Monthly Archives: July 2022

The first group that met with the Sisters to learn how to sew moved to the second level. Their final exam was to sew a school uniform for our kids.

On Saturday, July 23, we had guests from Les Cayes visit our Mission. Ephesian and Ourlik, and two of their friends, visited us. They run a bakery in Les Cayes. You may remember Sisters Izzy and Julitta, together with Annette and Cili, went to meet them a few months ago, in order to learn from them how their bakery functions, learning about finances and equipment, and other important things to know about running a bakery.

Since June 5, we have had construction on the mission grounds, preparing a new space for the sewing classes. It is just about completed and ready for the big move of the sewing machines and materials. We are still waiting for the closet doors to be installed. The space can also be used for other activities and meetings when needed. God is good!

On Thursday, July 21, our young team involved in the Clean Water project through Global Health and Social Justice met in Marigot to begin their study of the water problem. They met at the school, where they hope the well will be dug, and then spoke with people in the town about the problem of no water. On Saturday, they will meet and share their research thus far to be included in their proposal for a well to be dug.

On Thursday, July 21, Sisters Julitta and Marilyn, together with Madam Omanie, Annette, and the youth involved in the Youth for Global Health and Social Justice Program went to Marigot. Our clean water program was presented to 20 woman from St. Dominic’s Parish, and the youth began their research among the community. It was a busy day for all.

On Tuesday, July 19, we had our first meeting with the young people who will be participating in the Youth for Global Health and Social Justice project. They are working together to get a well for the town of Marigot, which is desperately in need of clean running water. The day was filled with a YouTube presentation, discussion, then the process of beginning to examine pertinent issues surrounding the water crisis facing their local community. On Thursday, they will visit Marigot and begin their investigation. This leadership program encourages youth to work together and to build skills in service to their community.

It started with an email from Dr. Sheryl Simmons,. She heard about our clean water program, Servants of Living Water, from Angela Hospice in Livonia, MI. She reached out to us and wanted to hear our story. She is director of a program that engages youth to work out a plan for a well to be dug in a needed area. This program is sponsored by the United Nations.

The purpose of this Work Around the World for Water (WAWW) initiative is to develop the knowledge, skills, and understanding youth need to become influential leaders within the water sector.

Goals include the following:

1. Increase participants’ understanding of the concept of leadership.
2. Increase participants’ understanding of and appreciation for cultural diversity.
3. Assist participants in developing specific skills needed for effective leadership.
4. Provide participants with a process for examining pertinent issues surrounding the water crisis facing their local and global communities.
5. Increase participants’ awareness of themselves and how they relate to others; and
6. Provide opportunities for participants to apply their knowledge, skills, and understandings through meaningful services to the community.
   Program Values and Assumptions
   Youth for Global Health & Social Justice programs

Work Around the World for Water attempts to bridge a gap between theory on leadership, community leadership, and leadership development with actual practice in leadership development for youth. Implementation of this project and subsequent evaluation of the project’s success would provide still more information that could be used to improve both the specific project and similar community-based youth leadership development projects.

These are ideas that we have been trying to do with our youth over the years. We have extended our clean water program, with the help of a generous donor(s), by getting wells to a school, parish and its community, as well as on our own property for our children.

When God showed us this door, we knew we had to open it and walk through. We are aware of another community in Marigot, which is desperate for clean running water. So we decided to get on board. We already have six young people involved, who will have their orientation class for the program on Tuesday, July 19.

On Friday, July 15, we had visited the school that is in need of the well. About 760 children and teens go to this school, which has no running water. In order to have water, they must buy it!

Our youth now have to present their proposal, learn about the water needed, learn how to test the water, and be a part of the process for the money in order for a well to be dug. Please keep this new project in your prayers. Everyone deserves to have clean water!

Since February, Sister Marilyn has been participating in the online cours,e Healthcare Management, sponsored by Medicines for Humanity. Sister Marilyn manages the Mother Angela Clinic, and this course was a perfect fit. It certainly was through the power of the Holy Spirit that this course was found.

On the same day in January, both Sisters Marilyn and Inga read an advertisement about the course offering for missionary sisters in third world countries. As Sister Marilyn was thinking about it, Sister Inga said to her: “There is a course that would be perfect for you to take at this time.” The Holy Spirit speaks quite loudly here at times.

So, on February 28, the online course began. Sister Marilyn met every Monday morning via her computer and internet. The key was having access to internet. It usually lasted 4-5 hours but, thank God, you can do an online course at your own pace and time. The weekly classes included other days when a speaker would be on ZOOM. The course included the following: Asset Management, management process, creating organizational statements, policies and procedures manual, organizational policies and management, financial management, human resource management, asset management, CHW Community Health Workers, and projects management. Everything that was presented is certainly used here in the Felician Mission Haiti!

To complete the course, a project was to be presented at the end of 12 weeks. Sister Marilyn created a Manual of Operation for the Mother Angela Clinic.

On July 5, Sister Marilyn presented her project, using a PowerPoint presentation. She had submitted her manual on June 6, and it was approved. And yes, she passed the course and will receive a certificate.

The manual is going to be translated into Creole and given to the employees.

These last two months, we have been watching a house being built on steady rock. Everyday, workers are here building a space for the sewing classes. The space will also be used for other activities. This is in God’s plan for never could we have imagined another building on the mission property. It is getting there…