Hope 4 Haiti

We met last night with a team from the Mashal community to talk about priorities going forward, about building the Samaritan Purse Transitional Shelters, more latrines, clean water and other priorities.  It was a great discussion and really validated the EFCA Crisis Response team’s approach to involve the local community and christian leaders and have them work to prioritize their needs instead of having an outside organization define their priorities for them.  The community leaders appreciate the respect and ownership they have to take and in turn they give respect back to the Crisis Response team.

We headed back to the orphanage to continue the work on the building for the infants.  We arrived early around 7:45 and began to construct the two long walls for the structure.  Jasmine and her husband run the orphanage and have quite an eye for managing the expenses related to their ministry. 

They had come over to the Haitian Queen to see the bunk houses that we were using as a blueprint for the new building the previous day.  Jasmine sat down and said I can cut the costs by about 1/3 by having a slanted roof instead of a gabled roof.  It is also easier to construct.

As we left in the morning we said hello to all of the locals gathered at the community well that produces clean water.  Getting potable water is critical in many areas in Haiti and requires many people in the community to walk significant distances to the “good” wells. 

People bath in any stream available and also wash their cars, clothes, etc.

The day was extremely hot even by 9:00 am.  We had to stop frequently to keep from overheating.  I drank over a gallon of water but still did not need to use the latrine…  The kids were amazing as usual.  I have included a few photos from our last day at the orphanage and will let them speak for themselves.

One of them Ann, about 10 years old and in the middle of the picture on the left, had just celebrated her birthday and  held my hand any time I was not busy.  It was difficult to say goodbye when we finally had to leave.

Jim and Keren, two missionaries that are helping to build an orphanage near the Haitian Queen arrived today.  We also had one of the local pastors over for dinner and to discuss are work with him and how we can help his congregation.

It has been an amazing and humbling two weeks.  Our God is truly working in Haiti and the fields are definitely white unto harvest but the workers are few.

Please pray that God will send staff to help Wes manage the Haitian Queen and the ongoing work and ministry efforts.  Pray for Mark Lewis and his team for guidance and wisdom in dealing with local community leaders and the services/ministry efforts that the team can support.

Pray for our team as we begin earnestly planning for our next trip, hopefully in August.

Crisis Response locations in the Gressier area

We began the day by heading up to the first latrine the team had helped with to install the squat plates.

You can also go to Google Earth to see where we were building the latrines and the area of Gressier where our “base” is located. 

You can see Matthieu in the “stall” attaching the squat plate to the floor of the latrine.

Finally, the finished product.  We built two latrines for the community and will continue to build others in order to help improve the overall sanitation in the community.

There are currently plans for two more latrines that will bring the grand total to 5 and will service a community of up somewhere between 1000 to 1500 people.

These are two children from some of the mothers that came up to watch us finish one of the latrines.  I could not resist taking the photo.

After I took the photo I walked closer to the children to say hello and the little boy began crying.

After we finished with the Latrines we went back to Leogane to the orphanage run by Greg and Jasmine to help the with the new building for their infants.

The tents are just to hot to leave the babies in all day.

The first activity was to unload the lumber and plywood that was delivered to the orphanage.  Wes and I, along with a worker at the orphanage, began hauling wood back to the back of the property where we stacked it for use later in the day.  One 10 year-old girl, Ann, would hold my hand after I had delivered my load and walk me back up to the front of the property where I would pick up my next 16 foot 2X4 or piece of plywood.  I was carrying maybe my fourth or fifth board when I noticed it had become a lot lighter.

I turned around to see that Ann had taken the end of the board and was helping me carry it to the back of the property to stack.  Then she held my hand again as we returned to the front of the yard.

She did this a couple of times and then I saw a “team” of the orphans beginning to carry wood to the back of the property.  The would get a board, carry it to the back and then “run” to get the next one.  Oh, for a little of their energy!  But their enthusiasm and sweet spirit made the best time I ever had moving wood.

After we transported the lumber we started laying out the floor and setting up a level floor to construct the walls.

It was very hot and when it began to rain it was like refreshment sent straight from the Lord.

It took a good bit of time to level the spot where the building was going to sit.

We had a good bit of digging to do and then set blocks upon which the building would rest.

It took most of the day to get the site level and then we started constructing the floor.

We built the frame for the floor and covered with plastic to help keep the ants out of the building.  The next activity was to build the walls, but that would have to wait until Friday.

