Another 10 minute walk, and you meet Yaya, a charming, outgoing grandmother of two. She was in the first goat training class in the fall of 2003. She is raising her grandsons; selling her goats is how she sends them to school and feeds her family. Her doe has 3 kids at a time: one she keeps for meat, one she sells at market and the other she will breed again. Follow a smaller path back into a thicket of shrubs and trees and you arrive at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bazelais. He is a teacher, and helps his wife with the goats. They have 6 children and use the goats to feed their family. They also sell goats at market and use the proceeds to add PVC pipe as gutters on their home to catch rainwater and funnel it into a cistern of rocks.

In the past 9 years, 260 farmers just like Jean Baptiste and Yaya and Mr. and Mrs. Bazelais have received training in goat farming through the La Gonâve Goat Project. Here’s how the program works: Jean Thony meets with a community leader from a village to select two dozen “responsible” people who wish to become goat farmers. Then he must purchase local does and breeds them with the resident bucks. Once the does are pregnant, Jean Thony brings the selected  farmers to the goat barn for 3 days of training on proper care of a goat. They learn about feeding, birthing, as well as how to check for illness or other problems. A farmer returns home with a pregnant doe. Jean Thony, the program coordinator, visits the farmers regularly, provides veterinary care and special goat feed, and also supervises the breeding and care of the bucks and does at the goat depot. This year, another 26 farmers are waiting to join the program; they will participate in 3 days of training, then receive a pregnant doe to start their own herd. Your contribution of $180 to the La Gonâve Goat Project gives a Haitian family the chance to become self-sufficient, to be well nourished, and to build a hopeful future.

Trip comprised of 12: 1 MD, 2 CRNAs, 1 NP,  4 RNs, 1 vet, 1 vet tech, 1 lay person, and 1 daughter. 7 churches were represented. 3 new team members.

God always has HIS theme for each trip…we may or may not know it before we go but He makes it apparent during the week.  This time was no exception.  This one was all about relationships and reconciliation.

The night before got word of rioting in PAP and were unable to confirm with TJ Johnston there, nor our priest, Pere Soner, or  an American Vet in PAP as to the state of the city.  We could  not contact anyone in the Embassy and I had not completed registering our team with the US Embassy there in PAP.

The morning of our departure, there was still no word on conditions in Haiti. We got our 18 bags and boxes checked at the airport and then prayed for protection, safety and guidance. We were meeting 1 person in Ft L and the other in PAP. We had determined we would not leave FL without knowing what PAP was like.

God answered our prayers….3 emails from all of the 3 persons saying PAP was quiet (rain had dispelled the crowds).  Our travel was smooth even with some early departures and arrivals! We always ask for special prayers going through customs as we never know how much they will ask for or if they will take our medications.

Our trip into the mountains to Lotore was smooth and shorter than usual as they went a different way because of earlier heavy rains.  We made it in record time of 1 hr 45 minutes with no flat tires, engine malfunctions or broken axles which is a miracle in itself! The Catholic church lent their ambulance for the travel.

Thursday afternoon, we arrived at St Barnabus school and church to set up for what we thought would be our clinic starting the next morning. We looked out our door to see children and adults lining up, so clinic was open

Each morning before clinics began, we would gather in a large circle (many of the Haitians would join us) and pray.  We have about 20 Haitians working with us: translators cooks, drivers, crowd control, registration, and those that we don’t even see but make sure we are taken care of).  Carmil is the layreader and runs the school and church at Lotore.  Over the next 2 days, 165 adults, 125 children, and 100 animals were seen.

In the adult clinic, Leslie Jordanger, nurse practitioner, hung curtains to separate exam rooms and stocked a dressing and IV supply box. Burns were dressed, machete wounds were sutured, knees were aspirated, animals treated and neutered. The vet clinic travelled some to other villages to see donkeys, goats, pigs, bulls, cows and mules.

More important than the numbers: Each patient and animal owner was individually prayed for and some accepted Jesus as their Savior for the first time. I think Billy Fairey said in his presentation on heartreach that the prayers are what we pray for: health, guidance, housing, to walk with the Lord a little closer.

Each night we had devotionals. Different team members shared how God was impacting them on this trip.  It was amazing to see how relationships were changed, healed and transformed just in 1 short week. A father and daughter going through a rough time were brought closer together by serving each other and others.  A husband and wife renewed their relationship by working together. A Haitian-American relationship that had been full of strife for many years was reconciled.

