Marianne Boehme
Haiti Outreach Ministry
Update-November & December 2021
Food Distribution Report November 5&6. 2021
God continues to make a way for Cabrini to serve the families in the southern city of Jacmel, Haiti. On November 5 & 6th, our leadership team delivered food to our 37 families. The moms were so happy to see Carmelo and Eral on one moto-bike and Emmanuel and Gephte on another moto-bike loaded with food. Because of the safety issues, we decide it would be better if four men went together as there is safety in numbers. They delivered rice, beans, spaghetti, sardines, seasoning and a precious one-gallon of cooking oil.
Gephte said to Carmelo when he saw the food stacked at the Center, “How did you get all of this food to the Community Center with the gangs controlling the road that the trucks use to go up and down the mountain into Jacmel? You are really lucky!” Carmelo replied, “Luck has nothing to do with it. Cabrini‘s ministries are blessed because they bless others.” A WISE FAITH-FILLED LEADER FOR SURE!
Carmelo also shared in his report, comments from many of the mothers. They said, “The food always comes when we have nothing to eat.” One of our young mothers with three children started to cry when she saw the leaders coming to her house. She had been waiting for her neighbor to finish feeding her family in hopes they would give her food for her three children. Sometimes it is only a cup of rice but that means they will have something in their stomachs so they can sleep that night without pain.
Many of our parishioners who have traveled to Haiti over these past 30 years have seen this reality for themselves. Thank you for the funds collected these past months. We were able to do this food distribution for $3000.00. We are only able to provide this every 2 or 3 months because we need to maintain the other ministries and continue projects to complete the Cabrini Community Center. So, please remember the crying mother waiting in hope for her neighbor to share what little food her neighbor has left. It is also difficult when the schools are closed for safety concerns, as most schools feed the children at least one meal a day.
CONSTRUCTION HAS BEEN ON HOLD FOR THE LAST TWO MONTHS
Due to an acute security crisis, we are presently waiting for a break in the violence to get a construction crew up the mountain and down the mountain to Jacmel. The leadership team along with RCI construction has developed a list of objectives that we hope to complete in the next 6 months of December through May. Completing roof repairs, painting the steel security grids and the inside steel beams. This is part of building maintenance to protect the rust from forming. We will develop an architectural plan for the deck, gazebo and the two chambered, concrete septic tank. Estimated costs for railings on the deck and front porch to match the railing on Trinity school. There will be a Pergola over the 10-foot deck for shade. Once these projects are completed, we will begin work inside of the building, dividing the rooms. The electrical meter will be purchased and installed. We will also plan for solar panels to be mounted on the backside of the roof of the Community Center.
Please pray for God’s intervention in forming a government that would allow us to move forward. Prayer moves God. Please pray the Haiti Prayer published on the web site. God does answer prayers and we know He is with this ministry. The population of Jacmel continues with their lives the best they can in spite of the lack of gasoline, food and water. The absence of these basic human needs is because the lack of government infrastructure. All persons that are part of Haiti Outreach Ministry in Haiti are managing their personal situations. Cabrini will be informed daily to make sure of that.
WATER PROJECT CONTINUES TO SERVE OUR FAMILIES WELL
The water systems are checked every 4 months and were last done in September, 2021. They will be checked in February, 2022. If the mothers’ system has problems, she gets in touch with Gephte and he goes to the house and checks it out. He replaces parts and makes sure the systems have been cleaned.
SINGING MOMS OF JACMEL
This ministry been delayed this fall. We are in the process of reorganizing this ministry to be more effective.
ADULT EDUCATION
Ministry Leader, MacKendy continues to do a wonderful job with the mothers that have not had a chance for elementary education.
BIBLE STUDY CLASSES
We began classes the week of Oct 5, 2021. Session 1 will continue weekly, with two weeks off at Christmas until the end of January. 2022. We started reading the book of Romans this session. Some of the moms have been ill in one group but they are slowly returning. The leaders do a written report each week for Haiti Outreach and they always include prayers for Cabrini’s people.
THE HAITI OUTREACH MINISTRY
We are very grateful for another successful Mission Appeal. We continue to serve each other even in the hardest of places. We continue to build networks in West Bend and Jacmel as well. If you missed the Mission appeal on Sunday, September 19, 2021, you can hear Fr. Nathan’s message on Haiti through the Haiti Outreach website at: www.haitianmission.com Scroll down on the Home Page to: Homily-Sept. 19, 2021 – Fr. Nathan Reesman (Cabrini Appeal). Fr. Nathan preached a very powerful teaching about our hearts being in order. I have always said, “Our God is a God of order. “ We thank Fr. Nathan for such a spiritual, insightful teaching!
PLEASE REMEMBER HAITI OUTREACH IN YOUR YEAR END GIVING. CHECKS SHOULD BE MADE OUT TO: SFC HAITI OUTREACH. BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL. WORKING TOGETHER WE CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS US!
The first three days “we”, (Bill, Carmelo, Eral and myself) updated the family records of our 30 ladies in our two Bible Study Groups. These two bible groups are the foundation that all of our ministries have sprouted from these past 7 years. As we all know, it takes time to grow any garden that will
sustain and become an inspiration to the gardener and all who visit the garden. Our Mothers shared the changes that have taken place in their families since the 2018 update family record session. Children have grown up and moved to middle school and high school. Some of the mothers have become grandparents, some have buried family members, just like many of us in the United States. The poor also share the cycle of life with us.
When we asked the question “How has the bible study changed your life?” They all smiled and shared with us. One mom told us that she learned how to look up scriptures by chapter and verse. Learning the stories has empowered her with knowledge and given her confidence to ask questions in a group setting. Two ladies were encouraged to go back to school for reading so they can now read out loud when called on by the Bible study teachers. Another mother who can’t read told us her 14 year old son helps her by reading it to her so she can prepare for the meeting. This is all GRACE. We are building more than a building. The building is what brings everyone together and provides a visible sign in the community.