In the evening we met with Matthieu and three of the local Marshale Community leaders to discuss building more latrines, assembling the Samaritan’s Purse shelters, and drilling water wells.

Matthieu and the community leaders all expressed their gratitude for what we have been doing with them.  It was great to see the strong relationships that the EFCA Crisis Response team has built with the community leaders.

Today we are going to Samaritan’s Purse’s facility to discuss transitional shelters and then we are going to go to Unicef to get the “squat plates” for the latrines.

Local market in Gressier

It will be an interesting trip in that the warehouse is on the far side of the airport and we will have to go all the way through Port au Prince.  We pass these guys several times so I thought a picture was in order.  We also pass through a very colorful and small local market where most of the fresh food for the team is purchased by the cook for the Haitian Queen.  The cook has been absolutely amazing.  Making fresh crab, banana bread from bananas in the yard, chocolate cake, fresh salads, chicken, fish, etc.  For all of the other hardships food, at least for our evening meal, was not a problem.

The Samaritan purse compound is not far from the Haitian Queen.

We went there first this morning and met with Brian who is coordinating the construction of some 3500 transitional shelters/houses for Haitian families in the most need.

Samaritan’s purse is working with various partners including EFCA Crisis Response to get the “homes” into the hands of the Haitian people.

The Crisis response team will begin construction of these houses/shelters within a couple of weeks.

Brian, from Samaritan’s Purse, took us to see a couple of shelters that had already been constructed which were very near their facility.

The Crisis Response team is working with the local community leaders and have received a list of some 450 families that we will work to provide shelters for over the next several months.

Inside the shelter - two 12 feet shelves/bunk beds

We are also working with a church in Leogane to provide up to an additional 200 shelters.  Each shelter can accommodate up to 12 people.  So the shelters will likely provide housing for between 3,900 to 4,500 people.

At the end of April almost 1,000,000 people in Haiti are living in tents or under tarps.  So continue to pray for the organizations trying to provide shelter and for the Crisis Response team that the aid that is provided will be sensitive to the needs of the people.

After we left Samaritan’s purse we headed to the far side of Port au Prince to the Unicef warehouse.  Wes from the Crisis Response team had arranged to pick up 15 squatting plates for the latrines that we have been constructing.

After we  install these plates the two latrines that our team worked on will be completed.

Future teams will continue to build these latrines as they are very much wanted in the communities and provide a sanitary way to meet daily needs.  Driving through town is an adventure.  In places there is no asphalt, in others trash or debris takes up a good portion of the road.  Where there is a reasonable road drivers on all types of vehicles, vie for position, lanes mean very little.

We passed a large market place near the airport with all types of food, clothing, auto parts and various other types of goods.

Marketplace

The market had very good looking fruits and vegetables but was had large piles of trash between the marketplace and the road.

We finally arrive at the Unicef compound/warehouse to pick up the squat plates. 

Each plate is a plastic composite material about 2″ thick and about 4 feet deep by 2 and 1/2 feet wide.

After we finished at Unicef we headed back to the Haitian Queen and Gressier hoping to at least get some of the squat plates installed before the end of the day.

It took almost 3 hours to return to Gressier.  Sometimes you just sit and wait without having any idea why the car in front of you is not moving.

We we got to the Haitian Queen it was almost 5 pm, so we quickly go our gear together and went up and installed the squat plates in the second latrine that our team had worked on.  We will finish the next latrine on Thursday.

This is a difficult post to make about one of the orphanages that we went to see on Tuesday, May 18.

Mark Lewis had worked some with this orphanage shortly after he first arrived in Haiti and very shortly after the earthquake.

Outside the orphanage

The orphanage is located on a fairly large section of land in Fontamara which is a suburb of Port au Prince / Carefour.

Road to orphanage

The orphanage had two main buildings surrounded by a wall and housed well over 100 orphans.

Their is also a creek that runs on one side of the orphanage.   The facility itself is up a small hill in the middle of a densely populated neighborhood.  The orphanage is Haitian run and managed.

The earthquake destroyed the rear building on the property, collapsing on and killing 80 or so children.

Front building

The building at the front of the property was substantially damaged but did not collapse.  It is now May and the collapsed structure in the rear remains, with many of the children still buried inside the ruble.

There are latrines that have been built on the property and raw sewage runs through the property from up the hill.

Rear collapsed building. 20 to 30 feet thick of debris

Many of the remaining orphans are destined to be sent to France and the French army came in and build several temporary wood structures to serve as dorms and rest areas.

