The year 2010 saw a mission trip made soon after the earthquake and a medical mission made in October.
First Trip: February 2010
Jack Reid describes the February 2010 Mission Trip: "This past February 20th to 27th Francis Mackie, Tony Chmelik, Sam Chmelik and
myself traveled to Carcasse Haiti. Our first stop in Port au Prince gave us a
first hand glimpse of the living conditions of our American troops while they
support the devastated capital of a devastatingly impoverished country. Their organization and efficiency are in
stark contrast to the confusion and chaos we have all seen in the wake of the
January earthquake.
We were graciously
given a tent, cots, a box of MRE’S (meals ready to eat) and some basic
instructions on the use of latrine’s, showers etc. We were all left with a deep sense of pride
and admiration not only for the abilities of our service men and women but also
for the many kindnesses they showed to our group. We did not witness the destruction in Port au
Prince as the airport and army encampment are both outside the most heavily
damaged parts of the city.
The next morning, we flew from the small local airport in
Port au Prince to the city of Jeremie
and then enjoyed the 3.5 hour drive to Carcasse. Pere Verdieu met us at the airport, drove to
Carcasse and celebrated an evening mass to accommodate our travel
constraints. The next morning the work
of rewiring (last year we did not have the materials to do it right) the school
began. Francis quickly explained his
vision to Tony who, with help from Sam and I, began to pull wire through all of
the classrooms. Francis and some local
workers installed conduit to house the wire under the soon to be installed
auditorium floor. Francis, Tony, and
many local laborers hauled sand and gravel from the beach to the school in
preparation for pouring the concrete floor in the auditorium. This required many trips as the truck they were
using had a capacity of maybe ¾ ton each trip.
Later in the week Tony, Sam, and Pere
Verdieu’s cousin ran wiring for fans and some outlets in the church while
Francis oversaw the finishing of the auditorium. At the completion of our work on the school,
we were all left with mixed feelings in regard to the almost finished
project. The school is a major
accomplishment for this village, but we also recognize that the quality of the
project could have been better. Our
challenge is to increase the quality of future projects while teaching better
construction practices to our friends in Carcasse.
Francis and I renewed friendships with people we knew from
previous trips while Tony and Sam established new ones and we all added to our
individual understanding of life in Haiti. Neither words nor pictures can adequately
depict the contradictions of that life.
Hopelessness and hope, environmental degradation and beauty, sadness and
happiness, squalor and contentment are all a part of Haiti. The same people who come to church dressed as
fine as many in the States go home to abject poverty. The children who attend school in uniforms
with smiles on their faces also battle dysentery and other diseases not usually
seen in first world countries. One does
not begin to get a true sense of the country or its people without visiting;
however, with each successive trip to Haiti,
I realize just how much I don’t know about the country or its culture. Haiti
is so much more than a cause It is also a gift of common purpose that renews
our hope in humanity.
I have been
blessed to travel with Francis Mackie, Diana Snouffer, Lee Bristol, Kris
Cates-Bristol, Kate McCrea, Drew Mintz, Tony Chmelik and Sam Chmelik, to work
with all the members of the Haiti Group and to witness the generosity of those
who see a need and realize their ability to help. Replacing pessimism with hope is a tremendous
gift!
Jack Reid
Pictures from the 2010 Mission Trip:
Medical Mission: October 2010
A medical mission traveled to Carcasse in October 2010. Mary Carlson is a nurse from St. Mary's Parish who was part of that mission and describes her experiences:
"In October I had the
privilege of going on a medical mission to Carcasse along with 12 other members
of a medical team. My decision to be a part of this group was based on my
personal desire to experience other lands and cultures and in essence was self
serving. I have been asked to speak about my experience.
I will be very
honest about my perceptions so as to give you a picture of how I saw life in
Carcasse and the people of St. Joseph’s
parish.
The ride into Carcasse was a
bumpy, suspenseful experience, but we made it despite the rain, getting stuck
in the mud, and very high cliffs that had only paths as roads.
As we rode into
the village, I saw the school built by the donations from St. Mary’s
parish. Since I had little involvement with the twining mission, I was very
surprised when I saw this beautiful building and realized that it came to be
through the efforts and generosity of the people of St. Mary’s.
We stayed in Pere
Verdieu’s rectory. He moved out of his office, supplied cots for all to
sleep on and hired villagers to cook, clean and care for us. The people who
served worked very hard and included an elderly man who hauled water from a
creek for washing, and women who cleaned and cooked using charcoal fires.
The clinic was nearby and
was held outside a pharmacy that had been donated by a pharmacist who attends
the medical missions every year.
Outside the pharmacy, tarps donated by USAID
had been set up to protect us from sun and rain. Each medical provider had a
table, chairs and an interpreter who translated for the patients. Villagers
lined up to be seen, treated, given medications or referred out. Referrals to
hospitals were paid for by the mission along with transportation.
A small
amount was charged for the visits but if a patient did not have the money, they
were not refused treatment. All medications were free. 1000 people were
treated the week of the medical mission.
St. Joseph’s
was situated on a beautiful beach facing the ocean. Breezes blew through the
windows of the church. The people were very devout and faithful.
The school built by St.
Mary’s was a source of pride for the people of Carcasse. It is the first
school ever built in the area.
Most people cannot read. There is little
contact with the outside world since there are no roads,electricity or means of
transportation. Food is scarce. There are not even any wells. All water for
consumption must be boiled using charcoal fires. The school is their hope for
a better life. It is also a place where people can gather for celebrations,
meetings and community events. The church and the school are the centers of
village life and a source of pride.
I knew that conditions in Haiti would be
rugged, but I never realized how much I would come to love Carcasse and its
people and feel so involved in their lives and future. The people were warm,
welcoming and joyful despite the hardships of their life. They held St.
Mary’s in very high esteem and many wanted to meet me just because I came
from St. Mary’s.
The twining of St.
Joseph’s with St. Mary’s has brought about
good things for these people all of which were a result of your generous gifts.
If you were like me, you had no idea of the impact St. Mary's has had on the
lives of these people. We are bonded to them now. Christ asked us the
question: “Who is my mother, who is my brother?” They are the
people of Carcasse."
Pictures from the October 2010 Medical Mission Trip:
