GBGM on La Gonave

2011-12-22T09:07:00.000-08:00

2011-12-19T19:30:00.000-08:00

Eccl 3:1 It's Time: The last week in October I was on La Gonave with representatives from First Saints Community Church in Maryland. I was "tour guide" as they assessed 20 plus projects proposed by Pastor Jean Louis Dorsely, Circuit Superintendent for La Gonave. Although challenging, we visited the majority of communities that have Haitian Methodist churches and or schools. We provided photos and information for the few we could not reach or speak with representatives.

Following our return FSCC compiled all information into a survey and draft proposal for future teams from their cluster and future UMVIM teams. Although I have no specific information from Pastor Dorsely related to the proposal, Haiti Disaster Response / UMCOR reported coming changes for teams in remote areas. Experienced teams can now work directly with the Circuit Superintendent to work on a specific project in remote areas. The update stated matching grants would apply to area projects with earthquake damage.
Pastor Dorsely requests teams address community issues with long term plans, possibly including micro finance components and other community issues. Partnerships are encouraged.
The original "package" of projects totaled $950,000.00 US but they had overlooked one community needing a school building and church repair for eq damage. Projects include the building of a manse in Ansa a Galets for the Superintendent. There are 3 or 4 teams already scheduled in January to finish the church in Anse a Galets. FSCC has proposed a partnership with several teams to work on projects at Trou Jacques, accessible only from the sea.
We are excited and impatient to see how this new program plays out for the communities with so many needs. Housing and transportation for teams will have to be negotiated with the help of the circuit leaders.
During the week I met with scholarship students, received reports from leaders of the industrial association, APG, and met with the engineer concerning wells and water issues. Our animator went to Trou Jacques one day while I visited the community of Delsie to see the progress on cistern repair. That project needed an additional $250.00 to complete the task.
Concern WW was drilling two wells a few miles down the mountain but the community had been without water for two years. Concern and World Vision have been drilling wells and repairing damaged cisterns on the eastern half of the island. The west end remains dry with damaged cisterns and little or no ground water. Concern did hire our animator, Louis Dufrene and 4 others to survey the communities on La Gonave related to water needs and population.
Our report from APG (Assoc. for Peasants Gonave) was encouraging. They had provided training and goats from the park for 13 groups and presented a plan to train 35 new community leaders in December. We provide food and housing as our third share in the relationship with APG & AAPLAG who provides the trainers. The group members make a small registration fee or provide produce and some provide labor.
Three scholarship students had either failed the exams or not completed a course. One retook and passed the exam and one re-enrolled in the class. Others had excellent grades and all but one university student has received a lap top computer from Church of the Resurrection, refurbishing ministry.
We continue collaboration with AAPLAG and share expenses for their old Land Rover and support of the guest house. AAPLAG is an arm of Service Chretian, an ecumenical group active on the island for 30 years. They provide limited microfinance program, educational programs for industry, and addresse water and housing issues plus train leaders in agriculture, business, cooperatives, education and animal husbandry.
While touring Roy and Wendy we visited Sousafilip, where we lived for two years. Generally we meet people at market mid island. I was pleased to see our donation of $2300.00 last August, had repaired the earthquake damage to the church building and the EMH had installed an indoor toilet in the directors house where we had lived. They also plan flush toilets for the guest house that KS/NB teams refurbished and have put in a ceptic reservoir.
I had opportunity to meet with community leaders about serious water issues that are not part of the church project. Most southwest islanders live with limited or contaminated water and purchase water from the mainland once or twice each week. Conversation with Concern indicated they did not think many lived on the west end but they planned to survey the island population.
Access to health care on the south side remains seriously limited and during the cholera epidemic several people in various communities died as tap taps would not transport them across the island. Louis and nurse Wesline (for APG) provided training programs for hundreds of people during the epidemic and distributed water treatment tablets.
Joe and I continue to alternate visiting the island every 3 months. We are available for presentations to congregations, church and community groups and civic organizations to raise funds for projects of education and scholarships, water projects and industry.
Repair of the well at Dent Griern has never been completed and the solar pumping system continues in storage. We have been using water project funds to repair damaged cisterns. There are options and decisions to be made and we hope the opening of EMH projects will bring attention to this extremely remote part of our world.
February 25th, UMCOR Staff, President Paul from the Haitian Methodist Church and various others involved in Haiti projects will meet at Olathe Grace UMC for a Global Mission Event. We pray for information and guidance to address recovery issues since the earthquake and renewed focus on the more remote areas of Haiti.

Joyeux Noel

Way of Life

2011-10-19T13:24:00.000-07:00

water day

An old song said, “You are always on my mind” and as I prepare to fly Sunday for Haiti, I realize the people of Haiti and those of La Gonave are always on my mind. Perhaps it has become a way of life.
Season’s cycle from dry to wet and little seems to change between our quarterly visits. Small projects are in process and a few are completed. Scholarship students have completed 3 years with financial help and look ahead to careers. Colleagues email news of progress with some building, planting and even outlook for the future.
At times I wander what it is that calls me back. I hope it is the promise of future rather than the bleakness of despair.
I resumed a Spiritual Renewal resource I laid aside when we went to Haiti in 2007. Our Haiti experience is a persistent illustration as I explore discipleship at the deepest level of devotion.

main street Sousfilip

Devotional classics address the “cost” of discipleship and the price paid for NON-discipleship. The “Jesus call” is for all energy, all affection, zeal and total devotion to charity beyond a “click of the mouse” to add another dollar to a project.
January 2010 we were “called” to be in Port a Prince when the earth shifted and hard life became harder; dirt became something to eat; and the improbable became unimaginable. Hundreds of thousands of caring humanitarians have given billions of dollars and sweat to try to undo what nature did in 35 seconds.
Since 2010 there have been tsunamis’, oil spills, famine, and earthquakes in unreachable areas. Disaster is the new culture; the current trend; the new “way of life.”

construction project

This visit I will be hosting leaders with a plan and funds to make significant construction repairs to schools and churches in one of the most remote areas of the world. The vision is for multiple teams on a regular schedule, in partnership with local people, to make life better in at least two villages. We have seen it happen before so “I’m a believer.”
We have prayed for more attention to La Gonave, particularly to post earthquake needs. It is a remote and challenging place to live and work. It is a small island inhabited by stoic, hard working people who only survive and thrive out of sheer will and the desire to stay independent.
I've joined an Alpha group to help me with a vertical journey to “loving God”. Long ago I chose the horizontal path of charity.

For many “the way of life” is two separate paths; one of service to the wreckage of humankind; and, the other a spiritual love affair with an unknowable deity. I pray this week
to find a new way of life with equal horizontal and vertical paths. If it looks like a cross, I pray for grace.

Pastor Shirley Edgerton October 19, 2011…Packing for La Gonave

Mountain top Experience

2011-08-26T12:56:00.000-07:00

Mountaintops: I got hung up on a daily devotion from several days ago and just keep going back to it. Related to numerous bible stories of mountain top experiences it rings my bells. The author points out that in all the mountain top stories the excitement and blessing of those meaningful and transforming events all end with the participants eventually going back “down” the mountain.

For years in the operating room I helped repair serious injuries as people fell from, jumped down or otherwise returned to earth from ladders, roofs or trees. Coming down is often difficult and results in life changes.

In 2006, Joe and I felt compelled to continue our mission activities by volunteering to live on the island of La Gonave. We understood a number of developments as “God things” or those events that reveal God’s rightness in one’s personal future related to God’s ultimate plan for peace and justice in the world. Not situations we manipulate or “set up” but mostly unexpected situations that seem to change the direction of life.

We experienced many “God things” in a short time. The results were two years living on an isolated island in Haiti, in a primitive situation that both blessed and transformed us and allowed us to have impact on the lives of many hurting individuals. These God things resulted in a “mountain top experience” that has lasted well into 2011. It seems it is time to “come down”.

Oswald Chambers, in his wisdom, says that God asks us to “be in the boat together” yet not to plan the journey nor try to determine the success or failure of where the journey leads. For many years now we have experienced life “with” people of another culture, and have our own desires for their future. Our tendency is to judge “the success” of our mission. Our resistance to leaving “the mountain” is rather like asking “are we done now?”

“Our plan” was for others to carry on when we could no longer live on or travel to La Gonave. Oswald suggested, we planned the future according to our hopes, not according to God’s will. We knew our time on the mountain would be limited by age and ability, yet the “coming down” is traumatic and feels more like failure.

As I prepare my Adult Bible Study and apply the lessons to life, I’m aware there are other “boats” where God may be calling us. The excitement and challenge of the “mountain” made Peter want to build structures to stay there. Sort of like our old basset hounds who thought petting was to last forever.

