Thursday in Haiti: Bonswa, Gran-Bois!

Our ServeHAITI group

Tonight at reflection time, Brian shared a saying by a young man who had worked in Haiti.  This insightful young man stated, “I have seen what I cannot unsee.”  When we think of all we have seen this past week in Haiti, those images are now a part of who we are and we cannot “unsee” them.  Some people ask, “Why Haiti?”  They say there are poor in our country, so why travel all the way to Haiti?   Scott talked about the fact that Haiti it is a different kind of poor where clean water and sanitation are severe problems.  The most basic of human needs are not met and there is no safety net to provide what is needed.  That is what ServeHAITI is trying to assist with – encouraging Haitians to understand how they can meet their basic needs with assistance and how they can help to grow a safety net for their people.

Gary said the Haitians have a saying, “What the eye does not see, the heart cannot feel.”  Our eyes have seen much this week – people pushing forward every day to meet their need for water, hauling huge jugs on their heads, traveling miles to wells or rivers.  We have seen those living in homes made from sticks or tin with dirt floors and one bed for a family of seven.  We saw people willing to work making rosary beads for money to purchase food.  People loading sticks and fruit on burros and riding for miles to sit along a road to sell whatever anyone is willing to buy.  We visited the home of a young boy who proudly led us up a mountainside to say hello to his mother.  Children who gathered round to learn words of English.  Teachers willing to walk six hours for teacher training so they could improve their schools.  People willing to come forward to discuss finance plans with ideas of a chicken coop or a bakery or a small store.  All who understand the saying, “I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to reach my destination.”

Tonight we are sleeping at Bob’s house in Port au Prince before flying home.  ServeHAITI met Bob when he offered to share his home during relief work after the earthquake five years ago.  We were all happy to be able to walk on clean floors, enjoy a warmer shower, and once again feel the comforts we have grown to know as our routine.  We all made connections via the internet and once again returned to the emails and deadlines in our life we faced before this Haitian visit.  It is surprising how quickly we have fallen back into our comfortable lives.

So we must remind ourselves that “Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened.”  We must tell the story of Haiti, share the spirit of those we encountered, and help others realize we can make a difference for one another.  We came as strangers but leave as friends excited to share the story of those “not so forgotten” people of Haiti.

HAITI
by JAS

You do not cry for the strength of your people forbids it

Crying would show weakness and there is no time to be weak

There are roads to travel

Water to draw and sticks to gather

There is oil to heat and plantains to fry

There is no time for pity, only time to survive

But…

Sometimes on the mountaintop

with its fresh air and majestic view

A dream may appear like the slow clouds over the mountains

A dream of a life where the water is clean

And the family is full

You will leave that dream to your children

For there are roads to travel

Water to draw and sticks to gather

Dreams will have to wait but only for now.

Wednesday in Haiti: Just Baby Steps

Today was our final day of teacher training for our heroes, the teachers of Haiti.  We finished our presentations and moved into a science lesson.  We focused on the Water Cycle since water is a critical issue faced here in Haiti.  Dr. Leo brought in some samples of corn whose ears are tiny and with few kernels.  They did not have rain at a critical time during its growth.  Cholera and typhoid are diseases they are fighting especially since they bathe, water their animals, and drink from the same source. Science can offer solutions for Haiti.

In today’s teaching before beginning our unit, we sang a song about the water cycle sung to the tune of “She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain.”  It was amazing as we sang a line in English followed by a line in Creole.  When the teachers responded in Creole, it raised the roof.  Then we sang the entire song in English followed by Creole.  We laughed, we clapped, we moved!  Music crosses all language barriers.

In today's class we talked about the difference between fiction and non-fiction.  We said that fiction was imaginary and a way to learn about how people deal with struggles and mistakes.  It is also a way to learn about a person’s character or even their life in another country.  Fiction can be used as an escape.  We wanted our teachers to use fiction reading to dream big.  With a fiction picture book, we taught them to do a picture walk – showing the pages to the students to excite them about the book. We explained that non-fiction is true and factual and instead of a picture walk, you take time to teach the students the text clues – table of contents, index, glossary, titles, words in bold or italics, and information about the author.  We discussed the importance of checking the source to make sure they are credible and to be trusted.

