April 2012 Postings

04.12.12 - wane.com news - Former child slave shares story;
Bill Nathan raises awareness about growing problem.. FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) When Bill Nathan’s mother suddenly died when he was 6, he had hopes of being adopted into a loving family. Instead the Haitian child was adopted into slavery. “Slavery still exists and now days we have 27 million living in slavery throughout the world and mostly are children,” said Nathan. Thursday, he was at The University of St. Francis sharing his story and his music. He told the crowd he endured years of abuse and was forced to wait on his new family. He slept in an outbuilding with no bedding and ate scraps of food off the table. He said one of his worst memories is walking miles with 5 gallon buckets to get water. “She (his adopted parent) would spit on the ground and she would say I expect you to come back before the spit dries. So I have to run and get the water and if not she would beat me up,” said Nathan. But even through the abuse, he kept his love for music. “Every time I went to the water fountain and put it upside down and played on the bottom of the bucket,” he said. At age 11, his mistreatment drew the attention of Sister Caroline in the city of Hinche, and he was sent to St. Joseph's Home for Boys in Port-au-Prince, where he was educated and became a leader. He now directs the home and another home to 16 former street children. Nathan is now a professional drummer who performs at churches and universities in the United States. He performed for Pope John Paul II at World Youth Day in Toronto, and spent six weeks in Bahia, Brazil teaching dance and drumming at a school of the arts for Brazilian street children. The experience led to an opportunity to go to Africa to study drumming under the drum masters of The Gambia and Senegal. In 2008 he performed at Duke University as part of a fundraising carnival to benefit a Durham center for disadvantaged children. He has also served as a voice for the slave children of Haiti at the Telluride Film Festival. Nathan will also be a featured musician for the fourth annual Formula for Life, a 5k walk-run and silent auction which took place at USF on Sunday, April 15, and raised funds to provide food for a Haitian orphanage for the next year.


04.08.12 - renee d. - Walnes and our mural;
Walnes has been in the Atlanta, GA area painting a huge mural to help promote our SJF Warrior's Brew coffee project. Walnes proved himself to be not only a gifted painter but also a passionate and effective ambassador for SJF.  Below is a recent email I received from our Pastor lauding Walnes not only as a talented painter, but also for his quality of character. Walnes arrived home this afternoon ---all smiles. At prayer this evening he spoke of always doing your best for God and for the SJ Family. He told our guys how stressed he was to do this mural, but he knew it was something God was calling him to do. He told how he always paints in water colors and this mural was in acrylics. He also spoke of how large and overwhelming the wall space was. Then he spoke of how much larger than the wall his faith in God is. He told of praying and asking God to join him in painting the mural and to bless the work for God's glory. Walnes spoke of starting the painting early every morning and often working until 11:00 at night. Walnes told our guys to remember that when God calls them to do something that seems beyond their ability, that they need to accept and embrace the call --- then call on Jesus for the strength and grace to accomplish the task at hand, remembering that with God all things are possible. In addition to gifted painter and amazing ambassador I think we can add that Walnes is also a powerful mentor to the youth of St. Joseph's.

Read and rejoice with us:  I need to say to you that Walnes is an amazing ambassador for the Saint Joseph's family and is a product of your longtime investment in him. We will deeply miss having him among us.  He has truly endeared himself to the people of Epiphany with his smile, work ethic, his team play, his faith, his talent, his humor, and his humility. Not only has he spent untold hours in our coffee cafe creating his project, he has played the drum for us during worship, and had the leading role as a dancing Jesus in our Palm Sunday passion narrative. It was apropos that our very first worship service in our new (but not quite finished) worship space featured Walnes and our relationship with you. You know that I have watched Walnes grow and mature for over ten years. It has been a great blessing to me to be in this fine young man's life, and his being here has been a fabulous gift to our congregation. I know that he is anxious to return home, and we send him with our love and best wishes for you all and for your own celebration of the empty tomb! Thank you for sharing him with us.

04.08.12 - renee d. - Easter 2012;
Photos from the Easter celebrations at two of the three St. Joseph Family homes today. Starting the day with a sunrise service on the new roof at St. Joseph's Home for Boys was both beautiful and sacred. Next it was Wings of Hope for the traditional child-led service and decorating of the cross with flowers. Then on to the Wings egg hunt, or rather three egg  hunts — one for the wheelchair kids, one for the walkers and one for the employees. We don't have pictures of the celebration at Trinity House, but know it was spirit-filled and family-centered. The St. Joseph Family wishes a very blessed celebration of resurrection to ALL!  Pictures from the St. Joseph's and Wings of Hope have been posted to the St. Joseph Family, Haiti Facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com




