What is poverty? How can community over come it?

Natalie Finstad, former Episcopal missionary in Africa, started the organization Tatua Kenya after her experience working in Kenya. Check out her terrific TED Talk, posted this past January, on her decision to take action, how she thinks we should define poverty, and what community can do to better our world.

Some of you may have seen me share this video before. Watch it again. It's good.

Some Blog Updates

Since I've now successfully arranged internet in my apartment, I've made some updates on my blog. Learning to be domestic on my own in Haiti is a challenging experience, but I'm having great interactions along the way.

Updates I'd like to call your attention to include:

1) New blog sites! On the right column, you will see the blog addresses for Episcopal Missionaries in Service (I'm still tracking down some of the other adult missionaries' blogs). Check them out to see what all they're up to. Many of the new YASCers are in the midst of their fundraising and preparations for moving to a new country.

2) How to Help! I'm not required to raise funds for this next year. However, check out the "How to Help." tab to see how you can get more engaged. Two things in particular: first, if you are interested in any of the work I mention on my blog, send me a message to discuss it further. Second, I do appreciate "mix-tapes"--it means a lot to me to have playlists from friends and family (I usually listen to music when I'm cooking). If you want to send me one, let me know! pa.yarbs@gmail.com

3) Reading List! I've updated my reading list (see "Reading List." tab) with more of the books I've read on economic development, human rights, and Haitian history and culture. I highly recommend some of the books on there, so go check them out!

Bondye beni ou.

Good morning, Mr. Yarborough

I’m late in sharing this, but I got this strange, corny message a few weeks ago from the director of missions in the Episcopal Church:

“Your mission, should you choose to accept it, involves a new placement in the Episcopal Church as a volunteer in mission in Cape Haitian, Haiti. You will be working as a project manager for the stabilization and revitalization of the Centre d’Agriculture St. Barnabas in Terrier Rouge, Haiti, an agriculture center run by the Diocese of Haiti.

What does this mean for you?

U.S. Tour Part 2

For most of April, I was back in the U.S. visiting churches around the Dioceses of Upper South Carolina and in Western North Carolina. The visits are going very well once again, and I thoroughly enjoy representing this relationship of the Episcopal Church between the Carolinas and Cange.

For this post I want to share photographs from some of my visits this month (and last fall) of the ways these churches create displays in their worship spaces and fellowship halls that serve as constant reminders of the relationship. Pictures are from my visits to St. Timothy's Episcopal in Herndon, VA, St. Matthew's Episcopal in Spartanburg, SC, Grace Episcopal in Anderson, SC, and Christ Church Episcopal in Greenville, SC.

Sermon From Grace Episcopal Anderson, SC

As a part of my responsibilities while back in the U.S., I visit churches around the Diocese of Upper South Carolina (and sometimes other places) to discuss the relationship and ministry with Bon Sauveur in Cange.

I was asked to do the sermon at Grace Episcopal Church in Anderson, SC, for their Global Missions Sunday yesterday. It was a wonderful event, complete with a food festival with samples from 13 different countries (including Haiti!). My sermon is below.

International Women's Day

Today was Cange's first celebration of Jounen Mondyal Fanm, International Women's Day. Here are some pictures of the festivities.  

My First Rural Medical Clinic

Below is an examining room for a rural mobile medical clinic conducted near Cange. Normally this space is a classroom for a primary school, but for about 5 hours the space served as a site to examine patients for high blood pressure, diabetes, lesions, colds, and other ailments.

From January 31-February 7, a team of medical care providers from South Carolina visited Cange for a series of mobile clinics in 4 rural communities nearby. I served as one of the translators for the team, and it was my first experience with rural medical care in Haiti. It was truly transformative. For the bulk of this post, I want to simply share what I found so motivating about the clinics.

Buen Vivir--Striving for "Good Living"

Buen Vivir speaks to good living, common wealth, the pursuit of happiness perhaps. But who determines what is buen vivir, and how can we strive for buen vivir for all?

