Happy New Year!

As the year draws to a close I want to express my gratitude to all those who have been so supportive of my ministry in Haiti this year and to each of you who take time to read this.  Thank you!  

May  your New Year be filled with love, peace, joy and many blessings!  

Tomorrow is Haitian Independence Day.  Although I am in Florida at the moment, I intend to make a traditional Pot of Soup Joumou tomorrow.  Pumpkin soup is the food eaten in Haiti to celebrate Independence Day, and one of my favorite foods.    I will share it with my parents (dad probably won't eat it)  and cousins visiting from Ireland.  

I will write a better update soon.  

Happy New Year!  

Jwaye Nwèl! Merry Christmas!

Christmas greetings from Rhode Island.

This Christmas I found myself reflecting upon the mystery of the Incarnation, the idea that God would chose to become human and enter the world as a dependent little baby, born into humble conditions.  As a human being, Jesus experienced all the human emotions and sensations, the joys as well as the suffering that are simply part of the human condition.  What a mystery to celebrate! 

  

Since my last update I have traveled a bit.  First I visited sisters in my congregation in New Orleans and now visiting my family in Rhode Island.  It is wonderful to be able to connect with so many people, in person.  I am grateful for the people in my life and that this year I am able  celebrate this feast with family. There have been good times, important conversations, tasty food, and pleasant surprises.  

Although I was not really dreaming of it, we actually had a white Christmas!  While I was at church with my parents this morning, it started to snow.    It was not enough snow to create problems with travel plans, just enough to be pretty.  It started to melt soon after the short storm passed.  I snapped a few pictures to share.    (I had every intention of uploading a few of those pictures and wasted a lot of time attempting to do so, but despite seemingly flawless wifi, and constant reliable electricity, I am having technical difficulties uploading the pictures from my camera.)  What a contrast from the climate I was in last week at this time! 

The hardest part of being here in the US at Christmas, especially as I am aware that last year at this time I was in Burkina Faso, is the amount of stuff!  Today I was at first quite happy to see very young relatives opening gifts,  because the children seemed to be enjoying themselves so much.  Some of the toys they received are pretty cool and the clothing was adorable. The gifts kept coming and coming.  After a while I felt a bit of ambivalence as I thought of the children at the orphanage and those in Haiti and elsewhere in the world who are even less fortunate than them. For Christmas last week, at the orphanage each child was given a gift, typically an article of clothing and maybe a simple toy like a jump rope.  Generally the children at the orphanage were quite happy with their simple gifts.   In reality most of the children at the orphanage probably received more than many of their  young neighbors and relatives who do not reside at the orphanage. According to a statistic that I heard very recently, "3.1% of the world's children live in America, but they own 40% of the toys consumed globally (UCLA.)"    

It is a beautiful concept that in honor of the gift of Jesus, we exchange gifts with those we love.  Yet, I am uncomfortable when I look at the great surplus of goods that some of us have (myself included) and the lack of basic necessities experienced by so many of our brothers and sisters in the world.   I wonder, how Jesus would react to the way that many of us in mainstream US culture (myself included) now celebrate the incarnation?  My challenge to myself, in celebration of God taking on human form, is to do my best, to embody the  attributes of God.  I desire to en-flesh in concrete ways, God's love, hope, peace, justice, inclusivity, truth, humility, and mercy.  Without a doubt I will fall short thousands of times each day, but I intend to try.  Let us all try; that may be what the world is truly hungering for.


I wish each of you Love, Peace and Joy and all of the graces of this Christmas season.  Many blessings!  

     

A little information about a few of my many varied activities this week

This week was filled with a variety of events, activities, challenges, and gifts.

Most of the schools had exams this week.  At the High School and one primary school, I was asked to help with surveillance during exams.  Students have formal exams at the end of every trimester here.  At the high school, there are many protocols in place that seem to be designed to prevent the students from cheating.  It was interesting because it was a new experience although in some ways watching students take exams was a bit boring in actuality. 


