ANOTHER BLESSED SUCCESS!!

IT HAPPENED AGAIN!!  An amazing expansion of partnership and commitment to work with people in rural Haiti to help with their community development and transformation occurred September 14!!  Well over 100 people gathered at the SOHO Kitchen and Bar in Cleveland to raise funds for a community-managed well in the village of Gabo.  (This link will take you to a post about Gabo.)

The amount raised was double the 2013 campaign and will provide the entire $15,000 needed for construction of a well for the village.

Members and friends of Forest Hill Church, friends of friends and visitors from out of town were .   Everyone had a great time meeting people, making new connections and hearing some details about Haiti Outreach, whose staff of Haitian community "animators" and construction work every day to deliver community organization and management for operation new sources of clean, safe water to very thirsty people.  Just think: We build community here while raising resources for the capital costs of a new well while our partners at Haiti Outreach build community while putting those resources to work bringing health and saving lives in Haiti.  There is rejoicing and thanksgiving at both ends of this transaction!  

Here is some evidence.

Sharing doggy care information

Selling a painting contributed by Matt Smith

Four quilts were sold, one for $1,100! 

Blown glass vase contributed by Mark Sudduth

The total sale amount of contributed art was matched by an anonymous donor!

Neil Van Dine, Director Generale of Haiti Outreach in Pignon, described for us how the well inauguration ceremony is done. 

Here is Dale Snyder, Executive Director of Haiti Outreach, describing a successful well operation in La Fontan and the difference a community managed well makes.

According to a report received on September 15, the well digging has started and the management training is going forward.  Inauguration of the well in Gabo will be set soon for a date in October or November.  People from here are invited to travel to Haiti Outreach in Pignon, Haiti to attend that inauguration celebration.  That event will be announced at Forest Hill Church and on this blog when the details are decided.  Anyone who would like more information about making that trip should contact one of the following persons: Jeff Smith, Deanne Lentz or Kermit Lind.

To all who participated in this amazing gathering of resources, THANK YOU.

To anyone who would like to join this mission program, WELCOME.

--kjl

A WORD FROM DALE SNYDER TO FOREST HILL CHURCH

Dale Snyder is Executive Director of Haiti Outreach.  He recently spent a few hours in Cleveland with Deanne Lentz, Jeff and Ann Smith, and Kermit Lind.  Dale told us about how he got involved with Haiti Outreach and we told him about how the Forest Hill Church Haiti mission has developed.

At the end of our visit, Dale made a statement intended for the Forest Hill Church community about its fundraising event for a well in Gabo, Haiti.  Here it is.

A Word From Dale Snyder

Here is a video of Dale telling the story of the well managed by the community of La Fontan and the difference access to clean, safe water is making. 

La Fontan Community Well Video

WHERE IS GABO AND WHAT IS GOING ON THERE?

The little village of Gabo, Haiti is not an easy place to find on a map.  First, it helps to know something about how Haiti is organized. 

The Republic of Haiti is divided administratively into ten departments. The departments are further divided into 42 arrondissements, and 140 communes.    In the Arrondissement of Hinche, look for the Commune and Municipality of Maissade. 
(This link will help.) (Here is a map with Maissade located.)

The Commune of Maissade is divided into three administrative districts, one of which in the northern area is called Hatty.   (Here is what I could find about Hatty.)  Notice that there is not much reported about this very remote, rural spot on the globe.  The village of Gabo is located in the District of Hatty.

According to the census taken by its newly formed well management committee, Gabo is a village of 241 persons in 40 households.  Water source(s) are miles away and not safe for human use.  Most households have latrines, although they may or may not be sanitary.  

Taking a census is an exceptional event in any part of Haiti.  It is one of the very first community development tasks that Haiti Outreach trains the local well management committee to do.  It is not only a matter of counting all the people; it is also a way for the the committee members to establish themselves as responsible and accountable community leaders of the entire project.  

Here are some photos Haiti Outreach provided to show us the transformation going on in Gabo right now.

This young woman is filling her water bucket for the long trek back home.

A community meeting about the community managed well.

 Learning to lead with authority, responsibility, accountability and transparency 

requires serious education with Haiti Outreach staff organizers and teachers.

You are invited to participate in this partnership with the residents of Gabo.  

• Attend the fundraising event on Sept. 14 at SOHO.  Click on this link for your invitation.

• Make a donation to the Gabo community managed well project payable to Forest Hill Church - Haiti well project at Forest Hill Church, 3031 Monticello Blvd., Cleveland Heights, OH 44118.

• Learn more about the sustainable development mission of Haiti Outreach and its Adopt-A-Well program from this website.

--Kermit Lind