Demolition of Dreams (a poem,) Pictures, and Updates

Recently there have been buildings in the city that have been marked for demolition because they were built on top of canals that were created for the flow of rain run-off.    Reflection on that image was the spring-board for the poem below.   The poem uses that idea as a metaphor and is in no way meant to express any kind of an opinion on the actual situation or the politics behind it, which I do not fully understand and are probably complex. 

   

Demolition of Dreams

A single spray-painted word on a concrete wall 

marks a dream for demolition.  

Destruction of dreams can take many forms: 

diminishment, divorce, deportation, disability, diagnosis, 

disaster (natural or not), death.  

Inevitably everything dies eventually 

and 

in actuality, nothing ever really dies completely.

What was carefully constructed can come crashing down

Cement crushed into concrete crumbs.

Perhaps where the structures once stood 

fresh water will freely flow

and its current can create and carry new dreams 

those previously unimaginable  or

once presumed to be impossible

now granted through grace disguised as destruction 

the potential to grow.  

 Here are a few pictures I took yesterday morning while waiting for a ride to a school.  

  

Updates: 
My days have been full.  In general, things are going well.  Each week I have such a variety of activities since each of the three schools and the orphanage where I serve as a social worker are all different.  My role is evolving in different ways as I try to best respond to the needs of the students and staff at each location. 

My English classes are going well, too.  I generally genuinely enjoy them.  Although I am still challenged in trying to figure out the best way to effectively teach 57 high school seniors conversational English at 7:00 in the morning in 45 minutes a week. 

On Sunday I had the opportunity to meet with a group of children in the parish who are called Timoun Misyonè (Missionary Children.)  I was helping to prepare them to go and visit a home for people with disabilities, which they will do as a service project soon.  It was enjoyable to meet the young people of the parish who want to be of service to the parish and larger community.  I also felt privileged to be able to share with them the positive experiences that I have had in my life when interacting with people who have disabilities.  I realize that when people with disabilities are excluded from schools and other sectors of society it is not only unfortunate for those who are disabled but equally for those who are not considered disabled who are then denied the possibility of interacting and forming friendships with those who are.  I pray that the children will have a good visit and a positive experience and I pray for all of those they will encounter and for their caregivers. 

Have a good week.  Many blessings!   

 

   

Seasons

There are no dramatic seasonal changes here as there are in the northeastern United States  where I grew up. The somewhat subtle changes are worth noticing and celebrating, like the return of this flower that fascinated me especially the first year I lived in Leocadie Convent.

As I sat down to write, I recalled that last year at this time, I wrote that I was wondering if I would still be in Haiti at this time this year.  I went back and reread that blog post, (here is the link.)   Well, here I am exactly one year after I posted that and yes, I am still in Haiti.   And, one year after that post,  I have at least as much uncertainty as I did last year as I wonder where I will be next year at this time.  Today, though in the midst of the uncertainty, and busyness I have been graced with a sense of peace.

 Last year's poem has not lost any relevance, so I share it again.

Unknowns abound
but so do the certainties
of seasons
and Paschal patterns,
For even if what seems the worst of all possibilities
one day arrives as reality,
Then from under the abandoned ashes
seeds will surely sprout
and rise from death’s decay
to flower and offer fruit,
proudly proclaiming the certitude
that hope cannot be killed.

This picture was taken last week among the ruins of the San Souci Palace.  

May you experience peace and hold onto hope wherever you are today, and wherever life may lead you.       

Thank you for taking time to read my updates.  Many blessings!   


     

Remembering and Response

Remembering 

A memorial to Sr. Maureen

Maureen 

On Saturday, we celebrated the life of Sister Maureen.  When I arrived in Haiti in September of 2014, she along with another Canadian sister of Holy Cross met me at the airport in Port-au-Prince and made the journey with me to Cap-Haitian.  English was her first language and she told me many stories and shared information about Haiti and her life here.  She had come as a young sister just after first vows to work in a hospital since she had studied to be a lab technician and there was a need for her skill set at that time.  Her stories included challenges as well as courageous acts during the difficult days of dictatorship in Haiti.  Later, she directed the construction at many of the sites where the Sisters of Holy Cross live and work.  There were times during the past few years when I saw her infrequently at regional gatherings and periods when I encountered her regularly like when she directed the construction of a room at the orphanage.  On more than one occasion during that time I was playing with the babies when Maureen’s pick-up truck pulled into the orphanage gate and the two-year-olds would literally jump with joy knowing she would come to greet them.  Maureen died in Canada on New Year’s Eve.  The official funeral took place in Canada last week, but on Saturday the sisters, and delegations of students and faculty from all of the sisters’ schools, and many others from Cap-Haitian gathered for what was described as “symbolic” (since the body is not here) funeral mass.  After the mass when all of the sisters gathered at a particular convent, I recalled that the previous time I was in that dining room for a celebration I had sat at the same table as Maureen and had enjoyed our conversation.  She is and will continue to be greatly missed.  The buildings she helped to construct will continue to stand for a long time to come; her kindness and spirit will continue to touch the Sisters of Holy Cross, the people of Haiti and many others. 

