What a Few Do

“What A Few Do”                                                                                           Nov 11, 2015    

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where Do We Go From Here?

Benoit Dorvil

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

Wesner Foreste

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

Enickson Villiere

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

Gamaniel Laurent

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

What a month!  Started September, two and a half months into my new church appointment, with a quick week in Port au Prince Haiti, attending a partners conference with the E’lgise Methodiste of Haiti and partners from England, Canada the US and UMCOR and missions folks.

I begin by saying “thank you” to the people who have graciously donated lap tops for scholarship students in Haiti.  The Geeks4God “refurbishing ministry allows us to “trade in” donated lap tops to be upgraded and we can claim others for the students who “upgrade” from one class level to another. We use our account funds to provide new batteries. The young adult Haitians are so grateful and ask that we pass that on to Geeks4God and all who donate to their needs..

Enickson Villerier, the 5^th year computer science major, texted me 3 days before my trip he was in the hospital following a robbery on a tap tap that morning. All the riders where confronted by a man with a hand gun and told to put all their belongings in a pile. Enickson is a tall, athletic looking young man, and when he put his backpack with phone and computer down the man pushed him backward over the side of the truck into traffic.  He suffered a concussion and laceration to the scalp, severe whiplash injury but was most distressed at the loss of his computer.  I had posted a “onsey” photo to Facebook so when Joe arrived at Church of the Resurrection to pick up the 3 computers headed for students they graciously offered a replacement for Enickson.

We started the scholarship program in 2008 for Methodist young adults on La Gonave who had completed academic work above the normal 6^th grade offered in Haiti.  The EMH offers one scholarship in each circuit each year but only for agriculture and teaching; two vocations with relatively hopeless futures. The scholarships we have provided have been for engineering, nursing science, and computer science in university, and vocational programs in language, computer training, chauffeur and diesel mechanics. South Dakota Conference picked up half the students which included one medical student who will be graduating this next year and beginning practice on La Gonave.

Change is inevitable in all things and with the “advent” of a new Great Plains Conference; we anticipate change in the assistance with tuitions that Kansas East Conference had provided for the last three years. More than half of the selected students have graduated but 14 continue to need tuition and project support.  Of course, there are always others wanting the project to continue to take new students. Our future support is rather iffy at this time.

We face the uncertain future with questions. The total cost for university science majors has been $8000.00 for the FIVE years of school.  High School (like an associate degree in the US) is $200 to 300.00 per semester. Vocational training can range from $150.00 to $350.00 a year, depending on the projects they must complete. These range from 1 year to 2 years per program.

 The question? What source of funding do we explore in the coming two years (we still have our Advance Special); AND would it be reasonable to seek sponsors for new students wanting to enroll?

There are issues!  Haitian businesses do not like to hire Haitian professionals other than nursing science grads!

 

Vocationally trained Haitians seem to find work easily.

Teachers in many Haitian schools have not been paid for months.

Haitian parents do not pay school tuition because the government has said all elementary education should be free. National schools may have one teacher per 50 to 100 students, but it is free.

The EMH charges tuition; classes are smaller; most teachers go months without salary and salary is often less than 75.00 US per month in small villages.

As we “close in” on November and the Bishop’s Round Up Against Hunger, our major funding source, we are uncertain about our future in funding the students that depend on our program.

We have been blessed to serve these worthy young people, the Conference and GBGM since 2007.

We join with the students in saying “thank you” to all who have supported Round Up, our Advance Special and those who have sponsored individual student needs PLUS all the prayer support from individuals and individual congregations. 

We are STILL funding the scholarship program. Please pray for the future.                                            Pastor Shirley and Joe Edgerton,                                                                                                       CUMC Haiti Advance Special #982465-6, mailed to Central UMC, Lawrence Kansas.

GBGM on La Gonave: La Gonave Mission & Transition

GBGM on La Gonave: La Gonave Mission & Transition

La Gonave Mission & Transition

An important project of our La Gonave Mission in Haiti was the education of 29 plus students. Eight chose University, others Vocational Training and several High School.  President Paul of the Haitian Methodist Church said the program was problematic. The EMH offers a scholarship program in either agriculture or teaching in each of the districts.  All of our students have chosen university science majors or vocation training primarily related to new technology. All have been active in EMH congregations and EMH Youth groups. One university student was a trained teacher who was paid infrequently and will graduate with a Nursing Science Degree. 

Dorvil, the student who graduated with honors in November has yet to be awarded his license to practice as the professor did not have 3 projects for him ready to complete before graduation. One project he finally completed recently but has two left. That may perhaps mean another 6 months or more before he can move away from the university and try to find employment as a civil engineer. He can not work while doing the projects and although they have not tried to collect any other tuition, he still has housing, food and transportation expense. 

A  computer science major who graduates this semester has been working for a school in Petit Guave for a salary of $650.00 per month but was recently told he can not continue unless he is married. They only hire married "men"...I am uncertain if female teachers have that restriction.

