COMMUNIQUE 93

Communiqué #093

TO MY PARTNERS in MINISTRY

to the PEOPLE of HAITI

April 2012

 

Education and the ability to attend school is such an everyday part of the heartbeat of Haiti.  There is no guarantee that your child will be able to go to school.  Unless you are one of the fortunate few who is now enrolled in a new program that was started by Haitian President Martelly where your child is able to attend school for free, you must have the ability to pay tuition, buy school books and purchase a uniform in order for your child to make a shadow in the doorway of a local school.

Schools classrooms range from clean and painted rooms to shabby and dark portions of rooms to no building whatsoever, perhaps just a crude bench under the shade of a mango tree.

This month, I visited a small school in one of the poorest districts of Les Cayes.  On Sunday, the structure (about the size of an American living room) serves as a church.  Monday through Friday it houses three clusters of hand hewn school benches, each with a makeshift blackboard propped against the wall.  On the day that I visited there was a torrential rain.  It was easy to see why the benches were crowded into their unique locations, as it was a way of avoiding the drips coming from the leaky roof.

On duty this particular day was one teacher.  We were told that there was no longer a salary available for the other teacher.  About 40 students made up one class.  These were the youngest students.  The older students made up two more classes – one with 6 students and the other with 4 students.  The older students were given a blackboard assignment, while the teacher worked in the far corner of the room with the younger students.

The room, although it had two single naked light bulbs strung on bare wires suspended from the ceiling, was not illuminated.  Either there was no city power or there was no money to pay the electric bill.  If not for the few open-cement block windows, the room would have been even darker than it was on this particularly gloomy rainy day.

It was a wonderful surprise to see that this meager school did have a feeding program.  Each child was instructed to go outside and wash their hands in a tub of water before they could eat their food.  Following a prayer, each child was served a generous helping of beans and rice.  Some of the children had forgotten to bring their bowls and/or their spoons.  These children could be seen using a borrowed bowl or eating with their fingers.  When the meal was finished the children collected the bowls and some children took advantage of the pouring rain to rinse their hands at the open doorway.

Few school books were in sight.  Fewer pencils and fewer tablets of paper were present.  In the corner, a small table held the tiny school bell, a strap used for discipline and the schedule for classes.

Just outside the doors of the school were a myriad of children. Some of them peered through the doorway as they were passing by.  Some stood near their homes listening to the sounds coming from the school. These children obviously did not have money to pay tuition fees and thus, were left to yearn for an education.

This visit reminded me that when you think you have seen the poorest school of all you only need to visit another school and you will find yet another one that is even poorer.  It also reminded me how much education is valued.  The building structure (or lack of one) does not deter a parent from trying to give an education to their child.  The only thing that deters them is the lack of funds to send their child to some sort of educational facility.  Oh that each child could go to school!  Oh that each child could have a school with enough teachers, enough supplies and receive a quality education!  These things are only dreams to so many children in Haiti!

If you are reading this and in the past have become one of the donors to Caribbean Children’s Foundation for the education of a child … THANK YOU!   If you are searching for a way to help, know that your money will be well spent in helping give a Haitian child get a chance at life through education!  Education in Haiti is not a given …. it is a PRIVILEGE!

Nora Léon                        

Missionary to Haiti & the Dominican Republic         Until next time. God willing …………

COMMUNIQUE 92

Communiqué #092

TO MY PARTNERS in MINISTRY

to the PEOPLE of HAITI

January 19, 2012

 

 

Springing from the depths of poverty are inventive ways of making a dollar or two.  On more than one occasion, I have observed ways just how creative Haitians can be.  Much of what they have chosen to do would be beneath the dignity of someone who has not faced the day-to-day challenges of finding ways to keep your family alive.  But when starvation is a cruel reality, no task is beneath one’s dignity.

Huge freight ships from Venezuela bring large loads of cement into the waters of the Caribbean Sea near LesCayes.  The ships are too large to dock at the wharf.  They remain off-shore, while 50 lb bags of cement are hand transferred to smaller boats that will bring the commodity to the wharf where it will either be transported in trucks to the business district or purchased at the wharf to be shipped to other places in Haiti.