I return to La Gonave in October to assess the water project that has attempted and failed to get wells to the dry west end; the industrial development association that is slowly progressing along a Haitian cultural path; and, the scholarship program that has potential with modification.

We hope the decent from the mountain top experience of the last several years will open our eyes to other activities in service to God. God is constantly rearranging and redirecting lives, and in our experience, we can trust we have learned not to try to determine the future or what constitutes success or failure.

Pastor Shirley Edgerton, August 26th, 2011.

2011-05-27T13:06:00.000-07:00

Our friend, Bruce, from S.Dakota sent a copy of his recently published "coffee-table" book from his last visit to La Gonave. Brief, beautiful and thoughtfully done. It will sell for &20.00 US, funding to be used for various projects on LGN.

I will teach Haiti Mission at UMW School of Missions in June and have his book and our "prayer angels" to help fund projects on the island.

Needs are great I am so inept at teaching, leading and letting our Haitian friends go it alone. Solidarity is what Haiti needs not solitude. Liberation-from begging, starving, scratching, wishing, and half-helped.

Joe and I are now alternating each 3 months to the island to visit well sites, industrial projects and meet with scholarship students. Visits are like being with "best friends" as we "take up" where we "left off" the last visit. Phone calls and emails fill the gap as do Haiti Presentations (fund raising), committee meetings, family celebrations and grand babies. We are selling our motorcycles since we can't find riding time.

Preparing to teach at School of Christian Mission, I had to brush up on recommended Haitian History, liberation theology and Christian mission. I was side-tracked by "Readings in Christian Ethics", books on The Coming of Global Christianity plus "praxis & faith" with some "evangelism" for dessert. What a feast of information to wrap around our years of Haitian experience. Except for Reinhold Niebuhr, they make me think " we can do that!" But then...I wonder, why aren't we - why can't we? Then I begin to "feel" very Haitian, like "the universe hates us!" --a phrase from my granddaughter.

Thanks to the delete key you miss the long paragraph related to needs of the Association for Peasants Industry on Sud La Gonave, need for wells and repaired cisters, and scholarship support and sponsors for university students from the churches on La Gonave. Between the mega and multi tornadoes wrecking the midwest states and the moles wrecking my drowned yard, the clouds have invaded my attitude!

We live on our hill, watching finches fight, hummingbirds play tag and bluebirds make families while coyotes come begging for scrapes, geese quietly parade the perimeter and groundhogs pose for a photo shoot and survey the traffic on the distant highway.

I wrote a "journal entry" titled "Always Alternatives" a short time ago about alternative resources for mission. In the article I refer to para-church and specialized church organizations that "fill the gap" for denominations to meet the needs of the millions of "needful" people in the world. How missions work is confusing for many, particularly those we "help". We are always looking for alternatives to make life better than it has ever been.

Our Annual Conference in June (for which I forgot to register) has a planned "Bishops 5K walk" and funds will sponsor the SAMVEYE Orphanage in Anse A Galets. They have 11 children who were orphaned by the earthquake and plan to raise them, educate them and give them a good life. A World Vision nurse and her husband who also works for World Vision are doing a good thing with little support. I'm working toward a faster 5K but time is going quickly!

Feb 25th of 2012, Kansas East will host a Global Mission Experience, to try and connect our Kansas Covenant to projects of the Haitian Methodist Church. We look forward to some good conversation about missions in Haiti, plus reunions with some friends not seen for a time.

With Regional School of Mission, plus KEC and Nebraska, then KEC Conference and Global Mission Experience I hope to gain some "smarts". The reading, conversations and interactions focus my prayer on wisdom and ways of encouraging a self-sustaining lifestyle on La Gonave.

What I need now is an "attitude alternative". Bishop Willimon says, "For Wesley...the good news of Jesus Christ had ethical demands. Work is our faithful, grateful, necessary response to Christs "work" on the cross." There is much work to do, faithfully, gratefully and absolutely necessary for my attitude improvement. Blessings.

Earth Day and Good Friday

2011-04-22T11:10:00.001-07:00

Earth

I am the earth and the earth is me,

Older each day, wounded and scarred..Storm ravaged, bashed and broken by wind, quake and greed.

Someone plants flowers, rice, wheat and trees. Brown grass turns green with sunshine.

Rains wash away earth, reroute rivers as trees drink deeply and are reshaped.

Once tender and young, vulnerable and uncertain,

Now older and knowing destruction rearranges more than it destroys,

Pain a reminder of life and living and growing and changing.

Darkness and discipline the balance of tenderness and warmth.

Born of fire and passion, holding deep the warmh of the flame.

Spinning and rolling and turning face to the sun and the dark side of the moon.

Dry barren places where nothing can grow, Gardens and forests filled with poety and song.

I am the earth and the earth is me. Enduring all in the promise of tomorrows memories.

Wars and weddings; danger and dancing; death and resurrection.

Chaos and harmony.

An always tomorrow, unknown, uncertain, but always.

I am the earth, the earth is me.

Today is Earth Day. A day in April when I find myself meditating on life and death, where we come from and how we become and are undone. Two people shared a birthday in April many years apart. One died long before her death and one was living when she died. Yet, both live in me and memory.

There are many ways to "observe" Good Friday. The day a man died for a world filled with sin and shame. The day that goodness won a victory over power, prestige and privilege. The day that by all rights should have been forgotten 2000 years ago. A day that puzzles many, turn millions to "the church" and turns others away. A day of reality followed by a period of puzzlement, then a day of celebrating the impossible, improbable and unbelievable.

Earth Day. Is there a Wind Day, Fire Day, Water Day....or would that be too Buddhist for a western comtemplitive? Yet, who will deny that air is life, water is life and fire is both light and life, all elements Christians revere and children delight in and all life depends on.

Pink Bunnies delivering decorated eggs; "Rites of Spring;" a literal or metaphorical belief that a man died and lived again; somehow we spend the next 2 days thinking about darkness, anticipating a day for celebration of life.

Some are attracted to "the church" by Christian belief in resurrection and many rebuffed by the impractical, impossible story. History, science, literature and Hollywood have a go at "Harvey & Jesus" as the earth turns.

Looking out the window, the sky has stopped melting and sunbeams are peeking through the buds on the trees lighting greening and growing grass that was in remission for so long. I think about my life and earth history. I think about the nature of disaster and recovery; of vulnerability and resiliency; of chaos and consistancy; of memory and of two that live in me.

I think about the earth. I think about life.

2011-04-06T12:53:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-10T08:48:00.000-08:00

Make a free picture collage

The Apostle Paul lamented he didn't do the things he should and did the things he should not. Well, life goes too rapidly when I want it slow, but I am too impatient to wait for the things that take so much time. Perhaps these imperfections are what make us human. This Ash Wednesday week is all about looking at our humanity. Genesis 2, God says, you came from dust AND to dust you return. That is a very big "and".

I'm scheduled to return to La Gonave, March 20th. This time without Joe but with three who will experience Haiti for the first time. I want so much, but experience tells me the time will quickly pass as we meet to talk about issues of water, education, industry and construction on the Anse a Galets' Methodist Chapel.

Before leaving, there is a grant application to propose to UMCOR, a building estimate to somehow get from the contractor in AAG, a project profile to file, and even the need to finalize transportation to the island.

Involved in some of this is the Kansas East Haiti Task Force and Conference VIM/Disaster Response committees, who are probably wandering just how this all ties into our KEC / EMH Covenant.

Experiencing life in Haiti for two years and one week of the earthquake and the disaster of human suffering makes me impatient. I want people out of the muck, eating food on a daily basis. I want things "picked up and put away" and water pumping clear and clean. I want the chaos in the world to stop happening just long enough that we can "get things picked up and put away" like after a birthday party. The only pattern I'm finding in the chaos is more chaos. I want to understand that there are others walking the wilderness with me. I guess I've needed this Ash Wednesday week to help me understand the Lenten journey.

To focus on the "and" between the dust of birth and ashes of death for my life alone is not only scary but self-centered. The AND includes Haiti, Liberia and my daughter.

I'm sure there is an answer to the song, "What's It All About, Alfie?" But, like God said through Haggai, "my house is in ruin; rebuild my house." Not to worry about the "dust or ashes" but to trust the journey does not end in the wilderness.

Project La Gonave

2011-03-01T09:51:00.000-08:00

Make a photo collage

We have been asked by the Haitian Methodist Church to finish building the church in Anse a Galets as a post earthquake project.

We visited with the pastor and his wife in early December for information related to publishing a project profile with the United Methodist Church. We took photos of the church where we had hosted construction teams in 2008.

