Should I go on?  Three hotels, a few good meals, two air journeys within the country, a considerable number of bone-jarring hours on the streets of Port-au-Prince and the “highways” — and an all-day seminar for clergy and readers thrown in for good measure.  An appealing start to a tour-guide brochure?  Probably not!  But all in all, it was a very satisfying visit (only missed one “site”, the community at LaPlaine), though probably not one to be repeated — just a bit much! 

The pictures tell the story pretty well, of a Mission well established, steadily growing in many locations, both in numbers and in the practice of the Faith.  Glory be to God! 

At the Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos, Port-au-Prince, separated rooms at the back of the church have been removed, for a much larger open space; the interior has been re-painted, and the floor tiles (doesn’t look a whole lot different from bare concrete in a photo, but the difference in “feel” is impressive).  The work was accomplished in time for the parish feast in September, but I didn’t see it till this trip. 

At St. Augustine’s in Jacmel, where readers’ services every Saturday and Sunday are attended by 50 or more of the faithful, and monthly liturgies by considerably more, work is in progress on the street-side cloture wall and entry gates.  As in most construction in Haiti, all work is done by hand — stone-cutting, cement- and mortar-mixing.  Only for the largest jobs (such as pouring the floor for the church) are “modern” tools used.  The trip to Jacmel this time was by car — necessary in order to transport sacks of Mission Bleu to keep the Mission’s coffee-lovers supplied. 

SS Peter and Paul at Léogane is a two-hour bone-jarring trip each way from Maison Mission (if there are no “complications” — mercifully none for this trip).  The small community there makes the trip frequently to Nativity for services; at present only occasional services can be conducted at the chapel (in a rented house), which is also home to an adult literacy program operated by the mission. 

At Les Cayes, the Church of St. John of San Francisco is growing steadily in its now-stable home (in a rented school building on the waterfront), much more attractive after some considerable interior work.  We hope to begin construction soon on a permanent building on the newly-acquired land at the edge of the city. 

St. Nicholas at Cap-Haïtien, with a flock of about twenty faithful, continues to struggle without a real “home”, but at least benefits from the kindness of the Roi Cristophe management for a stable location for monthly vigil & liturgy.
The clergy/readers’ seminar, with fifteen in attendance, occupied a full day of the visit.  It was hosted by Eddy Gideon and his wife Emmanuella, at the OK Corral Restaurant at the northwestern edge of Port-au-Prince.  Needless to say, the décor was a bit amusing. 

And to come…:  Memorial contributions (requested by her family in lieu of flowers) for Dorothy Clader provide the basis for construction of a much-needed chapel at LaPlaine dedicated to her patron, St. Dorothy of Kashin, within the Foyer of St. Mary of Egypt.  Considerably more is needed, of course (and how much we can raise will determine the possibilities for the chapel).  I expect to see basic plans laid and construction started while in Haiti even as you receive this.  Prayers requested for a safe and fruitful journey!