A nearby school

Dr. Leo presented a seminar on sanitation and personal hygiene.  Our final question to them was:  What would you like to learn next year?  What are some things you still need for your classroom?  The learn list included English, science, math, literacy, and geometry.  The need list included chalkboards, dictionaries, and of course, computers.  We were surprised to learn that out of the 20 schools represented, over 63 classrooms did not have a chalkboard.  A teacher who wanted a dictionary said their school only had one and it was kept in the principal’s office.  Many needed books and teacher’s guides.  Alfred said that they would be leaving here and going back to very difficult living conditions. 

A nearby school

Dr. Leo said he had a surprise for everyone and brought in a local singer, Jean Bernard Vincent, a self-taught guitarist, songwriter, and singer.  He sang a song about Grand-Bois.  His words were of life in Grand-Bois and the message was strong:  “Wake up! Move! Even though you are crippled, you are not broken.  Ravaged by hardship, lying down like a log.  Take a chance and move!  We need a visionary for the future.  Erosion is king. Starvation never subsides.  Wake up! Move!”

After the singing, we held a simple graduation ceremony.  The students were called up individually, shook the hands of Alfred, Mary, Janet, and myself.  Then Dr. Leo presented them with a certificate from ServeHAITI.  This is a three year program and we encouraged them to come back for their last year in 2015.  The teachers (Janet, Mary, and me) all agreed we would return next year in the hopes of taking them one step further in their instructional practices.  We received hugs and kisses from the “graduates” and Mary reminded us that for many it was probably the only graduation ceremony they have been part of.

During reflection time tonight, the statement that stood out was, “We never know the big effects one little action can have.”  Brian shared about working with a man from a well sight and teaching him to use the Sawsall.  Chris talked about Sam fixing a screen and handing the screwdriver to a man standing nearby and showed him how to do it.  Margot and India worked in the pharmacy and modeled basic hygiene practices for the workers while two new babies were born in the clinic this week.  Victor and Robert explored the possibility of changing a government building nearby into a vocational training center.  Gary and Chris met with people all day who brought their dreams and ideas with the hopes of receiving micro-financing. Scott took care of all the little items to keep things running smoothly. And Ellie did the most important job of the day.  She spent hours with the children of the neighborhood teaching them English and they, in turn, taught her Creole.  She told us about a young man who returned today with a list of sentences and words he wanted translated into English.  The Haitians thirst to learn our language.  I can only imagine that young boy by moonlight writing out those sentences while he sat on the dirt floor with his dream – a dream to learn English from that special young lady from America, someone who took the time to show him words that could perhaps open some doors for him in the future.  Just baby steps but moving forward. 

Tuesday in Haiti: A Time to Give & a Time NOT to Give

Many of you are familiar with the story of the young man who walked down on the beach when he saw an old man throwing starfish into the ocean.  He walked up to the old man and asked him what he was doing.  The old man’s reply was that starfish had been washed up on the beach by the tide, and he was throwing them back into the water.  The young man looked down the beach to see hundreds of starfish.  He said that it was impossible to save all of the starfish; there were so many, and he couldn’t possibly make a difference.  The old man bent down, picked up a starfish, and tossed it in the water saying, “Made a difference to that one!”

We can be concerned that there are so many people in Haiti who need assistance.  This can become overwhelming, but the key to making a difference is not in giant leaps but in small steps.  At reflection time tonight, we discussed that the key to helping the people of the Grand-Bois area is understanding what the people need.  It is not a simple fix but it is taking the slow but sure route through micro-financing and education.  It’s not hand outs but hand ups.  It’s the hard route but one that is the most sustainable.

Today was teaching day #2, and we asked each teacher how far they had traveled.  Three said they had to walk six hours to attend the teaching training and two others came five hours.  Today’s lessons were, in Janet’s words, magical.  She said she is not a crier but when she watched the teachers share picture book lessons with the rest of the class, it made her want to cry.  In fact, their presentations brought tears to our eyes.  As Alfred, our interpreter, stated, “I have a bottle of joy jumping in my heart.”  He was so proud of the teachers and the progress they are showing towards improving their teaching skills.

Mary, Janet, and I hiked over to a school house in the area.   Janet was excited to see they now had a cement floor.  It is startling the difference between schools here in Haiti and in the United States – chalkboards only, benches, and planks for tables.  No technology and no classroom libraries. 

