Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Day care is not part of the Haitian culture. So, when the mothers arrived for sewing lessons, they brought their small children. Although we had not planned to, I gave four comfort dolls to these children. They were so happy to have them. The three girls held them while the boy was being a boy - he liked to throw his.

The treadle sewing machines are a Chinese brand, FINGER.

There was some time to teach some of the children, who also took their turns on the sewing machines, Jenga.

Yesterday, I had a request that I regard as an honor. I received an e-mail from the Secretary of the Eglise Methodiste d'Haiti, Rev. Marco Depestre. He asked if I would give the sermon this coming Sunday at Croix des Mission. He will translate for me.  And, I did not bring a suit or better shoes than my hiking boots.

Presently, I am sitting out on the second story porch watching the clouds in the valley, the clouds above us, and occassionally a cloud floating by us. Even though it is very cloudy, this is the dry season. The area needs rain.

The villagers have cisterns for the dry season, but their capacity is not sufficient. Before the Currellys, our hosts, moved up here, the Bois d'Avril villagers had to walk a ways down the mountain for water. From their cisterns, the Currellys are giving the villagers water as they are able until it rains again.

This afternoon, I am going down the mountain to the Methodist Guest House to prepare for the Croix des Mission VIM team and also to prepare my unexpected sermon. This evening, I will meet with Stevenson Theodore, Nehemy's brother, and ask him for some special music for the service. (Stevenson was a music teacher at the French School until it was destroyed by the earthquake.) However, the VIM team will still sing a couple hymns in Creole. We ARE NOT the special music. (Saturday evening, Stevenson will conduct choir practice for us.)

The aroma from the patio below smells good. Every day, a couple Haitian women are cooking a different dish while Liz takes notes. I very much like the results.  Think I'll go down and have a look.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Today was the first day giving instruction on treadle sewing machines. About a dozen women, girls, and boys learned how to "heel and toe" to power the sewing machines. Three people also came from a neighboring village, Bonga.

Today's project was making small pillows. The students cut small squares and sewed the sides leaving a small opening for stuffing. They departed having something for their efforts.

Janet also taught some ladies beginning applique. Steve instructed some young men how to put the frames together and stretch the fabric over the frames.

Even while sewing lessons were being conducted, Liz learned another Haitian dish, rice with a black bean sauce. Very good.

The Haitians were very enthusiastic about learning. If these people practice their new skills, they have the potential to increase their quality of life by making quilts that can be sold commercially.  Tomorrow, it will interesting to see how many of today's students return.

Again, if you know of anyone who has an interest in Haiti, please tell them about our blogs:
www.croixdesmission.blogspot.com   (Bob Parker)
www.nhhaitiquilt.blogspot.com   (Sophie Bartels)

After a late afternoon meal, John and Deb Currelly led us on a neighborhood hike.

After the hike, we were invited to attend the Bois d'Avril village prayer service. We just sat along the side of the road. A couple young men led the service.

It was a very joyful service. Different plastic pails and barrels were used as drums providing music for singing and dancing.

Here, Liz is dancing with a village girl as others watch. Sharing a prayer service with the villagers was special.

About 10am or so, three Haitian ladies arrived to teach us how to fix the Haitian national dish, black beans rice. Sophie and Janet are very attentive. Four hours later, we had a delicious meal.

One lady spent much of her time mashing leeks, some garlic, and other items for the beans and rice. Sophie tried her hand with the mortar and pestle.

While the beans were cooking, one of the ladies, Jislin, practiced pedaling the treadle sewing maching with the instruction and encouragement of Liz and Sophie.

Jislin made a pillow and seemed to be very pleased. Janet certainly was.

Haiti Team February 2011

Late yesterday afternoon, we arrived in Port-au-Prince without having any drama or delays.  It was a shock traveling from frigid weather to 88 degrees upon landing.  But, I am not complaining.  Even the 60 degree evenings in the mountains seem balmy.

There are two VIM teams.  The first is a small group who began last spring as a "Quilts for Haiti" project.  The second group which arrives next Saturday will conduct Vacation Bible School at the Croix des Mission work site.  They will not to be able to labor on the roof phase of the Croix des Mission new church.

The Quilts for Haiti project was the idea of Sophie Bartels, then a Hanover High School freshman.  With her sewing teacher, Janet Daniels, Sophie organized some sew-a-thons to make quilts for Haiti.  A school board member, knowing that I had been to Haiti, asked me if I knew of a place that could use the quilts.  "Yes, I did."

On a previous trip to Haiti, I had met John and Deb Currelly who have been living and working for over thirty years in Haiti.  They live in the mountains above Port-au-Prince adjacent to a small village, Bois d'Avril.  After  e-mail exchanges about the quilts and the number of quilts for the village, Deb suggested that a person to teach the villagers would an even greater benefit.

At a sew-a-thon, I mentioned Deb's suggestion to Janet Daniels.  She immediately said, "I'll go!"  Janet accompanied our September 2010 VIM team to Haiti, and she was hosted by the Currellys.  Over a few days, Janet and Deb gauged the villagers' interest; it was very positive.  Janet was able to find and buy three treadle sewing machines in good working owner for future use.  (Bois d'Avril does not have electricity nor water.)  This week they will continue to work with the villagers, women and men, to improve their novice sewing skills.

The goal is to have the villagers become proficient enough at sewing quilts that the quilts can be sold commercially.  Those of you who are quilters know that this will be a several years' long sewing project.  The income would certainly improve the villagers quality of life.

Yesterday, I accompanied Janet and the Bartels family, Sophie and her parents, Steve and Liz, to Haiti.  We were met by he Currellys and had a pizza dinner on our way to their beautiful home.  We drove through the clouds up a narrow (and that is an understatement) road and emerged cloud free at their home about 5500 feet above Port-au-Prince.  Up here without any city lights, one can see every star in the universe.

Check back often more.

This is what home in New Hampshire looked like yesterday when I left.

This is the mountain view from the Currellys' second story deck.

What an "office" location!

Goodbye to the People of Croix des Mission

Today was bitter sweet.  On one hand, I am dirty and tired and eager for a clean environment, but on the other, I am so sad to leave these children and their families in this poverty.  But it is their home and they seem surrounded by love.  They are a cheerful people and I have NEVER seen men work so hard.  They have incredible stamina.

The work at the site was more gravel hauling and there were plenty of workers so Marilyn, Michelle, and I played with the children.  It was great fun.  Marilyn and I searched our inner resources and taught all the childhood songs and games that we could recall.  Hot Potato (Hot Bread Fruit), hand clap rhythms, finger plays, and jump rope were big hits.

After another hot lunch for 120 people, Michelle handed out the gifts we brought from church members.  We had wrapped a pencil and crayon box in each clothing item for the children.  The teenagers and men got t-shirts and ball caps.





As you can see from the pictures,  everyone was very pleased by the gifts!

Did I tell you that it rained for about two hours?  Not a hard driving rain but a steady one.  Finally, the men improvised a shelter of tarps using the clothes line that we had just purchased for jump ropes!

Soon it was time to say goodbye.  Hugs and handshakes and sincere smiles all around.  We promised to return in February.

Haiti's people are special.

Sharon