Monthly Archives: May 2013

We now have two groups in our language program. Due to the size of the group and the varied ages, we separated them. This makes it much easier for planning activities and conversation. We also have adults who come to us for learning on an individual basis. Norma is a nurse who works in the hospital here in Jacmel. She is interested in working with us in our mobile clinic. Our afternoons are full, and we do not finish until 8 p.m. We rejoice to see how our students appreciate the little things, such as having their own notebook, pencil, crayons, a coloring book. Most of all, they enjoy manje (eating) rice and beans and a glass of water. Every evening we see young people outside our door, under the street light, studying because in their homes they have no electricity. Here in Haiti, you share everything.

On Sunday, May 5, after Mass in the Bishop’s chapel, Bishop Launay Saturnè blessed the new Felician mission car. After the blessing, Bishop Launay placed a Benedictine cross on the mirror.

A Haitian priest told us that the three virtues of a missionary are patience, patience, and patience. We have come to learn that is so true. It was 4 1/2 months ago that we bought our car. During that time, we needed to wait for our franchise, and today we finally were able to bring our new car to Jacmel.

In the afternoon of Wednesday, May 1, we traveled to Port au Prince. We stayed overnight at the home of our friend, Yvon, because we went on Thursday morning to the Nissan car dealer to get the car. We finally saw our Nissan Patrol. We needed a car with 4-wheel drive in order to handle the roads in Haiti. We will be traveling to the mountain chapels, visiting the people where there is the most need and, hopefully, we can soon begin a mobile clinic. We will also need the car to bring volunteers from the airport and to places for their mission experience. The car is an 8-passenger vehicle, but we know in Haiti you fit many more people when it comes to a ride. We know this personally because we need to do that to go anywhere.

After we saw the car and signed the necessary papers, we had to wait for the inspector so we could get vehicle stickers and plates. On Thursday he never showed up, so we needed to stay another night in Port au Prince to wait for him to come on Friday morning. He was supposed to come at 9:00 a.m., but he arrived at 11:30 a.m. The inspection took three minutes! We were then finally on our way to Jacmel in our new Felician mission car! Thanks be to God!

Today the Diocese of Jacmel celebrated our patronal feast of Saints Philip and James. The space where we celebrated in the cathedral was decorated with beautiful flowers, fruits and vegetables. It was a glorious celebration with all the faithful in Jacmel. After Mass, in the afternoon, we traveled to Port au Prince in the hope that we will get our car tomorrow.