Prayer meeting

I was invited by Nadege to go to the prayer meeting that she goes to each week. Possibly the invitation was a little bit of a joke since it would all be in (fast) Creole and why would I want to sit through something I don’t understand. But I saw it as a way to get out of the compound and a way to see more of the Haitian world. The meeting is at someone’s house (changes each week) and is very important to a Christian Haitian. There are many, many prayer meetings every week in the compound but I don’t know the people who go. She was a little surprised when I showed up ready to go but I think she was also glad I was coming.

We arrived and sat outside. The doors were open and many people went in but there was no airflow inside and there were too many people for us all to fit anyway. Many hymns were sung and in between hymns they would pray. The host asks for specific prayers—what he or she is praying for that we could also pray for them. Praying in Haiti is not usually a quiet affair. Occasionally the leader will be the only one praying out loud but more often the leader will start and everyone else will get started too. All we can hear as humans is a drone or chant (that can get pretty animated), but we know that God hears each of us individually. There is also lots of call and response. ‘glory to God’, ‘Alleluia’, ‘Thank you Jesus’, ‘Praise the Lord’, etc. and clapping and waving of arms. At the end I had to introduce myself (which is when I went inside and noticed how hot it would have been). I loved the experience and hope to be able to attend again.

Medika Mamba

Our last morning in the northern part of the country was spent just outside of Cap Haitian at the Meds and Food for Kids factory. It is a peanut butter factory that makes the super vitamin loaded peanut butter that is being produced around the world to combat malnutrition in children. Here in Haiti they call it Medika Mamba (Peanut Butter Medicine) and around the world they call it Plumpy Nut…which is what I heard about some in Malawi. This is the only factory in Haiti that is making these products (there are some for school snacks, older children, infants) and has gotten the ok to produce for international sale. They can sell to UNICEF or World Food or whoever because their things are all up to code. (I think there may be another factory in Haiti but not at that standard). They dreamed big when they built their new factory—they had been producing out of a house—and have the capacity to produce all the Medika Mamba that is needed in Haiti. They have even talked the big organizations to buy from them even if their product is a little more expensive to support what they are doing in using Haitain products (peanuts) and workers and supporting farmers to produce what they need. It was a cool thing to see. They are doing so much for Haiti. Hiring workers, buying local (and importing for things they can’t get here), experimenting with new types of peanuts for better yield. And there are results you can see—malnutrition causes the stomach to bloat, hair to turn orangey, eyes to turn yellow, and brains to not function well. If it is treated quickly and correctly the children can grow to be helpful members of society. Check them out at www.mfkhaiti.org.

sterile packaging room

sterile preparation room

ready to go...one box per child should get them the kick start they need...one sachet a day until it is gone

new varieties

Norm's Place

We stayed 2 nights at Norm’s Place at Labadee Beach. Beautiful, out of the way spot. We drove for at least 30 minutes out of Cap Haitian to the end of a road—past some other hotels and resorts and then took a 10 minute boat ride that dropped us at Norm’s Place. Great rustic rooms with large beds and private bathrooms. Once we were settled in we gathered on the front lawn for happy hour and then had a wonderful dinner—the first night was a buffet of seafood and other meat—lobster, conch, fish, beef, pork and veggies.

 
 

The next day was a free day to read, sleep, relax, wander the nearby village, swim.  All of which I did. A paradise really.  We were at the end of the path as well so not many passersby or vendors (but there were some). We watched a cruise ship dock at the end of the bay—there were special beaches for the cruise goers and they weren’t allowed on shore other than there…saw them kayaking pretty close to the village and some jet skis farther out. Dinner the second night was at the Cormier Plage Resort which was peopled by the UN from the vehicles we saw. Right on the water with a gorgeous beach (Norm’s Place is right on the water but no sand) and good food. The rum punch was also very nice. 

To go anywhere we had to board the boats that took us out the first time…it took some planning and balance to not get wet if you were worried about that sort of thing but we made it in our boats called “The Blood of Jesus” and “Life Goes On”. They gave us life jackets too! (I heard this was a new development)

Cap Haitian

Sans Souci Palace

Sans Souci Palace--back

I got to go up to Cap Haitian with the ladies. I was supposed to be on an earlier flight that left at 7:15am but as it turned out the airline was 3 hours late because there was only one plane available (and actually I think we were flown up on a plane from another airline so I don’t know what the story was)…but there was room for some of the ladies to come on the first flight with me. We went up and started the sight-seeing with the Sans Souci Palace (without worries palace) that was built in the 1800s. It is only ruins now but still very beautiful. With our guide there we weren’t hounded much by the vendors. We walked up and through the palace and got picked up on the other side.

Catholic Church at Sans Souci Palace

Then we were dropped at another parking lot where we got horses that took us up to the Citadel, a fort built after independence in 1803 by 200,000 freed slaves (20,000 died in the construction). It was built so that Napoleon wouldn’t be able to come back and take over which he never tried to do so it was never used. There are 365 iron and bronze cannons that were brought up by hand and then never used. The Citadel is being restored now and is a pretty intimidating place.

