Day 5
Visit to Eglise-Methodist De Nabosse Church
Today was day five of our mission here in Haiti. It was a memorable day because we got to see a part of Haiti that many people don’t think about when they think of Haiti. We took a trip with Pastor Maude to visit the Eglise-Methodist De Nabosse Church up in the hills to the south east of Petit-Goave. Our trip began early at 630AM with a breakfast at Pastor Admirable’s house. Our two drivers arrived with Pastor Maude a little after 730AM.
Group Picture Waiting for Past Maude
I was amazed at the amount of activity going on here for Sunday, out in front of the house at 7AM; people were everywhere. It was exciting to be out in the town again and see the daily lives of people outside of the big City of Port-au-Prince. Many people were dressed in their Sunday clothing and looked very nice. Here are a couple pictures of the activity on the road outside the house and at a local market along the highway.
Activities Outside Pastor Admirable’s House
Local Sunday Market
Our drive up to De Nabosse was quite an expedition with some 4-wheel driving and several stops along the way including getting gas (like crowding around the drinking fountain in grade school), fixing a tire at a roadside auto mechanic that looked more like a homeless camp and adding oil to both vehicles that were in desperate need of engine overhauls. The exhaust looked more black than white and seemed like each used a quart of oil each getting up to De Nabosse.
Getting Gas
Fixing the Spare Tire
Roadside Mechanic
The number of motorcycles here in Haiti is incredible but as a cheaper alternative to buying a vehicle it makes sense. More than 99% of the riders do not wear helmets although I got a picture of one who was actually wearing a helmet.
Motorcycle Rider
As in Port-au-Prince, the amount of roadside garbage is mind boggling. The ditches act like garbage dumps and during heavy rains I’m sure carry the garbage to the sea. In this particular roadside ditch there were goats, chickens and pigs looking for food.
Pigs Along Roadway
As we made our way off of the highway and into the rural undeveloped roads that would eventually take us up to De Nabosse, the landscape was obviously tropical with banana trees and other shrubs . We saw many farm animals scattered throughout the hills. There was much less trash and houses were built like huts with grass or tin roofs and mud and rock walls. Once we left the main highway it looked like there was no electrical power to any of the homes.
Rural Goats
Rural Roadway
Haitian Boy and Horse
Rural Hut
Countryside
Both this boy, riding his mule back from town with a load of flour, and this man, who road to church on his mule, were typical of the people who lived here and either walked or used farm animals to get to town or church. We were told some of the families at church walked from several miles away over the steep hills to get there. Something that is very typical for the rural churches of Haiti.
Haitian Boy and Mule
Haitian Man and Mule
Before coming here, my vision of Haiti wasn’t about how rural it would but of the poverty and squalor in the big cities but it was obvious that rural Haiti is very pretty and many of the people still live without the use of vehicles or electricity including the village at De Nabosse .
Along the road to De Nabosse, it seemed like people get there water from central water systems that may have been installed by the IMC. Many of the Haitians were carrying large containers of water from these locations using their heads or strapped to mules or horses.
IMC Water Supply Well
Rural Haitian Hut
As we climbed steeper into the hills we were treated with a view of Lake Le Tang de Miragoane and the coastline looking back to Petit-Goave.
Lake Le Tang de Miragoane
Lake Le Tang de Miragoane
We arrived at De Nabosse and greeted the church members. They honored us as their guests by having us sit up in front of the congregation. I think we were all somewhat nervous, not knowing what the typical customs were, and especially when we were each asked to introduce ourselves individually in front of the church.
Arriving at De Nabosse
De Nabosse Church
Although not knowing much if any Creole we all got a sense of what a church service was like in Haiti. In addition to Ricardo, there was another church member who spoke very good English and was able interpret some of the sermon with us. We sang several popular songs including Amazing Grace during the service. I think we were all very moved by the service and the hospitality these people showed to us. After the service we served lunch (PB&J sandwiches) and sodas to everyone and then brought out many of the crafts and games we brought for the children. As it turned out many of the adults were just as eager to participate as the children were. Sandy did an amazing job managing the crafts, the kids and even the adults all in a small space at the back of the church!
Sandie After Children's Crafts
Pastor Maude and De Bosse Church
After church the Vashon group posed for a photograph with Pastor Maude at the front of the church.
Vashon United Methodists and Pastor Maude
Ricardo and Bruce
We were then invited for wonderful lunch with Pastor Maude and the church trustees at one of the nearby huts near the De Nabosse. The road getting to this spot was even more treacherous and steep then the one that we drove to get up to the church. At one spot we all contemplated as the car started to roll over we all contemplated getting out and walking the rest of the way. The lunch was a wonderful hone cooked local meal of fried chicken and onions in a Creole sauce, beans and rice, plantain, and bread fruit. The house had some of the most amazing trim work Bob Dixon had ever seen so he had me take a picture of it.
Eating Lunch Together
After lunch we headed back down the mountain more cautiously than we came up. On the way back and close to home here in Petit-Goave we stopped off to the see the new church being constructed at Fond-Doux. It’s similar in size to the one at De Nabosse with bathrooms off of the back. Within minutes of arriving we attracted a crowd of more than 25 children who were as curious about us as we were about them. Nancy engaged them in conversation and took some photographs with them. Everyone was friendly and wanted to know more about us and why we were there.
Fond-Doux Church Interior Construction
Bruce and Exterior of Fond-Doux Church
Haitian Children at Fond-Doux
Nancy at Fond-Doux
I had seen several UN vehicles here as well as Haitian police but hadn’t noticed a Haitian fire truch or ambulance until this one which I took a picture of this one.
Haitian Ambulance
This was a day of memorable sights and sounds and I’m sure one that we will all remember for quite some time. I know I will.
- Bruce Stirling
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