Are we still linked here?

Hey Everybody! I thought the family blog was a good idea, but I'd forgotten we even had it! Do you think it might still be useful?

HAITI February 5-12, 2013 pictures at
http://haitimission2013.shutterfly.com/
Andrea's Tanzania blog:   if you haven't been getting updates from Andrea's blog, please let her know and she will add you to the e-mail list... a.m.ahrendsen@gmail.com

My First Time in Haiti, 3 years after the 7point Earthquake of 2010, we get into the airport at 5 pm and it is getting dark by the time we are at Matthew 25 Guest house, which is only 1.5 miles from the airport. Port au Prince is a huge city (2.5-3 million in the metropolitan area) and very busy. People, people everywhere. It must be that afternoon schools have just let the kids out, because I see lots of uniforms. Lots of sidewalk vendors. Motorcycles and jeeps piled with people move along slowly. Our vehicle, piled high with luggage and people, moves at a walking pace. I can tell, because I have spotted 2 women walking along with big baskets on their heads, and we are almost playing leap frog with them. After leaving at 2 a.m., and sitting on planes until 5 p.m., I am so restless to get out and walk with them, but they won't understand me and I'll get lost. So I play it safe. There are some smooth roads, but the side roads are rutted, rocky and bumpy. Yes, much worse than the high school parking lot at it's worst. I would need off road experience to drive in Haiti. I see where people have set up housing in make shift dwellings(corrugated iron mixed with tarp or tent or whatever they can find- got a pic. Of a railroad car home), all along the road and it looks like it goes back from the road quite a ways. (I had seen places like this in Sao Paolo, Brasil, and Manila and Legazpi, Philippines) Mom would call them squatters homes.  No ownership or rental of land, just set up where there is space.  Matthew 25 guest house was wonderful to meet us at the airport with transportation and give us wonderful beds, food, water and fellowship.   We met a group from Dyersville with several teens who would head back to the US the next day.  They knew Mike Whitters.   Their mission had been at a school to the East, close to the Dominican Republic.   There is a creole prayer written on the wall, here, and Haitian proverbs written on the table, and beautiful art work all around.  Rony shared with us a saying he likes: "Koze mande chez":  conversation begs a chair.

Our interpreters were all lively and fun to get to know. What a job they had, for a week, away from their families and homes and whatever other jobs they have, and interpreting during church and clinics and during meetings and as we traveled.

Rony had been with the group last year. He's 26, showed us pictures of his young nephew-He says he likes to sing gospel and he has a good voice. I got him to sing the Haitian national anthem for me on the long ride to Anse Rouge. Since we noticed goats along the road, I sang him “Bill Grogan's goat”. He does a great Michael Jackson dance imitation. I asked him where he was during the earthquake.  He said he was in church, and it was not damaged.  His family was safe and OK, but it was very sad to see all the damage and the others whose lives were lost.   Many University students were taking a test at that time and they were killed when the building they were in collapsed.

Vladimyr was born in Haiti, but was in New York since he was 10, is now back in Haiti helping the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Organization. www.fcahaiti.org He has a wife and child, and 10 year old step son that he has just transferred to a Christian school.

Olrich – has been to Bible College for 2 years in Singapore. He had been working for “a foreigner” who wanted to cut his pay in half when he came back. He lives in PAP near the sea, he walked with his young daughter there lately. He was driving in a car with his brother during the earth quake.  There were 6 of his siblings, and all were out of the house except his sister who was a nurse.   Their house collapsed on her, but the iron door was wedged.  For a half an hour she cried for help.  When she realized none was coming she squirmed her way and pushed towards the door.  After that experience she went to live in Florida.  It changed her personality.   She sometimes gets debris coming out of her skin. Olrich said that after the earthquake he was in shock for  6 months.

Father Laneau Nicholais, having only been in this parish for 3 months, was very gracious and has good faithful leadership at daily 6 a.m. Worship. There is beautiful harmonious music made by both children and adults as they sing hymns and liturgy. I only wish I could understand the words. We did get so we knew when they were saying “The Lord's Prayer” and prayed with them in our own language. Women of the church are greeted us and were appreciative of our presence. Sunday service the children sang and there were drums and a saxophone accompanying them. The Our Lady of Assumption Church is beautiful – built with rock and Mortar - triangle shaped with ano/domini symbols.