Our relationship with Pere Soner continues to grow and become more close.  He is such a strong man of faith even in the midst of daunting circumstances.  He came to LaGonave in 2005 to fill some very bigs shoes of the previous priest, Pere Val.  Over the  years, the relationship has grown to mean so much to me.  Just an example is in an email he sent me after the trip when I wrote about some dates and to thank him for his spiritual guidance:

Our trip down the mountain was uneventful and some of us got to ride in the open supply truck after begging Pere Soner to let us do it.  “It is too dangerous” he said, but he conceded.  As we were finally in the back of the truck here comes Pere Soner on the back of Carmil’s motorcycle with no helmet!

We did have some illnesses after we returned: several of the team members have just gotten over some GI complaints, and our vet tech just got out of the hospital with presumed Dengue Fever.

God was so good to us on this trip.  He provided safety, healing, and restoration.

Reported by Amanda Drosieko

Through a generous donation it became possible to provide backpacks that were embroidered on the back pocket with Ajan Sante-Bill Rice Clinic. Each backpack had a name tag and a note of appreciation for the work they do to serve our communities on La Gonave.

After the presentation, amid smiles and claps, Dr. Dorcius came in and went through the entire kit to explain the use of each item. They were finally equipped with blood pressure cuffs which they had been trained to use, but had never had available to them for use in the field. Future training will prepare them to suture wounds, give injections and treat burns and lacerations.  They will go through the book as they train each month and receive instructions on how to identify and treat the illnesses they see most often such as malaria, gastric distress and hypertension. They will also cover such things as child birth, injury, prevention and safe transport of patients to the clinic.

It is impossible to express what this gift means to the CHWs at Bill Rice Clinic, so we are going to rely on the smiles you see in the picture. It was an important and generous gift that will touch the lives of so many on the island.

The initial set up of these backpacks and the training costs have been covered. Now, the job of each team going down will be to see if they can take replacement supplies to their worker to ensure that they are always equipped to do the work they will be trained to do.

The complete list of the contents of the backpacks are included in this post. The replacement items that need to be replenished are obvious. I will highlight them to make it more clear. They can be taken down in bulk, or if your church or group would like to participate in a project you could gather supplies for 20 workers and place them in 20 one gallon zip lock bags.

They should be taken to the clinic (or given to Pere Soner for transport there) and delivered to the Administrator, Museau Nixere, who will see that they are distributed to each worker as needed.

The Community Health Workers are the backbone of our mission to get care to the people in our communities. They need our support and partnership. Please be sure that you know and meet the worker from your community each time you visit. Pere Soner has promised to send me an updated list as soon as they finalize the training and I will post it at that time.

Contents of Community Healthcare Workers Backpacks:

1 copy “Where There Is No Doctor” in Haitian creole

First aid kits: (First Aid Only model FAO-440)
Assorted Band Aids
Tongue depressors
Clothes pins
Scissors
Tweezers
Non-aspirin
Aspirin
Ibuprofen
Antacids
Antibiotic ointment
Blistex
Alcohol wipes
Burn gel
Gauze rolls
Examine gloves
Cotton swabs (long handle)
Gauze trauma pads (assorted sizes)
Medical tape (assorted sizes)
Large bottle betadine 12-16 ounces
Gentian of Violet
Water purification tablets
Sting relief gel
Moleskin
Mercury thermometer
Small blue bulb syringe

Blood pressure cuff and stethoscope
Hand sanitizer
Waterproof matches
Solar flashlight
Small tape measure
Medium notebook
Ballpoint pen

Surgical kits:  in large zip lock
Washable blue surgical cloth
Disposable small drapes
Alcohol pads
Suture kits
Hemostats
Small tweezers
3 3ml 20 gauge syringes
3 sodium chloride flush syringes
Exam gloves
Disposable marks
Large and med. gauze pads
Butterfly strip closures

All items marked in blue will need to be replenished on a regular basis. Please keep this list for your church as they try to find ways to support our mission in Haiti. Contact me at any time if I can be of help with this.

For the Partnership:

Deb Griffin

On a lovely spring evening, April 15, 2012, the Atlanta La Gonave Haiti Partnership gathered 200 of its closest friends to celebrate a friendship that began 20 years ago. The Atlanta Presbytery entered into a relationship with the people of La Gonave in 1992 and on this evening it was easy to see how rewarding it has been to both parties.