One morning, after surveying exams at the high school, I went to visit the Sisters of Wisdom.  In early November I had attended a conference for religious in Cap-Haitian.  At the conference, a few congregations shared about their ministry.  There was a Haitian Sister of Wisdom who spoke about what her congregation is doing in the field of healthcare.  Although she was speaking French I thought I heard her say that the ministry where she works was started by the Marianites.  She did not know that there was a Marianite present when she said that.  During the meal that day I sat with her and she talked about her ministry and was happy to know that I am a Marianite and that my congregation had started the mission that her congregation continues.  She invited me to visit.  This week, I got a tour of the clinic, dispensary, and laboratory.   I saw the school and chatted with some of the school children during their break; I did not get a full tour because the children had exams that day.  The school is now a national school which means it receives funding from the government.  They are serving many children who are living in poverty who would not be able to otherwise attend school.  There were several employees who worked there when some of the Marianites were there. They seemed happy to meet me and asked about some of the Marianites in France who they very fondly remember. It was good to see that something that was started by my congregation continues and is being run well by Haitian Sisters long after the Marianites who actually started it have left Haiti.  I was also glad to see that both the school and clinic serve people who are truly in great need. The visit provided me a with a bit of hope in the form of concrete evidence that when a congregation is no longer somewhere (or perhaps is no longer in existence at all) it does not always mean that the mission or specific ministries necassarilly end. 

Orphanage Chapel this morning

The children at the orphanage did not have school this week.  I spent a little more time there than I have in recent weeks.  I allowed the younger children to come to the playroom in small groups to play and did a creative activity with some of the older children. Today, was the orphanage Christmas party.  We had a liturgy in the chapel this morning to celebrate the third Sunday of Advent.  The party that followed was a joyful celebration with delicious food and gifts for the children. Tomorrow the children leave to visit their families for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

I will leave for visits and vacation the following day.

May you experience many blessings and joy during this third week of Advent. 

The Holy Spirit and the Grieving Process

Although not what I would consider typical first week of Advent themes, I found myself reflecting on the Holy Spirit and on the grieving process recently. 

One mystery of the Holy Spirit is that members of a group, such as a community, can be sincerely fully convinced that they are following the lead of the Holy Spirit and yet have completely opposite conclusions as to what the Holy Spirit is communally inviting them to at a particular time.

Sometimes the path to acceptance of a situation requires muddling teary eyed through the murky waters of grief.  Somehow trusting the Holy Spirit, (even after She seemed to whisper something different to the decision makers than to you) might help, too.   

If the first week of Advent felt more like a long drawn out Good Friday, then maybe Christmas will also feel like Easter? Anything is possible, after all, the Spirit works in mysterious ways.   

Thank you for taking the time to read this. 
Many blessings!  Take care.

Reflections on violence and peace as we enter Advent

Two months ago the leadership teams of all of the congregations of Holy Cross signed a statement on non-violence and just-peace .

Several weeks ago, I was asked to do an hour-long presentation on violence that was supposed to take place one evening this past week.  Although I prepared for it, the meeting did not happen.  Yet my preparation may have been worthwhile as the concepts found their way into my thoughts, perceptions, and prayers recently.

It is so easy to see examples of various forms of violence being played out when I read the world news online or hear the stories of people I encounter.  It seems that there are too many examples of people intentionally harming others.  When the definition of violence is broadened to including structural violence then creating, maintaining or changing laws with the intent of denying people access to basic needs is violent.  Making it more difficult for working and middle-class people to obtain their right to health care is violent. Denying a refugee who is fleeing a dangerous situation a welcome is violent.  Sending the immigrant home when there are no jobs and their basic needs will not likely be met in their home country is violent.  When we consider the concept of cultural violence then treating one language (and therefore those who master it) as better than another language especially if those who don't speak it are excluded is violent. Political leaders "retweeting" videos that inaccurately portray people of a specific religion in a negative way is violent.  There is so much violence in the world;  it is tempting to despair.     

 If the liturgical season of Advent, which begins today, is to be about preparing to welcome the Prine of Peace then it is truly a time of hope.  Let us recognize the violence that surrounds us as well as the violence inside our own hearts that needs to be healed.  Let us be transformed that we may become the hope that our world needs.  Let each of us, in the places we find ourselves, give birth to the peace and justice that our world is hungering and waiting for during this time in the history of our world and during this liturgical season of Advent.

Let us pray for one another.  Advent blessings!

This poinsettia plant in our yard appears to be preparing for the Feast of Christmas.  

