Deacon Anita’s Reports from Haiti
February 19 to April 4, 2010

Deacon Anita is in Bondeau, Haiti where she will stay at the new Maison d'Amitie until the Tuesday after Easter providing encouragement to the people and assisting Pere Kesner in the development of Ste. Marie Madeleine school and church at Bondeau.

Home in Boca Raton, April 8, 2010

I've been blessed in so many ways to have been able to spend seven weeks at Ste. Marie Madeleine Parish in Bondeau, Haiti. The relationships I formed with the people were my greatest blessing. These people may be the poorest of the poor, the most poverty stricken in the world, but they are a most joyful, devout people who attend church services three and four times a week, who sing God's praise while they work, who depend on God for everything. These are hard working peasants who live in one room homes, cook outside over wood fires, scrub their clothes by hand, walk everywhere wearing plastic flip flops or worn out sneakers. They cultivate the land by hand, working for several days to prepare a small plot for planting.

These are people who care for their elderly, keeping them at home where the entire family and neighbors share in their care. These are people who care for their sick neighbors, making healing teas, sitting with the sick person, praying and singing for their recovery. These people all share in the care of babies. Preteens and teens, both girls and boys care for infants with love and gentleness.

The children are remarkable. They chip in with family chores. Even the youngest child walks to the pump and carries water home in plastic jugs. Boys often care for the family goats, take cattle to the pump for a drink of water, and help with the planting. Girls help with laundry and cooking. When chores are done, children gather in the school yard to play soccer and jump rope. There is always fun and laughter when the children are together. They are devout and prayerful, like their parents. Children pour into church for services, sitting in the front rows. They actively join in the service, singing and praying. It's not unusual to see the closest adult reprimand children who talk to one another or act in a way that is not appropriate for church service.

These children have no toys. Boys "invent" toys with discarded wheel frames and sticks. Any discarded wheel eventually becomes a toy. All the children use their God given creativity in imaginative play. Parents in Bondeau allow the children freedom to go anywhere in the community, knowing that older children look after the younger ones. These are the poorest of the poor children, some wearing only a tee shirt. They play barefoot or with flip flops, saving their shoes for school and church. They bathe behind bushes near the water pump.

Reflecting on my time in Bondeau, I wonder about our partnership with Ste. Marie Madeleine Parish. A partnership isn't all one-sided. We give and we receive. How we are helping our family in Bondeau? How are the people of Bondeau helping us? I do believe that we have brought new light to Bondeau, and I don't mean only the light that shines from the new street and school lights. I see new Light of hope, the Light of Christ. This became clear to me in many ways during my visit. The first sign was seeing the light of Ste. Marie Madeleine on that first night when the area was completely dark. I could see the light of Ste. Marie Madeleine Parish shining from a distance. I knew I was home. The following day, the sound of singing filling the air allowed me to hear the joy that fills the people. Then, when I walked on the mountain trail, the butterflies that surrounded me, a "new life in Christ" symbol from Cursillo, affirmed the new life in Christ in Bondeau. And on Easter morning, I saw that God is pleased when He gave us new life in the form of a beautiful baby goat.

I believe that there is much for us to learn from the people of Bondeau. Over the last five weeks, I've shared my experience of Bondeau. I've written about the life of the poorest people in the western hemisphere. In our partnership, they receive much from us and we are changing lives. In return, there is much that we can receive from them that will change our lives, if we are willing to accept what they have to offer.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

I'm writing from the Port au Prince airport at 10:30 AM while waiting at the gate for departure to Miami. Pere Kesner, Wildaine, a young woman whose name I can't recall, driver Junior, and I bid farewell to Bondeau at 5:00 AM. We were crowded into a pick-up truck for the three hour drive to the airport. Bondeau was still sleepy, with only a few people beginning their day. Miragoane was alive with activity when we drove through town at 5:30 AM. There is little earthquake damage in Miragoane. A few tent cities shelter those who have lost their homes. Leogane, however, has severe destruction. Sections of the road were split open. Parts of the shoulder of the road are completely split off from the roadway. What once were houses are still piles of rubble. I didn't see any indication of cleaning up the rubble or repairing the road.

Port au Prince is worse. There is one section in the outskirts of the city where tent homes are on the median strip of the road. The road is not paved, so road dust fills the air like a thick fog. Add to the risk of respiration problems, the risk of a car or truck running off the road onto the median strip killing or injuring entire families. I couldn't imagine living under those conditions. I'm sure, given a choice, the people living on the median would choose to live elsewhere. The city still is a disaster area. Although contractors have been removing rubble, piles are still in the streets. Tent cities are on public land. Portable latrines are there for the convenience of the residents.

Sections of the airport has been repaired and updated. I'm sitting in a new modern American Airlines gate area. Up the stairs from here are small fast food restaurants where I had a patty and coffee for breakfast. Looking around the waiting area, I see many people who are returning from Mission trips. Most have connecting flights from Miami to other parts of the U.S.

I was confirmed on an afternoon flight to Fort Lauderdale and had not received an email that the flight was cancelled. My choices were to wait till tomorrow morning and fly to Fort Lauderdale or take a flight to Miami today. I chose Miami. My daughter, Marci, was there to pick me up when I arrived, having been called by Pere Kesner with the new flight info. I was so happy to see her! We drove directly to Guppy's for an American burger!

Monday, April 5, 2010

Close to 500 people came for the party , all people from the community. What a fun party it was, beginning at 6:00, ending at 10:00. The Young People Association performed skits that must have been hilariously funny, judged by the reaction of the audience. Djames, the director of the school, usually a serious and quiet man, was a hit as MC. Food was served to the crowd by the church women. I was happy to see that children who were sitting in the front rows of the audience, were served first.

Djames called for me, with Pere Kesner as a translator, to say a few words. I expressed my gratitude for being welcomed into the community and reiterated that we are all one family in Christ. A representative from the Young People Association presented me with a beautiful work of art done by one of the young people, a gift I will always treasure.

The people here, especially the young, are gifted with many talents. The poor in Haiti aren't given an opportunity to develop those talents. They are too busy scraping enough together for the next meal. We pray that with the Church and Young People Association the young people of the parish will grow and develop to their potential. With God, all things are possible. Today is my last day here. Tomorrow morning Pere Kesner, Wildaine, and I will go to Port au Prince. Wildaine and Pere are going to Cange for the Diocesan Convention. Pere invited me to attend, but as much as I would like to visit Cange and Partners in Health Hospital in Cange, I'm ready to go home.

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Yesterday afternoon after the Good Friday service I walked up the mountain trails behind Maison d'Amiti. "Junior" was my guide. Pere Kesner asked that I not go off the property alone. He cautioned me that many criminals escaped the prison after the earthquake. I wouldn't want to be the victim of a kidnapping. Six feet tall, pleasant mannered, and brawny, "Junior" is the perfect body guard.

We walked a trail to the dry river bed. It is now covered with rocks that washed off the mountain during the hurricanes. The land on each side of the bed is eroded from the rush of water. It's clear while walking through the area that all the large trees have been cut down. The only large trees I saw were mango trees and a few smaller trees that bear fruit used for juice. The ground is covered with small growth but I'm sad to say, not many trees. The people continue to cut even the smallest trees for fire wood and charcoal, their only means of cooking food.

We were greeted by the people who live along the trails we walked. Most are parishioners of Ste. Marie Madeleine. Their children are so well groomed and clean when the come to church and school, yet they live in deplorable conditions. Their homes are usually one or two small rooms where the family sleeps. The kitchen is separate from the house, made of palm fronds or tree branches, a structure to shade the cook from the hot sun. Daily routines such as washing clothes and washing dishes are done in the yard. I was so taken aback the first time I saw a woman sweeping in front of her house. She was sweeping the dirt ground that surrounds the house. I have since seen this many times. Our cooks sweep the ground around the kitchen where they prepare the daily meals for the school children. It's hard for us to imagine!

Yesterday's Good Friday service was well attended with about 90 people, including 20 children. It was a long service, three and a half hours, especially for children. I was amazed that the kids were as well behaved as they were.