The wharf is a place busy with activity. While the bags of cement await their final destination, they are exposed to theft and possible ruin during a rain storm.  In the handling of the bags, many bags split open and their contents spill onto the surface of the concrete wharf.  Strong winds will blow spilled cement dust into the sea and swirl the remaining powder at the feet of its handlers.  Bags left in the elements sometimes harden into a rock-like material that is considered useless by most!

When all the transport trucks, the pickup trucks, and the human-pulled carts leave the scene, this is when the persons scavenging for a way to feed their families move in!   They will find discarded and torn cement sacks or burlap sacks and begin the tedious process of filling the sacks with cement dust.  The wharf surface is meticulously swept for every morsel of useable cement.  Each hardened clump of cement is banged together with another cement clump in hopes of loosening any salvageable cement.  The process is long and tedious in the baking sun of the Caribbean.  Work will continue until there is no more sun to see the task at hand.  Those performing this task will become totally caked with cement dust.  Their hair turns grey.  Their skin is coated and their clothes are covered.  Their eyelashes are laden.  Their nostrils are filled with dust that hardens with the moisture of their breath.  Only their eyes glisten with their normal color, peeping out from their ghost-like appearance.  Bathing, after the task is done, most certainly results in the hardening of the cement dust making the residue even harder to remove.  All this is done for the mere pennies that it earns.

It saddens my heart when I hear people who do not know Haiti declare that its people are lazy.  This is so far from the truth.  I see Haitians as people who work hard given the opportunity to do so.  I see them as people who make the best of the harshest of circumstances.  I see them as people who do not wallow in despair but prosper in hope!  I see them as an example to follow!

 

Nora Léon                        

Missionary to Haiti & the Dominican Republic         Until next time. God willing …………

COMMUNIQUE 91

Communiqué #091

TO MY PARTNERS in MINISTRY

to the PEOPLE of HAITI

December 18, 2011

GRACE … unmerited favor!   At least that is one of the meanings that I found spelled out in the 1961 version of the New College Standard Dictionary that I have in my possession!  Oh, but GRACE is so much more than that!

Part of the work that I do in Haiti is under the umbrella of GRACE Ministries, a Haitian non-profit organization working solely on the tiny impoverished island of Ile-a-Vache.  Time and time again, we have seen the grace of God at work in this underdeveloped area – a place with no clean drinking water, no electricity, no roads, no hospital and meager incomes from primitive forms of farming and fishing.

Most recently, God’s grace was evidenced with the November 20^th opening of GRACE Orphanage.  Six boys, ranging in age from 8 to 16 now call the orphanage home!  The structure in which they live is crude (two unfinished classrooms on the second floor of GRACE School).  Cement rubble litters the floors, that have a zigzag of electrical wire nestled in plastic pipe awaiting the final pouring of the cement floor surface.  Rough cement block walls are crying for a smoother stucco surface, which can eventually be painted in colorful shades.  A toilet yearns for running water while the boys listen to instructions as to how a toilet is actually used, having only knowledge of the use of an outdoor latrine or nearby bush for nature’s business.   Windows and doors are in a half-state of completion.  The best luxury of all is the bunk beds, each complete with a thick mattress and blankets to ward off the December chill that is felt by the Haitian people when temperatures fall into the 70s.

You may ask, how does such a hodge podge of a home, show God’s grace?

Following the earthquake of January 2010, Ile-a-Vache saw a flood of children appearing in the homes of next-of-kin.  These children had lost parents in the earthquake and were sent to their only known family members, some of whom they had never met.  On an island where families struggle to feed their own children, these children came with physical and emotional needs and added financial stress to the families they came to live with.  The community cried out, “Please open an orphanage”.   Our only response was that everyone needed to pray for God to open doors, as we had no funding for an orphanage.

And then … by the grace of God, in January 2011, the idea of “Bless the Orphans Resale Shop” was born!    When one woman listened to God’s calling to make GRACE Orphanage a reality, the idea blossomed into a non-profit business.  People donate items for the shop, scores of volunteers run the shop and mission-minded shoppers purchase the variety of items offered at this boutique-style store!   All of the proceeds go to GRACE Orphanage!  Because of the dedication of all of these people … Bless the Orphans is indeed blessing the orphans of GRACE Orphanage with a place to call home!    What a wonderful, gracious God we have!

