Day 7: one journey ends and another begins

We are all home, safe and sound, healthy and full of joy, ready for
snow and not missing the flies. It's been a long journey today, a good
way to leave a piece of our hearts in Haiti and embrace our hearts
desires here at home, in our ministries at Saint Dunstan's and the
Epiphany School.

After an early morning flight from Cap Haitien to Port Au Prince (25
minutes vs 6 hours with Noe at the wheel) we were greeted by Shirley
(Noe's wife) at the local airport. She was so kind to pick us up, an
upon learning of our long lay over before our afternoon flights, she
took us to be tourists for a few hours. And so we sat in traffic jams
for over an hour until we arrived at the National History Museum. The
guide was good - having Regine and Isabele bring the history to light
was a blessing to us all.

The guide mentioned that slavery in Haiti was worse than it ever was
in the United States. After he explained why, it was hard for any of
us to argue with graphic details of horror, disembodiment, torture ...

I continue to find it amazing what evil humankind can impose on other
humans and the world appears helpless to stop it. As I prepare for
Martin Luther King weekend, may we never forget our own history of
sin, slavery, discrimination, racism ... Call it what ever you wish.
And may our truth set us free.

At the airport, Regine was introducing Isabelle to what she might
expect if she is able to study at BC this fall, all the while
informing me too: as she mentioned a critical book she is deep into,
Pedagogy of the Oppressed.

In the waiting area, I met a Methodist Minister finishing up his own
mission work and returning to his parish in Pennsylvania. We spoke of
the transformation that happens when our parishioners and others join
us on mission. He noted that young adults gravitate to mission before
organized church. Haiti, he offered, was a "Laboratory for
discipleship". When I asked him to repeat it again, he reminded me it
was not his words.

Regine, Isabelle, London and Christine, along with our previous
mission teams to Haiti and youth missioners who went to Belize and/or
New Orleans - all are amazing disciples in Christ. I am proud of them
all for taking personal and literal risks, being open to having their
hearts and minds changed, and truly embracing their baptisms.

Pere Noe and so many other church leaders are daily on the front lines
and have proven they are great shepherds of The Lord.

I wonder whee this will lead us all? I pray we all will continue to
have open hearts and seek God's calling ... Where ever it takes us
tomorrow.

Amen.
Mark+

Sent from my Phone
Rev. Mark C. McKone-Sweet

Day 7: sunrise and goodbye

This morning we begin are travels home. Last night we gave thanks over
an hour long conversation. We also reflected on how this experience
may impact our future relationship with God/Jesus Christ, the
church/community and our own personal transformation. We concluded the
night with reflections on the Call of Samuel, the Call of Isaiah and 1
Cor 13.

We are grateful for those who made it possible for us to be here
(Saint Dunstan's, Epiphany School, our families and co-workers, Pere
Noe and his wife Shirley). And we offer thanks to God.

Day 6: blessed are children

The school is alive - really alive. The noises of learning create a
constant level energy - all ages, the voices of laughter, singing,
call and response, in French, creole, Spanish, mathematics, grammar,
history, geography ... In the small space, 1350 students co-exist ...
London and Chris are very popular with their cameras, Regine and
Isabele had a good meeting and tour with the director and Rev Mark
simply had fun (and some formal meetings). Because they have not been
able to build more rooms, the rooms are stuffed with children and
youth.

Isabelle bought patties for children who did not have lunch or lunch
money. Needless to say - she made many friends with her
thoughtfulness.

Everything is very Inspiring to say the least.

Here is a fun photo: lunch time.

Day 6 - L'Ecole Saint Esprit

Good Morning. Last night we took some time for R&R, found a working TV
and watched the Patriots Game. What a treat.

Today we will spend the entire day at the School of the Holy Spirit.
We know this school has continued to grow. Last Year alone they added
250 students. Student population now exceeds 1,400. Yesterday we went
to visit the former for director of the school, Charles. He was head
master to 45 years. What a servant of The Lord! It was great to meet a
living member of the history of the school. Pere Noe tells us, of the
long list of priorities ... Getting electricity, building more
classrooms, painting, a library, computer lab - his highest priority
is scholarship funding. He is very anxious about being able to pay his
teachers this year. We will learn more soon ...