The partially completed building has hosted three women's conferences since 2008 with the last, a large conference in July following the earthquake.

The women and congregation have been providing an outreach ministry to the poorest of Anse a Galets and local area with few resourses. We provided funding for the conferences and Shirley was honored to be a keynote speaker at the first scheduled conference. At that time birthing kits were distributed to many very poor, pregnant young women from the airport area of AAG.

Following our visit and photo shoot in Dec. we contacted a contractor, recommended by AAPLAG, to prepare an estimate to complete the building.

The Smilebox Collage, "La Gonave Project" has photos of the church, that will zoom with a curser click, plus other issues we noted in our December visit.

World Vision and Concern have been trying to address post earthquake issues by building some transitional houses and checking wells. The KEC Water Project is an on-going concern, particularly since most cisterns and wells were damaged by the initial earthquake and a 6.3 tremor that followed on the island the next day.

It is difficult to discern the exact damage to churches, schools and cisterns as most were damaged by previous hurricanes in 2008, numerous tropical storms and lack of upkeep.

We believe it is critical to the 16 Haitian Methodist Churches on La Gonave that recovery projects help them repair and complete churches in outreach ministry as we also look at providing transitional homes for the more that 1100 local homeless and 10,000 earthquake refugees on the island of La Gonave.

We ask for prayers this building project be approved and the UMC can join with other NGO's and Christian Denominations to help the broken people on La Gonave.

2011-01-13T07:33:00.000-08:00

Tonight: "God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses”

Sitting here tonight thinking of where I was and what I was doing just one year ago. At this time we were triaging numbers of injured in broken down tap taps, under guest house tables and between vehicles. Broken legs, broken heads, people still trapped in homes nearby and our three comrades in dubious danger at the Montana Hotel. A couple of confused UN personnel stopped in stunned disbelief that they had nothing to offer.

Much later, only Joe and I, felt secure enough to rest awhile inside the guest house. The night was full of sound and chaos, but only restlessness and groans accompanied the disbelief of what had occurred.

Very early this morning, Enicson called from Petit Goave just to check on us and Bruce from S. Dakota exchanged multiple brief emails about “the news” or lack of it in our local papers. I tried to call Ronald to say “how ya doin” as he does when he calls me. No answer.

During the 35 seconds of death and destruction, I knelt with a firm grasp on his arm keeping him out of the swimming pool.

A call from Louis to say the S. Dakota team was working hard in Anse a Galets

but had all paused for prayer and remembrances. They were there this time last year. Louis, Mr.B and all have been much in my thoughts today.

The last two trips we by-passed Port a Prince, as our route to the guest house generally takes us through the 95% of the rubble that remains to hide the unfound bodies of now a year dead.

La Gonave, in early December we watched election results, a few burning tires and pondered the future. We met with church members to discuss the ministry and building needs of the church in Anse a Galets. We drove through Zetwa and looked at some transitional houses then on to the water well and projects of the future. It seemed more civilized than when last in Port a Prince.

On La Gonave, NGO’s seem to be working together to undo, do-over and just “do” something to get life a little better than normal. The beggars remember us, Fifi sets a festival table and offered bottled water for bathing safety, and most debris is the accumulation of stuff from the last rains. They wonder when the cholera will stop and where all the money went, but tell us of weddings, funerals and the wives that have left.

Tonight I look at photos of scholarship students grinning at the promise of a university partn

ership and school tuitions paid; photos of goats, and wooden houses, and a small group studying a geoglogical map and planning a well, and a church we will eventually finish.

Tonight, I wander why Ronald didn’t answer his phone in his tent in Port a Prince.

Tonight I know where Jim and Sam and Clint are. I’m uncertain if yet I know what witness their lives will be. There are still too many bodies under rubble and too many who don’t answer their phones. In March I may stop in Port a Prince for a little while.

Pastor Shirley, January 12, 2011. Not there this time.

A Common Goal

2011-01-04T11:51:00.000-08:00

Not certain my frustration levels can handle a blog but here goes.

Watched Haiti Alerts as we sat at Sue's bedside listening to her machines bring her back to us, and wandered just what will "bring Haiti back"? Bring Hiaiti back "to what?" More of what has been? More hunger? More chaos? More oppression by world powers and well meaning NGO's? Must Haiti "come back" or is there a possibility of "going" forward?

Church leaders and friends in Haiti, have wished us blessings for a New Year and prayers for our crisis. Sue's illness in December initiated a journey home through the Dominican Republic we felt was assisted by the 100 prayer angel's in our luggage. Since hurricanes of 2008 there have been over 1000 angels sold for $20.00 each to fund industry on south la gonave. Still available, the sale of angels funds wood workers and APG, the developing industrial group.

We greet 2011 with gratitude for those who help us "market" and those who purchase and pray with the angels for the broken people of the world.

In cooperation with Service Chretian D'Haiti and AAPLAG we trained 18 community leaders to plan and implement industrial groups. A goat park and fishing cooperatives, plus assistance for agriculture groups has grown out of the training. A meeting was held Dec 29 to 30th, with leaders from SCH and AAPLAG. These meetings reinforce early training, and help community and church leaders understand the value of working together for the good of all.

Each participant invests either money or labor to

join a group and receive training and resources. APG is growing and we hope soon to provide assistance for office space, internet
and transportation beyond a motorcycle to enhance the relationship with AAPLAG and GBGM and Methodist projects on La Goanve. The expansion includes water projects and recognition by local government and other NGO's and Hiatian agencies working to improve life and living conditions on the island.

We have learned the greatest progress is directed by Haitians who want a better life and help with the hurdles of history, geography and climate. We experienced greatest progress when there was cooperation between related entities that share common goals.

As we look forward to future development on La goanve, especially the remote south side we feel God has guided us to resources and agencies that share our same mission. These common goals enhance and strengthen the Haitian Methodist Church and other denominations in Christian mission for the people of Haiti.

Years ago the Haitian Methodist Church was part of Service Chretian D'Haiti, and today the Sec. of the EMH Committee on Development serves on the Board of Directors.

The President of AAPLAG, Wilter Ocule, and the Director of Service Chretian, Peter Graff provide wisdom and assistance for us. The group is highly respected and this association has made possible advances we could never do alone.

I believe Haiti can only move ahead, when the Haitian voice is heard and respected by the world, and things get done the "Haitian way". Haitians working together utilizing their unique resources of ingenuity and endurance can rebuild. The world providing information and technology to confront the elements that put mountains on every horizon, will reach a common goal of a new Haiti.

December Dreaming

2010-12-17T13:01:00.000-08:00

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

2010-12-02T15:19:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-18T16:52:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-14T15:22:00.001-08:00

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

2010-11-13T20:39:00.000-08:00

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.

2009-08-04T09:43:00.000-07:00

Home for a time and life never seems to slow down. Brief trip to Colorado for a "family fix" now back to presentations and preparations for the future of KEC future on La Gonave.

Pastor Gesner Paul will be inaugurated as the new President of the Haitian Methodist church on August 30th and gives us hope for some new directions for ministry on the island. We will continue to serve on a regular basis but reversed, until he can issue an invitation for replacements to GBGM. Community and teacher development along with the continued water well issues will continue to be addressed with his approval. He asked us to begin recruiting to build a manse at Nan Kafe to house a full time La Gonave Circuit Superintendent. We are excited by his plans for the island and for the church on La Gonave.

Recently 16 community leaders completed intensive leadership training by AAPLAG, and organization active on North La Gonave for 25 years. Our group called Friday, grateful for the training and excited that AAPLAG had given them resources to begin building groups for agriculture, fishing and animal husbandry. This is a most positive move for sud la gonave.

We continue to seek marketing resources for the Haitian Prayer Angels and some beautiful embroidery and other art work. We have a estimate to begin a vocational school for fabric art and baking. There are no opportunities for vocational training on the south side.

As we completed a presentation Sunday evening, one of the participants sang to us. The song was about the options for building bridges that connect or walls that isolate.

Haiti, and particularly, La Gonave has a long history of isolation, not only geologically but excluded from communication and technology with the rest of the world.

There is an unrealistic idea to build a bridge from the island to the mainland, but it is realistic to think of a bridge between our church and the Haitian Methodists; between our culture and theirs; our technology, and our resources and their need.

