Haiti’s future

When out walking it is common for me to hear, “Foto! Foto!”. Seeing my camera the children call to me asking to have their photograph taken. I have learned that immediately after taking the photo I need to turn the camera around and show the children their picture. There is great delight and often laughter when the children see their image. You see, there are few mirrors in Haiti and the children don’t often get a glimpse of themselves. Small children can easily identify their friends in the photograph but are somewhat surprise to learn they are the person standing next to their friend …the awe and wonder of self discovery.

Computer Class

One of my ministries here in Jean Rabel is teaching a computer class three days a week. Many Haitian people are curious about computers and very eager to learn how to use them. Unfortunately, access to computers is very limited. We requested and received permission to use the computer lab of one of the local high schools for the class. The computer lab includes fifteen desktop computers with Microsoft Office 2003 software. With access to a computer lab I was able to enroll over a dozen people in the class, including men & women of all ages. Each student was asked to contribute 250 gds ($6.25 US) to cover the cost of the gasoline for the generator needed to provide the electricity for our twelve classes. Each day before class I would listen for the sound of the generator. Once I heard the generator I would throw the circuit breakers in the computer lab and class could begin. These past few weeks the students have made great strides in advancing their keyboard skills and their knowledge of Word & Excel. However, what is even more exciting is their increased self confidence and self esteem. 

Celebrating the Women of Haiti!

As part of "International Women's Day", March 8th, we celebrate the women of Haiti in pictures!

school cafeteria cook

neighbor in Gros Morne

Church ladies

laundry down at the river

micro-credit group

Christmas party

crossing the river at Port de Paix

mother & child in Sunday best

making patterns in the sewing workshop

Follow the river to the sea

The sea is a two hour walk from our house in Jean Rabel.  If you follow the river you will find the sea. Initially you walk on the dirt road that runs alongside the river. After an hour of walking past houses and banana plantations you turn onto “river road”. River road leads you down into the river bed. This time of year the river is a small stream winding its way to the sea in the expansive river bed carved during the rainy season. You must ford the river a half dozen or more times before you reached the sea. This time of year the water is shallow, just up to my ankles. When you are about twenty minutes from the beach you round a turn and come upon a spectacular sight; the place where the river meets the sea.

where the river meets the sea

I’ve made this trek a couple times; once alone and again with friends. There is always plenty going on along the river... and after a two hour walk it is refreshing to …wade in the shallow warm water …watch the fishermen …and listen to the surf.