All of the students have had some assistance from family, but for 6 years most have lived "hand to mouth" and maintained high grade point averages.  They all share fear they will not find work following graduation because of cultural issues AND because they are Haitian. We have contacted NGO's we know to see if they are hiring without any luck. 

One retired ordained clergy couple of the EMH recently sent their two children to a university in Kansas for education and said they would only get work in Haiti if educated in the US. 

Graduates from vocational training, and Nursing Science majors have had little problem finding work. Translators, mechanics and chauffeurs are hired but not necessarily well paid. We fear university training moves into another realm.  Another group sponsoring a medical student is running into issues with obtaining license for the student trained in DR following the earthquake.  ​

We have been blessed by the former Kansas East Conference for making Round Up Against Hunger funds available each year to ensure we could pay each semesters tuition for the eight enrolled university students and the other 14  still attending Vocational Training and High School. 

Congregations, individuals, UMW, family and various organizations have contributed not only tuition.  Church of the Resurrection UMC in Leawood refurbished  more than 18 computers for students and are prepared to set up a "training project" for our graduating Computer Science major. Wyandotte UMC in Kansas City sponsored one student with tuition and a living stipend plus prayer support.  Love offerings, monthly individual commitments and fund raising events plus generous offerings at Annual Conference and individual and VIM Team "gifts" have been used for tuition,  housing, equipment, medical care and food. The need continues as student tuition, project costs and need for specialized equipment rise. 

Primarily, I am feeling lost in cultural issues. We face the future with graduating students and it seems our task is not coming to an end but making a transition. These bright, committed and now educated young adults have dreams of "making a real difference" on La Gonave.  We are now exploring ways to help as university students graduate and seek jobs that will actualize their devotion and education. 

I like to think transitions in our UM Conference, the Round Up Against Hunger program, and the Haitian Methodist Church are not endings but doors opening for new and (to coin the Bishops word) audacious possibilities. I dream of the day 29 Haitian young adults will be using their education to improve their livelihood, and that of  their families, neighbors and people on La Gonave and Haiti.

The need continues for funding for the Scholarship Program for La Gonave Students through our GBGM Long Term Volunteer Advance Special. Donations have been managed by Central UMC in Lawrence KS since we moved to Haiti in 2007.  The advance number is #982465-6.  Checks are made to Central UMC with the advance number in the memo line and mailed to the church at 1501 Massachusetts, Lawrence KS 66044. Much gratitude to Sid Snyder who retires soon as treasurer.

I will attend a Partnership Summit in Port a Prince, September 8th -11th. 

Claude & Angels

 Claude & Angels. blurb not blog

We are in the process of sending tuition money for the coming semester so that means lots of emails, texts and phone calls. The prices are never the same or due at the same time. It is Haiti.

Following a lengthy apology for asking, Fedner said he needed $50.00 US for an engineering project at the same time he needed the $350.00 for the semester.  He said he was not attending seminars and explained those are extra credit tutorials that professors do for a price. Projects are required for graduation. A few months ago we paid for some tests and exams because he had developed a loud continuous noise in his ear that was very distracting. His parents had taken him to a doctor but did not have money for a specialist. He still has the noise but says it goes away sometimes.

He also gave me the news that prompted this note. Boss Claude, the young man who made 3000 prayer angels for us after the 5 hurricanes, is his cousin, which we knew, but did not know that he has been very ill.  Last I talked with him his wife had left him with their 3 children and gone to the Dominican Republic to work. He looked very sad and underweight then but now is dying. Fedner said he is praying to die.  Fenders’ parents are caring for him and his children.

Guess, I want to say, if you happen to have one of the angels, please hold it and pray for this fine young furniture builder, father and businessman who has no will to live, now. No more Claude; no more angels. I gave him the pattern and he registered his “mark”. He is the second of the young businessmen to die since we left the island.  They die young in the remote areas.

Enickson starts his last of 10 semesters in May.  His engineering major is Computer Science and has been the priciest of all. Of course he has needed more equipment and bigger projects. I spent a week with him and Gamaniel, another Civil Engineering student, in November. They are now such professional young men. University in Haiti is serious business.  They cared for me as if I was royalty and make me promise to let “everyone” responsible for their education, know how grateful they are.

Another Nursing Science major has 4 of his 10 semesters left and that is our last university student who will graduate with assistance from Round Up For Hunger funds, angel sales, and support from individual congregations.

The ten other students in vocational training, college and High School will be graduating in two years. Only one has had issues with grades. We were unaware his first year was spent as a restovec for his aunt who refused to feed him if he did not do “special favors”. At the end of the year he returned to SaP as a skeleton. We enrolled him in a school that provided meals and he has done well since.

Joe goes in June with the Andover team and will visit the orphanage in Ansagale that is in dire straits now; he will talk again with staff at the Guest House that we hope one day to have a micro lending program for; and look at the clinic in SaP that is now open full time. He probably will not see Boss Claude. Dang.