On Thursday, October 13, and Friday, October 14, “Water with Blessing” entered school. By this we mean that representatives from a few of the schools from our area began the formation process to be a “Water Woman.” For those of you not familiar with the program, these women will be responsible to give clean, filtered drinking water to students who do not have access to clean water. Especially now, after the hurricane, this is needed more than ever.
Praise God, it is here! After waiting a month to get the container out of Port au Prince and then waiting an extra week due to Hurricane Matthew, the container is finally here! So many of the things inside are so useful for our people, especially now! Thank you and God bless you all!!!!!π
Sunday, October 16, was the first time we made our way to Port au Prince after the hurricane. We saw many signs of the devastating results of Hurricane Matthew. Trees and plantations were destroyed; we saw the aftermath of mud slides; roofs were torn off homes and dilapidated houses.
On Saturday, we went to see Nadia and her baby boy (who she still had not given a name) to see how they were doing. We walked into her one-room shack and saw there was blood everywhere on the bed. The midwife had not tied the umbilical cord correctly. So, with Nadia’s friend (Nadia is the mother), we rushed to the hospital with the baby. There was no doctor around, but a nurse was in the maternity ward. She cleaned up the blood, re-tied the cord, and told us to see a pediatrician. There was no pediatrician in the hospital. She told us of one in the city, so we looked for this doctor; he was not in the office. The bleeding had stopped, so we gave Nadia and her friend alcohol, gauze, diapers, and powdered baby milk. We then gave Nadia money to see this pediatrician on Monday.
What an experience! We have done and learned many things here in the Haiti Mission, but this one has made such an impression on us as we see life and survival before our eyes. The baby is huge. The mother was very big during the pregnancy. The gift of life is unbelievable. Last night, we again visited the mother and child; and all seems well. The baby seemed more alive than in the morning. Please pray for Nadia and her baby boy. ππΎ
On Friday, October 14, in the evening, we witnessed God’s amazing love for his poor. Young Nadia, a 23-year-old woman, delivered her baby boy in her home, a small shack, through a midwife (Fanm saj).
We had terrible rains and heavy winds. Everything was drenched and flooded. The walls are soaked, and the paint is peeling. One of the pipes was knocked down. For the past three days, we have no electricity; it seems as though wires are down, and we don’t know when they will be repaired. Here in Jacmel, many of the stores are empty; and essential items are getting scarce, such as propane gas and clean water.
Today we prepared packages of soap powder to wash clothes and a bar of soap for our families, because all their belongings were under water and are full of mud. We went to deliver the packages and assessed the homes of our people. Some of them lost their roofs, and all of them had muddy water inside their homes. Their mattresses were soaked. During our visits, we invited the people to come to our home to pick up rice, beans, corn meal, flour, sugar and milk.
One woman told us today that her brother and his wife were killed when their house collapsed on top of them.
We write this blog in the dark, praying we have enough battery to publish it. Many of you have sent us messages, asking how you can help our Haiti Mission after the hurricane. The easiest way would be to send monatery donations to:
Felician Sisters of North America
Write in the memo: Haiti Mission.
Mail to: 871 Mercer Road, Beaver Falls, PA 15010-6856
Thank you again, and God bless you all for your love, prayers and support for our poor people.
We ask for your prayers for Haiti, as we are expecting the arrival of Hurricane Matthew It is predicted to arrive Sunday evening, and the worst is predicted for Monday. All we can do is wait it out and keep vigil. It is reported that this is the strongest hurricane coming since we arrived in Jacmel. The speeds of the winds are being said to reach 155 mph. Please pray for all our people! ππΎππΎππΎ
This is the theme of this year’s catechetical program. We thank Toni-Ann Russo for creating the t-shirts that gave us the theme, but in Kreyol: “Bondye kreye nou pou nou kapab remen.”
On Thursday, September 29, we began our new catechetical year with a prayer service, stating the theme and song with our children. Then we gave them their shirts, which they are to wear every Thursday for class. Some of the kids are preparing for Communion.
With our teens preparing for Confirmation, we set the theme for the year and ended with Adoration; and, of course, we gave them their t-shirts, too.
Felician Sisters of North America Mission: Haiti 