We took our horses back down and were mobbed by the vendors there…it was not a pretty scene and while we know that they are only trying to earn money so they can support their families it is very off-putting to be so forward. We had lunch with the rest of the group from the 2^nd flight and then got to relax in the town of Milot while the others did their tour of the ruins. We went for a walk around the town and it felt so nice to wander on our own. (It’s nice being out of the city!)

pillow case dresses

After church the White Memorial group went over to the House of Hope which is a children’s home very close by that is run by Nadege. We went to see the second floor which is almost ready for more children move in (there are 11 girls living there now downstairs) and to play with the girls for a while. They had brought some balls and some string to make things like cat’s cradle, chicken foot (which I recognized as a broom) as well as some pillow case dresses which are so simple and so cute. Everyone got a new one and there were a few extras so I tried to get into one…it took some doing but I did it! not as a dress of course…

Tap Tap

A group came in from White Memorial Presbyterian church (where I was a Youth Director Intern in Raleigh). They had many things on their plans from visiting many different partners that they have here (HOM, Hearts with Haiti—St. Joseph’s home and Wings of Hope as well as others). They brought down health kits or tooth brush and toothpaste for all of the kids in the 4 schools that HOM has. On Monday they also had an educational program to do in the schools. They used the book Tap-Tap by Karen Lynn Williams. In teams of 2 (they had a lot of classes to get to) they would read the story with the help of an interpreter and show the pictures to the class. They told them about the gifts they’d brought which also included an inspirational picture in a frame for the teachers and left them with a coloring page of a tap tap (Haitian public transport) and crayons. It was a good (busy) day!

examples of real taptaps

Church

We’ve heard rumors about an English service somewhere on Delmas (close enough to get to but far enough to require some planning). Matt and I were on our way to find it when we got a call from the group we had in country called and asked if we would go with them to the services they were going to. We hadn’t actually gotten out of the neighborhood yet so we decided to turn around and come back. We had thought since the group had been here multiple times they would be ok on their own but I also understand that they would want us (Matt) with them. We had missed the Terre Noire service but picked them up and took them to Cite Soleil and then Repatriate. The services are spread out enough (and long enough) that it works for groups to visit 3 churches on a Sunday morning. Terre Noire starts at 6. If you leave just before communion for Cite Soleil (starts at 7) and stay until you have communion and then leave for Repatriate (also starts at 7) for the sermon and end of the service. I think it is good for the groups as we don’t really understand what is going on but they get to experience 3 pretty different churches. Try as I might I still can’t understand most of the services but the dedication and energy found in the services is refreshing and inspiring.

Repatriate

Terre Noire

May 1

May 1 is Labor Day around the world (in the US we celebrate it on the Monday so that we get a long weekend). So we got Wednesday off. No school (which I wasn’t officially told until Monday afternoon—not that I would have done anything different but still)! There was a youth fair in the courtyard that was set up by the church. I think it was aimed at the youth or something (I didn’t quite understand that part of it). Music and stalls all day with typical Haitian foods and crafts for sale. I went to check it out and was immediately set upon by about 4 children who then walked me up and down and pointed things out but really didn’t talk much. Some of them were from the school here and I recognized them but the others I am pretty sure that I didn’t know.  The music was good and it was just a really laid back nice time. But after a couple of hours I was done and escaped upstairs…not after trying lalo (a green leafy vegetable?) which is a Haitian dish that they really like and I thought was ok. I shared with 3 of the girls who were still wandering around with me at the time. I was very glad they were there to eat it. I also had grilled mais that is like eating popcorn kernels grilled on the cob—a little softer than regular kernels. Not bad but again not my favorite unless I’m hungry.

That afternoon I got the chance to go to the national fair that was about 15 minutes away. It was a bigger fair with more offerings of the same really. Crowded and friendly. Lots of straw hats for sale (as well as anything else). We wandered through the agricultural section with chickens, goats and even a crocodile. Ate sugar cane (like chewing on a tree but sweet) from a vendor who chops off the bark and cuts it into smaller pieces for you to consume. You tear off a bite sized piece, chew twice to get the juice, and then spit out the fibrous pieces. Here in Haiti they spit them back in the bags that they have them in whereas in Malawi you throw it on the ground…I’d been wondering about that as I’d seen so many people eating and selling it but not see it on the ground.  It was a nice day off!

 

Visits

from Malawi

Last week I had a friend in town. Klaasje and I lived together for 2 months in Nkhoma! She had come to work with the youth department (before that job ended for me). She came down with a friend who was a nurse and who didn’t feel confident with her English so Klaasje and I did most of the talking…She is now working in Holland for the international organization Word and Deed (Parole et Action in French and Woord en Daad in Dutch) who have quite a few ties in Haiti. She came down for some partner meetings that lasted a week. I got to meet up with her on Sunday to hang out and do what she was doing. I got to her hotel early (nice place—hot water, air conditioning, pool—thought I’d move in for the week at least) and we went to church with the former Haitian CEO of the organization. Eris drove us through parts of Port au Prince that I didn’t recognize (not really hard to do) but at one point I did recognize where we were—we just usually come from a different route (I enjoyed recognizing something). We went to Calvary Chapel which is held right now in a very large tent (they are planning a building I think). We were given headsets into which a translator translated the service into English which was nice (except when I was trying to check her and listen to both at the same time). Then we went to lunch at the Karibe Hotel (very nice). After that was a clinic opening that their organization helped with in a part of the city that I hadn’t been to.