The Lord's Prayer in Aysyen Creole:

Papa nou ki nan syèl la,

Nou mande pou yo toujou respekte non ou.

Vin tabli gouvènman ou,

pou yo fè volonte ou sou latè, tankou yo fè l nan syèl la.

Manje nou bezwen an, ban nou l jòdi a.

Padonnen tou sa nou fè ki mal,

menm jan nou padonnen moun ki fè nou mal.

Pa kite nou nan pozisyon pou n tonbe nan tantasyon,

men, delivre nou anba Satan.

[Paske, se pou ou tout otorite, tout pouvwa ak tout lwanj, depi tout tan ak pou tout tan.]

Amèn

The first day, at Terra Negra, I had finished taking blood pressures and I saw many children standing around and I wanted to relate to them some way. I knew we had some paper and crayons, so I got the construction paper, and gave each child one, and each one a crayon. They didn't do anything with it. I had them all write their names on one piece of paper. After that, I started folding. I made a hat. Ahh, they said, chapeau! And then I turned it into a boat. Finally, with another paper, I made an airplane. I tried to get them to fold their papers as I showed them. They didn't seem to be able to, so I made 6 airplanes. Then I got Rony and had him line them all up and throw the planes to see who could throw the farthest. 2 kids did the best and so they both threw again and the older girl won:)

One boy (Pierre Ephesien) did draw some pictures, but no one else would. He was the girl who won's competitor. I hardly had time to gather my things, but Jon and I did take a few pictures of the sea and the huge tall orange flowers growing out of aloevera plants before jumping on the loaded trucks to go back to Anse Rouge. I'm sorry I didn't get a picture as we drove away of many of the kids standing and watching us leave with airplanes in their hands. I did feel a bit like a renegade. What will she teach them next? To make spit wads? And isn't that a waste of precious paper?

This trip was very well organized. There was a solution to any concern that came up... do you think there might be bed bugs? We have a spray and powder you can put on and around your bed. Are you worried about food contamination? Have this clorox wipe to be sure the icewater is not getting into your system, and don't eat any fresh, unpeeled veggies or fruits. A wash basin with soap before we ate, and lots of sterile soap and wipes. Hungry? There are snacks of all kinds.

Our group was very easy going and tolerant. This was important because we had to sit very close together as we travelled. And at night, our sleeping quarters were partitioned off, but the walls didn't go to the ceiling, so we could hear snores, coughs and sneezes. The running water – 2 stalls with flushing toilets and 2 shower stalls were slightly separate from our sleeping quarters but were not far … across the porch.  The church is within a compound with a cement block fence all around it so I felt very secure.  in the compound is the church with dining hall at the back and a living space with toilet (Monica and Katy and Mickey stayed there), a storage building(the pastor lives upstairs)  a cooking place (has a store room, too)  and our sleeping place and bath area.   one side of the compound fence is shared by the school and you walk into their cafeteria when you go through the door there.

It was fun to have Tess Nagel, the youngest of our group, along. She kept us aware of the bugs and spiders and crabs and pushed us to ask for the dogs to be allowed to roam free.   It really was more peaceful when they were out of their kennel.  

Katie (Cooper) Legvold was supposed to meet us in Dallas, but her flight out of Wichita was cancelled because the flight crew had too many hours.   So she had to fly in the evening and stay overnight in the airport at Miami and catch the plane to Port-au-Prince the next morning.   Too bad we had to make an extra trip to the airport, but it wasn't too much out of our way to pick her up and then head out of town.      Katy Miller liked getting to know her.   She is an occupational therapist now and her husband is a lawyer.  She said he works in employment law.

