December Dreaming

The missed opportunity of a new Land Rover does not stop the dreaming for and about La Gonave.

We returned Dec 6th to the Service Cretian Guest House in Anse a Galets and Fifi's wonderful Haitian cuisine and hospitality. It was good to be warm.

Cholera has raised awareness on the island and Fifi was careful with our bath and food preparation. Fist bumping has replaced the traditional hand shake and cheek to cheek greeting.

Pastor Admirable had asked us to assess the possibility of completing work on the Methodist Church building in AAG. We met with Pastor and Mm Medina to take photos of the church and to discuss the current ministry and future dreams. As soon as we receive the performas (estimates) of plans discussed I will file team project profiles with the jurisdictional directors and VIM.

We were thrilled to meet with some of the scholarship students and receive progress reports. Best was getting to give Benoit Dorvil, an engineering student, photos and notes from his new church sponsor. The Kansas City Congregation has pledged to see him through university, which for a bright, young adult on La Gonave is a dream come true.

Receiving reports and meeting with Louis and Davilma, leaders of the industrial group, APG, was rewarding. The local mayors have recognized the group and several programs beyond the goat park and agriculture have been initiated. They asked that AAPLAG provide another 3 day training for reinforcement of the program and to invite other community leaders to help them understand the impact for industry on the south side.

We met with Haiti Outreach at the well at Dent Griern. A camera dropped down the well revealed a sucker pipe at 236 foot and small rock obstruction at 258 foot. Attempts to retrieve the pipe failed. There are "do overs" in Haiti so we reclaimed stored solar energy pumping equipment and materials to use to repair the Port a Rocquette well. When our well is FINALLY opened it will be replaced but DG folks are uncertain why we were removing their hope for water. There is work to do before that dream comes true.

From Dent Grien we forged our way to Troubaigai on a burro path to a well site recommended by the geological studies done earlier. We will attempt at places where water is most likely, but maps are not encouraging. Water is a limited commodity not where it should be and found in unlikely spots. Concern WW, the Haiti Government and numerous NGO's are attempting to provide a supply that is precious as gold and far more life giving.

Friday the 11th, as post election protests halted all airlines we received word our daughter was on life support in Wichita, Kansas. It was doubtful we could swim to Miami so Missionary Air Federation flew us to PaP where we then went to the DR and home. Arrived in Wichita on Sunday evening and now I stand at the bedside of our daughter dreaming her eyes will open to see me.

Worldly Issues

Leave for La Gonave in 3 days and I'm 3 weeks behind with preparations. Have been totally engrossed with grandchildren and parents who create a wonderful distraction from "worldly" issues. Not sure it is intended to be that way but think my mind needed to NOT think cholera, homelessness in pouring rain, dirty water and no food.

Now, increased calls about cholera on south la gonave with water treatment being distributed on the North side of the island, come pounding back to attention. The excuse we always were given for oversight of people on the south was "that is Methodist territory" and we aren't allowed. Of course, Father Roosevelt gets to carry the load, with help from Catholic Charities. The Methodist church closed their compound and projects years ago.

We will be investigating some transitional housing possibilities for the many still homeless since January. Louis and Enicson said today many are going to the island to stay away from cholera but now people on the south and west are dying. Transportation from the south side is an all day journey or a grueling and dangerous ride on a motorcycle that most can't afford.

We took a road trip to Colorado several years ago and I returned with a good case of good poinsoning. Not "cool" on a big bike in the mountains with..umm

..a rebelling inner constitution. Probably not more than a half dozen latrines for 20,000 people so "it" all washes into the sea, eventually. Fortunately cholera only infects shell fish BUT chonch and lobster are sold at market on the mainland.

Spent the afternoon preparing a new brochure related to water issues and our project on LGN. Hoping to find Concern WW and others successfully fixing broken wells. Generally, activity is limited to the north and east because it is less challenging. Hope to have new information on industry and education before we leave. Stay tuned.

We are excited that one church in Kansas West has an Advent project to raise money to drill one well on La gonave. Another church in KC District just partnered with a civil engineering student in PaP to pay his tuition for the next four years. We will get to give him photos and notes from them and see the relief in his eyes.

Perhaps it doesn't seem like much for 100,000 plus people, but with what other NGO's are doing it all adds up. The exciting thing, is nearly all projects are focused on Haitian sustainability. The students are excited about gaining skills to address issues that make life miserable for their families and communities. If forced to work in the US they can only send money from time to time which changes nothing.

Joe says the soup is ready and other work awaits. An auction at our church tomorrow to raise funds for an intergenerational mission trip this spring and the return of our Colorado Kids will curtail what little shopping we managed.

Jesus told the people, in my morning devotion, that saying "Lord, Lord," plus some pious living was no guarantee they would encounter kingdom living. Guess, that means I don't have much to say in the matter so I'll just go do what I can, and enjoy the kingdom as I find it with friends who care about those things that are pounding in my soul.

Dream with Me

As we explore the possibilities of forming a coalition or joining with some UM Churches in Florida and S.Dakota, God tempts us with a proposition that seems like getting our cart before our horses, so to speak.

We have an opportunty to purchase a brand spanking new land rover possibly one similar to the photo. They sell for $64,000.00 new and we have the opportunity to purchase (with our friends in mission on La gonave) one for $20,000.00.

We recently paid $800.00 to get a very old land rover repaired for AAPLAG so we would have transportation on the island. Old land rovers are not risky as they do seem to last "forever"..and beyond. The older they get the fewer ammenities they have and the more limited the usage. The one we now use seats four inside and has a short bed where 4 more can bounce around. It does go more easily to places nearly impassible to the GBGM Toyota pick-up we had when we lived on LGN.