Beautiful Birds and Gratitude

On Sunday I took just a little bit of time to walk around the yard with my camera in hand.  This is my third year living here.  Sometimes now it seems like I am taking the pictures of the same things over and over again.  Then, often, when I least expect it, God surprises me and  I see something new, different and beautiful.  On Sunday there were birds that either I had never seen here before or that I saw, from a different perspective.  It amazes me how easy it is to find beauty almost anywhere when we simply take the time to look. 

These are not the best pictures I have taken, but I share them to show the variety of birds I saw in our yard during a short stroll on Sunday afternoon. 

Updates

Once again this year we received food from the missionary (Agape) airlines so that we were able to have a Thanksgiving feast here in Haiti.  It was very enjoyable.  I realize I have so much to be thankful for.  Living here helps me to grow in gratitude and for that I am grateful. 

Already, I received an email notice that my new passport is ready, in Haiti and on its way to Cap-Haitian.  The embassy said it would arrive in two to three weeks.  It has only been one week and one day since I had my appointment at the embassy. What a pleasant surprise when something actually takes less time than expected! I am grateful! 

On Thursday evening some of my cousins in Ireland are hosting a fundraiser to benefit the children that I am working with. Thank you very much to all who are organizing the event and to all who will attend.  I am so fortunate to have so many generous relatives.  At the risk of sounding redundant, I must say that I am grateful!     

Thank you for taking the time to read this.  I won't say it again but you know that I am.....

Have a good week.  Many blessings!   

  

Immigration and Education

Early yesterday morning, I was the first person in the shortest line outside the US embassy in Port-au-Prince.  I stood by the sign that had a picture of a US passport and read,  "American Citizens Sitwayen Ameriken."  (I was glad it was written in English and in Creole.  I could read it twice!)  The lines for people applying for visas to enter the US were much longer and many people were already waiting when I arrived at 5:40 am.  The sister who coordinates the drivers in Port-au-Prince suggested we leave early because of traffic, even though we left 15 minutes later than she suggested we successfully completely avoided traffic.  The hour and  20 minutes of waiting before the building even opened provided me with plenty of time to ponder the shortness of my line and the length of the others.  It is not surprising that there are more Haitians are applying for visas to enter the US than there are Americans who are residing in Haiti who need to renew passports before they expire.

 There are not nearly enough jobs and opportunities in Haiti.  I don't know that people really want to leave their country and culture, but certainly, they want to have their basic needs met and support their families.   

This morning back in Cap-Haitian after teaching a high school conversational English class, while waiting for a ride, I read this article on NPR's website .  Just minutes after I finished reading it, the driver put the radio on and the person speaking was explaining in Creople what the end of the TPS (Temporary Protection Status) program will mean for Haitians who have been living in the US with TPS status since the 2010 earthquake.  I felt sad. 

Perhaps because I had just spent an hour with high school students, I thought especially of the high school student who was interviewed in the NPR article.  Since he is a junior he should be able to finish high school before he has to legally return to Haiti. What will he do once he gets here? What about students who are younger than he is?  What will it be like for young people who have now spent most of their school-aged years in the US if they have to come to Haiti and attend school here?  The education systems are very different.  Even if they were born in Haiti they would now be much more accustomed to the cultural expectations of an American classroom than of a Haitian one. Will the Haitian government plan programs for these students to help them with the transition?  At the very least will they allow them take tests in English instead of French?   Unfortunately, I am skeptical that their educational needs will be met. 

From my perspective, the educational needs of many children who are here now are not being adequately met.  As I have mentioned in previous blogs there are generally no services for those with learning disabilities or educational program for children with developmental disabilities.  Last week, because of protests in the city of Cap-Haitian, I learned that there are public high school students who lack teachers.  Someone told me that they will need to wait until January to start the school year.  The public school students showed up in protest at private schools and forced themselves through gates into the schoolyards to bring attention to this problem one day early last week. On another day they caused traffic jams, reportedly even lying in the streets to stop traffic in different areas downtown.  Schools in down-town Cap-Haitian were closed on Thursday and Friday because of the possibility of more protests.  According to the Voice of America website, the students were protesting that they lack teachers while the country's resources are being used to reinstate the Haitian army. 