04.05.12 - rick b. - Easter 2012;
Walnes has been in the Atlanta, GA area painting a huge mural to help promote our SJF Warrior's Brew coffee project. Walnes proved himself to be not only a gifted painter but also a passionate and effective ambassador for SJF.  Below is a recent email I received from our Pastor lauding Walnes not only as a talented painter, but also for his quality of character. Walnes arrived home this afternoon ---all smiles. At prayer this evening he spoke of always doing your best for God and for the SJ Family. He told our guys how stressed he was to do this mural, but he knew it was something God was calling him to do. He told how he always paints in water colors and this mural was in acrylics. He also spoke of how large and overwhelming the wall space was. Then he spoke of how much larger than the wall his faith in God is. He told of praying and asking God to join him in painting the mural and to bless the work for God's glory. Walnes spoke of starting the painting early every morning and often working until 11:00 at night. Walnes told our guys to remember that when God calls them to do something that seems beyond their ability, that they need to accept and embrace the call --- then call on Jesus for the strength and grace to accomplish the task at hand, remembering that with God all things are possible. In addition to gifted painter and amazing ambassador I think we can add that Walnes is also a powerful mentor to the youth of St. Joseph's.

Read and rejoice with us:  I need to say to you that Walnes is an amazing ambassador for the Saint Joseph's family and is a product of your longtime investment in him. We will deeply miss having him among us.  He has truly endeared himself to the people of Epiphany with his smile, work ethic, his team play, his faith, his talent, his humor, and his humility. Not only has he spent untold hours in our coffee cafe creating his project, he has played the drum for us during worship, and had the leading role as a dancing Jesus in our Palm Sunday passion narrative. It was apropos that our very first worship service in our new (but not quite finished) worship space featured Walnes and our relationship with you. You know that I have watched Walnes grow and mature for over ten years. It has been a great blessing to me to be in this fine young man's life, and his being here has been a fabulous gift to our congregation. I know that he is anxious to return home, and we send him with our love and best wishes for you all and for your own celebration of the empty tomb! Thank you for sharing him with us.


04.04.12 - renee d. - holy thursday at wings of hope;
The Holy Thursday foot washing tradition continues at Wings of Hope, with the children and staff serving each other in this show of friendship and love. Pictures of this week's activities are posted on the St. Joseph Family, Haiti Facebook page. Here is the address for the updated pictures from Holy Thursday.



04.04.12 - renee d. - holy week at wings of hope;
Holy Week activities are underway at Wings of Hope. On Tuesday the Wings kids learned about the traditions of the Jewish faith with a Seder meal, knowing that is something Jesus and his disciples would have shared. Pictures of this week's activities will be posted on the St. Joseph Family, Haiti Facebook page. Here are the pictures from the Seder meal yesterday:

http://www.facebook.com


04.02.12 - renee d. - greetings from gesner & friends;
Today is World Autism Awareness Day. Be like Gesner and all the kids at Wings of Hope who are on the autism spectrum — embrace life and live it to its fullest! Possibilities, Not Disabilities! Thank you for your support and friendship to the children of Wings of Hope and the entire St. Joseph Family.

03.28.12 - renee d. - trinity house and LST;
I had the opportunity to head to Jacmel yesterday for a day trip to do some work. There are so many exciting developments happening there. Pictures of the progress and the life at Trinity House and Lekòl Sen Trinite have been posted to the St. Joseph Family, Haiti Facebook page. Enjoy and thank you for your support!

 03.23.12 - renee d. - wear your heart on your sleeve;
Are you ready to show off some St. Joseph Family pride? We just created a marketplace on Cafe Press to market St. Joseph Family merchandise — shirts, sweatshirts, bags, cups, water bottles, hats, and a bunch of other things. The cool thing about Cafe Press is that they print to order, so there are no start-up or inventory costs, and we will receive a commission on every product ordered. They do all the work, we do the promotion, and everybody wins.
We have started out with a few designs on a selection of products, and will keep adding more. To see what we have for sale and buy some treats for yourself, your family and your friends, go to:

http://www.cafepress.com/

Please promote this opportunity with your friends and family. The more shirts, hats, bags, water bottles, etc., that are out there, the more opportunities our friends and supporters will have to share the story of the SJF.


03.28.12 - geoffrey h. - march 2012 earthquake;
For Haitians in and around Port-au-Prince, last night's moderate 4.6 earthquake was an all too familiar feeling and an eerie reminder of the terror of Jan 12th, 2010 and its aftermath. Since the majority of Haitians do not live or work in earthquake-resistant dwellings, even a slight shaking must be a terrifying. That is why Hearts with Haiti and the St. Joseph Family have made rebuilding earthquake-resistant facilities such a priority. These buildings are not cheap and don't go up in a day, but they will stand the test of time, come rain or shine. We owe it to our partners to bring about a stronger future by building strong structures. Anything else is too much of a risk in an earthquake-prone country.

January 2012 Postings

01.29.12 - renee d. - Risen From The Rubble;

What a spectacular weekend!!! A family festival of worship and talent. Watching the new beautiful butterfly that is the new St. Joseph's Home emerge from its cocoon. Dedicating the new building with spirit, song, blessings and family. Celebrating together 27 years of ministry to the youth of Haiti with food, fun and fellowship. On Saturday, January 28, 2012 --- two years after an earthquake destroyed St. Joseph's Home for Boys and only one year since construction began --- the St. Joseph Family not only celebrated 27 years of ministering to the youth of Haiti, but also dedicated the Phase 1 building of the new St. Joseph's Mission Center. This building will be primarily for the youth of St. Joseph's Home for Boys, with a kitchen, dining room, family room and four bedrooms; also included in the building are three guest rooms and a beautiful rooftop garden lounge with an unbelievable 360-degree view of Port-au-Prince. (see the "27 Ane" tab above for event photos).

