invite me to his hometown. This was actually one of the few weekends when I did not have other responsibilities and was free to travel. I was really looking forward to the experience.

A little background on Las Cahobas- it is a town with a population of approximately 40,000 located about two hours from Port au Prince. It is in the Central Department of Haiti, just outside of the town of Mirebalais in the Archdeaconery of Mirebalais. It is also only about two hours from the Dominican Republic. Its economy is agriculturally based. Originally called Ville des Acajou by the French because of the beautiful Acajou trees that filled the region, it was renamed Las Cahobas-representing the same meaning-when the Spanish arrived. A noted figure of the area was Charlemagne Peralte, who led the struggle for independence under the U.S. occupation of Haiti in 1915.

Sonley and I left around noon on Friday with a family who was in Port au Prince with their twin infants for a doctor’s appointment. Unlike my experience with small children in Kenya-my appearance prompting them to cry- these babies seemed intrigued and fascinated by my difference. We played for most of the ride. The ride was pretty smooth with the exception of one stretch of road that was under construction. The completed part of the road was quite impressive and provided a spectacular overlook of the area.

This trip was actually my first excursion outside of Port au Prince. Sonley is one of the Seminarians with whom I have developed a particularly close relationship. This made this weekend all the more special.

We arrived in Las Cahobas around two o’clock. Sonley first took me to the home of his sister Mireille where I met her family. After being introduced to everyone, we were served a wonderful meal of peas with rice, pwa (a puree of peas- considered a “winter” dish in Haiti- which serves as a kind of gravy or topping), broth and meat.

So as not to impose on Sonley’s family, I offered to stay in a guesthouse. After lunch, we walked down to the Hotel and I checked in. We then strolled through town, visiting the center square, the police department and the town bank where Sonley had worked at one time. Along the way, we met many people who knew Sonley and greeted him warmly. When I told him he was like the mayor of the town, he humbly responded, “No, this is my home town. I was a teacher of French. I cared about my students and their parents want to speak with me when they see me”.

We then borrowed Sonley’s uncle’s car to visit some people and places in Las Cahobas. As we got into the car, Sonley’s nephew and two godchildren hopped in as well. Their time with their Uncle/Godfather was precious and they wanted to be with Sonley as much as possible. We first stopped to see Father Milor, Rector of the town’s Episcopal Church, Saint-Esprit. Though we had not called ahead of time, he welcomed us and we have a wonderful conversation about the parish and the great need for Sunday School and youth formational programming. At present, there is no Sunday School in place. Father Milor was excited to learn of my background and eager to have me return and begin to work with lay leaders in interested in serving as volunteers in youth and children’s ministries.

Our next stop was the home of Sonley’s mother, Yrmma. She was very warm and welcoming. As soon as Sonley arrived, children from the block gathered in the house to greet him. I took a picture of the assembly. As always, the children enjoyed seeing their picture instantly.

Next, we visited a beautiful dammed creek with a pool of crystal clear water. It was now dusk and too dark to take pictures. As I gazed up from the water, surrounded by trees. toward a rolling hill with scattered rock, I immediately thought of the Garden of Gesamene (or Jesamane in French). It must have been just such a setting for the Disciples, prompting them to fall asleep in their last hours with Jesus. I could also picture the soldiers coming down the hill into this blissful place to arrest Jesus and take him to trial.

Our final stop was the new hospital, Zanme Lasante (Friend of Health in Creole). It as a lovely, pristine facility. There were two large central wards, one for men and one for women. Those with HIV/AIDS, TB and other infectious diseases were located in separate areas. I was quite impressed

Upon leaving the hospital, we returned to his sister’s house. We sat outside for some time, speaking with people in the community and spending more time with Sonley’s nephew, Rudens, and Goddaughter, Geraldina. During our time together, Geraldina brought Sonley her school papers so that he could see how well she was doing. She was very proud and so was Sonley. Sonley drove me to the hotel around 9:30 a.m.

