Final post from Kathy G.

In reading Irene’s post on family reunions, I have to say that that is exactly what it feels like when I come to Haiti, and especially when I go to my twin parish in Cerca Carvajal.  People everywhere are so welcoming; they make you feel like part of the family.  They are genuinely glad that we are here.  God has created us as one family that He intends to be one big happy family.  From time to time we catch a brief glimpse of God’s vision for all of us, and that is what I see most clearly when I am here.  As I look at people I begin to see aunts and uncles, cousins and grandparents in the people I meet.  From time to time, we may have minor squabbles, but what would any family be without that?  What holds us together is the love of our most precious Lord!  Truly Jesus did show us the way with his acceptance of everyone, from lepers to adulterers and sinners of all kinds.  He welcomes us all and teaches us to do likewise, to see His face in each person we meet.  I still don’t know why, but it is so much easier for me to realize this in Haiti. 

This will be my final post to the blog, but I invite you to view my blog ( kathygross.blogspot.com).  I will be posting about my time in Cerca Carvajal, Oct  13 until I return on November 5th.  Bondye bene nou!  (God bless you!)

The post below was created by Irene and emailed to Colleen.  As is common in Haiti, internet access has been spotty and Irene was not able to post on her own.  

Nightly Reflection in Haiti

Before our journey began we had a very nice orientation in Richmond at the beautiful home of Kathy G followed by Mass at St Edwards and a special blessing for our journey.  It was a very nice preparation for the journey preparing 5 different people with different backgrounds and professions who are members of 5 different parish communities working in 4 different Haitian parishes/schools to journey to Haiti as one.  During the orientation we discussed and divided up the responsibilities of the journey and one of these is the nightly reflection time at the end of each day.  Each member picked one night to lead the reflection and so I picked the last night Sunday night thinking I would have plenty of time during the journey to prepare for this.  I did not prepare anything ahead of time and grabbed a Living Faith booklet (Jan, Feb, Mar 2013) I had unpacked from one of my bags as I was repacking to leave for Haiti and tossed it in my backpack to look at during the journey and prepare for my night to lead reflection.

Of course we were on the go often during this week, staying at most 2 nights in one place and involved in various meetings and computer training as well as just being present amoung our Hosts and sharing their lives with them so I did not find time to prepare for the reflection.  After dinner Sunday  night we moved to the porch of the Emmaus center and the topic of our nightly reflection came up.  I told the group it was my night and admitted I was not really prepared but i would find something and be right back.  I went to my room and got the Living Faith booklet and opened it to Thursday January 3 page and the Title for the day is "We are All in the Same Family", perfect, Mesi Bondye, Gras a Dye ou pou voye Sentespri a pou pwepare m. (Thank You God, thanks to God for sending the Holy Sprit to prepare me).  And so after a quick review of the Scripture passage ( 1 John 3:1) I went back to the porch now fully prepared in a matter of just 5 minutes to lead a wonderful reflection on our "Family Reunion" in Haiti.

After reading the Scripture passage and short reflection related to being a Child of God and family reunions a wonderful discussion began of our journey and the "Family Reunioun" each had experienced during the week.  It was the perfect message for the end of our journey together and the group shared a variety of feelings regarding the experience of being welcomed in Haiti and sharing with our family in Haiti.  Just as in a large family reunion we had the experiences of reuniting with close sisters, brothers, niece and nephews and meeting distant cousins and relatives we had yet to meet.  We were welcomed into parishes, schools, churches, hospitals, a city park in Cerca (which was unlocked for us to visit when a gentleman in town saw us looking from outside the gate) and even a family’s home.  We were welcomed to share special events like the ordination of 2 priests in Mirebalais, or the 50th anniversary of the school @ Cerca Carvajal, as well as the everyday lives of the people we lived among.  We are always warmly welcomed for wonderful meals and very comfortable lodging, those of us returning to a place are welcomed Home and the others are invited to consider this home from now on.  We are always welcome in Haiti as we arrive and when we leave always welcomed back, the welcomes are honest, sincere and always with joy from the heart, I am sure this is a part of the reason many of us have such a desire to return as often as we can. 

