Misyon Ayiti de No de Kayès 2000
In March of 2000, a group of people from the United States and Haiti returned to northeast Haiti to the little village of Kayèz (Caesse), about 30 miles east of Okap (Cap-Haitien) and 3 miles south of Twoudeno (Trou-de-Nord). The group was invited by the North Haitian Mission, a Christian, non-denominational organization headquartered in Massachusetts, to help work at its mission facility at Kayèz, known as Misyon Ayiti de No (North Haiti Mission). The group consisted of the following individuals:
Rev. Clinton Goddard of Holden, Massachusetts, President of North Haiti Mission. What Did We Do?
Connie Goddard, the pastor's wife, North Haiti Mission Board member, and clerk of the organization.
Rev. Verdieu Laroche of Hyde Park, Massachusetts, Vice-President. The mission complex is located on his family's home place.
Mrs. Marie Laroche, the pastor's wife and Board member.
Ken Johansson, an electrical engineer from North Grafton, Massachusetts, another Board member.
Dan and Cindy Slocum, small business owner and nurse from Worcester, Massachusetts, also Board members, along with their children, Holly, Amy, and Whitney.
Marie Violet Pierre, a medical laboratory technician from Sharon, Massachusetts.
Alceste Etienne, the organization's lawyer from Twoudeno, Ayiti.
Cheryl Buso, a medical assistant from Hubbardston, Massachusetts, another Board member.
Zita and Jean Massena from Boston. Jean is a retired electrical engineer.
Rev. David Libby, a pastor from North Brookfield, Massachusetts.
Melissa Debenham, a teacher from Athol, Massachusetts.
Rev. John Lindsay, a pastor from East Brookfield, Massachusetts.
Dan Johansson, an investment analyst from Boston.
Ray and Kathy Dwelly from North Braintree, Massachusetts. Ray is a contractor.
Steve Quist, a construction contractor from West Boylston, Massachusetts.
Dr. Eustache Jean-Louis, an MD from Dorchester, Massachusetts.
Heather Buso, a dental assistant from Hubbardston, Massachusetts.
Sandy LeBlanc, a nurse from Leominster, Massachusetts.
George Gosselin, a construction contractor from Ormand Beach, Florida.
Jackie Johnson, a nurse technician from Indianapolis, Indiana.
Louise Gosselin, a senior caregiver from Indianapolis, Indiana.
Charlie Doune, a nurse assistant from Boston.
Monique Jean-Pierre, a medical technician from Boston.
Ronel Laroche from Okap, Ayiti.
David Stiddem, a park manager from Worcester, Massachusetts.
Allen Weekly, a mason from Mount Sidney, Virginia.
Fritznel Filoma, a plumber from Boston, Massachusetts.
Monique Cherenfant, from Boston, Massachusetts.
McArthur "Mac" Cherenfant of Hyde Park, Massachusetts.
Dr. Louis Walner of Pòtoprens, Ayiti.
Dr. George of Pòtoprens, Ayiti.
Jenine and Michlin, medical assistants from Pòtoprens, Ayiti.
Dr. "T" Tanksley from Okap, Ayiti.
The two weeks at Kayèz were filled with hard work, renewing acquaintances, prayer, visiting families, playing with the kids, and enjoying the excellent Haitian food and culture.
Clint Goddard and some Haitian masons and painters finished the stucco work and painting on the church, which was started last year. The entire community came to dedicate the church and join in the singing and feasting. One of the preachers included Pastor John Lindsey whose congregation at the East Brookfield Baptist Church raised the money to pay for the church.
Mrs. Laroche was one of the women who worked with the schoolchildren during the week. The primary school classes were held in the church while we were at Kayèz since the school was converted into a temporary dining room. Check out these busy students: Photo 1, Photo 2, and Photo 3.
George Gosselin headed up a project to enlarge the guesthouse at the mission. The expansion, which will contain a kitchen dining room, and additional sleeping area, still needs some interior work, but the roof and wall are up. Other improvements to the compound included a hand washing station and a urinal for the boys--both projects were started but not quite finished.
While on the subject of urinals, one of the local teenagers (Jacksin) was hired to keep the outhouses clean while we were at the mission, and some of the younger kids were hired each day to clean up trash and litter. The gason fatra (litter boys) included Adelin, Alex & Jean-Baptis Regis, Ti Sonson, Gèselin & Gearlin Niwo,Gèselin Richard, Wedlin, Wesli, Gari, Atash, Donal Pierre, Makendi, Gipapa, and Jaki Pierre. These sanitation initiatives culminated in the hiring of Mimos Joseph (here with her admiring son, Douti) as a full time sanitation teacher to supplement the teaching staff at the mission school. Mimos will follow a sanitation curriculum (here it is in English and Kreyòl) designed to put health and sanitation and cleanliness on par with the other subject taught at the school.