Meditations on the Seven Last Words of Jesus were done by lay leaders. Wildaine and I also shared a mediation. Mine was on "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" As in every service, there was lots of singing. This evening at 6:00 we'll have the Easter Vigil. We have no Paschal candle but will use Hurricane Emergency candles that I bought in the dollar store before coming here. We will have ten people holding lit candles. I wish I could sing the Exsultet in French but I'll do well this time to simply read it.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Today is Maundy Thursday. I'm writing from my favorite place at Maison d'Amitie overlooking the school and the sea in the distance. Children are in Holy Week camp. Their joyful singing fills the air. I visited the camp classes each day this week. I'm amazed that the kids sit at attention and absorb what is being taught. Whenever their attention wanes the teacher breaks into a happy rhythmic song, where the kids clap, move to the tempo, sing loud, and burn off pent up energy. They all attend a one hour Evening Prayer service at the end of the day. Tomorrow, Good Friday, there will be no camp. The children are asked to attend the three hour meditation on the Seven Last Words of Jesus. I can't imagine kids sitting through a service this long but these kids never cease to amaze me!

Father Kesner will soon begin the construction of the first house building and latrines. The site is just off the school yard on church property and will be owned by the church. Guy, Naomi, Anna, and Gibson will be the first family to receive a new home. Remember, this is the family living in a house made of a blue plastic tarp. See the link on the South Florida Haiti Project website for the plan. For only $2500 you can provide a poor family a safe house to live in.

Plans are also underway for a trade school. The existing school building will be used for trade school in the afternoon. Over 100 people have applied for admission. David Gury will soon post the project on the website. The trade school gives young men and women the opportunity to learn a trade, a giant step up in the life of a person in Bondeau. Many of us believe strongly in "hand ups", not "hand outs" and the old adage, "Teach a man to fish." This is your opportunity to support a project that teaches young people a skill so that they will become self sufficient.

Every day I take an early morning walk from Maison d'Amitie to the main road. It's usually between 6:00 and 6:30. It's very early for me but here the work day has begun. Women are walking to and from the water pump carrying buckets of water on their heads. Guy is taking the goats from the goat yard to a new pasture, the school cooks are preparing their day, cows are walked to the water pump for a drink of water, motor cycle taxies travel the main road with two, even three passengers. Children are bathing by the well before their school day. Entrepreneurs set up their businesses to catch early morning traffic. Bondeau is a bustling center of activity!

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

A slice of life from Bondeau…Faimy has been under a tree scrubbing clothes by hand since 6:00 this morning. It's now 2:00 PM. Clothes are hung everywhere drying, on two clothes lines, draped over bushes, spread out on the white gravel in front of Maison d'Amitie. What is so remarkable is that Faimy is singing! She has been sitting on the ground with a large wash basin in front of her washing clothes by hand for eight hours! Yet she finds the joy to sing! There is something new to experience every day! I continue to be amazed at these hardworking and joyful people.

Another slice…this morning I stopped by to visit a family that lives close by. This is the family with the baby who seems to always be crying, and he was again today. The oldest boy was holding him. The mother was washing clothes, kids were running around playing. The little girl chanted "Ah nee tah" over and over again. I took the crying baby from the boy, and he immediately stopped crying. There was a man there who spoke a little English. He told me that the baby's father said that if I love the baby, I may have him. He will give the baby to me! This kind of thing happens so often in Haiti. Poor parents cannot care for their children and give them away to people who they think will give them a better life.

The Holy Week camp is a great success! Today there were seventy kids in the younger group. Additional school benches were moved into the classroom in order to accommodate all the kids. They had a fun time singing, drawing pictures of the passion, and listening to stories. They sang joyfully, almost dancing, as they clapped in rhythm. At break they jumped rope and played soccer with a new soccer ball. Everyone in the camp had a healthy lunch of corn meal and black beans, part of our feeding program. At the end of the day I celebrated a Deacon's Mass with Wildaine and Ivnell assisting. The church was full. I love to watch the kids worship. They are so uninhibited as they sing and pray. They all worship God in their individual way. I am so blessed to be a part of life here!

Palm Sunday, March 28, 2010

Today's Palm Sunday celebration began under a shade tree near the school yard. The congregation gathered for the blessing and distribution of freshly cut palm. "Jesus" mounted the donkey and we processed around the dirt trails that lead to the main road, a short distance on the road, then up the drive to the school, while singing "All Glory Praise and Honor." The congregation packed the church/classroom once again.

While Wildaine delivered the sermon in Kreyol, my eyes drifted around the congregation. These people are innately creative so I don't know why I was surprised and amused to see that most people created something with the palm. Some tied the palm like a necktie around their necks. Girls tied the palm into necklaces and head bands. Others made bracelets. Some sat braiding the palm while they listened. At the end of the service, I saw that most people had used the palm in their own unique way.

Pere Kesner is off again to Port au Prince traveling on a motor cycle. While he was here, we had a short meeting about the activities of this coming week. School will be closed this week but Wildaine has prepared a program for the children. The school and community feeding program will continue.

I enjoyed a relaxing afternoon reading on the verandah.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Father Kesner has been in Port au Prince all week. We expected him back at Ste. Marie Madeleine in the early evening but at 9:30 he still hadn't returned. I went to bed. This morning at 7:00 Father Kesner told me that he'd had a terrible and frightening night traveling from Port au Prince. He bought a large supply of food with a donation from the Colorado Haiti Project that he was taking in two large trucks to Ste. Paul's in Petit Trou. He was traveling with a group of men including a security guard. A truck broke down on the mountain outside of Miragoane. Soon a crowd gathered. Father Kesner saw that their intention was to storm the trucks and take the food. The one security guard said that he couldn't handle the huge crowd by himself. Father Kesner called the police. The crowd scattered when the police arrived on the scene. Father Kesner arrived here at 4:00AM with the trucks of food. The food was unloaded and stored in an empty room until this afternoon when a truck from Petit Trou arrived. The food was carefully loaded onto the Petit Trou truck, first the bags of rice piled high, then pinto beans. Next, dried fish from Canada and last, Mazola Oil. Every inch of the huge truck was filled with nourishing food for the people of Petit Trou, a wonderful and generous gift from the Colorado Haiti Project, partners of Ste. Paul's.

Our own feeding program is also a wonderful and generous gift to the people of Bondeau from St. Gregory's, St. Paul's and South Florida Haiti Project. We received a delivery of food yesterday. I see a remarkable difference in the health of the school students. They look well nourished, and as we saw in the test scores, are attentive during class and eager to learn. We are preparing Haiti's leaders of tomorrow.

Father Kesner spent the day here and will travel to Petit Trou tomorrow. He'll celebrate Palm Sunday Mass at Ste. Paul's. I will celebrate a Deacon's Mass here after a procession around the “block”. I know it will be a beautiful procession, complete with Jesus on a donkey. I've been practicing reading the French liturgy for Palm Sunday…always a new challenge!

Today we had 35 attending the Friday Litany.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Yesterday I noticed Lumenn walking home after a day's work. People who have been here know who Lumenn is because she has one leg about 4" shorter than the other, a result of an accident. She is a tireless worker, always there when work is to be done. She was struggling along wearing worn plastic flip flops as she limped her way toward home. Her "business" in a wood box was balanced on her head. She carried a chair, as local entrepreneurs do, and also a large bag containing packages of cheese doodles. I was on my way to the school to drop in on the sewing students but I approached Lumenn and offered to carry something for her. She handed me the bag of cheese doodles. I followed her on the dirt trail to her house. There the whole family sat in the yard waiting for her return. We made some friendly conversation with her husband, daughter, and kids. As I was about to leave, Lumenn's daughter came to me holding three freshly laid chicken eggs. I was absolutely humbled to receive such a gift, another example of the people here who have nothing, giving what they have in appreciation for very small favors. (Myna boiled the eggs and Wildaine and I enjoyed them for breakfast.)