01.29.12 - geoffrey h. - day 6: a new home:
Wow. What a week – we had all witnessed the transformation of a large building, had caught up with old and new friends, and had danced and sang and played. There was such positive energy, such an awareness of the good that emanates from this mission. And, the Anniversary Service on Saturday morning would be the capstone.  The family room was ready, with 80 chairs set up, a beautiful alter, a memorial plaque to Ben Larson, who died in the 2010 earthquake at St. Joseph’s, and the 2012 anniversary painting on an easel for all to behold. The crowded began to gather and soon there was standing room only, with chairs spilling into the courtyard outside. Pastor Rick Barger kicked off the service and from that point forward there was nothing but forward momentum and positive energy. Walnes’ song went off without a hitch, the speaking and singing dancing and playing was remarkably uplifting and the atmosphere was light, bright, and smelled brand new. It was nearly 27 years to the day since the SJF was started to bring in the neediest boys off the street and offer them a new start. And, the sense in the air Saturday morning was also that a new, wonderful era was off to a tremendous start. At the end of the service, Michael welcomed the architect of the building, Lionel Allen, as well as his staff into the room for a round of applause and then a big surprise – Saturday was also Lionel’s birthday, so the celebration was even richer. After the service concluded, the group all moved to La Reserve for the reception. La Reserve is a spectacular setting, with tropical vegetation lining a large patio and a generally fun vibe. The musicians from the St. Trinity Music School met us and we kicked off the event with a movement of a work by a Haitian classical composer, then we got into the Mozart. It was so nice to collaborate with these musicians and there was a group of fans that stood around and clicked pictures of our multi-cultural music. After we finished, the RDTH did an amazing rendition of the piece I had seen them rehearsing the previous evening and several others got up to do impromptu performances. Seeing all of these wonderful experiences together with dozens of other guests and having the opportunity to participate and interact with everyone at the St. Joseph Family, it is hard to imagine a warmer environment. These boys at St. Joe’s and Trinity, the residents of Wings, and the students of the LST, as well as the staff, are a remarkably talented and dedicated bunch. They set themselves apart from so many other aspects of Haiti, a wonderful and special country, but a place where there are critical challenges are common. At the SJF, the youth are encouraged to wear their hearts on their sleeve – to speak publically – to make responsible decisions – to give back to their country. These are the role models for the future of Haiti and we should be proud and grateful to be a partner to this outstanding organization.

01.28.12 - geoffrey h. - day 5: festival:

The next morning was a rush to the start, with last minute arrangements for our Family Festival performance, arrivals by the residents of Wings and Trinity House, alumni of the SJF, and early departures by the HTF contingent to see their programming in the Central Plateau. Since the building was not yet accessible, we all gathered in the SJHB Art Center for the festivities, which began with the ringing of the bell promptly at 10:00 AM. The mood was expectant and harried construction and cleaning continued all the while. What followed was an uplifting array of storytelling, singing, and clapping led by Bill and Walnes and with contributions from other members of the leadership. Three of the original members of the St. Joseph’s Home for Boys got up to boisterous applause from everyone and Jean Ristil told his story for those who may not have heard it. Most of the speaking was in Kreyol, which is a language that is very easy on the ears and readily conveys passionate emotion. For lunch, people lined up outside the kitchen as goat in Kreyol sauce, rice, and beans were served to all. Goat is a popular fare in Haiti and is a personal favorite, but I have to say that this was the most tender and flavorful goat I have had to-date, which is not surprising given the standard of cooking at the St. Joseph’s Home for Boys. The afternoon was an exciting time of music, song, and impromptu performance. Following introductions by Maya and Walnes, Clara and I led the event off with Wootrod’s song and our Mozart duet, then the day just started to jive, with joyful renditions of songs by residents of Trinity, Wings, and St. Joseph’s, skits, dancing, and drumming. It was a party and pretty soon the soft drinks and Prestige were flowing. Walnes had opened the celebration by saying that the SJF was a family of talent, and this was on full display. Clara and I were so proud to be a part of it with our own music. 

