What follows is the official report of our light distribution in the region of Anse a Foleur which took place in early December 2010. There were many problems to overcome with this particular distribution: shipping delays, riots due to political anger, epidemics of disease and very bad weather.
Before we get to the report, I would like to point out a few significant facts regarding this effort.
- It took more than SEVEN hours to climb the mountain to reach the distribution site.
- Getting urgent medical care due to accidents and illnesses like cholera is incredibly dangerous in this mountainous region at night, without light.
- The flashlights were an award for their efforts in improving themselves. This was not a handout.
- The recipients are extremely grateful.
We at Coastal Haiti Mission are thankful for all of you who generously support this ministry. Without your assistance, these people and many others would not receive the benefit of light in their lives. Please know that your sacrifices made a material difference in someone’s life TODAY!
This is the report for the distribution of 20 lights to the PATIENCE GROUP. There is an additional report coming for the remaining 80 lights which will be coming soon.
Report on Distribution of Rechargeable Solar Flashlights in Badsentàn (Anse à Foleur)
Early Friday morning on 3 December 2010, I began the trip to Badsentàn. Since the route is very long, I was accompanied by a friend (Venel Florvil). We ascended to Limbé in a tap tap, and took a motorcycle taxi to the village of Obòy. We arrived in Obòy at 7:15 am, then started walking until we reached the community of Dival in the Badsentàn region at 2 25 pm. (Remember, there is no other way to reach this area except on foot or by helicopter).
Once we arrived, it began to rain. For the next two days we were there, the rain never stopped. I could assist in the distribution [of the flashlights] only to the “Patience” group [because of the weather conditions]. It is with great joy the people of “Patience” group (members of the larger organization called GIDEB), received this great gift. According to some of the members, this gift was directly from God.
I myself am the Protestant representative on the committee that will manage the health centers in the area that will serve people of Dipon, Dival, Dopòs, and Kadipon. I play the role of president on the committee. We go through a crisis every night. We have a lot of people with injuries and who have cholera who are admitted to the health centers. The flashlights that I received will help our nurses work better at night. The flashlight will help them move about at night to find the people who are sick and injured. When illness and injuries occur at night, the parents struggle to bring these people to the health centers because they have no light. We now have many people in the local area who will help out with this gift. They will use their flashlights to help people who need to go the health centers at night. I am happy to say a “big thank you” to those who made it possible for us to benefit from this great gift.
After Chalsius Jeantelus finished talking., everyone in attendance gave a huge, joyous applause. Many of the beneficiaries wanted to speak out to show how happy they were for this great gift. There were representatives of 14 families who were present out of the total of 20 who were selected to receive the gift. The 20 families received the gifts because of their attendance at meetings of the group, their participation in activities (working on the road and in garden, courtyard,…), attendance at larger GIDEB General Assembly, and who also had the need for a flashlight. (The “Patience” group has more than 40 active families.)
Wedens
For those interested, here is the original creole version:
Rapò distribisyon lanp/flach ki rechaje nan solèy nan Badsentàn (Anse à Foleur)
Byen bonè nan maten Vandredi 3 Desanm 2010 la, Mwen te pran wout pou rive Badsentàn. Paske mwen konnen wout la long anpil, mwen te fè yon zanmi m (Venel Florvil) akonpaye mwen sou wout la. Nou te monte taptap pou rive nan Vil Lenbe (Limbé), nou pran taksi moto pou nou rive nan Vil Obòy (Borgne). Nou rive Obòy a 7 :15 AM epui nou kòmanse mache pou jis nou rive nan abitasyon Dival seksyon Badsentàn a 2 :25 PM. (Pa bliye, pa gen okenn lòt mwayen pou yon moun atenn zòn sa ankò. Se mache apye osinon nan yon elikoptè).
Depi nou rive, lapli komanse tonbe. Nou pase 2 jou la lapli pa janm janm sispann tonbe. Se sèlman selil Pasyans mwen te kapab asiste nan distribisyon yo. Se avèk anpil kontantman moun selil Pasyans nan oganizasyon GIDEB te resevwa gwo kado sa. Selon kèk manb, kado sa soti dirèkteman nan men Bondye.
Chalsius Jeantelus se yonn nan manb selil Pasyans la te pran lapawol aprè li te resevwa lanp la nan men mesye Jezila Doland ki se jeneral koòdonatè GIDEB.
Mwen menm se reprezantan sektè pwotestan nan komite ki ap jere ti sant lasante nan zòn nan ki ap desèvi moun Dipon, Dival, Dopòs, Kadipon, mwen jwe wòl prezidan nan komite a. Nou te ap travèse yon gwo kriz chak fwa lanwit rive. Nou gen anpil moun ki frape ak maladi kolera ki entène nan sant lasante a. Flach sa mwen resevwa la pral ede enfimyè nou an travay pi
byen lanwit. Flach la pral edem deplase lanwit pou ale chèche moun maladi a frape. Lè maladi a frape yon moun lanwit, paran moun sa te konn gen anpil difikilte pou mennen moun sa nan sant lasante a, akoz pa gen limyè. Kounye a nou gen plizyè moun nan lokalite a ki rive benefisye nan kado sa, yo pral mete flach yo a dispozisyon tout moun ki bezwen ale nan sant sante a lanwit. Mwen pwofite di yon gwo mèsi a moun ki fè nou benefisye gwo kado sa. Tout moun nan asistans la te bat gwo bravo lakontantman aprè Chalsius Jeantelus te fin pale. Anpil nan benefisyè yo te vle pale pou montre koman yo kontan anpil pou gwo kado sa. Te gen reprezantan 14 fanmi ki te prezan sou yon total de 20 ki te seleksyone pou resevwa kado a. 20 fanmi sa yo resevwa kado apati de prezans yo nan reyinyon selil la, patisipasyon yo nan aktivite yo (travay nan wout, nan jaden lakou…), prezans yo nan gran asanble jeneral GIDEB, epui nesesite yo gen pou yon lanp. (Selil Pasyans gen plis pase 40 fanmi aktif).