Pere Soner Alexander, the Episcopal Priest who leads the parish of La Gonave touched everyone when he summed up the importance of our connections.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am honored this evening, and we are all joyful to celebrate the commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of the Partnership.  If I had to speak of all of the wonderful deeds and experiences that we have undertaken throughout the years, it would take me an entire evening!

But I come simply to speak of a partnership that has contributed to the transformation of the lives of an entire community throughout its history. For what neither governmental nor non-governmental agencies have been able bring about with their millions of dollars, our partnership has done with good will.

This evening, I do not want to be a celebrity; I would like to put you at the table of honor in order to pay a well-deserved tribute to you on behalf of my people whom you have always considered your brothers and sisters.  For all of your sacrifices given, your energy expended, and your love expressed, I extend  my most heart-felt gratitude.  Know that a good deed is never lost; it always returns in another way.

After these past twenty years, we can now say that the Partnership has helped to repair generations through education, health care, and the promotion of socio-economic programs.

I would like to draw your attention to the priority of the moment, which is to develop a true and sustainable strategic plan. To do so, we believe that education is the longest yet the most sure path. I do not want to die without seeing this Partnership found a professional school able to train thousands of our young people upon the completion of their traditional education.

Yet our ultimate preoccupation as a church is the individual man or woman in their humility as in their grandeur, their faith as in their unbelief, and their past as in their future. For we welcome them as in the arms of the Lord.

As we read in the Psalms,

He executes justice for the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free; the Lord gives sight to the blind; He lifts up those who are bowed down.  (Psalm 146: 7,8)

Finally, I come to thank you on behalf of the thousands of adults, youth and children who are preserved in their body, mind and soul by your generosity. Our aim is to unite speech with love, to marry faith with reason. For, what we must seek in our actions is above all the blessing of God; honor and esteem are secondary. If each one of us alone can take a small step, imagine what we can do together!

Thank you.

It was a warm and touching address and falls short only in the way that it fails to address all the joy, growth and friendship that has been given to the people of the Atlanta Presbytery by the people of La Gonave. They are our brothers and sisters, and more importantly, they are our friends. As anyone knows who engages in this kind of relationship, one can never give enough to repay what is received. We are richer for being in relationship with La Gonave and look forward to 20 more years!

Our February trip was one of the largest — 11 people with 5 first-timers– and, “the best trip ever.”   Claude Cox, John Greeley, Richard Jaynes and Brooke Taylor passed their Haiti initiation with flying colors.  Claude was invited by the men of Nan Mango to move there.  John became the Jeremy Lin of LaGonave — playing basketball and making friends.  Richard turned out to have amazing problem-solving skills (and memorable dance skills) and Brooke was always surrounded by children.  Old timers Deb Griffin, Jim Ingvoldstad and Lee Wilder were joined by Jeannie Westabrooke, an ultrasound tech from Piedmont Hospital, and Jan Macallister, a cardiac nurse practitioner, and everyone’s new best friend Dr. Bob Swerlik, the chair of Emory’s dermatology department.  Laura Martin of Ties that Matter joined us for another series of workshops with the women on Nan Mango.  We were a team — different personalities and skills, but working together and forging deep friendships.

We journeyed to Nan Mango for a worship service on our first full day on LaGonave, up the long dusty and rocky road.  At church, Pere Soner read a message from our minister, Ernie, and passed around a picture of the Covenant congregation from our 2011 retreat.  That picture was studied and studied and slowly passed.  After church, the whole community gathered for a meal prepared by a group of women and we simply enjoyed the fellowship.

Our medical team went to the Bill Rice Clinic each day and treated over 300 people during our stay.  We started early by treating Claude Valdemar’s minor injuries from a motorcycle accident first thing Monday morning at the compound!  Did you now that duct tape is a staple in any first aid kit?  At Nan Mango, the rest of the group assembled stands for the three sewing machines that we had transported by plane, taxi-bus, speedboat, sailboat and pick-up truck.  It was a beehive of activity as all of the men …. from Covenant and a few from Nan Mango huddled over the sewing machine project while the women clustered around Laura showing the dolls and bags they had made since November.

Richard supervised the guttering project on the school building and we all realized that the  installation of the Alan Colussy pump #2 on our new cistern was a delightful spectator sport.  We played with the children, we worked with the adults.   We jumped rope, played soccer, sang, danced, visited, took “fotos” and hugged.  We even located a sewing machine repairman at the market in Palma to do the final tweaks on our sewing machines.