I had a solid sleep, listening to the music and other community activity into the early hours of the morning. I woke around 6:30 a.m. to the sound of the Saturday market in full progress. Since I did not have to meet Sonley until 8 a.m., I spent some time observing the market from my windows and taking a lot of pictures. One of my favorite images was people and goods entering town on small horses, readying to do busy.

I got dressed for the day, had a quick breakfast and headed to Sonley’s. He had not yet eaten, so I benefited from sharing some of his delicious fish. He had raved about the fish in Las Cahobas. I can now testify that it is exceptional and very different from what we eat in Port au Prince.

We were picked up by Father Milor and travelled to Mirebalais to meet with Father Jean Jeannot Joseph, Rector of St. Pierre Church and Archdeacon of the Mirebalais deaconery. This was, once again, a wonderful exchange of information and ideas on the need for programming for youth and children in the region. Though I have applied for funding for this program that won’t be available until the summer, both Father Milor and Father Jeannot are anxious to get started. We agreed that we would begin some training and piloted programming in January. Sonley told Father Jeeannot about the BuildaBridge art program that we held at St. Vincent’s. He was quite interested in having the same experience for the young people of his community and volunteered to identify some local artists who might be willing to teach.

It was after 1 p.m. when we returned to Las Cohabas. As Father Milor dropped us off, he invited us to his home for supper. We accepted and said we would be there around 4:30 p.m. We had lunch and then walked through town a bit. One of our stops was the town bank where Sonley had, at one time, worked. He was greeted very warmly by everyone as we entered the bank. We spent a little time with the Bank Manager and President, including discussion of ways that the bank supports community-based initiatives, and then headed back to Sonley’s Aunt’s house.

Time passed quickly and soon we headed to Father Milor’s house for supper. Contrary to Haitian tradition, Father Milor had had a huge meal prepared for us. I suspect it was out of respect for my traditions. We had a wonderful evening together and then walked home. Sonley had been asked to preach at church the next morning, so I left him early to let him prepare and get a good night’s sleep.

My routine was the same on Sunday morning, though this time I was attracted by a group of boys playing soccer in the street. Again, I watched for a while and took a number of pictures. I then got ready, had breakfast and headed to pick up Sonley. Mothers are the same worldwide- when I arrived Sonley’s mother was preparing breakfast, and although close to the time of our departure, insisted that he eat. We ate together and then walked to Church.

It was a wonderful service with lots of children in the congregation, including a little baby that I was able to hold. Sonley gave a great sermon about John the Baptist and how he, with utmost humility, prepared the way for Jesus.

After church, we returned to Sonley’s Aunt’s house and, you guessed it, ate lunch. We then boarded a public van to head back to Port au Prince. This mode of transportation was very reminiscent of my travels in Kenya on Matatus- how many people (and animals) can you pack into a vehicle! It garners a real sense of community! We were back in Port au Prince city limits by 2 p.m. From the place where the van dropped us off, we took a small Tap Tap (a very colorful truck with a converted bed for seating) and then a taxi. Sonley gave me very little notice as we moved from one mode of transportation to another, adding to the humor of the situation.

The taxi dropped us off outside the Seminary gates. As I stood on the sidewalk with Sonley to say thank you and goodbye, I felt a little sad. It had been a wonderful weekend and it passed all too quickly. However, I know that this is the first of many adventures that I will share with the Seminarians and others during my year in Haiti. I was just glad that the first could be with Sonley.

Your Wish Is My Command, Ali Bove- A Day In The Life

2008-12-15T03:03:00.000-08:00

Well, I am in my seventh week of residency in Port au Prince, Haiti and I am just getting around to the first request that was made by Ali Bove, a member of my Missioner Support and Advisory Team- to share a typical day here, including photographs of where I live and the places I go. One of the reasons this has been difficult is that each day has been somewhat different since I arrived. There is, nevertheless, a certain rhythm and routine that frames each day. So, here we go!

Days begin early at the Seminaire de Theologie and in Haiti. Marie, Margarette and I share one bathroom, so getting ready starts at 5-5:30 a.m. We have Morning Prayer Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and Eucharist on Wednesday and Friday at 7 a.m. This is followed by breakfast at 8 a.m. Breakfast consists of beans and rice or potatoes and pieces of meat or fish in a broth. Occasionally, we have spaghetti. Grace is said before every meal. Meals are served family style. No one begins to eat until everyone has served themselves. Once everyone has finished, a blessing is said and all head off to classes. If I do not have an appointment or some other commitment. I usually go back to my apartment and work. There is a desk in the apartment where I have my computer, printer etc.