Individuals in the group share their special moments during the "Family Reunion" seeing a Priest whom they have stayed with or met before, the seminarians we have spent time with in past trips, students from schools we work with, teachers and support staff of the schools and parishes we partner with, Br Harry and Br Bill at Maison Fortune, and many more.  We enjoy the family reunion experience as we observe the joy of others in the group reuniting with close family as well as some who are introduced for the first time. 
As I said in the beginning my first trip to Haiti started with "I can't go to Haiti" and now it is always "I can't wait to return to Haiti".  The first trip was a journey to a different country, with people of a different nationality and culture who speak a different language, I went to listen and learn about the people.  Each trip back is increasingly more of a "family reunion", a journey to see family and share their lives and even speak a little of the language when they tolerate my Kreyole.  I am glad to have been unprepared for the reflection so that I would be free to follow the direction the spirit lead me and happy to have shared a wonderful week with four special women working hard to become productive members of the "Family of God"

Unfortunately Kathy G had already split from our group Sunday afternoon so she was not a part of the discussion we had so I hope she can share the reflection through this post and even possibly share her thoughts on her "Family Reunion" experience as a Child of God.

Just a quick note and pic.  I'm back home (and slept very well last night).  This pic is from our meeting with the BDE.  From left to right - Irene Saul, Colleen Hernandez, Richard Joseph, Monica Walker, Msgr. Jethro Noel, Kathy Gross and Kathy Dowdy.  A fine crew if I must say so!  My prayers remain with Kathy G, Irene and Monica as they complete other tasks still in Haiti.....

Some reflections from the porch of Maison Fortune orphanage

We are sitting on the porch this afternoon at Maison Fortune in Hinche as the late afternoon storm rolls in.  This time of year during the rainy season this is the daily routine.  Almost every day in the late afternoon the winds pick up, you see the dark clouds begin to roll in and then hear the lightning and thunder and soon after there is rain.  In a discussion concerning the rain the day before, the comment is made that “the weather in Haiti is very polite”: it comes in slowly with plenty of notice so that people  can finish their work for the day, close up the market places they have set up along the road and get back home before the rains begin. 

As I look back now on our travels the last few day I am reminded of what wonderful hosts the Haitian people are.  They are often very busy with multiple jobs and responsibilities and still when we come to visit they always stop what they are doing and find time to visit, receive us and provide us with a tour, answer questions for us or find contacts for places that we would like to visit.  They are always very welcoming, and make time for us. They work hard to make us feel at home.  After making multiple visits to Haiti I am now well aware that plans we make for the journey often change at the last minute but this visit we have had even more than usual.  Just a few days before we were set to depart we learned that the road to Baptiste was not very good for travel and would be a difficult trip so we had a last minute change of plans to make a stop in Mirebalais instead.  Msgr Leveque at Mirebalais happily received us at the last minute and then took time during the day to take us for a tour of the schools as well as arranging a last minute visit to the new Hospital in Mirebalais.  This is the first week of school here and there is much to be done to prepare for the opening of the schools.  In spite of that, Msgr Leveque and the staff of the school treated us as if we were dignitaries who had planned a trip for months in advance and were happy to take the time to introduce us and answer questions for us. 

The same is the case with Sister Jeanna at the Normale school in Papaye and the staff of St Martin in Hinche, and everywhere we have popped in to visit with either short notice or unannounced.  The people in Haiti seem to have the ability to live in the moment and to enjoy anything that comes their way and not get stuck in the stress of a set schedule.  It is a reminder of the message from a few years ago, Sorrow looks behind, Worry looks ahead but Faith looks up.  I often worry about keeping an exact schedule to get everything done and do not take the opportunity to enjoy the distractions of an unexpected visitor or a change in schedule, or a sunset that will give me some variety in the day.  I am worried I will not get the important things done and don’t realize the most important things are the time spent with others that will make memories for the future and relationships that will be strengthened for times of need.  I hope to pick up a little of the Faith that will allow me to Look Up more often and live for today and enjoy each moment and all of the distractions that come my way.

Irene

5 days in...

