Sunday, November 25, 2012

Tuition Tension

November 5th I began the shortest visit to Lagonave I have ever made.  Reports of damage to gardens and communities along with struggles getting students back in school were a call I could not resist.  We have delayed travel as it takes funds that we need to pay entry fees and tuition for students so it had been a 6 month separation. The longest since 2007.

I visited Delsie where a team from Kansas West / Andover is planning to work in March.  Sandy had washed large slabs of road bed down the mountain and upended some big trees with shallow roots.  The major issue was fruit trees stripped of their crops and sweet potatoes, critical to both people and goats, washed from the ground.  AAPLAG was trying desperately to locate sweet potato seed and did by the end of the week.

When we moved home the last of 2009, we elected  to keep 3 projects alive on the island.  The Association for Peasants South Lagonave, or APG was designed to eventually become self-sustaining with help from AAPLAG providing training and eventually micro credit as needed.  Progress has been very good with no help from the weather-man!  The goat park has thrived with 13 new groups trained and receiving goats from the park.  Several venders have been trained and financed and an agriculture program for peanuts did reasonably well, again, no help from weather.

I guess it is no wonder the students all chose technological education or service as agronomy just seemed a losing battle.  Engineering, accounting and computer science and medicine were primary choices and they certainly have the skills and quick intelligence to do well. Now, they are just concerned there will be positions for them when they graduate.  They are hoping the NGO;s do not get discouraged and leave too soon.  Most indicate a desire to make a difference on their home island, Lagonave but will need employment before they can become independent.

Nov 8th I met with 7 of the 17 students at he Methodist Guest House and took new photos.  Several are in the last year of 5 year programs and one nursing student graduates at the end of this current semester.  Two engineering students graduate the next semester and one has been 1st in his class of 129 for the 4 and a half years he has been in school.

When the program began 5 years ago, entry fees ranged from $15.00 US to maximum of $25.00 for registration photo and entry exams.  Today we are paying as high as $435.00 for entry fees and clinical experience for professional nursing students and $350.00 for engineers and science majors.  tuition also has increased from $250.00 or $350.00 per semester to $400.00 to $500.00 per semester.  As students advance there are tools and equipment they must supply and clinical experience at additional cost.  The individual amounts seem small but the total cost has begun to max the amount of funding we have available.

I feel a bit silly typing these amounts sitting in Lawrence Kansas where university students pay $4000.00 a year OR semester just for board room!!  I have lost track of the cost per collage hour but realize many graduate with debt that will take years to pay off.

For several years we have depended on funds from Kansas East Conference Roundup funds to pay student tuitions in university with left overs to pay educational funds for adult industrial training.  A couple of our students have been assisted by congregations and special offerings at Annual Conference, various Church programs and projects have helped with educational project costs and training plus pay our travel to and from Haiti.

We began alternating trips nearly two years ago to cut expenses but living in the US and not being good at marketing our mission has decreased  income, significantly.

We have committed to see these 17 students through their advance education.  The fact that bright students from the island of Lagonave could attend university and manage to stay in the upper 5% of their class is a miracle made possible by our Kansas East Connections..

Actually, over 40 students have received funding for education with Mitchell South Dakota taking on 13 students, including a med student now studying in the Dominican Republic. The universities have welcomed the students and encouraged these young adults that would never have had the opportunity except for this mission.

Once again I serve a local congregation and my desk is covered with year end requests for donations for a myriad of worthy programs that provide service to children, frail old and people in need in America. I preach mission and generosity and believe strongly our Christian mission is that of Jesus' mission.

Living and working in Haiti, with no particular skills, was a matter of a growing faith in God. Believing  that God  cares about all people and offers liberation and salvation to those most in need was obvious in so many ways.

I'm not asking for anything, except prayers at this time; for wisdom to manage our resources to see this project through; that we might let go of other projects that have made no progress at great expense, such as water and wells, which others are addressing;  prayer for APG, that from this 3 year "start" they now have the desire and skills to progress and grow without our support; and please pray for the students who have spent these last 5 years living with little food,  sharing apartments with no electricity, sharing lap tops and what small resources they could find.  The other prayer request would be for a few congregations to  get excited about transforming the life of one Haitian young adult by sponsoring their education for one or two years.

