Many (most) have salty water to drink as cracked cisterns refuse to hold the little rain that fell the last rainy season.
Homeless residents and refugees live in multifamily homes with little money to purchase the food and clothing at market.
Broken churches are ministering to broken people in a very dry, dirty and thirsty land.
Broken schools and orphanages, struggle to find space, supplies and food for children who are homeless or from homes with little or no resources.
Yet, on the island of La Gonave, organizations and leaders, interact and plan for a better future.
To drill a 100 wells, takes time. A newer, larger hospital takes time. An extended microfinance program to help retailers to improve industry takes time.
A year and a half after the earthquake, transitional homes are beginning to spring up in places, and there is both hope and despair as life goes on in the most remote area of Haiti.
I returned to La Gonave, March 21st with 3 "explorers" from Kanasas West and Bill from COR. We landed and took a van to Caraisse then a "flyboat" to Anse a Galets, La Gonave. There by early afternoon we were ready to address water issues of recent phone calls, and meet with students claiming and asking for laptops and tuition for the next semester.
It is exciting to answer requests for notebook computers as Church of the Resurrection has a ministry that "resurrects" donated notebook computers. The university students we support with Round up funds, are thrilled to recieve a necessary item to help with their education. Matt and Catherine had a bag of flashdrives to offer recipients. These are very expensive in Hiati.
Tuesday the group traveled by AAPLAG Land Rover to market at Ti Palmiste. We met with delegations about water concerns on the south and west of LGN. The well at Soucafilip had been serving 25 communities until the overworked generator broke. Their only water souce was two salty wells on the south side. Port a Racquette well was down to a dribble as was the Presbyterian dug well at Nan Sema.
Pastor Dorvil requested assistance to repair the broken cistern that serves the school and community of Delsie. $1200.00 US and the church would volunteer work to repair. It was nice to once again greet his wife who had offered such lovely hospitality the first time I preached in their small church with palm panel sides. The school, they said had more damage since the eq.
Wednesday we met with the new water manager for Concern WW and an expert from the Congo. Haiti Outreach engineer, Javan joined us. We were pleased to hear of plans for 100 bore holes in the next year, and even more pleased when all agreed to address some sites on the West we have identified as critical.
The group was introduced to Pastor Medina and his wife at the Anse a Galets Methodist Chapel which was only half completed when the earthquake added to problems. Members have been involved in outreach to the poorest of west AAG, with Mme. Medina organizing 3 women's conferences and procuring food from NGO food distributions.
Estimates, contractors and team schedule was approved with a call to Pastor Admirables, the Circuit Superintendent, then a tour of the building was made. A journey to the Wesleyan Guest House to make plans for future team housing ended the day.
Fifi, who manageds the Service Chretian Guest House, delighted us with full festival fashion, with three meals a day and warm hospitality between meetings.
A trip up the hill to Celebrate Jesus, resulted in a broken u-joint on the Land Rover and a dusty jaunt for the team. A group of doctors and dentists from Scotland, were visiting schools and running a clinic for their third year. We learned of their commitment to purchase land and fund an orphanage.
Later the team visited an independent school and church, College Ralph Tuthill. It is directed by a Hiatian Presbyterian pastor we met years ago. Pastor Agonus is now up to 85 students from the poorest section of AAG and funds the school almost entirely with money from his 54 ft sailboat profits.
Pastor Angous will have to move his school out in the next few months and is considering pouring a foundation and setting up a large tent. Feeding these school children is more difficult with increased prices and deminishing assistance from the Presbyterian church.
Pastor Medina, President Ocule of AAPLAG, Celebrate Jesus, Missionary Aviation Federation all work to keep these poorest of people and much needed independent schools operating.
Jules Enolet, President of PLATIG, a political (sort of like a lobbying group) with leaders in each section on the island, invited us to participate in a meeting lead by Concern WW. The meeting was to address future mitigation related to hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural disasters. It was a good opportunity to visit with mayors, Haiti Red Cross, and other leadership on the island.
On Friday, we were blessed to meet with the President of AAPLAG and other officers who explained the Microfinace program they have promoted for many years. The group of leaders we trained in 2009, have now organized as an Association (APG) and participate with AAPLAG with a goat park, fishing cooperatives, gardening groups and are considering a magazine (store) at the market in Dangirin. We gave APG $300.00 to purchase a mule to haul water to the goat park.
We have committed to help AAPLAG with transprotation issues as they act as the "hub" for education, industry and infrastructure on La Gonave.
In the afternoon, we visited another independent orphanage, SAMVAYE Joe and I discovered a year ago. At that time there were 11 malnourished child refugees from the earthquake. Now the bright, healthy children sing and show evidence of great love and care. A legal insititution with a school teacher and house mother, they limit the number to 11 and are in need of a new home in two months.
Well fed and very worn out we flew MAF early Saturday for our American Airlines flights from PaP. As typical for Haiti, the three from Wichita could either wait and fly Tueday OR (thanks to a familiar agent) take a detour to New York.
Interestingly, as I reached home on Sunday, and called Wichita, they were retrieving their luggage from the carrosel.
It was a great journey.
The destination has great needs. BUT we did get the generator fixed!!
Pastor Shirley Edgerton