The educational needs came to my mind since I am working in schools this year, but of course, there are many other complications and difficulties that will occur in Haiti and in the US if this is truly implemented. What about the children (US citizens) who were born while their parents were in the US with TPS?    Personally, I am not sure who will benefit from the end of TPS status for Haitians other than maybe those running for-profit prisons for detained immigrants.   Many people in Haiti are dependent upon their relatives abroad sending money to help them.  When this goes into effect some of those relatives instead of helping out financially will be here in Haiti looking for jobs that are extremely scarce.  I imagine some of them may one day find themselves waiting in very long lines early in the morning hoping to get visas to return to the US. 

Falling Meat: everyday travel in Haiti

Getting from one place to another in Haiti is not always simple, though sometimes ordinary everyday travel is an adventure.

On Monday I was not able to get to my ministry because that school's truck had an appointment for an inspection.    There are no tap-taps that go close to that school; I avoid using motorcycle taxis because I don't think that they are safe especially without a special helmet. I was not given enough notice to come up with another plan, and it is the directress of the school who is supposed to coordinate my transportation, and she said there was no way to get me there.  I was disappointed. 

Here is a picture of the back of an empty tap-tap.  

Another morning this past week, I took a tap-tap to a school which is in a safe area and only a short distance from the end of the tap-tap line.  On that particular morning, I waited at the corner longer than usual.  Every tap-tap that passed by was going somewhere else.  I have learned the hand signals that are used to communicate with potential passenger regarding the destination of that particular vehicle.   On these routes, there is usually a kontwolè, a person (in my experience it has always been a male) whose job it is to ride on the back of the tap-tap, collect money, and signal to the driver (by tapping the back of the truck) when to stop to pick up or drop off passengers.   I was relieved when one finally stopped for me.  It was really already beyond full but I entered anyway. There was no seat avalaible for me. A couple of people were already standing on the back. To find a place, I had to step over a large white bucket whose overflowing contents where covered in a thin black plastic.  Someone offered to hold my backpack; I handed it over because if I hadn't it would have hit the people on one side of me in their faces.  Due to the height of the roof I had to hunch over, my feet between the feet of the passengers, doing my best to balance by holding on the side of the cap, my hand in the space in between people's heads.


After a few minutes, someone called for the driver to, "kanpe!" (stop!) "vyann an tonbe!"  (the meat's falling!)  From where I was (sort of ) standing  I could not see what was going on.  Once we stopped the kontwolè and a woman exited.  A couple of minutes later another woman decided not to continue her journey in this tap-tap so I had a place to sit towards the end of one of the benches and could hold my own back-pack without the likelihood of injuring or annoying my fellow passengers.  I turned my head to see that the kontwolè, and the woman who had exited where trying very hard to attend to the meat that had fallen.  They were lifting the dead body of a goat that had been skinned but not yet butchered. It was partially covered by a sack; its legs and feet were sticking out.  They were struggling, unable to return the meat to the roof of the tap-tap.  Finally, seeming somewhat annoyed, the driver exited the cab and assisted them in returning the goat cadaver, whose legs were now a bit sandy, to its spot on the roof above our heads.  We continued for a few minutes before stopping again.  This time it was to inflate a flattening tire; there are businesses along the way that consist of a machine to do so and a generator to run the air machine (since electricity is not reliable.)  Once most of the people had exited the tap-tap, the smell of uncooked meat became evident to me; the white bucket I had climbed over contained some kind of meat too. Fortunately,  it was nearly time for me to exit and begin the short walk to school, which concludes with a hike up some steep steps.

Since it had rained last night, the walk this morning from the street to and from the building that our young parish uses for mass (we don't yet have a church) was not as simple as usual.  If it were not for the makeshift bridge quickly constructed of cinderblocks and long wooden boards, I am not sure what we would have done.  As you can imagine, this was particularly challenging for some of the older parishioners.  Leaving required waiting in line since the entire congregation that had gathered for liturgy had to leave in single file and walk slowly so as not to fall into the water.   

Sometime during the summer bean seeds were sown in many places in our yard including along the path that goes from the carport to the back door.  The plants have flourished! They are so healthy that when I take that route, sometimes for or a moment (especially if I've been doing play therapy that day,) I imagine I am making my way through a jungle.  Turning the last leg of the daily journey whether or not it has been simple, into a bit of an adventure!


