Advent Adventures

Thanksgiving

Last Thursday, thanks to Agape Airlines who provided us, as they do all interested American missionary families who use their mail service, with a turkey and all of the fixings for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.  This year I was thankful that another American sister was able to cook with me.  We cooked and ate at the orphanage convent; that oven is slightly more reliable than the one at the convent where we live.  Because of her assistance, I was still able to teach English class that morning, and hold my groups with the children (although I started a little late) that afternoon.  I am grateful that we were able to celebrate Thanksgiving.  I have so much to be thankful for.  On the top of my list are the many people that I am fortunate to have in my life. 

Route to Pilat

On Saturday evening the sister who is the director of the school in Pilat called to say that the driver should be there before noon on Sunday.  Grateful that we had mass at the orphanage on Saturday afternoon, I spent Sunday morning getting ready.  Before noon, she called to say that driver was unable to come because another vehicle was stuck in the mud blocking the road that leads to and from Pilat.  Then she said that the hospital machine was also on its way to Cap-Haitian and if I could get to one of the other convents closer to downtown, they would be able to give me a ride.  There is only one sister in our convent with a Haitian driver’s license; she was home so I asked her for a ride to the convent.  When we were in the city, I received an additional phone call saying that the hospital vehicle had not been able to leave Pilat due to the road block, so we headed back to the convent.  When we were almost home, she called again to say that the hospital vehicle was no longer stuck and was on its way after all. The driver had agreed kindly agreed to come to the convent where I live to get me.  He arrived at about 4:15.  He had several errands to run, and needed to pick up people who were also going to Pilat.  It was raining and many of the streets in downtown Cap-Haitian were full of water, others had mud and rocks left by the flowing waters.  It was an hour after he picked me up before we actually left the city limits.  The paved national road, the closest thing to a highway here had many large puddles and water filled potholes.  The driver was appropriately cautious especially when the rain was heavy.  At times he even turned off the radio so he could concentrate on driving.  Most of the time the radio was on because everyone was expecting the results of the presidential primary election to be announced that evening. 

We were fortunate that the rain ceased just before we turned off of the national road onto the road that leads to Pilat.  I have described this unpaved hilly road with seven bridgeless rivers in previous posts. On Sunday night the road was also wet and very muddy.  At one point the driver stopped the car and chatted with a police officer, who seemed to uncertain if we should continue on route because of the mud.  It was decided that everyone except for the driver should get out of the car.  Less weight would decrease the chances of the hospital vehicle’s tires sinking into the mud.  There were about nine of us, mostly women, one was holding a toddler who had slept most of the ride but awoke for the walk down the muddy hill.  At times we held hands or locked arms.  After sitting so long in the crowded vehicle, my legs were grateful to move.  My inexpensive Haitian cell phone has a built in flashlight, which I used to carefully chose my steps.  The mud was slippery, it reminded me of slush and ice, but it was not cold out; in fact it was a perfect temperature for an evening stroll.  The car passed us; when the driver assessed that the chances of getting stuck in the mud were minimal he stopped and waited for us.  Eventually, we all entered the car. Prior to our down-hill trek through the mud in the dark the passengers had been fairly quiet, but suddenly there was a lot of laughter and chatter.  Then my inexpensive Haitian cellphone rang; my parents called me as they typically do on Sunday night.  Hearing the laughter in the background my curious mother cheerfully asked, “Are you at a party?”  Looking through the windshield at the rocky muddy road illuminated by the car’s headlights, I laughed out loud.  I told my mother that I was not at a party.   Perhaps, I should have said that I was, after all we were celebrating that we were nearing our destination and that nobody had fallen in the mud, and the car had not gotten stuck.  Certainly, that is as good a reason to celebrate as any!

    

School Work  

This week I am assisting in the preschool in Pilat.  I am helping the teachers to encourage the children to play.  With a grant that my congregation gave in celebration of 175 years since the founding of the Marianites of Holy Cross, we were able to purchase some age appropriate toys and books (written in their native language) for the children.  The children are enjoying playing, and being read to.  I am enjoying the children.   I was also asked to prepare a ten minute prayer in Creole for the preschool and primary school children for each morning this week.  This takes place in the school yard before classes start.  It has encouraged me to reflect upon the Advent themes and try to fully enter into this special liturgical season.  It also means that all of the children in the primary grades of the school know me by name.  Now when I go for a short walk in the afternoon, little girls greet me by name every few miniutes.      

Other Updates

The Haitian election results were announced late Monday night. 

We are still receiving frequent rain. 

The poinsettia plants are blooming; the only visible reminder for me that Christmas in coming.  (I had every intention of including a picture of one of the plants but would need at least half an hour to upload a single photo; the next paragraph will explain why.)    

The internet connection here in Pilat has been poor and unstable. I am hoping to get on line long enough to post this.  I will catch up on responding to emails and things when I return to Okap, which will hopefully happen on Saturday assuming the road will be passable.  

