Day 8: Back in the USA

Made it safely to Atlanta this morning.
Sharing a meal back stateside while we await our next flight.

Day 7: travel to PaP

Good Morning. Today we packed our bags, said good bye to St Andre's, jumped in the car and off to Port Au Prince we go. 

Agenda: Two hour car ride. We'll drop Kate of for her meeting with local doctors, tour the top school in Haiti, St Peter's Episcopal Church. And then Pere Noe, his seminarian and I will attend Diocesan Convention. 

Church folk joining us and grateful for free ride to PaP. 

Mark+

Day 6: A Lesson in Healthcare

This afternoon we visited Hôpital Universitaire de Mirebalais. Thanks to Kate's connections and hard work in the pursuit of a proper local contact, we ended up with a guided tour of the facility, some background on it's history, and its impact in the community

Day 6: Back to School

Jim posting here...

A quiet morning here in Hinche, the beginning of another school week for the children of St. Andre's Episcopal School.

The morning routine of raising the Haitian flag to the national anthem played by the school band, and all of the children lined up according to their class, is a good vision to have as we look at building a school from the ground up.

We had a morning of reflection and schedule-juggling. There are many plans changing in the backdrop of cancelled elections and safety concerns in Port-Au-Prince.

In the midst of this, a stir could be heard from the school just a few feet away.

Apparently the soccer balls we brought were already being put to use during recess:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADXeUp50SHU&feature=youtu.be

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4i9AMaLOCXg&feature=youtu.be

 

Jim

Day 5: photos

Today was all about worship, community, watching international soccer and finding the Patriots game (and their loss). 

Worship 

Walk after church 

Private tour

Locals watching Liga Premier Soccer

Yes, the was the only place we could find NFL game ... Empty chairs are from an earlier soccer game watching. Lucky for us the owner wanted to stay open and watch. 

Mark+

Day 5: Praise and Breaking Bread

This morning we worshipped with the people of St Andre's Episcopal Church. It was a short, 2 hours and 15 min service. Our spirits were raised high by a children's choir and spirit-driven community of faith. Pere Noe asked me to preach the Good News, which I offered wishing I could hear one of his excellent sermons. I will try to send a video message to St Bart's soon, if technology will permit. In the meantime, please know you are all in my prayers as I give thanks to God for St Bartholomew's and our great spirit for the Good News shared. 

Later today we will join the some local festivals for Mardi Gras and pray we can find one satellite TV to watch the AFC championship. 

With joy and gratitude in my heart. 

Mark+

Day 4: waking up to voices of angels.

Mark+

The Reverend Mark C. McKone-Sweet

St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church

16275 Pomerado Road

Poway, CA 92064

http://www.stbartschurch.org

Please excuse any spelling and odd short hand

This morning the choir began its weekly rehearsal at 6am. The sounds of their voices drifting into our rooms. We will be visiting another church and school today, and I'll be assisting in a wedding. 

Day 3: The school at Loranette

After worship we fed the children a good meal and replaced the flat tire with a spare. We then sat down with the current teachers of Epiphanie School. Each grew up here and, despite the educational odds (closest schools are 90 min walk away), were able to complete their high school education. Each spoke with a deep passion to improve their community and give the children hope through education. 

We then walked 15 minutes up the path through this incredibly poor community. Homes built with clay and sticks, no running water and no electricity. 

And then we arrived at the school - if you can call it that. The teachers showed us where all five grades meet, with their 150+ students ... 

With funding for teachers, supplies (school benches, chalk boards, pencils, writing books and text books) and a daily meal, the teachers said Epiphany School would swell to 400+ elementary students. 

It was then we realized that a school, which is their primary prayer, would help break the cycles that keep their families impoverished. Improving health with food, improving self confidence with uniforms and purpose, providing a community center (hurricane shelter) and a place to worship. 

See images from Day 2: Evening post of Holy Innocents school being built in the village of La Begue. 

We have asked why is God sending us on this trip... And now we prayerful wonder if we were asking the wrong question. It's not where will you send us Lord, but is this your will Lord? 

Mark+

The Reverend Mark C. McKone-Sweet

Day 3: the sound of music

Mark+

Here is a short video from worship today. 

Day 3: arrival, Epiphany School

We had a restful start today. Jim and I went for a morning run and Kate and JD got to sleep in. We greeted the students at St Andre's at 7am, and we ate a tasteful breakfast of bread, hot dogs and papaya.

The drive was almost entirely dirt roads as we headed east. After 60 minutes we left the road to the Dominican Republic border, turning right onto a smaller road. 30 minutes later we pulled into the church property, with one tire of the truck completely deflated (that was close!). 

The children and adults were all dressed up for church. Pere Noe visits 4x year. So this was important. We learned that earlier this month 50 people were baptized. Amen. Although this ministry of the Episcopal Church began 12 years ago, we are the first outside visitors they have ever had. 