This morning Wildaine and I visited the new baby and mother that we visited last week. Mother and baby are both well. Baby was sound asleep on the bed inside the house while mother and a toddler sat outside by the door doing the family laundry. Washed clothes were hanging on a line and on bushes in the yard. Everything is washed by hand and hung in the sun to dry. While we talked I observed the toddler, wondering what a one and a half or two year old does while mom washes clothes. She stayed close to mom playing with three stones, first trying to stack them, then lining them up side by side. There was a mangled plastic water bottle with a hole in the side close by. She made a game of dropping the stones into the hole of the water bottle, shaking the bottle with the stones in it, then dumping the stones out and beginning again. Who need Fisher Price??

Update on Sabrina…she saw the dentist, is on meds to reduce swelling and infection and will return to the dentist. She feels much better, isn't having pain and took a short walk with me today.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

A number of children in the area have chicken pox. The little boy, Kiki, who lives here at Maison d'Amitie with his mother, Faimy, broke out about a week ago. His body is covered with pox marks. He tries to express to me how uncomfortable he is by scrunching his face and making scratching motions with his hands. Today Faimy gathered a variety of grass and weed type plants, filled a large basin with water, and rubbed the plants together in the water until they were broken up into tiny pieces. The water appeared to be green. She then scrubbed Kiki with the grassy water. After a good scrub down, she poured the water over him leaving the green particles covering him from head to toe. I don't know if this peasant remedy actually is effective but Kiki appeared to feel much better.

The local people have natural remedies for almost every ailment. There is a special tea for fever and "grippe" (a bad cold) that Lumenn brought to me last week when I had a cold. What was so touching to me is that Lumenn gave me what she could in true Christian love. When a neighbor is sick, everyone knows it. They have compassion for one another and do whatever they can to comfort the sick person.

Sabrina, a twelve year old, has a serious tooth problem, probably an abscess. Yesterday morning her mother told me that she was home with a tooth ache. I walked the dirt trail to Sabrina's house and found her lying on a straw mat on the front porch, her friend Anna lying beside her. How comforting for Sabrina to have her best friend next to her sharing in her suffering! Today Sabrina's tooth ache is much worse. Her jaw is swollen to the size of a golf ball. The home remedy is a cloth tied around Sabrina's head, which holds a compress made of a green plant. I'm sure that only a visit to the dentist will cure this problem. A dental visit is a big issue because families here have just enough money to get by, no extra for doctor or dentist visits. This evening Wildaine and I met with Sabrina's mother and found that she has no money to take Sabrina to the dentist. I always carry extra money with me for such emergencies, so Sabrina will see a dentist tomorrow.

Ste. Marie Madeleine parishioners are attentive to those who are sick, praying for them and visiting, bringing home remedies, and maybe some home grown melon. People who can't get out to church are visited regularly by a special group from the Women's Association. Yesterday the group of four gathered in front of Maison d'Amitie before making their trek through the dirt trails for home visits. Their act of love brings the Church and the love of Christ to those who are homebound.

I continue to be blessed seeing and experiencing the love of these people who have nothing give whatever they can to those in need.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

This morning was another joyful Eucharist Service at Ste. Marie Madeleine Church. The church again was full. Father Kesner was off to Port au Prince for more Haiti rebuilding meetings and dropping David Gury at the airport after his three day visit. I celebrated a Deacon's Mass, still struggling with the language. The congregation learned a new hymn before service began. The choir master leads singing without the use of musical accompaniment, but this morning expressed his desire for an electric keyboard. I'll soon put out a request for a used small keyboard in excellent condition. After Mass, I took Holy Communion to the elderly couple I've been seeing every week. A group of people accompanied me on the dirt trail to the house and joined together in prayer before the couple received Holy Communion.

It's a quiet Sunday afternoon. It is truly a day of rest in Bondeau. People stay at home and relax, a respite after a hard week. Last night we, St. Gregory's, hosted a party for over 200 members of the Young People's Association. It was a great party with music, dinner, and soft drinks for everyone. Father Kesner, David, and I sat on the second floor landing of Maison d'Amitie. We were able to oversee everything that was happening from our vantage point. Many preteens came and were welcomed by the young adults. David will write about the party in his report. All had a wonderful time.

While watching the preteens dance, I took particular notice to the children that I met on my early trips to Bondeau. At that time, they were undernourished, very thin children. Most of them had no decent clothes. One boy, William, was a gaunt, skinny kid, and always wore an adult size tee shirt full of holes. Today he is a healthy looking 12 year old, growing tall and muscular, and a respectful, good boy. What made the difference in William's life? First, William enrolled in our school. He had been attending a government school. Second, our feeding program where William receives a nutritious hot meal every day. Third, William's mother is a cook in our school kitchen and now has an income with which she can buy William decent clothes. The entire family takes an active role in all church activities, including daily and weekly worship service. William is an example of the success of our mission in Ste. Marie Madeleine Parish. We improve the lives of the people we touch. We cannot change the country. We can and are changing the lives of many people. We bring to them and show them the love of Christ. We welcome them into our family in Christ.

Sunday March 21, 2010 by David Gury

These excerpts are from David Gury from the South Florida Haiti Project. Also see photos from his recent visit.

The ending of last night’s party is a good example of how people in Bondeau show respect to each other and the community. After the crowd was told that the music would end, the party is over, thank you and good night, there was a sigh from many who would like the music to continue. However, within minutes the crowd began to disband, and in a short time, there was quiet.

Today began early to reach the airport on time. After a quick cup of coffee that the cook had made very early, we set off as the dawn was breaking. The sky was not clear and the heavenly hosts were not visible. By the time we reached Miragone, it was light. People were out early to get water, take a bath and begin their day by five thirty. A remarkable scene in Miragone was the number of ships in the harbor waiting to be unloaded. In the past there might be one ship docked, but this morning there four freighters in the harbor waiting. This port appears to be picking up volume which will provide income for the community.

Only a few miles from Miragone heading east, significant earthquake damage is visible. Tent camps are every where, and it is normal to see a tent in front of most houses that did not suffer as people are still afraid to sleep inside. Tents range from well constructed multi family tents to small tents to blue tarps distributed free by relief organizations or purchased in the market where many of the free tents and tarps end up. Driving through Leogane, the devastation is near complete. Small buildings, large buildings are all gone. The people there are very active with their business spilleding into the street and functioning.

Today being Sunday, many people are dressed in their best and waiting for a tap tap or other transportation to go to church, to family to visit or for an outing. Many ladies are dressed in crisp white complete with a white hat. With devastation so vast, piles of broken buildings and useless contents, the people never the less are very proud as they go about celebrating a Sunday. Dress is stylish and well coordinated. Frequent sights were families dressed for Sunday all together, one family I saw, the husband was carefully holding a baby while waiting for a tap tap. Haitian people are very caring and show their affection, and respect for each other.

Coming into Port au Prince, the tent cities are all over. Yet again with so much loss (only material loss visible today), people are very busy selling, performing services of all kinds and cooking on the sidewalk or part of the street. On the highway, there were several spots where the road had split apart causing a single lane of traffic and careful negotiation of the route. Trash from destroyed buildings is piled every where. A contractor appears to be leading the clean up with lines of large dump trucks all around.

Departures from the airport are from an end of the building that apparently survived. It appeared to have been newly outfitted for the departure purposes. While small, there still are only a limited number of commercial flights in and out of Port Au Prince airport. There were many relief workers from several countries returning home. My return to Ft. Lauderdale was not remarkable. Trying to digest the last three days will take some time to complete.

Saturday March 20, 2010 by David Gury

Today is party day. The Ste. Marie Madeleine Parish is having a party for the youth of the parish at the Maison d’Amitie. It is now 10:45 pm and while I must depart at 5 am for Port au Prince and am ready for bed, the party goes on. Pere Kesner is hopeful that it will be over now, and it appears to be winding down.