As in the previous post, this was written several days ago and is just being posted now.

5 days into our trip and the word that keeps coming to mind is familiar.  Many new places, so many new people. A very different schedule yet things seem familiar, even comfortable.  Much if not all of that is because of the kindness and open hearts of the Haitian people.  

Today for example, we started by leaving the Maison Fortune Orphanage and heading to Cerca Carvajal, about an hour north-ish from Hinche.  Brother Harry’s famous oatmeal for breakfast, followed by Thimothee (the best driver in Haiti) loading the jeep, and sometimes smooth but most often bumpy ride to Cerca (crossing 8 or so fast running streams on the way wondering if we would make it to the other side).  While we have had the luxury of room in the jeep, we picked up an extra passenger, Champagne, in Hinche to help as a translator for computer training.  Upon arrival at the parish, rectory, and school compound in Cerca, we were warmly greeted by Pere KK and rectory staff.  Kathy Gross was greeted as a rock star!  Of course, this is her twin and they love her big time!  After unloading (the rock star gets her own room with bath while the rest of us share one!), we headed to the school’s new computer lab.  Ten or so teachers came to the school today (Saturday no less) to become familiar with using a mouse and those sorts of things, so they can show their students.  All of the teachers present were so friendly and anxious to learn.  A short break was taken for lunch, which started with the prayer Manje Sa a (Irene and I added Father Joe’s Amen); wonderful rice and beans, avocado, beets, carrots, and goat.  Then I skipped the rest of the class so I could hold up my end of the blog.  Now while I never stayed in a room with Thimothee sleeping just past the curtain, I’m sure we will manage, although I worry about him!  The room is getting darker, with thunder not too far off in the distance.  And I see (or rather feel) the mosquitos are quite active!

Seeing old friends like Sister Jeanna and Richard, while meeting so many new has just been great.  Everyone feeds us, everyone worries about our comfort and attends to all of our imagined needs. The only thing they ask of us in return is to listen.  Like the new pastor at Sapaterre who asks for our help because his school is the worst in the Diocese of Hinche and he doesn’t have a twin.  He pays the teachers $40 per month and can’t find good ones for that small wage.  We can only offer to try and see what we can do.  And that is enough for him to graciously thank us before he returns to his school.  Everywhere we turn there is tremendous dedication to the students.  It is incredibly humbling and uplifting at the same time.  I know I have been well loved this trip….as always.  I hope this time I have loved well.

Colleen

Another day in Haiti

A side note, this was written several days ago, but couldn't be posted until now due to lack of internet.

From Port au Prince, we drove on a wonderful paved road to Mirebalais where we were greeted by Msgr. Laveque.  It was great seeing him again. His rectory and church are right in the hub of town with all the hustle and bustle of the marketplace just outside the door.  Lunch of fresh avocados, rice and goat sauce, bean gravy, fresh vegetables, and fried plaintains was fabulous!  We toured the primary and secondary schools and met two supervisors including Pierre Lafleur who is now recovered from his terrible motorcycle accident last year. 

Life in Haiti is so very different from the life we know in Virginia.  It is so very simple yet so very rich in lessons.  The weather is hot so by the end of the day a cold shower feels amazing.  A storm developed later in the afternoon and was a welcome “cool down”.  But as the shower ended so did the water and electricity for the rest of the night.  The very things we take for granted were not available.  To us this was an inconvenience and a conversation piece.  Of course we would survive one night without these necessities but to the Haitians these are luxuries that are so often not available.  Life goes on, laughter continues, streets remain filled with the sounds of music, talking, horns blowing and always much laughing.  There may be electricity tomorrow and probably water but we are so alive. I sat and listened to a young man tell me about his dream to become a lawyer.  He wants to study in Haiti and give back to his country.  He doesn’t care that I haven’t showered and, neither do I.  I was listening to a young man’s hope that would not be dampened by life in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.  I saw a Haitian with the determination to make his dream come true.  I saw one man who will make a change in his country.  I share his hope today.

