The Rest of the Story

Finally --- some time to reflect!

The trip home was relatively uneventful; we landed in Philly about 10:15 Sunday night, but by the time we claimed most of our baggage it was after 11:00. Ten of our 12 checked bags arrived with us; the other 2 were delayed an additional 13 hours but have been reunited with their owners.

By all accounts the trip was extremely worthwhile and rewarding. I'm not sure that "successful" is an appropriate description of our journey given that there is always more to be done and true progress on so many fronts comes so slowly in Haiti. Nevertheless, despite its diversity this team had a focus, unity of purpose, will to work and camaraderie that I have seldom experienced. We returned very tired and sore, mostly intact, and extremely thankful that we were able to have a significant positive impact on the congregation in Place L'or.

Six different churches were represented by the team members. For the most part we had never met prior to the one pre-trip meeting in September. Ages spanned 6 decades; construction skills and experience ranged from novice to professional; culture and lifestyle ranged from rural Pennsylvania Dutch to urban Haitian immigrant.

Place L'or is a small community just to the east of Leogane. (You may recall that Leogane is the large city near the epicenter of the earthquake; it sustained severe damage to 90% of its buildings and lost about 25,000 of its 150,000 population.) Another team had erected a 40' x 64' pole-barn structure on the site of the Place L'or church. Our project was to extend each side by about 9' and extend the front by about 11'.

Our home away from home for the week was the Wesleyan Campground in Petit Goave. (You may recall that this campground was one of the first medical treatment sites in the days and weeks immediately following the earthquake.) The bunkhouse had 4 rooms filled with 20 or so bunks; since there were 13 of us, space was not an issue. The team consisted of us 9 from the Penn-Jersey District, the project manager from Easly, SC, and 3 Haitian men who were being trained to lead construction projects such as this one. Next door was the kitchen / dining hall where breakfast and dinner were served. Next to that was the bath house with toilets and showers having water supplied from a tank on the roof. The campground borders the bay with a wonderful view of the water and the island of La Gonave. But stop short of jumping in for a swim; the way the nationals use the water is one of the major health concerns and a primary contributor to the diseases that plague the country.

For the most part sufficient water for personal hygiene was not a problem. But one night we returned all dirty, sweaty and stinky to find that the tank had run dry and no one had bothered to turn on the pump to refill it --- showers that night were delayed for a while.

Surprisingly, electricity was supplied by the city from about 6 pm to 6 am. The generator on site was usually run for a couple hours in the early evening before the city power came on --- unless the generator ran out of fuel. Having electricity throughout the night was a blessing since that meant fans would run all night.

Common breakfast items were scrambled eggs, hard boiled eggs, spaghetti, bananas, peanut butter, juice and coffee (strong enough to walk, and served with hot water for diluting). Dinner always included generous helpings of rice (mostly with beans), sauce, fried plantains, chicken or other meat, salad, soda (Coke, Sprite) and coffee. Lunch was often peanut butter and jelly sandwiches; the ladies of the Place L'or church provided lunch one day and soup another.

The one-way commute from Petit Goave to Place L'or took about 1 hour 45 minutes on roads that are typically Haitian --- stretches of paved road (average travel speed 60), areas of irregularly spaced large pot holes in the dirt (average travel speed 2), frequent "speed bumps", vehicles 3 across on 2-lane road, busses and 18-wheelers barreling along with horns blaring, an irregularly shaped "crater" in the asphalt road surface 12" wide in places and 10' or 20' long, and a ford through a river because the bridge across it had been rendered unusable by the earthquake.

Monday
Dug 26 post holes 3' deep 12" diameter. Removed steel roofing from area used for school room to make room for church extension.

Tuesday
Set all poles. Local hired labor mixed and poured concrete around poles. 2x4 pieces for side trusses all cut; some assembly begun.

Wednesday
Ledger boards and trusses all set on right side. Start purlin boards on right; start ledger boards on left. Start work on trusses and corners for front.

Thursday
Finish purlins on right. Finish ledger boards and set all trusses on left. Fasten ledger boards on front and begin setting left front corner truss. All front trusses cut; most assembled. Temperature has been in mid-90s all week. Today the humidity was noticably higher; everyone is exhausted.

Friday
Put steel roof on right side. Set front trusses including 2 corner trusses. Drill and bolt ledger boards to main posts.

