What a Few Do

“What A Few Do”                                                                                           Nov 11, 2015    

Long time no blog! We look forward to a team experience in March to La Gonave to continue work on a church, meet with students, investigate a retailer, and (for Joe and me) to just be there together for the first time since 2010. He has gone with teams but I have gone alone.

A text yesterday informed us that the father of Wiltere who taught us Kreyol on La Gonave had died. See photo. That means money is needed to pay the drummers and dancers to raise money for burial in a cript. Wiltere is the last of his sons, who is raising 3 families of children on a fairly unproductive farm …and Wiltere was probably the most unsuccessful fisherman I ever met. His redeeming qualities were his love of family, God and all God’s children.  He was a great teacher for us. We will send him some money as we haven’t a clue how they survive except by the grace of God.

We still have 3 university students who are graduating or near graduation and 4 High School students at various stages.One of our graduates is now a new papa AND training to be a preacher as he waits for a plan to become a businessman and preacher. See photo of our newest Godchild, Apollos !

Our Haiti share from Round Up Against Hunger, we hope will pay expenses for the university students.  High School is a seven year program and most are about mid-way to near completion. Tuition is less than university by far and we hope to find some sponsors who would get to know some fine young adults and help them at least do what few do.

We talk with students more frequently than our own children and grandchildren as Facebook messenger is time to touch base each morning with students, graduates and their smart phones. They are all pretty “techy” and the phone is a part of life in Haiti as it is here. Only the service is very hard to understand in Haiti.

We hope to see some of you at Round Up.  With changes in the Conference things are rearrange somewhat but there are still food pantries and people in need in our region.

Our Mercy and Justice partnerships are always an opportunity to do what more than a few do, as we pray for and partner with our brothers and sisters who are trying to have a better life.

Pastor Shirley & Joe Edgerton, Axtell KS  Axtell – Beattie UMC charge. 

Narrative Lectionary for Axtell / Beattie Preaching: I have been preaching the Common Lectionary most of my preaching life. It is in my DNA, I believe, I am not to not always do what I have always done. A preaching site I frequent offers (though the Lutheran site) a Narrative lectionary that in 4 years moves us through the Hebrew teachings AND some new approaches to Advent and Lent.  My concern was liturgy and music but after exploring Facebook I have entered into conversations with Presbyterians, Lutherans and others. The conversations are stimulating and thought provoking and new.

NEW!  God so often promises “new things”. I know I have never had two days just alike in all my years. I learn something new every day. I always mange to make new “mistakes”!  Last evening I learned how to “teach well” an adult Bible Study class. I’ve been teaching Bible classes for years, but the church leader teaching last evening has a “gift” and made it all new for me.

So much “teaching material” is not covered by the lectionary but I have feared “to tread a new path” seemingly without trail markers. I have discovered others are seeking the something new and in this new community of travelers I have discovered wisdom, humility and most of all respect for and desire to share and explore God’s word for all.

I’m “beginning” my exploration with the most familiar text from Deuteronomy which is the second reading / teaching of the 10 Commandments and the Shema.  Amazing that in this season of political promises for “new laws” aimed at solving problems, I get to preach on the basic biblical laws aimed at making life better.

There is much concern about how to make church “better”; how to protect our schools and the children in them; and how to care for creation. Perhaps we will find some answers as we to a new thing by “re-looking” at some ancient scriptures. Prayers are welcome.

Please remember the Haitian Students from La Gonave that receive funding from Round-Up each year.  Shirley

Where Do We Go From Here?

Benoit Dorvil

Our sojourn in Haiti began in 2007 and the support and involvement of congregations, individuals and conferences was overwhelming. We were able to begin several projects and actually have reasonable success (Haitian style) in most endeavors.  
      We felt good about our 2 years plus mission appointment when we left in 2009 with one project left to complete. Education for young adults in univeristy and vocational training was to continue until the selected ones had graduated.  That was the beginning of the saga of education in Haiti

Wesner Foreste

      The first students to graduate were  enrolled in Vocational programs such as language, diesel mechanics and chauffeur training.  They were hired immediately or had jobs waiting for them. The next to graduate was a Nursing Science Major who had a job offer before graduation. We were singing praise and gratitude to all who supported the program. It seemed we had made a wise choice for improving life for people on La Gonave. Can't explain the delight and excitement when the first enrolled Civil Engineering student graduated with  highest honors. I attended the event, one of the most thrilling moments of my life!
       I stayed in Haiti a few days to meet with students following the graduation of Benoit Dorvil and ultimately was introduced to the issues Haitians face in a culture that practices nepotism and an ethic system of hierarchy, class and open racism.

Enickson Villiere

      Dorvil came with his honor gift (a floor lamp) and the news that he would not receive his license as an engineer until he completed three projects thatone professor had failed to give him prior to graduation, required for licensure. These came with a price tag, which I paid (for all three we were told) then he had to find housing so he could complete the projects. Without a license he could not set up his own business and now, over a year later the professor is ready to assign his second project that comes with a price tag. The crazy part is that no Haitian business will hire him because he was educated in Haiti and is Haitian. A portion of his education (if only brief) had to be done outside Haiti but when he applied for a visa the embassy refused to honor his appointment date.
      Enickson, just graduated with diploma in Computer Science was fired from a promised job when they discovered he was unmarried and is now unable to find work because he does not have a friend "in high places" such as the government. IF he gets a visa, goes to the Dominican Republic and takes an additional college class he will be offered a job. He is praying constantly at his church for a pathway to care for himself and his family and is tracking toward a career in ministry.
     We have three students left in university and we anticipate more barriers to their successful careers.  We are attempting to raise $1800.00 for a 10 day educational and clinical training in Miami, offered to Wesner,

Gamaniel Laurent

that will look good when he graduates as a Nursing Science major. The two civil engineering students in their last semesters anticipate the same requirement that for some additional projects or international training.
     The Haitian Methodist Church offers scholarships in each district every year. We never understood why those are limited to teaching and agriculture until now.
     Now we face the delima of where we go from here?  We anticipated the ending of the commitment to the students with their graduation. Now, we find there is another chapter if they are to be able to realize their dreams in Haiti.
     I am never comfortable leaving jobs before they are completed. In Haiti NGO's come and go and there are thousands for project begun and never completed. I would like not to be just another uncompleted project yet we have never been in this alone. The UMC has supported our projects on La Gonave since 2007 but with an end in site for our mission there. We have faithfully applied the funding of the Conference and individuals and congregations always with the plan of seeing the project through.
      Now, I'm asking, "where do we go from here?"