   

Thank you everyone who donated to the Marianites of Holy Cross through the Giving Tuesday program.  Thank you Marianites for passing that money on to Mary Gate of Heaven Orphanage.  Mèsi anpil!   

May you experience many graces during this season of Advent.  

Mud, Mosquitoes and Mold

This week's  title was chosen because currently there is an abundance of all three and I like alliteration.  The mold is soft and cotton-like, it grows on the cement floor of the play therapy room every night when nobody is watching.    It is a new phenomenon which I attribute to the rains and prolonged dampness.  Fortunately, neither the children nor I appear to be allergic to it. Each morning I sweep it away easily enough.  The mosquitoes are everywhere lately and occasionally even find their way under the net that is supposed to protect me from them while I sleep.  They are the only animal that I don't hesitate to kill; and when I do sometimes I end up with my own blood on my hands.  The good thing about the mud is that when there is mud in the road, there is almost no dust in the road.  If I could not appreciate the advantage to something as annoying as mud, or recognize the beauty of mold, or joke about mosquitoes life would be even more challenging.


I want to thank my cousins in Limerick, Ireland, who held a fundraiser for the orphanage last week.  Thank you!  I have been very touched by your generosity.  It is the generosity of so many people that allow the orphanage to meet the needs of the children.  In the time that I have been in Haiti, the value of the currency has decreased and prices have increased.  It is a blessing that donations are increasing too.  Recently a Sunday School group in Ohio held a bake sale at their parish and raised money for us too. It is wonderful that there are children willing to help out other children. Thank you!  Having so many people who generously support our mission inspires me.

My congregation has decided that any donations made to the Marianites of Holy Cross through the I Give Catholic program of the Archdiocese of New Orleans during the Giving Tuesday campaign this year will be passed along to the orphanage.  Thank you Marianites! Here is the link if you are interested in donating:  https://igivecatholic.org/designee/marianites-of-holy-cross-archdiocese-of-new-orleans
There are many needs here.  I am hoping that some of the funds raised will allow us to provide more training for our staff and administrators so that we can do an even better job of caring for our children. Personally, my dream is that the orphanage move towards becoming a trauma-informed agency.  All of our children have experienced loss and some form of trauma.  Here is a link to a website, for people who may not be familiar with that term, trauma-informed care:  http://traumainformedcareproject.org/

Primary elections for president took place here in Haiti on Sunday.  The sisters who voted said that it was very well organized.  We are still waiting for the results.  These elections were a re-do because of corruption problems during last year's primary.   They were also more recently postponed because of Hurricane Matthew.


To all my friends, family, community members in or from the United States, I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!  To all my family, friends, and community members everywhere, know that I am grateful for you!  I thank God for the presence of so many wonderful people in my life. Many blessings!  Take care.

A Disorienting Week

We resolutely stand with those who are excluded.  -from the mission statement of the Marianites of Holy Cross

Last Monday, after I updated this blog, I went for a ride with several sisters through the city.  Here is just one picture to give you a sense of the flooding experienced in the area.  

This has been quite a week! The events of the week have been frustrating and disappointing, even disorienting.  Nothing looked the same under all of the rain.  The US election results shocked me.  

 Schools were closed for an entire week due to the flooding.  Water entering the play therapy room as well as the deep puddle outside of it prevented me from holding regular therapy groups for a week.  Conditions gradually improved; I think we even had one full day where there was almost no rain.  A few sunny days have helped the water levels to decrease significantly; such days have sometimes been followed by rainy nights; although heavy at times it has not caused the severe flooding we had early last week, fortunately.  Schools opened again yesterday and I have resumed my appointments with the children.    

One recent morning while walking to work, I was tempted to complain to myself because my rain boots are no longer waterproof.  I looked up to see two men pushing a large rickety wooden cart loaded with long bamboo poles, as they made their way down the unpaved wet road.  The only thing on their feet was mud. 

It is a gift to live with an American who has similar political views this year.  Late Tuesday night she sat with me for a little while as we stared at the US election map on the NPR website; listening to the commentary and watching sometimes in utter disbelief as states changed colors.    

   

Recently a Haitian child spoke with me of having heard that the new President of the United States does not really like black people and therefore Haitians.  In that moment I felt a deep sadness as I attempted to respond in a way that was both honest while fully affirming of the child’s dignity.  The following day, an employee asked me why the United States is sending people including children back to Haiti.  I had read that the moratorium against deporting Haitians that had been put into place immediately following the earthquake had been lifted and that the US government would resume deportation of Haitians.  I honestly do not know that the people this woman spoke of were actually officially deported by the US government.  She is concerned about these neighbors who apparently are struggling since their recent (possibly forced) return to Haiti.  Whether her friends were deported or not there is the reality that people seeking opportunities for themselves and their families without the means to obtain the legal paperwork are being deported from the US.  I fear that deportations  will increase during the newly elected administration.  This morning, I reflected on how to respond to such situations.  To the children and the employees at the orphanage, I am likely the only American that they are currently encountering on a daily basis.  While the president-elect may not convincingly express love for Haitians or other people of color, or Muslims or many other groups for that matter; I certainly can.  While the US government may reject people to the point of actually ejecting them from the country, I can do my best to be accepting and inclusive of all of the people I encounter each day. Let us do our best to be loving, accepting, inclusive, compassionate and just in all of our interactions wherever we are and whoever we are and sincerely say that we are sorry when we or our governments, churches, communities, elected officials, and organizations fall short.

