Sunday Worship with the Croix des Mission Congregation

One of the highlights of our VIM experience is worshiping with the members of Croix des Mission.  We were warmly welcomed back.  These are such friendly people.

As we did last year, the VIM team plus two of UMCOR staff staying at the Methodist Guest House sang two hymns in Creole.  Thursday evening and last evening, Stevenson Theodore, a Haitian musician directed us in practices.  We sang the same hymns as last year.  Those of us who were here then learned these hymns much better.  In fact, Marilyn Dunten sang a solo part in Creole.  It is a fun experience.

We presented the congregation with the photo collage of our church which was put together by Jodi Austen.  The quilted banner, made by Adele Patch and presented last year, was prominently displayed.  With these gifts, we continue to strengthen our connection.

Except for giving the sermon (exactly 30 minutes), Michelle Pierre, our Haitian-American team member who is also a Methodist pastor, conducted the service.  As a girl, she worshipped at Croix des Mission and is well known by the Eglise Methodiste d'Haiti clergy.  Michelle certainly enriches our Haiti experience.

After the two hour service, we drove out to the work site to show the construction to the two UMCOR staff. We were surprised to see neighborhood people working on site moving sand that had been delivered.  They  were moving it to a more suitable spot where concrete will be made when the concrete floor is poured.  (I use the  term "poured" very loosely.)  (Trees prevented the delivery trucks from dumping nearer.)

The concrete is mixed on the ground.  One or two men mix the sand and cement with shovels.  This is very laborious work.  From much experience, they mix using the right amount of water for proper consistency.  Then, pails are filled and hand carried where the concrete is being "poured" from the plastic pails.  (We have only seen two gasoline powered cement mixers.  One was outside the American Embassy.)

Since the Methodist Guest House does not serve lunch on Sunday, we ate nearby at Epi d'Or, a sandwich/ice cream restaurant.  Seeing the number of Europeans and North Americans eating there, I decided that it was safe to order sandwiches including tomatoes and lettuce.  There were three Royal Canadian Mounted Police (in semi cammies) and another UN policeman from Togo.  I suspect the six Brazilians sitting next to us (in civilian clothes) were also UN troops.  A Baptist group was from Mississippi.

After eating, one of the UMCOR staff asked if we could make a detour to see if the house survived that he lived in seven years ago.  Although we could not see through the gate, we could see the roof.  The house may survived.  But across a small valley, many, many houses were destroyed.  Barry pointed out a scar on the side of the steep hill.  He said that 20 stories of houses used to cling to the hillside.  Imagine 20 stories of small houses in an area 220 yards wide.  In a few seconds, all was rubble at the bottom.  Who knows how many perished.

There is little evidence of heavy equipment.  We have seen only one industrial strength backhoe and five very large front end loaders.  Of course, we have not visited all of the damaged areas.  But from what we have seen, there has not been nearly enough equipment delivered to clean up rubble and reconstruct in a timely manner.  At this rate, a decade from now will still show remains of the earthquake.

We promise photos after we return.