Lunch is served around 1 p.m. The meal is almost identical to what is served for breakfast. After lunch, everyone disperses and returns to the responsibilities of the day.

Wednesdays are different in a number of ways. There is a Eucharist in the morning and at noon. I teach English to 6 seminarians who are at the intermediate level 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Since their mastery of the language is better, there is fairly lively conversation in the class and a certain amount of humorous questions and laughter- much like my Confirmation classes at Trinity. At the conclusion of class, we move to the Chapel for the mid-day Eucharist. Students from the College de St. Pierre, a university located behind the Seminary, are invited to the mid-day service. Following the Eucharist, any students who attended join us for a snack and ask the seminarians any questions that they wish. Though I cannot always follow everything that is said (it is all in French or Creole), I usually can grasp the overall discussion.

Evening prayer occurs at 6:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Following evening prayer a light meal is provided. Typically it includes a kind of porridge called bouillie. It is light brown in color and quite sweet. Often, there is also peanut butter and jelly, or hot dogs, fried potatoes and plantains.

The evenings often include watching soccer and the evening soap opera “Marina”. Everyone, male and female are glued to the nightly episodes of “Marina”. On Monday and Thursday evenings, 8-10 p.m., I teach English to four of the seminarians who represent the beginner group. Each week I provide them with a written assignment. Topics have included writing their autobiography and call to the priesthood; a detailed description of a place that they most want to visit in the world; and their favorite Christmas tradition. Class time is spent reading their written assignment out loud and asking each other questions. In addition, some time is spent introducing and reviewing everyday vocabulary, such as colors, pieces of furniture, articles of clothing etc.

After evening prayer and supper, I usually return to my apartment where I work on grant proposals, e-mails and even letter writing. My residency in Haiti has taken me back to the old fashioned tradition of letter and post card writing. It has been kind of nice to send a more personal note from time to time. I also take time to read books about Haiti. In fact, I am thinking of posting some titles on my blog and sharing my personal reviews.

On the weekends, most of the Seminarians head off to field work. This essentially leaves me alone. I use some of this time to go to the grocery store (Five Star or Piyay), run errands and do laundry. I also continue some of the same work that I do during the week. So far, I have worshipped at Trinite Cathedral each Sunday.

My early weeks in Haiti were pretty programmed- preparation for and actual visit by the Presiding Bishop, Haiti Connection conference and the Diaspora of Hope art camp. Now I find myself spending a lot of time researching and writing grants and pursuing potential partnerships for projects of the Diocese, especially in education. To provide myself with an outlet from this sedentary work, I am beginning to explore some volunteer opportunities. My first is going to be with the Lamp Clinic in Cite Soleil. This clinic is funded through a Philadelphia based non-profit called the Lamp Foundation of Haiti. Occasional participation in such initiatives allow me to feel as if I am engaged in vital ministry while also doing important work for the Diocese in growing funding streams and developing sustainable programming.

This Friday I will begin the first of three four-day language immersion sessions. To date, I have hobbled along with my Junior High-Senior High French. I really need to strengthen my ability in French and begin to grasp Creole. Without improving my communication skills, my work in Haiti is hampered. I have never been one who studies effectively on an independent basis. I am looking forward to an intensive and environmental method of instruction.

I hope this has given you a glimpse into my daily life in Haiti. Please feel free to post comments and ask questions, especially Ali! I will do my best to respond.

