Haitian Hope Catch-up

          Not meeting in March does not mean nothing is happening with Haitian Hope.  Below is a summary of the events that have transpired and the projects soon to take place involving our friends and members of Haitian Hope.

            1) The Brunswick stew netted approximately $4,000.  Way to go Elizabeth Dunn and crew!!!!

2) Surprises from Ranny's trip in February:

·        The Canadians are building a hospital in Trouin.

·        Clean water, thanks to a Luxembourg group, is available for $.10/gallon to all those in the Trouin area.

·        Temporary classrooms have been erected by the Episcopal Education Department of Haiti.

·        ERD repaired Georgette's house and erected a small shelter for Pere Michaud. (Georgette is the hostess for our groups who visit)

·        The Chinese provided materials to erect a shelter for St. Marc School's principal, Salien Wilner.

·        A latrine was built accommodating four individuals.

3)      HH (Haitian Hope) continues to provide a hot lunch for 400 students@$1700/month.

4)      HH continues to provide salaries for 12 secondary teachers@$100/month.  They have asked for a raise which we will consider.

5)      The Haiti Education Fund provides salaries for the primary school teachers@90/month.

6)      The Rebuilding and Restoration sub-committee has asked approval from Bishop Duracin, Pere Michaud, Pere Kesner Ajax (Partnership director) for the construction of school classrooms using concepts from Erecta, based in Arkansas.

7)      Gail Moulton will lead a group to Trouin April 7-11.  Accompanying her will be

a.       the Reverend Kate Bryant, asst rector at St. James, Leesburg, Va.

b.      John Mark Parker, beloved leader of the Mercer Canterbury Club

c.       Will Crew, Canterbury Club member and French major

d.      Noah Maier, Canterbury Club member and photographer

                  Please pray for their safe and fruitful journey

           

8)      Saturday, March 26, marked the day of an extraordinary meeting in Atlanta of 17 partners of Pere Michaud's churches.  From 10-3 we shared common experiences and goals for our continued mission to our brothers and sisters in Haiti.  The extraordinary nature of the gathering was evident from the quiet and intentional passion palpable throughout the entire five hours of discussion.  We are deeply indebted to the expertise shared by the Outlook Haiti group from Lookout Mountain, TN.  They have been in partnership since 1996 and have accomplished great things.  Our meeting would not have been nearly as successful without them.   Not to be minimized in any way was the distance traveled by everyone whose one goal was, "how can I help our brothers and sisters in Haiti?"  Jim Hudson left from Florida at 4:00 AM.  Ann Aiken and Charles Mahan traveled from Chattanooga.  Henry Stribling and Mary Frances LeMat flew in from Virginia.  Marietta Choyce, Katherine Cornell, and the Reverend Katharine Armentrout came from Jasper to set up the room and provide nourishment.  And, of course, several HH members drove from Macon—Brant and Jan Frost, Steve Marlow, James Caldwell, Ranny and Gail Moulton, and Preston and I.  My hope is that all of you will come next time.  Below follows a brief description of the structure of the group:

                         Partners in relationship with Pere Michaud

 Outlook Haiti partners with St. John the Evangelist School, Petit Harpon

Church of the Good Shepherd, Lookout Mountain, TN

Church of the Nativity, Ft. Oglethorpe, GA

St. Stephen's, Oak Ridge, TN

St. Martin's, Chattanooga, TN

Presbyterians in Florida with Jim Hudson

            Haitian Hope partners with St. Marc, Trouin:

                        Church of the Holy Family, Jasper, GA

                        St. Francis, Macon, GA

                        

            Independent partners with St. Marc, Trouin:

                        St. James, Leesburg, VA

                        Trinity Church, Washington, VA

9)      The First Annual Haitian Hope Golf Tournament has 20 sponsors as of this writing.  More sponsors and players are wanted and needed.  Last week, you should have received information from Preston about this event to be held Tuesday, June 14^th at Healy Point Country Club, Macon.  

10)  Next meeting of Haitian Hope: Sunday, May 1^st at 1:30 in the library.

Peace,

Marcia