General

With all of the overwhelming news of political and civil unrest dragging Haiti down, filling us with discourgment, this is a reminder from 2015 of life in rural Haiti… and how difficult life already is, without the additional present sorrow and suffering. Grief and Sorrow Four nights. Wailing, keening, punctuated with sudden stillness and low murmurs. Sleep, awake again. Piercing screams from unknown fathoms of sorrow mix with the rising and falling counterpoint of the voodoo drums; chanting, and cocks crowing. With the tinges of daylight the keening stops, the roosters fade and only the drums and chanting continue unrelenting. …

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We haven’t posted in a while because the news from Haiti has not changed. Denise and I did not return to Haiti this fall because it has become impossible to travel with any degree of safety. There does not seem to be any light at the end of this terribly dark tunnel… but this too shall pass. Once it does, we will return. We are thankful to be in constant contact with friends and coworkers that live there. In these dark times, they know they are not alone. We are able to transfer money to meet essential needs. We persevere, …

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Still here in the US Well this has turned out to be an interesting September. We planned to leave a couple of weeks ago for Haiti, but I needed to get an MRI of my shoulder, we also had to replace tin on our building that blew up in a storm. So, the trip was postponed a week. We planned to leave the following Saturday the 14th. In the mean time the problems in Haiti were continuing to escalate, the same problems as of last Spring. There is a gross shortage of fuel, rising inflation, rising prices. So last weekend …

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Hot off the press. We just published our summer newsletter. For those who receive snail mail paper copies, here is your sneak preview. Blessings, Bob and Denise final from MIke.pdf

Hello Huntsville! We are coming to St Mary Of The Visitation Church next weekend, July 27th and 28th for our annual visit. We will be at all three masses. Please join us after mass for conversation and fellowship. We are bringing Haitian arts and crafts, along with vanilla that will be available for sale.

On Being Listen for the cries of the heart. Consider the honor of being the one given ears to hear. Consider the vulnerability of the one crying out; where is our love, if not to respond in this moment. This moment when we are God’s Grace and gift of Love. How much regret will follow us the days of our lives if we choose to say “no”? These choices define our lives. Faith is knowing God has special Grace that negates all of the “what ifs”, when we say “yes”. Pray that we never close our ears to the cry …

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In spite of bureaucratic delays, protest, roadblocks, and bandits, our sea-container shipment of supplies safely arrived in Gros Morn, Haiti late yesterday afternoon. They will be distributed to the outlying rural areas from there. Many thanks to all of you for your generous donations of time, money and needed supplies. This is an amazing testimony of God’s people working together to serve the poorest of the poor. Thank You, M`eci Anpil, from the children, and our brother and sisters in Haiti!

Crisis in Haiti It is very difficult to imagine what daily life is like for the people of Haiti. Over the years Denise and I have painted a picture seen through our eyes, hoping to dispel stereotypes and quick judgments. Sometimes our words fail us. Now is such a time, but words of others can fill the gap. The following link is to an article that will help you to see what is taking place. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-06-11/armed-bandits-take-over-valley-that-was-long-haiti-s-breadbasket The attached pdf is a very comprehensive article about the history leading up to the current environment. Please pray for Haiti. IJDH-Report-Haiti-at-a-Crossroads-May-2019.pdf

Fr. Dashemy is visiting from Haiti. Last week we visited St. Thomas on Sunday. This weekend he will visit St. Catherine\’s in Mcminnville Saturday night and St. Andrew in Sparta and St Gregory\’s on Smithville. on Sunday morning. Hope to see you this weekend and for you to meet him. He is a wonderful man.

The Haiti Project’s Annual Sea Container Shipment Denise and I arrived home from Haiti on Wednesday the 3rd of April. This springs time in Haiti while punctuated with many difficulties was also filled with Grace and very productive. Now that we are home it is time to focus on the Annual Sea Container Project. This is our opportunity to send supplies and items that will aid our brothers and sisters in Haiti who live in chronic poverty. The list of items needed is varied, some items needed can be used, surplus items that you no longer need. Other items need …

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