As we look to the future of joining with others, doing similar projects, expanding what we can do, and expanding our mission and ministry on La gonave, transportation is, as it has always been, a challening issue on La gonave. We have paid for use of World Vision land rovers to transport Haitian leaders for training. Often we load, or "overload" a small pick up and abuse bodies bouncing over the rocks.

We have been concerned about safety issues since the Catholic church pick-up did not navigate a steep hill and curve and several Haitian workers were killed and injured. Travel on the island is risky even tho a social event. My feelings after a trip was as I imagined the feelings of one who just successfully rode a rodeo Brama bull! Of course, my body didn't boast!

Our account is ear-marked for water, education and industry and resourses are limited since we returned to the US. What an offer to come at such a time.

The Wesleyan Hospital is getting one land rover, but there is room on the container for two (for the same price). The decision has to be made by November 28th.

Join us as we "dream" of the possibility...there is a door open, but is it a tease, a temptation or a test of our mission future?

Come dream with me at least for a few days.

Randomly Repeating

Randomly Repeating: I have been reading about and downloading images related to the issue of “chaos theory”. Since January 12th it seems our friends in Haiti have gone from chaos to chaos. Yesterday on NPR radio there was a projection that 200,000 people in Haiti may suffer from Cholera in the next year. Port au Prince Hospitals serve 1000 people and they are over-flowing.

We communicate by email and phone with young leaders on La Gonave. They have been frightened but hopeful since the earthquake. Water and food have been more an issue than Cholera. The Norde winds more an issue than the passing of Tomas. This week the tone of emails changed. A young man who frequently discussed theological questions said some are losing faith and question what they have been told of Jesus.

Reading Christian history, and a study of the Psalms, is a journey through chaos. From Genesis to the current political elections and blog battles between liberal and fundamental, the theme is one of absolutes that aren’t, and positives with more question marks than aha’s.

It’s interesting that Google images of “chaos”, with game advertisements ignored, all seem to have some vague but persistent pattern. Chaos is never completely without some form, randomly repeating itself.

Following Katrina, we were asked if God had punished Bay St Louis because of casinos. Presentations relating Haiti’s history of years of violence and corruption, raise the question if God causes the suffering of hunger and water because of a violent nature of people and Voodoo?

Peter J. Gomes, in “The Scandalous Gospel of Jesus”, 2007, ends with a chapter titled “gospel of hope”. He understands the book of Revelation as a call to hope for the end of oppression and injustice. Yet, what New Testament writing has more chaotic narrative? Is perhaps the random pattern within the chaos of life, hope?

Joe just told me the US is sending 125 million dollars for cleanup of debris in Port a Prince, to be managed with the help of the international advisory committee. There’s a bit of hope!

Pastor Admirable has asked for teams to work in Anse a Galets, to complete a church with a history of conflict. To move forward we will have to address those issues. There’s hope in that.

Yet, where is the wisdom in building a temple in AAG while millions are homeless? What was the wisdom in Jeremiah purchasing a field as Babylon was conquering Jerusalem? Is hope randomly being repeated? God doesn’t “cause” the chaos, but is always there within it. Must we seek the pattern, randomly repeated, in the chaos? Could that be God, or hope, or justice, or….?

Pastor Shirley, November 13, 2010. Web: www.centralumclawrence.org

Hello Again

Have not blogged here for a very long time.

Moved back to the US in October 2009 with no replacements. In September some GBGM consultants and staff visited the island and were not too impressed with our living conditions and access to health care...or lack of access. I thought I was doing quite well with my Merck Manual and some very competent internet consultants.

Three current projects are still in place and running: drilling and repairing wells and cisterns, industrial development through APG / AAPLAG, and, educational sponsorship for young adults in university and vocational training. We had committed to assisting the Methodist Youth Group with an annual rally and the Annual Methodist Women's Conference in Anse a Galets.

We met with new President Gesner Paul and agreed to continue to support the ministry on the island as he developed leadership for La gonave following Circuit changes in 2010.

We returned in January for Roundtable discussions with the EMH, GBGM, UMCOR and other participating parties. Shortly after the end of the first days sessions, Jan 12th, we experienced the destructive earthquake with our friends at the guest house. That is subject for another blog. But, it was a God thing we were there to suffer with and for our friends, both US and Haitian.

We continue to visit the island every 3 months or so and stay in communication with leaders of the church, the Association for Peasants on La Gonvave (APG...the industrial group) and Haiti Outreach on water projects.

When we moved home we were invited to share our ministry with KEC congregations who had been supportive while we lived in Haiti. Following our experience with the earthquake, many more wanted to hear the first hand story that was not part of media coverage. We have been VERY busy for 10 months doing presentations in churches, prisons, community groups plus attend to issues on the island.

We sell Haitian Prayer Angels and goats for the goat park to assist APG provide materials for fishermen, gardeners and livestock owners. We continue to fund educational programs for Methodist Youth and Methodist Women. We receive requests from the new La Gonave Circuit Superintendent for projects on the island.

We share the suffering of our friends in the aftermath of the "tremblement" that wrecked such havic in the land and now the Cholera epidemic destined to kill thousands more, and Tomas with such winds and rain. Our friend, Antoine, has been there working with the French Red Cross for 6 months and we welcome his contact and worry for him as so many worried and prayed forus.

I will post my infrequent blogs here in the future. And for a time play "catch up" with the events of life and mission since leaving Haiti. I will address the earthquake and our Conference attempted response; where KEC is in the Disaster Recovery process, and, where we are and our hope for the future mission on La gonave.

I invite you to follow our friends, Ed and Sally Ritter's mission on blogspot.