Sunday afternoon Yvon, Junior, and Sister Marilyn went for the parish family festival. Junior is a young man who Yvon mentors. We all had a great time but we missed Sister Inga who was home sick with a cold that she caught from all of us who had colds last week.
“Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:36
We wish you a peaceful and hopeful Advent season. For us this season of Advent will be moving to and beginning our new mission in Jacmel. We ask you to remember us in your prayers. Vini non, Senyè Jezi!
Today Yvon surprised us and the Doctors with breakfast on the roof. A good Haitian breakfast is spaghetti. Everyone was delighted. Today we also had coconuts from the tree. We promise this is the last post about food. 😊
As we prepare for our new mission in Jacmel, we have been staying in Yvon’s home the past two months in Port au Prince. It is a house of hospitality and has many interesting guests, This week he housed five doctors from New York City, a medical team from ORSI Orthopedic Relief Services International, led by Dr. Ron Israelski, President and CEO of the organization. His parents were Holocaust survivors from Poland. Most of the members of his family died in concentration camps. He has a passion for humanity and shares that passion here in Haiti. His team of doctors work with resident doctors in the General Hospital in downtown Port-au-Prince. They perform surgeries and give lectures to the residents for the week. This hospital serves the poorest of the poor. Yesterday, we were in a conversation with someone from Haiti who said they would never go to this hospital because of its poor conditions. Dr. Israelski comes to Haiti with his team of doctors a few times a year to provide global educational infrastructural support. We invite you to check out the Youtube presentation he gave from the hospital last March.
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=hX7OVHmtbaw&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DhX7OVHmtbaw&gl=PL
Yesterday, Dr. Israelski asked Yvon to host a reception for the residents from General Hospital in his home. There were 20 doctors gathered here, 15 Haitian and 5 from the States. It was a joy to watch and listen to the sharing of people who want to help heal the broken in body.
Everyone, including us, enjoyed the delicious Haitian rice, chicken and goat prepared by Claudette and her helpers.
We give thanks to the Lord for he is good…the new Felician mission in Haiti will be established in December in Jacmel. We are preparing a container to be sent to Jacmel from Lodi, New Jersey. We want to let you know if you are planning to participate in the Advent project in sending items to Haiti you can send them to Lodi and we will place them into the container. It is important that packages arrive before December 15. The mailing address to Lodi, NJ is:
Attention Sisters Inga and Marilyn
260 South Main Street
Lodi, New Jersey, 07644
On Saturday evening, November 24, on the Vigil of Christ the King, we had the opportunity to participate in the Holy Eucharist with the Neocatechumenal communities in Petion-Ville. Sister Marilyn played guitar with the music ministry. The comment was made that she looked very comfortable as though she was playing with the group for many years.
“Give thanks to the Lord for He is good.” Psalm 118:1
We were blest to celebrate Thanksgiving Day with the Sisters at the Ministry of Presence in Duval Roche. Sisters Dianne, Janet and Elizabeth welcomed us to their table. Americans, Polish, and Haitians gathered to give thanks for God’s abundant blessings. Even in Haiti we had turkey, but only the leg (see the picture below.)
After dinner when the guests left, we and the sisters sat on the porch a few hours sharing our missionary journeys in Haiti. Then we went to chapel to pray Evening Prayer. Again, we around the table, this time to share Polish turkey kielbasy that we brought. And to think, all of this was in the dark.
We are invited to celebrate Thanksgiving dinner with the Sisters of Charity in Duval Roche. We will also spend the night with them. On this beautiful feast we wish to express our gratitude for your kindness and support. This mission in Haiti could not exist without you. We thank God for you and for all the gifts He has abundantly bestowed upon us. Indeed “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord!”
