Pwoje Espwa in Les Cayes, Haiti

Just read an entry from the Pwoje Espwa website that I've followed on and off.  Fr. Marc does not find the NGO's very helpful... Sad.  They come along to make sure he is doing everything they think he should to take care of all those children, but can they offer a dime to help him take care of them?

Here is the Rev. Lauren Stanley's blog post about the organization Pwoje Espwa:
Pwoje Espwa - Hope in haiti

And here is the blurb about Pwoje Espwa from the top of their blog:

"This is one way of keeping up with what's happening in southern Haiti. Please consider helping us in our work with Haitian orphans and vulnerable children. Contributions can be sent to: Theo's Work 25422 Trabuco Road Suite 105-362 Lake Forest, CA 92630 Or Theo's Work, 2303 W. Market Street, Greensboro, NC 27403-1517 Or you can make a secure donation with a credit card at our website www.freethekids.org. Thank you for helping us fight poverty in Haiti, one child at a time."

marking a month with music

Sr. Anne Marie would understand: when she started the music program at Holy Trinity, it was because she knew it fed the soul.  Subsistence is essential, but we are whole persons.  Music is healing.

Here is a wonderful article about the interfaith service marking one month.  There are also stories from a teacher and trumpeter at Holy Trinity Music School and her students about the earthquake and its aftermath.

Jeanne Pocius looking over some of the instruments recovered from Holy Trinity Music School in Port-au-Prince

[Episcopal News Service] Amidst the ruins of their diocese and their nation, Haitian Episcopalians have found on-going hope in their music and art.

"Some things are too difficult to express in words," said Jeanne Pocius, a trumpet professor at the Diocese of Haiti's now-destroyed Holy Trinity Music School in Port-au-Prince, paraphrasing Victor Hugo. "You see people being absolutely stoic and when the music begins, the tears begin to flow. It's healing, it's a great medication. It's a gift of the Holy Spirit."

You can read the rest of the article here:

Haiti marks one-month anniversary of quake: Music, art offer hope to survivors
The article includes a link to audio excerpts as well.

suscipe

Take, Lord, and receive
all my liberty,
my memory,
my understanding,
and my entire will --
all that I have and call my own.
You have given it
all to me.
To you, Lord,
I return it.
Everything is yours;
do with it
what you will.
Give me only your love
and your grace.
That is enough
for me.

--Ignatius of Loyola

Wikipedia, source of all unsubstantiated information, tells me that suscipe means "receive" and that Ignatius, in the composition of his prayer, was going back to an earlier tradition of monastic profession: self-offering to God in a form to which I, too, have been called.  It is, however, a prayer for all of us.
 
Another translation words it, "All that I am and all that I possess You have given me." Not only all I have, but all I am. Not only my stuff, not only my time and my energy, but my whole being, past, present, and future.

While looking for the words of the prayer, I found this video, which I've listened to over and over. I believe I am going to make this self-offering a primary focus of prayer this Lent, using this music in my meditation. I'd like to share it with you, too. The visuals are quite poor, so close your eyes and listen, and pray with the music if you feel so called.
"Take, Lord, Receive" by Paul Melley, Performed by St Ignatius College Prep Carpe Music Ministry, November 21, 2007

All I have and all I am is yours, Lord. Give me only your love and your grace. You are enough, more than enough. You are my abundant life.

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori visits Haiti

"You have already had your Good Friday," says the Presiding Bishop to Bishop Duracin (ENS article).

The article linked above tells not only about the visit, but also gives the latest news.

Bishop J. Zache Duracin and Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori in front of the rubble of Holy Trinity Cathedral in Port-au-Prince

(photo from the Episcopal News Service article linked above)

new web page and letter from the Diocese of Haiti

http://www.egliseepiscopaledhaiti.org/Crise_of_Haiti.html

The Episcopal Diocese of Haiti has a new page up with a letter from its Special Crisis Commission.  It includes information and photos following the earthquake.  The photo of the professional school in Darbonne, in the entry below, is from that site, as is the photo I am uploading here of Sr. Marie Margaret at the tent city constructed on the College St Pierre soccer field. 

before and after - trade school in Darbonne

This is the professional/trade/vo-tech secondary school next door to the Rectory where I lived.  The building also held the school offices and the offices of the goat project connected with Global Health Action (mentioned in early entries).  It had a computer lab, a home ec department, and other classrooms.  I hope we can get it up and running again.  I am hoping to go speak with the Friends of Darbonne next month when they have their fundraiser.

(photo taken during my stay, summer 2009)

(photo from the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti website - link in entry above)

post-earthquake video from Darbonne

I found on YouTube this post-earthquake  video from Darbonne, which includes footage from the church there and the tents that, as I expected, have been set up on the grounds.  You can also see one of the schools.  John Engle, the man narrating, has had ties to Darbonne since the 1980's and apparently attended the parish while there.  I thought I saw someone I knew a couple of times, but she kept turning her head just a bit too quickly for me to see for certain.  I hope it was; I'd love to know she's safe.

update 2/9- I have decided that it is, in fact, Mme Dorvilas from my parish committee! Yea!  Makes me feel so much better to have found one more person.  I also found out another person, Roselaine, is alive, but another, Brigitte, has died.  May she rest in peace and rise in glory.