Have a good week.  Many blessings!

   

Lanmò

On All Souls Day the mother of one of the sisters, I live with, died.  On that same day, a cousin of the same sister died as well.  Many of the sisters, some of the postulants and a few of the sister's co-workers went to the funeral on Saturday.  We could not take the orphanage and formation house mini busses because they are not designed for climbing steep mountains on unpaved roads and crossing bridgeless rivers.  A parade of crowded pickup trucks and SUVs made its way to the little town (not far from the border of the Dominican Republic) where the sister's mother lived.  The mother had been paralyzed due to a stroke she had several years earlier and had needed constant care, which her family lovingly provided.  I never met her, but apparently, she was a lovely and hardworking person with a beautiful smile.  Since she had suffered greatly following her stroke, many people had mixed feelings when hearing of her death.  The cousin who died the same day though was only 30 years old, the father of three young children.  His death was much more sudden, perhaps some kind of an infection; there was mention of a fever. We spent time at the mother's family's home visiting in the yard, before the funeral.  The casket was in front of the simple cinderblock house. When it was time to go to the church, it was placed in the back of one of the Holy Cross Sisters' pick up trucks and we followed behind, slowly, walking in procession to the church.  The cousin's family and friends seemed to have had a similar procession and met us at the church; it was a double funeral.  There was much grieving and crying during the liturgy.  After mass everyone processed with the two caskets to the nearby cemetery for the burial.     


The next day, as I was walking to the orphanage, I was reflecting on the sister's cousin's death. I could not help but think that it was quite possibly preventable.  Would he have died at this time if he had lived somewhere else, if he had access to better healthcare?

Yesterday's Funeral

As the cries of the grieving continue to echo in my ears 

from yesterday's funeral,

an untimely

perhaps perfectly preventable tragic death, 

Catching my eyes, 

in the midst of a polluted stream,

surrounded by discarded empty plastic bottles

and lots of litter

a green plant grows

and upon it rests a white butterfly, 

silently inviting me to trust in resurrection 

even, or rather, especially, 

when the death is: 

unjust, untimely, and perhaps perfectly preventable.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.  Have a good week. Many blessings!   

              

Things moving in the bushes in Haiti and in New Orleans

One morning last week, while walking home from church, I could see that something was moving up ahead in some bushes.  Curiously, I wondered what it could be.  When I got closer I could see that it was a very large pig.  During the day here it is common to see pigs, goats, dogs, chickens, and occasional sheep in the streets and in any yards that are not surrounded by cement walls.

Two days later I was going for a stroll in the New Orleans neighborhood where I live when I am not in Haiti.  I could see something moving up ahead near some bushes again.   This time I was sure it was not a goat or a pig.  From a distance, I was curious and puzzled by the repetitive movent seeming to come from the shrubs in front of a house.  When I was directly in front of the house I could see that it was large blow-up, animated Halloween decoration; the movement was witches feet that were kicking as they were sticking up from a cauldron implying that her unseen head was inside the large black pot.

Sometimes, especially during the first day or so that I am in the states, the contrast between cultures, places, and realities are quite striking.  Each of the things moving in the bushes in one neighborhood where I live is almost unimaginable (at least in the same form) in the other neighborhood where I live.  I even tried to imagine a large pig wandering around the yards in the West Bank of  New Orleans, or a Halloween decoration of that sort in an unfenced lakou here.  Absurd!           

Later that same day, I was reminded of the similarities and historical connections between the two places.  While running errands in New Orleans I heard part of a program on the car radio.  That evening I listened to it in its entirety online.  As someone who lives in Haiti and in New Orleans, I found the program fascinating.  Even if you don't have any personal direct connection with either Haiti or New Orleans, you may still find it interesting.  It is even better online because there are pictures. Even though, the first two photos were taken on different sides of the water (St. Jude Shrine at one of my all-time favorite churches and a street corner in downtown Cap-Haitian) both are for me, very familiar places.  Here is the link in case you are interested.  Enjoy!  http://wwno.org/post/haiti-new-orleans-feeling-mutual       

Last Thursday evening, I flew to New Orleans so that I could attend a Marianite assembly on Saturday.  I was very grateful that I was able to participate in an important discussion with the sisters in New Orleans.  I returned to Cap-Haitian yesterday evening in time for my Tuesday morning English class.  It was a good, quick trip.

