Haiti Trip #11 - March 23, 2012

Prayer Partners of the Day - Dad & Darenda Lease

Making plans with Valdes & Ancy

Never thought I'd say this in Haiti... I was so cold last night! It was humid and clammy! The rain kept coming, and thankfully that kept the loud folks and animals inside and quiet. Last night, we decided to split the team today and work on two separate projects. The system in Arcahaie needed a bit of TLC, and we had a small maintenance project in Mirebalais. One instructor, Mark, stayed with the team in Arcahaie, and I set out with a few others for Mirebalais.

First, we had to go north to Montrouis to simply check in with Valdes and ensure things were getting started at the big project site. We arrived and a score of men were out digging a trench with pick-axes and shovels to prepare for laying the wire and conduit. The pole and solar panels were not up yet, however, and we scouted the area for the best, most secure site, finally deciding upon the roof of the water building. While there, Valdes gave us another project to work on in Mirebalais. Yes, that now makes FIVE projects for the six days in Haiti.

St. Thomas Episcopal Church

Back in the car, we headed for Mirebalais, a good two hours away. We were just about to enter Arcahaie and received a phone call there was a protest blocking the main road. We tried to continue onward, but the rioters had the road completely blocked and as a good team leader, we chose our safety over the projects. We headed back to St. Thomas Episcopal Church & School. The team there was working non-stop, and the remaining members joined in the work. I took the opportunity to sit down with Ancy in the church and tackle our "to-do" list of phone calls and emails to projects around the country.

The professor

Mark & I went into problem-solving mode. Because we could not get to Mirebalais to complete the two projects today, we completely changed our schedule around to fit our needs and projects. The team was thankfully agreeable and continued to work on the kinks in the Arcahaie system.

We had a visit from "Father Goose." He is a protege to Father Irnel Duveaux, and the Bishop has given him a church in Cazale. Goose asked us to visit his site and complete a survey. Happily, I agreed, as I never turn down the opportunity to go on an adventure in Haiti! This adventure turned into one of the roughest roads I have ever traveled in Haiti...and that is saying a lot! We went up a mountain, down a mountain, over a mountain, up a mountain, and finally into a valley. In all, it took about 90 minutes. The scenery was beautiful - lush with green plants and beautiful people. The survey went fantastically, and it would most certainly be an easy installation.

Father Goose, Bob, and me in Cazale

The boy looks just like
UNC's Harrison Barnes

Back in Arcahaie, I was finally able to sit down and have a long chat with Father Irnel. Part of my job as Living Waters For the World Haiti Network Moderator is to problem solve, unruffle feathers, and continually work through the covenant process and bridge the gap between partners in the US and partners in Haiti. This was one of those instances...and why they pay me the big bucks! Ha. Ha.

After dinner, it was time to debrief the day with the team. The question of the night was what brought us joy. Isn't that a question we should ask ourselves everyday? It brought me joy to not only see Valdes and the projects underway. It brought me joy to meet Father Goose and see his beautiful community in Cazale. And it brought me joy to hear from my Dad every few minutes with updates from the UNC-Ohio game! (Thankfully, UNC won in overtime!)