The trip to Haiti in early June became a bit of an adventure.  There were four of us.  All had been to Haiti for 10 or more visits, so we thought we’d learned what to expect.  We were wrong.

Think about a typical US cloudburst – a real “gulleywasher.”   They typically last about 10 minutes – maybe half an hour.  Think about a cloudburst lasting all day…and all night…and the next day…and the next night.  That’s lots of rain.

It didn’t start that way.  The day we arrived in Boileau was a typical sunny day. There was a picturesque little creek flowing across the road, just outside the clinic walls. It splashed a little as we drove across. When we left, after three days of rain, it was a raging river.

The clinic was closed since neither nurses nor patients could cross the river.  Only five or six people showed up for Sunday mass…and they might have been some of the crowd that took refuge in the school building because their homes were flooded. We were afraid the flooded rivers might strand us halfway between Boileau and Port au Prince; we would miss our return flight.  But, with Alix as a driver and Moise as our navigator, we made it.  (Moise promised that, if the situation required, he would sit up on the hood and part the waters, like his namesake, Moses.  Fortunately, we didn’t need to test his “parting of the waters” capability.)  Sue and I just sat in the back seat, eyes wide with amazement at the flooding–and took a bunch of pictures – and prayed.  Someone suggested calling the trip, “Wet and Wild”.

Before the Rains

These two pictures are the same scene, one before the rain and one after. 

You will notice that in the first  picture, before the rain, the creek is barely identifiable as water. 

The River after the Rains

   After the rain, the little creek has become a mighty river.

Picture of one of the many refugee tent camps throughout Haiti.

This house was one of the better houses until the earthquakes hit. 

 While this is nothing like the pictures of downtown Port-au-Prince which we have seen in the newspapers and on television, it accurately shows that there was some damage throughout the country.

One of several wells that have been drilled in and around Boileau. 

 Each time a new well has been completed and is ready for usage, there is a blessing and thanksgiving ceremony. 

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A vegetable garden in Boileau being plowed by Oxen.

Our Pilgrims have provided some Oxen for this purpose.  In many places there is more land than can be plowed by men alone.

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 A skinny Black Bull getting a drink in a nearby creek.

You can see how skinny he is.  This is another problem within the agricultural process.  They need to get the animals well fed so they can provide more meat to be sold on the local market.

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  The majority of Haitians are very religious, mostly Catholic.

This is Fr. John, of St. Phillips, concelebrating at a mass in Boileau.

Howdy Pilgrims,

As we discussed at the meeting, four members are going to Haiti during the first week of June as another of “Stewardship” trips (Sue, Alix, Moise, and me).  We will spend the week in Boileau learning and listening – and doing a little talking.

We want to understand the situation in Boileau: confirm progress on the projects; confirm we both have the same understanding about future directions.  Part of the function of the “stewardship trip” is to perform due diligence on behalf of the donors, to confirm that money is being used as promised.  We’ve not had problems in this area, but we have a strong obligation to donors to make certain.  So, in addition to the quarterly reports which they send to us, the trips make it very clear to all that we will be there, in person, to see.  Alix frequently quotes someone who said:  “trust, but verify”.

This trip will direct special attention to expanding employment opportunities within Boileau. Yes, “expanding” from zero is a challenge – but everything helps. This trip we will also increase our role in providing some “guidance”.  In the past we have made suggestions – gently coaching-and they’ve been very willing to accept our suggestions.  This trip we’ll probably step outside their “comfort zone”.  Some topics for special attention will include:

• establishing a mill at Boileau  (for grinding grains such as soy and corn)
• using the school building for “two shifts” – primary school during day; trade  school at night
• expanded loans from micro-credit for bigger projects (like $4,000 to purchase  oxen to plow the fields)

One possibility we’ll explore is whether/how the village can establish a “barber shop”.  Wahl Clipper company donated half-dozen, heavy-duty hair clippers to plant a seed-possibly a small job-training and possibly the initial capital investment for a local barber shop.  We’ll explore how they can keep more pennies circulating within the village rather than paying for services in Cavaillon.