One day, we held a meeting with the women’s sewing group to talk about the products, the new machines, the plans and just to visit.  Laura Martin was so impressed with the quality of work these women are doing and believes that the business can expand to include more women.  At the end of the meeting, Berline, one of the leaders, thanked us for helping them saying, “You treat us with respect and that makes us respect ourselves more.”

Claude, Richard and John led our first meeting with the men of Nan Mango and learned that they are eager for professional skills.  We discussed the best type of latrine for the area and proposed a project whereby if they could supply the labor, we would work on furnishing all materials costs.  The group had a long talk about the best way to meet this pressing need for latrines in the community and we will move forward on this critical need.   We were humbled (again) to learn that the men want enough food for their children.  We are now trying to discern the best way to do a school lunch program. At the end of the meeting Claude Cox was invited to move to Nan Mango and we named him the mayor of Nan Mango, we expect great things!

We spent one afternoon de-worming the children of Nan Mango.  This is the single most important step in public health.  All of these children have worms.  Untreated, this leads to malnutrition and respiratory problems.  We brought hard candy as the pill has a bitter taste.  Claude recorded the dosing and date on each child’s chart, Deb handed them a pill, Richard a cup of water to down the pill and John provided the candy reward.  We quickly realized that the cup of water was the true reward.  February is the dry, dusty season when water supplies are depleted and each child eagerly swallowed the pill in order to get a cup of water.  That was a powerful observation and we all struggled with our emotions.  We have committed to the twice a year de-worming protocol — for one dollar a year, we can treat a child.  Lewis and Patton Jaynes had generously shopped with Shannon and Richard, sending dozens of new shoes which are a essential element of protection against worms and infections.

Kip Buis, a member of our congregation sent bags of seeds for tomatos, spinach, radishes, carrots, watermelons and more.  We gave those to Jean Thoney, the agronomist who runs the goat project.  Jean Thoney was thrilled and plans to grow seedlings for the farmers of the partnership communities.

Pere Soner reported that our adult literacy classes for the first phase had just ended and that there was a waiting list for a new series.  He told us that many of the literacy students had been marginalized in their communities and learning how to read gave them greater standing.  Pere Soner believes that adult literacy is the foundation to all community development work that we are doing.  In Port au Prince met with Laurence Camille, the director of Fonkoze’s adult literacy education program. Ms. Camille brought Robert Sterling, the man who supervised all of our adult education teachers, to the meeting and Robert told us how impressed he was with our teachers, their enthusiasm and dedication.  He also gave us the thrilling news that all 158 of our students passed the first module graduation test.  The LaGonave Partnership program is one of Fonkoze’s best success stories!  We will send all of our teachers for advanced training in a few weeks, start the 158 graduates on the second module of literacy training and begin another first level training.  All of that in less than a year from when one woman in Nan Mango asked to learn how to read and write.

Thanks to the Covenant congregation for their continued support of this work in Haiti. Even though they do not all go along it is the spirit of a congregation determined to do “Christ’s work in the world” that makes these trips successful.

TRIP REPORT NOVEMBER 2011

St. Jacques, Bois Brulee, LaGonave, Haiti

Medical and Construction Mission Trip

By St. Paul’s Summerville

Summerville, South Carolina

Sunday, November 6, 2011 to Saturday, November 12, 2011

This was our first time to try to make it from Charleston to Bois Brulee all in one day.  We had an early Saturday morning departure from Charleston Airport with non-stop to Miami, a reasonable layover and arrived 11:40 am in PaP.  We took the Navette van (13 of us crowded in to one van and our luggage in Pere Soner’s pick up) to the ferry crossing and took the ‘speed boat’ across in 2 to 3 foot seas which got us all wet—what a ride!  We arrived in Bois Brulee, inclusive of a broken down rental truck, around 8:30 pm—a long day.

We shipped seventeen bags 5 weeks ahead of our trip to Bois Brulee, which included 280 back packs for the school children, 3 boxes of school supplies and 2 full size basketball goals to be assembled!  We added our own 26 checked bags of medicines, gifts and tools plus the new generator and all of our carry-ons.

The Medical Team Report

The 2011 Haiti medical team consisted of 3 doctors, 2 nurses, and 1 pharmacy person. The dental team had 1 dentist, an assistant and the ENT doctor. We were assisted by a Bill Rice Clinic Haitian doctor (Dr. Boraz, who was exceptional, had medical and interpersonal skills as well as some English language ability) and a Haitian nurse with no English ability. There were 2 Creole translators for the medical team and 1 for the dental team.

