It was about the length of a football field and half as wide. I don’t know what I expected, but the sight of the mass grave dotted with small black wooden crosses left me with nothing to say. It was so sad. When we visited “Saint Christopher” on this past trip to Haiti, J.L. and I were told that trucks would deposit their load of dead bodies and bulldozers would cover them with dirt so the next layer could be added. What else could they do with over 200,000 to bury in such a short time?
Not far away from that was the huge treeless hillside dotted with small 10’ x 10’ structures (“homes”), covered in blue or white plastic tarps, and surrounded with sticks for the boundary markers. 500,000 people in a relocation site outside of Port-au-Prince. The government offered free land to the 3 million displaced citizens, and many took advantage of it. They swapped living in a crowded “tent city” to living in a “slum city” on a barren hillside.
We saw where a few different groups from other nations and relief organizations had “adopted” a project, like building school rooms, latrines or drilling wells. And still others had provided the plastic tarps or large white tents, with a few permanent houses being started. It is a good beginning, a year and a half after the earthquake, and encouraging to see but the need is so vast that it will take years for everyone to have their minimum needs met...for them to live “comfortably.”
Schooling is scare in the earthquake area and on the hillside, so restless groups of teenagers move about with nothing to do and no way to make any money. The boys and men are tempted to turn to stealing and gangs and the girls and women to prostitution.
J.L. and I joined 4 of the VanWingerden family members for a clothing distribution at one of the hillside churches that desperately needed help. Using a UNICEF tent, which also serves as a community center and clinic, the congregation sang hymns of praise. We had taken 150 bags full of clothing and shoes we had packed for those members and their gratitude was enormous! But soon, word got out that bags were being given away, and people came running from everywhere. I was glad I didn’t have to decide who got one.
Along with the visit to the relocation area and the mass grave, J.L. and I were a part of some of the activities at Double Harvest (DH) in Croix de Bouquettes – a ministry partnership for over 35 years. We saw the new additions being made on the hospital, worked at the farm getting the clothing bags together and sorting seeds, visited new homes that DH had build for the earthquake survivors in that area, as well as participating in morning devotions with the Haitian workers. The VanWingerden family is committed for the long haul in being the solution to some of Haiti’s many pressing needs: reforestation, building homes, and food production -- including the growing and selling of tilapia. It was great to be around such enthusiastic, high-energy people!
That was just the first half of our time in Haiti! On our way to the second half of our week, which was to lead a marriage retreat with 26 couples from Port-au-Prince, we visited the Nehemiah Vision complex. Dedicated to holistic ministry for the earthquake victims, its visionary and long time friend, Esperandieu Pierre, has a campus that houses a church, school, clinic, dormitories, dining hall and construction is underway for a full hospital. He is also working at the relocation site out of a tent church, providing Sunday and mid-week services, showing the Jesus Film, has a medical visitation program and plans to do some well drilling, etc. By God’s grace, we plan to build a “containerized church” there before year’s end.
Then, traveling on a newly paved road, a result of efforts by the Dominican Republic, we headed north along the coast to the town of Cabaret, close to where Kalico Beach is located. Another long time friend, Edner Jeanty, Jr. and his wife, Dominique, had arranged for a couples’ retreat at this lovely location. These wonderful husbands and wives had eagerly looked forward to this time to be together with each other, and receive Christian teaching on marriage. I think a lot of them had never had the luxury of having a weekend away and they were extremely grateful for this opportunity. For these couples to make this financial investment in their marriages in the aftermath of the earthquake was a real sacrifice.
All of them had been in the country when the earthquake happened and we heard some of their frightening stories. And all of them knew someone who had been killed, though none of them lost any immediate family members. The trauma was still in their eyes and voices as they recounted where they were when the earth shook.
J.L. spoke on a variety of marital topics like relationships, the purpose of marriage, intimacy, and “When the marriage wine runs out”. I spoke twice with applications on expectations and adjustments in marriage, and on forgiveness. The couple married the longest was just getting ready to celebrate their 49th anniversary. The couple married the shortest had been married 4 months. So we had the full gamut. We had time for prayer, a little free time to enjoy each other, and lots of good Haitian food and fellowship. Closing with communion, it seemed that each couple had renewed their commitment to each other and to the Lord. A very rewarding weekend!
As we were flying back to Miami, I was struck by several thoughts. First, that in spite of the tremendous tragedies that seem to plague the Haitian people, those who love the Lord remain victorious, not just somehow, but triumphantly. I stand in awe of their faith and perseverance. Secondly, I am spoiled rotten here in the US, almost always taking for granted indoor plumbing, air-conditioning, a car to drive, electricity….and more things that are too numerous to list here. I/we have to be more intentional in helping the under-reached and out of reach. Thank you for your part in supporting us, that makes it possible for us to help them, the many who are in such desperate need! It is the financial support to our “Mission Travel Fund” that makes these trips possible.
So, here I am in the pod again, rearranging and sorting: which stuff has to be boxed, displayed, repaired or given away. If you’re hearing the “poor, pitiful Patt” in my voice, you got it right! But, my work has been minimal compared to J.L.‘s. Truthfully, he has been doing the lion’s share of the sorting, packing, organizing, in addition to helping with the construction and building work—which he loves—painting 3 coats on all the woodwork, walls and ceilings in the new office and storage building. He goes out there about 6:30 or 7 each morning and comes back in the door about 9:30 at night. So pray for him. We have literally been passing like ships in the pod, I mean night. But, with all this heat and activity, he’s lost about 15 pounds and looks great! (I’ve lost nary an ounce. Go figure.)
Patt and J.L. live in Burlington, NC, have 4 married children and 12 grandchildren. She is almost semi-retired and so has a much lighter travel schedule with J.L. She still enjoys corresponding with national partners, speaking to women's groups, being with their extended family and perfect grandchildren, reading and eating dark chocolate.