God’s grace did not stop there!    Before we even dared to dream the dream of constructing an orphanage building, we received a call that a group of people wanted to make the orphanage building “their mission”.  By the end of November 2011, ground was broke for the foundation of the building that this team will come to work on in January 2012!

But by the grace of God … what marvelous things He can do!!!

As you go about the holiday season and are thinking of all the things that you can be grateful for, please include a word of thanks for GRACE Orphanage!   Please keep Mommy Yèyèt (caregiver & spiritual mentor to the boys) in your prayers.  Reserve some extra prayer time for Judlin, Gladimy, Jean Louis, Micaël, Maxon and Max – our six precious boys!  May God continue to be gracious to them throughout their lifetime!

Perhaps you are struggling with issues of your own.   I plead with you to lay it at the feet of God.  He has enough graciousness for all who seek Him!

If you are ever in the Jenison, Michigan area (near Grand Rapids MI)

please come shop at “Bless the Orphans”.

They are located at 668 Chicago Drive, Jenison MI  49428   (10-6 Mon-Sat)  616.457.2310

Nora Léon                        

Missionary to Haiti & the Dominican Republic    Until next time. God willing …………

COMMUNIQUE 90

Communiqué #090

TO MY PARTNERS in MINISTRY

to the PEOPLE of HAITI

As written on October 19, 2011

 

 

Oblivious to everyone around her, she squats on her haunches almost touching the ground with her derrière.   The sorting of pebbles is her everyday task.  Each pebble is carefully examined and placed in a discarded can or bowl.  Sometimes the sorting occurs in the middle of the busy street.  Sometimes it occurs on the shoulder of the road or in the midst of a torrential rain.  A long ago habit, most likely taught by her mother, remains in her memory.  A bath is important.  After having a bowel movement along the edge of a driveway, the bathing ritual begins.  Soiled clothes are removed and an unwanted container is used to scoop water from a drainage ditch along the congested street.  Water is poured on her head and various parts of her body, as she vigorously uses her hands to scrub away the dirt and grime.  Passersby glance at her and then keep on walking.  Soon dry clothes are produced from a plastic bag and the soiled clothes are stuffed in a crack of a nearby wall.  Her thirst is quenched from the same dirty water where she has defecated and bathed.  To the local people she is known as “the crazy lady.”  To me she is an interesting reminder of harsh life in Haiti, but a life where someone has cared enough to supply her with changes of clothes and an occasional morsel of food.  It reminds me that God cares for the sparrow and God cares for a woman such as this.  As strange as it may seem, I find her life rather interesting.  So unlike the rest of us, this human being has a life free of worry!  She is totally content in her own little world.  Hmm!  A lesson I need to keep learning – being content and not worrying!

 

I certainly have not been content the last several days.  For over a week, due to installation of new electrical wires in our area, we have had no electricity and no running water.  I soon tired of not having internet access, or lights, or refrigeration, or electric fans.  Bathing out of a bucket and toting water to flush the toilet also became very old.  Stacks of laundry piled up for fear any of the reserve water we had would be used up too quickly.  Barrels were placed under the downspouts and out in the rain to collect what water so we could wash our hair and rinse off the dirty dishes.  I used to call these types of events “Haitian adventures.”  Now, I am not as quick to think of them that way.  I am convinced that we still would be without power if it was not the fact that Léon was home when he saw the electrical workers go past our house.  Grabbing our “paid” electrical bill, he ran down the street after them.  He convinced the workers to come back to our house and reconnect our power.  They were only restoring power to those customers who had paid their utility bill.  I have to tell you, when the electricity was restored, I forced Léon and his brother into doing a little celebratory dance with me!  As of this writing, we are still without running water.  The celebration was only a half of one!  The real rejoicing will occur when all of us can take much needed showers!

Power restored after 7 days

I do try to force myself to look at these events with a better attitude.  After all, when Jesus was on this earth there was no such thing as electricity or running water.  Why should I complain?  For that matter, when my parents were toddlers they too did not have electricity or running water in their homes.  May God give me the ability to be content in whatever state I am in!

 

May God bless your day with a new appreciation for the conveniences that we have all come accustomed to taking for granted!

