Earlier this week, we welcomed our friends from the Les Petits Chanteurs – Holy Trinity Cathedral School Boy’s Choir as they arrived to Atlanta from Port-au-Prince. Tuesday morning, the choir performed during Middle School chapel, and then performed for the students of the Lower School. Wednesday night, the thirty member choir and five members of the Haiti Philharmonic Orchestra performed for us here in the nave … what a wonderful night it was … and “thank you” to all of you who came.
Early Thursday morning, the group left Atlanta for Chattanooga which is the second leg of their month long East Coast tour which will eventually take them to Washington D.C.
The group is led by the Rev. David Cesar, director of Holy Trinity School.
At dinner with two members of the group on Monday night, we had conversation about the challenges which the Haitian people have had to endure this early in the Hurricane Season. “Very very difficult.” “Life is so difficult in Haiti now” … as if it wasn’t already to extremes. The choir’s plan for this year’s tour has been a long time in the making. However, as recent storms have devastated Haiti, Fr. Cesar began to question if the tour could take place. “We all need to help each other right now. I was concerned for us to leave when our people need us so much.” Two days before the group was to leave Port-au-Prince, Fr. Cesar wrote an e-mail to Bishop Duracin and Haiti’s President, Mr. Rene Preval. Both told him that the group had to go to the U.S. … the best thing the boy’s choir could do for their people would be to sing for friends of Haiti in the U.S. … and did they ever sing.
On Wednesday night, I noted that we were not gathered for the concert to talk about the poverty and the horrific misery which plagues the Haitian people, but to see her beautiful people who were there to share with us their rich hearts and souls, and their angelic voices.
Yesterday, John Porter wrote a letter to our parish making note of the devastating situation in Haiti and appealing for financial support for our sisters and brothers in Haiti. God knows, they are in need.
We continue to be in contact with our friend, Priest Jean Berthol Phanord, when telecommunications allow. As of yet and thanks be to God, of his pastorate, we know of no deaths among his 2500+ congregants. Regarding structures, we already know of 13 families who completely lost their “houses.” However, this only applies to the parishioners of St. Matthieu. The church of St. Jacques is destroyed, and the churches of St. Marguerite and St. Bartolome are damaged. Jean Berthol has not been able visit with his mission churches and priest stations. In short and due to floods and mudslides, apart from knowing the destruction and damages of the mission churches themselves, the only area we know for sure regarding families and homes is around St. Matthieu and St. Jean Baptiste. Families without homes in Mathieu are staying in the classrooms of St. Matthieu school. Since the church building at St. Matthieu is under construction, there is little shelter there at the moment. Both the church building as well as the school building at St. Jean Baptiste are housing families.
For your prayers, concerns and questions regarding Haiti, Jean Berthol has asked me to extend deep gratitude from himself and the people of Haiti.
So far, we know that the most significant damage caused by recent storms was north-west of Port-au-Prince, in particular, the port city of Gonaives, (population 300,000+), where a large section was flooded, slammed by walls of water as high as 6’5. The interstate – Nationale 1 – leads due north from Port-au-Prince to Gonaives; the interstate – Nationale 2 – leads due west/south from Port-au-Prince. During our pilgrimages in Haiti, we take Nationale 2 which takes us directly west to Leogane and St. Matthieu. Nationale 1 towards Gonaives was seriously damaged during recent storms. From the beginning of rescue work, aid, and need, road structural damages have brought about major difficulty. Nationale 2 west/south was damaged on the south part of the peninsula blocking transit routs to Les Cayes and Jacmel. The roadway from Port-au-Prince to Leogane / St. Matthieu is undamaged.
It is intentional that I only call Jean Berthol once a week; we agree on dates when it is best for him that I call. He knows that we are praying for him and desiring to help, but for him, there is work to do. There are two primary needs which he must attend to right now: provide rice for the people and provide shelter for those in need. Thankfully, there is a well on St. Matthieu’s property so water is available. Thus far, Jean Berthol has been able to buy rice, but his funds are running out fast.
Thus far, we are still scheduled and plan to go on our Haiti Pilgrimage September 20 and celebrate with our Haitian sisters and brothers the Fest Day of St. Matthew. The Residencie Filariose, where we always stay, is open and operating. There is food and there is water. This is going to be an important journey if for nothing other than experiencing, first-hand, how our Haitian sisters and brothers are doing.
As always, peace to you,
Tryggvi+