In two years we have seen despair turn to hope, discouragement turn to plans for the future, and dreams with hope for reality. Building bridges seems to begin with sharing and caring about our neighbor more than steel and cable. We have encountered many walls but they seem to be crumbling. Thanks be to the God of Bridge builders.

peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk

It's Complicated

2009-06-30T04:41:00.000-07:00

This little girl was born over three weeks ago to a young mother who labored the better part of two days with this first child. She had not eaten for a couple of days as she has no food or source of income. The father unknown to the family or community, I was told.
Three weeks later the grandfather of the baby refuses to provide food for his daughter. The grandmother is a girlfriend of the World Vision agent for Sousafilip and she works at odd jobs but earns only enough to feed herself; not enough to share with the daughter.
The young mother, Margorie, obviously has never completed the application World Vision requires to provide food for pregnant women and nursing mothers. She has no milk to nurse the baby, and we found two small song birds tied with string to some flowers, she said would provide food for her this week.
Baby weight at 3 weeks is the same as at birth, which I assisted; just under 4 lbs. The skin is dry, baby lethargic and returned from the clinic with instructions to feed the mother and nurse the baby more. Instant replay of 2 months ago, and that baby is still only 2 lbs over birth weight!
If that narrative does not raise questions for others it certainly does for me. How can the grandmother who provides the home, eat and not share with the mother of the baby? How can she "date" the WV agent and not insist the application is filled out for a food program? How can the grandfather watch as his daughter starves and her newborn fails to thrive, when he has adequate resources to provide for all? How can the community shake their collective head, say "so sad" and excuse the situation because some "just don't trust World Vision or want to fill out forms?"
I walked on down the road yesterday and two men were sitting atop some bags of charcoal, both skeletal and asking me for food. I asked some local fishermen about them and they admitted the two lived in SaP, had no family and seldom are hired to work the charcoal boats. They have no property or livestock and sleep "in empty places." They are not "from" SaP but have been here "a long time." They have no resources or respect.
Conversation goes something like, "if it doesn't rain they may die since there will be no melons or peanuts to harvest. Lots who work the gardens will not eat and some will die." Those who speak, are themselves worried about the crops and have very low percent body fat. For those with money, meals include very small fish, flour patties fried in oil and ground corn. They eat large amounts of rice when available but that remains expensive and there is hope for cheaper melons to replace the mangoes that are now waning as the staple for the very poor.
In two years of living on the island, I discover the more questions I ask the less I understand the reasoning behind the answers. Life in a country with social programs and taxes to support education, health care for the very poor and even opportunity for the determined makes it hard to understand the hopelessness and acceptance of reality of life and death in a country where the government is not "for the people" but "above the people."
In recent conversations many are asking us if there is a possibility Haiti could become the 53rd state of the United States. Jokingly we once agreed with a mission team member that the best La Gonave could do would be to "secede" from Haiti and become a country on it's own. It is not a joke to me as I watch babies die and homeless go hungry. It isn't a joke, but it is extremely complicated. Shirley

Beyond Haiti

2009-06-26T04:44:00.000-07:00

I'm reading a book most would not rush to Amazon to find, but interprets Second Isaiah and speaks of fantasy and hope as different than reality. The returning Jews had a dream or vision of the long remembered Jerusalem as golden city, yet the reality was a temple in ruin and a powerless society far removed from the fantasy.

As we dream for Haiti AND with the people of sud la gonave, our presence gives them a hope that we try to temper with reality. The vision and understanding of the United States is to them a fantasy that to us is a reality they don't want to acknowledge. The few hundred dollars received from family in the US is a fortune indicating life there is exceedingly lucrative.

A novice UM pastor recently visited Ansagale and mentioned to the pastor there, he planned to help them "when he got settled into his new appointment." Now I am attempting to explain the 200 students and families who have been told education costs will be paid for the coming year ($40,000.00 US) plus teacher salaries and daily meals is a dream that will not happen! The reality of a well intended promise triggered a fantasy out of desperation.

Kansas has been massing UMCOR Birthing Kits for me since I blurbed my surprising experience of delivering a baby in Sousafilip for the first time, sans the basic "nursing" supplies.

I will be passing out over 200 birthing kits at a Methodist Women's conference July 2nd with hopes they will make it into the hands of pregnant women to have available at delivery time. That may be a fantasy contents may be used or sold before due date.

The last few days two powerful local leaders have been at war and one old, very poor man has become the pawn in the middle of the chess board. Given permission to plant melons by one the other has pulled up half the garden, causing hysteria of the gardener and polarization of the community. Many have come to us as we represent authority (unrealistically) and are disappointed when we refuse to be drawn into the fight of these two decades old enemies.

We meet today with AAPLAG, a Haitian Agency, formerly uninvited to help with development on sud la gonave. We have planned an initial training program for leadership organization, agriculture, animal husbandry and fishing co-operative. AAPLAG is excited about being invited after 25 years to help one of the poorest areas in Haiti, and there is excitement in many communities about access to information and training long denied. The other side of the coin? Resistance by the self appointed power faction who prefer the disparity of power and poor. We pray ours is not an unrealistic vision.

The book I'm reading suggests the understanding of Jesus role or power was the result of liturgy from early Judaism, finally fused into the servant and shepard characteristics of the Messiah. Powerlessness most powerful when persistent and thinking beyond the restoration of of one nation but "all of creation."

Living and working in a poor and powerless culture creates a desire to dream or vision changes that may be based more on guilt and compassion that reality and rationalism. Tempted to offer a means of power clouds ones vision of Christ we feel we were called to mission to see.

Mother Theresa saw Christ in the face of the dying poor and abandoned. I would rather see Jesus in the face of the well fed, clothed, sitting on a nice front porch sipping safe water and having a mid day healthy snack!

Facing the reality of a world of greed that uses and abuses; of technology that creates games to play costing more than two thirds of the world lives on a year; and, the powerless, once made powerful will probably become also corrupt and greedy, I find I'm drawn to the books outlook.

It isn't power that will change or improve life but persistence. Persistent expectation that all are important but life is far more rewarding for those who serve and those who lead with gentleness and compassion. A persistent understanding that the power of God is displayed more in shared responsibility and solidarity, one with another and one with creation, and thinking beyond Haiti. Shirley

Not To Cry

2009-06-12T08:03:00.000-07:00

When a child is hurt or sick in Haiti they are admonished "not to cry." An infant may be nursed but toddlers or older children are scolded, ignored or even hit into submisson. At funerals hysterical behavior is preferable to tears. Crying seems unacceptable at any age.

The small children of our staff are around much of the day and little Swiye, born shortly before we arrived, has been cranky and needy with a slight fever and runny nose the last few days. As I walked out yesterday he was sitting on the ground and had been crying loudly while his mother was doing laundry. I picked him up and he sniffeled as he snuggled into my neck. I sat on the step and he fiddled with my locket until he fell asleep. Missing my own grandkids it felt good but I wandered if it was a right or wrong thing to do. Others ignored us.

In a culture where all must be strong to survive, and children are frequently hit and hurt into obedience, is it wise to offer behavior different than the norm. Very small children take livestock, including onery horned cattle to the mountains, and drive laden, stubborn burros up rocky roads, while in the US we won't let our small children even walk curbside on a family outing.

Infants suck on rocks and marble size hair do dads, climb rocky slops and stairs and nap on sidewalks or rocky ground with geckos, spiders and ants crawling in and out of mouths and ears. Little girls learn to cook building small fires and making mud pies from dirt and pee. School children are sent to live with extended family and used as house slaves or worse for tuition. Parents seem proud of their children, have them in great numbers and seek help when they are ill. Parenting is not easy here.

In Kenya, I watched as small orphans crawded from under market booths each morning to build a tiny fire out of paper cups and beg a handout. My 7 year old granddaughter was not yet allowed to light a match and was tucked in at night by everyone in the house.

Yesterday, holding Swiye, I dreamed for him an education, career and maybe a world in which he will feed his children every day. I hoped for him a world in which there is justice and equity and comfort when there is pain. A world where children aren't taught "not to cry."

The Palace

2009-06-10T16:48:00.000-07:00

Sitting on the hill above Sousafilip is what we refer
to as "the palace". The structure is concrete covered blocks and tin roof with outdoor facilities for cooking, shower and toilet. We like the added touch of the satellite dish for a modern flair.

Ten solar panels adorn the roof and provide power for 2 to 4 lights and the wire-less and computers. Ice is purchased each week and stored in an old freezer that once used propane tanks.

The large catchments that we cleaned today is used to fill one room of the large cistern during the rainy season. The well a mile on up the hill fills the other room of the cistern during the dry season.

We asked only for a private dwelling and aside from the 3 to 10 adults who gather in the back each morning and evening, and the children who play cards on the steps and run in when they think there may be something of interest on our laptop, we have as much privacy as most in Haiti. A tap on the wall announces company.