 

 

Nora Léon                        

Missionary to Haiti & the Dominican Republic     Until next time. God willing …………

 

COMMUNIQUE 89

Communiqué #089

TO MY PARTNERS in MINISTRY

to the PEOPLE of HAITI

September 21, 2011

 

 

Ready or not Haiti, I am back!  After weeks of uncertainty about when I could/should return to Haiti, the time has arrived and I have returned.  Although my ankle is not at 100%, the work in Haiti needs attending to.  Thus, I have returned to tackle the tasks that I can and leave the rest for when I am able.  I must rely on God to lead me down the path that He has chosen for me to follow!

 

Some have asked if it would be harder to readjust to Haiti after having been stateside for five months.  In some ways it has been.  One easily gets used to life in the USA and life as it is in Haiti dims in the process.

 

Upon my return, I soon realized that indeed “while the cat is away, the mice will play.”  And play they did!  Their calling cards were left in my underwear drawer, my nightgown drawer and various other places that had been a playground to rodents during my absence.   As if on cue, the running water in our house (that had been shut off for ten days) returned to the sinks, toilets and shower.  Perhaps God understood that I would need a good shower after 18 hours of travel.  Gone are the days of when I could run a load of laundry in my washing machine, whenever I had a certain outfit that I needed for the next day.  Hand washing and line drying certainly takes a much longer time!  Gone are the times of pulling an ice cold drink from the refrigerator whenever I need one!  Room temperature water is much more the norm!  No more jumping into a car and running out for a quick errand.  Now a trip out of the house, on motorcycle or on foot, requires remembering to bring toilet paper for those pit stops where none is available, bringing drinking water as a safe beverage may not be found, and toting insect repellent, hand sanitizer and sunscreen.  Moments of electricity and running fans in the current 90 degree temperatures are savored, as one never knows how long such a luxury will last.

 

There are some noticeable improvements in our area since I was last here.  New electrical wires are being strung in front of our home, promising longer hours of electricity.  The gate at the hotel across the street has been freshly painted with a colorful design in browns and yellows.   An ice cream cart now makes a daily trek past our house!  Yes!  An ice cream cart!  Rarely, in the past, could one find ice cream anywhere in LesCayes.  Now, a small cart is pushed or pulled by its owner right in plain sight of the whole neighborhood.   A small generator keeps an ice cream churn working.  Small portions of strawberry flavored soft serve ice cream are served with a spoon dipped into a small bathroom-sized Dixie cup for the equivalent of about $.65 each.  Yum!  On a hot day, with no electricity or cold beverages, this business endeavor is sure to please many customers!  (The ice cream cannot help but remind me of the ice cream sold at Cones and Dogs – an endeavor of Bless the Orphans Resale Shoppe in Jenison Michigan.  This wonderful ministry is raising funds for Grace Orphanage through donations, volunteers and the spending by shoppers!  If you are ever in the area, you simply must check them out!  You can find their page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bless-the-Orphans/135654563164538).

 

Shoe shine man near newly painted gate!

As with every September, the thoughts of most people in Haiti turns to education.  Roving street vendors can be seen toting multiple backpacks that may entice a student’s family into purchasing such a desired item.  But, the thought that is primary on the minds of each family is how they are going to be able to find the money to send their sons and daughters to school.   Daily, we receive inquiries as to whether or not we have funds to help!   This year, the start of the school year has been delayed until October 4^th.  This gives us more time to determine how far this years’ funds will go.  There is never enough for everyone who comes asking.  There is not always enough funds to help those children helped in previous years at the same rate they may have come accustomed to.  It is a yearly dilemma!  We pray that for those children that we are able to help that we are making a life-long difference in their lives through education!

 

This September, I was also reminded of the deep connection that people here in Haiti have to the people of the United States.  On the day of the 10^th anniversary of the tragedy of the destruction that occurred on September 11, 2001, I received numerous expressions of condolence from various Haitian people.  They too have not forgotten!   I clearly remember coming to Haiti on September 18, 2001.  The airplane was nearly empty as many people still feared flying in airplanes with the tragedy and security issues so fresh in their minds.  When I landed at the airport in Port-au-Prince, I was greeted by Haitian strangers with tears in their eyes and expressions of grief and promises of prayer.  Haitian people know suffering and they are quick to share suffering with other people who are experiencing some kind of pain.  In some way, Americans were better able to understand that sharing of grief when 9 years later the people of Haiti suffered the devastating earthquake.  The outpouring of concern from the USA and from around the world was a blessing to the Haitian people.  So often they are forgotten in their misery, but that was not the case in 2010.  Thank you America for your expressions of concern!

