Tabarre 28

We visited a few of the “grannies” that are in the feeding program. Five of them live on a street called Tabarre 28. It’s a small road that can barely be seen from the main road. Just a short way down it opens into a village of about a hundred people. It was like stepping into a different world. We were confronted with many desperate needs. Several children were very sick. Poor drainage leaves great puddles of unclean water about. But the amazing thing is how happy the people are. They were all smiling and proud of their children and homes. Please pray for us as we seek ways to minister to these people.

A Village

I went with Brisenault and part of the work team that was here last week out into a village. We handed out Bibles and hygiene kits. Brisenault shared the Gospel and invited people to come to church. I realized that I need to learn more Creole desperately.

The New Patio

The last work team helped finish a patio that was begun last year. We got some new trees that in a few years will give shade and fruit to the kids.

The Beach

English Classes

I’ve begun English classes for the girls here at the house. It’s an experience. I started yesterday with the little girls. When I held up a card with the letter “A” on it, what did I get? One girl yelled, “Nine!” and another yelled, “Five!” I knew then it was going to be a long day. But actually things worked out well and I had them saying the English alphabet by the end of class. The older girls surprise me each time I have class. They know a lot more English than they let on. They are slow to speak English because they are afraid they’ll say something wrong. I try to remove this fear by pronouncing Creole words wrong (though not on purpose). I teach on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for three 40 minute classes. I have Tuesday and Thursday s off so I can study the Bible and prepare my sermons since I’m speaking one Sunday a month at the small church here in Tabarre.

Kindergarten Graduation

In Haiti few things are as important as graduation from kindergarten. It seems a bit strange to an American that it’s such a big deal. But to a people who rarely get go to school it means a lot to see their children complete kindergarten. Some of the Americans that were here fixed up the school building with a stage and traps for a roof. The older orphan girls put on dance numbers and skits. It was very, very Haitian. The kids who graduated had to speak, sing, dance and take a pledge that they would stay in school and help Haiti become a better nation.

The Container

Finally on Friday we got the container out of customs. Angelo has been trying for weeks to get it. Carole had to cancel an entire work team from the States. They were supposed to build the bunk beds that were on it but now the team has to be rescheduled. It was a total mess. Why was the container late? The port and customs officials have been saying for weeks that it was behind other containers. But as soon as Carole showed up at the office we found out the real reason. They wanted a $1,000 bribe. But, hey, we got the container. The bunk beds will be built in August and the house will be able to take in several more girls.

Another Painting and a Clay Dish Thing

Well, I got to go to the Baptist Mission again. I bought another black and white painting. I also bought a clay dish thing with a wild abstract painting on it. It’s the first bit of color in my room. I didn’t really intend on buying anything. I went again just to get out of the house for a while but dealing with the street vendors is always fun. But the best part of going to the Baptist mission was the Tin Roof Sundae.

Meeting Gary Agent, Ralph Richeme and Roodly Jules

Yesterday, I was answering some emails when I heard something outside my window. This is not strange since people pass by on the street all day. But for some reason I looked out the window. What did I see? A man with a video camera on a tripod. A little odd but I almost didn’t think anything of it. But then I realized something. The man was directing actors and setting up shots. I ran from my room up to the roof of the orphanage. Sure enough there were several men making a movie guerrilla-style just like the way I made my movies.
I went out and met them. The writer/director was Gary Agent who’s on his 22nd feature film. His movies play in the theaters in Haiti and he has one that screened in the States. The movie he is now shooting is called Fenelon and will wrap shooting in a week or two. One major scene now features the wall of the orphanage. The movie is about a man who murders his best friend for a winning lottery ticket. The man is then haunted by his friend’s ghost, is pursued by bandits and becomes a zombie.I got to meet a couple of the actors Ralph Richeme and Roodly Jules as well. They invited me over to their home studio. We watched what they shot that day as well as a few trailers for several other movies in the works. Gary is very talented as are Ralph and Roodly. Roodly could be an action star in the States. He speaks English very well with only a slight accent and has a great screen presence.They all said they’d work for me if I wanted to shoot a movie in Haiti. I took their numbers and said I might just take them up on that. You never know what’s going to happen in Haiti.