There were well over 200 youth of many ages here in front of the well lit Maison d’Amitie with lights going out to the main road. While most walked here, there were at least 10 motorbikes. The party was begun with prayer and song. The party essential essential was a disc jockey with a sound table and six foot tall speakers that were heard for miles. A meal was served after two hours of music and skits played by nearly 30 of the youth who sang, danced and did rap sessions. The talent was excellent, and well prepared. Wilden is the seminarian currently in residence at bondeau. He has organized a youth group that in weeks has grown, and become very active. It is funny to hear everyone call Wilden “Seminary”. He gave an excellent talk to the group, at least as much as I could make out. Pere Kesner greeted the party and thanked the South Florida Haiti Project for moving Bondeau from a small school and church to a focal point in the community for social, educational and religious occasions. He commented on the expanded feeding program, the generator and lights, the Maison d’Amitie, the new goat farm and a new latrine under construction. Of special note is the rapid development of Bondeau in such a short period of time. He was especially thankful for the presence of Anita for an extended time.

Earlier in the day we went to market in Miragone. We purchased some supplies for the house, meat, plates, utensils and drink for the party. After touring the central market, which is most active on a Saturday, and completing the purchases we returned to Bondeau. After lunch, we drove to Jeannette and toured the campus sponsored by the Diocese of Milwaukee. People there are still afraid to stay inside and many classes are held outside and people sleep outside. Seminarian Jackson is spending an extended period there and stays on a porch outside the Rectory. Seminarians are available at this time because the Seminary was destroyed. We met several people that we had known on previous stays at Jeannette. We met a teacher whose sister was a victim of the January 12 earthquake.

Near the end of the party, Pere had a special service to consecrate bread and wine for Anita to use while he is not at Bondeau. This was done in a second story room with the front windows closed to keep out some of the sound. With Pere, Wilden, Anita and I present, a brief communion service to consecrate the elements and for the four present to receive them, was celebrated. It was a special holy time at what is becoming a holy place.

There is a lot of work to be done to continue the development of a sustainable Bondeau building on a wonderful base.

Friday March 19, 2010 by David Gury

Rain kept up all night. The rooster did wake up at 5:30, however there were several blind roosters that did not realize it was not yet dawn, and spoke during the night.

Despite the rain, Guy, the goat keeper was out moving the goats, in the rain, to better pastures. This man is short, thin and full of energy. His stride is one of great confidence and pleasure in what he is doing. He is the father of the family in the all blue house, yet despite the rain he was ready to go. The rain also brought one of the girls living in at Maison d’Amitie out side in the rain to wash her stainless steel dish under the run off from the roof. She too was having no problem with the rain.

At breakfast, Pere Kesner said that the rain was too much for the trip we planned for Les Cayes today. Also, the school was observing a rain day and would not have classes because with the rain, walking the dirt paths was too dangerous for the students. By ten, Pere Kesner spoke with Pere Ajax from Les Cayes and learned it was not raining on the South coast, and we would leave.

The trip over the hills was beautiful. Seeing the South coast was a treat compared to much of Haiti I had seen. The beaches are beautiful with many islands out in the Sea of the Antilies. We drove beyond Les Cayes to Port Salute on the coast. The country of Taiwan was a partner in building the infrastructure making the beach well equipped for visitors. Many cooks offered lunch cooked to order. We decided to that the 45 minutes it would take to cook sitting on the beach under large sea grape trees watching the sea and talking and enjoying each other’s company. Fresh snapper and lobster provided lunch and were delicious. This was served with good tasting fried plantain.

After lunch we drove to Les Cayes to visit the Business and Technical Institute or BTI. This well known school of the Episcopal Church of Haiti trains students post high school in business, computer and and other trade skills. Pere Kesner Ajax is the person responsible for this Institute. He is also responsible for the Haiti Partner’s activity for the Haiti church. Unfortunately, Pere Ajax was in Port au Prince today.

On the return to Bondeau, a large convoy headed by UN vehicles, was transporting food to Les Cayes. There were approximately 30 large trucks in the convoy. Shortly after seeing them, there were two tires in the road. Pere Kesner said that people would put tires in the road before a convoy arrived in the hope they would stop them allowing the crowd to take over some of the trucks and take the contents. This plot did not work today. Fortunately Les Cayes had little damage, but there is a large migration of people from Port au Prince to there.

In speaking with the Director of Ste. Marie Madeleine School this morning, I was presented with lists of students names by grade that totaled 201 students. Among the students are 45 that have come from outside Bondeau. The other additions are students from Bondeau that had not previously been attending. Anita has been visiting families encouraging parents to enroll their children to attend school. I also found out that the place of number 2 among 17 schools in the area was achieved by SMM school using a standard test. This test is given in the 6th grade. The Director is determined to be first the next time.

Thursday March 18, 2010 Bondeau David Gury

This is my first trip to Haiti since the January 12 earthquake. More than two months have passed and clearly much of the early problems of death, lack of food and water have passed from the critical stage to the long term difficult survival that has been with Haiti for a long time. At the airport there were contrasts that are seen every where. For many of my trips to Haiti there have been new jet ways that were never used. Planes landed far from the terminal, and passengers walked to the entrance for immigration and baggage claim. Today we deplaned onto the jetway into a air conditioned hallway walking through it to an escalator and out the door, walking some more to a relatively unharmed old warehouse that had been converted to immigration, baggage claim, and customs. All very orderly and relatively efficient compared to previous arrivals. The terminal building has many structural issues, and most likely will be torn down and replaced, and is not used at all.

Outside the airport, there were signs for the many military corps that have been assigned to Haiti. Peru, Guatemala, Italy some seen and large spaces for USA military operations.

With Pere Kesner and driver, we drove in a rental vehicle through central Port au Prince. The damage is just horrible to see. Almost every building is down, or a great part of it is. Many two story buildings have the second story floor on top of the first. The Episcopal Church complex is completely gone. The buildings next to the Cathedral have been raised and cleared, and Trinity Cathedral has little remaining including one small piece of one of the many wonderful wall paintings that were lost. I understand that there are plans to have a new museum in Port au Prince that will have recreations of the paintings undertaken by French artists.

Driving out into the country, toward Leogane, nearly every building was gone. Tent cities are every where. Many are very well organized with all tents alike. Others contain every possible combination of paper, plastic and dried tree or shrub combined to provide some cover. The blue plastic tarps are everywhere and give new meaning to “blue roof” from what we think about in Florida. In Florida, the blue tarp is to cover a roof to keep out water from entering the building. Here the blue tarp is the roof and walls. For nearly a mile there is a small median in the highway. This has become completely built with constructed small shelters. The median is about six feet across. With heavy traffic, the residents are in harms way twenty four hours a day. In some places they have placed large rocks in the roadway to keep vehicles from hitting them. There is no clear reason why some people have what appear to be much better shelters than others.

Beyond Leogane, we drove off the main road to the church of the Annunciation. This is a large very developed parish with one of the Arch Deacons of Haiti in charge. There is a church, rectory, trade school, grade and high school, health care workers training school and a farm. All but a part of the health care worker training facility were completely destroyed. The Arch Deacon is living on the property in a tent, and several families also are in tents there. One object of this stop was to search for a good stud goat. Pere Kesner found one with good papers and he was purchased. Next, he was bound by both front and rear legs and loaded into the SUV for the remainder of our trip to Bondeau. He was quite on the trip except after going over some of the many long stretches of bad bumps. Then he let us know he was not happy. He ended up pleased to be free, at least to walk and eat. He makes the 16th goat in the growing herd of goats at Bondeau.

It was wonderful to be in Bondeau. As we drove up, Anita was sitting on the front porch of the Maison d’Amitie with two ladies working on her hair. Yes, she has gone native. She has been such a hit with the people at Bondeau, helping them in so many ways and providing a great sense of encouragement to them at this most special time. While Bondeau suffered no damage, they have been affected by the emotional side of the earthquake on everyone.

The population and activity at Bondeau has been remarkable. Demes, the head of the school, told me that the school this week has 201 students. This is up from 125 in the fall. Of the increase 45 have come due to relocations from earthquake areas. Others are children that are attending due to Anita’s work to get children into school.

