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.