Letters and News from Haiti
Brother Cosmas Rubencamp’s April trip to the Orphanage
Jean-Louis met Brother Cos (Foundation Secretary) at the Port-au-Prince (PaP) airport and brought him back in the Toyota on the return trip. Thanks to progress on the road paving—which is within a month of so of being completed to Hinche—the trip, door-to-door took only two hours, and they were very smooth hours. (Editors note: this trip of 60 miles has taken up to take eight hours in the past), They are doing a very good job on the road—very professional. The whole road is either paved or graded for paving. Crews with heavy equipment were even working Sunday. From being the worst road in Haiti, it has become the best. Bondye bon!
Various observations and points by Brother Cos from the visit:
- The new children seem well adjusted to life at MFO.
- Many are small, so the preschool now is a beehive of 35 (14 are day students and most of the rest are displaced children from PaP).
- The school is packed—350 students, with a second 3rd grade meeting in the Annex II building, which houses the PaP boys under Jean-René and Pettris’ supervision—Pettris has moved out of the admin building and lives in Annex II now, freeing up his first-floor room for guests.
- There will be 16 students eligible for secondary school next year, bringing that total to 60--$30,000.
- The government announced that the CEP exam for 6th graders this spring would not be held, so not sure how qualifications for secondary school will be determined. The exams for the 9th and 12th graders will be held, and the school year has been extended to June 30.
- The solarization of the admin building is complete, so there is power now 24/7. Jean-Louis requests $1,500 for a new inverter and $900 each for 4 or 5 panels to supply power to the small dorms and school.
- The second floor (guest floor) of the Annex I building is now fully screened, so ready for guests.
- There were three Midwives for Haiti there, and they seem to be always willing to help Mode Mulatre, our nurse, and fill in for her as needed.
- Jean Louis continues to do a fantastic job and he wants to thank all those who are supporting the orphanage in any way. He knows he could not help so many children without your assistance.
Jean Louis to Brother Cos Rubencamp April 4
Cos I am sending you some pictures of the kids who had their first communion this past Saturday night. It was a long night out: they did not get out until 1:00 a.m. The good thing about it is that they did not mind staying out that late because that was something they wanted to do for a long time. If I can quote Bebeshi, "From now on I will not just be singing in the choir like everybody else. I will take communion when it is time to do so; I have been feeling very uncomfortable lately for not being able to take communion."
Yesterday afternoon [Easter] was reception day under the mango tree. It was well decorated thanks to Tata. Four goats were killed and a big box of poul blan [imported chicken!] was purchased from the market. It was really an atmosphere of feasting. Everyone who has not yet had their first communion or been baptized is hoping to do so next year. Out of 22 candidates, 17 were baptized and confirmed. The other 5, their teacher said could wait for June because they were under 13 years old. The 17 were old enough (or maybe too old) and were picked first. Prior to the reception we had a soccer game. After the game, we had a little prayer followed by some singing (including O Lespri Sen, desann sou nou). Following the singing I spoke, immediately followed by Pettris Joseph. We missed Brother Mike's speech [he was in the US], because we know he deserves credit for the big event, but he was with us in spirit and we thanked him a lot for his work. The best part, of course, for the children was the food and music. It was a moment that none of us will never forget, especially the kids. We thank you all, our supporters who contributed to make the children's life once again enjoyable.
Jean-Louis
Brother Michael McCarthy CFX - March 8 - Knock and doors shall be opened...
Jesus’ words in Luke’s Gospel resound with new meaning at Maison Fortuné since the disaster of January 12th in Port-au-Prince. Our doors have been swinging open making room for sixty new young folks who lost their homes, and some their families, in the earthquake. With the rental of the four story ‘apartment’ building next to the girls’ dorm, we are able to house the nearly 40 boys who now call our campus their home.
Before the first boy arrived, many of the present residents spent the day washing the windows and floors, painting the doors and the living quarters, all in anticipation of the newcomers. Professional painters completed the job and brought the building to life. There is plenty of room to put the newly-purchased mattresses on the floor and provide safe sleeping for the newcomers. The newly-ordered beds are arriving a few at a time, and the older boys are claiming them for their own!
The twenty new older girls now occupy the third floor of their building, and love the view from their balcony as they watch all the happenings on the boys’ campus. The new wall on the street side of the boys’ building is completed; the gate is ready to be hung. Yes, Jesus’ words take on a new meaning as Jean-Louis and Pettris interviewed kids and aunts and uncles during the acceptance process. Many who knocked found the door open.