The U.S. Declaration of Independence suggests Creator-given rights, namely life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, are what constitute good living. The document continues by saying that good relationship between the government and the governed, prudence and not abuses, is the mechanism that can spread and maintain buen vivir.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus explains, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself'" (Matt. 22:37-40). Again, the focus is on good relationship, this time between people and between people and God. Through these commandments, restorative and loving relationships, we can achieve buen vivir.

The rights-based approach to community development is one method used to restore relationships and help us achieve buen vivir for all. Foundation Cristosal, a non-profit human rights and community development organization, works for the good living of all people in El Salvador using this approach.

I just spent a week with Foundation Cristosal's Global School in San Salvador, taking a course on the theologies of human rights and development, where I learned about the rights-based approach and the positive impact it can have.

Gift of Seedlings

Happy New Year and Happy Haitian Independence Day!

I have unexpectedly delayed my return to Haiti until the end of January, in part due to travel advisories for Port-au-Prince due to increased protests that are blocking travel around the capital. In short, protesters are unsettled by the current presidential administration's inability to hold elections--dating back to 2011. Protesters in part have called for the resignation of the now former prime minister. He did resign, and since his resignation, President Michel Martelly has nominated a replacement during his Christmas Day message.

If the government is not able to hold elections by January 12th, parliament will be disbanded. Please pray for Haiti during this tense political time, where many are worried about the country falling back into unproductive political turmoil--something that has contributed to the country's lack of development for centuries. This would be especially disheartening now, given the bright spots of development in Haiti in recent years. See this article from the New York Times, Scrooges of the World, Begone! (Thanks, Al Brady, for forwarding that article.)

For the rest of this post, I want to exhibit another reason for hope and a reason to expect progress in Haiti. I've talked about Agronomist Hermane before, but I want to feature a recent event he organized and held for the children of the primary school in Chapoteau.

U.S. Tour Part 1

I am already back in the U.S. for the first of three non-consecutive months that I will spend visiting churches and organizations here. The primary goals of this traveling in the States is to first build up more support and interest in the ministry in Cange and second to help facilitate more collaboration between existing and new partners. 

Photograph at Church of the Incarnation of the new church in Tierra Muscady

Photograph of the old church in Tierra Muscady

I'm really enjoying touring around North and South Carolina (then Virginia next week) speaking to Rotary clubs, churches, youth groups, and classrooms. It's already been a busy month so far, and I have many more visits to go before heading back home to Haiti on December 9th.  

Back to Cange

After about 6 weeks in the U.S., I'm back and safe in Cange, Haiti, once again. I had a wonderful time back in the U.S. visiting churches, universities and family and friends. I also had a wonderful time at the re-entry retreat for YASC that was held in New York City for a long weekend.

Seeing other fellow missionaries again was such a pleasure. A good number from my group were in attendance, sharing their stories and experiences from their missions around the world.

Now that I'm back in Cange, I'm putting more focus back on Sant Art, the marketplace and fish farming. I'm also continuing in my role to assist with communication between the U.S. Episcopal partners and the Episcopal parish here in Cange. I have a lot of tasks to accomplish, but most important and enjoyable to me is to be back in Haiti and speaking Creole once again.

I will check in again soon, as some important project developments are underway. In the mean time, read this little piece from the Episcopal News Service:

http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2014/10/07/yasc-missionaries-unpack-their-experiences-serving-abroad/

Market Place Kombit #2

The kombit is a Haitian tradition where communities will gather to work on an individual's farm for a day in exchange for a meal, drink and fellowship. In the future, those benefiting from a kombit are expected to participate in the next one hosted by another farmer.

The tradition applies to various communal efforts in Haitian society, like the one that happened in Cange yesterday to prepare land for a new market place. It was the second kombit of this effort so far, and it was much more successful than the first. More people, more accomplishment, and an excellent meal cooked by market committee members with food provided by other residents of Cange.

An awesome day of collaboration, culture, progress and friendship. I'm really proud of this community, and I think the best is yet to come.

Ayiti ap vanse.