This morning we will get to know some students, teachers and the
director. This afternoon, we will gather with members of the church to
paint classrooms.

Day 5: tourists

Regine writing: (photo below)

A lifelong dream of mine has been achieved! Visiting Palais Sans Souci
was not only an enjoyable but an overwhelming experience. The team and
I were able to experience where a huge and important part of Haitian
history took place.

So, it goes without saying that I am truly enjoying the experience
here in Haiti.

To my students, here is some extra credit! I want for you to find out
the name of the king who once lived in Palais Sans Souci and his
significance in Haitian history.

I love and miss you all at Epiphany!

Day 5: worship and prayers

London writes: So today we went to church in Cap Haitian (aka Au-Cap
as the locals call it) where Mark and Noe delivered a beautiful
service together. Their sermon was about never losing hope and falling
into despair and to embrace the church and all that is has to give
each individual and the community as a whole. In addition we had the
unexpected pleasure of being able to hear the local Catholic group
choir sing all the hymns through out the service in both French and
Creole. Once the service was over the service was over we went as a
group with Father Noe on two house visits to pay respects to two
church members who were both unable to attend church due to sickness.
This mission in many ways has been about going deeper into trying to
understand Haiti as a country and the people that live in it and this
day has just brought us a little closer to getting a clearer view on
what our presence in Haiti truly means. Now we are off to experience
yet another portion of Haiti with open eyes and open hearts.

Day: 5 Baptism of The Lord

Mural on the wall of Saint Esprit.

Day 4: safe arrival into Cap Haitien

What a day it has been. After all the prayer, worship and witness to
the anniversary of the earthquake. And having spent the last two days
learning the scale of destruction to the schools, churches and
ministries of the Episcopal Church - we spent the afternoon driving
through the northern flats, rice patty farms and up and over the
mountains to the city of Cap Haitien. Needless to say, thank The Lord
that Pere Noe drives these roads 3 to 4 times a month. It was tough
to see the poverty stretch out into the country and mountains. London
and Chris rode in the back of the pickup truck the entire way (along
with Noe's cousin). Regine and I had a go at it for a few hours and
then settled in the cab with Lindsey and Pere Noe.

We are now safely in housing for the night. A fine Catholic Retreat
house in the city. Clean, safe and a welcoming environment.

Tomorrow is church. I will preach at the 6am service and then again at
the primary service at 8:30am. I pray That God will fill my heart with
his word. It will be so good to pray with the community we have been
praying for for two years now. We will make some pastoral visits after
church and hopefully have time to be tourists.

Mark+

Sent from my Phone
Rev. Mark C. McKone-Sweet

Day 4: service of remembrance

On the very top of the program it reads:
Haiti: stand up and walk.

Today we gathered with people of Haiti, the entire diocese of Haiti,
Presiding Bishop (Katherine), Bishops of Haiti, most of the Haitian
clergy, an army of seminarians, youth scouts (of the church) the
Anglican Scouts of Haitian the cathedral choir, boys choir, and youth
orchestra from the Anglican music school ... For anyone who loves
liturgy and worship - it was an Anglo-asm. (Term coined by Ray Suarez,
News Hour).

Needless to say, the music was amazing, the spirit somber and joyful,
as the PB encouraged the people of Haiti to stay strong and keep HOPE
alive.

It was a short service, just under two hours. Here is the procession
to the Cathedral from Trinity School.

Day 4 - reality - sobering truth.

We are driving to Cap Haiten ... And stopped to reflect as we passed
the mass grave site for some 200.000 victims from the earthquakes.
Sobering on this 3rd anniversary.

Day 3 - night time is upon us

This evening we took some time to share a relaxed meal and then we
entered into a two hour, rich, discussion. Regine and Isabel had
Internet access for a few minutes and made and sent a video to the
Epiphany School community. Fun.

