St. James Haiti Outreach

What have we learned about Haiti?

After returning from a trip to Haiti in November 2008, Ruth Anne Olson and Louise Robinson wrote a series of essays to share their observations with us. This is the seventh of eight essays. See complete list here.

7. Haiti Connections and St. James' Partnership in Haiti

This installment written by Ruth Anne.

Opportunities for involvement in Haiti abound, and since its formation last February the St. James Haiti Committee has explored a variety of programs and projects in which the parish might participate. High on its list was the Episcopal Church Haiti Partnership Program, sponsored by the Diocese of Haiti, in which three other Minnesota churches already participate: Messiah in St. Paul whose partnership is 13 years old; St. Albans in Edina, 8 years old; and St. Johns in Minneapolis, 1 year old.

November offered an unusual opportunity to learn more about this program when the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti held its tenth biannual Haiti Connections Conference in Port au Prince. Louise and I planned a trip accordingly and, after many other experiences in Haiti that we’ve described in previous bulletin inserts, we spent our last two days with fellow Episcopalians: 40 Haitians plus 145 Americans from 23 states—all vigorously sharing information, and ideas about partnership with one another.

Louise and I learned much at the conference. We heard of the stresses on K-12, university and seminary education in Haiti; the urgency of public health programs and delivery of medical services; strategies for economic development; and more. We learned about partnership structures, the pressures on people’s time, and about issues of communication, technology, transportation and organizational structure.

Map of Haiti indicating approximate location of Bigonet

Soon after returning from our trip, Louise and I met with the Haiti Committee and the Committee for Justice and Community Service (CJCS). We talked of the experiences of our (combined) four weeks in Haiti over the past year: our interactions with people and our time in churches and schools, and about what we learned at the Haiti Connections Conference and from other Minnesota Episcopalians involved in Haiti. We talked especially of Bonne Nouvelle and of our experiences with young and old in the village of Bigonet. With broad enthusiasm, both committees voted to recommend to the vestry of St. James that our parish enter into partnership in Haiti.

And indeed, at its December meeting, the vestry of St. James voted to establish a partnership with the church of Bonne Nouvelle in Bigonet. With this decision the vestry has opened the possibility for all at St. James to engage with fellow Episcopalians in learning from and sharing with the people of Bigonet. Watch for opportunities soon to come close to home.

Father Kerwin Delicat, Episcopal Church of Bonne Nouvelle, plus six other churches and missions.

Children of Bonne Nouvelle School

Louis Noucent, Director of Bonne Nouvelle School

Homes of Bigonet

The road (river) to Bigonet

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