Our time in Place L'or concluded with a short service with the local congregation. Many times throughout the week and again in the service people expressed wonder and ask why would we leave our comfortable homes in North America, take time off from work, leave our families, and even pay our own way to come to a small, dusty community that had been devastated by an earthquake to labor and sweat in 90 degree, 90% RH to enlarge a church for people we had never met (and might never see again here on earth)?

Why indeed? Is it altruism; is it lunacy; is it a frail attempt at beneficence; is it a feeble attempt to ease our conscience?

Or is it our desire to intertwine our lives with a cause greater than all of us driven by the conviction that a community of believers in the midst of natural devastation can know love and hope that transcends the current circumstances and can grasp the Truth that has lasting value beyond this life.

What Next?
Rebuilding teams from across North America have filled the schedule through May 2011, and scheduling is continuing into Fall 2011. Chi United is on the schedule for a team on La Gonave the first week in March 2011. We'll see how it all unfolds and hang on tight for the ride.

Back in Port

By now you should have concluded that Internet access in Petit Goave is not as reliable and functional as we first thought.

We arrived back in Port-au-Prince about noon today. Tomorrow morning we head to the airport early for our 8:45 am flight.

We had a busy, tiring and productive week. In the next day or so I hope to post additional observations about our work in Place L'or and our stay at Petit Goave. In the meantime, thanks for your interest, prayers and support. Stay tuned.

Ready to Work

Maybe there is Internet after all! Shortly after we arrived at the Petit Goave Campground this afternoon, the mission station manager volunteered that Internet could be made available. So I'm composing this post.

We left Port-au-Prince about 10:15 headed to Petit Goave with a stop at Place L'or to "tour" the work site. About noon we arrived at the Place L'or church. Jeff Galloway, a volunteer from Easly, SC, is working with this as project manager; he explained the planned work. Meanwhile, one of our team members went to visit his mother, whom he hadn't seen in over 3 years.

About 1:45 we arrived at the Petit Goave campground, our home for the rest of the week. We spent most of the afternoon getting settled in. As we're waiting for dinner and I'm composing this post, we're listening to the evening worship service of the Petit Goave congregation. The church building is a few blocks away, but has been severely damaged by the earthquake. So they are meeting here.

Well, the time for team building and sight seeing has come to an end. Tomorrow we get serious about doing what we came for. Hopefully I'll be able to tell you about it.

We're Here

We have landed! The flight to San Juan actually arrived 15 minutes early. However the "puddle jumper" from San Juan to Port-au-Prince really labored to make the 400 mile trip. Thankfully all the luggage arrived with us; and since our plane of 80 or so passengers was the only arrival, processing through immigration, baggage claim and customs was quite manageable. The current layout for passenger pickup requires deplaning passengers to walk from the "hanger" customs area back to near the original (pre-earthquake) area (50 yards or so) pushing baggage carts overloaded with luggage all the while telling would be porters that their assistance was not needed.

Dan was there to meet us and to get us loaded into an 11-passenger taxi with our luggage on a roof rack. The drive to the guest house was a typical adventure on the roads in Port-au-Prince. The current plan for our week is to work at Place L'or (near Leogane) adding an extension to the newly constructed pole barn. We'll be staying at the Petit Goave campground and making the half-hour one-way daily commute in a 4-door pickup --- guess who gets to ride in the truck bed.

As far as I know now, there is no internet access from either of those sites. So unless I learn otherwise, there is not likely to be further posting on the blog until Saturday when we should be back in Port.

Several of you have expressed your interest in our trip and are praying on our behalf. Your interest and prayers are deeply appreciated. By your participation you are partners with us. THANKS and keep praying.

Headed South

Tomorrow morning 9 of us are scheduled to leave Philadelphia bound for Port-au-Prince, Haiti, by way of San Juan. We are the third of four teams from our District of churches that are working to provide provisional structures for worship and congregational gatherings. I've heard of two possible work sites for us so we won't know for sure which one until we get there. One site is more likely to have Internet access than the other. I do plan to write updates daily; maybe they'll get published daily or maybe they'll get published after we are back home. Stay tuned.

