For the love of Haiti

For the love of Haiti

     Anticipation courses through my veins as my 2 am alarm rings, signaling the adventure is about to begin. Several team meetings over the past four months prepared me for today. We meet the team at the airport ready for our early morning flight. Everything is organized and our flights are smooth and on time. The view is gorgeous; my excitement grows as the vibrant azure and turquoise colored water of the Atlantic Ocean mix with an occasional green island. The pilot indicates we are beginning our descent and I get my first glimpse of Haiti. The mountains and valleys are covered with green trees, several rivers run towards the ocean, and single story concrete buildings come into view.    
   

Installing a pole mounted solar array in Haiti

  Doug and I are serving in Haiti with a team from SonLight Power, a Cincinnati based nonprofit with a mission to bring sustainable solar power to the most vulnerable in poverty stricken regions all over the world. We desire to show the light of Jesus in a very practical way. 
     Haiti's airport is easy to manage with signs in both French and English. Sandy Wilkens and our drivers greet us at the airport. Sandy and her husband serve at Haiti Health Ministries, a health clinic in Gressier, about 25 miles from the airport. My first impression as I leave the airport is one of wonder. My eyes take in the faces of the people as we follow Sandy, like ducklings careful not to get lost. We get into a pickup truck with a metal cage on the back. Two cushioned bench seats line the sides of the cage. There is room for me inside the truck and I take this option. A variety of vehicles fill the road as we exit the parking lot. There are no traffic lights, so intersections are filled with motorcycles, trucks, cars, buses, and pedestrians all trying to travel in various directions using a slight tap on the horn to signify the direction they want to go and a long honk to warn one to get out of the way. Inches separate us from the vehicle next to us as our driver expertly navigates through the intersections. We drive past buildings built out of a variety of scavenged materials, cobbled together to provide a home or a business.  
     Haiti Health Ministries provides health care to over 200 patients a day. Sandy and her husband have served here for over 18 years. They are experiencing a problem with their solar power; something is not functioning correctly. The cost of diesel fuel to run the generators is overwhelming their scant budget. Our technical lead works to help trouble shoot the issue. This is our stop for the next two nights. The property is beautiful, the people are kind, and our dinner of goat stew is delicious. As the sun sets, we prepare our supplies and our hearts for our mission in the morning. We are all ready to sleep; it has been a long day.  

The children in Percin

     Our driver arrives in the morning with a 12 passenger van to take us to Percin, a village about 35 miles from Port au Prince, where we will spend the day. Sounds of singing voices greet me as I walk up the dirt alley lined with tightly spaced buildings. Small, stick built homes with rusty, tin roofs and concrete porches fill my view while goats graze nearby. People stare at us as we walk past them; we were foreigners in their neighborhood. "Bonjour", I say, in greeting. I recognize the tune of a hymn, but the words are in French. As I enter the property where we will be installing a solar array, I peak into a dimly sun lit room where children of all ages sit together on benches. A teacher smiles at me as she continues to direct the concert. Beautiful faces gaze in my direction and instantly I am in love. I stand to listen for a while longer, worshiping God for his faithfulness. These students are here on a Saturday to watch the transformation that light will bring to their classroom. They are able to attend school because contributions to World Hope International help sponsor the cost of teacher salaries, uniforms, books, and tuition. I look behind me; men and women begin arriving from the neighborhood to help in any way they can. 
     Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. On average, a family earns $360 per year, significantly less if they live in a rural area. The absence of reliable power makes life difficult at best. Families struggle to meet their basic needs for water, housing, and food. Many times parents must choose which of their children will be able to attend school. 
   

     I slowly pull away from the children because it is time to get to work. Our technical lead, Clay Luna, is surveying the property to determine where the pole will be placed. This 20-foot pole will hold the solar array that will supply the school and the church with reliable light and power. A 4-foot deep hole must be dug for the pole; men grab a pick axe and a metal dinner plate and begin digging through the rocky soil in the courtyard. A woman from the neighborhood uses a stick broom to sweep the dirt clean of any debris. Our technically novice team receives direction for how and where to install the electrical boxes. A homemade ladder, wooden table, and the classroom benches provide a way to reach the corrugated tin roof. Four team members grab the tools we brought with us and begin stringing Romex throughout the 6 classrooms. Three team members begin to work on assembling the solar array. Some of our supplies have not arrived yet, so we use what we have and do what we can. We must finish before dark; traveling on the unlit city roads becomes even more dangerous after dark and we have an hour drive to get back to where we will sleep tonight.
     Sweat drips off us as we begin in the classroom furthest from the power source. This 10 foot by 12 foot room has one green chalkboard and 4 benches. The gravel floor will be covered with concrete as soon as the funds are available. I can't help but think of all the resources available to students in the States. The rest of our supplies arrive by 3 pm, but time is slipping away. We continue mounting boxes; wiring them together in series, getting closer and closer to the inverter power box. 
     The children will leave soon, but before they go home we share the message of the good news of Jesus. Like the light that comes from the sun and turns into power at the solar unit, Jesus brings his light and power to us. Face painting brings delight to children and team alike. Huge smiles break out on children's faces as they catch a glimpse of the designs we have painted on their beautiful faces. 