We held a medical and dental clinic for 4 days, Monday through Thursday ending with Fluoride treatments on all the school children and teachers on Friday. The first day was the lightest (79) due to dental and ENT screenings and photos of 175 school age children but increased with each day to a total of 436 patients in addition to the screenings. The top chronic problems were hypertension, epigastric pain, and under nourishment with anemia, followed by GYN and dermatologic issues such as worms, scabies, rashes and fungal infections. Minimal lab tests, dip stick urines, pregnancy tests and glucometer readings were performed when needed.

The medical and dental supplies were procured in several ways: purchased from MAP International and Guerins Pharmacy, and donated by Trident Hospital and the medical/dental team providers.  All medicines and supplies were carried by the team and residuals were donated to Bill Rice. All patients were given multi-vitamins.

The Dental Report

On Monday, ENT and dental exams were completed on 166 children.  25 were asked to return for extractions.  18 returned on Wednesday morning.  28 teeth extracted.  On Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday—primarily adults were seen for toothaches and extractions.  There were approximately 15 children who also came in who had not been examined on Monday.  88 was the number of patients seen in this time period.  88 was also the number of teeth extracted.  Friday morning fluoride treatment was administered by the entire mission team to all students in the school.  This was approximately 300 children.

During dental exams on Monday it was noted that the fluoride treatment 2 years ago made a significant difference in the number of cavities seen on exam on Monday.  There were very few cavities found in the older children who had fluoride.  The younger ones who had not had the fluoride had quite a lot of decay (deciduous teeth-primary-baby).  Hopefully they will have benefited by the just completed treatment.  We’ll see next year.  Fluoride dispensing with the entire 13 member team working together was a great way to join in a project together to end our time.

The Construction Team Report

We installed 600 feet of higher-quality electrical wiring (12/2) purchased for us in PaP by Pere Soner.  We installed lights in every room of the school, lights on the school and lights in the church building.  Also, we repaired two ceiling fans in the church building.  We brought a $300.00 solar powered ventilation fan with us to install in the church under the roof.  All works well.

Also, we repaired the broken cistern pump—the one installed two years ago.  We assembled two basketball goals much to the excitement and joy of all ages—we suspect it is the first and only ‘full-court’ basketball arena on La Gonave.  We had 6 basketballs and 4 soccer balls to leave with the school.  We added a few electrical outlets, handles on doors, fixed a door coming off its hinge and anything else we could think to do.

We took test water from both the school cistern, church cistern and our sealed drinking water for WMI to test water quality.

General Comments:

We enjoyed Holy Eucharist and a brief teaching each morning which set the tone for the entire day.  We enjoyed fabulous times laboring, eating and interacting with our Haitian friends…plenty of laughter.  No one got sick as we have on other trips—we took extra precautions by bringing more food along for ourselves and being somewhat selective of what we ate without, we hope, offending our dear cooks.  Also, out of concern for the value of goats to the Haitians, we asked in advance that we not be served goat.

Wahoo Bay was a great stop over—relaxed, ate, enjoyed island drinks—on the return trip.  We departed PaP on the 9:30 flight and arrived in Miami for a 7 ½ hour layover!  Ugh.  But a wonderful trip overall and glad to be there and glad to be safely home!

Thank you, Lord.

Trip Reporter:  Mike Lumpkin, Summerville, SC.

All Saints (Pawleys Island)-St Barnabus Partnership

Healthcare trip Jan 31-Feb 7

Our US team of 12 traveled to La Gonave to provide a 3 day clinic for the community of Lotore.  We do this three times a year. The team came in on 2 different flights so we hit evening rush hour in Port au Prince in full swing. It was dark for most of the ride up the coast to the Hotel Wahoo. After a ferry ride to La Gonave the next morning,  we rode up the mountain in the back of the pickup truck because the ambulance had finally died (RIP). We never knew we would miss those worn out bench seats until we spent 3 hours on wooden planks. The Holy Spirit blessed us with hearty laughter and giggling amidst the dust and groans all the way up. Upon arrival we set up 3 clinics in the classrooms- dental, opthamology and adult. We set up the male and female “dorms” and after dinner and devotions fell into bed.