The Next Phase

The absence of posting to this blog during the last two and a half months does not mean that interest has waned or activity has ceased. However, schedules have been adjusted; my next trip has been rescheduled from July 17 to October 16. The focus for the next several months will be on constructing "pole barn" type structures on the sites of damaged churches to serve as provisional buildings for worship, education and fellowship. Currently four teams from the Penn-Jersey District are scheduled to participate in this reconstruction effort.

Relief and rebuilding efforts continue on many fronts by many organizations. One I found especially encouraging grew out of the commitment of a doctor who was one of the first responders following the earthquake and who has over a period of several years made numerous trips to volunteer in the hospital on La Gonave. He has established an organization that seeks to meet real needs of the people on La Gonave with a current focus on providing one meal a day to 1000 school children. Read more about his experiences in Haiti and his vision to make a difference.

Home Again

The trip home was uneventful and relatively on time. After a few days to recoup and review, we'll take a look at what the future might hold. As I've mentioned before, our District is planning some trips to erect interim structures on the sites of damaged churches. The first trip on our schedule is to leave July 17. Stay tuned.

Thanks for you interest, support and prayers.

Concluding this Journey

On ministry trips like this there is always more to be done than can be accomplished in the time alloted. Nevertheless, the positive impact of what has been completed will last far into the future.

Finishing the header boards was a relative straightforward task. The rafters, however, were a very different story. Keep in mind that the members of this team are handy men around the house, but have not raised roofs (wooden ones at least) very often. After cobbling together two ladders from 2x4s and 1x4s and fastening two 2x4s together for a scaffold plank, we began the task of raising rafters 10' above the ground. Seven hours later when all was said and done, we had 3 of the 7 rafters set in place.

Judain has worked with us for several hours for the last couple days. He was excited to tighten some of the bolts holding the panels together; he also was able to help set one of the rafters. He obviously is overwhelmed by the love expressed in funds to purchase materials and in the work of four North Americans who came to build a house for him.

We are scheduled to depart Port-au-Prince at 8:55 am tomorrow morning. Hopefully the flights will be on time.

Building the Walls

Internet access was down yesterday. Here's the post from last night.

With one working day left, the pressure is building to complete the project. We knew late last week that we would not be able to complete the tin roof since the current supply of tin sheeting is exhausted and the next shipment is sitting in customs. However, today was a relatively productive day. The blocks are all leveled; the walls are all up and tied together; and about half of the header boards are in place.

The big challenge for tomorrow is setting the rafters and tying them together.

A Respite from Work

Today we headed west to Leogane, a large city near the epicenter of the earthquake. After a drive of about 1.5 hours, we joined a congregation of approximately 300 worshipping under the shelter of a temporary structure of 2x4s and tin. Of course, all visitors from North America are "invited" to greet the congregation so we each introduced ourselves. The team then sang a song including a Creole rendition of its chorus, and Pastor Mike delivered the sermon. Following the service, we were invited to have a snack (cheese sandwich and cherry juice) that had been prepared.

We decided to continue west and visit the sites of other churches that had been destroyed by the earthquake. After stopping at Carrefour Dufort and Papaette, we reached our western most destination at the church campground at Petit Goave. This location was the site of the MASH clinic that provided so much of the early medical care to earthquake victims. Although medical care is now being provided at other sites, the campground facilities are in dire need of refurbishing. Short term plans for the campground include the hosting of teams that will be erecting interim structures at many church sites in the area. We met with members of another team that had been refurbishing a dormitory and bath house here and had wonderful time of sharing together.

The "two-hour plus" ride back to the guest house over roads with exposed fissures, with partial lane blockages due to fallen rock, and with a detour through a river bed in order to avoid a bridge rendered unstable by the quake left us exhausted from this day-long, nine-hour journey. We're quite content to spend a few hours after dinner relaxing, reflecting, and renewing our energy for another work day tomorrow.

Assembly Begins

On Saturday most of the team cut rafters and braces and headed out to the site. The morning was spent setting and leveling the concrete blocks that will support the panels. Meanwhile I was working with our missionaries to refine the initial set up of the QuickBooks file they will use to track and report the financial side of their ministry.

The weather was brutally hot, and the work site is without shade so the team took an extended lunch break for some much needed rest. In the afternoon we returned to the site and were able to position, align and join three of the panels before returning to the guest house for the night.

