Author Archives: Felician Mission: Haiti

You may remember our blog last week when the Mother Angela Mobile Clinic made a journey up to the mountains for four days. They met with 168 patients who received medical consultation and medication. Thank you for your prayers. 🙏

Every Thursday evening, we have catechesis with our kids from 5-9 years old. Some days this can be a challenge with ten of them. Every week we to have a different Bible story, followed by an activity. This past Thursday, we had the story of  Moses and the burning bush. First we read the story and talked about it; then we had an activity they could take home and share with their families. It was truly holy ground. 😉 

Here in Haiti there are so many children. Some don’t live with their own mothers and don’t have the opportunity to have a good rest in the comfort of their mother’s arms. This puts a new meaning about being spiritual mothers. Often we have children just needing a good rest. After they eat, they take a nap. It makes us think of Mary, the Mother of Jesus. It is at times like this we ponder the essential things in our hearts to continue to be about the spiritual renewal of the world.
  

When the kids came to show us their report cards, we realized some of the kids did not pass because they had done poorly in school. We started up our “Pay it Forward” program again and have our teens helping the kids every morning for 90 minutes.😉

We have been having trouble with our Rosetta Stone English program and cannot use the computers. So, Sr. Marilyn started an English course for the teens so they would be ready for the new school year when they would study English.😎

Everyday we have an activity with the girls in making bracelets. They love this activity and never get tired of doing it. 😃

We never know what to expect here in Haiti. For example, we never know how many people will be with us for our morning Mass. Sometimes we are by ourselves and, other times, the chapel is full without our having invited anyone.    

 One morning, about two weeks ago, two young teenage girls came to our door before Mass and said they wanted to have formation. This was a new a request from the usual, “I’m hungry; I need new shoes or sandals; I need help with school; I need medication.” After Mass, we sat with the girls and listened to their request to learn more about our lives. So we invited them to come to Mass everyday and to pray with us. This is not easy for them since they live on the other side of Jacmel and have to walk to our house, which is about 45 minutes away. We also invited the girls to be involved with our work with the kids who need extra help in school. Everyday, Monday through Friday, they are here with us.   

On Tuesday, July 14,  the Mother Angela Clinic team left for a four-day journey to the mountains of Haiti to bring medical aid to the poor. It takes four crueling hours to climb the very steep rocky mountain. The people from the area come down to meet the team and to help carry up all the medications and other medical items. The team will provide two full days of clinic for the people of St. Etienne’s, which is located on the top of a mountain. People there do not have access to medical care and medication. 

  
Please keep our clinic team in your prayers. 🙏  We could not go with them this time because of other activities here in the mission, but we know Mother Mary Angela’s spirit is with them.

Tonight we went to see Francois in her new house. Synder and Michlen took us by the hand and led us to their home. It was about a 15-minute walk from our house. They all seem very happy and delighted with their new surroundings.

It is a one-room house with two beds and a few chairs. There is another small room for the kitchen. They have an outside space to bathe, but there is no water. They also have electricity when the city provides it for a few hours.

Today, July 8, our neighbor, Francios and her three little boys–Snyder, Michlen and Jolandez–moved into their own little house. They have lived in a garden across the street from us this past year. They lived in a one-room shack with no water, no electricity, and no bathroom facilities. This shack was given to them by the father of two of the kids. But every week he would come and cause problems, beating Francois and terrifying the children. The Lord brought them to us when they were in need. When the children were malnourished, needing medical care, clothing, shoes, and the opportunity to attend school, we were there to provide help and assistance. They came to our house everyday. Because they lived so close to us, every visitor/volunteer we had got a chance to visit them and experience the conditions in which some people live here in Haiti. Due to the violence that was being dispalyed every week, it was time to help Francios find a small place similiar to what they have but in a safer area away from this man. God in his love and mercy provided for them once again, and we are grateful.

It is a day of mixed emotions and feelings. It is a day of freedom for Francios and her children, a day of new beginnings. It is a little sad for us as our little friends find new friends and a new area for their lives to grow. This is a part of our poverty, as we let go of our little neighbors who are moving on to something a little better than what they had and are having a new home of their own.

Here, poor people live so close together that when someone gets a virus it spreads very quickly. 

Now, among our kids we have the mumps being shared. Today we had to take care of two of our kids who have the mumps. A few months ago we had the chicken pox, now we have the mumps. There is never a dull moment here in Jacmel!