All the while, the workers were making miraculous progress. The scaffolding was taken down from the entire structure, the site was cleaned of all construction supplies and debris, temporary landings on the stairs were installed as well as a short bridge to the guest house, floors were swept, beds were made, furniture was carried to each room and the rooftop, the cisterns were installed, and all the lights and the fans were functioning. And, on top of all this, the fantastic art that had been installed on the sides of the building was now completely visible – including colorful iron butterflies and a white stylized version of the St. Joseph’s Home for Boys logo running vertically down the length of the structure. This particular installation, designed by Ralph Allen, is particularly impressive, not only in its scale, but also in the message of uplifting transformation it so boldly conveys to the surrounding neighborhood. To add to the joyful atmosphere, the RDTH was rehearsing in the new family room, with drumming and music that brought down many onlookers, from construction workers, to guests, to residents. Then, literally 30 minutes before the large group of guests arrived in the late afternoon, the construction noise stopped. The seemingly impossible had been achieved – the building that just 72 hours earlier lacked a staircase, balconies, fixtures, windows, etc. was now ready for occupancy – clean sheets, water coolers and all. It was a miracle and we all knew it. The first thing I wanted to do was get up on the roof to see the view from the top. What a breathtaking vista of Port-au-Prince, the mountains, and the sea. That first trip to the roof was truly a moment to remember. That evening, the family room was decorated and Clara and I got down to the business of rehearsing with Walnes, who we would be accompanying on a St. Joseph Family inspired arrangement of ‘The Holy City’. However, after a few minutes of rehearsal, it quickly became clear that we were approaching the piece from very different places. We had sheet music and fixed parts and Walnes had learned the song by ear from a recording. The keys were different, the chorus was in different places, and his rhythm was swung, not staid like ours.   We were in trouble and there were plently of onlookers popping in to watch the frustrating rehearsal drag on. Then, things all the sudden started to gel. Walnes is such a talent and a quick study – he did everything he could to meld with our parts and make it work – and all with a big smile. We wrapped up feeling good – just another small miracle in a week of transformation. 

  01.27.12 - geoffrey h. - day 4: collaboration:
One of the major goals I had set for our trip was to successfully collaborate with local Haitian classical musicians. Fortunately, our contacts at the St. Trinity School of Music were up for chamber music collaboration and Thursday morning at 8AM was to be our one rehearsal before a performance on Saturday at the Anniversary reception. Working collaboratively with these performers was very important to me as a form of cultural diplomacy. These were individuals we had never met, who had very different traditions and life experiences, but with whom we could communicate readily through the language of music. I had brought down a big binder of chamber works to choose from and that morning we set out to get the C Major Viola Quintet of Mozart in good enough shape to perform on Saturday. At the end of our rehearsal, Clara and I both commented on how much more smoothly this rehearsal had gone than previous international exchanges. These musicians, Father David, Thala, and Gladia, were talented and kind collaborators. I was so grateful and relieved.

After some browsing for paintings by the Kinam Hotel, we headed back to St. Joseph’s and then were promptly whisked off with some other guests for a quick jaunt up the mountain to Wings of Hope. For us, the reason to tag along with the group was to get a chance for a stop at the mountain lookout. I had been up to the lookout before, but wanted to give Clara the opportunity, since it is truly among the best ways to see Port-au-Prince. On a clear day, from the lookout you can see a hundred miles over the city, the surrounding countryside, and the sea. The view is utterly breathtaking and steep precipice is not for the faint of heart. Back at St. Joe’s later that day we greeted the first wave of dozens of representatives of the Haitian Timoun Foundation, who had arrived at St. Joe’s for the Anniversary. HWH is so grateful to have amazing partners, like the HTF, in supporting the St. Joseph Family. We are all committed to this tremendous mission, and, although I had never met most of these folks in person, it was somehow like a reunion with old friends. After some great conversation with these friends, a few of us gathered in the main room of the guest house to rehearse for the next day’s Anniversary Festival. First on the agenda was Wootrod’s piece which, just 24 hours after being ‘commissioned’ was ready for primetime. The only catch – he now wanted Clara and me to play with him. What a welcome surprise. So, together with Bill Nathan on drums, the three of us listened to Wootrod play an astonishing song and, little by little, started improvising off his tune. And, pretty soon we were sounding terrific, guests were lingering around the room to listen in, and ready for our performance the following day. Outside, construction was moving along as quickly as possible, with the workers continuing well into the evening to ensure the building was ready for occupancy when dozens of guests arrived the next day. Some windows installed, and some scaffolding had been removed and debris cleaned up, lights and fixtures were installed, and concrete stairs around the perimeter were poured and drying. The workers were working hard together, sparks were flying, and hammering was echoing loudly off the surrounding structures; however there was still no access possible by non-construction workers as the stairs lacked landings on each floor.   But, even with anxieties about the building’s completion, the energy was frenetic – everyone knew it was going to be finished just at the right time.

