2009 Haiti Mission Highlights
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Then after I have poured out my rains
again, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and
daughters will prophecy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young
men will see visions.
Joel 2:28
Read here for:
Opportunities to
contribute supplies and money to help the NW Haiti Christian Mission
Janene and Marc Sonnega, Jamie Moore, Marty Nordsieck, and Kay Horning
returned from the NW Haiti Christian Mission at about 2:30 a.m. Wed.,
July 15th,
tired but satisfied from our eleven-day trip. We spent part of the time
at the main mission compound and the rest of the time traveling to
various satellite sites. Each place offered its own experiences and
opportunities to help and learn more about the Haiti culture and
difficulties.
One
of our main purposes was to instruct young men who already have some
English skills and are eager to improve their knowledge. We teach
through Christian songs, skits about Bible stories, worksheets to
develop vocabulary, and reading elementary Bible stories. Since we need
additional missionary help, our class provides an opportunity for other
people to experience on a one-on-one basis a relationship and
conversation about life in Haiti. The young men enjoy our class so much
that, on the last day, they asked if other groups coming in this summer
would provide the same type of English instruction. Apparently, we are
the only group which ministers to this group of young people.
Since there were only five of us, we didn’t feel that we could handle a
VBS with a large bunch of kids. Therefore, we planned two mornings with
the Gran Moun (folks in the home for the elderly) where we provided a
Christian message followed by making bead bracelets one day and coloring
pictures another day. Marc had drawn pictures based on our message
which they enjoyed coloring. We hung up their pictures and took photos
of them with their finished work.
On
Wed. we traveled to the Baie de Moustique which is across the Big River
(no bridge—the driver just drives right through the water while people
are bathing, washing their animals, clothes, and themselves) and out
into desert-like territory. It’s a much more rural area with donkeys,
cattle, chickens etc. When Marty and Kay had been there before, there
were huts and a bar located on the beach, all of which was wiped out in
last year’s hurricanes. We were able to wade out a long ways on a sandy
bottom and enjoy almost bathlike water for swimming.
A
highlight of our visit there was seeing the main building which was paid
for by our Cincinnati Presbytery from a grant which Marty and Kay wrote
several years ago. The roof of that building provides a wonderful place
to sleep out under the stars which we did on Wed. night. Although the
building has been flooded several times, it has cleaned up well and will
continue to be used for groups like us who visit, It also has a medical
clinic, but right now no one with medical skills is available to serve
the people.
Since it does flood,
land higher up has been purchased and homes are being built for the
missionaries who live there. Janene and Jamie used shovels and hoes to
help build a terrace for a garden while the rest of us collected a pile
of rocks which will help hold the terrace in place. Jamie, Janene, and
Marc moved concrete blocks onto and off a truck which will be used to
continue work on the houses.
From the Baie, we traveled over what seems like the worst roads in Haiti
to the new orphanage at Salines Mayette. When Marty and Kay were there
last year, it was a huge open soccer field with a makeshift woven church
which was totally demolished in last year’s hurricanes. We attended a
dedication ceremony for a new church which was paid for by the River
Church which is located on the western side of Cincinnati. The new
concrete block church is now built as is the orphanage into which
approximately 120 kids were moved last Oct. It’s still primitive with
only latrines for bathrooms, but it’s there away from the dangers of the
city in its former location.
Our
first job was to get the girls into a room and distribute some of the
dresses for pictures. It was chaotic as they all wanted to try on a
dress and fitting them with the right size on short notice was a
challenge. However, Janene got some good pictures which are on the
bulletin board downstairs in Fellowship Hall. Thanks to all who bought
material, sewed dresses, and provided money.
A
group from Lexington, Ky., was prepared to provide a craft which each
child would do to send to their sponsors at Christmas time. The group
came with a camera and printer so that each child’s picture could be
taken. About a dozen of us were stationed around the room where we
worked individually helping the children put together a snowman frame
for their photo. Kay was pleased to actually work with Celandieau, her
sponsored child who’s now fourteen years old and recognizes her during
each visit.
That afternoon we traveled to Beauchamp which is a satellite mission
which has been in existence about two years and is a thriving exciting
place. A couple from Florida left their ministry to be in Haiti full
time and are doing a fantastic job at helping the people and developing
a real ministry there. After staying overnight on the roof there, at
about 7:15 a.m., it was our responsibility to provide the worship
service for a group of adults who gathered before their market day. The
theme of our service was our hymn, “Here I Am, Lord”, to which Jamie
danced. We then distributed peanut butter and bread to the adults and
to about fifty kids who’d gathered outside.
Mike and Theresa, our hosts, led us through the market which was a very
revealing experience of Haitian culture. In addition to foodstuffs for
sale, one could buy just about anything you wanted. We finished our
tour in the livestock area where a freshly killed cow was being
butchered and goats and hens were being either led by a rope or their
feet were tied together, and they were being carried upside down on a
donkey or someone’s shoulders.
Since the roads are so horrible, transporting groups to these remote
satellite missions is a real challenge for the mission’s trucks. Last
year the tires were the vulnerable problems. This year it was the
exhaust system which caused us to have to stop at the former orphanage
and wait for a Tap-tap (rented truck) to take us the rest of the way.
It’s amazing to see how capable the Haitian drivers are at knowing which
pothole or huge puddle they can drive through safely.
Kay and Marty have
long-time relationships with several Haitians whom we plan to visit
during each trip. As Janene mentioned Sunday, our visit with Stephanie,
the mother of the autistic boy, was really moving this year. She has
had to take Tilolit to an institution in Port-au-Prince where hopefully
he’ll get some training to behave better. During this past year, he has
nearly burned down their two-room house and has pulled the plaster off
the walls in many places. He also runs out into the traffic and has
nearly been hit several times. Yet in the midst of all this burden, she
has developed a strong faith and asked if she could pray for us. As we
stood in a circle, holding hands, she sang for us, recited two psalms
from memory, and prayed in thanksgiving for us, as well as for safe
travel.
Another positive
experience this past Sunday afternoon was seeing a young man whom we’ve
known for nine years teaching computer skills to a group of fellow
Haitians. He had hoped to go to college but has resigned himself that
he won’t be able to do that, but instead is helping develop others. He
asked Janene, Marty, and Kay to speak to his group about the importance
of technology. We told him that we’re the wrong generation for that,
but we did try to speak inspiringly to them. We had a sense of real
satisfaction to see this young man whom we first knew as a little boy
now taking a real leadership role.
Today when we were driving our short distance to Calvin, I was reminded
of last Sunday when we rode in the mission’s bus down to the river
again, and then we walked along the river for probably three miles on a
dirt path to the mission church at La Forge. Janene commented that it
felt almost Biblical as if we were walking along the Jordan River. We
worshipped with the Haitians, heard an inspiring sermon by the Lexington
minister, and then provided children’s church for probably sixty kids.
Haitian Christians sing with gusto and enthusiasm which is always
inspiring to the Americans.
Calvin should be proud of its team of five who enthusiastically
participated in many facets of ministering to and being ministered to by
the friendly Haitian people.
It’s a real privilege to be the hands and feet of God in that
poverty-stricken country. We thank all of your for your support and
interest in our trip and for your prayer support. Because of your
prayers, we’re home safely and traveled without a hitch this year.
Submitted by Kay Horning