With the addition of sixty new students here, Jean-Louis has hired ten new people to assist with the increased demand in the kitchen, for nighttime security and to accommodate the additional kids in school. Yes, the doors of employment are opening as well.
The US Army team of humanitarian relief came to Hinche to assess needs and assist with the coordination of assistance to victims from PAP. They knocked at our door and met with the adults here on campus and saw our additional kids and increased needs. The next day a team of doctors arrived with bags of meds and TLC for many of the kids here. They knocked and we opened and received. Twice since then, the orphanage has served as a distribution center for World Vision to give food to neighborhood residents who qualify. Our door was opening again to assist with some of the victims.
Each week a new group of Midwives for Haiti comes from the States to Hinche to work in the hospital. They choose Maison Fortuné to live and enjoy the hospitality and the outstanding food. They enjoy the comfort and cool breezes of the second-floor porch and love visiting the little girls and painting their nails between their tasks of delivering babies and teaching pre-natal classes. Yes, the doors have been opening to many nurses and doctors, some from as far away as Oregon. They come with ample meds and experience to further their mission of empowering Haitian midwives to help reduce the infant mortality here in our country.
In early March Francklin Louima, one of the older boys here, completed his second year of apprenticeship in welding. He proudly carries his laminated certificate looking for employment. Recently he knocked on the door of the Haitian Endowment across the river from us, and began a temporary job, earning money and rejoicing in a new level of independence and maturity.
Thank you, Jesus, for opening many doors to us; help us to continue to open our doors to those who seek and knock. Thank you, Jesus, for all the people who have opened their hearts to us and assist us in the growing mission here at Maison Fortuné.
Jean Louis to Brother Cos Rubencamp February 23rd.
We did add another third grade into our school and it is being held under one of the tin roof things at the new building. We still have to hire the teacher for that class. Jean-Rene worked with the new third graders this morning. The other kids are mixed with the older ones in their respective classes. We need more benches about 20. Frere Piet is working on the estimate. I will let you know how much it is when I get it.
Jean-louis
Chip Wirth and Cosmas Rubencamp February 22
Report on their recent visit (February 12 – 15) to Maison Fortuné. Among the highlights:
- MFO director Lefort Jean-Louis is doing a great job managing problems and addressing issues related to the January 12 earthquake.
- We now have about 60 additional children in residence, displaced from Port-au-Prince.
- The building (Annex II), being rented for $7,000 a year, has been fixed up and painted and is in good condition for housing the new boys (the new girls are with the resident girls in Annex I).
- Food costs have risen considerably.
- A group of health care providers from the Haitian Endowment Fund visited while they were there and expressed willingness to come regularly. The health care providers checked all the new children.
- A nurse has been hired and works in the clinic every weekday.
- The individual hospitalized for three months for tuberculosis treatment is back and will be put on staff to oversee the new boys.
- Discussions with Jean-Louis during the visit involved budget-setting, a new vocational school and transition house project and a potential new building on the main campus.
From Jean Louis February 9:
We are trying to help in three different ways now: we welcome more day students to our school, we are accepting more resident children, and we are trying to run a feeding program for a hundred families, victims of the earthquake.
We have visited those families and their biggest problem is food and water. I would like to give each family enough food for a month, If we can do it for two or three months we will do it.
Jean Louis
From Jean Louis to Board Members, January 30, 2010:
To all Maison Fortuné Foundation board members:
I want to thank you all for all the efforts you are making to help Haiti get back on its feet after this devastating earthquake that destroyed almost all the city of PAP and killed thousands. None of us Haitians has ever thought that we would see anything like that in our lifetime.
While we are trying to help we need to be careful about the decision we make because we don't want it to have any negative impact on the orphanage in the near future. A lot of children have lost their parents but those parents will never come back. So, once we take those children we become their parents and we will have them for God knows how long. For now I don't see any other alternativeI mean by that I don't see what we will do in one or two years. Where will they go? I am just being careful because I know and you all know that there is no such thing as a temporary son or daughter.
Let's be realistic now: we cannot ask the kids to leave after a year or so. If we are not sure we can find funding to continue to take care of those kids for a long term, maybe we should just add a few more to what we already have. Some of you have asked if I already started taking kids. It is not something easy, especially when it comes to children from PAP. I don't know where the children are in the PAP. There is no coordination for that matter. The orphanages that lost their houses prefer to use tents until they can build other buildings or find a way to send the kids to America. I have been waiting for CRS or Caritas to call. I havent heard anything from them yet. We have started the registration for kids from PAP. So far we have got six. The others are kids from Hinche who make up stories to make us believe they were in PAP so that they can come live at the orphanage.
