Chaveneau Stories....

Some of the people and stories of Chaveneau……

MANUEL:  This is Manuel’s famly home.  He is 27 years old and has been a good friend to us over the years.  A VERY hard working man who is always eager to join in on whatever physical labor we are doing or just to sit with the men and hang out.  He told us how he and his family were inside the home as the wind picked up.  He told of the house creaking and cracking  and finally how the roof blew off- first one half and then the other. They huddled together in one room and stood and prayed- afraid to go out because tin was flying and trees were breaking all around them.  They were afraid to sit down because they wanted to be prepared to run should the need arise.  So…. the stood there for hours. Praying.  Afraid.  Getting rained on with rain that felt like stinging on their skin.  Family.  Finding comfort in one another and in God Who ultimately protected.  Today they give praise and thanksgiving to Him for that protection.  For life.  Homes can be rebuilt and replaced but lives can not be reclaimed once lost.  And, when asked they told us that people were hurt in the storm but there was only one life lost in the community and she was an old woman who was ill before.  The stress was just too much to bear.  We are all thankful that the situation was not much worse given the damage and destruction we saw!

**Note:  We would love to help Manuel and his family rebuild their roof.  Currently they are all living in a shack (formerly their kitchen area) behind the main house.  They have some tin for the roof, but they need more materials and money for some other supplies.  Yesterday we were able to give a few more supplies thanks to Laura (Project Aftershock) like men’s work gloves and rope she had bought and brought along.

Manuel's house in the back of the photo- they are living in this tin shack in the foreground right now...

Manuel in front of his house..... 

ESAIAE:  What a blessing it was to come back to Chaveneau yesterday and see Esaiae sitting at her NEW sewing machine working on school uniforms for children who lost theirs in the hurricane.  She was making the tops when we arrived (dark blue) and then the skirts (gray) when we left.  Donations from YOU bought that machine for her!  A single mother of 7 (not all living at home), she supported her family prior to the storm through sewing for the community but her machine was severely damaged from getting wet.  It was also old and had many other issues.  So…. when Redgi told us of that need, we used ministry funds to purchase another machine for her.  She is thrilled to be able to provide again for her little family – especially now when so many need sewing done to replace clothing lost in the hurricane.  Yes, that is sad.  But, that is the way life goes.  Contractors/builders, those who sell lumber/tools, masons, etc. are needed now more than ever and can make some money to help their families going forward.  I do know (from when I used to stay with Esaiae) that she does a lot of work for free or in exchange for favors from her neighbors.  Using the barter system in the countryside is very common.  Either way though, YOU helped her move back toward independence and sustainability and you can see the joy and excitement in her face!  Thank you again for helping this entire community move forward once again. 

(PS-  I was also able to see the goats we bought for Esaiae in April – We bought one momma and she had 2 babies.  One baby goat died in the storm, but they still have the two healthy and strong goats (momma & baby).  Animals are kind of like currency in Haiti.  You sell them when you need funds for something and until you sell them you have a living and breathing bank account at your home.  We hope to replace the animals that died in the storm.  I will also return in a few weeks to distribute trees to these families – avocado, mango, breadfruit, etc.  They need to be able to grow their own fruits again and be prepared for the famine that is sure to come to many areas due to the loss of crops/trees.  We would love to help Esaiae build a home on land not far from the church.  Currently she lives in a little house on the church property in exchange for caring for the building- cleaning and managing things.)

Esaiae working at her NEW sewing machine.....

The machine.... powered by foot..... she is so proud of it!

Esaiae working in the background on her sewing projects...... (while Laura from Project Aftershock is doing blood pressure checks for the community)

MARIE-ROSE:  My laundry buddy from 2011.  She and I did our laundry together in the creek behind her home.  We spent many hours along the banks of that creek- scrubbing the clothing by hand and working to get out any stains/spots/smells.  Though I could not talk to her then, I knew her heart and saw her smile and it was genuine.  She brought her son to us in the middle of the night when he rolled off a bed and hit his head on a rock.  We held him as a Haitian medical student we know (who happened to be with us on that trip) stitched it up.  They showed me that scar yesterday and reminded me of that incident.  Her beautiful daughters Sabina and Wideline would eagerly show me their school books and proudly show their papers.  I remember being amazed that what they were studying in Middle School was so similar to the students I had in the USA at the time.  This woman and her family helped me to see the people of Chaveneau as PEOPLE- just like me and those I knew at home. They were NOT a project.  They were friends. 

Yesterday when I arrived she came to find me.  She knew I had been there the day before asking for her when she was in her home a short walk from Esaiae’s home.  She knew I would return and look for her so as we were walking and talking to others, she came.  I was sooo happy to see her, hug her, and talk to her a bit in Creole.  She told me her storm story which is pretty much like everyone else’s.  They were home during the storm but fled to the church when their roof blew off- taking two of the walls of the house along with it.  She needs cement walls rebuilt and blocks/cement/rebar before she can start a new roof. They are all living in two rooms of what used to be a very modest five room home.  But again, they have each other and they have their health.  They will rebuild.  We pray to help them as well. 

Walking to Marie-Rose's house with the children.... 

Sitting on the porch at Marie-Rose's house..... That is her in the jean skirt leaning on the chair.

THREE families in greatest need but I also got to see so many others we know. 

We met a woman on the mountain who gave birth to a baby girl 3 days after the hurricane.  The woman was hit by falling debris as they lost over half of their home and all of their roof in the storm.  I can’t even imagine!  They live together- grandma, mom and new baby girl in the two rooms left- walls made of palm fronds woven together and a tarp over the roof which made the home extremely hot and gave no ventilation.

Home of the woman with the baby.... the left side of the home is GONE as is the roof.  

We went to visit my friend Joseph who was the local voodou priest only to find he had passed away.  BUT…. when I mentioned that it was a shame he never knew Jesus they told of how he got very sick before dying and had accepted Christ.  He knew his voodou could do nothing but that Christ could offer eternal life and forgiveness for his sins.  I can’t tell you the JOY I felt when I heard that news.  I had prayed for that man and his soul for over six years now.  His family home too is gone from the storm and no one is there. 

Redgi and Laura talking to a neighbor of Joseph.... we gave aquatabs for water purification, antibacterial soap (all natural) and other items to the community as we walked around.  

This could go on and on as I said before…. these are only SOME of the stories.  This is only ONE community that we happen to know.  But, there are hundreds…. thousands just like it all over the south of Haiti.  PLEASE remember these people in your prayers.  They have a long way to go to regain the independence many had prior to Hurricane Matthew.  They were not living lives of abundance before the storm.  Life was rough.  Malnutrition was everywhere.  Parasites and disease were part of life.  Mortality rates were far higher than they needed to be.  BUT… they were surviving.  Now, many do not have basic needs met- shelter, some food, clean water, etc… We can help with that!  Together!  Please consider a donation toward our hurricane recovery fund.  God bless those of you who already have!  I hope these stories show you how your donations are being used!