We do share the dwelling with some gray striped rats who enjoy line dancing or roller boards from early evening to about 4 am at which time they get cool and climb noisily into the dresser drawers . Other frequent guests are welcome geckos that eat the moths and flys they can catch on the window screens. An occasional tarantula comes in out of the rain. They are stealthy and are generally discovered when furniture is moved to sweep. They can jump very high. So can I.

As all chairs were very hard with rattan seats we brought some foam filled seat cushions and commissioned a carpenter to build a sofa. Later we discovered high humidity makes padding uncomfortable and it was a first ever sofa to be built by the carpenter. The arms extend about a foot beyond the seat and leave interesting bruise formations on the thigh. We did ask him to saw about 4 inches from the legs so our legs could reach the floor.

I am writing about this luxurious living as an enticement to any GBGM Long Term Volunteers who may be seeking an experience that will fill their life with blessings.

Each morning, early, I open the door and look out to the sea which is a beautiful teal green over the reef and then dark Caribbean blue with occasional white caps. Sometimes there are early sailboats leaving the pier and the occasional large freighter out in the deeper canal. Generally quiet there are mornings when the sea speaks a quiet thunder to the wind, and I know, I'm not in Kansas anymore.

What's Next?

2009-05-28T05:31:00.001-07:00

This photo is 3 of the 4 from SaP Methodist School who did not have the money to pay tuition so they could take the national exam.The option was to repeat the 6th grade and try next year.

Their teacher was concerned they were each good students, would probably continue their education and parents just did not have the money needed to make the last tuition payment.

Sixth grade is the end of education for many on the island of La Gonave. More that 40% of children never make it even this far. The next step is "seconday school" for 3 years or the equivalent of our middle school. A number of secondary school students are gardeners and parents who can only continue education when they are no longer dependent on their parents who may have 10 in school.

I had the honor of paying tuition for these 3 plus 1 because those attending my 50th High School Class reunion in September donated $300.00 plus to our mission here on sud la gonave. We decided the funds should be used for education needs which have been a focus of our mission the last two years. We also selected a young father of two for a "Chaffeur Training Program" so he can accept a job offered and put his two little ones in school The interesting thing is with five scholarships we still have nearly $300.00 left for more education grants.

Because of the "system" it is most successful when money is given directly to the student's teacher who then records tuition paid and gives the money to the school director. The money must then be given to the Home Office in PaP, if Methodist or to the Administrative Office of other agencies and often it is not credited to the student.

It is difficult to pay scholarships for university and vocational schools as the registration and fees schedules that are given to prospective students never include additional fees for books and equipment. Sponsors of students frequently are asked for additional funds as are parents or students trying to pay their own support. There seems to be a mind set that if one asks for all that is needed it will be denied, but if once a student is committed it is hard to refuse further requests.

We have also learned that often students and parents have funds to pay a portion of tuition and expenses but do not volunteer that information as there are so many other areas where money is needed.

We are now offerning "grants" for portions of tuitions and have found that if the student can not provide the difference they will either select another educational option, save until they have the total amount or raise additional funds from family if they have them. In many cases we must rely on trusted leaders who know family history.

We are grateful for those who are investing in the future of young people and young adults who will eventually be responsible for needed change in the Haiti systems. We will continue to monitor the Starthrower Scholarship Program with local assistance, when our appointment ends.

Donations for Starthrower Scholarships can be made by:

Making a check payable to: Central UMC Advance #982465-6. On the memo line write "scholarship"
Mail the check to: Lawrence Central UMC, 1501 Massachusetts, Lawrence KS 66044

Thank you so very much. www.centralumclawrence.org

Holiday Traditions

2009-05-25T09:47:00.000-07:00

A few years ago, Joe and I were in PaP for the celebration of Haitian Flag Day or the equivalent of our 4th of July. We went to the Palace and watched as what seemed like thousands of young people marched by in bright red and blue outfits. Most would stop at some point and do a very intricate about face routine then continue marching with drums and vocal cadence. We were very impressed with the color and pagentry of the event.

After watching much of the parade we wandered into the beautiful park and took photos of school children and young people who came from the countryside for the event. Kids clowned for the camera and whole families would pose just to see themselves displayed in the digital display window.

Last week, May 18th, we celebrated Flag Day, again, but this time in Sousafilip and the participants were students of one of the primary schools in SaP. It was filled with traditon and pagentry if not quite as elaborate or crowded.

This time we were allowed to make a presentation to the young people and parents. I told them no country is more important than the country one calls "home" and what makes a country great is the work of the people to make their country a "good home" of all of it's people. Pride in Country is basically pride in it's people who work to make their "home" a good place with food and water; health care and education; industry and joy available to all people.

We then went outside to watch the same marching drills we had seen before, celebrate the raising of the Haitian flag, and join the parade that marched throughout the three communities that make up Sousafilip. The whole thing lasted from 9 am to nealy 2 pm with no fire crackers!!

Observing the crowd of proud parents, there were young dads with baseball caps reversed, tank tops and shorts. Mama's coached from the sidelines as kids got out of step. One little toddler stood the entire time of raising the flag with her hands in the back pockets of her jeans and a blue cap on her head with red socks on her feet. As the flag was raised and saluted with a hand vertical above the heart, such serious looks on faces adorned with red and blue beads brought a mist to my eyes.

The song that kept playing in my head was "This Is My Song...a song of peace". I have grown to love this country that has welcomed us but more the people who have called us friend, no longer alien. Yet, on this Memorial Day, I long for "home" which is no "better" but just mine. We would be playing soft ball and eating outdoors watching the clouds. We would have attended a memorial service somewhere and I would have been misty eyed as "taps" were played. Perhaps the toddler with hands in her hip pockets would have been my Phoebe.

The third verse of the song says, "this is my prayer....that hearts united learn to live as one." As we can learn to live in other cultures, survive with less and love the same things in people who speak a different language, it seems we can learn to live as one people of God's creation. The traditions may be different, but as they touch our hearts with goodness and our actions become more alike than different, are we coming closer? That is my prayer this Memorial Day, 2009.

Zombies and Orphans

2009-05-13T14:37:00.000-07:00

We had been in Sousafilip a little over a month when I was asked to see a young woman who was very ill. What I discovered was a paralysed, speechless, new mother who was very ill. I assumed she had suffered a stroke during the birthing and began arranging hospitalization.

Further questions revealed she had been normal and nursing the baby for 4-5 weeks following delivery. One morning she was found unresponsive and for some reason her husband and a suspected boy friend had both disappeared.

Of course this indicated a curse had been put on her and it was estimated 3 to 4 Zombies were present, becuase the symptoms that resemble brain trauma often appear after a spurned lover or cuckhold husband leaves.
Sadly, the mother died before I could arranged hospitalization and the baby and her sibling were absorbed into the family of an aunt and uncle.

The little girl is now nearly 2 years old and her sister is 4 and are lovingly cared for by Manus and his wife. There married son is a school teacher who lives with them and provides as he can for his aging parents and his own wife and child in Petite Guave.

Manus has a small garden not planted yet as all are waiting for rain, and some goats with a high percent of loss this year because of poor forage and lack of water. The children are both malnourished and will never have opportunity to attend school. A local school director does give them food whenever the school children are being fed.

We have found a sponsor who will provide $30.00US each month to help with food for the two girls and Manus is pleased. It will provide a bit of help for them all, but most of all, Manus says it is good to know others care about children on the island.

I have been involved in 3 other similar cases just in this community and many other children are ophaned with dead mothers and absent fathers. It is a way of life and a big issue of the large number of children who go without education or health care in Haiti. At least the baby did not die as the majority do when the mother dies.

Anyone interested in helping a family care for orphan children are invited to email us at sjelagonave@gmail.com for information on children and ways to help. So far that is the only way I know of getting rid of the Zombie curse on the children.

The Question of Clinic

2009-05-08T10:34:00.000-07:00

A team from Agusta Georgia was here and we opened a free clinic for 4 days. Surprisely we had over 400 people begin arriving at 5:30 each morning. We managed to see only 50 the first day then decided to divide and conquer. One nurse did well baby assessments, I did adult assessments with Dr. Rodney for consultation and Dr. Rodney did exams and directed the pharmacy. We managed to see many people who came with entire families.

General concensus of the medical staff was that over 85% of patient complaints were related to issues of unclean water and inadequate food. That is to say, if there were good water and food to eat most would not need the clinic other than for injuries and disease.

As we attempt to determine the need and feasiblilty of opening a community clinic we must consider cause of illness and the best approach. It seems that continued efforts to provide water and purification plus finding a way to make food more affordable and available might reduce the need for another clinic may well not be sustainable.

