Joy and Hope

Monday January 23, 2012 became a historical date in my ministry. Standing in the classroom and watching our students eating after living without food and water for three months, was very meaningful for me. Monday morning was a great moment.

Where did this money come from?  This is not Father Wisnel’s money. The money that helped me to buy rice and beans for the students in Jeannette from St Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Madison, Wisconsin where Father Andy Jones has been Rector for many years.

Two weeks ago I made my first trip to Wisconsin to meet people who have been working with the people in Jeannette.   St. Marc’s Episcopal Church Jeannette in Haiti has been living in partnership with the Diocese of Milwaukee since its foundation in 1982.  During this trip, Elizabeth van der weide, the coordinator of the Diocese of Milwaukee “Haiti Project”, Father Andy and I had the opportunity to talk about the needs of the people in Jeannette with many groups of people. Food and water was the main topic of our conversation. 

First of all, I met on Sunday morning, January 8,^, 2012 with the youth group at St Andrew’s and I talked about the lack of food and water in Jeannette. They were touched very deeply and concerned by the need of the people in Jeannette. I answered several questions. After our dialogue hope and Joy shined in my heart. In the afternoon, I met another group of people and the same speech was given and more hopes and joy for the people in Jeannette.

On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, I met with people from many parishes.  They asked many important questions and were moved and concerned by the food and water needs of Jeannette.

On Thursday I met a group of clergy at Trinity in Milwaukee. I was very happy to hear one of the clergy saying “Father Wisnel I know what you are talking about, because I went to Haiti during the dry season and I went down to the place where people in Jeannette go to get water”. It is very painful for me to watch my students walking 2 and half hours to get water before coming to school. There is no way for them to get to school on time.   

I am very grateful to the Right Rev. Steven Miller, Bishop of Milwaukee, The Rev. Andy Jones, (the Rector of St. Andrew’s), Elizabeth van de Weide (the coordinator of Haiti Project) the Rev. Leigh the associate rector of St. Andrew’s), and The Rev. Don Fleischman, the Rector of St. Barnabas.

Jeannette is one the poorest areas in Haiti.  This area contains about 6000 people.  Each family contains at least 10 persons. This area is very poor in growing food. There is no water in Jeannette. The people in Jeannette have only cisterns to catch water.  There are two seasons in Jeannette, raining season and dry season.    

Here our students are eating in the classroom because our refectory is not finished. We don’t have chairs and tables to put in it that can allow our students come in and eat.   

To conclude, I deeply believe that bringing joy and hope to others is the ministry of all leaders. I renew my determination to work with the Diocese of Milwaukee Haiti Project to improve people’s life in Jeannette.  No one can live without food and water. This is the message that I am proclaiming now for the sake of all Haitian people especially for the people in Jeannette.  I am working for them with energy and I will talk and fight for them until Bishop Duracin sends me another part of the country. 

Rev. Père Wisnel Dejardin

Click here to go to the Diocese of Milwaukee Haiti Project web page:

Click here to donate to help feed the 538 students at Saint Marc's Parish: 

http://www.haitiproject.org/donate.html     

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