01.26.12 - geoffrey h. - day 3: joyful surprises:
While all of the guests that would be staying at St. Joseph’s over the next week would be reason to rejoice, for me this meant lodging in the large white tent out in back of the guest house chapel. But, in all reality, the tent is a wonderful place to bed down – spacious, serene, and wonderfully cool at night – so I was pleasantly surprised when I learned that this would be my home for the time at St. Joseph’s.   That morning I awoke to a cacophony of roosters calling out – a veritable symphony that was a fitting prelude to the day’s activities. After breakfast it was time for rehearsal in the chapel at St. Joseph’s. The chapel is such a special place – an outdoor room surrounded by verdant plants and Haitian art, with warm light filtering in through the translucent ceiling and a cool breeze always wafting through. Clara and I pulled out our instruments and went to work on some duets – the music filled the air and, we imagined, sounded quite foreign to those in the surrounding neighborhood. When we played the last chords of the Mozart Duet in C Major we were greeted by applause from across the street – through the vines and over the wall of our building were some boys and girls looking on with piqued curiosity. What a joy to see their faces. That afternoon we asked Walnes to find the chalkboard for our lesson and I dragged the cumbersome object upstairs with some helpful hands. When the boys saw it, I could see the disappointment on their faces – this was not supposed to be class! Still, Clara and I had a goal in mind – today we would be teaching rhythms and notation. We were undeterred. Through fits and starts we got the boys to clap duples and triplets, played major and minor chords, and asked them to demonstrate their skills for the group. While some of the boys clearly didn’t think it was too cool to seem interested at all in such frivolity, there were some breakthroughs – and this was satisfaction enough for us. After all, these are teenage boys that have soccer to play buddies to hang out with. We were heartened. As a final component of our class, we asked the boys to brainstorm three adjectives that described their past, present, and future. With some prodding, we got good results that clearly showed their progression from orphaned street boys, to the environment of the SJHB, and their dreams for a bright future. Past – sad and lonely; present – family and happiness; future – independence and success. With these and other themes, we asked Wootrod Joly, one of the SJHB boys, to compose and perform a song set to guitar describing this story in music. We told him he was to perform in just two days at the Family Festival on Friday. With normal teenage boys this would be way too much to ask, but these kids are like rock stars who can do anything they try for. And, Wootrod is a born songwriter. When asked to do this, he seemed nonplussed, but his big grin showed his pride at the assignment. But that was only the beginning. After class, I went downstairs to greet a guest who had just arrived and when I reemerged in the chapel, Joseph had asked Clara for her violin and proceeded to learn and demonstrate Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in less than a minute. From a music educator’s standpoint this is truly unprecedented for beginner that has never laid hands on a violin. Our jaws dropped along with the guests that had gathered to watch our class – and, Joseph was pretty pleased with himself too. In reality, Joseph is a remarkable talent – he cannot read music but plays the piano very well.   So his innate abilities on the violin should have come as no surprise to any of us, but it was, nonetheless, like a miracle to behold. From that moment forward we had captured the attention of a few of the boys – and they were now eager to learn and watch us perform. That evening we all gathered around by the piano downstairs in the guesthouse and took turns handing over our instruments to whoever wanted to try them out. Joseph serenaded us with various selections on the piano and even played a duet of Canon in D with Clara. There was abundant laughter. Outside the workers were clanging away on the balconies and exterior stairwell of the new building. Mind you, when we had arrived literally 48 hours earlier there was no stairwell, only a deep pit, or balconies of any kind – the only access was by rickety ladders.   Now there was a towering 7 story stairwell structure and four balconies running across the entire façade of the building. Whoa – what joyful surprises. 


01.27.12 - lucy d. - january 2012 visit:
I'm back in Haiti with my Haitian family at Wings of Hope. Haiti always amazes me. In this house  even in very difficult circumstances there is such joy and hope. Even though there are so many handicapped children in a non-handicapped house everyone seems to grow and thrive. Today two graduates from Julliard gave a concert for the children that was interactive.  What great joy they brought to the children. All the children were given a chance to play the violin. How much fun they had with that. Geoffrey and Clara  will work with the boys at St. Joseph's the rest of the week and they will also play for the anniversary celebration this weekend. I have been coming to Haiti since 1985 and have known this family all that time. It is so rewarding to see the joy in these homes.  They always seem to find the bright side  all situations. I am looking forward to the 27th anniversary celebration this weekend. I have been privileged to participate in many of them. They truly are my family.

01.25.12 - geoffrey h. - day 2: musique:
Like math, music is a universal language. Cultures all over the world have musical expression, and regardless of social unrest, economic instability, or natural disasters, music can be heard with its many forms of expression easily discerned and the artist’s emotional intent always coming across clearly where words fall short. In the minutes, days, and hours following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, music could be heard in chants and prayers – in mourning at the loss of loved ones and exuberance at having survived one of the worst disasters to strike our planet in recent memory. On Tuesday morning, we got going early and scrambled to arrange our game plan for the morning. KC, Jacky, Renee, and other staff at Wings had been good enough to assemble the kids on the patio for our performance activities and we were eager to make the most of it. We settled on a few duets, some Bach, and some Paganini – all with questions, interaction, and dialogue interspersed. The night before, we has wondered how the kids would react to our music – would it be satisfying, mind-numbing, exciting, or fall flat? Alec Bersch, KC’s brother, was quick to remind us that, unlike many students in the US, these kids and young adults had not had many opportunities to be exposed to string instruments and that they would almost certainly be thrilled. I had to pinch myself – why was I worried or dubious when what I should have been feeling was joy to be exchanging traditions with people that I care deeply about? And, the morning was just that – absolutely joyous. We played our music, the kids laughed, grinned, danced, and drummed. They tried Clara’s violin and gave us the opportunity to learn how our own music and traditions went over in a very different culture. After a visit with the architects for St. Joseph’s and Wings of Hope, we were back at SJHB and just in time for our first music appreciation class with the St. Joe’s boys. Clara developed a wonderful lesson plan for our week and we were eager to test it out. Today would be ‘Who am I? What is art/music?’ and we would be listening to an eclectic assortment, ranging from Crumb to Bartok. The objective, getting into dialogue about what music is and isn’t, what it means to these young men, and what kind of images are conjured up by some really colorful pieces. What we learned from each other is that what professional musicians from the US hear when they listen to Black Angels is strikingly similar to what these Haitian teenagers perceive – war, violence, fear, and, in the end, peace and resurrection. Music is a distraction, helps tell a story, is a means to an end for those seeking fame. Music has to have a tune, words, or rhythm, or some combination of the above. Music can bring joy and amplify sadness. Above all, music is human.