We did see several people who were referred for follow up care. A couple of ladies with breast tumors and some with cataracts and the boy in the photo above.

This youngster is 3 years old, had been seen about a year ago yet untreated. His head measured 28 inches and he appeared somewhat mentally empared. Perhaps hydrocephalis is not easily treated in Haiti or treatable now but we plan to help the mother take him to St Joseph's Children's Hospital in PaP.

Most of the people we see and refer to hospitals never go, or only make the trip when we provide about $20.00 US for transportation. Most have a place to stay once they get to the mainland. We ask them to bring a paper from the physician with report of exam and planned treatment. We have discovered the price may go up when it is noted they have a sponsor so we offer a portion of the estimated cost and usually that is acceptible.

Anyone interested in providing some funds for travel and medical treatment for the little boy or any of the others referred may send a check to our Advance Special at Central UMC in Lawrence Kansas and it would be much appreciated.

For tax deductable support of any part of this mission:

Make a check payable to :

Central UMC Advance#982465-6

Mail to :

Lawrence Central UMC, 1501 Massachuettes, Lawrence KS 66044.

Feel free to email us at sjelagonave@yahoo.com and

check out our web page at http://www.centralumclawrence.org/

2009-04-28T07:26:00.000-07:00

The photo is one of a garden / farm planted by a young man who has attended agronomy vocational school, sponsored by the Haitian Methodist Church. This is a typical garden on an island that is primarily mountains of coral rock and limestone. Crops are planted around and in between the rocks that can not be dug out.

There are protected trees on the island and some with valuable wood. An agency at Zabricot that is affiliated with Heifer Project gives hundreds of trees away each year for planting. Many are fruit trees that grow only in the higher elevations, but some are good sturdy trees that can survive pruning for charcoal and hold what little top soil is left.

Many gardeners use rock to terrace their gardens rather than the precious soil. Large rock walls also work to redirect water from roadbeds that become raging rivers in heavy rains. There are a couple of schools on the island that include farming and fishing in curriculum along with other practical classes. Information is not readily available to the general public without TV as 80% can not read.

Seeds are extremely expensive and sold only on the mainland. Main crops are peanuts, corn, melons, manyoke, sweet potatoes, carrots and beans of various types. Livestock must free range or they have no food and gardens are often targeted. In that event the goats are occasionally found sans head and hooves! That is the primary justice system that works.

We would like to see fenced range land as an industry but aren't smart enough to get that concept across. This year with no rain the forage is sparse, livestock are starving and dying from lack of drinking water. Our concern? Not only will livestock die if gardens do not thrive and cisterns are dry.

Haitian Prayer Angels - Industry for sud la gonav

2009-04-20T06:22:00.000-07:00

As we look forward, as many third world countries, to a very lean year we ask for prayers for all God's hungry and thirsty. To help with that a young wood worker on sud la gonav has hand carved Haitian Prayer Angels. Others then spend many hours hand sanding them to a designed shape with each a bit unique.

The angels are made from a protected native tree that must be replaced when cut. The wood is expensive but hard and beautifully grained. Each angle takes over 6 hours to sand and are completely hand made. Workers will be paid daily for the angels completed.

Each Haitian Prayer Angel is intended to be hand held rather than hung on a wall. We ask on the tag that those who purchase one, hold the angel each day and pray for the millions who face a year of hunger and starvation. The original intent was to ask prayers for the people of south la gonave, who have no gardens, fish or water this year. Now, the famine will affect millions in Africa, Australia and so many other countries, including the US.

The cost per angel is $20.00 and we ask $5.00 postage fees if they need to be mailed. Any donation above that amount will be used for food for the poorest and unable to work.

As orders increase for angels we will expand the work opportunity along the south side of the island to involve as many workers as possible.

A voluteer will return to the US late May with angels to be distributed to churches and individuals. Another order of angels will be available for a Kansas team to take to the US in late June.

Any church that would like to take orders and collect money is invited to send us the number of angels needed and the money can be mailed to our Advance Special with "angel" on the memo line of the check.

Make checks payable to : Central UMC Advance #982465-6

Mail the check to: Lawrence Central UMC, 1501 Massachuettes, Lawrence KS, 66044

Email us at sjelagonave@yahoo.com to order if not ordering through your church.

No Steeple

2009-03-25T18:46:00.000-07:00

Here is the church as it looked over a year ago. Before the storms. We didn't get photo's this year as we attended the Harvest Festival but the ceiling in still damaged from the storms and precarious for the many children who meet for school each day. Of course if the singing and preaching of Sunday didn't bring it down...probably nothing will!!

This community far to the west end of La Gonave is served by a young pastor who has compassion and charisma enough to serve a mega-church in the US! All at one time he is leading a rousing hymn, picking up money and paper that has blown off the make shilft pulpit/table, listening to the lay leader trying to speak in his ear and picking up his adorable 18 month old who is fasinated by the two blans in the congregation.

This community waits for the first water well to be drilled on the west end of LG; waits for some miracle to repair the collapsed roof from last years storms; and, waits for a team to rebuild the wall on the left "that left" during the storms. While they wait they praise God with drums, guitars and great rhythmic harmonies, joyful prayers and upraised hands!

Sunday we dedicated 5 young children, one reformed young man and his new wife, 9 new church leaders, and gave thanks for an offerning of $65 H dolas, 2 goats, 3 cabbages, one bag of cement and the presence of 14 visitors and the Holy Spirit! What an experience.

We welcome any team or sponsor who would like to help this delightful young pentacostal pastor and his church, repair their house of worship and learning institution, plus share the joy of living "high" on La Gonave. Send us an email for more information!
sjelagonave@gmail.com Peace, Shirley

Starthrower Scholarships

2009-03-16T16:42:00.001-07:00

The Haitian Methodist Church offers a scholarship program but generally for children of ordained clergy..of which there are not very many. For most Haitian young people education beyond sixth grade is nearly impossible. Only about53 percent on the island of La Gonave even attend primary classes. This year the numbers are way down because money is so scarse following the storms of September.

The young woman pictured, is the daugter of a former mariner who died at sea when she and her older sister were still in primary grades. The older sister, Weslene was the nurse here when we came and Kathia was completing her High School classes. Kathia wanted medical school but her mother who had worked so hard to get them both through school could not swing that.

Kathia paid the first semester of a diploma nursing program but the hours were long she was traveling late at night in Port au Prince. She dropped out and came home, discouraged. We were introduced to her by a young man who asked for help to attend English school. He plans to work through university as a translator. We interviewed Kathia and she happily enrolled in a 5 year university nursing program. She says she will be happy to deliver babies.

We have sponsors for eight students in university and vocational school the last two years. University costs have risen in Haiti but compared to the US are very small. Schools offer only academic studies and science, medical and engineering students must work while in school. The study is intense.

There are a variety of vocational schools with programs 3 months to 3 years and cost $100.00 for 3 months to $325.00 a year for a 3 year technical program such as diesel mechanics training. University courses cost $500.00 per year to 1500.00 per year for science courses. There are book expenses on top of the tuition for some but most are covered by the tuition.

We have named this project the Starthrower Scholarship Program. It is a big committment of those who chose to help a university student. The students who actually jump through the hoops we set before we try to find a sponsor are the Haitians of the future we feel will touch more lives than we ever will. Now there are many children longing just for primary school and can't have it. These educated young people will understand the critical importance of education in this country, we believe.

We and the young people like Kathia, are grateful to all who support the scholarship program. When we leave the program will continue through a partnership program between participants in the US and a couple of scholarship recipients in Haiti. To participate in some way just email us at sjelagonave@gmail.com.

2009-03-10T10:00:00.000-07:00

This is a recent shot of the windmill that was put up at Dent Grien in 2002 and damaged within a year, then suffered severe damage in a hurricane later. This well will stand as we pull the pump from the first well and replace with a solar pumping system and small wind generator to pump at night.

The west end of sud lagonav has no wells but hopefully one will sprout near Picqua-maby, very far west. Many communities will be served by a good well as the 4 storms of last year damaged most cisterns.There are some spring fed wells in the mountains but most are dependent on generators and / or hand pumps if shallow enough. Water is a precious resource since the dry season is brutal.

A major commodity is health care. The nearly 100,000 thousand on lagonav are served by one small hospital and a half dozen clinics, mostly in the northern district. The many have been waiting many years for surgery to repair hernias or remove tumors. Most clinics charge small amounts for examinations and a bit more for medications that are difficult to procure on the island. Travel to the mainland and cost of surgery prohibits most from ever being treated if it is other than a sim;le treatment. The lady pictured here waited 19 years with a large goiter that obstructded her breathing before surgery was made possible by a South Dakota team.