 

September 2011 also brings another anniversary.  It marks my seventh year in Haiti.  The time here has brought a myriad of events.  I have experienced whooping cough, two broken ribs, staph infections, dengue fever, hurricanes, an earthquake, being uprooted from familiar surroundings, living in a tent city and establishing a new place of residence.  The joys have included seeing children saved from certain death by being accepted into one of the several orphanages that is sponsored by Caribbean Children’s Foundation.  Another joy is being able to financially assist hundreds of children with the opportunity to attend school, some of whom have now graduated from childhood to adulthood with employable skills.  Also rewarding is seeing healthy children who, because of timely medical intervention, are now able to live beyond the toddler years and bring continuing joy to their families.   In addition, God has immensely blessed our construction projects as we witness the progress taking place on the orphanage and school building project sites.  Feeding programs and medical/dental education are making a noticeable difference in the nutrition and well being of the children in the communities where we work.

 

Day-to-day it is hard to see much progress, but if I take the time to reflect back on the accumulation of my many months here, I do see that God has used me to make at least some measure of difference in the lives of the children that are placed in my path.

 

The longer that I am in Haiti the more I know that I have so much more to learn about the Haitian culture and its people.  If I were to live in Haiti for 100 years, I would never learn all that there is to learn nor would I become Haitian.   I will continue to be who I am – a child of God who as an infant, toddler, child, and adult grew up influenced by the American culture and who was then transplanted into a culture where I will continue to expand my world view.

 

What a ride it has been!  My prayer now is that God will continue to lead me in the path that He has chosen for me.  May I make Him proud!  May I be the servant He wants me to be.  May I find a way to accept His forgiveness when I fail.  May I find the joy when I listen clearly to His direction!

 

 

Nora Léon                        

Missionary to Haiti & the Dominican Republic           Until next time. God willing …………

COMMUNIQUE 88

Communiqué #088

TO MY PARTNERS in MINISTRY

to the PEOPLE of HAITI

Spring/Summer 2011

 

Until now, these are my unpublished “blog thoughts” of April 3, 2011.  These are the thoughts that were buzzing around in my brain just prior to my return to the USA for ankle surgery …

 

It should be just another ordinary Sunday in Haiti.  In many ways it has been.  People are still doing what they do every day.  Women and girls can be seen braiding each other’s hair on the porches of their homes.  Birds are flying overhead.  Spiders are weaving their webs.  Children are playing gleefully in their yards on a day when there is no school.  Vendors are selling hotdogs under their umbrella-covered makeshift cart on wheels. The rest of the world seems oblivious to the possible doom that veils Haiti this week.  The world’s focus is on Japan and Libya, where the most newsworthy events seem to be capturing everyone’s attention.  The underlying mood of the adult minds in Haiti is that of apprehension.  Worshippers in church pleaded their special prayers for the country of Haiti today.  Radios are tuned into any hint of what is to come.

 

The next week in Haiti could very well be history-making!  The future of Haiti is scheduled to be announced tomorrow (April 4).  There are just two scenarios.  One will be of rejoicing and celebrating when Michel Martelly “Sweet Micky” is announced as the next President.  One will be of certain chaos if the candidate that is not favored among the common people, Mirlande Manigat, is announced as the winner.

 

Tomorrow, in anticipation of the worst, people will be stockpiling food, water and gasoline for the entire week knowing that it is very possible that they will not dare to leave their homes if rioting begins.  The fear is that the rioting will be similar to the five days that was experienced when another unfavorable announcement was made in the 1^st round of voting in December 2010.

 

For myself, personally, I feel held in suspension.  I have tickets to fly to the USA on Wednesday for my upcoming surgery on April 26.  I have an income tax filing deadline to meet.   I have speaking engagements scheduled.  I am packing, but know fully that I may be going nowhere!  I cannot remember another time in my life where I have felt so much caught in a limbo state.

 

The announcement is due out at midnight on Monday night.  Haitians everywhere will have their ears glued to their radios or eyes fixated on their television sets.  One will know immediately what was announced by the definitive roar that will pierce the dead of the night.

