Mission to Haiti – November 14, 2011
We have been blessed. Hurricane Tomas that had been predicted to pass within twelve miles of the Emmaus Biblical Seminary moved to the north, and rather than tracking through the most densely populated areas of Haiti skirted both peninsulas dumping all kinds of rain but leaving the island nearly untouched except for some isolated flooding. There were not very many deaths caused by the storm, and while some roads and bridges were washed out, the mudslides that are so common in Haiti were largely absent. When Hurricane Donna hit Haiti about five years ago more than 2,000 lives were lost, and when Hurricanes Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike hit two years ago close to one thousand lives were lost, but in both cases it was mudslides that were what caused the huge loss of lives. This time given the state of the country following the earthquake the original track of Hurricane Tomas would have been catastrophic had it hit Port-au-Prince. The tent cities would have been awash in temporary shelters, garbage and human waste, but God was merciful and the city was spared.
The cholera epidemic continues to claim victims. This past week the international press announced that over 500 people have died and over 7,000 had been diagnosed with the parasite. James, the night watchman here at the Seminary, returned from Port-au-Prince having buried his mother who was a victim of cholera. He was in a highly emotional state, and was still finding it difficult to accept that he now has responsibility for his eight siblings. He is still uncertain as to how he can look after his brothers and sisters, particularly the younger ones. Should he bring them to Saccenville to live with him, send money to family members in Port-au-Prince to help with feeding and sheltering them, or is there another solution to addressing their needs. None of them have ever attended school so what would a hamlet the size of Saccenville have to offer children who had grown up on the streets of Port-au-Prince.
The work team from Dallas, Texas, was finally able to leave on Monday. They had originally planned on leaving on Saturday but because of Tomas they were delayed. It might have been seen as a negative but turned to a positive because of the wonderful spirit of the team. They were able to continue with the good work they had been doing. Two of the members of this team decided to remain in Haiti rather than returning to Texas. One is a former teacher and is helping with the teaching of English (ESL), and the other is a university student between semesters helping with maintenance around the OMS Vaudreuil compound.
Our time this past week, except that it has rained almost every day, has been largely uneventful but very busy with the usual cooking, cleaning and laundry. We had planned but were unable to visit the Heavenly Light School on Wednesday due to heavy rains o
vernight making the road very treacherous. We were looking forward to having the opportunity to see up close the children and their teachers. In just two years this school has grown to almost 140 students and they, the Pastor and School Administrator, are still being asked if they would be willing to take more children. The children range in age from three to eight and are adorable in their uniforms, the little girls with ribbons and beads in their hair, the little boys with smiles on their faces. To think that St. Andrew’s now supports over 600 children in four schools is truly magnificent. God is good to us.
vernight making the road very treacherous. We were looking forward to having the opportunity to see up close the children and their teachers. In just two years this school has grown to almost 140 students and they, the Pastor and School Administrator, are still being asked if they would be willing to take more children. The children range in age from three to eight and are adorable in their uniforms, the little girls with ribbons and beads in their hair, the little boys with smiles on their faces. To think that St. Andrew’s now supports over 600 children in four schools is truly magnificent. God is good to us.With Christmas approaching we, at St. Andrew’s, have another opportunity to help these children through the HEARTS Christmas Gift Giving project. You can outfit a child with uniform, shoes, backpack and books, or provide tuition for a year, or provide funding for a nutritious meal each school day for a child. There are a number of different opportunities to help out these children. This is truly a gift that keeps on giving throughout the year. Each of our five children and John’s mother has been a recipient of a “Christmas Gift” the past two years and think it something that is truly representative of what Christmas should be. Contact Sandra in the office should you also like to participate. There will be a special post for the H.E.A.R.T.S. Christmas Gift Giving project.
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| View from our back door |
Because of all the rain over the past several days, it has been overcast and the clouds have been hanging low over the mountains with only a show of the sun once in a while. Dorothy woke one morning thinking of the old hymn, There Is Sunshine In My Soul Today, and the same morning a devotion was based on Matthew 5:16. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Jesus calls us to make known His presence in our lives to the glory of God the Father.
May He keep you in His care this week.
Dorothy and John