I hope that you are doing well.  Many blessings!    Happy Halloween (if you are celebrating)!  Blessed All Saints Day and All Souls Day!   

Industrial Dish-washing Detergent and San Souci

Industrial Dish-Washing Detergent
Last Tuesday afternoon I went to the orphanage at the request of the sister who is responsible for the orphanage.  The driver and another employee had picked up various items at the local office of a well known international charity.  The charity regularly provides a variety of food and household items to the orphanage and I am sure to many other charities.  The charity has been involved with many projects in Haiti and certainly has been helpful to many people.  Some of the items we received had English labels on them so that the workers picking up the donation did not know what they were.  The orphanage director wanted me to read the labels and translate so she would know what to do with the items.  While there were very useful items like hand soap and anti-itch cream, there were also less than helpful items like several bottles of contact lens cleaner; none of our children or workers have contact lenses. I would assume that anyone who can afford to buy contact lenses in Haiti and knows where to get them can also manage to buy the solution needed to clean them. We are not sure what to do with it, but at least those bottles are small and not too dangerous. 

The scariest of all items include large containers of a liquid that is designed to be used in large industrial dishwashers.  In Haiti, people wash dishes with their hands.  Maybe there are some dishwasher machines somewhere in the country, but I have never seen one, not even the kind you would have in a house. Dishwasher machines require consistent running water and reliable electricity. Jere. it is easier and probably more economical to pay people to wash dishes, especially because (unfortunately from a justice perspective) people are not paid in this country wages that would be anything close to minimum wages not to mention challenges with fixing a machine if a problem would arise.  I read the label so I could explain what it is and contemplate what other purposes it may have.  There were many warnings on the label explaining that contact with skin can cause chemical burns, breathing in the fumes can cause respiratory problems.   Keep out of reach of children,   Wear gloves, eye protection, a mask, and protective clothing when handling this item. The tops on these bottles are not even child-proof!  Where should we store such a thing?  Maybe we should just get rid of it, but how?? According to the label, it must be disposed of properly at a special chemical waste center. I don't want to pour dangerous chemicals on the ground at the orphanage where children eat the food that grows in the gardens and drink the water from the well.

Sometimes individuals and organizations with the best of intentions can cause harm even when their mission and desire is to do good.   I can see that in the work that other organization and individuals do as well as organizations that I am or have been involved with.  I must own the reality that I too, despite my desires can and probably at times do harm when I intend to do good. 

And so I pray:
 For the wisdom to chose actions that will truly empower and respectfully and justly assist those who are most in need.
For the honesty necessary to recognize the negative effects of my good intentions and to the extent possible always chose what best for the common good of all people and all creation.
 For the ability to stand with the excluded, to see who is missing from the table and invite them in, to give preference to those who society has preferred to ignore, exclude or abuse.   


San Souci
One of the sisters' schools, where I work once a week, is very close to San Souci.  Last week, after school I went there for a few minutes with my camera.  What intrigued me most were the plants growing on, in and all around the ruins and of glimpses of Haiti framed by the skeletal remains of large windows. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this.  Many blessings! 

Celebrating, Teaching, Working

All of the Sisters of Holy Cross in Haiti stayed at our house over the weekend. Normally they have their regional gatherings at another convent in the city, however, because of repairs being made to that house the sisters gathered here instead.    They had meetings on Saturday and Sunday and new leaders for the region were chosen.  On Saturday evening following liturgy, there was a joyous celebration thanking the out-going leadership team.  On Sunday evening eight new postulants were officially welcomed into the congregation during a prayer service, which was followed by another joyful celebration.  On both evenings sisters sang, danced and laughed  Throughout the weekend, we ate well and washed a lot of dishes, too.  How fortunate am I to have been invited to attend the celebrations but not the meetings!  (In a couple of weeks I'll be going to my own congregation's gathering.) 

Last week I began my English class with the new Holy Cross male novices and a couple of others.  That class is especially enjoyable because I have more time (two hours) and fewer students than I have in my classes at the sisters' high school. They are motivated to learn English and most already know some basic English from the previous instruction they received while in school.  As always, I enjoy connecting with the larger Family of Holy Cross. 