Kathy Dowdy

still dont have a good connection, but we are having a great trip aand even though we have not had the ability to post daily we have been writting so hopefully we will be able to post some of the last few days posts soon.  we went today to mirebalais for the ordination of 2 priests from the diocese of hinche.  it was a wonderful service and  great experience to share with the community.  colleen and i also got a special suprise, we were able to see and talk with abey mistere prevois who is a seminarian who was at the emmaus center 2 years ago when we were on our parish trip.  i have been able to keep in contact by emails every few months and was hoping to see him while i was here but did not hear from him recently so i was not sure if we would see him or not.  the ordination was another last minute change to the agenda so i will take it as the spirit moving us in the direction we are intended to go and i am happy that it worked out this way.  the bell rang for dinner so more later.

we are in cerca carvajal now having a basic computer class with the teachers.  please excuse the lack of capitalization or proper puncuation because when i try to use these functions i get kicked off the blog site, not sure if this is due to slow internet or why but this is part of learning to live with what we have while we are in haiti.  we learn everyday in all we do to be thankful for what we have and to be resourceful with the gifts we receive.  this is the lessons we learn during the trip, we often hear many talking about what we can teach the haitain people but we always return from haiti learning and receiving much more than we could teach or bring to them.  it is always amazing to me seee how much can be done with so little in equipment or technological systems.  i wonder often what the haitian people could accomplish if they had even a small percentage of the resources we in the usa have.  more to come later regarding the training when i have a better internet connection.

A challenging day

We had originally planned to visit Baptiste first, rather than Mirebalais.  We were misinformed that the road was too bad for us to visit.  Unfortunately, Fr. Cassa did not get the message that we were not coming.  He called and told us that he was disappointed because he had told his whole parish and the school that we were coming.  Sigh!  Miscommunications happen everywhere, but it is even easier when communication by email is not always a given.

In addition to our school tours that Irene wrote about in her post, we also met Fr. Malherb (Marche Canard) and Fr. Bertrand (Roy Sec).  Msgr. Leveque and they want deeper relationships in the US.   As Monsignor said: "I miss my friends at St. Nick.  It is not about the money, it is about the relationship."  All of these priests want to help their people, and they understand that education is key.  Msgr. Leveque showed us a new secondary school he has started where an orphanage had existed previously.  It only has 7th and 8th grades at present.  He named it after the first Haitian bishop, Msgr Augustin.  He told us of a twin he had outside of the diocese of Richmond.  This twin had supported the orphanage but did not want to support the secondary school.  He seemed deeply hurt that they would not consider his request.

We had also hoped to visit the Mirebalais hospital today.  We wanted to visit in particular because the hospital received a grant from the Clinton Foundation for solar panels.  Monica, our computer guru is hoping to find a way to get a grant for solar panels to power computer labs.  Msgr. Leveque attempted to make arrangements for us to visit but unfortunately that will have to wait until tomorrow.

We know that we are called to be here, and to listen.  To us Americans, with our "can do" attitude, it is difficult to simply listen, and not to fix.  We trust that God will lead us where He wants us to go and to do what He wants us to do.  We ask your prayers for this too!

Pierrot Lafleur showing Kathy G and Irene the Grille Supervisors Report on the Kindle Fire.

Kindle Fire's were provided to the supervisors by CRS/Kellogg Foundation/Notre Dame as support for the teacher training formation that began this summer for 350 teachers in the Diocese of Hinche.  He showed us the "Grille" form on the Kindle and we discussed the observations he made on the class today as well at L'Ecole St Louis.  We discussed the use of the technology to make his job a little easier to produce reports and save the reports in an organized manner to refer to later when returning to the same school or the same classroom.

We were happy to see that he was well and has been able to go back to work again after the accident he had last year.  It was very nice to see him and be able to discuss the work that is done by the BDE supervisors as well as know his health is good.

We also met Millien in one of the elementary classes at L'Ecole St Louis, one of the new supervisors hired to support the BDE in Hinche as part of the teacher training program which began this year through CRS/Kellogg Foundation/Notre Dame.  It was very nice to meet the supervisors and to put a face with a name and to get a better idea of the work they do to improve education in the Diocese of Hinche.

we made it to mirebalais this morning and spent the morning visiting the school and observing the supervisors in the classroom.  waiting to visit the hospital to take a look at their solar power.