Cheers from everyone as the pole is placed

    As dusk approaches, people from the neighborhood gather to help lift the pole and solar array and lower it into the perfectly dug hole. This is the moment we have all been waiting for. Our translator relays all the information giving clear instructions. Everyone knows what to do. The pole is lifted, but the angle isn't right. We lower the pole and try again. This time the pole gets stuck on the dirt wall of the hole. Someone begins to stomp on the pole. Slowly, carefully, the solar array rises. This project is a community project; cheers ring out among all of us. We move the pole to the center of the hole. The solar array is turned to face the south and the pole is leveled. One by one, buckets of handmade concrete are poured until the hole is filled. Darkness has descended. We turn on our headlamps to finish wiring the module to the inverter and batteries. But, the lights in the school do not come on. It is too late to trouble shoot and fix the issue. Our hearts are sad. We will have to return later in the week because tomorrow we must travel to another town for another installation. It breaks my heart, but we will return to these children. Totally spent from the emotions of the day, I rest for the travel tomorrow.
     

Our walk to church

Our team attends church in the morning. Together, we walk about a mile, dodging the mud and water-filled pot holes in the dirt road. Goats and cattle are tied to posts to graze on the grass growing alongside the road. We walk up the church steps as music fills the air. An usher guides us to our pew. We try to sing the words on the screen written in French and in Creole. The words sound foreign, but the melody is familiar. Worship brings me peace. 
     It is about a 2 hour car ride to get over the mountain to the town of Jacmel, our stop for the night. I grab my Dramamine; I've heard the switchbacks are intense and I hope to prevent car sickness. We leave Griesser and begin to climb higher and higher along the edge of the mountain. Tap Taps, public transportation trucks with a metal cage on the back, are packed with people and belongings. Huge cargo trucks are piled high with bags of bananas, netting, chairs, and other belongings as people hold onto their items that they will try to sell at the market. The road clings to the mountain offering glimpses of the blue ocean far below. A cow is tied along the road to graze. Dogs roam free trying to scavenge enough to eat. Here and there, tiny villages are scattered throughout the mountain. Children pump water at the community well to fill their yellow jug and carry it home. The beauty of the land is a stark contrast to the poverty of the people. 

The view is amazing

We stop at the Hands and Feet Project to check on their solar array and take an impromptu tour of the orphanage. The beautiful view of the tropical mountains, the meticulously groomed gardens, and the lovely homes provide a respite for the 100 children that live here. The goal of this organization is to provide a family style home, and if possible reunite children with their existing family. Due to violence and AIDS, there are over 430,000 orphans in Haiti; often extreme poverty makes it impossible for children to live with their parent or extended family. Arriving in Jacmel at dusk, we stay in a beautiful hotel overlooking the ocean. Palm trees and pink flowering trees refresh me almost as much as the delicious chicken dinner and time together debriefing with the team. 

The market

Traveling through the river

     Our second installation is in Terre Rouge, a remote hilltop village another hour drive further up the mountain. More Dramamine for me. Today, the team travels in 3 vehicles. We soon learn why the 4-wheel drive vehicles are necessary. As we make our way through town we turn onto a narrow, dirt road. We wind our way through a large, open air market. People try to sell mangos, plantains, bananas, and other items displayed under a small wooden structure. Suddenly, our driver shifts into 4 wheel drive. I see the river ahead and realize we are going to drive through it. "It is not too high now," Thony, our driver says. My eyes are wide open taking it all in. The women washing clothes in the stream. Men washing their motorcycle taxis. Two men shoveling gravel from the river filling the bed of the dump truck. The burros loaded with supplies for sale being led towards the market. And, I am in the middle of the river!

Traveling up the mountain

    "The road is much better than it was 2 months ago", Thony remarks, as we drive around pot holes large enough to swallow a small car. A construction crew is paving the road using small bags of concrete and a concrete mixer. The wooden forms are placed on the road in 5 foot sections which are then filled by hand with concrete. This road, filled with switchbacks, is 30 kilometers long. Empty concrete bags litter the side of the road. The road narrows and I suck in my breath as we hug the side of the mountain. Thankfully, we do not meet any other vehicles on this road. It is so narrow the women pull their burros off to the side of the road to allow us to pass. Near the top of the mountain the sign for the school appears and we turn onto a one lane dirt path lined with small trees. 
     The school is beautiful. There are two concrete buildings forming an L with a green courtyard clearing. The roof is covered with corrugated tin; the floors are concrete. Openings for windows have been formed in the concrete providing air flow and a bit of light. The buildings have been wired with the hope that power would be available at some time. The power from the sun will bring more than just light for these classrooms. This community will be able to see in the darkness, have classes, and a place to gather in the evenings. Education will bring a better future for the children in this village of Terre Rouge.
     Corn is growing in the small open area. A momma goat and her two kids romp playfully behind the school. Children gather; a few women look on. "Bonjour" and a smile communicate my sincere desire for hope and a better future for them. 