Earthquake 

Friday was the eighth anniversary of the Earthquake.  Yesterday, I heard someone who was living in the capital eight years ago spontaneously share with me and others about her earthquake experiences.  I am reminded that healing takes time.

  Here is a link to a beautiful memorial video that was created for the earthquake anniversary last year.  Since I found it to be very touching and powerful I decided to share it.     https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=yDOO55vctD4&app=desktop

May we continue to remember and pray for those who were affected.  

Response

On Friday morning, which happened to be the anniversary of the earthquake, the other American sister that I live with brought to my attention that she had heard a quick blurb on a French language news program, that the president of the country of our birth had spoken in a vulgar fashion about the country in which we are residing (as well as about African nations and El Salvador.)    When the school day was over and I was waiting to eat lunch at the school convent where I work on Fridays, I was actually able to get a good enough internet signal on my intelligent telephone to find an article and learn more details about the situation.

It is a strange and even embarrassing time to be an American living in Haiti.   It took a couple of days before it became the topic at the dinner table.  The following day, a driver asked me about it; I was glad that during a previous Monday morning commute when he brought up American politics, I had mentioned that I am not a fan of the current US president.  This morning on my way home from teaching an English class in the city, I heard a radio commentator in a mixture of Creole and French, tell the whole story in great detail about what the President of the United States said.   It was at times painful to listen.  It is one thing to read about it online in English and another to hear it spoken of in the presence of Haitians in their language.   When the commentator many minutes into his monologue explained that Donald Trump had stated that he has a good relationship with the Haitian people, it seemed especially humorous.  Overall, though the situation for me has brought many more tears than laughter.  My hope is that my presence will somehow through the grace of God, communicate to people that there are Americans who are in complete disagreement with the words spoken by the president, that there are American people who value them and appreciate their country and culture.  

 I want to believe that the world is moving in the direction of being less racist, less systemically unjust, and more equal and inclusive.  Evidence to the contrary can at times feel discouraging, but I will not allow myself to truly become discouraged.  There are many people who have directly experienced constant racism, systemic injustice, inequality, and exclusion in ways that I can’t even begin to accurately imagine who have not lost heart; they inspire me to have hope and courage.

Everday I encounter, hardworking, kind, good, resilient people.   Very recently I have been touched by the kindness of strangers here in Haiti.  On Friday morning, when a woman I don’t know saw that I did not have the exact change for the tap-tap, without my asking she offered to exchange a 10 goud bill for two 5 goud coins.  Recently, a stranger helped me to get across a puddle that was as wide as the road, without my falling in. Of course, there are a variety of people here and in every country, of varied temperaments and motivations.  I am not trying to romanticize or deny the challenges of living in Haiti, or pretend that people are perfect, but certainly, it is not as the president supposedly described.  During the past eight years, I have come to deeply love this country, I have an ever-growing appreciation for the people of Haiti who are living here as well as for Haitians living in the US, like those who I got to know in New Orleans when I attended the Creole liturgy regularly.  Certainly, this can not be easy for Haitians in the US. Kenbe la zanmi mwen yo!  

 Just over a year ago I had the pleasure of visiting Burkina Faso, and about ten years ago I had the privilege of visiting Tanzania.  They too are beautiful places where I met many wonderful people.  How sad to think that someone, who would appear to have everything (in terms of power, possessions, prestige) might actually be so lacking in vision and wisdom that he is unable to recognize the beauty of these countries and the gifts of their people. 

Many blessings!

Florida Photos, a Fèt, and Fun Facts

Happy New Year!  

Photos: 

Here are a few photos taken during my time in Florida for you to enjoy.  

After an enjoyable vacation, on Friday, I returned to Haiti.  

Fèt

On Sunday the Sisters of Holy Cross and the people of Pilat celebrated the 50th anniversary since the hospital in Pilat was founded.  What is now the hospital, started as a dispensary 50 years ago; during the celebration, it was mentioned that the Marianites, served there when it began.  Later the Sisters of Holy Cross continued the mission which has expanded during the years to meet the needs of the people.  The joyous mass was well attended and was followed by a delicious meal.  I was happy to see that some work has been done on the road to Pilat.  It cut travel time by about 30 minutes in each direction and made the round trip journey not as exhausting as it would have been when the roads were in terrible shape.  I was grateful that I was able to attend and happy to celebrate an important ministry.  

Two Fun Facts:  

Before pregnancy tests were readily available,  frogs were used in hospital laboratories for determining if women were pregnant.  A reference was made to this during the celebration in Pilat, where this was the common practice in the early days of the hospital's laboratory.  Having never heard of such a thing, I asked an American sister who worked at the hospital many years ago and she explained how it worked.  Here is a link about this that I found on-line if you want to learn more.  

If one were to wear a pedometer or a fitness watch when traveling by car on unpaved or very bumpy roads, every bump may be counted as a step.  On Sunday according to my new fitness watch, I walked 21,305 steps or almost 10 miles.   In reality, that day, I spent about five hours sitting in a pick-up truck and at least three hours in church and did not formally exercise.             

Have a good week! Many blessings!