She was prepared at one time then her husband died leaving her with 7 children to raise on her small garden. Many trips to clinics became an issue as she could not read and repeated testing was done rather than simply removing the tumor. Several scholarships were spent before the tumor was finally removed and she could breath easily.

She is now grateful to be breathing and finished with a problem she thought would never go away.

foo foo fish

2009-03-08T10:16:00.001-07:00

At long last the wind is down to a nice breeze. Some have even shed one layer of clothing!

Yesterday afternoon we wandered to the beach to see what was happening just as a fishing boat arrived with a rather strange variety of fish.

The fellow in the photo is a foo foo fish and someone bought both and said they are very good to eat. To me they seemed very large but apparently they get much bigger. Everyone was careful to stay away from the pointy things all over the body.

The rest of the "catch" was very impressive and much appreciated as many have not eaten much this week. People were purchasing anywhere from one to 10 fish of various sizes for very small amounts of money. Some tiny fish were sold by the pan full to be deep fried and eaten head, tail, insides and all!! I haven't mastered that yet.

It is still calm today with a balmy temp of about 91 degrees and light breeze. We will walk to Port a Bonheur after our breakfast of bread and lobster.

We are in search of a location for a clinic where we can provide nurses, doctor, lab, health education and local management. The clinic will be available to 10,000 plus people in more that 7-10 communities who now walk many miles for health care. Three have died because they could not reach a health facility in time.

Well, balmy days, foo foo fish and work to do on the second Sunday of Lent. Shirley

Huddle Together

2009-03-05T15:48:00.000-08:00

The wind is blowing as a hurricane without the rain and thunder stuff!
Has been bending trees, rattling the seed pods and roaring until you can't hear!

Our metal doors are wired back but occasionally a strong blast comes along and rips the door loose and the explosion causes ones heart to skip a beat or two. Fun to watch the dogs jump straight in the air and run for cover. Goats must be deaf.

The children are all of course in t-shirts only (naked and exposed from belly button down) and hunker down to keep warm. I have some sweat shirts for little ones but there are more timoun than sweat shirts and I don't know how to handle that. So far I just give one to any kid that happens to be freezing and alone. They play then pull their t-shirt down to their toes and make themselves as small as possible and huddle together.
Adults are wearing multiple layers and
stoking caps with long pants many
with legs turned up 6 to 8 inches.
Who cares? It's freti!!
Went to take my bucket bath, with all
the little critters wiggling in the
water. Wind in the window is a bit
refreshing.

Not sure how long the wind will blow and neither is anyone else. Some boats go fast across the bay!

Photos don't do justice to the way the palms look twisting and flapping. At least cooking is now in doors or between buildings...to keep the fire going. This, I'm told is just another bit of Haiti to be endured. I wish I had a few more sweatshirts. All the kids could be in blue!

On The Boat

2009-03-02T08:05:00.000-08:00

Friday the 28th we went to PaP with our translator and chauffeur to claim the 2007 Toyota Pickup and Honda motorcycle we were given for use by UMCOR/GBGM when the PaP office closed in December. The Haitian Methodist Church took care of the titles and tagged the pickup and provided insurance. We had some minor repairs done to the pickup and loaded the motorcycle in preparation for and early morning trip to Achiayes port for a boat transfer to La Gonave.

Villian, a skilled driver on La Gonave "non-road" roads only managed to get lost one time leaving Petion-Ville.When we arrived at the port it only cost $7.00 US to get the gate open to the place they would load the pickup. Villien negotiated the cost of port taxes down half, to $137.50 US and he had already arranged the boat for $385.00 US.

We had no idea how the pickup was going to get from the pier to the huge sailboat and watched in awe as it "happened." The nearly empty boat slowly came long side the dock which was significantly lower than the rear deck of the boat. Once the boat was securly tied to the dock they swung the giant mast over the side above the pier which tilted the boat level with the dock and a mariner drove the pickup onto the boat..with no room to spare!

The boat then went back to the loading dock where at least 100 tons of rice, beans, flour, and corn were loaded along with hundreds of bags of produce, soda pop, beer and oil. At least 50 large drums of gasoline was also put aboard before they loaded over 200 passengers. (Joe will not allow my normal hyperbole for this blog - and it isn't needed!) I was in shock as we loaded and every possible inch of the boat was covered before we pulled away from the dock.

As soon as we were at sea with two large boat motors they raised the tall mast and put out a huge sail that caught the strong wind and pushed that very large, heavy boat smoothly acrossthe bay to Anse a Galets. Less than 2 hours crossing left us wandering just how the truck would make the 4 foot leap "up" the the dock at AAG.

We waited as the entire boat was unloaded including the bilge water, then amazed watched as the boat was secured to the pier, the large mast an sail swung out to the side, tilting the boat until it was even with the pier. The same mariner skillfully if ungracefully drove the truck ashore!

What is lacking most in Haiti is technology and natural resources, BUT the Haitian ingenuity is a thing of wander and delight. I think that boat could carry 3 semi's and half of Kansas! What an adventure! Special thanks to Villien and Feguiere for making it happen for us. And sadly to GBGM and UMCOR who are so badly needed in Haiti.

Hooray! Water day!

2009-02-26T14:04:00.000-08:00

Wahooo! Today is water day after over 2 weeks and one church seminar without water to bath or drink. The generator has needed expensive repair three times in the last several weeks and some of the
committee are calling the technician "slick". They believe he gets it running but
leaves things that will break soon so he can charge more.

There has been no water at Sousafilip, Port a Bonheur or Non Sema for over
4 weeks and people just go on about their business and don't drink, bath in a
cup or glass of water and shake clothing hard to get the dust out before
wearing for the third, forth or 6th day.

Joe swatted a fly on his leg today and a cloud of dust made us both sneeze!

Water has been an issue in Haiti forever! I can't count the number of NGO's who drill wells and either go through the crust or leave to return to broken or damaged equipment or stolen or poorly maintained generators.

When it rains, which is much less often on the island of la gonave than the mainland, it pours!! Cisterns overfill, especially during the hurricanes that come every year, then either leak or just explode! Last 4 storms were helped by a small earthquake (I am told) so every private cistern now leaks and everyone is asking for "just need 4 bags of cement, that's all" to repair cracks. When it is dry, as now, the wind blows hard. From the north it is the Norde that makes everyone sick and sucks the moisture from everything, including skin. At least NO MOQUITOES! Plenty of other bugs as replacements, including scorpions that seek shelter in rotting wood out of the wind..like our latrine!

Soon we begin work on the well at Dent Grien that has not worked since the second well was drilled in 2002. The windmill will be replaced by solar panels that will pump the well during the day and a small wind generator to pump, more slowly at night. It will provide water for at least four communities. AND it will have a committee with a plan! A plan to sell water and provide regular care and maintanence on all equipment. The agreement is, if the plan is not followed, after a couple of warnings the solar equipment will be removed. Harsh? We really want people to have water, year after year after year.

After Dent Griern we will move west to the forgotten high place, where burros die carrying many gallons of water up the mountains on very hot days. Haiti Outreach will drill a well as far west as we can find water and if 200 ft a hand pump will suffice. If it is necessary to go deeper we will again consider solar or wind, or perhaps a generator. Same plan, same requirement, same reason.

A grant from GBGM is providing most of the funding for the two wells with significant matching funds from Kansas East Conference. IF .. big word, there are by chance any remaining funds we would address the repair of broken cisterns that sit dry in every community. AND if there is even more funds "left over" the critical water issue of sanitation will be addressed.

Most communities have no latrines...toilets!! None! Zip! Cistern water is not only contaminated by goat poop but human waste is found near every wall or fence or bush. Latrines are hard to dig in rock! In communities where markets are held every week, a thousand people or more leave behind a lot of trash and some contaminate for the water supply.

Hooray! Today we are selling water in Sousafilip and at the well to Dent Griern! Soon, we pray, it will be everyday, some way, someplace.

Shirley, Sousafilip

2009-02-25T10:08:00.000-08:00

I sit on a log by the shore and watch a restless sea. Beyond the reef high white rolling waves and above the reef the surf sparkles as if a million diamonds are floating to shore. It is Ash Wednesday and time to consider my mortality and the things I value in life.

For 17 months we have lived with people who have little food to feed their families and children have red hair, dry skin and constant colds.

Island teachers have received no salary for 6 months. They can't feed families or pay tuition that would pay teachers. The child of a teacher is now at the hospital unable to breath and his wife called for money to be sent by boat.

Our clinic is closed as people have no money for medicine, and we have no doctor.