A group spent today hiking to the Dominican Republic.  The “short” trek turned into one of over six hours.  As Scott, our leader, said, “The difference between an adventure and an ordeal is attitude!”  They all had the right attitude even though they returned with tired feet, headaches, and sweat drenched shirts.  Once again it was the Haitians gracefully sliding by while carrying loads of sticks and jugs of water that kept this adventurous crew moving forward. Along the way home, Sam stopped to join a group of young men with flat-ended sticks beating black beans still in their pods on a tarp.  Their "bean dance" was coaxing the beans out of the pods, and Sam brought out laughter as together they did the work.  We all laugh in the same language.  

Gary told of yet another visit to a bakery that is receiving micro-financing from ServeHAITI.  He said that the owner had brought a propane powered oven over three hours on the back of a donkey from the Dominican Republic for his business because he wanted to preserve the trees in Haiti and not burn them in the traditional oven.  The oven had a broken door, and the bread the baker was making kept burning.  It was hurting his business, and Abraham, our interpreter, decided he would work on it.  He laid down on his back and examined the door hinges and was able to solve the problem.  It was a simple fix.  Sometimes it’s the smallest things that make the biggest difference.

We spent time tonight talking about knowing the right time to give and the right time NOT to give.  It is an important balance we all must learn if we are going to make a difference for the Grand-Bois area.  As ServeHAITI states, we must focus on dignity not dependence.  That is what I love about this organization.  Providing dignity through relationship-building takes time and tiny steps, but this process is sustainable.  It is making a difference in the lives of many in this area.  We cannot help everyone, but we are making a difference to those we encounter along our journey in Grand-Bois.  I am honored to be a part of ServeHAITI!

Monday in Haiti: Haitian Time

Back in the States, our days are determined by time – the job, the appointment, the activity, the deadline.  We rush from this to that, pushed along by calendars and commitments.  Things are different here in Haiti.  They live by Haitian time and when a Haitian says we will be there in four hours it could mean nine.  It isn’t the calendar that determines destination - it’s the heaviness of the load you carry, the speed of the burro, the ruts in the road.  Haitian time.

Today was Teaching day!  The bags were unpacked, supplies set out, folders ready, posters hung, lessons written, and we were more than ready to work with 20 elementary teachers for three days.   Mary and Janet explained that we would have to be flexible since Haitian time is not the same as U.S. time – meaning the day was to start with a Geometry lesson given by a principal from the local high school.  He arrived over an hour late so we began our lesson by reviewing what a model lesson consists of along with activities using geoboards.  When he arrived, we did not realize he would teach for over 3 hours including pi and lines of infinity – well above the heads of many of our teachers.  To teach elementary school in Grand-Bois does not require any degree, not even a high school diploma is required.  You simply go in and say you want to teach and hope to get hired. That is why the teacher training provided by ServeHAITI is so critical to the future of education in this country.  Our teaching these next few days will focus on content but also strategies to make lessons come alive for students.  Many returning teachers said they loved the group work last year.  As one teacher stated, “It makes more pleasure when you share ideas.”

What struck us when we began were the shoes of the teachers.  Many had come a long way and from the wear and dust on their shoes; many had walked great distances to attend this training – with a belief that through this training they will improve as teachers.  Tonight there are several who are staying here in the clinic – some on benches downstairs while a few lucky ones have beds upon which to lay their heads.  The distance is too great to assure they will be back here on time for school.  While the World Cup was showing on a newly purchased TV in the clinic, many were studying materials they received today and writing model lesson plans for tomorrow’s class.

I know that when you work with someone of a different language and culture, the strategy is NOT to speak “loud and slow” although that is what I found myself doing today as we worked with these teachers.  Of those present, 15 were back after receiving training last year.  They said they returned to learn even more.  One teacher stated that last year the lessons were “fantastic” and this year he came to learn “perfection.” 

There were other things going on around the clinic besides the teacher training.  India was helping the pharmacist sort out medicine.  Robert, Sam, and Brian fixed toilets and faucets along with painting chalkboards for classrooms.  Gary and Chris visited another bakery that had received micro-financing from ServeHAITI.  The business has grown and now has two ovens – the first financed by this organization and the second purchased with profits from their growing business.  The kneader pictured above has helped them produce a bread that many walk several miles to purchase.  They run their stoves with propane gas so they are not cutting down trees to support the fire of their cooking.  Gary had some time along the way to deliver dresses made by families back home – no deadlines just Haitian time used to build relationships and add encouragement to the people of the Grand-Bois area.

