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.