There is no water. The generator works overtime and gets tired and lays down like the overburdened burros coming from the well or market. Clothing and bodies smell, and strange things cook in pots over little wood fires.

Yet, the sun shines and makes diamonds on the sea. Children laugh and play between naps and people do the best they can.

As I sit and listen the sea reminds me there is pain everywhere. From dust we come and our return is simply to once again be dust. What has value is the time between.

A borrowed paryer says: Gracious God, when we would make much of that which cannot matter much to you, forgive us. Amen

People Die Fast

2009-02-17T16:52:00.000-08:00

Perhaps not the best day we have had in Haiti. Early this morning we were trying to catch up on emails and some work when two guys came to the door. They said they had someone "malade" ...I invited them to step in and asked a couple of questions but with little English and no Kreyol I could understand I explained our clinic is closed. We have no physician or medicine and they would need to go to Point a Rocquette. They didn't seem too upset and left, neither looking very ill.

Around noon our translater returned from Abamang, the other half of Sousafilip, the poorer half...if possible, and asked if someone had come earlier to the clinic. I told him of the two guys and then he told me they had a young woman with them who died about 8 am. They had been going to the clinic in PaR when she got much worse and died shortly after they took her from the boat.

Within a few minutes a couple came to ask for a ride across the island. They had been in the boat coming here to head to Anse a Galets in another fishing boat, but it was now taking the body back to Grande Vide.

That is the only part of the story that makes any sense. With the help of the translator I attempted to ask questions and got a jumble of answers. She was complaining of "gas" but sitting up eating peanuts. She had not been ill long and had a baby 3 months old. Her husband was with her. She probably was dead by the time the two men came to the house. They did not take her to the clinic in Grande Vide or to a closer one at Tamerin because she was not that sick. Huh? From there it got more confusing.

Yes, today I learned a very hard lesson. No matter how casual they act, when someone tells me another is sick...gas, splinter or broken toenail, I'm going to go look! AND..even though or because our clinic is closed, it is critical to respond. Point a Racquette is too far away and looking answers more questions.

When the crying could be heard over the wind, I pledged to do whatever I can to get this clinic reopened: with physician, nurses, lab, emergency meds and supplies. I can no longer sit with my hands over my eyes and wish for miracles. People die quickly here.

2009-02-12T16:15:00.000-08:00

This is the school director and teacher/preacher in Trou Jacques. This village is accessible by sea only unless one wishes to take a burro straight up the mountain four hours. The community is on the very east end of the island and sits in a triangle where the rain pours into the village and washes animals, children and homes into the sea frequently.

Most people with resourses on the mainland have moved but more than 40 families are forced to stay and sleep in fear the rain will come before they can go high in the mountain or at least climb on a building.

There are 80 primary students in the school which is dark and damaged from many rains and storms. WE visited before the 4 storms then afterward to find the village 2 to 4 foot deep in rocks washed down from the mountain. Both cisterns now unusable. Fortunately boats can carry water from Picmy where there is good water...but also accessible by boat only.

The Director/Preacher has been in Trou Jacques many years as no one else will agree to live in a community so ravaged by water that is not usable. He, like all other teachers recieve pay only about two times a year. At this point it has been over 5 months since payday. As a pastor he receives only a gratuity at Christmas and perhaps a special day.

Following the storms no one from the government in Anse a Galets came to look at damage and church officials visit when Volunteers pay for a boat. Not just a teacher/preacher, he holds the frightened people together and makes phone calls.

The community is in need of teams to repair cisterns and some engineering skills to help redirect the rain away from the village rather than straight through the town. People are poor and tuition is high, but he stays, and cares. $50.00 is all he makes a month! And he hasn't seen that for 5 months. What a wonder it would be if salary PLUS could ease him into the rapidly approaching rainy season.

2009-02-11T17:37:00.000-08:00

This little two year old is an orphan who just happens to be in love with Joe. Her family includes and aunt and uncle, cousin who is a school teacher who provides for her, his parents, a wife and one child and another orphan 4 year old. Not unusual in Sousafilip.

We aren't sure how adoptions are done on the island. We know some orphanages keep children several years and have adoptive parents support them and visit for long periods of time. Others are just a call away and I'm honestly not sure who to contact. I have asked several and all give different answers.

This child is cared for but is a real hardship that is just accepted by an old couple who can't support themselves. She sqeals plays and is miss obnoxious personallity!

When I first arrived she was a newborn and I was asked to visit her mother who had 3 voudou zombies on her and was paralyzed and unable to speak. In reality she was so brain injured she was near death. After a long hospital stay she could sit up but not much else. Pastor Abner managed to get her to a healer in AAG...where she eventually died.

In our 16 months we have become aware of many like this little doll, some bigger, but all joyful and half naked. Joe and I are just wandering how hard it will be to get through customs when we finally go home. I don't think we will be the only ones on the plane with giggling carry ons.

The Day the Captain Died

2009-02-07T14:48:00.002-08:00

Guess I'll call this "the day the captain died. In Haiti tradition is very important but some things are much more simple. The family had no money so the church he belonged to and worked for for years took responsibility for building the crypt. The wind was blowing so hard family could not come from the mainland so the burial was the next afternoon. No embalming and no funeral homes, so a casket was borrowed for the visitation and church service. People had to wash cloths so the community sold water and a boat ower offered to sell since he wasn't otherwise involved. A retailers booth did good business as people and goats huddled to keep warm. A young neighbor got busy and gave him a shave when they saw me coming to take photos for the family who would not make it. Death isn'n death, it's "passing over" and honoring the person is very important. So important it becomes a community event. The funeral progresses pretty traditonally until the final song when the "keening and wailing" begins in earnest. Close relatives threw themselves on the concrete floor, and how they come out without a concussion is beyond me. This continues to the cemetary as they carry the casket up the hill, remove the body and put the final concrete on the top. For some reason I don't understand, there was no rum and dancing. Think maybe the family was too poor and spent all the money given on food. It is an honorable tradition. There is some laughter and normal daily routines but there is also an entire community involved and respectful. There is a little food, friends sitting around the table playing dominos and an air of surprise. The family, who has nothing, will miss the one who usually did the begging and scrounging for handouts. But he was honored. And I will always remember the waves and wind, and the conversations of "the day the captain died." Shirley

2009-02-05T13:07:00.000-08:00

Well it has been a time of life and death in Sousafilip. We now have water as the generator has been fixed after a week of extreme conservation. It is a wonderful social time as people gather with every imaginable kind of container to receive the life giving water. I can't balance an empty bucket and walk two steps but the ladies lift the 6 gallons as if they weigh nothing and take off up the hill.

Late yesterday we were notified the old church boat captain had died. I must have been the only one in town anticipating it but he has been living a slow death since we arrived. Today was "community day" as the horrible Norde churns the sea so much the family from the mainland can not come. Two daughters depend on the church and community for finding a "borrowed" casket (Mm Connel keeps her's in the living room for her time to pass over. The church members also gather the rock, gravel and sand, beg, borrow or take cement from somewhere and build all but the top of the crypt.

2009-02-03T05:21:00.000-08:00

Market day and in the quiet we should get things done. Ha! Yesterday, Joe managed to set up the office and it is nice to work at a real desk. Naturally, everyone likes to sit in the "excutive" chair. We can't use it in front of the computer as the floor slops and it tends to want to roll across the floor and out the door!

2009-02-02T04:08:00.001-08:00

I usually "blurb" rather than blog but as we move into the new year we will try new things. Joe and I signed up for a 2 year appointment and that ends in October this year. We have some wells to repair and drill and a clinic that is now closed but "trying" to reopen. The clinic will serve about 8 to 10 communities that now are walking long distances for simple health care.

We have a sponsor to provide salary for a nurse and community health worker. We have a discount pharmacy that will provide some meds at cost from the US. We need a church sponsor that could provide $150.00 US each month for supplies and general expenses then we would be IN BUSINESS!

So many sick, hungry and no industry on the south side of La Gonave and we have so little time. We have been her 15 months and received teams to do roofing, repair guest house, paint clinic, repair cistern and one medical team.

Living is "rustic", travel to sousafilip is grueling, the sea is beautiful and food for teams is grand Haitian cooking. Teams help us employ many locals for short periods. We are attempting to develop cooperative groups in fishing and train community leaders in development and management of resources.

The Haitian Methodist Church now has new leadership and we look forward to more interested from the church in the project on La Gonave.

We did a food distribution, using some GBGM funds and UMCOR following the storms and fed families in 12 communities on sud la gonave.

With industry and NGO's all over the nord and in the mountains we hope to make some progress in livestock and farming to improve education, health and general living conditions.