One of the things we unpacked from the suitcases were endless supplies of black beads, cloth strips, and crucifixes.  These items are purchased on a regular basis by a local priest in Iowa.  Through generous donations, he also provides wages for workers based on number of rosary beads constructed.  He then donates the rosary beads to Catholic soldiers, serving around the world, a special outreach that helps to employ the people of Grand-Bois allowing an opportunity for many to feed their families.  The dream is that one day there will be a rosary bead factory that provides room to work rather than the narrow alleyway of the clinic.

We continue to be amazed by the resilience of the Haitian people who will not allow rough terrain or lack of resources to keep them from working to achieve their dreams.  It is said, “Teaching is not filling a bucket but kindling a fire.”  ServeHAITI is attempting to kindle many fires here in Haiti.  They are not filling a bucket but instead by offering encouragement, guidance for developing a finance plan, and some monetary resources with a guarantee to repay, those being served will take that kindling, that vision, that spark of a dream and bring forth its fire to improve themselves and their community.

Tonight we celebrated the 2^nd anniversary of Robert and India with a cake made by the local bakery.  It was a joy to reflect on the veranda about our day and the bigger picture of our lives.  We sat with no cell phones to answer, emails to read, deadlines to meet.  Instead, we filled ourselves with the contentment of learning about each other, sharing our insights, and pausing for a special moment we are coming to know fondly as Haitian time.

Sunday in Haiti: More Rocks, More Roads, & More Relationships

Our day began with a trek down the mountainside to church.  The walk was amazing as we stumbled and slid over rocks and ruts and gullies while Haitians in high heels giggled past us.  The beauty of the landscape was appreciated even though the tough terrain made us doubly aware of the ease of life back home.  Haitians rode by us on burros sitting astride wooden saddles.  Some sped by while carrying logs or bags of beans on their heads.  Still others in their Sunday best with heeled shoes gracefully slid past us, the rocks and ruts a natural part of their movement.  Church was filled with beautiful singing, happy people, and a special spirit reflected by the people of this land. 

The  Market Place

After church, we walked to the market.  As Chris stated, it was a place where entrepreneurs laid blankets on a rocky, dried riverbed, selling varied items from tennis shoes to matches to tobacco to mangos.  It is a land of people willing to travel over difficult terrain to deliver whatever they have to sell.  It is a testament to the spirit of these people and their desire to survive in spite of difficulties faced. 

Chantelle and her kneading machine

Some traveled with Gary to visit Chantelle, the first to receive a low interest loan from ServeHAITI to maintain her family’s bakery after an unfortunate fall from a tree leaving her father in need of extra care.  After developing a finance plan, she was able to purchase a dough kneader.  She noticed that people did not like the texture of her bread and a kneader enables her to create a smoother dough.  She is operating her business in spite of losing her mother, her father, and most recently her horse that helped to transport flour from the Dominican Republic to her bakery.  Chantelle is defining dignity for her family and for the Grand-Bois community with her strong spirit and devotion to hard work. 

While the teachers were working on unpacking suitcases and preparing for the teacher training on Monday, several others traveled to a youth group meeting where over 200 were present.  The meeting was organized by some of the youth of the area to honor ServeHAITI.  They sang a song they wrote about the importance of organizing and having dreams.  Alfred said it was encouraging to see the youth take on leadership and not be afraid to dream.  They showed a passion that displays hope in their future.  ServeHAITI is providing a model of providing assistance to those who are willing to develop a plan and provide sweat equity towards implementing their ideas.  The youth are interested in learning computer skills, having a cyber café, and learning so they can improve their lives.  The internet can open many doors through digital  books, online classes, and also broaden their view of the world.  All present were encouraged by their genuine desire to work towards achieving their dreams.  As one interpreter said, “The light is sparkling!”

Tilapia ponds

The beginning of a vision

Tonight at reflection time, Brian made the statement, “I saw evidence today of Haitians recapturing the blessing of this area.”   Dr. Leo who runs the clinic for ServeHAITI in the Grand-Bois area is a true visionary.  He inspires the people to work hard.  He is working on building a center based on his vision of a stage, cinema, cyber café, dance club, and hotel.  He has ponds behind the building stocked with tilapia.  He showed us his coffee bean trees that require a canopy of other trees around them in order to survive.  Much like the people of the Grand-Bois area need some assistance to thrive, ServeHAITI is supplying the canopy of encouragement many need to allow their dreams to grow.