'Tis the season I believe that creates many "thin places" where prayers are on  express delivery to the one who opens doors.  May Christ "occupy" your heart for a time, and give you peace.  Pastor Shirley


Saturday, August 4, 2012

Talking Expectations

It is the season to get many calls from La Gonave.  It is "back to school" time there as it is here and anxiety is raised as crops have failed and expenses rise, and  nothing works right.  Monday we again do a skype conference with Partners for Haiti and EMH representatives.  The talk there is about short term projects and teams and how to "work" without creating dependency.  Talking, expectations.

Our experience has been long term and some issues have become non issues as we built relationships and tapped the desire of young leaders who want knowledge and independence.  The culture and multitude of challenges make independence difficult.  History does not help, but we have watched the planted seeds begin to grow.  Our dream of their self-sustaining role is perhaps too enthusiastic for Haiti, but "push" we do.

A great need for our manager, "animator-Louis" is an ATV that is available from Mr. Bee, but is in need of tires and a plan for use and maintenance.  We have received some generous donations, and give thanks for those. Louis is a "big boy" and tap taps do not like to transport him.  He can ride a motorcycle but manages to hurt something most times he goes far.

Louis manages reports and tuition schedules for most of the students. He and Joe maintain an excel worksheet and Louis often receive funds for some of the students and distributes it to them.  Most students want to talk directly to us as the "source" but Louis interprets needs.

 He also is secretary of the industrial association APG and helps Davilma manage training of groups, the goat park and projects for vendors and gardeners.  They have developed programs for planting 7000 trees, a small micro finance plan for gardeners and training programs for groups. I wish I could say "all is working well" but it is Haiti with many challenges. We are at least on the same page, as their desire for independence will hopefully overcome the challenges in time.

One project with the La Gonave Circuit involves First Saints Community Church in Maryland.  They have sent teams to Trou Jacques for repair of cisterns and are now looking into beginning a micro lending program for the community.  The teams are pleased but UMVIM has changed protocols and tell us they are no longer approving projects on the island.  So, we work directly with commuities and US congregations for the time being.

Water remains a critical issue with Concern WW, WASH and Haiti Outreach waiting on project funds to continue searching for water on the west half of LGN.  We have invested without results and as we wait we are repairing community and church cisterns.

Joe and I continue to alternate quarterly trips to reinforce programs and projects.  We welcome individuals and small groups interested in meeting with the leadership of the island and getting a taste of the culture in the most remote area of Haiti.  Anyone interested please call as I will soon be making arrangements to return in October.





I have been preaching a sermon series from the Book of Ephesians.  Paul calls for unity in ministry by all who believe and accept compassion of Christ is the way to do ministry that moves all people toward God's plan for Shalom / Well-being for all God's people.  He says it takes those mature in faith to be apostles, prophets, evangelists and effect the lives of those outside the community of God.  Thinking expectations, I pray for maturity of all in our two diverse cultures.   Pastor Shirley