It wasn't all work. Everyone seemed to find time to play and enjoy the days with our Haitian friends, especially with the kids. We enjoyed basketball and soccer, throwing frisbees, or passing out candy. I put in a disc golf course, and got many of the teenage boys and young adults involved in throwing plànnèt-yo (discs) along the 6-hole course. [See Dis Gòf de Kayèz for more informationon the disc golf course.]
Dr. Eustache, pictured here (with cap) with Joel Jean-Baptist Durosier who works at the clinic in Karakòl, was instrumental in evaluating the state of health of area residents by visiting families in the area. This was followed by two days of clinics staffed by the health care professionals on the team, supplemented by other volunteers and visiting doctors and nurses from Okap and Pòtoprens. Several hundred people were examined and treated during the two days.
In addition to the new sanitation program at the school, several other programs were proposed. One is a financial aid program to send need student to secondary school after they finish primary school at the mission. It costs per year 1,925 goud (approx. $100.00 in US funds) to attend a private school in Twoudeno (tuition, uniform, pencils and notebooks, tennis shoes). Here is one such private school in Twoudeno where (L to R) Robinson, Jadnen Bienemè, and Jacksin attend. The new public secondary school there is much cheaper, but the classes are always full. Funds to start the first student (Jadnen Bienemè) in this program have already been pledged. The other program involves providing daily meals for three blind women who live in the neighborhood. Pastors Libby and Lindsey accompanied me and Jacksin to visit two of the women, Alta Divo and Elizia Josèf. They give them an initial supply of food. For the third blind woman, Safira Enil, money was donated by the missionaries and given to her to buy food. Money to continue this program is also pledged.
Folks didn't just stay in the compound. Allen, Steve and myself went with Jacksin and friend to the Palè San Sousi and the Sitadèl, the palace ruins and fort built by Haitian King Kristòf. Others went to the market in Okap to shop. On another day, most of the group went to the beach at Karakòl where Christopher Columbus established the first European settlement in the Americas (although he was totally lost, believing until he died he had landed in China). Some like Jackie and Louise went on horseback while Rev. Libby keep his feet on the ground watching Charlie and Pastor Laroche far in the rear. Charlie comes up quickly from behind, along with Holly and her guide. Check out this crowd (In the lead: unknown man on bike, Mrs. Laroche, Darlin, Delie Pierre Dwelly, Pastor Clint, Madlin, and Ti Bin Guèllet. Behind them: Joel Jean-Baptist Durosier on bike, Ray Dwelly on horse, an unknown friend on bike, and Pastor Laroche on horse. Bringing up the rear are Cindy Slocum and Connie Goddard).
At Karakòl, we also saw the salt basins near the beach, where salt is collected for distributing throughout Ayiti. When the high tide is first caught in the salt basins, fisherman take advantage of the small fish which are prepared and dried for the markets. Here, a fisherman makes repairs to his boat; while Delie, Madlin, Monique and Ronel enjoy the surf. Ti Bin Guèllet and Darlin pose for a picture while a small fishing boat is under sail in the bay.
Rev. Lindsey and I visited a kasav (cassava) mill where manyòk is processed. [Go to Manyòk for a detailed description of this important food plant.] There were of course many other excursions and family visits. I found time for a visit to the river at Tikolin, and managed to take in a gage (cockfight). Here the roosters square off, much to the pleasure of the men placing their bets. Like everywhere in Kayèz, even at a cockfight, there are beautiful children to photograph, and fried marinad to buy from the vendors.
Being in the countryside in Kayèz we were pretty much isolated from the political situation in Ayiti. However, we did hear the parliamentary and local elections were cancelled for the second or third time, much to the disappointment of these local candidates (Almonod Enel on the right with friends) for the Fanmi Lavalas party (political party of Jean-Bertrand Aristid). It was very obvious the economic situation in Ayiti is still terrible, and the infrastructure (e.g. roads) still needs plenty of attention by the ill-equipped government.
On March 23rd, we said goodbye to our Haitian hosts and friends, and left Kayèz and the Misyon Ayiti de No for home.
Here are of our Haitian friends we hope to see again when we return to Kayèz: Ti Fanfan Josèf ready to go to his friend's wedding; Robinson Jeanjils with a chair he made with some tools I sent to him last year; sibs and cousins by their home; Vilbren Pierre in his carpentry shop; the Pierre family-Ti DjoDjo, Ti Djo and Jonas, with Ti Jean and Ti Manouch in front. Here is an "uncensored" one of Ti Djo with my camera lens cover.
Here are more photographs, courtesy of Ken Johansson.
For more information on the making of cassava and other food from the manyòk plant, go to Manyòk.
For more information, email: StiddemDavid-at-aol.com.