Welcome Oct.8th!!

Oct.8th is finally here. After spending the night at Kathy Gross' s beautiful home, Thanks Kathy. The five of us met in Miami. As we await our plane to Port au Prince, I feel so privileged to be among such an ingredible group of women.  Although this is my 5th trip to Haiti I know it will not be like any other. While I'm sad not to be able to get to Baptiste I so look forward to seeing a few old friends and meeting new ones. For everyone I meet in Haiti teaches me a life lesson. With each trip I become a better person.  I strongly believe that the only way this country will improve is through education.  The computers and training we are bringing this trip may contribute towards that goal. Thank you, Monica.  This will be my first meeting with most members of the BDE. I pray that God will use me to make a difference in some small way.  No matter,  I will return stronger in Faith, richer in virtue, and tired from laughing with these 4 crazy, wonderful women.

Another Introduction

Where to start?  My first trip to Haiti, my first entry in my journal dated 2/6/11…”I pray that I see what God wants me to see.  I pray to be little so that God is big.  I pray that I can be present and presence.  God help me”.  Leaving that morning from Roanoke, I thought I was prepared and ready.  I thought I knew what to expect.  Arriving in Port au Prince later that day – it was very obvious – how wrong I was, how very little I knew.  How unprepared I was.

I cry now as I remember waking up the first morning in Port au Prince hearing voices all over the city…voices of people living in tents...singing alleluia as their day began.  Their lives destroyed by an earthquake, but they still sang.  How great was their faith, yet how small was mine.  The trip from PAP to our twin, Ecole Normale in Papaye embedded a thousand such sounds and pictures in my heart!  Ecole Normale is a teacher’s training school and our parish pilgrimage was for the purpose of listening and building relationships….and that takes much more time and effort than taking a hammer and building a house.  So it began. 

This week some things will be different….Even though there is some “computer stuff” to do on this new trip with new people and new destinations, it has the same purpose, listening and building relationships.  Only this time it’s with the BDE (Department of Education) for the Diocese of Hinche.  Many good things are happening in Haitian education.  It’s so exciting!

Haiti changed me.  It made me a better person.  My faith is stronger.  I know we are called to accompany (as partners, not bosses) Haitians as they work to improve their lives.  Haiti has made me worse too.  I can get frustrated, angry and hurt when people here don’t understand what we’ve seen.  Then my faith is smaller.  But that never lasts because Haitians are too full of hope and joy to give up!

Haiti is a paradox in every way, right Irene?  That seemed to be what we discovered on our first trip!  I don’t know what this trip will bring (at least now I know I don’t know!).  But I think Father Joe’s homily last week had two words aimed right for me….Love well.  Pray that we do.  Colleen

Intro continued

My Haiti History began shortly after the earthquake when the new chairperson of the Our Lady of Nazareth (OLN) Haiti group, a friend from bible study, asked me to join the OLN group on a journey to Haiti in 2011. My answer was "I can't go to Haiti" followed by a multitude of reasons why but she did not give up easily. After multiple refusals on my part because I work full time as a restaurant manager, did not have enough vacation time to go, could not take time off from work during busy seasons, etc she convinced me that none of those excuses were valid and so I agreed to go.  I had seen the TV coverage of the earthquake and read some brief information on Haiti but had no idea what I was going to "do" in Haiti or what I would see or experience during the trip.   I had been told we were going to Build Relationships with our twin Ecole Normale d'Instituteurs Hinche Papaye, the Normale school, a teacher training school in the Central Plateau.  

What I experienced during the trip was an amazing journey to a materially impoverished country, stripped of natural resources that is Rich in Strength, Faith, Hope, Joy and Beauty, especially in the People of Haiti.  The Joy and Hope of the people who have so little material wealth and work so hard just to live day to day inspired me to get connected and think about how I could help, what could I  to help support their work.  

I decided I could work on finding Grants from Foundations to assist the school with their mission of improving education in Haiti.  With no training or experience I began an internet search and trusted that I would be guided in the right direction if this was the work I was intended to do.  It was trial and error but with help from friends and family I have had success in receiving funding in 4 of the 6 grant proposals for the Normale School.  

