Tabasamu Goes To Haiti!

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

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

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

Valentine’s Day in Haiti

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?

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.