Saturday, July 7, 2012

Thinking Sunday


It’s Friday, and Sundays coming. I’ll preach my second sermon at Vinland UMC, “my church” just down the hill.  I like it. They don’t lock the doors because locals use the basement as a storm shelter.  It’s a nice church with nice “stuff” and a mix of members.  Some people are “country” and some are “city, professional” with a “county attitude”.  I’m a small part of their history from the 90’s, and the “feel” is there, when you first walk in.
“The feel”. is like you’re on your own, to do what you do, but do something, and remember some of us  “go way back.” Like Haiti, they have used the same hymn book 40 years, but when the choir “is on” its’ new stuff is approached seriously. And, from the pulpit; keep it simple, but make it mean something. Last week was work.
That “First” Sunday, I stumbled through an unfamiliar “order of worship” with Eucharist, Did remember to serve myself before covering the elements. I talked about what miracles “are” and ‘aren’t”. Then I “called” the congregation to a “healing ministry” letting miracles be the natural bi-product of meaningful communication.
 This week, Marks’ gospel leads to a discussion of the stifling effects of rejection with no pity party response.  If you can’t “light a fire for the Kingdom with wet wood” then get some help and go somewhere else to do damage to demons.  Various commentaries call it the start of ministry or Jesus style mission; some talk of repentance and/or salvation and even Barbara Brown Taylor has the nerve to use the word evangelism!
Mark does indicate Jesus had attended VIM Leadership training as he told the “sent ones” to travel light. They were to take no carry-on or granola bars or Gatorade, and not to worry about luxury accommodations. Jesus even recommended something to discourage “critters”. He also instructed them on how to interact with the “locals” and if “they” didn’t “buy in” to the God stuff, not to fret, but “shake it off” and go home.  There are more demons out there than apostles.
There is a lot more to Marks story but borrowing from many sources, I think of it this way:
There was to be a new day dawning; Jesus and the Apostles demonstrating                                                                            the power and presence of God.                                                                                                                                        Not a side-show extravaganza or high wire performance without a net;
Not a “now you see it, now you don’t“ illusionist and certainly not a Si-Fi Fantasy!
But signs of the Kingdom of God,                                                                                                                                  where people believed Jesus was different, and his way, too.
If people cared and if the poor had food; the margins were moved and boundaries crossed;
then lives would be changed and the demons would depart.
Call it mission; call it a new ministry; call it evangelism or conversion or repentance if you will.
Some real go getters may call it “saving sinners” from the burning lake of fire!
But when Christians “get it right” (thanks to Adam Hamilton),
we just could maybe,                                                                                                                                                                call it church.

Joe and I, and Kansas East Conference,  continue to invite people to go with us to La Gonave; to listen to challenging plans for water for the masses; to consider partnering with one of many university or advanced education students; or to participate with industrial development groups, planting trees, training groups and giving them goats, or seeds, or small loans. 

The Haitian Church / La Gonave Circuit has accepted a couple of teams for community projects on the island, We have interested congregations exploring ways to help communities, build and repair cisterns, sponsor individual schools, an orphanage or some students. I think I see it as “damaging demons” of poverty, injustice and privilege for the few.  Isn’t Jesus’ mission and ours, STILL focused on changing lives and life styles?

Pastor Shirley Edgerton, July 6, 2012, for Mission La Gonave.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Third Cup #1

As I am on my third cup of coffee this will be short as I hope all in the future will be.  Perhaps more frequent posts and more focused.  
I will be serving a local church half time starting in July plus Joe and I will continue to support La Gonave Haiti projects with visits to the island extended to every 4 months. Projects are water cisterns and wells, education scholarships for university and vocational schools, and APG Industrial Development program.  
My last visit to La Gonave was early March. Flew from Newark and stayed at the new Baptist Mission Center with great accommodations. Was greeted at the airport by 3 students and had a good visit. 
I shared Fifi's & time on LGN with Ed & Sally Ritter from Florida.  
I met with the water committee from Trou Bagay, Concern WW and WASH, the small orphanage in Ansagale and Agonus school to observe the Ritters in action teaching the CEH program.  Considering partnering with WASH/Concern for well at Trou Bagay if can't work something with Haiti Outreach.
Visited Pastor Medina to see church in AAG and talked with the team leader from Virginia with 4th team. He expressed concern for progress. I noted few "hired" Haitian workers. 
Louis Dufrene, our animator left a day early to be a translator for First Saints Community Church team working it's first experience in Trou Jacques. They later reported the project paradigm developed by FSCC with the Haitian Methodist Church and UMVIM is poorly understood and followed by the receiving church leaders. 
We continue to work on EMH projects while managing our own funding and partnering with other agencies on La Gonave. 
Our current water funds have repaired 3 cisterns and trained community leaders in water management and provided a catchments and holding tank for the APG goat park. Water remains critical particularly on the west end of La Gonave. 

First of April we delivered 500 lbs of Layettes and School kits to the Midwest Mission Distribution Center in Chatham IL and was impressed with the distance, reception and future association considerations.