News From Marilyn McIlroy - Highview's Haiti Connector

 

May, 2023   We have not chatted in awhile! I was delighted to meet and connect with some of you at the EMCC Assembly the last weekend in April at Eastridge EMC in Stouffville, ON.  I was kindly reminded that my last newsletter was Christmas.  That reminder spurred me on!   So what has been keeping me busy since my last communication with you?   Continuing role with EMCC WP as a Global Worker, part time.   Volunteering at my local church as lead on the Mission Team; visiting as part of my elder role, serving with hospitality team and lots of other opportunities A visit to Haiti A week of holidays - Pelee National Park And what is new in my life? As of December, 2022, I made the decision to retire from the casual position that I held at Region of Waterloo Public Health.  I had worked there 20 years in the vaccine preventable disease department.  I really enjoyed going out to the schools to give vaccines.  But I decided that 6am rising, 7am departure to be a school for an 8am start was more than I wanted especially in the winter.  It was a good decision.   Travel to Haiti Feb. 22 - March 2 Plans came together quickly for a return trip to Gens de Nantes (GDN) to do a midterm evaluation of Haiti: Education, Agriculture and Community Mobilization Initiative, RD146.  Eric Klarholm from Macoun, Sask joined me in Toronto and we travelled to GDN together.  The following day Eric went by motorcycle over the low mountains to Pignon.  I began visiting beneficiary families participating in RD146.  I had a schedule for these visits along with plans to meet with the directors of the school, as well as Herlynda and Hernso.  No one had thought to mention in our planning that the very weekend I arrived was the big GDN AEM church thanksgiving celebration.  Marilia, director of the school, was busy shopping for food supplies at the Friday market in Dajabon and the Saturday market in Wanamint.  Then when she returned with all the food, she was responsible for a team of women who were prepping the food and cooking for the many choirs that would come and sing, visiting speakers and other notable guests.  It was a huge event.  Then there was Hernso; he developed a toothache and needed to travel to Cape Haitian as there was no qualified dentist in the city of Wanamint to care for fillings if needed.  Herlynda was around but somewhat busy looking for reports that I had requested.   What to do - in event of such changes - just be F.A.T. - flexible, adaptable and teachable, trainable - and come up with a new plan!  There were some teachers available, so they accompanied me for some visits.  On Saturday, I started out on my own, when Hernso did not appear, and soon I had several children accompanying me.  Sure, they knew who had a "gardens of faithfulness" in their yards, so off we went!  Over the week in GDN, I was able to visit 51 families, children and teachers, most of whom were part of the Initiative and a few who showed interest and were starting on their own.   I also had opportunity to connect with the teachers and directors on several occasions.   We reviewed expectations regarding roles and reporting on teacher visits to families, all part of the FGW Initiative.  I connected with a few students as well; they were having exams that week.

Even though the main purpose was to evaluate the FGW Initiative, I did have a few minutes to greet staff at the GDN Health Centre as well as connect with a few old friends out in the community.   Visiting with staff at the GDN Health Centre. Top Row: L-R Andre, Macius, Herlynda with Mr. Zo (who passed away 2 mos ago)  Middle Row: L-R Dr. Fedjyna, Brenos (lab tech), lab Bottom: L-R Nurse, Student lab, Nurse Keteley March - April During the weeks following my return from Haiti, I worked on the Mid Term Report for the RD146 Initiative. It was a matter of compiling the anecdotal information gathered at each home visit, along with the monthly teacher and director reporting for the schools and Hernso's reporting.  For example:    from July – Dec, 2022 9 FGW students – not in school this fall Large Training held in Aug, 2022 Issue with some of the seeds not germinating No rain – Nov, Dec. Continue to have insect, cricket problems; animals eating plants Preparing compost – 8 families preparing compost Planted – 36 families Replanted – 5 families Harvested – 11 families harvested kale, okra, peppers, carrots and/or tomatoes Overall, much better teacher visits reporting in elementary dept Middle school reporting – very poor This Initiative has faced significant challenges - political instability, gang violence and attempts to control the nation, inflation, and fear.  But there are some students and families pressing forward with some success.     May 14 to 18, my sister Ruth and I enjoyed the bird migration at Pelee National Park.  It was a very restful, enjoyable and peaceful time.  We saw beautiful birds that do not generally live in our neighbourhood.  Thank you Father God for the wonder of your creation. Hope for Haiti  If you were to ask me this question, "What is the hope for Haiti?" then I would respond by saying, "Let me introduce you to Claude." Claude is just one young man whom God has gifted and who is making a difference, in his home community of Gens de Nantes, in Ouanaminthe and in a village in the D.R. where there are young Haitians who are doing nothing and who need a hope and a vision.  Claude has learned to be a tailor but not only that.  He is an entrepreneur with a heart for sharing Jesus in his workplace.  Claude teaches his students how to sew and how to make backpacks.  Claude has a very basic building for a school but mostly they set up outside.  He has one sewing machine, but when a student graduates from his class he helps that student with the purchase of their own machine.   Claude loves Jesus and he loves God's Word.  He is studying in the 4 year Bible Training program at La Jeune.  Claude sells his packsacks to schools and to students.  He will be teaching a class this summer in La Jeune.  He hopes to raise up students there who will make backpacks for the schools and students in that community.   When you pray for Haiti, pray for young adults who desire to make a difference as followers of Jesus and humble servants within their communities.   Praise and Prayers Gift toward the Seniors Home in Pignon – to purchase the stove (like large bbcue), propane tanks, connections and cost of installation.  This will replace use of charcoal.  Thank you God. Praise for funds that continue to be supplied for FGW, Seniors’ Home in Pignon as well as scholarship fund, support of Medical Centre Team in GDN, and Bible School training in La Jeune, Haiti.  Thank you, Jesus.   Safety as I travel to Manitoba and Saskatchewan, June 9-21; Good communication as I share with churches and individuals regarding the various projects, funding and being future ready. Herlynda Philogene, EMCC partner in Haiti - surgery for endometriosis and a tumor.   Pray for increase in hgb. before surgery can be done.     The GDN Health Centre is without a physician again.  The recent doctor is trying to come to Canada to join her fiancé.  She left her position at GDN.  She was turned away at the airport even though her passport had an 8-year Visitor Visa stamped in it.  Pray that she would consider returning to GDN to work.   Psalm 96 1. Sing a new song to the LORD! Let the whole earth sing to the LORD! 11. Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice ... 12. Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy!  Let the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD, for he is coming! Marilyn McIlroy EMCC World Partners Global Worker Whatsapp 519 584 5654 Email - mmcilroy@emcc.ca 12 Tanager St. Elmira, ON N3B 1C9