The next 3 mornings we were very busy with patients. Jean Thoney, the director of the Partnership’s Goat Project travelled to Lotore to work with team vet Dr. Stephanie Welch , volunteer Stoney Miller and translator Josef in treating the community’s goats, donkeys, pigs, mules and cattle. One day the animal crew drove to the market at Nan Café and provided services at the busy market. Dr. Welch was impressed with the marked superiority of the goats she saw from the Goat Project.  We had some good discussions over dinner about the difficult condition of life for the working animals, particularly the donkeys.  Dr. Welch advised the donkey’s owners to rest them in order for saddle sores and hooves to heal but the owner s were dubious as they rely on the animals to transport water for their family. We wondered if the US tradition of a “Blessing of the Animals” service might be a nice addition to our next worship.

Dr. Jerd Poston and volunteer Ron Gordon set up an eye clinic in one of the classrooms. It is very difficult to achieve a dark environment to facilitate a good eye exam but Ron and Jerd got creative with garbage bags and duct tape! With the help of translator Webster they saw 150 patients and were able to provide eyeglasses and moisturizing drops for all patients who needed them. Dr. Poston noted that most patients had farsightedness and presbyopia; very few cases of nearsightedness were diagnosed. The dry, dusty conditions and sun lead to a lot of eye irritation and they treated about 10 cases of mild conjunctivitis or blepharitis each day. Timberlake Baptist Church in Surfside Beach, SC provided reader glasses for the trip and assisted with funds for the medications. We were also provided with some glasses from the Lions Club Intl. Texas distribution center.

Dr. David Grabeman  and dental hygienist Alice Welch operated a dental clinic with the help of translator Bob, assistants Jovaline and Gay, and crowd control by Eduard. Alice and Dr. Dave saw 110 patients and performed extractions with the use of topical and injected local anesthetic. Patients were provided with antibiotic and pain medication to take home when necessary. Alice, Dr. Dave, volunteer Harriett Miller and Annie Harris, RN also provided fluoride treatments to 75 children.

350 patients were treated in the adult clinic by Leslie Jordanger , FNP and Dr. Dorcius Isidorlange from Bill Rice Clinic. Ajan Sante Yvenia St Cyr and Ms. Micheline (Bill Rice) registered the patients and recorded vital signs. After the medical exam patients could receive lab exam from 4 local employees. Volunteer Dan Jordanger staffed the pharmacy and distributed the ordered medications to each patient. The medications had been packaged with creole instructions by Providence Presbyterian Church, Gum Spring VA. We also saw about 40 children. Dr Billy Fairey treated approximately 100 previously diagnosed hypertensive, diabetic and anemic patients with the assistance of translator Jean Louis and volunteer Cathy Fairey and Annie Harris, RN.

Our multidisciplinary clinic had 30 local employees and 12 US volunteers from Hazel Green, AL, Bumpass, VA, Pawleys Island /Murrells Inlet/Greenville SC.   The joy and success of our trips is magnified by the time we spend living at the clinic for 4 nights amongst the community and teachers at St Barnabus school.  Although our partnership originates with All Saints, there are always team members from other parts of the southern US who join in serving and team members who do not have any medical training who are MVPs.

We were able to spend Sunday night at the Wahoo Hotel where the accommodating staff indulged us with a poolside big screen tv and dinner to watch the Super Bowl. The hotel has undergone a beautiful renovation and we had a magical evening as we watched the sun set across the bay on our friends on La Gonave.  It was something we will never forget.  Beautiful Haiti- we hold our friends and our second home close in our hearts and prayers. Next trip- April 24-May 1 (pediatrics, adult and veterinary).

Hope you enjoy our March Newsletter. There is so much going on it was hard to decide how to write it all up.

Here is our most recent report on the Adult Literacy Project. Thanks to everyone who has taken an interest in this important project. It is serving as a tool for community building in the remote villages of La Gonave. Also, take a minute to read up on the latest Trip Reports. We have been busy this month and have exciting news to report from remote health clinics, a new water project and the Children’s Nutrition Program! Ed.

Since when is a meeting with the principal a glorious event?

When you learn that all 158 of the people enrolled in our adult literacy classes passed the final exam!!!

At the tailend of my recent trip to Haiti, I met with Laurence Camille, director of Fonkoze’s adult education division, and Robert Sterling, the man who monitored our teachers.  (We have contracted with Fonkoze to implement an adult literacy program).  Robert told us about the dedication of our teachers  who were trained by Fonkoze to be adult educators and the enthusiasm of the students.  Robert said that he was, initially, very worried because our students had absolutely no basics in reading and writing, but that our groups were successful beyond measure.  Our first group of students is eager to move ahead and there are people in every community who are asking for new classes.  Pere Soner told us that many people in these classes had been marginalized in their communities but were now “standing taller.”