The director we met with said they still have about 60 or so orphans at the facility which is in a state of ruin, rebuilding and filth.

The wall is down in several locations, the creek running beside the property is filthy and children have to scramble over rocks or other debris on parts of the property.  There are some restraining screens that have been put in place to try and make the situation safer.

When we entered the orphanage several of the children were inside an open wooden shelter to the edge of the property.  A female worker was using a towel to slap flys away from the children.

Many of the diapers needed changing.  There appeared to be many children to few workers.

The children seemed much more tentative and withdrawn than the other orphanage we visited earlier in the trip.

There also appeared to be many more ill children, runny noses, sunken eyes and withdrawn expressions. 

Yet despite the dismal conditions, we did find some smiling faces and a few ready to “pose” for the camera or who appeared to be trying to hide a smile  , reminds me of my son Daniel.

We went around the side of the compound to get to the back building.  The creek was filthy and the wall down in several locations.  We had to literally climb over debris to get to the back building.  The smell was extremely strong, and we had to cross over a flowing small stream of water that smelled as if it was carrying raw sewage from further up the hill.  We passed the latrines for the children which appeared very inadequate and filthy as well.

Then we came to the rear building.  My heart had already gone out to these kids then to consider that many of their friends were still buried under this mountain of stone.  Where to begin.  My words can not describe how I felt.

As we talked to the director we asked him who was supporting him and where he received his food.  He said he has gotten some aid but very sporadically and the last food he had received had been many weeks earlier.

He is currently trying to fund repairs and support the children from his personal funds and the little aid he is receiving.

These children have very specific needs:

1. A safe environment to live an play
2. Food on a regular and sustainable basis
3. Shelter that is adequate for them
4. Sanitation and to not have to live in filth
5. Repair of their facility including removal of the collapsed building and the recovery of the remains of the buried children.

We left several hundred pounds of rice and beans and some cooking oil, but it seemed such a small contribution.  Please remember these children and pray for us for wisdom as we work with the EFCA Crisis Response team to come up with a strategy to help this orphanage.

We went to another orphanage in the afternoon but I will include that in the next post.

The heat is amazing today.  The heat index is about 115 (humidity and temperature) and it feels even hotter.

In the morning we finished up some work at Latrine number 1 (when I think of latrine maintenance I have to say “just the way I like it”.  We also put up the compost “bin” for Latrine number 2 and we hope to go to the Unicef office on Wednesday to pick up the step plates that go on the floor of the latrines.

Marco

Marco and Ooman have been helping us through out our stay at the Haitian Queen.  They act as security guards and help keep up the outside of the house.

There is a small tent camp next to the first latrine and there are similar camps next to each of the other latrines that we have built.

In fact there are several distinct communities as you go “up the hill” in Marshal.  So even though the second and third latrines are only about 100 yards apart there is a definitely different community and “feel” to the area.  Our work with each of these communities is coordinated by Matthieu who is the ephoc or “ward” leader (my translation).

Christianville warehouse

When we finished “maintaining” the first latrine we went over to Christianville to pick up food that we would give to a couple of orphanages on Tuesday.  After we picked up about 1500 pounds of food we took it back to the Haitian Queen to get ready for the distributing it on Tuesday.  We also moved about 50 to 60 tents that were stored outside to the 2nd floor of the Haitian Queen to get them out of the upcoming weather and rains.

Rice and beans

The team on the front porch of  the Haitian Queen. Beginning left to right on the first row, Karyn Nagle, Shannon Rojas, Gary Keller, Pastor Charles Moore, Steven Smeltzer and David Zozaya.

“Football” or soccer is a popular past time with young people around Haiti

Karyn, don’t give up your day job….

School in Haiti is most often not in a traditional classroom.  The children meet in tents where the temperatures soar as the morning progresses.  Classes have to be completed around lunch to avoid heatstroke for the children.  No blackboards, little supporting materials, teachers writing some of their points on the inside of the tents so the  children can see their lesson.

The team, including Pastor Charles, helped build two latrines while we were in Haiti.  The latrines are part of an effort to reach out to a community of around 300 to 500 people in an area near the Haitian Queen in Gressier.  Sanitation is a critical issue in Haiti where many people have sever diarrhea and cholera and other diseases are present.  It is extremely important to try and improve sanitation and especially before the rainy season begins in earnest.

