From October 29, 2018

While I really enjoy my work in Haiti, I also realize that I am completely unqualified to do it. On this last 17-day trip, I lost my patience many times. On Friday night (my last night before traveling back to Florida on Saturday) I was confronted with news that the ladies who work overnight in the girl’s and toddler quarters had enough of Bency. I was told that she will not listen to any of the staff, not even to Dadi, the night supervisor. She refuses to go to bed. She sometimes hides with the intention of later scaring the younger kids by pretending to be a zombie.

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From October 31, 2018

Last Sunday’s Gospel reading featured the story of a blind man who was seated on the side of the road begging when Jesus approached accompanied by his disciples and others. The blind man calls out to Jesus, but the disciples and the crowd tell him to shut up. Of course, Jesus stopped and called the blind to come to him.
In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus asks: “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mk. 10:51)
How would I answer the question Jesus asked the blind man?

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From October 29, 2018

Pope Francis said: “I see the church as a field hospital after battle.” In our humble, very limited way, the Santa Chiara Children’s Center in Haiti is a kind of field hospital for kids. We currently (8/22/18) have 68 children living with us; 22 of the children are still in diapers. Our children range in age from one month to 14 years; 46 are girls, 22 are boys. It is challenging and exhausting work. Our kids come to us weary from their battle with extreme poverty, constant hunger, emotional neglect, and often physical abuse. They come wounded in many ways. The 2nd youngest member of our community of the weak was only two days old when we found him in a garbage dump where his distressed mother had left him.

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From October 28, 2018

I got back to Florida yesterday before the post office closed and so I was able to pick up all the mail that had arrived while I was in Haiti for 17 days. I was touched to see that of the 21 checks that were sent seven had “going for the green” on the memo line. Those seven donors were responding to the Journal entry about getting Santa Chiara ready for an inspection by the Haitian government. One of our shortcomings is that not all our children have their own bed, as most share a bed with another child. The cost of buying the number of bunk beds needed had been met. Now we have to create space for the extra beds. I purchased two more beds last week, so that the remaining kids that were still sleeping on the floor would now have a bed.

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From October 27, 2018

I’m heading back to Florida this morning. There are many administrative details that need my attention. But hopefully, I will be able to get a few day’s rest. I also hope Naïve remembers to walk and feed Giles. Even though I’m eager to enjoy hot water and air conditioning, I’d rather stay in Haiti. I also have a writing project percolating in my head and the quiet and solitude of Ft. Pierce will be conducive to putting pen to paper.

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From October 26, 2018

The kids really love the dog and are happy to pet him.
Regarding his fear of riding in a car and heights, one Journal reader wrote:
“Of course, you would get a dog with issues.” Funny.

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From October 23, 2018

After all the bunk beds we have already purchased, we still had eight kids sleeping on the floor. Truth be told, most of our kids never had a bed before. Sleeping on the floor, which often was a dirt floor, is all they know. Some poor families might have one bed for the entire family. Of course, there was no such thing as private bedrooms. Now that all the kids will be in bunk beds, two on the top, two on the bottom, we need to buy the additional beds to get to the place where each kid has his or her own bed. The problem is space. The space problem gave birth to the need to build a girl’s dorm. We still have not yet put a firm estimate on the cost of the building that we designed, but with beds, dressers, closets, and a bath room, we figured the cost will be about $25,000. But there is a chance the space problem could have a far less expensive and much quicker solution.

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From October 24, 2018

In Monday’s Journal I shared about the three girls who all arrived on the same day last month. The mother of one of the girls, Katiana, had visited only once. Well, yesterday she paid another visit. She only stayed about an hour. I told her we were taking good care of her daughter. Billy asked the mother to come into the office.

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From October 22, 2018

Naïve wanted me to show Jinette and Eleena some old pictures of myself. We then watched video clips from Cité Soleil and our second location in Peguyville. They roared with laughter over younger versions of some of the kids and staff. When I finally was able to clear the office, I really wanted to drive to Petionville for a strong latte. I took three girls who rarely get out of Santa Chiara. Katianna, Nestarline, and Maygina were all thrilled to get into the car.

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