An Advent Devotional

2008-12-08T20:33:00.000-08:00

One of the many ways that we can stay connected during this Advent season is through virtual devotionals. One of the U.S. participants in the Diaspora of Hope art camp in Haiti sent me the link below. This on-line devotional is part of a collaborative effort that includes Youth Ministries of the National Episcopal Church, the Youth & Young Adult Ministries of the Presbyterian Church USA and the Congregational Life office of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. I experience the devotional series the last few nights and found them to be both meaningful and centering. Enjoy!

http://www.followingthestar.org

A Week of Thanks

2008-12-08T20:13:00.000-08:00

During the week of November 25, I was part of a group of American and Haitian artists and volunteers who facilitated an art camp called Diaspora of Hope Artists on Call at St. Vincent School for the Handicapped. This event, coordinated through BuildaBridge-a non-profit organization based in Germantown, Pennsylvania, that brings hope and healing through the arts to challenged communities locally and internationally- had been in the planning stages for many months. The original site was to be Trinite Music School, an academic institution of the Diocese of Haiti renowned for its training of aspiring musicians. The day before the first of the American members of the team were scheduled to arrive, a change of venue was necessary. With the blessing and approval of the Diocese of Haiti, St. Vincent School for the Handicapped opened its doors to the program.

The team was incredibly understanding of the last minute change and actually excited about working with the children of St. Vincent. In truth, however, no one on the team had any formal training in working with children with physical challenges. This, coupled with a language barrier both with in the leadership team and the children, made for an unusual set of circumstances. In addition, most of the training materials generated by BuildaBridge had not been translated into French and Creole. This meant that the American members of the team had to do their best to communicate the mission and vision of the program as translators then tried to convey the meaning. All in all, it was a step of faith for all of us!

Each day of the camp brought more synergy among the leaders and the children. We became a family within a family. Thursday was probably the most transformative day of the week. Everyone seemed to grasp the routine and understand the expectations. We concluded that day’s program feeling very ready for Friday’s final performance.

There were many memorable moments to the week. Let me share some of my favorites: the simultaneous singing with voices and sign language- it was true poetry; the day that one of the Haitian musicians came in with a new song and the Haitian drama instructor with a second play, both inspired through the experience; Dieumain Cloristin, a young woman born without arms, dancing the Compas and performing in the dramas; a student with MS and a guitar slung on her back having a star role in the drama “She Can Be President”; the deep relationships fostered among the leadership team and the tremendous sacrifice of the Haitian artists, some of whom travelled two hours each way to participate; the physical connectiveness with the children as the blind familiarized themselves with you by touching your body or your face and those who were deaf and mute tapping or grabbing you to get your attention; and the flock of students who surrounded Mona, the drama teacher, to ask for guitar lessons. And, in keeping with the week, Mona is excited and willing to provide the lessons. So, we are now on a campaign for guitars!

For more information on BuildaBridge, the sponsoring organization, and all three Diaspora of Hope locations-Guatemala, Haiti and Kenya- go to http://diasporaofhope.blogspot.com.

Youth Service at Trinite Cathedral

2008-11-24T14:09:00.000-08:00

This past weekend included the arrival of the three U.S. members of the BuildaBridge Diaspora of Hope Artist on Call art program and a wonderful youth service at Trinite Cathedral. There are three Sunday services at Trinite-6 a.m., 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. The youth service is held at 7 a.m. Given the hour, I am not sure there would be the same reponse at my home parish as I experienced this week. There must have been 200 children in attendance, They completely filled the left side of the church. They were all dressed in their school uniforms- green and white for the girls and gray for the boys. The girls' hair, as always, was beautifully styled with braids, ribbons and barrettes. It was quite a site to behold.

The service lasted about 1 1/2 hours. During the course of the service, the matrons from the children's school would observe a random squirmy, giggling boy or girl and swiftly relocate them to the adult side of the church. Despite exemplary behavior overall, the right side of the church did experience an increase in numbers throughout the course of the morning! I had a line of boys and a couple of girls who became new worshipers in front of me. Of course, I was amused by this, as it brought back vivid memories of Sunday services when my boys were young. With three sons and a husband singing in the choir, there was no chance of me winning the behavior war-I was outnumbered! Even sitting in the front pew did not seem to dissuade their poking and proding.

The children do all the readings and lead the singing at the youth service. It was really wonderful to see young faith affirmed and leadership nurtured. This is especially significant since all the children are not members of the Cathedral. It was also a powerful image to see the long line of children taking communion. It was truly Christ's gathering of the little children.