Following the evening meal a final sanity check and correction of the transactions was made to the QuickBooks file which the missionaries had populated with historical data to the present. Reports were generated. No doubt there will be enhancements made as additional experience is gained, but for now an initial implementation is functional.

Panels Complete

There are now ten 8'x8' plywood sheeted panels sitting on Judain's property. He has hired two friends to spend the night at the site so the panels don't "walk off". Recall that the panels were fabricated in the concrete front yard of the guest house. The panels were "hoisted" onto the top of a pickup bed and strapped down for the ride. The four of us were just able to lift a panel so we were grateful whenever a couple others could be pressed into service. Although Judain's property is only a few miles away, a round trip of loading panels onto the top of the pickup, navigating the Haitian traffic (and potholes), unloading the panels and carrying them to the back of the property, and returning to the guest house took about one hour. Five round trips were required to get all 10 panels on site.

The plan for tomorrow is to position the panels and bolt them together after setting and leveling some concrete block supports. Ideally we would also have the rafters cut --- we'll see.

A Two-Pronged Attack

As you've heard several time in various ways, a trip to Haiti is never as simplistic as it was initially planned, but it is always rewarding - sometimes in way never dreamed.

Work on the house continued; the framing of the remaining panels was completed; holes were drilled for the bolts that will join the panels and for bolts that will serve as anchors to the concrete floor when it is poured; plywood sheeting was put on 3 of the panels.

While the rest of the team was working on the house, I was consulting with our missionaries about ways to improve their tracking of ministry finances. Several hours were spent setting up a chart of accounts and report generators for a QuickBooks file that will enable them to more closely track the many projects and activites that are a normal part of their daily lives.

The Fabrication Begins

It should come as no surprise that "time" and "schedule" have different meanings in this part of the world. After breakfast at 7:00, we had the opportunity to catch up on reading, meditating and visiting while various transportation arrangements were made and the morning schedule was adjusted. There were two airport runs for some who were returning home plus a trip to the Wesleyan wharf so two missionaries could return from their respite state-side. The adventure of shopping for lumber began at 9:25. The four of us piled into the Canter, a large truck with a covered 14' bed and headed off to the store. By 10:00 we had negotiated the 4-lane traffic on 2-lane roads through town, the potholes optimally placed for our vehicle, motorbikes and pedestrians and arrived at the lumber yard. As the lumber was being loaded, we wondered if the tires and springs would get us back to the guest house --- they did.

A few hours were spent fine tuning the design of the 8'x8' panels including some consultation with Judain. Actual cutting of wood began shortly after 2 pm. By supper time we had 6 panels assembled and ready for plywood. The guys insisted on working after supper so by 7:45 we had completed the framing for 8 of the 10 panels.

We enjoyed some time visiting with Carl and Maya and sharing some thoughts of the day and the trip so far. By now we are not surprised by the seemingly moment-to-moment adjustment in plans. My reason for sharing some of them is not at all a complaint but an attempt to provide a little glimpse into our reality here. It is certainly rewarding to know that our labors, and even just our interaction, are an encouraging support to the folks here.

Off and Running

Three AM seems like forever ago. The flights were relatively on time (for which I was thankful). Baggage claim in Port-au-Prince had been upgraded slightly -- there is now a baggage carousel. It still took quite a while to track down our eight bags, four of which were stuffed with beanie babies. After connecting with Dan and a few of the other missionaries and loading our baggage into the truck, we all piled in and headed to the supplier to look at potential houses. We learned that the preferred design was not available for a couple more weeks so it was on to plan B. Off to the guest house for lunch and to connect again with Joy, Carl, Maya and the girls. Much of the afternoon was spent with Dan in a brainstorming session to settle on a design for Judain's house. The outcome is a plan to build a 16' x 24' structure with a pitched roof; the sides consist of 8' x 8' panels that will be assembled on site. Since there is no security for materials stored in an open field, we'll fabricate the panels in the courtyard of the guest house. When the panels are ready, they'll be taken to the site and put together. The construction will be primarily pressure treated 2x4s with 2x6 rafters and steel sheet roofing panels.

I also had the opportunity to consult with Dan & Joy about their need to upgrade their financial accounting procedures. We'll most likely explore this in more detail and maybe even set up a process that will meet the needs.

True to form, plans get refined as time moves along, but it's encouraging to know that everything we do here is a significant contribution to meeting real needs.