We were then joined by the only woman at the seminary this year,
Denise. As she told her story of accepting God calling her, she also
shared how she kept writing her priest - over and over again - waiting
until the diocese was ready to ordain women. Thank God the Bishop has
welcomed her (two other woman last year) into the ministry of priests.
We then had a discussion about the great commandment (love God and
love your neighbor) - asking, if a persons loves others already, why
do they need God?

Denise's story gave us all permission to share our stories. This lead
a deep conversation about the ministries we all do (ordained or not)
to love God in others. We concluded the night with Matthew 25:13
(parable) the king (God) thanking those who fed him, clothed him,
cared for him, visited him in prison, etc. The people say - we never
did that for you God. God then tells them that every-time they feed
someone, visit someone who is sick or in prison, five clothes to the
naked, etc. they in fact served and loved God.

Tomorrow we will be at the cathedral for the earthquake anniversary
service with the Bishop and Presiding Bishop. Should be an emotional
day for everyone.

In the afternoon we will drive North to Cap Haitien.

Good night friends. Please continue to pray for us as we continue to
pray for you all.

Mark+

Sent from my Phone
Rev. Mark C. McKone-Sweet

Day 3 - midday update

We are finishing our tour of Ecole Sainte Trinite, by the Reverend
Fernande S Peirre-Louis (director and alum). She is also the first
woman ordained in the diocese of Haiti (2002/3).

With 900 students, 130 teachers (many part time specialists for the
upper grades) for this very active school. The entire school was
destroyed in the earthquake. Temporary rooms, after three years, feel
fixed - though there is nothing long term in how they are built. The
sounds of student learning echoes through each room and passage way,
forming a chorus of noise one must think, listen, and speak over.

Despite the challenges, this school celebrates 100 years this June.
Echoes of the standards and motto of the Epiphany School echo in our
hearts and minds as we hear and witness their communal determination
to demand, to expect, and raise each person to higher standards. Each
student, teacher and parent - all held to higher standards and the
expectation is they hold each other up too. It all begins in 1st grade
where each student must learn three languages: English, French, and
Creole. In the past, they they were able to only teach reading and
writing in English. The current Director changed the pedagogy to
include oral training too. Seems obvious until you witness the
obstacles before them.

For example, vandals recently pilfered the chemistry lab (including
the ceiling fans) and later hit the computer lab. Both were secure
rooms - but the wood, temporary walls were no obstacle. Another
classroom had all its wooded tables taken.

The energy and spirit of the school is high. It gives us hope too.

Below is a photo of Regine, Isabele, Pere Noe, Rev Mark, the Bishop
and Rev Fernande.

Day 3: funeral and sleeping in

All of you in Boston are in our prayers today. Thank you for your prayers.

Another beautiful day in Haiti. The sun is bright and so are our
spirits. The comments yesterday from Epiphany students brought smiles
to our faces and warmed our hearts.

This morning, Rev Mark attended a funeral at the cathedral for a lay
leader. The Bishop, Dean, and five other priests all participated. It
was a moving experience. Even though I don't speak French, knowing our
shared liturgy allows me to fully participate, regardless of the
language. Thank you BCP (book of common prayer).

Now we are all off to visit trinity school, next to the cathedral.
Regine and Isabelle hope to learn more about building and running
schools in Haiti. This school has been part of the diocese for decades
and has now grown to send its first graduates off to university. Amen.

For all you Episcopalians: the presiding bishop (Katherine) is in
Haiti this week and will celebrate the Anniversary Mass tomorrow. The
Bishop of California is here too, they are in a long term process to
rebuild the music school.

