As an organization, we try to invest in our employees. Our belief that employees who have a stable home environment with secure shelter, food security, who are in good health and who are able to educate their children are happier employees - more committed employees. It is because of this belief that we often build new homes for our staff members, many of whom still live in temporary shelters more than 4 years after the quake. Madam Carline was fortunate enough to have extended family with whom she lived, but lost her house in the earthquake. The skeletal remains of what was once a home have stood, abandoned with no hope for resuscitation in Haiti's unforgiving and relentless constraints of poverty. Even while employed full-time, Madam Carline likely never would have been able to build back her home...
This would all change for Carline, as the St. John's Catholic High School Britsionary Group arrived from Shrewsbury, MA on Saturday, February 15, 2014. It was decided that the group would build a new home for Carline and her family ~ no easy task, especially given that because of flights being canceled and overbooked because of winter storms in New England, this group would essentially have just 4 work days on site in which to complete the project.
In true St. John's fashion, the group of 12 high school juniors and seniors, along with their 3 faculty leaders, jumped right in and took on the project with incredible pride, motivation, and teamwork. You may recall last year, the St. John's Catholic High School group was our very first Britsionary group of 2013 with children living in the orphanage. A year ago I raved about the group of Pioneers epitomizing exactly what that word means: fearless, venturing into the unknown, and paving a new way forward. In much the same way, this group of young men was equally impressive and equally selfless. The group ventured into an unknown community where they were, to most, blan - and have made an incredible difference in the lives of Madam Carline and her family - a husband and a young daughter...
What's perhaps most impressive about this group's project is that build-a-home's usually are planned long in advance. The cost is significantly higher for a block house than it is for a wooden structure. As a result, the group selflessly agreed to take on this project knowing that they would not see it to completion, at least not while they were here in Haiti. We will be launching a fundraising effort to finish Carline's house - just the roof to go! If anyone is interested in helping this project to completion, please let us know by messaging us on facebook or sending us an email at support@belikebrit.org.
The St. John's Group worked incredibly hard, and as we wait to install the roof, Carline is anxiously awaiting the time when she can sleep in her new home - safe, secure, and comforted by the fact that this home will not fall. These walls are as strong as the faith of this incredible group of young men who opted to travel to the Western Hemisphere's poorest country for their winter break. The impact of their work is immeasurable.
Because of this group and because of this project, we were able to help other members of the community, too. A young boy playing around the job site, no doubt curious as to what all these blan were up to, made his way over to Len one morning. The boy was not well: fever, and what we thought was perhaps the most severe double ear infection we had ever seen were making every waking second for this poor child unbearable. Frustrated and feeling helpless, Len and the group decided to bring the boy back to Be Like Brit, to see what we could do to alleviate some of his distress. This is what the boy's ears looked like after we cleaned the infection and drainage from his ear canals...
We realized then that the infection was not restricted to just the ear, but likely some kind of staph or other skin condition. My assistant Rosenie (a nurse) and I cleaned the boy up and gave his mother some medicines. By the end of the week, the boy had improved ten-fold. I'll be paying him a visit in the community later today to follow up on his medication, and in this one simple act - total chance for this child that a group of men from Shrewsbury, MA would happen upon him in a roadside village in rural Haiti - he is suffering less, and his day to day includes more joy than before...
One of the students from St. John's expressed in our first night of reflection that he had encountered a classmate back at school who said to him, "You're never going to make a difference in Haiti. It's way too messed up." The Britsionary went on to say he'd be willing to bet against that as he looked to the week ahead and came to know all that their work would entail. I think we can all agree that his doubting classmate was indeed proved wrong.
Just ask Carline; just ask this boy.
I'm reminded of the Edmund Burke quote, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men (and women) to do nothing." Surely we can replace the word evil with poverty, despair, hopelessness, and more. For this past week is proof-positive that good men doing something can have an impact and do make a difference. We are so very grateful to St. John's Catholic High School for all of the gifts they have brought Be Like Brit, our children, and the community in which we call home.
Do you think the week wore them out? We hope you're all recuperating well back at home, and that you know you always have a family here in Grand-Goâve!
As always with us, we're busy on other fronts, too. Cherylann is down in Haiti for nearly two full weeks, and she and I are busy visiting other organizations, hospitals, and NGOs with whom we've been so fortunate to build relationships. It's as if Mom has come to visit and wants to be sure she gets to meet and thank everyone who is helping with meetings the needs of our children! We were happy to visit the ladies over at GOALS Haiti, and talked about ways in which we can work together moving forward. Coach Emilio is a celebrity with the Be Like Brit children (and I'd imagine with everyone!) and we know moving forward we'll have great things come from our friendship!
Cherylann and I have a busy week ahead of us, as our list of people to go visit and meet is long! We may not need to visit the dentist, however ~ as it turns out that Cherylann is comfortable pulling those loose teeth that give me chills and a crawl up my spine!
This morning, as the children sat down to eat breakfast, my phone rang. Our driver Francky told me that it appeared the heavy rains from last night had created some problems at the Mission of Hope International church, and while it hadn't necessarily flooded, there was a lot of standing water and mud - Haiti's infamous mud - and that church was likely canceled. After confirming this with Renee, I wondered to myself, "what are we going to do?" Sunday morning church service is an event that the children look forward to all week long. Our staff prepares them in some of their best clothes and we proudly walk down the mountain to church every week. I didn't want the news to disappoint them!
As I scrambled to figure out what to do next, my amazing staff had already put a plan in to effect. Benches were carried over in front of our altar in the courtyard chapel at Be Like Brit. Tambourines and a guitar appeared out of nowhere. Before I even realized what was going on, the children were seated, and being led in worship by our overnight caregivers who, by now, were long past their hour to leave work for the day. As a team - as a family - our staff and caregivers gathered in a Sunday morning service complete with song, dance, and worship.
Oh, what a beautiful morning! I think Wilmann may have found his calling ~ Pastor! :)
Please keep the people of Haiti in your prayers this week, as the coming rainy season brings with it so much hardship for so many people still living in temporary shelters with leaky roofs and torn USAID tarps. A thunderstorm that we back home wouldn't even flinch at can spell disaster here for so many. This is why we are committed to our community and to building it back ~ house by house.
As we prepare for a busy week, we thank you all for your continued support and prayers. We've been so blessed and the blessings continue to pour in. Just this week, we unpacked the cube truck that was so generously donated by Peter Catanese and the thousands of pounds of donations we packed into the truck now fill all of our storage depots and closets around the building. Our dental clinic is all but finished; our infirmary is in place; the medications in our pharmacy have filled the shelves and are pouring over in to backup rooms...It's truly incredible to see this coming together and to experience the love and generosity each and every day. We thank you, as do the children who call Be Like Brit home.
Have a great week, and as always, thanks for reading.
