Consolation Center building begins

Journal - By A. Topp

August 17, 2009

I’m feeling like this is a new beginning. Even though this is the second trip now to work with Eddie on Consolation Center, a new home for girls, this trip we hope to actually get a few containers delivered to the property, and maybe, set into place. The containers will become homes for girls who have been abandoned in one way or another, abused or from families that have had life so difficult they simply cannot care for their own children.

Eduard and Djeune are already providing a home for 15 girls and one boy, they do not have room or money to take in any more even though there are others that stop in often asking for help. I was hoping to have a group of people going with me on this trip, but the economy being what it is, they have not been able to come up with the financing for the trip and the work at hand. I also had been hoping to come before this to get things ready for a larger work group, but have not been able to. The good thing is that I am able to come now, I have enough money to purchase another container or maybe two (if I get all three it will be something of a miracle) and hopefully have them delivered to the property. We also need to find someone capable of picking up the container the shipping company dropped off at Espwa and delivering that to the new property. If we can accomplish at least some of this, we will have what we need ready for a work group to come and help. At the moment there are some from Trinity church in Newark that are hoping to be able to come in Ocotober. I also hope that with something physically in place on the new property, we can make a new promotional video that will inspire more folks to get involved and support what we are doing.

I will be spending a little time with Father Marc at Pwoje Espwa, delivering the supplies I have purchased for them and reviewing the feeding program that is using the protein enriched dried rice meals IHAF arranged to get for them (280,000 meals). The meals are not going as far as projected, I hope that once we document it, we can project when they will need more and apply for another shipment.

The plane is full today, I am pretty sure that aside from the pilots, I am the only white guy on the plane—not sure what that means, there are usually others on business or mission projects as well! The young man sitting next to me tells me this is his first time going to Haiti. He is going by himself, doesn’t know where exactly he is going, where he is staying or what he’s going to do! He is meeting an interpreter/guide that his mother arranged for him. I told him to be prepared for a very different experience! To make sure he gets out into the country, talk to some of the local people and get to know what life is really like in a place like Haiti. I wish I could see him at the end of his stay and find out what his impressions are.

A lot of folks are praying for me and for the success of this trip and Consolation Center, I pray also, that I will be able to make progress and work out whatever is necessary to make things happen. I already know that things almost never go as planned on these trips, so I am ready to adapt. At the very least, I am going to get to know the kids better, spend some time with them, get lots of photos and get to know their stories.

The first two days will be spent in PAP (Port Au Prince) working on arranging the container delivery, and the rest of the time in Les Cayes area. I have to remember to call a man named Guy Theodore when I arrive. It is always fascinating, that the more I do this, the more connections we make. Guy comes recommended by Rob Raylman of Gift of Life International, who has been trying to set up a Gift of Life program of sorts in Haiti. Guy is supposed to be a man with some connection/contacts that can help us get some things done. We shall see!

I am sure this is enough for now, I will write more after the days events. With much anticipation, Andy

Its now towards the end of the week here. As usual we get so busy once we get started, by the end of the day, its been so hot, humid and busy, just unwinding and finally getting supper, usually around 9 pm or so, all I want to do is go to bed!

To keep it short, the 2 containers I purchased in Port au Prince (took 3 days to work out the details of that purchase and delivery!) were eventually delivered, although a day late because one of the trucks broke down on the way. They did not get placed where we wanted them, even though we took a lot of time to carefully survey the property, layout where all the containers should go, with stakes and mason’s line, because the crane operator’s truck broke down on the way to the property. The crane operator did help get the containers off of the trailers using a dumptruck of his or someone he works with.  Of course He wanted to get paid $250. US for what he did and we told him no.  We finally paid him $150.00 and told him we would pay more once his truck was fixed and the containers were set where we wanted them.  He was going to set all 3 containers for $300.00 and now he is only setting 2 since the trailers have gone home.  We will have to wait until we purchase another container to move the one at Espwa.  I think we should only pay him a total of $200.00 once he has properly set the 2 containers that are on the property now.  At least we gave the neighbors some good entertainment for a couple days! We had an audience every time we were there. Very nice people in the house (bamboo and grass thatch sides with a corrugated metal roof). At one point they brought out some straight back chairs for us to sit on while we waited for the crane that never arrived!

Another time they brought out “fresh” drawn water from their hand dug well, the truck drivers, Onel and Yvald drank some—glad I didn’t, even though we hadn’t had breakfast or anything to drink since 6 AM and now it was noon time, Onel was sick the next 2 days!

Once 2 of the 3 containers that we own were placed on the property, we could begin cutting windows and doors, the first step to make them into new homes for the girls! Of course that meant we needed to buy some tools. So much for my budget. Tools and supplies here, when you can find what you need, are always either expensive, of extremely poor quality, or both!

I purchased a generator yesterday for  $400.00 US, from the back of a truck selling all kinds of household goods, clothes, used and new. Generator was actually a good deal, a name brand, made by “Troybuilt” for much less than anything comparable that we had seen in town for the 2 days we spent looking for one. And after a 3 day search for a grinder, with absolutely no luck, Just as we were about to give up, we were on our last stop, and we find not only a good grinder today for $110.00, we also meet Pierre! .  Also purchased a bunch of other things that Onel and Yvald can tell about, like a problem with the first grinder we bought. Just when we were about to give up looking for a grinder, we met Pierre Claude Bazelais who not only gave us a very reasonable price on the grinder but also offered to loan his truck or anything we need from time to time for no charge!  He is a good Christian man who is working with another project which we went to visit on the last night. He offered us free rooms for visiting volunteers in the old abandoned hotel his group is renovating. We used his pickup truck for three days, took all of our girls for a great Sunday afternoon at the beach!

Since we had the tools, the generator and a handful of cutting discs, Onel, Yvald and I spent 2 days laying out the windows and doors and started cutting the containers! I wanted to make sure the guys knew how to do it so they could keep working once I left. Neither of them have a job, no surprise, most people don’t. So they don’t mind helping Eddie and Djeune out with their project. Eddie loves the help and doesn’t mind helping them out when he can with some food, supplies, or even a little money when he can. Onel is actually something of an artist/craftsman, but its difficult to find anyone to buy what he makes. I bought some necklaces from him before I left.

One of the last days, while Onel and I were waiting for Yvald, at the house where the girls are now, all the girls came out on the front porch area and started singing. They sang one song after another, complete with coreography! They would finish one song, someone would start another suggestion and eveyone would chime in! It worked its way around to a game where they hide a safety pin on someone and then sing another verse over and over while they count to diez (ten), fi they haven’t found it by then, they have to go again. We had lots of fun! The girls get along with each other amazingly well, the older 2, Laura and ? do a good job of watching out for and including all the younger ones.

I cant wait until we have made enough progress with their new home to be able to move them all out there. It is so much cleaner and more open than where they are now. Our next big push is to raise money to finish the building, or at least enough of it to have these 15 and maybe a few more get started in their new home. We hope its within 6 months or so, so we can make an easy switch between schools and paying rent.

Eddie is in the US the last couple of days awaiting the birth of his new son! Djeune finally has the baby on August 25, Lenz Eduoard Constant! What a beautiful blessing! He certainly has 2 great parents that are setting a beautiful example of what it means to “love your neighbor as yourself”! Until next time, yours in service, Andy

Jacking the container using a coconut drum and car jack

We cut the windows so the cutout can be an awning!

The girls having a blast at the beach!


They love to have visitors.