01.24.12 - geoffrey h. - day 1, back to haiti:
Monday marked the beginning of my week-long journey to back to Haiti to spend time with the St. Joseph Family as they commemorate 27 years of transforming the lives of children. This time, however, I am joined by my old friend Clara Lyon, a violinist whom I first met during my days as a Master’s viola student in New York. Clara and are coming to Haiti on a mission of cultural diplomacy aimed at exchanging art and culture with the St. Joseph Family and other local musicians. Clara is a concert violinist who is on track to get her Doctorate in musical arts and has a similar kind of good heart, adventurous nature, and intellectual curiosity that can be found among the many other guests that come and go at the guest houses of the St. Joseph Family. We arrived in Port-au-Prince in late afternoon and were immediately greeted by friendly porters at the airport, all looking for an opportunity to earn some business, but also earnestly interested in helping visitors to Haiti find their way amid the considerable confusion of Toussaint L’Overture airport. After a while, we were met by Ronnie, one of the drivers for the SJF and now and warm, familiar face. We drove over the roads of Port-au-Prince and we both exclaimed at how differently wonderful Haiti is when compared to our own country. There is an air of freedom here, of humanity and openness that is sometimes hard to come by in the States and makes visitors feel at home quickly. While on our way up to Wings, we were lucky enough to first stop by St. Joe’s, where we were greeted with the customary, but always welcome cold glass of water – it’s just one of the many simple ways the SJF makes its visitors feel like they are invited and is astonishingly refreshing in its simplicity. We were immediately whisked off to see the new building, which looms like a massive beacon of positivity behind the guest house. Now virtually complete, workers are laboring day and night to get it ready for the anniversary celebrations later this week. Its brightly painted exterior, which will soon be adorned with Haitian metal art, embodies the spirit of Haiti and the SJF. Then up to Wings we went. I was really excited to see everyone again – and it somehow felt like I had never left when we pulled into the guesthouse driveway. Upstairs were familiar faces and I was delighted to be back. After a meal of baguettes, sausage, kiwi fruit, cheese, and Prestige beer we decided on our performance activities for the next day and turned in for the night. A good night’s sleep never felt better.

01.18.12 - alec b. - two years with Le-Douze;
Friends who may be interested, here are some thoughts that came to me, while reflecting on both the earthquake in 2010, and my time in Haiti since then. What a difference two years can make. If 2011 was the year for accepting and mourning loss, then 2012, hopefully, is the year for renewal, rebirth and celebration. Many people see anniversaries of events like the "Le Douze" as unnecessary reminders of tragic events. For some, it is like pouring salt water on a wound that refuses to heal. And yet for eternally optimistic people, like my sister, Bill Nathan or Michael Geilenfeld, it is a time to celebrate the past while looking towards the future. Two years since the shaking of the earth brought the end of the world to Haiti. Two years since despair and fear encompassed the lives of so many. Two years since new lives began, and two years since people began the process of restoration and renewal. Two years since Le Douze. For last year's anniversary, there were many high profile memorials. Services at the palace, services at the various universities, but there didn't seem to be many small services - not many person to person celebrations. Even with the Saint Joseph's homes, none of the three had an earthquake service. This year though, things were different. Person to person celebrations everywhere, small house churches - and all three of the homes had earthquake memorial services. Perhaps as a collective, the Haitian people are ready to reflect. The Larsons (as in Renee and Jonathan, who were at St. Joseph's for the earthquake but lived, and Renee's husband Ben, who was killed at St. Joseph's) came to Haiti this week. Renee and Jonathan were accompanied by many family members and friends. They held a memorial service at St. Joseph's on "Le Douze", in honor of Ben's life and all others who were killed. Kc and I (as well as anyone else who felt compelled) were invited by the Larson family - even though it was a smaller, more family driven service. For the two of us, it was the first time that we had seen Renee and Jon since the earthquake. And what a privilege it was to be with them for the anniversary of the quake, especially in such a moving, touching service at St. Joseph's. I remember the night before the earthquake quite vividly. The Resurrection Dance Theater were performing in the fifth floor, dedicated for RDTH rehearsal and performance. Many visitors were there - among them the three Larsons, myself and Patrick Henry (a close friend who was visiting from Baltimore). At the time, I was hobbling around on a few broken toes, and Ben Larson (in his lifelong sense of charity) was helping me get off and on the risers. Following the end of the performance, the particular audience (typically made up of people who were guests at St. Joseph's or Wings) gave a rousing ovation, standing to their feet. And as with every RDTH performance hosted at St. Joseph's, Michael ended the night with an invitation for everyone to sing "Lord of the Dance". Two years later, as many people who experienced the earthquake together are back under the roof of the chapel at St. Joseph's, we celebrated the life of Ben and the lives of so many who were lost. We mourned the social ills and trials that Haiti has faced, but praised the strength of character that this country possesses. And lastly, we celebrated the sense of community and faith that binds together all that are connected to the St. Joseph family. In the presence of Michael Geilenfeld, the boys of St. Joseph's, and so many others who have given countless amounts of time and dedication to the St. Joseph family, we ended the two year anniversary memorial the same way we ended that dance theater performance - with joy and celebration, singing "lord of the dance".

