By Sara Dessieux
We all are facing unexpected challenges right now, aren’t we? We had much different plans for the second half of this month than what is now actually happening. Being someone who has experienced living in two very different countries, I can tell you that we are much more used to unexpected obstacles, new fears, and plans being cancelled here in Haiti than we are back in Oregon. Everytime we return to the states, I am flooded with the realization that everything about everyday life is so much simpler there. Well, in 2020 it seems that the rest of the world is beginning to experience some of what is too often the norm in many third-world countries. Schools and many other things in Haiti were closed down for months last fall due to the protests and roadblocks. Now they are closed yet again because of the coronavirus. So even though we have joined the minority of people here attempting social distancing, it really does not feel too different than normal. Yet, we had high hopes for this spring.
This past week though we did have some great successes. Bob Thatcher and Dwight Hardin remained with us for a second week of work and Walky Desir joined them. We hoped they would get to unload and begin using the backhoe, but alas, it is still being held in customs. The rented bulldozer continued to work on the slopes around the soccer fields, but still at a very slow rate due to mechanical trouble. Most of the success for the week happened over on a neighboring piece of property that Guesly and I bought last spring. This winter, Bob worked with us on house plans and purchases for a two-bedroom house that will serve as our home when we are in Haiti for now but will eventually be a guesthouse when we build our house. We opted to build the guesthouse first since it should go faster. Two weeks ago under Bob and Dwight’s supervision, the foundation was dug, forms were built, rebar was tied and laid in place, and the plumbing and electrical were set up. I had prepared myself for it to feel like a slow process so I was amazed at how fast it actually went! Last Monday, the foundation was mixed, poured and spread, all by hand. Already the walls are starting to go up.
Another highlight was that after feeling nervous for five days that Bob, Dwight and Walky may not be able to get out of Haiti because Haiti’s president closed all airports, ports and the border, they did successfully fly out and make it back home. American Airlines ended up being permitted to fly people out. All three of them worked and enjoyed the beach right up until the end. We are so grateful to them for coming but are glad they are now reunited with their families. We had a number of other teams scheduled to come do construction and other things this spring, but of course those trips have all been postponed or cancelled.
Haiti currently has 15 confirmed cases as well as 127 suspected cases. Testing and treatment here will be even harder to come by than in the states so we are hoping and praying for protection for Haiti. The Haitian government seems to be taking the threat quite seriously in that they are shutting down or limiting most businesses and are working to educate the population. We do not yet see many people, other than foreigners, social distancing though. Granted, that would be an incredibly hard thing for people to do here. Most people live with many other people in very small houses in densely populated neighborhoods, and they rely heavily on public transportation and frequent shopping in the market due to no refrigeration. Guesly, our staff, and the construction workers we’ve hired, will continue to frequent our land, but Guesly has coached them in how to be safe and he and the staff have installed handwashing stations on the land. All PLH English classes and athletic programs have been cancelled until further notice.
We are praying for you and we ask that you in turn pray for Haiti. Things in this world seem to be changing on a daily basis now. We rest in the truth that our God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He does not change.