Volunteer Opportunity!

I have been working with Ms. Jackie Williams, a North Carolinian and fellow Episcopalian who lives in Cange, on her Sant Art artisan center. We are looking to renew the organization through a more business minded structure and commission based payment system for the artisans. We hope that this will give the artisans more opportunity while preserving their fair wages.

However, we need to develop a stronger team in the U.S. to market and sell products made by the artisans in Cange. The products they make are primarily for foreign markets, including visitors to Cange and places in the U.S. We are focusing on crochet bracelets, gourd bowls, traditional Haitian metal art, hand-made rugs, greeting cards, and turned wood pieces. The Sant Art website is here: http://haitiartisans.org/

We are looking for new members of our selling team, especially in the Carolinas. This is a great opportunity to do hands-on volunteer work to support employment in Haiti while still at your home in the U.S.

The job description is as follows:

• Find stores that will continuously carry Sant Art products
• Find events that will host Sant Art
• House parties
• Churches
• Universities
• Bazaars
• Fairs/festivals
• Businesses
• Work with person in charge of distribution center to get products
• Keep an inventory of items to determine what designs and products are most popular with consumers and report these to coordinator.

We recognize that this is a volunteer position. With that being said, it is a position with a lot of responsibility. In this committee are a coordinator, responsible for keeping track of events and places products are being sold, and a distribution center director, responsible for make sure products reach the hands of our sellers in a timely manner. We will also have an individual responsible for online sales, though this position has not yet been filled.

If you are interested in participating, please let me know! My email is pa.yarbs@gmail.com

Country Come to Town

Once again, I find myself with a cake in my lap. This is the second time I've found myself in such a position on the ride back to Cange after a day trip to Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. This particular cake was going back to Cange for someone's birthday party. The first time, I was toting a much larger cake for a Christmas party in Cange that evening. That day we didn't start leaving Port-au-Prince until dusk, the car broke down after dark in one of the roughest parts of the city, and the entire trip back took four hours. Four hours with a cake in my lap, sitting in the middle of the back row of a crew cab pick up.

I felt a bit more optimistic about this second cake trip going better than the first, however, because we had just had a wonderful cheeseburger for lunch (I had been craving one for about a month), I was sitting in the front seat, we were leaving with daylight to spare, we were with my favorite chauffeur Johnny, and the cake was about half the size and weight.

It seems as if everything and everyone who travels in Haiti must pass through Port-au-Prince. The capital is the economic center of Haiti, which has one of the fastest growing economies in the Caribbean. And as gas is precious, any day trip down Mon Kabrit (Goat Mountain) from Cange always has multiple objectives. One never knows who will be riding down or picked up along the way, what tasks will need to be accomplished and for whom, or how much time will be spent on any given to-do list item. This is just how it is on a typically unpredictable trip to Port-au-Prince...
Yes, there are tent cities in Port-au-Prince. Yes, though it doesn't compare size wise, there is also a tent city in Greenville, SC. But to only look at the current estimated population of tent cities in the capital (140,000) is to ignore the fact that over 90% of the almost 2,000,000 people living in tent cities just after the 2010 earthquake have moved out of such living conditions to more permanent housing. Incredible. Moving on.

So what is a day trip to Port-au-Prince like? Not at all like the previous day trip to Port-au-Prince.

The ride to PauP from Cange takes about 1 hour (it used to take 4 before the road was paved). But that really just gets you to the edge of the city. Once there, there's no telling how long it will take you to cross sections of the congested city. I always ride with a chauffeur--I'm not about to navigate the wild streets of the city, they intimidate me. When you reach Mon Kabrit on National Route 3, the edge of the Central Plateau, you can look out into the Plaine du Cul de Sac and the entire capital. Sometimes the smog and dust hides the taller mountains of the southern peninsula across the plain.

Port-au-Prince on a smoggy day.

The Dominican Republic is out there somewhere.

"How is Port-au-Prince?" asked the visitor. "Dusty when it's dry and muddy when it's wet." That's a perfect description. Any other description of Port-au-Prince is simply incomplete, because it's such a contradictory city.

