We returned from Haiti about five weeks ago from a short
and very busy trip to Pignon, Haiti. We had not been to Haiti in over a year
and were eager to see our Haitian friends. This was a unique trip in that we
took three friends along with us; Melissa Buller (Oakhurst Realtor), Rachel
DeBernardi (Nurse) and Roberta Tackett (Retired Teacher). It was the first trip
that Susan and I have made without traveling with Pastor Carsel. There was a
bit of anxiety about our travels within Haiti and these quickly dissipated upon
arriving at the office of Missionary Aviation Fellowship in Port au Prince. MAF
was the air charter NGO that was going to fly us from PaP to Pignon on a six
passenger Cessna. This 25 minute flight replaced the 4-12 hour drive we’ve
taken in the past covering 90 brutal miles to Pignon. This is certainly the way
to go!
We arrived at the Haiti Outreach Guesthouse
(www.haitioutreach.org) Tuesday afternoon and after getting settled in to our rooms
we met with Neil Van Dine, Country Director for the Haiti Outreach, and
arranged to participate in a well inauguration on Thursday morning in the
community of Lomenis. Later that evening
we meet with Director Rimbol to get an update on how things were going at the
school and to hear about current needs, which include textbooks for next year
and new school uniforms. We were pleased to hear that the school has grown to
nearly 150 children, new teachers have been hired and now that the school
offers K-6 grades they are ready to apply for their national accreditation. It
was wonderful to see the excitement and smiles of the students when our group
arrived at school Wednesday morning. Rachel, Melissa and Roberta immediately
made lots of new friends and quickly saw what has brought Susan and me back to
Haiti every year. Your financial support continues to change the lives of our
students, their families and their community. These changes create healthier,
more peaceful flourishing communities.
We were all honored to be present Thursday at the well
inauguration in Lomenis. As is typical for Haiti, the program lasted about 2 ½
hours featuring singing, dancing, speeches from all the local dignitaries
along with skits about proper use of the new well. It was heart warming to see
the community pride as the ownership of the well passed from Haiti Outreach to
the new Community Water Board of Lomenis. This was the culmination of 18 months
of the coordinated efforts of the community and Haiti Outreach to provide
clean, easily accessible water for the first time. I am thankful everyday when
I turn the faucet handle and clean water comes out. This is a blessing that is
very rare in many parts of the world, Haiti included.
There were so many other things that filled our time that I
will only mention here as to not make this letter a novelette. We had an
informative tour of the local hospital. Its fully equipped operating room serves
communities throughout the region. We met with folks from Many Hands for Haiti
about the possibility of providing school lunches a more affordable cost. Susan
and I were excited to visit Madam Odryle’s (Pastor Carsel’s sister) home and to
thank her once again for her hospitality over the years. I played, pretty
poorly I might add, a few games of dominos and got soundly beaten by her
children and grand children. It was also such a treat to spend some time with
Jean-Ronel’s family (we love them all) and to hear the wonderful progress his
brother Viladoin and sister Margerie are making with their schooling.
Haiti is a wonderful teacher and I often return from our
trips with more questions than answers. Susan and I continue to educate ourselves
and search for the most effective and efficient ways to accomplish the goals of
Be the Power of One. I appreciate our willingness to be open to the wisdom and
experience of people like Neil, who has been in Haiti for 25+ years, and our
eagerness to hear the impressions of those who have seen Haiti for the first
time. Rachel, Melissa and Roberta were courageous trailblazers and we look
forward to offering more trips to Haiti for friends who are interested in seeing
our work firsthand.
As always Susan and I are anxious and open to sharing our
story with groups of all sizes whether at your home, church or club meeting. We
both feel very blessed by your financial support, your words of encouragement
and the hospitality and friendship we are always shown in Haiti. Be assured
that progress is being made and your generosity has touched many lives in Haiti
and other developing countries.