There may be many opportunities in the coming months and years to live out the concluding phrase of the Mission Statement of my congregation, something we are all called to do.  

Peace!  

                

Rain, Lapli, More Rain, Plis Lapli, Rain Again, Lapli Anko!

The convent driveway and front yard, taken this morning.  

The first door on the left is the door to the play-room, where I conduct groups and appointments with the children. This was taken yesterday afternoon.  

This was the path from the Orphanage Convent to the other buildings on the grounds of the orphanage yesterday around noon.  

The field at the orphanage.  this was taken yesterday around noon when the rain had stopped.  

The orphanage playground taken late afternoon yesterday, through the back window of the play therapy roon.  

Had I known that rain would be the obvious choice of topics for this week's update, perhaps I would have chosen to write about something else last week.  Rain is the reason I am updating on Monday as opposed to Tuesday.  I might as well update today, since heavy rainfall, and flooded streets have kept me making the short trip to the orphanage today.  If the rain stops, I will be able to go to the orphanage later this afternoon or tomorrow, si Dye vle.  Today rain has closed schools and many businesses in the area.  Rain caused a last minute change of location for the local parish Sunday liturgy yesterday morning because we could not enter the school yard where we normally have mass due to large puddles.   While it did not keep me from going to the orphanage yesterday, the wet floor of the play room, damp toys and deep puddle outside the door of the playroom prevented me from holding my Sunday group sessions with the older children.  Instead, I mopped the water out of the playroom and offered creative activities  and games in the house.  We are fortunate to have sturdy two-story housing both where I live and for the children at the orphanage.  I suspect, however, that the orphanage convent is at risk of possible flooding if this rain continues.  Unfortunately, there have been news reports of a few flooding-related deaths in the general area.  No doubt this rain is causing serious suffering for many of our neighbors, employees, families of sisters, and friends.  So, I find myself repeating my request for prayers for those who are suffering greatly because of the rain.

Wednesday was the Feast of All Souls.  I was happy to once again have attended the liturgy followed by prayers in the Holy cemetery.  It is now a familiar ritual, similar to the past two years. See: 2015 All Souls Day and 2014 All Souls Day for more details.

I have resumed teaching English on Thursday mornings.  This year the Holy Cross men have six novices who attend along with their novice director and another young priest.  There are three Holy Cross sisters and a young woman who is doing an internship while discerning entering the congregation among my students as well as an orphanage employee who hasThurdays off.  I find I really enjoy teaching them.

I hope you are well.  Have a good week.  For all my American family, friends, community members, don't forget to vote tomorrow.
 
Take care.  Many blessings!

   

Rain and Joy

On rainy mornings as I make my way between the Leocaide Convent and the orphanage, with my colorful rain boots and poncho, sometimes someone will ask me, "blan, ou pa pè lapli?" (White person/ foreigner, you are not afraid of the rain?")  The first time I was asked this, it seemed like a very random question; bewildered I responded, "non, m pa pè lapli."  Upon reflection, I realize that I am fortunate not to have any experiences that have led me to be afraid of rain.  Rain does make travel more difficult for many people.  There are nearby houses which after any significant rainfall become concrete islands in the middle of small ponds.  Flooding can easily occur.  In the south of Haiti, where they recently experienced Hurricane Matthew, they have had too much rain in the weeks since the storm.  I am fortunate never to have experienced mudslides or anything of that sort.  We all know that standing water, which is plentiful after rain, becomes breeding grounds for mosquitoes which carry Malaria, Zika, and other illnesses.  It is also well documented that the number of cholera cases increases following rainfalls.  So, while I am not afraid of the rain, I certainly can understand how and why someone would be.  Let us pray for all of those who have good reason to fear the rain, and may we find ways to at least try to advocate for systemic changes that would decrease the problems caused by rain and experienced by so many people.     

The orphanage cat sleeping in an umbrella.  

No matter what is going on at the orphanage, every day something brings me joy.  It may be the contagious excitement of two-year-olds who are fascinated by an orange caterpillar making its way along the ceramic tile on the porch where I sometimes play with them.  It may be the kind word of a thoughtful employee.  Sometimes it is the enthusiasm of one of the youngest children who always smiles as he asks me when his next group therapy appointment is.  Occasionally it is something in nature like  a beautiful hummingbird passing by.  Sometimes it is my belief that the activity a child did during a session was significant and hopefully healing.  I am grateful for such moments, especially on the more challenging days.  

May you have many moments that bring you joy this week. 

Happy All Saints Day!