Presiding Bishop's Visit to Trinite Cathedral & Trinite Music School

2008-11-18T17:17:00.000-08:00

Please check out the link below to view some of my favorite pictures from the Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori's first day in Haiti:

http://picasaweb.google.com/kyle.evans55/ThePresidingBishopAtTriniteCathedral#

November 18-A Day of Remembrance in Haiti

2008-11-18T11:14:00.001-08:00

Battle of Vertieres Memorial

Battle of Vertieres-November 18, 1803

The Battle of Vertieres was the last large battle of the Haitian Revolution. The Haitian War of Independence was fought between Haitian rebels and French expeditionary forces. This decisive blow was a major loss for France and it's colonial empire.

Haitians, led by Jean-Jacques Dessalines and François Capois, attacked a strong French-held fort of Vertières, near Cap François (in the north of Haiti). They won a decisive victory over the French colonial army under General Comte de Rochambeau and forced him to capitulate the same night.

The Haitian Ninth Brigade, under François Capois, played a crucial role in the victory and caused Napoléon's troops to abandon their stronghold. This battle occurred less than two months before Dessalines’ declaration of independence (on January 1, 1804). It delivered the final blow to the French attempt to re-institute slavery, as had been the case in the other Caribbean possesions, and to stop the Haitian Revolution.

Another leader of the fight at Vértieres was Louis Michel Pierrot, the husband of the mambo Cécile Fatiman who had led the vodou ceremonies at Bois Caïman on August 14, 1791 together with Boukman.

This was the first major defeat of Napoléon's army. Napoléon Bonaparte, who had come to power three years prior to the Battle of Vertières (through a coup d'etat on November 11, 1799), was given his first major defeat when he lost this crucial battle against the Haitian revolutionary forces. The French lost many experienced troops in the last year of fighting (1803) in the Dominican Republic. After the Battle of Vertières, their military and political strength in the Western Hemisphere was significantly weakened.

Even though Napoléon had mobilized about 30.000 troops that, in 1802, sailed in huge fleets from France to re-establish slavery in it's most profitable colony (Dominican Republic), and had given up control over much of the territory he controlled in the Americas (see: The Haitian Revolution and the Louisiana Purchase), the Haitian troops commanded by Toussaint Louverture and later Jean-Jacques Dessalines won the war, culminating in the Battle of Vertiéres. The French troops fled for France soon after loosing the final battle. It was a major blow to the French empire, having been cut of from it's biggest source of income: the profits of plantation slave labor in the Dominican Republic.

For the Haitians, who would soon declare independence, the outcome of the battle of Vertiéres signaled the final defeat of the cruel treatment that they had suffered at the hands of the French colonizers. Rochambeau's defeat is still seen as a milestone in the fight against slavery and paved the way for the abolition of slavery in other countries. Haiti was the first black republic in the hemisphere and the first nation in the world to rid themselves from the terrors inflicted by the European colonialists.

The Battle of Vertières is a monument to Haiti's achievements as well as that of it's outstanding military leader at the time: Jean-Jacques Dessalines. Toussaint Louverture, who had died in April of 1803 in French captivity at Fort de Joux, had laid the groundwork for the defeat of France. It was Jean-Jacques Dessalines, who carried on as the leader of the Haitian troops and united the revolutionary forces, that made the win over the cruel General Rochambeau a possibility.

"(Rochambeau's) ferocious and sanguinary spirit was too much for the kind heart of Toussaint, or the gentlemanly bearing of Christophe. His only match was Dessalines." (Wells Brown p. 111) Battle of Vertières' Day

November 18 has been celebrated since then as the Bataille de Vertières day (Battle of Vertières' Day) this day also used to be Armed Forces Day (French: Jour Des Forces Armées) in Haiti. President Jean-Bertrand Aristide abolished the Haitian army in the early 1990's.

2008-11-15T18:48:00.000-08:00

The latest!