It was great to see Klaasje and to see parts of the city I hadn’t seen and probably wouldn’t have—we get into the routes of where we go and how we go, so discovering new places doesn’t happen often.

Listening

I’ve been trying to figure out how to get my classes to practice more actual speaking. And I don’t know that I’m doing a very good job of it but at least I’m thinking about how to do it (any suggestions are welcome). I did family relations and then at the next class just put up some questions on the board and they could pick and choose as they went around asking and answering questions. Not too bad. Then I found a short listening exercise of someone talking about his family and speaking slowly enough (for the most part) to be heard…and asked questions and talked about that some. It might work. We’ll have to give it a little longer before I know anything (and quite possibly I won’t ever really figure it out).

Someone did tell me that they thought Madame Sterling and Jean Gaudy were getting better! That was great to hear as I can’t tell. I think I’m too close and see them too often to see the improvements.

We prepare them for today, tomorrow and until eternity.

Staff Class

My classes with the staff of HOM went by the wayside after about 3 of them when I arrived. Things got busy with two to three groups in at a time. But since I’ve returned from my South Africa trip we have started up again. We sometimes have had double groups in but the classes have been given a priority. I’m not sure how well I’m doing in a priority standard but I answer questions and we do some reading for pronunciation and vocabulary. I’ve also found a YouTube series that we are enjoying right now. Sometimes I feel that it is too easy for them but then I change my mind because we are getting so much vocabulary out of it and getting to ask questions about the things they are talking about doesn’t come easily. I think it is good for them to have to listen to it as well (a voice and dialogue other than mine). It is made for an Asian learner I think…at least they talk about being in Asia and sometimes there are words in a different language on the screen. The story last week was about going to a tea house, ordering at a restaurant, etc. If you are interested you can look it up—“the best English” series. We are also working on when and how to use ‘could, should, would, might, must, etc.’ These are tough questions!

not from classes but just hanging out--
Woodley (lives here), me, LJ (pastor Luc's son), Patty, Gloria (pastor Luc's daughter)

Shapes

In the first, second, and third grade classes we have learned (roughly) the alphabet (English pronunciation), numbers (to 10), and colors. Now we are working on shapes and I think I might have figured this out—a little. I only introduce 2 shapes per class. I’ve done square, circle, triangle, heart and star. We go over them and then I give them paper and crayons and have them draw the shapes…I try to get them to also follow directions but so far that only goes so far…to draw a blue square—it seems to start with the blue crayon but quickly changes to using any different color that they have. And if I ask them to draw 2 I have to be pretty lucky to get them. We are also working on Thank you and You’re welcome…each time I give them paper or crayons or pick the crayons up after class…very very very repetitive. I have flash cards to quiz them with and the favorite game so far is boys against girls on who can get the most answers correct…the problem is that when the round is over chaos (very loud chaos) ensues and I get admonished by the office! But I think they are learning so I take it (usually).

A well taught Christian education raises man's dignity and  brings him closer to his Creator.

Leaving

Patty has left. She was at HOM when I arrived and stayed 7 months of her 6 month commitment. She helped lots with the teams and she worked with Madame Sterling on sales and ideas for the gift shop and the vocational school here. We lived together for my first two weeks here and then were next door neighbors for the rest of the time. I appreciate her friendship and how she showed me the ropes in the beginning. It was sad to see her go, but she’s promised that she isn’t done with Haiti. God put it in her heart and she’ll be back.

On her last weekend we went to the beach. She invited Madame Sterling and Mathanie to come. We went to Moulin sur Mer (Windmills on the Sea). I’d never been there before. It is very pretty. It has a hotel, museum, beach resort, restaurant, putt putt golf course and more. Jude drove us in his tap tap. We swam (I use that term loosely as the water wasn’t deep enough to need to swim), lounged, ate lunch. The others checked out the pool but I still don’t see the allure of a pool when you have the ocean right there. I tried to find deeper waters and swam out to the rope that surrounded the swimming area—my hand hit bottom about 3/4ths of the way out! Then it was time to head home. We got to ride in the official golf cart back out to our vehicle (oh we felt special!). I came home a bit pink but very happy with my day at the beach with some very fun people.

Jude, Patty, Mathanie, Madame Sterling, Jessi

The Tuesday night before Patty left we went to La Maison for ice cream. A nice send off for her as ice cream is always good. She is now back in LA, missing us but enjoying the food, hot showers and ease of getting what you want/need when you want/need it…