I was back to MJ on Feb 25, after having a one week detour from Haiti to Radium Hot Springs in BC. Most of our immediate family was able to be there for a few days of skiing, mineral hot pool soaking, and just plain chilling out with my husband and the kids. Literally CHILLING, as the change in temp from Grand Goave was from 29 or 30 C, to –29 C. It was instant culture shock on the thermometer!
We had an awesome trip, with very few minor cases of upset stomach, injury or illness of any kind. A testimony to the quality of the guesthouse kitchen and staff and God’s providence!
We were disappointed to learn that we were not able to start construction on the first home for the Children’s Village. This was for various reasons: eg: the perimeter wall is not complete, due to the dispute with 6 individuals who want H.A. to build them a private road on the H.A. property; the bobcat loader had an electronic breakdown for several weeks in January, AND this project is being build in Haiti, which has it’s own distinct, predictably, unpredictable time lines!
The delay may also be a deliberate act of God, until we get the right design for the homes. Marc and several board members met while in Grand Goave, and have requested that the plan be revised as such: slightly enlarge each unit, as well as make it a 4 plex., 2 storey building that will occupy a smaller foot print on the site, while accommodating the same number of orphan children. The buildings will be laid out so that each family unit will have their own garden plot, and the center of the ‘village’ will have plenty of open play space.
Marc personally reassured me that the funds, which were raised for constructing the homes, would be kept in reserve for that purpose only.
Time there was not wasted, while we were there team members worked on:
-2 community homes were wired
-¼ of the medical clinic roof was formed, reinforced and poured
-over 100 feet of wall was assembled at the Children’s Village [holes dug, posts concreted in place and conc wall tiles slid into the post slots.]
-2 days of Vacation Bible School were conducted for kids in the area
-a first time ever women’s conference was held for women in the local area and
church. This included speakers from our team and local Haitian leaders, and
meals cooked by the church’s Haitian men…. Also a first time event, which
seemed to be as much fun for the men as it was for the ladies!
-an afternoon / evening was arranged for the teen girls in our team to “do” hair
and nails with 12 to 15 yr old local girls. About twice as many as expected showed up!
-rice and hygiene supply kits were distributed to 217 families living in tents in the Grand Goave central park tent city. Some of these gracious tent shelter residents wanted to pray for our well being BEFORE they were given the packages.
-small groups went out on home visits 3 evenings in the neighbourhood, sharing God’s grace and leaving gifts of food, clothes and or toys for the countless children.
-we attended church services on Tuesdays and Thursday evenings, and on Sunday
morning. No A/C, many support posts to impeded my view, and the service rocked on for close to 3 hours.
-Kat Morrissey, and architect from BC, who has been supervising the construction of the medical clinic and Roy, also from BC and who will be very involved with rebuilding the Technical School enlisted me to draft out the foundation plan for the Technical School [Thank goodness I had packed a pad of graph paper. Method: tape 8 sheets together to make a page large enough for the building, find an old wooden ruler, pencil and one eraser, and get on it!] They had 2 designs for the proposed foundation system, one much less complicated to form than the other, which meant that some information from both plans had to be set out on one new, working drawing. Once the plan was finished, it was ‘laminated’ to a sheet of plywood [glue the sheet to the ply’d, and completely cover with clear packing tape] it went to the site immediately, as the forms were already being screwed together and set in place.
-Michael was set to work doing a material take off for the rebar, and amount of concrete required for the footings, support columns and floor / roof slabs for the Technical school.
-Almost every step of construction there is complicated….what kind of gravel is needed, where can you get in, and is there sufficient quantities on hand. Will the size of rebars needed come bent or in straight lengths, and can transport be arranged for the long, heavy bars? Marc and Michael had several impromptus meetings with local suppliers to resolve these and similar problems.
-My next drafting project was to redraw the medical clinic plan, as it was built, with 2 addition rooms, and add a set of shower and bathrooms [to be open to the public], with access through the compound wall, but operated by H.A.
-H.A. has also been financing the drilling of wells in the community of Grand
Goave, and played host to a team of 4 men and 2 drill trucks in the compound
during our stay.
I am sure that I have overlooked several other events…….there was just too many things going on to keep track of.
Days started with team devotions at 6:30, breakfast at 7:00, work assignment meeting at 8:00, work till lunch, work assignment meeting at 1:00, work until at least 4:00, some longer! Supper at 6:00 and ‘decompress meeting’ at 8:00 on the roof of the guest house, unless it was raining!
Thank you to the Board, and the Congregation at Minto United Church, as well as all of the all the other churches, individuals and businesses for the financial and prayer support. None of the accomplishments would be possible without your input.
It was an amazingly full agenda, and the 10 days just flew by. This is a mission adventure that I would highly recommend to everyone, at least once per lifetime, and if you can arrange that you have family members with you on the trip, it will be even better. It was an honour and privilege to take a very small part in this huge vision that God has bestowed upon one couple and their supporters.
Karen Schoenroth March 1, 2011
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