 

APRIL 4 … Word has spread in the USA that Sweet Micky is the winner., but the official announcement did not come to the people of Haiti until shortly after 6PM.  Houses were filled with shouting as people poured out into the streets to rejoice.  Motorcyclists did headstands on top of their bikes as they roared down the main drag.  Masses of people filled the streets waving political banners and chanted about the “bald guy” who had just won!  A HUGE sense of relief was exhaled by the general public as the worse had been expected – another rigged election!  There will be no rest tonight throughout Haiti!  The excitement is too great!  At last, something that is truly pleasing to the common people of Haiti!

 

Now on to my thoughts from the time of my surgery and continuing recovery  …

 

I am now in Week #14 of the recovery process following my ankle surgery!  I must admit that the process has been emotionally difficult for me. I have felt the helplessness of not being able to do even simple tasks, during the time that I was on “no weight bearing” restrictions.  Getting in and out of my house was next to impossible during the early stages of my recovery.  Going up and down stairs was completely out of the question.  I thank God that my husband was here in the USA to be with me.  He was such a help during the times that getting in and out my chair were a major struggle.  He willingly and without complaint learned how to operate my washer and dryer that is located in the basement and to do other tasks that I was simply unable to do.  Countless times, he loaded and unloaded my knee walker into the car to the necessary appointments that I had.  So very many things that I had been able to do without a second thought before my surgery were suddenly maneuvers that I could no longer take for granted.  Although I did not handle my slow progress with the joy that I should have, I certainly did ponder on the thought that I was indeed blessed that my inabilities were short-term.  I must say I have a new appreciation for people who deal with physical disabilities every day of their lives, knowing that they will never again be able to function normally.  I was thankful that I could be in the USA for my time of recovery, in a country where so many strides have been made to make getting from here to there accessible to those who cannot walk.  I have learned to take special notice of people struggling to get in a door or up a step and offer assistance to them when I can.  Taking an extra minute or two to get to where I am going is just a small courtesy to someone who can benefit from a helping hand.  When someone extended to me such a courtesy, I made it a point to purposely say “Thank you!”  as those people could just have easily passed me by when I was struggling to get in a door or moving far too slowly for the general public.  I am struggling with my attitude and my impatience.  I want answers and I want them now!  Will my gait ever again be normal?  Will the tingling feeling ever go away?  Will I be able to walk without pain?  Will I ever again have the stamina I need to do the work that I do?  What exactly is it that God is trying to teach me through all of this?

 

My husband has returned to Haiti where our work is stockpiling.  Another time of separation is another difficult phase of my recovery.  I have come to so depend on him.  I must reflect on what a wonderful plan God had when He designed us to be helpmates for each other.  Now we must help each other from afar, where phone calls just don’t quite cut it.  Is this another lesson from you God?  Are you reminding me that You are the one that I need to lean on the most?

 

In looking back at the last several weeks, I need to reflect on all the people that God has placed in my path to help me on this recovery journey of mine.  There were those who brought in meals, sent cards, drove me from here to there, offered encouragement, stopped by for visits, prayed for healing and expressed their friendship in a variety of other ways.  What a true example of faith in action!   What an example for me to follow when the shoe is on the other foot.  I thank God for each and every person who showed their Christian love to me during this time in my life!

 

Ever since the earthquake of January 2010, I have been going through a series of transition and change.  I have not yet quite put my finger on where God is leading me in all of this.  I have had long periods of feeling ineffective and useless and limited.  I pray that when all of this is just a distant memory I will have a clear sense of what God was preparing me for and that I will once again feel that I am of useful service to Him and the children that He has entrusted me to work with.

 

I do know that my God is faithful.  When I start feeling sorry for myself and think that those around me have forgotten me or abandoned me, He has never left my side.  He has never failed me.  I cling to that truth!   I also know He holds my future in His hands!

 

If you are struggling with some of life’s difficulties, I pray that you sense that God is also there for you!  When no one else seems to understand what you are going through, God does!  He intimately knows your every thought, your every struggle, your every pain!  We must trust that He will see us through!

 

Nora Léon                        

Missionary to Haiti & the Dominican Republic       Until next time. God willing …………

 

Address Change

We have a new mailing address!

Caribbean Children’s Foundation

PO Box 33

Jenison MI   49429.0033