It has been over a week since my last entry. Sorry for the lapse in communication. The focus of the past week has been four-fold:

• Finalizing arrangements for the upcoming visit of Katharine Jefferts Schori, the Presiding Bishop of the National Episcopal Church, and creation/ translation of documents that are part of an information packet being prepared for her;

• Confirming details for the Diaspora of Hope Artist on Call art camp, scheduled for Nov. 24-28;

• Attending a three-day conference of Haiti Connection, a community of churches and non-profit initiatives who have committed themselves to work in Haiti;

• Beginning English instruction with the Seminarians.

My work on the visit by the Presiding Bishop and the Haiti Connection Conference have really helped me to develop a sense of the incredible work of the Diocese of Haiti in all critical arenas-education, environment, health and micro-finance. It is also clear that the clergy of this Diocese are stretched very thin and significant additional support is needed. I certainly feel as though I have a clearer sense of ways that I can personally be of assistance in education. For example, a newly formed Episcopal board has been created called the Bureau of Anglican Education of Haiti (BAEH). Though established in 2006, there is only one person in place thus far who is expected to oversee the programming and outcomes of the 250 schools run by the Diocese of Haiti. Funders of education who attended the Haiti Connection Conference are eager to receive more consistent information on the school they support and also learn of additional ways they can be of assistance. It seems apparent that enhancing the structure and staffing of the BAEH is critical. I am in the process of submitting a grant to request financial support for the strengthening of this leadership body. The funds could be used to bring experts in education from the U.S. for a brief residency. Only 8% of the teachers of the Diocese have training. Creating a training program through which one or more Haitian teachers in each of the key regions of the country could be equipped to serve as mentors or ‘Monitors/Monitrices’ (common terms for community leader in Haiti) for their fellow teachers. This could become a great way for Haitian teachers to serve their fellow teacher and significantly strengthen the education system in the Diocese of Haiti. I would welcome input from any teachers who read this blog and either have suggestions for this model or wish to become involved in this effort.

The Diaspora of Hope Artist on Call art camp is in the final planning stages. Members of the Guatemala, Haiti and Kenya teams who live in the Philadelphia area have participated in one training session. A second training is scheduled for this week. All training materials are on line, both in written and audio form. It will be nice to have the three U.S. team members here for a week. There are four Haitian artists who are part of the team. This is the first time that BuildaBridge has come to Haiti. I am excited to see how the program is received.

English classes with the seminarians began this week. There is a beginner group and a more intermediate group. The beginner group meets on Monday evenings. They were so excited about the experience that they have requested a second weekly class. We are also going to meet on Sunday evenings. The intermediate class meets on Wednesday evenings. You have already seen the pictures of some of the seminarians on my blog. More will be added through this coming week, along with excerpts from their biographies.

Have a blessed week.

Remembering the Victims of the Collapsed Schools in Port au Prince

2008-11-15T18:46:00.000-08:00

Prayers for the children and teachers who lost their lives in the collapse of College La Promesse in Petionville and those injured in the collapse of Grace Divine in Primary and Secondary School in the Canape Vert.

Mesi Bondye pou la vi ou ba nou, pou lanmou ou gen pou nou, nap mande ou pou beni nou, dirige la vi nou, gen pitie pou nou, pran swen fanmi nou, zanmi nou e tout moun kap soufri.
Nou priyew nan non

Papa
Pitit la
ak Lesprisen an
Amen

Dieu tout-puissant, nous te disons merci pour a vie pue tu nous domes, pour ton amour envers nous, dans ta bonte, daigne nous benir, nous diriger. Aie pitie de nous, prends soin de notre famille, nos amis et ceux pui souffrent. Nous te prions au nom du

Pere et
du Fils et
du St. Esprit.
Amen.

Thanks be to God for life, and for your love. We ask you to bless us, direct our lives, have mercy on us, take care of our families, our friends and all who are suffering. We pray to you in the name of the

The Father
The Son and
The Holy Spirit

Amen

Some of the Cast of Characters at Seminaire de Theologie

2008-11-15T12:40:00.000-08:00

Our wonderful cooks (left to right)-Lourdie, Yolaine & Jeanine

Seminarians
Marie, one of my room mates
Reginald Wilkey

MichelinWildaine

Margarette, one of my room mates

Arrival and first days in Haiti

2008-11-05T19:32:00.000-08:00

Greetings all!