My work at the schools is going pretty well, even though I can not possibly do all that needs to be done.  I actually think if each school had a couple of full-time special education teachers and a full-time school social worker or two there would still be plenty of work for each of them. Even then we would still be lacking input from other professionals (occupational and speech therapist and school psychiatrists who can do formal testing for learning disabilities.)  Instead, I do what I can in each of the three primary schools according to what the school administrators and teachers see as the priorities.  The services that I am trying to provide would be seen as essential from an American perspective but here are considered a bit of a luxury since schools generally do not have social workers or special educators. 

Have a good week.  Many blessings! 

Special Needs

While working in three different elementary schools, I am coming into contact with children who in the United States would most likely qualify for special education services, which simply do not exist in their schools.  With some notable exceptions, such as the  NPH's special needs programs, special education services in Haiti are almost non-existent.  I am encountering intelligent children who probably have mild learning disabilities who find themselves struggling in classrooms where everyone is almost always expected to do everything at the same time and learn in the same way and usually in a language, they don't really understand.  I am also encountering a few children who I suspect have more significant developmental disabilities.  I believe that there are other children with significant developmental disabilities that I am not encountering at all because they are excluded from school completely.   On average there are more students in elementary classrooms here than there are in US classrooms, I would guess typically, nearly twice as many.  The large class size makes it especially difficult for a teacher with no special education training at all to recognize and make even a simple accommodation for a child who may learn differently than his/her peers. This leaves some children struggling unnecessarily and others being lost or left out completely.    

I pray that the Holy Spirit will provide me with the wisdom to advocate for and be supportive of these children, their families, and their teachers.     

 Recently I had a brief encounter with a young child who has a significant developmental disability. She had a warm and welcoming smile.  A Haitian child, who is poor, who would not score well on an IQ test may not be particularly valued by the world in general.  Such a child though may know what is most important perhaps better than most.  She is able to love, to welcome others, and treat people with kindness.  Her presence reminded me that the God I believe in does not determine our worth based on how well we score on standardized tests, how much money our families have, the languages we do or don't speak, or whether or not we are capable of speaking at all, nor by any prestige attached to our work or seeming accomplishments.  We are all valuable simply for who we are.  Each of us is a unique expression of God's love.  That little child reflected God's love to me that day.   She was my teacher, and I have much to learn.  

Other Updates

Eight young women who will soon officially be postulants moved into our house last week.  They bring wonderful energy and youthful enthusiasm.  I am grateful for their presence.  

To prevent transportation difficulties, I am now spending one night a week at a different convent.  On the day I have an early class, I have only to walk down a flight of stairs to be at work.    

I was praying for all of the sisters and my friends in New Orleans and surrounding areas over the weekend.  I am grateful that Nate did little to no damage there.  Still praying for those in various places who have been impacted by the many hurricanes this season.    

Thanks for taking the time to read this.  Many blessings!  

The Unexpected

An Injustice: 
It is well known that companies often treat workers in other countries differently than they would in their own country.  This is common knowledge and the main reason why most of the items we purchase in the United States are made in other countries, where the companies can legally (although not necessarily ethically in my opinion) pay people very low wages.

It only occurred to me this week that American companies may sometimes also treat paying customers differently in other countries than in their own.  Since I speak English I offered to help a Haitian friend communicate with an airline who had lost her luggage while she was visiting relatives in the United States during the summer.  After many messages and phone calls, the airline agreed to send a check to the local airport in Cap-Haitian to pay for her lost items.  A few days after that we received an email saying that the check would be made available to her in Port-au-Prince.  I emailed the airline representative reminding her that she had agreed to send the check to Cap-Haitian, that the person whose bag was lost lives in Cap-Haitian and had boarded the plane in Cap-Haitian on the day her bag disappeared.  The airline baggage specialist called me on the telephone that afternoon, and very politely apologized for saying that the check would be available in Cap-Haitian; it will be available in Port-au-Prince; this was beyond her personal control.  She does not know if when it arrives in Port-au-Prince if they will somehow be able to get it to Cap-Haitian.  If they had found her bag while she was in the United States they would have delivered her suitcase to her at any reasonable address, but since it was never found she needs to make the trek to Port-au-Prince to get the check.  I did ask the woman on the phone if she knows how far that is and what the roads are like.  She admitted she had no idea.  I even pointed out that I had received a couple of messages from the US embassy that very day explaining that there were ongoing protests in Port-au-Prince and encouraging US citizens to avoid certain areas of the city.  I asked if the airline had lost the bag of someone who lives near the airport in Boston would they expect that person to drive to Philadelphia to pick up the check to reimburse them for the loss?   Most Americans would find that idea absurd, yet an American company operating in another country, Haiti, specifically thinks this is perfectly acceptable.  The reality that even paying customers in other countries would be treated differently probably should not have surprised me but in this situation, honestly, I had not expected it. 

