Kabrit ak Siklòn

Kabrit (goat)

Last weekend the sister I live with who is the director of formation went to visit a few of the family homes of young women who will soon enter the Sisters of Holy Cross as postulants.  Some of them live in small towns and rural places in or near the mountains.  When she arrived at their homes they gave her gifts including fruits and vegetables,  mangos and plantains for example,  as well as a turkey and a goat.   We enjoyed the fresh fruits and vegetables.  Someday the goat and turkey will be consumed, too; until then, we'll enjoy their presence in our yard.     

  Siklòn (hurricane)

For the third time in recent weeks, a Hurricane has passed to the north of Haiti, doing little (or none at all in the case of Jose) damage to Haiti.  Maria stayed far enough away that we were never officially placed in a Hurricane or Tropical Storm Watch or Warning Zone according to the maps on the National Hurricane Center website.  It did come close enough to bring significant amounts rain yesterday and during the night.  I believe that this is the reason that schools are closed today, (although maybe they are closed because of political protests and problems in Port-au-Prince.)  It is a great relief that Maria only passed by and waved to us rather than coming in for a visit.  I am praying for all those in nearby countries who were not so fortunate as well as those in Mexico who experienced the recent earthquake.

Earlier in the week when the path of Maria was not yet clear, I listened to an online weather report from a major American television news channel.  The meteorologist spoke of a meteorological reality, which I had also heard mentioned by other weather reporters a few weeks ago when we were anticipating Hurricane Irma.  If the hurricane crosses the island of Hispaniola because the island is very mountainous, it can significantly weaken the storm system.  While I don't doubt the truth of what he said and don't believe that he intended to be insensitive, the way it was said did not sit right with me.  That is what inspired this:     

  

Dear Mr. Meterologist, 

No doubt that your statement is scientific certitude, but,

Please remember that people live on that island and in those mountains,

People who have hopes and dreams, families and friends, talents and trials as you do,

but many may lack insurance, safe storm shelters, stable foundations and well-built roofs, (which I assume you do not.)  

It is a  place where mothers tie pretty ribbons in their little girls' hair before sending them to school,

A place where there are bridgeless rivers that storms significantly swell,

Rivers, often crossed by children going to school and merchants to market,  and sometimes even the sick seeking a hospital,  

In those very mountains,  many gardens are grown, not as hobby or summer supplement, but for subsistence and survival. 

Some of those mountains lack trees, so easily the mud can slide abducting all in its path: banana trees, bean plants, cows, houses, and people  (somebody's mother, father, child, sister, brother, friend or lover....) 

Many may not worry about loss of electricity or running water, (never mind internet and air conditioning)  for a storm will not take what one has never had; 

It is lives and livelihoods that could so easily be lost,

lives of equal value to your own and to those you love, at least in the eyes of God (in society's eyes, well, I am not so certain.)    

Please remember, Mr. Meterologist, 

You are speaking not simply of a speed bump for storms, 

but of a place both beautiful and vulnerable, 

 a place some call HOME.

Have a good week.  Many blessings!  

      

First Full Week of School

Last week was essentially the first full week of school since the first official week was cut short due to Hurricane Irma.  I am still feeling very grateful that the storm did not hit us directly.  Since my last update, I have heard a few stories of people who experienced some problems related to the storm.   Just a moment ago I realized there is another storm, Maria, which potentially could head in our direction this week.  Praying for all in its path!

Then English conversation classes that I am teaching to high school students are going well.  The night before the first class I was feeling somewhat anxious and wondered if I am really qualified to teach at the high school level (undergrad was elementary and special education.)  The first class went so well that I actually found myself looking forward to the next one. Most of the students seem very motivated to learn English.  They have another more traditional English class taught by another teacher where they learn grammar and vocabulary. The idea of being expected to concentrate conversation is quite freeing for me (after all, it is hard to make grammar interesting.)  The classes are much larger than I am accustomed to.  My largest class has 57 students!  I have five classes; each meets only once a week for one hour.  When the students start chatting with one another, which high school girls do sometimes, I tell them to say it in English.    