I arrived safe and sound in Port u Prince on Saturday afternoon. I was escorted to a waiting room where I met my supervising priest, Oge Beauvoir. It was nice to finally put a face to a name. Eventually my bags were delivered and we went outside where I met my two room mates, Marie and Margarette. We then headed to Petionville, a suburb of Port au Prince, where we had a wonderful lunch while looking over the city. Then it was on to the Seminary and the beginning of a new way of life for the next year.

Apologies for the delay in providing my first blog entry. I was not able to gain access to the internet or obtain a Haitian SIM card over the weekend. I finally made some progress on Monday afternoon.

My roommates, Marie and Margarette, are wonderful young women. They are fully accepted by the male seminarians and lead the helm in initiative and commitment to their work. There are 14 seminarians in all, two of whom are studying elsewhere. One of the students is located in a Seminary in Cuba and the other is matriculated at Virginia Theological Seminary. The students are all great and eager to begin English instruction. As a result of everyone's schedule, we have formed two instruction groups. Classes will start classes next week. I have already given them an assignment- they are to write very brief biographies, including their call to the priesthood. I plan to post them on my blog.

The landscape of Port au Prince reminds me a lot of Guatemala City. Yesterday, I assisted Father Oge Beauvoir with some remarks that he made at the beginning of a fund raising DVD for St. Vincent's School for handicapped children. It featured a young girl, Dieumain
Cloristin who has no arms and fully functions with the use of her feet. Because the DVD is being shown at a conference in Tampa this week, I provided the English translation of her dialogue and that of the School Administrator as background on the DVD. The DVD is going to be completed today. I will try to post it on my blog next week.

November will be a full month. There is a large conference called the Haiti Connection that takes place the 12th-14th in Port au Prince. Immediately following the Conference, The Presiding Bishop of the National Episcopal Church, Kathryn Jefferts Schori, is making a visit.
This is the first visit by a Presiding Bishop since 1993 and the Diocese of Haiti is abuzz with preparations. I am helping with the written materials on the history and work of the Diocese of Haiti that are going to be presented to her. Upon Bishop Schori's departure, BuildaBridge's Diaspora of Hope Artist on Call art camp begins. It is exciting to experience this much activity at the beginning of my service here.

I must say that it was also a priviledge to be situated in an African country when the first African-American President was elected to office. It provides such hope and promise for the world. I think that the international community is as excited about Barack Obama as the U.S.!

That is it for the moment. Pictures are coming. I am having difficuty uploading them and suspect that they are too large. All is a work in progress for this technological novice.

More to come next week!

A Little Background

2008-10-04T15:56:00.000-07:00

I have been assigned as a Missioner for the National Episcopal Church to Haiti for a term of one year, November '08-November '09. My duties as Missioner in Haiti are seen as vitally important to enhancing and strengthening the work of the Diocese of Haiti, particularly in the area of literacy:

1) Train Church School teachers and clergy, seminarians and laity in curriculum and formational work with youth and young adults;
2) Serve as mentor to two female seminarians at the Episcopal Seminary in Haiti, the first to be admitted, fostering leadership skills in their preparation for the priesthood;
3) Assist Diocese of Haiti administrations and staffs of the 254 elementary, primary and trade schools in the standardization of key programs among the schools;
4) Initiate engagement of two US based organizations in mission work in Haiti: Tabasamu, which since 2004 has focused its efforts on providing dental care and education to Kenyans, is broadening the scope of its work to other countries, including Haiti; and BuildaBridge, a Philadelphia-based organization which brings wholeness and healing to challenged local and international communities through the arts. BuildaBridgeis initiating a program in Haiti during Thanksgiving week called theDiaspora for Hope, Artist on Call. A team of artists from the US willpartner with Haitian artists to provide an arts camp for 50-100children and youth in Port au Prince.
5) Teach English as a Second Language to seminarians at the Episcopal Seminary.

I depart on November 1. I will remain in Haiti until my one month leave July 2-August 2, 2009.