On the Road Again

The bags are all packed and there is still some time to catch a couple hours of sleep before we're off to the airport. Four of us from Chi United are scheduled on the 6:05 am flight out of Philadelphia bound for Port-au-Prince by way of Miami. According to the schedule we should be on the ground in Haiti by 10:40 am Eastern Standard Time (although Haiti is in the same time zone as we are, they do not observe Daylight Savings Time).

Although the focus for this trip is the construction of a house for Judain, through the overwhelming generosity of the Chi United family we are taking with us several hundred beanie babies and some other small toys. Those items are guaranteed to bring smiles to the faces of many Haitian children.

During the next 9 days I hope to provide periodic updates on our activities. Thanks for your interest and prayers.

A House for Judain

So it's been a week since I've been constantly reminded of damage and destruction and a way of life far different from the past. I am reminded frequently that it's important to focus on the next steps forward rather than to succumb to the overwhelming sense of despair and the magnitude of the need. The Haitian people are resilient and they welcome our partnership as they rebuild their lives and their communities. Within the context of our engagement, specific plans are emerging.

Locally we (Chichester United Wesleyan Church) have planned a trip April 20-28. We are raising $4000 in order to build a house for Judain. Judain works with our missionaries on site providing transportation to the airport, the wharf, the guest house, and wherever else the need arises. He's a skillful driver and trusted colleague. Judain's house was damaged in the earthquake so he is sleeping in the street; his wife and children are staying in the states. Our goal is to build a house on property that Judain already owns so the family can be reunited and Judain will be able to focus more clearly on his ministry that is such an integral part of our presence there.

Denominationally, churches and district across North America are partnering with churches in Haiti to erect buildings that will provide a protected environment for congregational gatherings and that are sound enough to weather the hurricane season.

Many organizations continue their efforts to rebuild schools and to provide food and housing.

Home Sweet Home

I'm home! The trip was very productive. I'm tired. I'm going to bed. Thanks for your interest and prayers.

Over the Road

On Thursday we visited the sites of 5 more churches. To the west of Port-au-Prince on the southern peninsula and a two-hour drive away lies the town of Leogane, the population center closest to the epicenter of the earthquake. This city with a pre-quake population of 150,000 is estimated to have lost 25,000 of its inhabitants. In addition to the loss of life, a very large number of amputations were required. Here as in every place we visited many had lost their homes. In this society and economy the loss of home equates to a total loss since there is no such thing as insurance or savings accounts. Reports say that 90% of the city was destroyed, but as we drove through the streets (those that had been cleared) several of us wondered where the other 10% were. An interesting observation about the city is that it had been the center of voodoo worship for the country; the focal point building for voodoo worship had been damaged but not destroyed; the people will likely have to raze the building. The Wesleyan church was severely damaged and the school, in which 800 students were enrolled in grades K - Primary, was completely destroyed.

Another hour drive west and a skillful driver who guided the van away from the several fissures in the road surface brought us to Fond Doux. The church was built by Haitians more than 40 years ago; the damage can be repaired at the cost of significant replacement and reinforcement of reinforced posts and tie beams. Church attendance is 200, and the school enrollment is 500. Two of the Pastor's daughters were in school in Port-au-Prince and died in the earthquake. One was 18; the other was 21 and had just graduated and was ready to face life. The Pastor said "God loved them more than I did, and I loved them a lot. I miss them, but I cannot argue with God."

Retracing our path to the east, the next stop was Petit Goave. This is another large church with a school enrollment of 1000 in grades K-12. This site will require extensive rebuilding. Also in this location is a campground that was the site of a clinic used by first responders. As we were leaving Petit Goave, we stop for a funeral to pass by.

At Carrefour Dufort and again at Papaette we saw damage that requires a demolition and rebuild. In both instances the church attendance has increased since the earthquake, and school enrollment is over 450.

Today we traveled to La Gonave, an island in the middle of the gulf between the northern and southern peninsulas. There is a hospital in the town of Anse-a-Galet that has cared for the 125,000 inhabitants of the island for over 50 years. In the days following the earthquake, people from Port-au-Prince sought refuge in Anse-a-Galet, and the population of the city swelled from about 20,000 to 40,000. The hospital building is old and has sustained some damage. The patients are fearful of sleeping inside for fear of aftershocks bringing down more of the concrete roof. There are now several army tents and other tents set up in the courtyard to house the patients. Providentially, plans were already in the works for a rebuilding of the hospital.