New construction!

The haunting skeleton of the Catholic cathedral reminds everyone passing by of the horrific 2010 earthquake--but it is also true that new construction is happening everywhere. Yes there are still tent cities, which are continuing to shrink, but there is also sushi, pedicures and an Irish pub among the ordered streets of Petionville.

One can find almost anything in Port-au-Prince:

Vegetable Oil

Assorted Alcohol

Port is packed with people--on motos, in cars and tap-taps, walking, leading animals and selling almost anything you can imagine right up to your car window. Those merchants particularly congregate around red lights and speed bumps. I'm always amazed at the people running along beside cars making change and handing snacks, manje kwit (fast food), drinks, phone credit, car phone chargers, or World Cup flags through the window. These car-side vendors take advantage of the fact that going to Port means a LOT of time in the car and a lot of time stuck in a blokis (something causing a traffic jam). This in turn also means a lot of smog. Making a small effort counteracting this are solar street lights in some sections of the city.

Most people are generally friendly and willing to provide directions, in the distinctly non-specific Haitian way, so long as you say hello and ask how they are first.

Another sign that Port is the economic center of the country are all of the wild cargoes being carried in trucks and on the backs of motos. The most amazing feats I have seen involved an entire lottery building on the back of a pick-up and a mattress being carried between the driver and passenger on a moto. Despite all of this activity, sometimes Port seems like the land of "pa gen," which means, "we don't have it."

Then there are all of the billboards and ads going up--some of which are really clever. Here are some of my favorites:

"Let's choose peace, violence will destroy our life"

"Evil doesn't have a horn"-an insurance company

This is a new 50% larger Prestige bottle. For only 10 goud more. It's somewhat of a big deal because, despite the recycling of glass bottles, the Prestige brewery's production is limited by the number of bottles available. Thanks to a $100,000,000 investment by Heineken in Haiti, Prestige is expanding! Kenbe Prestige ou!

"Don't drink while you're driving"-Prestige That's a tap-tap being driven off a mountain. Notice the goat with its legs tied flying off the tap-tap.

Speaking of tap-taps, they are a mode of "public" transportation in Haiti and take the form of either a pick-up or a larger bus like vehicle. They are always painted bright colors (and have lights at night), with themes ranging from international soccer starts to Bible stories to music acts like Justin Bieber and Ludacris.

Tap-taps follow specific routes around Port or between other cities. It's a common form of transportation, along with motorcycles, or simply by foot. Those travelling by foot in the city seem to have no trouble commanding cars to stop for them simply by holding up their hand and walking.

Some other things common to see in Port are schools--seemingly on every block--loto stands, art for sale, art for beautification, and gas or water trucks delivering said liquids around the city. They're almost always leaking--and when following close behind one I'm always hoping it's water...

Driving around the city is a mix of narrow roads, some paved many not, and large wide boulevards. There are areas of seemingly endless cinder-block walls, random fields of crops, and dry river beds that come alive during a rainy season storm.

But once all purchases are made, packages delivered, and people found to return to Cange, we start the trek back out through the city, up Mon Kabrit and through the winding roads of the Central Plateau.

President Martelly's son is working on a new sports complex

Brazil flags everywhere--WORLD CUP!

Bringing down rocks from the mine to make cement blocks

A yet to be fully inhabited, somewhat questionable development housing project

Along the way home it's common to see a number of car and motorcycle accidents, a result of newly paved roads and fast vehicles in an area not accustomed to such travel. One may pass a truck full of cattle going to the city, or a caravan of buses returning school children from a field trip to the Peligre hydroelectric dam just below Cange. There are often a slew of abandoned vehicles, often marked with clumps of branches plucked off the side of the nearby hill and laid down like caution cone to warn passers by.

Never a wasted trip

Whether with a cake in my lap, squeezed four across on a middle row, or comfortably napping with the window down and breeze in my face, I'm always happy to return to Cange after safe travels in Port-au-Prince.