December 2011 Postings

12.27.11 john b. - My Haitian Home...

 I have been going to Haiti and staying at the Saint Joseph homes for 25 years, and always it has felt as if I was returning home.  After ten years I had to ask Michael for special consideration: “please, no singing and flowers on my arrival”.  It was too much glorification of me, or maybe beatification of me.  I am more of a back door, sleep on the roof, kind of a guy, and of course Michael totally accommodated my needs: mattress, pillow, blanket and first pick for a good spot on the roof. Hospitality is the hallmark of St Joseph’s, beginning with the children and extending to the guests. On every visit there have been interesting people staying there, missionaries, tourists, or wayfarers and all are treated as though they were returning family. The boys in the beginning carried water and took care of the rooms. They danced and sang and were schooled in the arts. Much in contrast to the general outside population, Saint Joseph’s boys were clean and well fed and all could read and write. It was originally just a few boys and as the years went on the building and population grew and grew. And the love grew. I doubted that it could be sustainable. I even joked with Michael, “ what would happen if Haiti ran out of orphans?”  His answer then and now, even after the horrible earthquake, “God leads and we follow”.  The fallen concrete and broken walls were everywhere. Michael rescued his plants and stacked the concrete blocks into a beautiful rock garden with flowering plants tucked in all around. We sat and sipped cold water as if the earthquake were only a minor disturbance and life would proceed according to God’s will, unquestioned.

12.22.11 renee d. - Wings Christmas Extravananza;

The Wings of Hope Christmas Extravaganza was a huge success. Not only did all the Wings of Hope kids participate, but the joy was extended to children from several neighboring orphanages who were invited to join in the celebration, as well as our brothers from St. Joseph's Home for Boys and Trinity House. The day started out with a Christmas pageant by the Wings of Hope kids and staff. They've been rehearsing for a month and it was fantastic --- from the first message to Mary from the angel Gabriel, all the way to the laughter-filled carnage at the end (what, doesn't every Christmas pageant end with Herod's massacre of the innocents?). Then it was time for dancing, worship, more dancing, singing and generally anyone who wanted to perform to take center stage for their moment in the spotlight. Then on to games, with musical chairs, a limbo contest and an eating contest. Next up, pinatas. And, last, but not least, a visit from Santa Claus! A busy, fun-filled day celebrating family and full of joy! Go to our st. Joseph Family page on Facebook to view the corresponding Christmas photo album.

12.17.11 renee d. - Christmas week at Wings;
Thanks for following the adventures at Wings of Hope this week as we celebrate the holiday season. Next week will be the big Christmas service/pageant/party extravaganza... Go to the following st. joseph facebook page link (below) for pictures...

https://www.facebook.com/stjoseph

friday dec 16 = Sharing the Joy! The annual Wings of Hope Christmas treat give-away. = Friday morning some of the Wings of Hope children and staff walked around the neighborhood handing out 100 "Golden Tickets" to the children of Fermathe. The tickets came with the instructions to come to Wings of Hope in the afternoon for Christmas treats. An hour before the give-away the line, and the excitement, started forming outside the Wings of Hope gates. After the Wings kids quickly ate their lunches, they arranged tables near the gate with all of the cookies they made yesterday and many of the toys left over from the Christmas boutique. With the Wings security guard at the gate for crowd control, the lucky ticket holders were allowed in a few at the time. They were given a bag and got to collect two cookies and several toys before they headed back out the gate and the next group came in. The Wings kids were overjoyed to be able to share Christmas goodies with the neighborhood children. The neighborhood children were very happy, if a little overwhelmed, to be on the receiving end of such generosity by children they have been taught to fear. Hopefully, the gifts of kindness and sharing brightened their season and showed them that kids are all the same, no matter what their abilities are.