In two of the schools, I have begun observing in some of the classrooms and talking with some of the teachers about their challenges and concerns regarding students.   I have felt very welcomed in both of those schools and have enjoyed my interactions with the teachers and the students.

The children returned to the orphanage last weekend.  I was very happy to see them.  This year I will be there one day a week, most likely providing individual therapy to the children who the sisters and employees see as most needing individual support.

Since my last update, I was able to attend two masses in celebration of vows for members of the Family of Holy Cross.  Last Saturday, three young men, (who were in my little English class last year,) made first profession and two men professed their perpetual vows in the Congregation of Holy Cross.  It was a joyous celebration and most of that mass was in Creole.  Yesterday one of the Sisters of Holy Cross made final vows.  I felt privileged to attend and enjoyed the party that followed.  It is wonderful to be able to connect to the large Holy Cross family especially to celebrate newer members.

I want to share with you a few pictures I took last Sunday.  While I was walking around the yard taking the pictures, the kind woman who had cooked our meal was leaving to go home for the day.  When I had returned from vacation I had given the employees who work in our convent each a card I had made with a photograph I had taken; she knows what kind of things I like to photograph.  Several times we said good-bye and she started walking toward the gate, and then she would see a bird or a butterfly or a lizard and excitedly call me to take a picture.  I was touched by her kindness and enthusiasm especially considering she had worked much of the day.

Have a good week!  Many blessings!

Hurricane Irma Update

It seems the center of the storm is passing to the north of Haiti.  The storm is greatly influencing our weather.  It is certainly windier than normal and raining intermittently, but we are not receiving and if I am interpreting the maps on the National Hurricane website correctly not very likely to receive actual hurricane force winds, thanks be to God!  I have no doubt that even this relatively mild (especially compared to what we could have received if the storm's path had been only slightly different) is probably causing great problems for some people in this area.  There are so many people in Haiti with housing that does not seem strong, whose roofs could easily fly away, or who live in areas that flood frequently.  Let us pray for them and hope that the storm continues to do little harm here and elsewhere.  I pray for all those in other places where the storm was much worse who have already been harmed and for those in places that will receive a visit from Irma in the coming days.

This is a tree in our driveway.  It was taken a little while ago.  You can see it is wet and a bit windy, but not bad at all.  

My heart goes out to anyone who experiences great problems as a result of hurricanes and other natural disasters.  If this storm is coming your way please be careful.  Be assured of my prayers.   If Irma arrives at your doorstep and the only things you lose are a few days of electricity or drinkable tap water, please, remember that many of our brothers and sisters in our world never have those luxuries.  

Thank you, everyone, who is praying for Haiti and for me and for those who have expressed concern.  I appreciate you!   Take care.  Be safe.

 

IRMA

Several years ago, while participating in a leadership training program, I read the book, Ministering Cross-Culturally by Sherwood G. Lingenfelter and Marvin K. Myers.  There was one chapter that talked about cultural differences in terms of how people prepare for and anticipate predicted natural disasters, like hurricanes. I am glad I read that book for many reasons and especially that chapter at times like this.  It explains why when I look at my Facebook feed (for example) people in the US, who if they experience Hurrican Irma have much more time to prepare for it than we do here in Haiti, seem so much more concerned  and quite possibly many have done more to plan and prepare for the potential storm than many of the people here in Cap-Haitian have where a Hurrican Watch has already been issued.  The book emphasizes that one perspective or approach is not better than another; it is simply a cultural difference.  Even knowing that, it  still feels a bit odd to me personally that people don't seem to be talking about or doing very much yet to prepare, and it seemed just as odd when I read online yesterday that grocery stores somewhere in Florida had run out of bottled water because people were  already stocking up in participation for the possible storm.

The house where I live is very large, sturdy and safe.  It is made of concrete.  I am not concerned for my own safety during the storm; don't worry about me.  Please do pray for those whose housing is not adequate, those who are most vulnerable and who have the fewest resources. Let's pray and hope that Irma will not do too much damage anywhere and pray for people everywhere who are impacted by storms and natural disasters.

There are many other things I could write about, but the storm seems to be on the minds of some of those in the US who read this.  I will try to keep you posted about the storm, and share about other experiences in later posts.  Stay safe.  Many blesssings!