I’ve hit the ground running here in Haiti. Esperandieu has big plans for me. We’ve spent
time together this week discussing his vision for campus. God has entrusted us with several
pieces of equipment; a bulldozer, roller/compacter, Bobcat, four pick-up trucks, two buses, two
dump trucks, 3 generators, a semi-truck and trailer, and an old ’72 Ford backhoe that needs
some love. Yesterday was a big day. Went to the CAT dealer in Port Au Prince and bought a ’07
CAT backhoe 420E. This will be a great addition that will not only be used in construction, but
also to help clear the rubble left from the earthquake.
While we were downtown buying the backhoe yesterday, we had to go down by the
Presidential Palace and pick up a part. I asked why the palace hadn’t had any work done to over
the past year. Esperandieu said the government knew a new President was coming so he was
going to the next President worry about it. The Haitian people are really frustrated with the lack
of progress in the recovery process after the earthquake.
When we picked up the part, there is a huge IDP (Internally Displaced Personnel) camp
across the street from the palace. We talked to a young girl who looked to be about 8 or 9
months pregnant. We talked to her and learned that there was an older man who had 3 kids
with another woman. He was nice to her and gave her food and money. She in return would
have sex with him. She did this because it was the only way she could survive. Once she
became pregnant, he didn’t want anything to with her. Now she’s going to have a baby and she
has no way of taking care of the baby. Esperandieu said this is a very common story. There are
a lot of new babies being born in these camps. People are desperate. They will do anything to
survive.
Today Aaron Elliott and I took some tarps up to Clément’s home. Clement is the daytime
security guard at the campus. He sits at the main gate and asks people what their business is
and lets them in. He lives about 5 miles away about half up a mountain. He and a few relatives
live in four small “houses.” I call them “houses” but they’re not much. Picture a 3 man pup tent
made out of sticks leaned together and covered with grass. They look like an A-frame tent
maybe 10’ long by 5’ wide by 6’ tall. On top of the grass were a few small tarps and some old
suitcases. They were very excited to get some heavy tarps that they could use to cover their
homes with. It was by far the poorest conditions I have seen for permanent housing. They had
a beautiful view of our compound and the country side. But everywhere around them was
trash. It looked like any trash they had; they just threw out the door. Fortunately his kids are in
the school and get fed a vitamin and protein fortified meal every day. He is also active in the
church.
These two visits really make me realize how much I have been blessed with by God.
There is a lot of construction going on here on the campus. Mercy Response is a
Vineyard Church based organization. In the past they have worked exclusively in the US. They
felt led by God to come to Haiti. They are building dorms, shower houses, a cafeteria, and staff
housing for NVM. The staff housing is where we will be living. They are making a big push to
finish up in the next 6 weeks
We also just had a team that arrived that will be doing a vision clinic. This is a GAiN
team. GAiN stands for Global Aid Network. They are the disaster relief organization for
Campus Crusade for Christ. As part of their clinic, they will be sharing the gospel as well. They
also bought hot dogs, chips, and drinks for a picnic for the church tomorrow. I’m really looking
forward to worship and working with these teams this next week.
time together this week discussing his vision for campus. God has entrusted us with several
pieces of equipment; a bulldozer, roller/compacter, Bobcat, four pick-up trucks, two buses, two
dump trucks, 3 generators, a semi-truck and trailer, and an old ’72 Ford backhoe that needs
some love. Yesterday was a big day. Went to the CAT dealer in Port Au Prince and bought a ’07
CAT backhoe 420E. This will be a great addition that will not only be used in construction, but
also to help clear the rubble left from the earthquake.
While we were downtown buying the backhoe yesterday, we had to go down by the
Presidential Palace and pick up a part. I asked why the palace hadn’t had any work done to over
the past year. Esperandieu said the government knew a new President was coming so he was
going to the next President worry about it. The Haitian people are really frustrated with the lack
of progress in the recovery process after the earthquake.
When we picked up the part, there is a huge IDP (Internally Displaced Personnel) camp
across the street from the palace. We talked to a young girl who looked to be about 8 or 9
months pregnant. We talked to her and learned that there was an older man who had 3 kids
with another woman. He was nice to her and gave her food and money. She in return would
have sex with him. She did this because it was the only way she could survive. Once she
became pregnant, he didn’t want anything to with her. Now she’s going to have a baby and she
has no way of taking care of the baby. Esperandieu said this is a very common story. There are
a lot of new babies being born in these camps. People are desperate. They will do anything to
survive.
Today Aaron Elliott and I took some tarps up to Clément’s home. Clement is the daytime
security guard at the campus. He sits at the main gate and asks people what their business is
and lets them in. He lives about 5 miles away about half up a mountain. He and a few relatives
live in four small “houses.” I call them “houses” but they’re not much. Picture a 3 man pup tent
made out of sticks leaned together and covered with grass. They look like an A-frame tent
maybe 10’ long by 5’ wide by 6’ tall. On top of the grass were a few small tarps and some old
suitcases. They were very excited to get some heavy tarps that they could use to cover their
homes with. It was by far the poorest conditions I have seen for permanent housing. They had
a beautiful view of our compound and the country side. But everywhere around them was
trash. It looked like any trash they had; they just threw out the door. Fortunately his kids are in
the school and get fed a vitamin and protein fortified meal every day. He is also active in the
church.
These two visits really make me realize how much I have been blessed with by God.
There is a lot of construction going on here on the campus. Mercy Response is a
Vineyard Church based organization. In the past they have worked exclusively in the US. They
felt led by God to come to Haiti. They are building dorms, shower houses, a cafeteria, and staff
housing for NVM. The staff housing is where we will be living. They are making a big push to
finish up in the next 6 weeks
We also just had a team that arrived that will be doing a vision clinic. This is a GAiN
team. GAiN stands for Global Aid Network. They are the disaster relief organization for
Campus Crusade for Christ. As part of their clinic, they will be sharing the gospel as well. They
also bought hot dogs, chips, and drinks for a picnic for the church tomorrow. I’m really looking
forward to worship and working with these teams this next week.