Amusing: 
In the midst of the joys and challenges this week, I sometimes allowed the unexpected to amuse me.

Yesterday in between therapy appointments at the orphanage I noticed that there was a real lizard first appearing to be looking at the toys on the shelf and then it moved almost blending in with the toys.

The real lizard is right in in front of the small toy dog.  

  In one of the schools this week a young preschooler's response to hearing me a blan (white person/foreigner) speak Creole almost made me laugh out loud. 

There was a pile of bicycles that seemed to me to mysteriously appear on our front steps; they are going to go to one of the sisters' schools for a program, and someone apparently knew that they were going to be delivered there.  Imagine coming home and seeing this on your front step! 



        I realize the quality of the pictures is poor. I took them with my phone and not my camera, but you get the idea.

Many blessings!

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!

New School Year and New Year of Life

On Wednesday, I happily returned to Haiti, feeling grateful for my many varied experiences this summer, the many people in my life, and my health.  This school year I will be working less at the orphanage than I have in the past and will spend more time working in the schools that the Sisters of Holy Cross sponsor.  I will be offering school social work services in a few primary schools and teaching English conversation in a secondary school.  I already met with the teachers at one of the schools and am looking forward to working with the teachers and students there.  Most teachers, students, and parents are not familiar with the concept of school social workers; the teachers at the school I visited seemed quite receptive and welcoming.  My desire is to listen to what people perceive to be their needs and learn from them so that I can offer accompaniment, a listening ear, an empowering perspective and I pray that somehow I can be a healing presence.    

Two days after my return I celebrated my birthday.  This year, I was happy to celebrate with the sisters at Leocadie Convent, where I live.  We had delicious pumpkin soup for supper (at my request) and ice cream for dessert, followed by a special evening prayer, which was in Creole (since I don't understand French.)  It was an enjoyable evening.

So, it is a time of new beginnings.   I am grateful for a new year of life and the beginning of the upcoming school year.    

Picture of the school yard and beyond.  It was taken with my new phone.  In celebration of my 43rd birthday, I  have finally entered the digital age and now have a smart phone.

  My goal is to resume weekly updates now that I am back in Haiti.  Thank you for everyone who takes the time to read this and for all who wished me a happy birthday, for all who pray for me, and are encouraging and supportive in so many ways.  I am grateful for you.  Many blessings!

Summer in the States

The summer has been filled with many activities including my congregation's general chapter, visits with family, friends, and sisters in various places.  Retreat, which was a wonderful time to pray, reflect, reconnect with  God and enjoy creation.  I spent three weekends in Ohio speaking at parishes as part of the mission cooperative, where I spoke about the work my congregation is doing in Burkina Faso.  It is always a gift when I can reconnect with old friends and meet new people along the way.  I am grateful for all of the experiences of the summer so far.  Now, I am looking forward to returning to Haiti in less than a month.    

Taking pictures became my hobby during the past two years or so in Haiti. Options of what I could do on my day off were limited, so I started taking pictures in the yard at Leocaide Convent.  Now, I take my camera with me when I travel.  Let me share some summer images with you,  all were taken since my previous blog entry.    

Taken in Covington, LA during Chapter

Taken on a nature trail during chapter

This picture and the one below were both taken at Jean Lafitte National Park Barataria Trail, in Louisiana

Narragansett Bay, North Kingstown RI

North Kingstown, RI

This photo and the one below were both taken in Villa Maria, PA when I was on retreat.  

This one and the one below were taken in Huntington Valley, PA 

Taken at my great aunt's house in New Jersey

North Kingstown, RI

I took this one today,  NK, RI

I hope that you are enjoying the summer.  Take care.   Many blessings!