David
We travelled to the village of David today. It is deep in the mountains of Haiti, and. . .we’re told. . .not visited by folks like us since 1990. Even Pastor Claudel asked why David, to which Nancy replied simply “because no one else will”.
It was a hike! About an hour and a quarter on very challenging roads (hint: think kidneys) to a point where you walk the rest of the way. . .about 50 minutes’ worth. . .and NOT flat! This is a beautiful part of Haiti, and folks make their living farming. . .goats, pigs, some cattle, and corn planted places (each seed by hand) on steep, rocky terrain.
That a team would make that trip seemed nearly enough for the villagers, who welcomed us warmly. . .some meeting us on the trail. We surveyed the current “church” and discussed our plan to build a proper replacement (think cinderblock on concrete foundation) starting now. We’ve done this before in Chiraque and have a solid team, including a Haitian engineer who supervises the construction. . .he’ll basically live in David a week at a time, returning to Jeremie and his family on weekends. We have about half of the $35000 needed to complete this church and welcome all donations such that we can start and finish without interruption. It would mean the world to them, and we hope to corral all the money needed such that the church is finished when we return to Haiti in January.
We also distributed some lovely dresses made by DCDS elementary girls, who also included a note in French with their pictures. . .sort of modern-day pen pals! The teachers organized the girls, dresses were selected (smiles!!), and the letters were read to them. . .for some, it was an other-worldly experience. . .”Detroit calling”!
We made our way back to base camp (Hotel Charmant) by around 2 pm, and had purchased 8 pizzas and a bunch of cold sodas for lunch with our ground team. It was a great time, lots of laughs, after a week of non-stop work. We absolutely could not do what we do without them. We get busy again after lunch sorting through remaining medicines, light tools, Sterilite containers and duffels we use, Zip-Loc bags, left-over food, etc. . .it all is made available to our Haitian team members, and nothing is thrown away. We also return folding tables and chairs, and other medical equipment that we store between visits at a locked depot in nearby Gebeau.
Then, sort of like the early scenes in the first Godfather movie, some team members ask for time to discuss assistance they would like us to consider. . .remedying difficult housing conditions, help with a child’s continuing education. Our pockets are only so deep but we listen to all, and we can address some of the small requests before we depart.
Our visits seem to energize our ground team, resurrecting dreams perhaps put away into some kind of closet. It’s very hard not to want to help, as others have helped along the way. The difference between our two lives is the “plenty” that defines the choices we have and take advantage of, and deep and abiding poverty that is Haiti where opportunity seems to exist only when teams like ours. . .and people like you. . . take an interest.
We fly all the home tomorrow, from Jeremie to Port au Prince to Atlanta and to our respective final destinations. We have enjoyed it and hope you have to.
John, Nancy, Anne and Mick
It was a hike! About an hour and a quarter on very challenging roads (hint: think kidneys) to a point where you walk the rest of the way. . .about 50 minutes’ worth. . .and NOT flat! This is a beautiful part of Haiti, and folks make their living farming. . .goats, pigs, some cattle, and corn planted places (each seed by hand) on steep, rocky terrain.
That a team would make that trip seemed nearly enough for the villagers, who welcomed us warmly. . .some meeting us on the trail. We surveyed the current “church” and discussed our plan to build a proper replacement (think cinderblock on concrete foundation) starting now. We’ve done this before in Chiraque and have a solid team, including a Haitian engineer who supervises the construction. . .he’ll basically live in David a week at a time, returning to Jeremie and his family on weekends. We have about half of the $35000 needed to complete this church and welcome all donations such that we can start and finish without interruption. It would mean the world to them, and we hope to corral all the money needed such that the church is finished when we return to Haiti in January.
We also distributed some lovely dresses made by DCDS elementary girls, who also included a note in French with their pictures. . .sort of modern-day pen pals! The teachers organized the girls, dresses were selected (smiles!!), and the letters were read to them. . .for some, it was an other-worldly experience. . .”Detroit calling”!
We made our way back to base camp (Hotel Charmant) by around 2 pm, and had purchased 8 pizzas and a bunch of cold sodas for lunch with our ground team. It was a great time, lots of laughs, after a week of non-stop work. We absolutely could not do what we do without them. We get busy again after lunch sorting through remaining medicines, light tools, Sterilite containers and duffels we use, Zip-Loc bags, left-over food, etc. . .it all is made available to our Haitian team members, and nothing is thrown away. We also return folding tables and chairs, and other medical equipment that we store between visits at a locked depot in nearby Gebeau.
Then, sort of like the early scenes in the first Godfather movie, some team members ask for time to discuss assistance they would like us to consider. . .remedying difficult housing conditions, help with a child’s continuing education. Our pockets are only so deep but we listen to all, and we can address some of the small requests before we depart.
Our visits seem to energize our ground team, resurrecting dreams perhaps put away into some kind of closet. It’s very hard not to want to help, as others have helped along the way. The difference between our two lives is the “plenty” that defines the choices we have and take advantage of, and deep and abiding poverty that is Haiti where opportunity seems to exist only when teams like ours. . .and people like you. . . take an interest.
We fly all the home tomorrow, from Jeremie to Port au Prince to Atlanta and to our respective final destinations. We have enjoyed it and hope you have to.
John, Nancy, Anne and Mick
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