Being inside the Maison d’Amitie is to be part of a very active place, with teachers, administrators, cook, a seminarian, Pere Kesner and Anita.

This evening it has been raining a constant light rain. I wonder about the families huddled inside paper and plastic shelters tonight. I question how they will fare when the real rains of summer come. I am writing this in my bed, we lack a chair, and about ready for sleep. Animals are making sounds all around, cows, goats, and dogs who seem to get started with a far off bark that is repeated by every dog from far to near, eventually stopping. I know the roosters will be up early for a new day.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

This morning the church was filled to capacity for Sunday Eucharist service. People sat shoulder to shoulder, squeezed onto the benches. Late arrivals stood by the door. I celebrated a Deacon's Mass, reading all in French, and proclaiming the Gospel in Kreyol. I have to say that the congregation was surprised and pleased. During the announcements Ivnell asked if they understood what I read. I saw many nods in the congregation and heard one man say in a loud voice, "No problem!" It was a challenge for me but very worth the effort.

After service I took Holy Communion to four people. Two are elderly, and two are sick. A procession of 12 people accompanied me to the homes. After entering the house of the elderly couple, the people broke into song, followed by prayer. I prayed the service for Communion Under Special Circumstance. We left that house and the procession continued. We walked about a mile on the main road. I might add in the bright, hot noon day sun! We arrived at the house where a mother and son were sick. There in the yard were about twenty people from our congregation. Everyone sang hymns and prayed. Again, I prayed the Communion Under Special Circumstance and three family members received. Children take part in everything here. Anna, Gibson, and their friends were present at both these home visits. They are very much a part of the Church. Their life is centered on church and church activities. We at St. Gregory's and partners in South Florida Haiti Project are so blessed that we have the means to provide education and nutrition to these children, so that eventually they will lift themselves out of the impoverished way of life that they are presently living.

Yesterday I met with Pere Kesner to discuss the opening of a trade school to train electricians, plumbers, and tile setters. Port au Prince will soon be looking for trades people when they rebuild the city. We have had 104 young men sign up for trade school. How great it will be to give these young men an opportunity to learn a skill, and another step toward making Bondeau a self-sustaining community. Classes will be in the afternoon after 1:00 when elementary school is dismissed. I'll keep you informed as this develops.

It's a sweltering hot day but there is a cool breeze on the Maison d'Amitie second floor verandah where I am writing.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Yesterday afternoon there were 40 people at the Friday afternoon Litany service, "Litanie majeure". The girls' choir came in after their practice and sat in the front rows. These are students in our school, about eight to eleven years old. Wildaine usually chants the entire Litany but yesterday I chanted a part of it. I'd never in a million years believe that I'd ever chant a litany in French! God calls us to do the unexpected! Wildaine held the congregations' attention as he preached a very long sermon about the history of the Episcopal Church. All were engaged in his teaching, asked questions, and made comments. It seems to me that people here are so busy scraping out a sustenance existence that when an occasion arises to learn about life, history, and the world, they eagerly take advantage of the opportunity.

The family I wrote about on Wednesday was doing better when I stopped by yesterday. The kids had all been to school, the baby was asleep in mom's arms, dad was smiling while he sorted beans. The boy in this family who won my heart, a strong willed, active child, has a favorite toy made of an old bicycle tire rim. Yesterday I saw him, wearing a men's size black tee shirt that hung below his knees, with the arms of the shirt below his elbows. He held a stick in the grove of the tire rim, and ran barefooted as fast as he could holding the stick in the rim until it got off balance and fell. Then he began again.

There are no toys here, except a soccer ball that the boys use everyday for the after school soccer game. I see girls playing "house" with discarded cinder blocks. There's a game that the kids play with small stones. The "clapping" games are a favorite and the kids love that I join in. This is not a plea for toys. The few toys that were brought here by mission teams are broken and sit in the school director's office.

Father Kesner returned from Port au Prince today, riding on a motorcycle. He checked on the work being done, ate a big meal of fish and rice, and was off to St. Paul's in Petit Trou. He'll celebrate Holy Eucharist there tomorrow. I will celebrate a deacon's mass here. Wildaine was called away to his home town for a funeral, so I am on my own! I've been practicing the mass in French and the gospel in Kreyol. I'll do my best…God will do the rest!

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

There is a family that lives adjacent to St. Marie Madeleine Parish property. I visited them the first day I was here and have continued to stop by daily. Of the seven children, six are school age. One is an infant. The children are enrolled in our school. This family came to my attention on a school day when I saw that the children were just "hanging out" with nothing to do. On visit after visit, I saw that the father was overwhelmed with caring for his family. The baby seemed to cry all the time. Today mom was home and explained much of the family situation. As it turns out, she nurses the baby and is gone most of the day running her small business of selling fried dough. The father, a gentle, quiet man, is in poor health. On one visit, the older boy was washing pots and pans in the yard, the kids were running around playing, the baby was screaming on the bed while the father was sleeping on the other bed. The children said he had a headache. The entrance to the house has no door, only a curtain hanging in a doorway. The family chickens walk in and out pecking at crumbs on the floor. I went inside, picked up the baby and waited till the older boy was finished with his pot washing. He took the baby from my arms. This family of nine lives in a small one-room house. The poorest of the poor!

I discussed this family situation with Father Kesner. Wildaine is well aware because he visits the family often. We all agreed that they need emotional and spiritual support, as well as help with the children. I'll continue to encourage the parents, especially about having the children attend school. I pray for guidance and wisdom.

Yesterday I wrote about the great poverty in Bondeau and I'm writing again today about the impoverishment of a local family. However, keep in mind that this is an area of great contrasts. On one hand, people are extremely poor. On the other hand, they are a joyful people, trust in God to provide their needs, and rejoice with one another. The people here are surrounded with God's beautiful earth, the picturesque mountains and the blue sea are a part of their life. They depend on God's earth to provide much of their sustenance. They plant vegetables, grain, and melon, then pray for rain so that they reap a harvest.

Their were forty people at the one hour Evening Prayer service. The congregation sang hymns throughout the service, and there was a special time for spontaneous prayer. Men, women, teens, and children all participated. All prayed at the same time during spontaneous prayer. I wonder if they were praying in tongues. I was aware of an intense Presence of the Holy Spirit. After the service, the ladies gathered in the yard talking and enjoying each other's company. Men were in a meeting with Wildaine.

I'm practicing my Kreyol and will read the gospel on Sunday in Kreyol. It's a long one, the story of the Prodigal Son.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

This morning there were 18 in attendance at 6:30 Deacon's Mass. Wildaine assisted, Father Kesner was in the congregation. After mass Father Kesner expressed to me his disappointment that only a few members of the church/school staff were in attendance. He had a meeting this morning with the staff and made it mandatory that they attend church services. He said it's important that they pray for the parish, for the community, and give thanks to God. What surprised me is that he said he'd fire anyone who doesn't conform. I'm so glad that all were in agreement and nobody got fired. Father Kesner strongly believes that all here must be a good example to the others in the parish and united in prayer for the growth of the community.

Yesterday Wildaine and I visited people, mostly parishioners, who live along the main road toward Miragoane. The poverty in this area is like none that I'd seen. People live in the worst of conditions, many in stick and palm homes with a dirt floor. It was late afternoon and several women were cooking food. Their stove is made of three large rocks on the ground, forming a circle. Small pieces of wood are laid on the ground between the rocks and toward the center. A fire is ignited and a pot placed on top of the rocks. Spices are crushed and mixed in a pilon (mortar) and sautéed in oil. It's a family affair. Everyone joins in the preparation. The cook stays with the fire, stirring and adding ingredients until the meal is finished.