Our teachers will complete their advanced training within a few weeks and we will launch the second level of adult literacy AND start a new level one class.  This was announced to the community at Trou Jacques at their church service last Sunday and the congregation applauded with great delight.

So, in 11 months we have moved from a simple request from one woman to learn how to read ….. to 10 new teaching jobs on LaGonave, 158 people graduating from level one of literacy, a second level of literacy education to begin in March and another level one group of classes.  Li bon!

Submitted by Lee Wilder of Covenant Pres in Atlanta

And, for 2012, we have already received two new gifts that have humbled us as well. In January we had two friends of the Partnership go onto the website and set up a monthly “giving stream.”  Oh yeah, that thing. We knew we had that capacity when we set up the website last year, but nobody had ever done it and we had been so busy doing what we do that none of us had  thought about it.

The first one came in as a gift of $25 a month. Now, that doesn’t sound like a huge gift in the scheme of things, but I began to ponder what we could do with $25 a month.  Well, here is just the beginning of what it would do:

Treat one child with severe malnutrition for a month

De-worm 50 children to help prevent malnutrition for 6 months

Provide half a month’s salary for a Community Health Worker

Provide goat medicine for the goats in one village for 3 months

Provide an Adult Literacy educator for one village for 1 month

About the time we began to get our mind around what a huge gift this really was we got another one. This time for $50 a month, giving us three times the ability to provide the list above.

The fact is that $25 a month ends up being $300 at the end of the year. For an organization that prides itself in having no over-head costs that is an enormous gift.  So, at the close of this post, I intend to go online and begin my own giving stream gift. With a monthly gift of what many spend weekly stopping for coffee on the way to work I can make a real difference in the lives of the people on La Gonave.  That is a simple, generous gift. It makes me wish I had back all the monthly payments I have made for gym memberships that I never used.

Enough said.

https://secure.piryx.com/donate/gkMizOx2/LaGonave-Haiti-Partnership/

Deb Griffin

For the Partnership

First Presbyterian Atlanta Haiti Trip January 2012

Friday 1/13: Travel Day –Traveling from Atlanta were, Rose Emily Bermudez, Jean Russ, Vic Cavanaugh, Laura Calk, Dushawn Andrews, Selma Ridgeway, Becky Sigmund, Nancy Ike, Steve Feagin, and Norma Feagin. Claire Berry joined us in Miami, We arrived in PAP and were met by Pere Soner, Gretchen VanEss (Emory Masters in Public Health and Masters in Divinity Graduate Student),  and Michael Ritter (Emory MPH and MDiv Graduate who now lives in Haiti running the Jolivert Safe Water Purification Organization). We traveled to Wahoo Bay for dinner and an overnight stay.

Saturday 1/14: Following breakfast, our thirteen member mission team traveled by speedboat to La Gonâve. Also traveling on the boat were Pere Soner, a Haitian woman, and two boat operators plus ALL of our bags. After settling into the guest quarters at Saint Francis, we reorganized and labeled our supplies for each project.

Our yearly Childspring party began at 3:30. Following a wonderful program in our honor featuring the children and their parents, we presented gifts to each of the Childspring children in attendance. The children and parents were served dinner by our team. Rose Emily’s many years of service as the Executive Director were recognized by the families and our group that included Childspring Board Members Vic Cavanaugh, Nancy Ike, and Becky Sigmund.

Sunday 1/15: We attended Church at Saint Francis in the morning and then traveled by truck to Saint Croix where we were warmly welcomed by our Partners in Nouvelle Cité for a meaningful Communion service.

Michael Ritter addressed the church community immediately following the service concerning the importance of safe drinking water, particularly with the recent cholera outbreak. Ten families had been identified by Pere Soner to become the first participants in our point of use in-home safe water pilot project. A group including one member from each chosen family gathered in a classroom where they each received a bucket, tap, and bottle of chlorine. Michael explained the system and trained the group in the use and care of the bucket system. Ample time was given for questions.

The church community joined with us for a wonderful meal in celebration of our Partnership. We distributed sun glasses to the adults and some of the children.

Dushawn studied the roof systems of the church and school validating his impressions from his past visit and photos. He then updated his plan for a water catchment system and provided Pere Soner with a revised list of needed materials.

Monday 1/16: We traveled to Nouvelle Cité in the morning where we began organizing the health stats project at Saint Croix. Screening was partially completed with the younger students.

