Thursday, January 27, 2011

Hello faithful readers: Yes.....I am still alive and kicking! I know it has been some days since I have written but it has been more or less the status quo since I last wrote. Still lots of chatter about Duvalier's return and of course the elections results, involvement of the International community, the OAS results and Aristide's desire to return to Haiti are also right up there. The FINAL election results are to be announced somewhere between Jan 29 and Feb 2...I am guessing closer to the 2nd...it's a bet I have with myself. Rumor also has it that Celestin has withdrawn which clears the way for Martelly. But there has been no publice announcement of that by Celestin himself nor has the Electoral Committe recieved any official declaration. ..so the beat goes on!

The one big change since last writing is that I am no longer alone at Hope House. The Andersons, Bert and Roberta have joined me to help with the operations. They were a very good birthday gift as they arrived the day I was celebrating "my day". What a welcome addition they are and having three years full time experience in Haiti under their belt is definately a bonus! See the website for a bit more information about them if you are interested. It has only been a little over a week since they have been here but they are picking up things so quickly that it seems like they have been here much longer. I know they look forward to meeting many of you who are planning trips to Haiti and Hope House this year.

Everyone else at Hope House is fine....Jean is back from an extended visit to his family and he is busy now getting our vehicles into top running order...they are showing their age and appreciate his "tender loving care" of them.....me too as without those vehicles I really would be stymied.

I finally made it out to the Artibonite Valley to visit Wilner this past weekend. It has been awhile and it was interesting to see various building projects going on along the road going North. It was a much smoother ride too as even more of the highway has been repaved..that is definately a sign of things improving!

With that I bid you fond farewell....until next time..peace be with you......Debbie
Click here to read about the ANDERSONS!

Monday, January 17, 2011

Good Evening:

The news of the day has definately been the return of Jean Claude Duvalier and his wife to Haiti after his years of exile in France. What a surprise (to say the least) to see the news reel last night about his arrival at the airport. Even the French ambassador to Haiti was taken unaware. What is all means, is anyone's guess! His return has deplaced for the moment all of the other conversations about where we are with the election results and what the next steps are to be, as there has been no official announcement to indicate what direction we are headed in. The report of the OAS (org'n of American States) indicated that the two leading parties were those of Mme Manigat and Michelle Martelly (Sweet Mickey) and that Jude Celestin (Preval's party) was not in second place as had been formally declared. Everyone is just taking things a day at a time and grateful for each day that we can go about our normal routines instead of being hampered due to demonstrations and office closures.

School re-opened Jan 10 and the staff handed out report cards this past weekend to the parents. The kids are back at it as they have a lot to catch up with due to the extra days that the school was closed at the end of the year.

that's it for today......until next time....take care and Peace be with you.
Debbie

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

JANUARY 12....Who ever will forget this date?! Not the people of Hait that is for sure. It is a National Memorial Day today and people turned out in droves at churches all over the country and at special ceremonies at the PAP Cathedral and the in Champs Mars..near to the Palace. It was not only a day for remembering those lost in the earthquake and those still suffering the ill effects of the fateful day but also a day of celebrating life and one of Hope for a brighter and modern Haiti for the future.


I am sure many of you have even participated in memorial events or witnessed them on the TV news. I have heard reports from Haitian press people in Paris, Montreal, Florida and New York of the activities being carried out in these cities.


At Hope House we are hosting a TV journalist and his photographer from my hometown. They are the same two fellows who were with me shortly after the earthquake last year. They are encourage by some of the progress they have witnessed but also a saddened to see so much still to be done. We just hope and pray that in the weeks/months progress will come more quickly with improved collaboration and coordination between the gov't and private sectors and all of the NGO's working in Haiti.

My thoughts took many different directions today as I thought of Jan 12, 2010 and the months that followed. It was a very eventuful year. One of the things I recalled were the messages of support and concern that I recieved from so many of you during the hours, days, weeks and even months after the 12th. I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to send those notes and prayers of care for me, the folks we work with, the children we care for and for Haiti and its people in general....you will never now they encouraged me to keep putting one step in front of the other.

Throughout my years here I have continually said "there is always Hope for Haiti". As I close today I leave you with this quote from Ian Rawson at Hopital Albert Schweitzer......."Haiti is poor in material terms, but Haitians are rich in their spirit and their courage. In the past year alone, they have endured a horrendous earthquake, floods in our region and a deadly cholera epidemic. Despite this, they never give up. Therefore never can we. We draw strength from their forbearance and resilience. Every day we learn again about the reservoirs of strength which come from hope."

Amen......Debbie

Friday, January 7, 2011

Happy New Year everyone!

Hope all of you rang in the New Year in a suitable fashion and that 2011 will be a fruitfull one and that good health and happiness fill your days.

School remains closed until Monday. We were supposed to be providing a dry food distribution for the families at the school this week but the organization that provides the food stuffs changed the dates on us at the last minute so it is not to be. However it gives the staff a chance to catch up with the report cards and other planning.

Things are quiet at the moment for the most part in PAP. There have been several demonstrations (Jan 1 and Jan 6) thankfully, not violent. Final election results are supposed to be announced any day now, possibly even this evening. Depending on what is announced we could be in for more demonstrations and upset around the country. How things will unravel after that, up to and including the inauguration period (Feb 7) is anyone's guess. President Preval is to step down no matter what on Feb 7 but rumor has it that is plans to hang on to May. This would be in defiance of the constitution which calls for a provisional President to be put in place if there is no elected President to move into that spot. What is rumor and what is truth will only be made clear on Feb 7th.

The second round of elections is set for Jan 16 but now many doubt that will happen since there is so little time to put everything in place to ensure a corruption free election.

Next week will mark the one year anniversary of the earthquake. I am told the 12th is going to be a National Holiday...a memorial day for all. Sat and Sun this weekend, Billy Graham's son, Franklin will be leading two large revival sessions...Sat is for children and Sun afternoon and evening for adults. People are expected to come from various points in the country and it will be held in the soccer stadium. Other activities are supposedly being planned but I haven't got any clear indication as to what they are.

I've been told that the Cholera is beginning to wane in a number of areas but others are still being quite affected. I haven't been back long enough to get any more news than that.

Until next time, I will leave you with this little prayer for New Year's that I came across.

A New Year’s Prayer
May God make your year a happy one!
Not by shielding you from all sorrows and pain,But by strengthening you to bear it, as it comes;
Not by making your path easy,But by making you sturdy to travel any path;
Not by taking hardships from you,But by taking fear from your heart;
Not by granting you unbroken sunshine,But by keeping your face bright, even in the shadows;
Not by making your life always pleasant,But by showing you when people and their causes need you most, and by making you anxious to be there to help.
God’s love, peace, hope and joy to you for the year ahead.

Peace be with you....Debbie