Katy and her Mom (Mickey Cooper the Eagle Grove pharmacist) and Monica Staudt - a nurse and farmer - wife and mother, who works volunteering for hospice and the Catholic Church (she's the organizer of this whole thing) stayed in a separate sleeping place.   As did Jerry Temeyer (Catholic Deacon and retired)and Victor (a radiologist from Ohio)- they stayed in a room that is in the building where the priest has his apartment.

Monica Siemens and Tim Nagel and Perry - electrician, EMT, Brown's Landscaper from Belmond and Joan - Catholic from Jesup/Waterloo area. and JON.  complete the group.   Joan has short gray hair like me.  she goes on Ragbrai. A week  after this trip, she was going with her family to an Alabama beach condo.   in the summer they are going to tour Alaska.   she is very fit.  and lively and nice and fun. (she was my roommate)

Before we went to Tierra Negra, we toured the school connected to Our Lady of Assumption in Anse Rouge.   2-3 year olds - 6th grade.   uniforms.   seem to be nice teachers.  about 20 in a class...223 total students this year.   some years 3-400.  cement block building, desks, blackboards, notebooks and pens.   they each sang a song for us  translator told us 4th grade sang " Lord God of hosts, with your strength, give us energy and knowledge."  and we showed them where Iowa was on a quilt Monica Staudt had brought.   The Catholic Churches of Wright County have paid $$ to build the school and pay the teachers salaries, and feed the kids once a day.  They have sent treadle sewing machines, hoping to get women started on a trade.

Just be fore we left on Monday, Feb. 11, we took an exam table to the hospital that was just being rebuilt from a fire when they were there last year.  we met a young man (Dr. Jean Kenold Joseph) who was from Gonaives (population 300,000) and had trained in the Dominican Republic to be a generalist.  he was going to be there for just a year.   they had paper signs for "family planning"  "maternity"  .   This doctor and Katy talked because he felt more comfy with Spanish.

The food was OK, more spicy.  at first I was ok with it, but it didn't vary.   They put it in everything, it seemed.    rice and beans were usually available.  Broth soup was usually served. It had some veggies and ham like meat in it. it was nice to have fish, and lobster, and chicken.   I didn't like the goat that was a delicacy for them and supposed to be special.   Plantain soup for supper once – Monica described it as tasting like toasted marshmallows. Melon smoothie one day, Papaya smoothie another day.

While still in Clarion, before we left, I was talking to Evelyn Fibiker about her talent of crocheting doll clothes.  I asked if I could take one to Haiti with me, along with her picture.   She liked that idea, so we got 2 nicely dressed dolls and a picture and took them along.   I guess it was a hot item, because one doll disappeared, but I did get a picture of the leader of women workers as I gave her the other doll.  She seemed to appreciate the thought and the picture of Evelyn who made it.

1st day tues- flying to Haiti - Des Moines, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Miami, Port-au-Prince-Matthew 25 house:)
2nd day wed - riding in van and truck to Anse Rouge via Saint Marc and Gonaives
3rd day Thurs. - we got to sleep in!  what a kind Coordinator we have. 8 am breakfast, school next door in am, then to Tierra Negra (Katy rode in back of truck with some of the helpers) in pm.  4pm church service and 5pm Adoration service with supper following.
4th day fri- 5 am bell, 6 am church, 7 am brkfst...we went to Plaine de l'Arbre (I joined Katy in the back of the truck this time - it was a smooth ride partly along the beach and short - with Claudique, Mathique and Wilmique making sure we didn't fall out) where there is another church sponsoring our clinic. In the afternoon we mainly did Anse Rouge school kids - worming and  seeing if they had any health issues their parents wanted to talk about.   we went ahead and had the drs. see some parents while they were there.  Afterwards, about half of us walked thru town to the beach with a couple interpreters.  After supper we talked with Father Nicolai, asking how it was going for him, and what his needs were.  at the end of it, we sang "Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow".  Father seemed pleased and said the tune was familiar to him from a gathering he had gone to. 