Our short tour of selected impacted sites has come to a close. It is clear that: the need is enormous; the resources are limited; we cannot meet all the needs; and there are many humanitarian organizations involved in Haitian relief. The task now is to determine what responses from us are appropriate, feasible and meaningful. A quote from Edward Everett Hale seems germane. “I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something I can do.”

One More Link

One more link has been added to the sources of information. It is the blog of a professional photographer who is traveling with the team.

Around the Town

Of the 106 Wesleyan churches in Haiti 21 have either been demolished or rendered unusable by the effects of the earthquake. Many of the churches also operate schools. The plan is to visit several of those sites and hear about the possibilities for rebuilding.

On Wednesday we visited the sites of 5 churches in the greater Port-au-Prince area. At Carrefour Feuilles we saw the remains of the largest Wesleyan church in Haiti where as many as 2000 gather for Sunday worship and 1000 gather daily for prayer at 6:00 am. There are still many large chunks of concrete hanging precariously from deformed rebar high above street level. The church must be razed and the site cleared before rebuilding can begin. A few blocks away is the school; two large tarps have been strung above the concrete playground, and that area now serves as the meeting place for the worship services. A few blocks away lie the remains of another school where it is reported that at least 300 and perhaps as many as 1000 bodies are still buried in the rubble.

At Petionville all that remains of the church building is the concrete slab and piles of rubble. The church in Martissant is situated on a large (by Haitian standards) property in an area of the city that had great potential for growth. The main building is an old theater; the largest section is structurally sound but the interior needs to be completely remodeled. The smaller section is no longer usable; it has been structurally damaged by the earthquake and also has water damage from underground. A secondary building on the property will have to come down.

At Cite Soleil the ground floor of the building is no longer usable; as a result, schooling must be moved outside. The sanctuary on the upper level is usable, but given the state of the ground floor, the path of wisdom may be to completely rebuild. At Mais Gate half of the roof has been removed and much of the security fence has been destroyed. The Pastor's house nearby was destroyed by the earthquake. The Pastor was out of the house; his son had just left the house and was able to rescue both his mother and his sister from the rubble.

In every location the people demonstrate a resilient attitude, express a steadfast faith in God, and resolve to move forward.

Yet Another Link

Another link has been added to the sources of information. It is the blog of Global Partner missionary Lowell and Robin Adams.

On the Ground

We have arrived in Port-au-Prince! The flights were relatively on-time. However, since the terminal building had been damaged and is not structurally sound, immigration has been moved to a hanger type building, and we were bused from the old terminal to immigration. Then on to baggage claim. Consider: two fully loaded jumbo jets arrived within minutes of each other; all the baggage was moved from the baggage carts to the claim area by hand where it sat all together as passengers tried to identify their baggage from behind the crowd control tape. Finally, two hours after touch down we were on our way to the guest house for the night. We're staying tonight at the "Gilles" guest house in the northern section of Port-au-Prince. Missionaries Carl and Maya Gilles moved into this guest house with the purpose of hosting visiting teams as they travel through Port. Although did not sustain major damage in the earthquake, it's structural integrity has been somewhat compromised. We meet and eat in the house, but many visitors sleep on mattresses in tents outside. Some do sleep on mattresses near the doorways so a ready exit can be made if necessary.

We met other missionaries here, and Joy had prepared a tasty dinner of rice and chicken with cake for dessert. Follow the meal our team met with Dan to hear about the planning that has been done with respect to rebuilding the damaged churches. Over the next couple days he will be leading us on tours of several of the damaged or destroyed churches and sharing some more or the possibilities that lie ahead.

Off We Go

Tomorrow I am scheduled to join six others on a 5-day visit to Haiti. This trip has been coordinated by Global Partners (GP), the mission arm of The Wesleyan Church, and is being lead by the GP General Director and the Area Director who is resident in Haiti. The team includes individuals from Cherryville, PA, Greensboro, NC, Mitchell, SD, Rock Island, IL, and Tuscaloosa, AL. The purpose of this "Rebuilding Haiti Vision Tour" is to experience first hand the life in post-earthquake Haiti, to learn about the next steps in rebuilding, and to understand ways that the North American church can provide practical assistance in a timely manner.