Hanging on to string the wiring

     Our goal is to provide lighting in each of the rooms, outside lights, and a light in the latrine. Men begin digging in the rock for the 4-foot deep hole to support the solar array and the pole. We know what to do; part of the team begins building the solar array, some string Romex and add electrical boxes, and the technical leads mount the inverter and prepare the battery pack. We invite the community to help. We adapt to the supplies available, encourage each other throughout the day, learn things about ourselves, and grow in our understanding of the culture and the difficulties the people of Haiti face daily. We play with the children using the face paint, puzzles, and games we brought with us. One small boy proudly shows us how he rolls a bicycle tire with a stick. I learn a few games and play with a group of middle school girls. Younger children arrive and we invite them to join us. We laugh and play a version of London Bridge in Creole. 
     We are ready to set the pole in the ground. The men from the community join us to lift the pole. I hold the cable which will attach to the inverter. Everyone is in place; the pole goes in the ground and the solar array is turned to the south before the hole is filled with concrete. We cheer with relief. This is the most dangerous part of the job. It is time to turn on the light. Again cheers ring out. We have light. 
     The light, the good news of Jesus, and the power of the Spirit is shared in a way that is easy to understand as we all gather around the pole and solar array. After we pray together it is time to get off the mountain. We do not want to try to drive down the mountain in the dark. After a bit of a delay to change a flat tire, we head back down the mountain, through the river, arriving in Jacmel as darkness descends on the city. Refreshed after a quick swim in the pool, we celebrate with stories and pictures of the day as we debrief during dinner. 
     The sun shines brightly as we head back over the mountain. I am so excited to head back to our first school in Percin to problem solve and provide light to those children. The 100 students are busy studying as we arrive. We assess the issues, get to work and quickly realize it is an easy fix. Shouts ring out, as one by one, we turn the lights on in each classroom. Originally we had thought we could just connect the church wiring to the reliable source of solar power, but their wiring was not compatible with our system.

The church now has reliable power

In Haiti, the demand for power is greater than their ability to produce electricity. Power is rationed and unpredictable. We chose to rewire the church so they could have reliable, sustainable power when they wanted it. It took a bit longer, but we left knowing this church and school had light and hope for a better future. It is almost dark and we have another hour drive or more to get to our hotel. Thony, our driver, is concerned about the traffic and the part of town we have to drive through. The drive is quite an adventure! The unlit streets, congested traffic, crowds of people, an foreseen road closure, and an abrupt detour make me thankful for experienced drivers. We even see 25 head of cattle walk across the street through the middle of town! 
     It is dark when we get to Bel Fle, our stop for the last two nights. Matthew 25 Ministries built this hotel as a respite for missionaries serving in Haiti. It is difficult to continue to serve without a safe place to eat and rest. Matthew 25 Ministries, a Cincinnati based organization, provides humanitarian aid and disaster relief to the poor all over the world and cares for the teams that provide for those in need. Once again, we enter a locked compound, passing the armed guard on our way in. The sight of palm trees, a pool, lights, and air conditioning intensifies my awareness of the immense need of the people we met today. We drop off our bags, clean up a bit, and gather for a family dinner. This team has shared so much in just a few days; our strengths, our weaknesses, our faith, and our emotions bind us together in unique and beautiful ways.
   

Praying over the land and a future for Haiti

 SonLight Power designs and builds solar energy solutions for schools, medical clinics, orphanages, churches, and water-pumping stations in remote areas to bring them reliable, sustainable electricity. We were able to visit a few of these partners. First, we headed to Lighthouse, a small orphanage that began after the 2010 earthquake. Currently, water from the well is only available a few hours a day when the power is turned on in the neighborhood. We stop to evaluate the possibility of installing a few solar panels so they can have access to water all the time. We meet Momma Odette, the house mother, who is in charge of the 9 teenagers in this house. She gives the absolute best hugs! It is time to head to the newly purchased property of Back 2 Back Ministries where the first phase of building has begun. We have the honor of praying for two of the men who are overseeing the project. Across the road is a town called Canaan that was constructed by survivors of the horrific 2010 earthquake. The resilience of the people is evident as over 200,000 people now live on this hillside. 

     

What a powerful hug! 

Jesus in Haiti Ministries operates a church and a school that serves over 350 children from Pre-K to High School. They were experiencing a problem with their water pumping system and we stopped to see if we could help. The children were on a short break and came running towards us. They were asking if we were their sponsors. I wrap my arms around a sweet young girl, give piggy back rides to a few children, and hug as many as I can. They hurried back to class and we got back to work. The water pump was receiving power, but was not functioning. We will take the pump back to the U.S. to be repaired and return it soon. 
     We head to Extollo International, a technical school that teaches practical skills in concrete, electrical, plumbing, and welding enabling Haitians to find jobs, care for their families, and rebuild their country. We learn about their mission and their plans to expand. We watch students being taught by previous students and see the excitement and hope this program brings. 

Extollo students hard at work

     The trip is so much more than installing solar power. Love for the people of Haiti, love for the people on the team, and a passion for helping those who are under resourced grows within me. I desire to bring hope, encouragement, and freedom to those who are in desperate need.