Alfred, our interpreter, made the profound statement that capitalizing on opportunities is a way to “win your life.”   The Haitian roads may be rocky but organizations like ServeHAITI allow others to use those stumbling stones as stepping stones to a better future.

Haiti Adventure – Saturday, June 21, 2014

At Friday night’s reflection time as we shared what we hoped to get out of our visit to Haiti, Brian shared the line from the movie Lord of the Rings – where Bilbo Baggins states as he enters the boat, “I am quite ready for another adventure.”  We found ourselves fondly referring to this statement as we trekked today from Port Au Prince to Grand Bois.  Our journey was really quite an adventure with several stops along the way.

Today’s focus would be examining the problem communities face with having access to clean drinking water. We do know there are still 100,000 Haitians living in tents since their disastrous earthquake in 2010.  The earthquake and its aftermath were not the only thing that created a serious issue with safe drinking water for this country.  Lack of quality roads for travel adds to the lack of technology and education that would lead to advancements.  One of the beliefs of ServeHAITI is that one who travels  here, should through outreach get into the community and develop an understanding of the Haitian culture.Many of us felt we had preconceived notions about this land of contrasts, but our eyes were opened as we entered their world today to hear their stories.  We stopped to observe a group working diligently to drill a well for ServeHAITI.  It was a community event as people gathered round to watch the workers continue seeking water, a search that has gone on for several days.  Some of us stood up on the roadside, not taking the steep climb down, and spent time contemplating how to solve the problem of hauling the water up to a more well-traveled road, considering a pulley system or a water tower.  In third world countries, women spend 1/4 of their lives gathering water and many people travel 6 hours one way to gather decent drinking water for their families so access to water is a major issue.

Our next stop was an orphanage supported by ServeHAITI.  The children were spending nap time giggling and doing gymnastics with our workers.  A group of girls were outside doing their hair, and Gary delivered bracelets to them made by several young girls in DeWitt, Iowa.  Our hearts were touched as we considered the future that awaits this group of children.  Many of us asked ourselves, “How can we take these children with us?”

Next stop?  A new school building whose construction is a partnership with ServeHAITI.  The community constructed the building but now ServeHAITI will assist with putting in a floor to adequately prepare it for classes.  There were many gathered here; they knew we were coming.  The group gathered in the school house and continued to discuss other needs of their community.  They walked us back behind the school house to show us their current water source – a mud hole where animals also drink.  A member of our group Gary came forward to state that his church, St. Joe’s in DeWitt, Iowa, would support the building of a well on the spot where we were standing.  The people began to call him, “White Lion,” and handshakes were extended with a commitment to solidarity between the community and ServeHAITI.

Just when we thought we would not stop again until we reached the Clinic in Grand-Bois, we were greeted by over 200 people bearing bouquets of flowers and a sign welcoming ServeHAITI to their area.  They then escorted us to the sight of their potential well – a 20 minute hike through the countryside.  As we walked they sang to the tune of “Happy Birthday” the following song:  “Happy welcome to you!  Happy welcome to you!  Happy welcome, happy welcome! Happy welcome to you!”  They sang in both English and Creole and their sweet voices echoed up and down the path.

 

Once we arrived at the sight of the well, we were introduced to the man who made the cinder blocks for the school.  We could feel the appreciation by this community. ServeHAITI is partnering with these citizens to create roads to access the well and the digging of the well itself.  There is an emphasis of a “hand up and not a hand out”, and the necessity of a partnership between the community and Serve HAITI was continually emphasized by Dr. Leo.

In the evening our discussion focused on the people of Grand-Bois.  It was expressed the need for increasing the distribution of Gift of Water buckets that help to purify the water that is unfit for consumption in Haiti.  Currently, there are 3000 of these buckets in use but there are over 12,000 families who would benefit from receiving a Gift of Water bucket.  ServeHAITI has found that families must be responsible for paying at least a small fee when acts of mercy are given them.  Each family must pay 20 Haitian dollars or $2.50 US dollars for these buckets but the benefit of the clean drinking water cannot have a price attached that would adequately express their benefit to Haitian families.  ServeHAITI will continue to seek ways of distributing more of these buckets to better enhance the life of families in this country while emphasizing dignity not dependence.

Tomorrow we will be well-rested and quite ready for another adventure!