Thursday, February 28, 2013

Thursday, Day Two




Today began at the work site as in the past, feeding a Haitian breakfast of bread rolls and peanut butter.  In this picture, Karren Crowson (Huntsville, AL), Wanda Rosser (Williamsburg, PA), and Jamie Lindtner (West Grove, PA) hand out food to the waiting neighborhood people.  Today, we prepared about 120 rolls and used two large jars of peanut butter.


Many of those that we feed are children.  For some reason, these children are not in school.  So, they are hanging out with Wanda and Johnny, our driver.  (Johnny has been our driver on previous VIM teams, and the Croix des Mission people like him very much.)

The crepissage work is being done by skilled Haitians.  So much sand had previously been sifted that even that unskilled job is not immediately needed. We have try our hand at applying crepissage, but it is difficult without 10,000 hours of practice.  In this picture, BK Chung (West Grove, PA) is giving it a try.  (Two others, Shirley Daddario and Jamie Lindtner, are also from West Grove.)



While serving breakfast, we heard singing coming from a couple houses down the street.  A couple years ago, that family hosted a Pentecostal day of fasting.  There is non-stop singing and preaching all morning and early afternoon.

I took the VIM team down and ask to worship with them for a while.  (I had done this a couple years ago.)  The Haitians are appreciative that we take the time to participate with them.  Later, they came to the work site, formed a circle, and prayed for me.  I was touched.  But, then I found out that they thought that I was a pastor from Texas who had worked last week at Croix des Mission.  Oh well, it was still a powerful faith experience.

When the team returned to the work site, Stevenson was ready for us.  What conditions he has to teach in!  He has to bring a generator to power his keyboard.  Look at his seat, concrete blocks.  Stevenson is a marvelous music teacher.  We are making good progress on two Creole hymns.  We perform Sunday.

Hope everyone had as great a day as we.  Bob




Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Wednesday, February 27, 2013




Look at the church!!  Isn't it wonderful!!

Last evening, I arrived again in Haiti with team members Wanda Rosser, BK Chung, Shirley Daddario, and Jamie Lindtner from Pennsylvania and Dale Clem and Karren Crownson from Alabama.  Another congenial team.

This morning followed previous team routines: leave the Guest House about 8am, buy bags of ice for the water coolers, and purchase eight bags of fresh bread rolls from street vendors.  Upon arrival at Croix des Mission, there were warm greetings and introductions before the team began handing out bread rolls lathered in peanut butter. (This is a typical poor Haitian breakfast, but a Haitian would spread the peanut butter so thin as to be translucent.)

Last week, workers began applying crepissage (a concrete made with very fine sand and applied about an inch thick over the concrete blocks) to the north side of the church.  By the time we depart next Thursday, the crepissage work for the entire church may be completed.  Yea!

Our team helped dig the septic tank pit.  We did have two picks and three shovels.  Of course as in years past, neighborhood volunteers also helped.

Stevenson Theodore, our choir director, spent about an hour with us teaching us another hymn in Creole.  As in the past, we will sing for the Croix des Mission congregation Sunday.

The neighborhood was fed lunch.  I was surprised at the number fed.  I would guess about 80 people including the paid workers.  And, there was not the crowding around the food servers as in the past.  Perhaps the people are finally realizing that there is always enough food; everyone is served.

There were many requests for educational assistance, medical help, etc.  After these were politely and respectfully denied, the people did not persist and respected our decision.

Working at Croix des Mission is so rewarding.  The next VIM team is scheduled for August.  Sign up now.

Bob