thursday dec 15 = Christmas cookie-making day; AKA "It takes a village to bake a cookie" = Today was Christmas cooking-making day at Wings of Hope. It was an all-day process involving 32 kids, a dozen staff and volunteers, four types of cookies, the goal of making 400 cookies and one oven. Our incredible staff made sure everyone participated — not an easy task when working with children and young adults whose bodies don't always function like they want and minds that have a hard time working normally. The adults wrapped their hands around small and misshapen hands to help them follow the steps of combining ingredients, mixing the dough and forming the cookies. Patience reigned as children who have a hard time following directions were taken through the steps one at a time, and repeatedly, so everyone was able to take part. And a cheering section stood around the tables praising each child and each step in the process. Tomorrow comes the joy of being able to share their creations with the children in the neighborhood.

wednesday dec 14 = Christmas Boutique Day!!! ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS!!! = The kids picked each other's names out of a bowl and then "shopped" for gifts for each other. Every kid will have a Christmas sack with seven toys in it delivered by Santa next week during the Wings of Hope Christmas party. After all the kids were done, the employees were allowed to choose for their kids (or kids in their lives). With things still left over, we pulled small toys to give away to the neighborhood kids on Friday with the cookie give-away and put everything else in the regular toy boutique for the Wings kids. We were blessed with abundance of toys this year, which leads to an abundance of giving and joy (both in the giving and the receiving). Thanks to all the groups and individuals who brought toys to us this fall for this special boutique. I was so proud of the kids this year. We've been doing this for a few years and sometimes it is a struggle to get them to understand that they are picking toys for someone else, and not just point out everything that they want (and sometimes try to walk out the door with). This year everyone "got it", and their joy in being able to give and how seriously they took making their decisions about what to pick was amazing to watch. A special shout-out goes to our volunteers and staff who helped organize the boutique and were the personal shopper helpers for the kids.

tuesday dec 13 = Pinata making day at Wings of Hope. They'll be used at the Christmas party next week.

monday dec 12 = It is Christmas prep week at Wings of Hope = daily pageant practice, tree decorating, house decorating, pinata making, cookie baking, neighborhood cookie give-away and Christmas boutique. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

12.06.11 - jane k. - dear sjf;

It was quite an honor to be able to stay at St. Joseph’s house, and to also visit and experience Wings of Hope and Trinity House. Also, it was such a privilege to hear Michael’s, Bill’s, and Renee’s stories of testimony, and to hang out with Walnes and the boys when they were home from school, hear music, and experience the life of the house. And the children at Wings----they are such a joy! No matter what you come to Haiti to accomplish, do, or help with, be prepared to receive more than you can ever give. God is quite well and hard at work in Haiti, and being with SJF one can experience that on a daily basis. It is really difficult to put that into words, actually. From the moment one walks up to the home and is handed a cold glass of water, to worshiping under the leadership of the boys, and with the neighbors, having a fine meal together, to lifting a bucket of rubble or a few, there is a strong feeling of being at home, with the people of God, and feeling comfortable and present to that. There is a lot of tragedy and injustice in Haiti and her history, but being there with the Saint Joseph’s Family gave me a great deal of hope --- easy for me to say perhaps, but there it is.

12.05.11 roy h. - advent good news story;

If anyone knows what it means actually to live on the edge of the Advent tension of hope and fulfillment it is the people of Haiti. Karl Barth once said that the world is filled with parables and we must train our minds to perceive the presence of God in these ordinary human parables. Let me give you a few that I perceived while in Haiti. At Wings of Hope, the home for severely disabled children with whom we are in mission partnership, we met Laza standing erect strapped to a board that supported him. It was disturbing until we learned he could not stand at all were it not for this board supporting him upright. This boy, whose name echoes that of Lazaurus, is severely afflicted with cerebral palsy. Though they love him dearly, his impoverished parents could not care for him, so they brought him to Wings of Hope. I stood next to him with his occupational therapist as Laza strained to control his spasms to touch just the right key on the keyboard. The therapist restrained himself from doing it for him. The courage and hope onLaza’s face broke my heart. When he completed his sentence on that keyboard with a delightful shriek and a twisted smile, I wanted to cry. I witnessed him experiencing the sharp borderline of hope and fulfillment. In this respect his is my mentor. He is a parable of hope pressing on beyond what anyone considers possible. And this is our calling too. At St. Joseph’s Home for boys in Petionville, we spend several days hauling away rubble from the site of the new building. Ours was a bucket brigade, receiving the rubble from those digging it out. It was unglamorous work in the hot sun, yet absolutely necessary. At one point it occurred to me that this is the resurrection from the rubble, one bucket at a time. We all laughed at that thought, then I realized that it was true: on January 28, 2012 the new St. Joseph’s Home for Boys and Leadership Center will be dedicated! This is how the resurrection occurs in ordinary life – not glamorous or heroic, but one bucket at a time. Much of life, including the spiritual life, is lived one bucket at a time. We pay attention to these moments with Laza and with each another day by day carrying our buckets in one large bucket brigade. This is how life is lived as the old world falls away while a new one is coming into being. God’s way is always hidden in one disguise or another.