My (ideal) plan is to publish a post each day. However, I've learned that ideal plans are seldom realized, and that any plan involving Haiti is certain to be modified (sometimes frequently). Realization of this ideal plan depends on at least three factors: sufficient time in the day for me to compose something coherent, availability of an internet access point, and a live, functioning internet. None of these factors is guaranteed.

Some additional information about Haiti (pre-earthquake) and the involvement of The Wesleyan Church and the local church I attend can be found on the local church website.

Another link

Another link has been added to the sources of information. It is a collection of interviews and stories from some of the first responders. It is a must read!

Sources of Information

There are many web sites that provide information about the impact of the Haiti earthquake and various relief and re-building activities and plans. Listed below are some sites that I have been following; from time to time they provide reports of the situation and activities in Haiti.

http://web.mac.com/skipbaumhower/iWeb/Haiti/
One of the team members is a professional photographer. This is a blog from him.

http://gpcaribeatlantic.com/
Global Partners is the missions outreach ministry of The Wesleyan Church. Dan Irvine is the area Director for the Caribe-Atlantic Area (Haiti, Guyana, Suriname, and a couple smaller islands in the Caribbean). This web site provides “on-location” updates.

http://www.wesleyan.org/gp/Haiti
Interviews and stories from some of the first responders. This is a must read!

http://actuallyhelpinghaiti.blogspot.com/
Two laymen from upstate New York were not willing to sit and wait. This web site reports their ventures in finding ways to get food and fuel to the residents and missions staff in Anse-a-Galets on La Gonave.

http://haitiwish.org/
West Indies Self Help (WISH) is a partner in ministry on La Gonave. They provide water and ice for the town and also electricity for the hospital and mission station.

http://www.worldhope.org/
World Hope International is a faith-based relief and development organization alleviating suffering and injustice through education, enterprise and community health. In Haiti they have a staff of about 60 people.

http://www.cultureandsensitivity.blogspot.com/
Dr. Steve Edmondson was one of the first doctors from North America on the ground in Haiti responding to the earthquake. This web site is his blog.

http://www.wesleyan.org/doc/relief
Selected articles are posted on The Wesleyan Church Department of Communications web site.


Other blogs that are updated from time to time (some more frequently than others).

http://www.equiphaiti.com/
Carl and Maya Gilles and their children are Global Partner career missionaries focused on equipping Haitian nationals to be spiritual leaders for their people. They also host visiting ministry teams in their guest house in Port-au-Prince.

http://villagehealtheducation.blogspot.com/
Lowell and Robin Adams and their children are Global Partner career missionaries focused on
community health.

http://portmargot.blogspot.com/
Dr. Kris Thede along with her husband and family are Global Partner career missionaries at Fauche Station, in northern Haiti near Port Margo. She was one of the first on the scene in the areas most devastated by the earthquake.

http://doseofdi.blogspot.com/
Diane Busch is a physician assistant serving for a year in the hospital on La Gonave and was one of the first responders to the mainland.

http://www.justine-steps.blogspot.com/
Justine Iskat is a short-term missionary whose focus has shifted to supporting the logistical needs of the recovery effort.

http://cksloan.blogspot.com/
Chris and Kath Sloan are short-term missionaries who are sharing their time between Fauche station in the north and the guest house in Port-au-Prince where they assist in hosting ministry teams.

Why this Blog?

From time to time I’ve had the opportunity to join others in traveling to Haiti (and other countries) and spending time working with our missionaries and the nationals on-site. On each of these occasions I’ve attempted to maintain contact with the folks back home by means of periodic emails. The management of email distribution lists adds administrivia and provides no assurance of a reasonable distinction between those who have interest and those who do not.

The earthquake in Haiti on January 12 has piqued the interest of many. Several months prior to that time I had planned a return trip to Haiti for April 2010. Not until February 15 did I receive confirmation that the April trip was still on the schedule. Since that time I’ve also been given the opportunity to join a team on March 23 for a 5-day tour of sites where we might be able to help re-establish meeting facilities for some of our national churches.

So --- I decided to use this blog instead of email as a means of sharing experiences, observations and thoughts. You are welcome to tell other interested persons about this blog.