5th day - sat. 5 am bell, 6 am church, 7 am brkfst....  the plan was to only do a clinic for the adults.   then we went on a bumpy ride to a beach.  (Jon's turn in the back of truck) lots of trash in a line  where the water left it, but otherwise, beautifully clean clear water... (no dead fish) coral  sections to swim around, sandy bottom where the coral wasn't.  lots of opportunity for shell collecting.. not picked over.   found a sea urchin, and hermit crabs.   (I started to feel not too hungry.)

6th day-sunday, 6 am church, 8 am brkfst. - (me personally, no appetite at all and diarhea all day.   just drank water and the sugary colored water they call juice.)   Big church day.  Kids sang in church.   Jerry Temeyer preached and he had a couple of us read scripture in english.    then, they went to Terra Negra where there were to be 8 baptisms.   (I didn't go because I felt tired and loose stools).   Jon and Katy and Perry climbed the hill behind our compound.  I think that was fun... you'll have to hear from him about that. Sun pm. Father said the people that work at the church (cooking, laundry, cleaning) wanted a clinic.   so we did a clinic for them, and some others.   some had been thru before...trying to get as much as they can.    Sun. eve we had a meeting with each other first about what worked and what didn't and how we thought it could improve.   After a while, Father joined us and shared his concerns.  I guess there are 5 schools connected with the 8 churches that he is responsible for., 36 teachers, concerns about teacher inservices, and training of parish workers.   then he shared that he didn't know how the clinics would be attended and suggested that he'd have cards ready next time.

We didn't think there would be "bars" open on Sun. nite, but we heard music, and went to see what a "bar" was like.   it was the beginning of karnival - before ash Wednesday. There were a couple guys dancing, a light on a porch and music blaring, and others standing around.   Perry got us all a beer.    there was another music place with more people further away, but we didn't go there.   There are 2 cross streets that are paved with cement in this town of 3,000.

7th day - Monday – we took the exam table to the hospital and then left to go to Port au Prince.
8th day - Tuesday - flew out at 7 am to ft. Lauderdale, then Chicago, then Des Moines.  Katy was sick all day on the plane.

Thanks for listening.  Jon can tell you about all the medical stuff he saw.   I feel like there should be a school "nurse" for better need assessment and follow up, and we would come to train the workers.  clinics for those who are further out might find more needy people.  they could have used another doctor or PA and another translator.   I feel funny about giving out blood pressure meds without follow up.  A "Parish nurse" could be very busy here.

the weather was gorgeous, the area is dusty and dry.  Just before Anse Rouge there are salt flats where the people work to evaporate the water and gather the salt that is left.  at the beach we went to there was cactus everywhere.   pictures are at http://haitimission2013.shutterfly.com/

some Haitian sayings:  Dan pouri ge fas sou bannann mi.
                                      Rotten teeth have power over ripe plantains
                                    No one is completely powerless.
Pale Franse pa di les pri
Speaking French doesn't mean intelligence
Good speech doesn't mean one is smart.

Bonjour - good day
mayci (Merci)- thank you
Pa de qua - your welcome
suple  - please (sivouple)

la per avu - peace be with you.

Prairie State Job

After a few months of searching I am happy to announce I found a position I like, which, fortunately, likes me too. I interviewed last week with Prairie State Legal Services for a Staff Attorney position in Peoria Illinois. Yesterday I got a call from Prairie State offering me the job, which I accepted. Happy Valentines day to me! The position focuses on family law but I may handle other cases within PSLS's universe as well.




I start tomorrow, Thursday Feb. 16th. I will let everyone know how it goes!

Love,
Miles

239 Ears

Well hello family.

We had a pretty eventful day not too long ago, so I thought I would share it via photos and a little explanation.

On the second of August Mom decided that it would be pretty nice to have some sweet corn for eating right now and in the future. So, she and I headed out at 3pm to a friends farm to get the corn. We decided that we would pick 12 bags worth of corn, one for each month of the year. We had no idea how much corn that actually was. What started out as an enjoyable afternoon turned into a corn freezing marathon. And when I say it was a marathon it means that it was exhausting and lasted forever. One which was so exhausting Dad simply lay down on the living room floor at the end and took a nap. It was a lot of work, but we were finally done at 10:30 pm.

So, does anyone want any frozen corn?