And so Kate's hair and our pale skin drew major attention, especially from the children, whose hands reached out without hesitation to feel and touch as we joined the gathered community under the worship tent (actually a framed straw wind break). 

The music and sense of community was electric. (The video can't upload ... we'll try again.)

Mark+

Day 2: Evening

This afternoon we drove to La Begue to witness a school being built. This was like looking into the future as to what we are being invited do participate in. 

I am a little biased, but I am so proud that my former parish St Dunstan's (Dover, MA) is the principal partner. Last year the students had a tent to study and worship under (left of first photo). Today they have a school of 300 children and growing. It's not complete, but it will be in a few months. And they now have clean water, a new well to draw from. Needless to say, hope has prevailed and hope is being raised up in real tangible ways: education, food, clothing, community and faith. 

We had a chance to meet with Janis (pronounced zha-neese), a young leader from the community of Loranette, who, with his college education, has chosen to return to his home town and give his life to helping lift it out poverty. He told us how desperate his community is - one of the poorest in this country that itself is the poorest in the Western Hemisphere. The one thing they pray for is a school: a school to give their children hope, to break the cycle of hunger for their children, and to build community. Recently the Dominican government sent all Haitian refugees back to Haiti. Many of those refugees ended up here in Loranette, with nothing. 

Tonight we are inspired by others and their resolve to make a tangible difference here in Haiti and by the spirit of Haitians. 

Mark+

The Reverend Mark C. McKone-Sweet

Day 2: Tutorial on Education

"Jesus is the friend of all the children." Today we begin our tutorial for education in Haiti and specifically the ministry of providing education, nutrition and hope for children and families in Haiti. 

This morning we got to know the St Andre's School here in Hinche. Built over 30 years ago and sustained over the same period of time through partnership with St Dunstan's, Carmel Valley, CA, St. Andre's provides 900 children and youth with a daily meal and an excellent education. Tuition is $200 year and half the students are on scholarship. 

We will spend the afternoon visiting Holy Innocents School in La Bague.  The school building was constructed last year, in its 3rd year; it now has 300 students and will peak in year five at 500. Before this school was built, the best option for kids in this area was a few hours walk. St Dunstan's, Dover, MA, is the first partner. Tuition is $20 year and all the students get some or full tuition assistance. 

Finally we will meet with leaders for the Epiphanie School. They need a partner(s) to make this work. 200 students study under a tent with little teaching tools, no pay for the teachers and no food for the children. This is where Pere Noe is hopeful we and our friends from San Diego will hear God's voice calling us into ministry. That is the  transformational work realized for these children, their community, our selves and our parish(es). 

Mark+

The Reverend Mark C. McKone-Sweet

Day 2: Dawn awakens

Good morning. We arrived last night to the warm welcome of Pere Noe. 

After a short meal in PAP, we made the drive up to Hinche (pronounced 'ehnsh'), base camp for us, at St Andre's Church and School. Needless to say, we slept well after a long day's travel. As life changes and the children grow older, I am always struck by how much life also seems to stay the same. The sun rising on the church, electricity and water not always working, the sounds of city awakening, the children gathering for school and the smiles on faces. 

I am very grateful for our safe arrival, for your prayers and for the hospitality of Pere Noe and the church here. Please know you too are in my prayers this morning. 

More to posts to come as our day progresses. 

Mark+

The Reverend Mark C. McKone-Sweet

St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church

16275 Pomerado Road

Poway, CA 92064

http://www.stbartschurch.org

Please excuse any spelling and odd short hand

Day 1: departure from SD

Kate, Jim, JD and Mark anticipating boarding  Delta fight in 15min. 

Shout out to Sally at St Bart's for the travel cookies! Lord send us where you need us. Lord open our hearts and minds to the presence of your son Jesus Christ in everyone we meet. Lord bless the diocese of Haiti and children of Epiphany. And Lord bless our families during our travels. 

Mark+

As back ground for January Mission trip to Haiti.
We at St Bartholomew's are responding to our new strategic plan.  Here are two slides to explain.




And here is the section on International Mission:

Heading to Haiti tomorrow. It has been too long since my last visit to Haiti, the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti and the ministry of Pere Noe Bernier. Tomorrow, we travel to see Pere Noe, a small group set to discover if our parish, St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church (Poway, CA) and some friends from St. Peter's Episcopal Church (Del Mar, CA) are called to work in Haiti to teach, feed, support and possibly build a school in the remote community of Loranette, Haiti (near Hinche): the Epiphanie School. Like the school in Le Begue' (Holy Innocents) - we hope to follow the example of St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church (Dover, MA). Like Le Beque, there are hundreds of children trying to learn under a tent with a few teachers and not much to eat.