Claire spent time with Jean Thoney and Pere Soner discussing the goat project. She provided a supply of medicine for the goats and made plans for other needed pharmacy supplies.

Rose Emily and Steve met with the Microfinance recipients, Pere Soner, and Museau Nixère, the program’s accountant. They addressed recent, previously unseen, payment issues and discussed the future of the program. The participants were challenged to help those in arrears to honor their loan obligations so the next round of loans can promptly start.

Dushawn and Vic began organizing the water catchment project and work commenced alongside a team of Haitians led by Sonny. He and Dushawn established their own means of communication minimizing the need for the constant presence of an interpreter. Gutters (traditional metal with soldered seams and cut PVC) were to be made and attachments for these were installed for the church and school.

We had the opportunity to observe the school lunch program which now operates three days a week. The cooks prepare the food outside and use the building for serving plates and storage as well as an eating area for students.

Tuesday 1/17: The Health Screening continued. Teachers brought classes in one at a time. Cards were either found from the previous year or new cards were made. We recorded the height and weight on the cards and when possible determined the progress of each student. While we again saw progressive growth in the students, a few showed minimal signs of malnutrition prompting discussion of “de-worming” given the prevalence of infestations in the pediatric population. This aspect will be investigated.

After each card was completed, the student moved to station # 2 where individual pictures were taken. These will be attached to the cards to help identify the child in the future. Following the picture, the child moved to station #3. Once the students in the class were all present, an interpreter showed the children the proper way to brush their teeth. After cleaning their teeth with their new toothbrush and toothpaste, a fluoride treatment was administered. The students returned to their classroom.

The water catchment project continued with guttering for the long roof sections of the sanctuary and those spanning the classrooms. The downspout systems were assigned to divide the captured water between the two cisterns at the facility.

Wednesday 1/18: Part of our team traveled to the market in Palma. There they visited a Microfinance recipient in her booth and later purchased buttons, thread, and needles from another vender. Upon our return to Nouvelle Cité, the students were invited to visit a sewing station where any needed uniform repairs were made. Our group enjoyed spending time with individual children while making needed repairs.

Eye screening for reader glasses was provided at Saint Croix with fitting for appropriate strength glasses. The clinic staff and teachers were screened along with adults from the community. Upon our return to St. Francis, women participating in an embroidery group were also given the opportunity for screening. They were very grateful for glasses to help with needle threading and close work.

At the request of Pere Soner, Gretchen met with Jean Thoney to explain an idea for a future agriculture project. This project uses old tires to hold good soil for the planting of small gardens in areas where nothing has been successfully grown in the past. Pere Soner was excited about the possibility and he plans to try this at the Rectory. We hope that it eventually can be used at the school to supplement the lunch program, possibly aiding our plan to eventually serve lunch five days a week. If this project proves successful, families in the area could be taught how to build their individual gardens.

Led by Ishzunel, the water project community leader/monitor, Gretchen, Rose Emily, and Steve visited homes of three families in the new safe water project. All systems had been properly set-up and were in use. Neither the women nor their children had complaints about the taste of the water. Questions were answered which primarily centered on the duration that the treated water would be safe for consumption.

Work on the water catchment project continued until dark and plans were established for completion by the Haitian members of the team. Hopefully, the cistern between the school and lunchroom and the one below the school will be filled when the rainy season begins. A pump provided by Covenant Presbyterian will tap the upper cistern for the lunch facility.

Thursday 1/19: We returned by ferry to Port au Prince early in the morning.

We checked into Le Plaza Hotel. Vic, Steve and Dushawn visited Herbie’s home to film an interview with his mother concerning Childspring’s impact on their lives. Movie footage was obtained documenting the destruction of their home resulting from the earthquake and the subsequently constructed smaller replacement structures.

Rose Emily coordinated a guided walking tour to see the collapsed former government Palace, Holy Trinity Church, the Episcopal Cathedral, Saint Vincent School for the Handicapped, and the surrounding areas that were intensely damaged.

We enjoyed a cool rain as we gathered together at the hotel restaurant for our final evening in Haiti.

Friday 1/20: We returned home, richly blessed by our visit, bringing with us special memories of the week we spent with each other as we joyfully shared God’s love with our friends on La Gonâve.

Note: Each evening following dinner, members of our team took turns leading devotionals with scripture readings and reflections on the spirituality and meaning of our mission in Haiti.

Rose Emily Bermudez and Norma Feagin