The composting latrines are built on top of a dual chamber 16X4 foot pit.  The latrine itself sets on one side of the chamber for up to 12 months or until it has been filled up.  Then the latrine is moved to the other side of the pit and the covering on the second pit is moved to the “full chamber”.  The full chamber then “cooks” for up to 12 months which will turn all of the  “stuff” in the pit into a rich compost that can be used safely on gardens as a high nitrogen fertilizer.  The pits are a unique design for Haiti that was created by the Crisis Response onsite leader in Haiti and re-engineered and enhanced by a wonderful team from Pennsylvania.  This system could provide significant improvements in sanitation in many areas of Haiti.  Most of Haiti does not have a sewage system, so it is critical to introduce ways to significantly improve hygiene and sanitation practices.

No matter where Gary went he was always making new friends

Gary had them baffled with the “old” rock under the glove trick.  He started showing the trick to a few of the children and then the adults started to gather around.  They looked in the gloves, under the gloves and no matter what they did they could not figure out….”how does he do that”.  The gentlemen on the right thought he had it, but surprise, surprise he missed again.

Gary finally had pity and showed them his trick.  Perhaps he might show you as well.

Well Gary was having fun driving until…… maybe he should stick to card tricks…

Ask him how you high center a diesel truck in the middle of the road

We met a wonderful christian couple, Greg and Jasmine, that run an orphanage that currently has 40 orphans.  In Haiti an orphan may not have parents or the parents may have surrendered rights to the child because they can not afford to feed and raise the child or they do not want the child.  We played an visited with the children and you had to laugh and play or you would just break down in tears.  See some of their pictures below and pray for them all. 

We called this one giggle box.  He did not stop laughing for the couple of hours we were at the orphanage.  He loved playing chase with Karyn.

The orphans are accepted at the orphanage up to age 7.  Greg and Jasmine will raise the children until they are adults and able to live on their own if no one adopts them.  They currently have some girls around 12 and have been running the orphanage for about 6 years.

Gary found several that wanted to play “catch me”.  Finally Gary had to say “mwem fatigue”, I am tired.

We had the “muscle” crew that wanted to show how strong they were and they constantly mugged for new photos showing their “guns”.

I had fun playing “mwem photo” with all the kids.  I would take their picture and they would look at the screen and die laughing, only to begin saying “mwem photo, mwem photo” again and again.

They are truly precious in His sight.

Jesus loves me this I know

for the Bible tells me so

Little ones to Him belong

They are weak but He is strong.

Today Karyn and Shannon went to the last class for the teachers.  Afterwards the teachers were in tears thanking us for caring and being here to help them!  They aren’t quite sure what to do with these kids and any help/advice they can get is so appreciated!  They invited us to their school tomorrow – hopefully we can!

The guys worked hard in our “backyard” cutting and building the latrine frame.

Then they went and put the frame up – hopefully tomorrow it will be all done!

This is the groundskeeper – Romane.  He loves getting us coconuts and mangos from the trees.

We are finding it hard to believe that we only have one more day here!  The week has gone pretty fast. We are praying that we can get as much done tomorrow as possible!

We had such a Blessed and Busy day:

aBc’s:  We visited a school that the Crisis Response Team supports in a local town.  It was a K-12.

It is now being held on the foundation of what used to be a 2 story building.

Also remnants of one of the school buildings.

This is where they would like to build a new high school:

Wesley with the organization built this water purification system at the school!

Beauty:

Buy me!

(Almost every house on the street has one of these little convenience stands set up)

Bikes:

There are bikes everywhere – parents even take their kids to school on their bikes – so cute!

Bacteria river:

You do not want to take a swim in this river! (But unfortunately the people here are forced to bath and wash their clothes in it)

Boys Building:

These men have worked their hearts out! And have probably sweated a few pounds off too!

Beloved:

Bagging billions of shoes!!

We helped sort 800 pounds of donated shoes!

Broken Homes:

Broken hearts:

Today my heart was broken for Haiti! There is so much destruction and sadness.  As Karyn and I went to our crisis support class (for the Haitians) we were told that Haiti is 80% Catholic and 100% Voodoo!  So many of them have heard about Christ and yet have no idea how to trust God with their futures – so they give in to the evil that is all around them! They need prayer!

Bye Bye Pastor Charles! 

He left today (although he almost didn’t make it as his car broke down on the way to the airport!  Can’t wait to hear all about that!) We are tired little worker bees but we are also feeling so fulfilled! What a privilege this has been! ~Good night from Haiti!