There were signs of hope along the way. Two women had small businesses. Vegetables and bananas were on display on the ground and on porch of their homes. One business owner was selling potatoes from a 50 lb. bag. I suppose she sells a few potatoes at a time. While I was there a young teen came by and bought four ears of corn. This corn isn't the sweet kernel corn that we enjoy. The kernels on this corn are hard and become even harder when the corn is roasted on an open fire. I often see children holding a half ear of corn, breaking off a few kernels at a time for a snack, as we might snack on peanuts or popcorn. Most of the families in this area are Ste. Marie Madeleine parishioners and their children attend our school. What a blessing it is for them to be able to have a hot meal at school each day! And what a blessing it was for me to see their home situation. When they are in school, I see the children all freshly bathed, dressed in school uniform with bright ribbons in their hair. I know that they are all from poor families but I didn't realize the absolute destitution in this area.

We had a surprising and wonderful moment of grace along the way. We stopped by to visit a young couple who live in one of the better constructed homes. The young wife had recently given birth to their first child, a baby boy. Mother and baby were resting inside on a bed. Baby was beautifully dressed, a pink cap on his head, and covered with a blanket. Wildaine and I shared in the joy of the new family, prayed for mother and baby, invited them to come to church, and were on our way. We'll do a follow up visit. I'd love to see the baby baptized while I'm here.

Last evening Father Kesner and I reviewed a proposal for housing for families who desperately need a home, among them Naomi, Guy, Anna, and Gibson. I'll send the proposal for our website.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Pere Kesner returned from Port au Prince late yesterday afternoon. The first sign of his arrival was a parade of people walking up the drive to Maison d'Amitie carrying straw bags of mango, papaya, and vegetables. Next in the parade were two boys, Gibson and William, each holding a chicken. Then came Guy leading six new goats for the farm. Last was Pere Kesner, looking a little tired and loaded down with supplies and his personal bags. In conversation later, I asked how he came from Port au Prince with all the baggage. He and Wilner, the driver, started out in our truck, which we know is barely running. The truck broke down four times on the way and finally wouldn't start again. They transferred the goats and bags to a taptap and drove the remaining distance on a motorcycle. Life here is difficult!

We enjoyed a delicious dinner of very fresh Haitian chicken with vegetables and rice.

Sunday morning mass is usually at 9:00. This morning Pere Kesner celebrated mass at Ste. Marc's in Jeannette at 7:30. He thought he'd be back by 9:30 to celebrate mass here in Bondeau. The congregation arrived at 9:00. The church was full. I was so moved by what followed! The people sang hymns for one hour and a half until Pere arrived at 11:00 on the back seat of a motorcycle. Nobody complained. Everybody waited patiently. The gentleness of the people here never ceases to amaze me.

This afternoon a huge party is going on across the street. There is music and dancing, food, and I believe, a cock fight because I saw men walking toward the area carefully carrying a rooster in their arms. The Young People Association met here at 3:00. One might think that attendance would be low today, given that a party was going on across the street. Instead, the young people brought their friends to church and attendance was the highest it has been.

Pere Kesner and I have been talking about the growth of Ste. Marie Madeleine Parish and the goal of becoming a self-sustaining parish and community. The earthquake has shifted priorities. There are people who need a decent home to live in. I wrote this week about a family that lives in a blue plastic tarp house. We will work on a proposal for houses for people who desperately need a home. A second project that we discussed is a trade school that will meet in the school in the afternoon. Port au Prince will soon be rebuilding and will need trades people. With a trade school teaching plumbing and electricity, our young men will be equipped to enter the job market.

It has been another full and blessed day here in Bondeau. I've made many friends, am still struggling with the language, and pray that I am doing what God intends for me to do.

Friday, March 5, 2010

Today it's drizzly and overcast. This morning I met with the school director and with the help of Wildaine as an interpreter, was brought up to date on the achievement of the students. Overall, Ste. Marie Madeleine School rates second in academic achievement in the department of seventeen schools. All the students in the upper grades, 4th, 5th, and 6th passed exams at the end of school year 2009. Overall their health is good. They look healthy, much healthier than they did before we had the feeding program. Since the earthquake school enrollment has increased. There are 177 students now as compared to 139 before the earthquake.

There are many who have migrated here from Port au Prince, either to return home to parents, as is the case of the young man with the amputated leg, or to stay with relatives because their homes were destroyed. Last week during a home visit, Wildaine and I met a woman who with her son came here to stay with relatives. We invited her to come to church. She said that she is a Roman Catholic and has always gone to a Roman Church. She talked on for quite a long time about her life in the church. But she said she'd come to church to see if she liked it. She and her son were there the following Sunday and every service since, both Sunday and weekday. Her son is now a student in our school. She showed up at the kitchen, first for food, then returned each day to help out. She washes dishes, helps with serving and yesterday I saw that she was cooking. She attended the Women's Association meeting and has made friends in the church. An example of "New Life in Christ" at Ste. Marie Madeleine.

There were 30 people at the Lenten Friday Litany service today at 4:00. Five women remained after service for introduction to Altar Guild. Two young women in the group have recently moved here from Port au Prince and are quickly integrating into parish life.

Tonight for dinner Myna prepared a delicious mixture of vegetables, mostly eggplant, with green leafy veggies. Also petimi (millet), which grows here in Bondeau, and black bean sauce.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

I love to watch the children play together in the evening when they gather under the light here at Maison d'Amitie. Last evening about fifteen pre-teens gathered. I could hear the laughter as Wildaine and I had dinner. Looking out of the window and later going outside, I saw that four kids were in a circle. They played an intricate clapping game, where each clapped the other person's hands in a choreographed pattern. The rhythm of the claps gets faster and faster till one person misses a clap. That person is then replaced by the next player. They had so much fun! And it was fun for me to watch. The church and school are the center of activity here, and a safe place for young people to gather.

Today I visited with Naomi, Guy, Anna, and Gibson, a Ste. Marie Madeleine family. Anna and Gibson, gentle, lovely children, are students in our school. Naomi works in the kitchen, mostly cleaning up and washing dishes. She works from early morning until about 10:00 at night. In addition, she has a small business selling "bonbon", candy and cookies. Guy works cleaning up the yard and caring for the goats. They are at every church service, including the week day services. Anna and Gibson sing with the children's choir. Naomi is in the women's association. This family of four lives in a house made of blue plastic tarps. Unbelievable! I asked Guy and Naomi permission to take a photo to go along with this reflection. Only a photo can describe the situation of this hard working couple and their dear children.

Everyday brings a new reality of life in Bondeau. Living in a remote country village, people are isolated from the conveniences of the city. Being a visitor here, I cannot drink local water. A staff person must go to Miragoane, the closest town, on a motorcycle, and carry back a huge 5 gallon bottle of water that is then placed on a water cooler. The same is true for food. The cook, Myna, then spends hours pealing, chopping, and cooking. The mixtures of vegetables with rice are delicious and I enjoy every meal. When the small tank of propane runs out in the Maison d'Amitie kitchen stove, a staff person again must go on a motorcycle to Miragoane to purchase a new tank of propane, returning with the tank tied to the motor cycle.

Life here is difficult. .

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

This morning Wildaine and I again hiked the mountain to visit parishioners. We passed by a middle aged man clearing a field to plant melons. Bent over from the waist, he hacked and dug by hand using a sickle. He'll work all day today and probably all day tomorrow to have the area clear for planting. Another man along the way was digging for manioc, a root vegetable that is used abundantly in soup. All physical work here is labor intensive, and without machinery, takes much longer than we would expect. Using our own projects as an example, the workers began digging a new latrine on the Monday after I arrived, February 22. Today they are still working as they hack with a pick ax, chiseling a little at a time at the underground rock. The cinder blocks that will be used to build the latrine are made one by one. A construction worker began on Saturday morning, mixing ingredients for cinder blocks with a shovel. He poured the mixture into a mold, let it set for a moment, then turned it out of the mold to dry. One cinder block at a time, he diligently worked until he made the number of blocks needed. That's how life is here. It's difficult.

As we walked along the paths in the mountain, it seemed that all the butterflies in Bondeau came out to greet us. Butterflies of almost every color accompanied us on our walk, even the black butterflies that I had read about in Edwidge Danticat writings. What came to mind was a Cursillo motto that uses the symbol of a butterfly, "New Life in Christ." I continued with my walking meditation and thought about the new life that we at St. Gregory's and now, South Florida Haiti Project, has brought and continues to bring to Ste. Marie Madeleine Parish. Seeing the attendance at Women's Sewing class and later at Evening Prayer affirmed my thoughts. I believe that we are bringing more than basic physical needs to the people of Bondeau, I believe we are bringing to them "New Life in Christ."