I since have moved back to NJ to be closer to family but I am still connected to the Normale school and OLN and continue to work with the Haiti group to support the work of the Normale school by writing grant proposals for projects.  Last year I was unable to travel with OLN to Haiti because I was opening a new restaurant the week of the trip so I decided to take a solo trip at a different time.  The solo trip was a very different experience for me expanding my experiences and language skills since I had no translator with me I had to communicate on my own.

This trip with the HEF will also be a different experience for me and is very exciting since I am interested in the "big picture" of education in the Central Plateau, as well as Haiti.  I am looking forward to visiting other areas of Haiti and seeing new schools, meeting new people and making new friends and rounding yet another bend in the road to see what lies ahead.

This will be my 4th trip and I will be making my 5th in January 2014 with the OLN group so what began as "I can't go to Haiti" has quickly become "When Can I go to Haiti again".

I hope we find the time to be able to share our experiences during the Journey.

Introductions

Well it is Thursday, and we leave next Tuesday, so preparations are in high swing. Five of us are traveling together, all are board members of the Haitian Education Fund (HEF).  The HEF raises funds to improve education on the central plateau of Haiti, by partnering with the Hinche diocesan bureau of education (known as the BDE).  Each of us is also involved in our own Virginia parish's Haiti ministry.  All but one of us has traveled to Haiti before, and each of us will have our own story to tell.  We are:

Kathy Dowdy from Holy Family in Virginia Beach.  She is the chair of the HEF board.
Colleen Hernandez from Our Lady of Nazareth in Roanoke.  She is one of two vice-chairs.
Irene Saul is a former member of Our Lady of Nazareth now living in New Jersey, but still helping the cause of education in Haiti.
Monica Walker from St. Thomas Aquinas on her first trip to Haiti.
Me, Kathy Gross

So here is my story:

I made my first trip to Haiti in 2002, on a lark.  As it turned out, it was the first HEF board trip.  I had never before traveled to any place like Haiti and I was deeply moved by the beauty and grace of the people, as well as by the poverty and environmental devastation.  I remember visiting an orphanage founded by the Sisters of Charity (Mother Teresa's order) after we arrived in Port au Prince.  There were rooms filled with paint-chipped cribs with malnourished children.  My heart broke with the realization that some of these children might not survive, and those that did had a very rough life ahead of them.  Later on that trip, we met with members of the diocesan bureau of education in Hinche (BDE).  They outlined their vision for improving education.  Supervisors who started as excellent teachers have been trained in teaching teachers how to improve their teaching.  These supervisors visit all of the Catholic schools in the diocese and observe teachers teaching.  I remember my initial thoughts:  "Yes!  Education is the ultimate answer to this grinding poverty!"  I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit leading us to partner with the BDE to help them to achieve the dream of improving education for the children of the central plateau.

Since then, I have traveled to Haiti every year, at least once, and in the past several years, several times each year.  I have been privileged to watch as education is slowly improving.  This year, CRS and the Kellogg Foundation have funded a two year teacher training program.  The first sessions with teachers began in August.  Some of our Virigina parishes have twins outside the Hinche diocese on the island of LaGonave.  They wanted their teachers to participate if possible.  Because of our relationship with the Hinche BDE, we were able to ask about this possibility and the twin parishes were able to make this training a reality for 10 of their teachers.

Our purpose first and foremost for this trip is to listen to members of the BDE and to supervisors as they explain their hopes for this school year.  Secondly, we will be visiting a number of schools and will visit computer labs where they exist and review barriers to computers in other schools.  But I will let our computer expert, Monica Walker write more about that.

We hope that you will enjoy hearing about our pilgrimage!
Kathy Gross

Before the journey begins the work to set up the Blog to capture thoughts and experiences of the group begins.  Starting with some basics first adding all of the pilgrims on journey to the Blog so everyone can share thoughts, ideas, and experiences throughout the journey.  Orientation next Saturday will be the official beginning of the journey hope to have some information to share for the start of the journey and much more to come as we travel in October.