So, we will learn, but we also plan to coach and guide.  Keep us in your prayers.

Mike

All the absentee ballots are in!  The three nominees for Director roles are fully supported and elected by the Haitian Pilgrim members.  Alix, Kirk, and Sue are welcomed as Directors!  Mike will continue as a Director; Deacon Ray and Father John will continue in Consulting roles.

There were no surprises at the first meeting.  All immediately acknowledged that we can’t do it without lots of help and concurred that the Directors will plead for volunteers to form a Core Leadership Team who will manage key activities . There will be opportunities for both Team Leadership and team member – so we can use whatever amount of time and energy you can volunteer.  The need for help is so intense and the suggestions for Haitian Pilgrims to do more are so frequent, it’s time to take on some additional programs.

The Leadership Team will oversee the operational management of the various key projects.  A member of the Leadership Team could participate as a team member in other projects.  So you won’t get boxed into only one part of the program.

Some of these key operational areas that require management/oversight include:

• School – lunch program, supplies
• Clinic – pharmacy, laboratory, staffing
• Micro credit
• Water
• Agriculture
• Community Leadership/Activities Development
• Finance [501(c)(3) reporting, tax letters, etc]
• Fundraising
• Communication to donors (project updates, “thank you” letters)
• New Ventures  (explore/research new possibilities & suggestions from  members)
• Translation (English to French & vice versa)

So, as soon as we get back from the Stewardship trip t Haiti, we’ll be looking for volunteers who are willing to jump into some of these activities.

Certainly, one needing improvement is communication with members – better updates on the website will be a high priority.

Meanwhile, if questions, I’ll welcome an email ( since I’ll be traveling to/from Haiti for the next 10 days, a phone call won’t work very well; also, response to email won’t happen until after we return).  Keep us in your prayers – and think about what role you will enjoy in the “new and improved” Haitian Pilgrims .

Mike

The fear, of course, is that they really do not have the basic tools to protect against the threat of rapid transmission. The school in Boileau is a perfect example. Every day, more than 800 students and teachers from different households gather at school. If any of them bring the bacteria with them, the risk of spreading is very high since there are no hand-washing facilities. In turn, if a student or teacher carries the bacteria home, the risk of contagion within the household is very high since limited access to water reduces the possibility of hand washing at homes.

We are working with the doctor at our clinic in Boileau to expand cholera prevention. Education about the risks has been our first priority.

Prevention: steps to reduce exposure starts with awareness of potential spreading of the bacteria. The biggest risk is contaminated water supplies. The villagers in Boileau have been blessed by your generosity – you have provided a total of 15 wells with hand pumps, so clean water is within walking distance of all the villagers. For many, it still requires an hour or more to walk to and from the pump with 50 lbs of water, but they can have confidence the water is clean. Fortunately, personal hygiene and cleanliness have been high priorities within Haitian culture, so the risk of person-to-person is not so strong. Nevertheless, that risk is still there and must be recognized. For example, the doctor emphasizes that people who do not have strong symptoms, can still be carriers. Hand-washing remains the most important part of reducing spread of numerous diseases including cholera.

Recognizing the symptoms: recognizing the symptoms is another part of the education we’ve been providing. The doctor noted that this is important since the early symptoms are similar to many other intestinal problems that Haitians have trained themselves to “get through” without seeking medical help. Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting – the earliest symptoms are typically treated at home. Only when the symptoms become severe do they consider medical treatment. Unfortunately, cholera can kill within hours, so not waiting until symptoms progress can be a life-or-death difference.

Education is an important first step toward prevention. We are also seeking cost-effective methods to increase facilities for hand washing. The school is our focus, but the early estimates of cost are beyond our means. We’re looking for help from larger organizations. We will continue to do what we can.

Meanwhile, we continue supporting the school, student-nutrition (school lunches), the medicine for the clinic, staff and equipment for the clinic, and the agriculture/livestock programs. Each has challenges, but with the help of dedicated villagers to provide local management of these programs, all are doing well.