Monday, March 1, 2010

This morning at around 5:00 AM I felt my bed vibrate. This was the third time I felt this happen. Previous times I thought it was my imagination. This morning Wildaine told me that an aftershock was reported at just the time I felt it. I understand now why parents kept their children home from school last week. They, too, were feeling aftershocks and were fearful for their children to be in a building. Attendance is up today. It could also be a result of our home visits last week when we invited all children to come to school. One little girl in the pre-school class, dressed in a frilly white dress, cried most of the morning for her mother. We all know that the first day of school can be traumatic!

The sewing machine tech returned today and repaired the last of the broken machines. They are all working! We'll have some training on how to use the machines so that they stay in good working condition. The first year women's sewing class today learned to make a pattern for a dress. They each had light weight paper on which they drew the detailed drawing of the pattern. The second year class worked on an intricate embroidery pattern. The teacher taught how to transfer a pattern.

This afternoon Wildaine and I made home visits again. We walked up the mountain on a different path than we took last week. We stopped in on every family, had a friendly visit, and invited them to come to church. We passed by a water source where a group of people had congregated. There in the group was a young teen, about 13, holding a toddler. They both had marks all over their bodies that looked to me to be chicken pox. The baby had a fever and appeared to be very sick. The teen cuddled and held the baby, giving him the security of close contact with a loved one. I am so touched when I see the love here among family and friends. I wonder, how does a teen age boy growing up in such dreadful poverty know to care for a sick child with such tenderness and compassion?

Further up the mountain, we met a man who is an employee here. We chatted a while and he told us that his wife was sick in bed. After entering the house and bedroom, I saw that it was Lina, an active member of the church, and a student in the sewing class. She was sick with a fever and what the husband said was malaria. We sat with Lina in her misery, prayed healing prayers, then left. We'll return tomorrow.

On a lighter note, I saw in my spice garden this morning that tiny sprouts are popping through the ground. A man in the community dug up a large area where I will plant lima beans. He asked me to leave him my shoes when I return home. He is one of the poorest people here. His wife Naomi works in the kitchen at school, usually washing the dishes. They have two great kids, Gibson and Anna. Tonight Gibson told me that he is my "bon zamni"--good friend!

Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010

I'm here again on the cool upstairs verandah overlooking the school and the sea. It's quiet. I can hear birds singing and roosters chant in the distance. Father Kesner is still in Port au Prince, so this morning I celebrated a Deacon's mass at 9:00 AM. The church was full with 100 in attendance. Ivnell and Wildnaine assisted. The language is a challenge but I've been reading the French prayer book every day trying to read well. The congregation doesn't seem to mind my mispronunciation. After lunch I visited an elderly couple who live with their daughter and family. They are not able to get out to church so, as we do at St Gregory's, Wildnaine and I brought Holy Communion to them. The family gathered around during the "Communion Under Special Circumstance" service. After the communion service, the daughter showed me her father's foot, which had been scraped badly. I returned with Wildaine, showed the daughter how to keep his foot clean, poured peroxide on it, then used a little antibiotic ointment, Band aids, and covered it with a clean sock.

Friday was the third and final day of national prayer in Haiti following the earthquake. The church was full for what they call a "fast". All churches in Haiti participated. The first day of prayer was for Confession, the second day for Adoration, the third for Praise. The people here have a deep spirituality, depending on God for everything.

This afternoon the young people's group met again at 3:00. Thirty young folks, men and women, showed up for the meeting. I sat in for awhile and saw that they all enjoyed one another's company and had a great time together.

The newly forming women's association met today for the first time at 4:00. I led the meeting for about 40 women with the help of an interpreter. I told them about ECW and that all women in the Episcopal Church are Episcopal Church Women. This group will be one of support to one another, as well as carrying on church duties. Some women signed up to be "Altar Guild", taking care of the altar linens, taking full responsibility that they are clean for mass. Seventeen women signed up to be "home visitors". They will go to people who are sick or elderly. They will report any special needs to Father Kesner, Wildaine, or me. They will bring the church to people who don't come to church. The next meeting is Thursday when we will elect officers.

It was a busy day. I'm tired and will soon go to bed so that I'll be ready to wake up when the "coq chante".

Friday, Feb. 26, 2010

Yesterday I walked up the mountain behind the school and Maison d' Amitie with Ivnell and Wildaine to call on families and invite them to church and to let them know that we have food to share with them. Mariel's family was the first we visited. I was Maid of Honor at Mariel's wedding in July 08. In Haiti, they'd call me the "marenn." I also visited Mariel when she was sick in bed, newly pregnant with Mike. Mariel is one of the women who cooks for the hot meal at the school. The family has welcomed relatives from Port au Prince who left the city because of the earthquake. There were about 15 family members gathered in the yard in the center of three small houses. All were laughing, some sitting on the house step, some on a straw mat on the ground. All seemed to be enjoying one another's company. They passed Mike from one person to another. I observed during family visits that babies are always held by someone, never placed in a crib or baby seat. They sleep with the mother, never left alone. The entire family joins in the care of the baby. Mariel goes to school every morning at 6:00 AM to begin her work day. Mike is left in the care of family members. I also see that the elderly are revered and respected.

The second family we visited lived in a group of three houses also. Sitting on the porch of one house was a very old woman. I talked with her and she motioned that she was blind. I got up close to her face and she said that she could see me a little. Her family takes care of her, tending to her needs. We saw many elderly that are being cared for by their children and grandchildren. Another old woman is senile and lives with her daughter and family. We visited her in her bedroom and saw that she was lying on a thin mattress on the floor. No chance of falling out of bed onto the floor. She, too, is blind. I stooped beside her, placed my hands on her fragile shoulder and back, then prayed. She seemed to understand what I was saying, as she'd respond, "um hum" whenever I'd pause in the prayer. Wildnaire and I will return with Holy Communion.

Later in the day we saw families who live along the main road near the old church and school rented building. At one home we met a young man who is an earthquake victim. He's here from Port au Prince, his leg amputated above the knee. He returned home to have his family care for him. Although people here are the poorest of the poor and barely have the necessities of life, they have strong family ties. They share what little they have, and accept responsibility to care for the ones who need care, "the least of these who are members of my family." (Mt. 25:40)

Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010

Last evening I checked on my parsley garden. Looking closely I saw that an army of ants were carrying off tiny sprouts emerging from the teeny seeds that I had planted. They were as bold as could be, all marching in a row to their underground bunker. In time I'll know just how many seeds they left behind to grow into parsley plants. That's the way it is in Bondeau. Life is difficult. Plant seeds and watch unexpected intruders interfere with the expected harvest. As an example of the frustrations that happens daily, the women in the Women's Empowerment Program have been working hard since we began the program with making bead bracelets. They are so hopeful that their efforts will reap a reward and are eager to continue dress design and sewing. They've gathered each day since I've been here, working on an embroidery project. A sewing machine "bug" has attacked the machines and all the machines need repair. Today is the third day that a technician is working on them. We hope that they are operable soon. I'll keep you posted.

It seems to me that in spite of all the difficulty life brings, the community is prospering. I always compared Bondeau to Jeannette, a mountain village where we stayed before our Maison d'Amitie was built. Bondeau appeared to be much poorer. There were few animals grazing compared to Jeannette. Today in Bondeau, I see that there are an abundance of goats, adults and babies. I'm sure they are offspring of the goats we donated at Christmas. Every family I visited had chickens pecking the ground. There are roosters in the yard right now. I see more cows than I've ever seen here. They graze in the yard in front of Maison d'Amitie. No lawn service needed here! I love the morning sounds of all the animals talking to one another.

The new goat farm will be complete shortly.
Five adult goats now inhabit the farm.

Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010

A Bondeau rooster woke me at 5:30 this morning so that I’d be in time to celebrate a Deacon’s Mass at 6:00 AM. It was still dark when I woke up and the sun was rising as I walked to the church. There were 19 people present at mass. They all participated in singing hymns and answering responses. I couldn’t help but think about the sparse attendance we have at the noon day services. But then, the people here don’t have “things to do”, appointments to keep, nor do they have to get to work on time because they have no jobs. They can attend mass in the morning before they begin their day.

After breakfast of corn flakes and canned milk, I continued my spice planting project. Yesterday I planted garlic chives in the garden bordering the house. Today I selected a small plot next to the house. Ivnell worked with me digging up a small area. He sprinkled the rosemary seeds and covered them with a thin layer of dirt. I bordered the garden with rocks and pieces of cinder block. Ivnell topped the garden with picker branches to keep the goats from walking on the garden. I would have never given that a thought. A little boy dressed in a rag tee shirt came by to help with planting parsley. He dug up the ground, I planted and watered, we both bordered the garden. He should have been in school and later on in the day I visited his family, along with Wildnaine.

The noon meal for the school children is well organized. The people in the community began arriving just after noon and waited patiently. They each were given a large portion of food, rice and beans. The boy who helped me with the spice planting took his bowl and made a bee line dash away. He was taking his food home to the family.

Wildaine and I met with the little boy’s father. He seemed pleased that we stopped by. His wife was in Miragoane on an errand. The baby in his arms was crying. I held the baby and rocked him till he fell asleep. We discussed the kids going to school and the family coming to church. He has five kids with his wife and three others with another woman. I couldn’t help but think that he can’t even take care of one child and he has eight! The kids are beautiful and I’d like to soak them in a bubble bath and scrub them clean.

Today we also met with the sewing machine repair man. He needs a few parts and will return tomorrow. The ladies met and worked on the embroidered pillow covers. Some do very beautiful work and others not so good. I wonder why the teachers don’t give them more instruction. I’ll observe more another day. I must say that I’m disappointed that none of the projects I left here in November are finished. They were not even worked on. I told Kesner that a goal of this trip is to have the women’s program up and running successfully. They need a room just for them and the equipment necessary. We began today by having the machines repaired. I see little leadership with the two teachers. I’ll discuss it with Pere.

Today at lunch I suggested to Wildaine that he talk with the girls about vocation to sisterhood. He said he will invite a Sister of St. Margaret to speak with the girls. It’s 5:20 PM—all is well. It’s quiet, except for the sound of the kids playing soccer in the school yard.

Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010

This morning Father Kesner hired a motorcycle taxi for the long hot drive to Petit Trou. I can’t imagine riding over the giant pot-holed roads for the more than 2 hour journey. Last evening Father Kesner consecrated bread and wine so that I could celebrate a Deacon’s mass this morning. Wildaine, the visiting seminarian, preached, and Ivnell conducted the choir. As usual, the singing in harmony was beautiful and spirit-filled, even without the accompaniment of musical instruments. The classroom/church was filled to capacity. I noticed that there were many men in the congregation. The congregation has grown considerably. The classroom that once was adequate for Sunday service does not now provide a comfortable space for worship. The parishioners are packed on benches with not a space between them. Most younger women hold babies on their laps. From my vantage point, I could see that all participated in the service. Everyone, even the smallest child, sat in prayerful worship for the two and a half hour service.

People gathered in the yard after service, talking and visiting with one another, similar to our coffee hour, only without coffee and refreshments. I met many old friends and made new ones. Many sent regards to Dave.

While taking a short walk toward the main road, a small girl ran up to me and took my hand. On the walk back toward the school, she coaxed me to see her house. We walked a very short distance on a path. At the end of the path I had a glimpse of life as lived by the poorest of the poor. The little girl was so happy to bring me to her house. Her mother sat on a low stool cooking on a charcoal fire, in a kitchen constructed of dried palm fronds. One child was eating from a small plate of what looked to be cooked corn meal. The father was trying to comfort a small crying baby. Three other children gathered. All wore clothes that we would put in the rag bag. I recognized two of the children to be in the group that we enrolled in school last November. The parents were proud that their children attended school and I was thrilled that we could help.

Later in the afternoon Wildaine met with the young adult group of the parish. These are people from about 18 to 35. There were about 35 men and women. I sat in with the group for a while, about an hour and a half. The meeting lasted for three hours. The whole group was engaged in discussion, poetry reading, singing, individual performance, quiz with a prize of bonbon for the one who answered correctly. Small children sat with their parents. Everyone enjoyed the time together. There were no refreshments available. People came because they want to be a part of God’s Church. Many signed up for lay leader positions, the future leaders of the church. I was impressed with the eagerness of the young folks, men, as well as women, to participate in church activities. The Spirit is here!

Saturday, February 20, 2010

What a beautiful place to sit with my new 10” computer and recall my experiences, thoughts, and insights! I plan to send reflections from time to time. I’m on the second floor veranda of the new house in Bondeau. The sun is bright, the sky crystal clear blue. A cool breeze is coming from the east. The view of the bright blue sea and mountain in the distance is magnificent! I hear the people who Father Kesner hired to build a goat farm discussing the placement of a fence. Otherwise, it’s quiet. The only sounds are roosters crowing in the distance. Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place!

This is my first day. The flight from Fort Lauderdale was full, the first flight from FLL to Port au Prince since the earthquake. It appeared that the airport had not been damaged although a few changes had been made since I was here last. Large military tents were there on the airport property and I noticed a heavy UN presence both at the airport and in the city. It seemed like a long process to get through immigration but finally, I had my luggage and prepared myself for the onslaught of people wanting to help at the exit. But Father Kesner was there, right on time, to meet me as I exited and we quickly maneuvered way through the crowd. I was surprised to see that our rented vehicle was a “tap tap”. Fedner, our driver, and Pere loaded the luggage. I slid into the center of the front seat. Lumenn and Genli, women on the staff at Bondeau, rode in the back.

As we drove out of the airport and into the streets of Port au Prince, I saw that the destruction from the earthquake was everywhere! In the downtown business area entire blocks where buildings had once stood are now piles and piles of construction debris. Tent cities are set up on parcels of what once was vacant land. Tents are so close they seem to touch one another. I wonder how many thousands of people live in those temporary shelters. People still swarm the streets. Many street merchants are back in business. These folks are so resilient! They continue to eke out a living in the worst of conditions.

The roads are even worse than I remember. We drove long stretches over unpaved routes filled with rocks and gullies. Our rented “tap tap” couldn’t take the abuse. About 45 minutes from Bondeau, Fedner and Pere discovered that we had two flat tires. We pulled over under the one street light in an otherwise unlit area. Pere and Fedner proceeded to change the front right tire. The rear tire was still in need of repair. We drove a short distance to where the road cuts off to Bondeau. Fedner drove off the road, through an empty lot to an area were a group of men were gathered. Some were playing cards while a group of spectators looked over their shoulders. It was the other group of men that we needed. They had a “tire shop” set up there in the vacant lot. There was much discussion around our tire problem. Finally it was removed from the truck and in a long arduous procedure, was repaired and reinstalled on the truck. In the meantime, Lumenn offered me dinner, which at first I declined, but after her coaxing, I accepted a “take out” from Port au Prince of fish and rice. Not to appear ungrateful, I ate a few spoons of rice. Lumenn gave the leftovers to two hungry dogs. After the tire repair, which took almost two hours, we were on our way again.

I saw the lights of our school and house from a distance. What a welcome sight! The light from Ste. Marie Madeleine Parish shines over all of Bondeau! It’s so good to be here--my second home.

Haiti Earthquake Relief

All are encouraged to join the efforts to relieve suffering in Haiti following the earthquake. You may make a donation directly to our parish partnership with Ste. Marie Madeleine Parish in Bondeau, Haiti. 100% of your gift will be used for local relief at the parish. Also, Episcopal Charities and Episcopal Relief and Development appeals for the rebuilding of diocesan needs. For more information see David Gury or Deacon Anita.

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