Mark+

Sent from my Phone
Rev. Mark C. McKone-Sweet

Day 2: evening

It has been a remarkable first day. We visited many Episcopal
missions: four school, medical clinic, hospital, countless churches.
As we entered into Noe's home town, almost completely destroyed by the
earthquake, we stopped to see his mother. She can't walk, we found her
selling in her street front store. She survived the earthquake only
because she was in her store and not her house (20 feet away). The
house collapsed and killed two of Noe's cousins. Her House has not
been rebuilt and his mom refuses to sleep in a house (out of fear). We
passed a huge school being built by the Roman Catholic Church - all of
it at once. Usually we see one room at a time being built.
Soon we came to another Episcopal school (900 students all in
temporary classrooms) being rebuilt by a NGO and the small medical
clinic which was in full operation. Over and over we saw the
Episcopal Church at the center of rebuilding community and providing
hope. All with very little resources or human capital. The hospital in
the center of town (which survived the earthquake) was funded by the
Presbyterian Church (USA) even though it is owned by the Episcopal
Church today. In fact, it appears that a huge amount of the actual
funding seems to come from other denominations and NGOs.

Is the Episcopal Church (USA) unable to raise the funds necessary to
care for our sisters and brothers in need - while other denominations
are able to? Even if only half true: The question before us is then
obvious - why? And can this change?

Below: Noe and his mother in her store.

Day 2: Lunch

Isabelle writes: We had the awesome opportunity of meeting the
adorable students of St. Matthieu, an Episcopal school in Leogane.
They could not contain their excitement as we took photos of
them...natural-born models. Interacting with them reminded us of the
students of Epiphany School who are greatly missed.

Below: We also met a young girl, 7-year-old Damarra, who
coincidentally shares the same name and age as Regine's younger
sister. Small world indeed!

Day 2: making connectins

The photo in the earlier post: we are with the Dean of the Seminary,
Reverend Yvan Francois. A retired Haitian priest, and former head of
the Ecole St Peter for several decades (high school in done town Port
Au Prince).

We learned that there are 25 seminarians (only one is a woman). He
said, in time God willing more women will seek priesthood. The diocese
has over 200 missions, only 40 priests. They hope to add 60 more
priests to the ranks.

The Dean in the past spent some time at EDS, the Episcopal Divinity
School. We discussed our hope to host a seminarian as we continue to
deep relationships: with some parishes in our deanery, church of the
Holy Spirit (Mattapan) and the Epiphany School (Dorchester).

Much to pray about. Perhaps the Dean should come visit our diocese too.

No we are driving to the south, to Leogane.

Mark+

Sent from my Phone
Rev. Mark C. McKone-Sweet

Day 2: morning

Day 1: arrival at seminary

We arrived safely and will stay in housing at the Episcopal Seminary
School. We will have photos tomorrow - "where there were tent cities
last year, they are no more" (USAID built homes far from town for many
displaced people)
This photo is of Regine's uncle (hat) and Pere Noe. They are old
friends we all learned with great excitement (they were school mates).
Noe's wife is friends with his wife. Smiles all around. Small world.

Day 1: Group photo in NJ

Here we are together: London, Isabelle, Regine, Chris and Rev Mark.
FYI: Mark sewed the button back on his jacket, London found a charger
and Regine's mother already called us to offer her blessings.

Day 1: early start

Good Morning. We have begun our third Mission to Haiti. The night and
early hours were full of re-packing and calls and regular anxiety.
After leaving the house, I thought my lost button was going to take
top priority. London then shared that she did not pack her charger for
her camera(s). Let us pray for safe travels and a charger to be found
to purchase along the way.

Mark+

Sent from my Phone
Rev. Mark C. McKone-Sweet

Praying about life and rights.

The question keeps coming up. What can I do about all these deaths by
gun shootings? What can we do?

Our historic history informs us that owning your own gun is a
protected right, in response to when it was not a right. Our current
history informs us that 22 people were shot in the past 24 hours
(maybe more). Our current moral humanity informs us that no person
needs to be a personal armed army. Modern history informs us that the
USA is top of the list for deaths by guns and children's death by
guns. In the current political framework, is "all or nothing" our only
responses to the second amendment?

Another question for all Christians ... When is our ethical response
to our baptism trump any firm, polarized stance regarding guns in our
country. "Peace and Justice" and the "the dignity of all people".

Praying we can all come together to save lives before another 22
people are shot today.

Mark+