I just wanted to let you know what the situation is so that we all can reflect on it and see what should be done.
Let me know what you think.
Jean-Louis
From Jean Louis to Sharon Neuhaus, January 28, 2010:
Dear sharon, Here is a little note I would like you to pass on to the St Pattrick school especially the kids and the staff, first I like to thank them for the warm welcoming they gave me last time I was there and thank them for working so hard on their penny project.
I join my voice with the voices of all the children of Maison to thank you all for remembering and praying for Haiti in Such a difficult moment. As you all know Haiti is going through a very difficult moment . No Haitian has ever seen any thing like this before, The capital is almost completely destroyed, thousands have died, We still have thousands under debris, Your prayers are greately needed. Once again thank you for all your prayers.
Lefort Jean-Louis
Emails Update from Jean Louis January 25, 2010:
Cos - the only thing I can report on now is this: we have leased the building next to the girls. It is in a very bad condition right now just a little worst than when we first got the girls’ dorm. It was not easy to find paint just like every thing else. some time this week are going to Cap-Haitien to buy paint and beds.
Hinche is full with people, some are people from Hinche who were living in PAP a lot of other are people who just show up because they did not have any place else to go . You should see the park at night, It is packed, I have not started taking any kids yet. caritas has not done any thing yet they said they were going to identify the kids in need and they will come back to us. They have not done that yet. what have you heard from CRS? in your side. Right now even the local authorities are sheltering they are still identifying the victims.
Another thing I wanted you to know the children from PAP will not want to stay in big concrete buildings right away after what they went through, It will take a while before they accept it again
Therefore we will need some tents to put them first so if you or someone else know some organization that is giving tents please sign up for some on behalf of Maison Fortuné.
J.L
Emails from MFO Director Jean Louis January 16-18, 2010:
January 18: Chip - i just talked to Fonkoze in Hinche. Wiring through F.K might take time especially because there is no communication between Fonkoze Hinche and Fonkoze PAP. However they do have another wiring service called money gram and I beleive it is everywhere in the US. May be you can give it a try this would be the easiest way for now. I talk to the guy about the building/ His last price is ten thousand a year. I was waiting for you before I make any final decision on that. If we are going to rent the house, we will need other things like beds, tables, given the emergency the people are in now, we can use sleeping bags while working the other stuff. The situation is very crucial for now. Hinche is now crowded with people coming from PAP. Most of them are not even from Hinche they just want a safe place to stay. a lot of houses are overcrowded. People come to my house every day for help there was a group who came to my house to ask for help to go pick up their relatives from PAP. That was before Riley left. I had to collect money from Harry, Mike, Cos and Riley to help them. So if the board can send some extra cash to cope with the cost of living now and help those who are in desperate need for now it would be a good thing. I took a tour around the park last it was jam packed with people from PAP. and you know what a lot of them have never been to Hinche before They are just looking for a safe place.
J-L
January 18: Hey chip - The price of every thing in Hinche is going sky high. Minustha is forcing the people to keep the price the same but they rather close their store than keepping the price the same. Fonkze in Hinche is now openned I don't know if they will continue as for wiring I beleive you should be able to do that as long as the Fonkoze branches in PAP are openned. i will check and let you know. The population of Hinche has doubled a lot of people left PAP to come to the provinces. Even people who were not from Hinche originally. They just saw a truck they ask where it is going, The driver say Hinche and they say they are going there too because PAP is almost unlivable.
J-L
January 18: Art - Thank you for all your work and i will try to keep you up dated as much as I can. The city of Hinche has doubled in the last few day, a lot of people are leaving PAP to come to Hinche some of them have never been there before. They would stay anywhere that safer than Port au-prince. They have no food and no house to stay. some house are overcrowded with relatives that were in PaP. A lot of them are begging on the streets. I just wish I could do something to help.
Continue to pray for Haiti.
J-L
January 16: Good morning Art -
What we are seing now in Hinche as concequences of the tragic earthquake that destroyed almost every thing in the capital of Haiti and other cities like Jacmel and Leogane is that all the stores are closed and the prices already went up. All the Banks are closed. The day following the earthquake I had to buy a good amount of rice, beans,cooking oil etc credit because I did not have cash to pay and i was effraid that there was not going to be any the following day or the price was going to go up. I only have supplies for two weeks after that I don't know what i am going to do. any way let's hope for the bes
my greettings to you al
Jean-Louisl