Author: bryan@bmeyers.net (Page 42 of 101)

Things are pretty much the same as they were in Haiti — bad timing for Easter, as far as the food goes. The Easter meal is a big deal if they can afford it. Haitians never eat meat on Good Friday and that’s a tradition for Catholics and Protestants alike. If they can afford it, they eat fish, not only because “it’s good for you.” There is a old Haitian belief that if you eat meat on Good Friday it will turn to blood, a belief linked to the fact Jesus bled and died on Good Friday.

This year, the the price increases in food and cooking needs affected areas where we work much more than the bigger cities like Port Au Prince. In the rural areas people get by on what they have or by bartering, which is big in Haiti. Thanks in part to our last letter, several on you donated more than usual, and some who give once a year gave more. That helped with everything in our programs; all the extra went to keep the nutrition programs operating.

One other Haitian custom is Rara bands. These are groups of men dressed in colorful clothing and costumes who march through the streets playing from Good Friday through Easter. I can remember hearing my first one – had no clue what it was except a whole lot of noise coming down the street towards where I was. I peeked out a window until I saw it was a band, then couldn’t get close enough quick enough.

Easter is also the time when most schools, including ours, have their spring break. That usually lasts 2 weeks unless something else happens to delay the start, such as the continuing political problems.

May brings us Mother’s Day in Haiti as well as the U.S. In Haiti, it’s always the last Sunday in May, but they call it Mother’s Day month, and always have a special service in church for the Moms. They also have the tradition to wear a flower to honor your Mother – red if she is living and either purple or white to honor a Mother that has passed.

We appreciate everyone for helping offset the increases we have seen this year and for all your prayers. We hope you had a great Easter (it was 80 and sunny in St. Louis) and hope all the Moms have a great Mother’s Day.

Things sure go from quiet to not so quiet in Haiti. Its been “simmering” for some time. The government removed price controls of several different things — gas, beans, and rice, to name a few — things the everyday person depends on, and to say the least it was not a popular decision.

Fuel subsidies have been a part of Haiti since before we started working there. When they announced double-digit increases in gas, diesel, and kerosene, the general public very quickly let them know their displeasure by forming protests. Some protests have turned violent.

Gas is up to $6 a gallon. Since any public transportation is small pickups and buses running different routes, it’s difficult for the driver to buy. It’s even more difficult for those riding, because the driver must raise his prices to offset the price of gas.

Rice is up more than $18 a bag, a small can of dry beans is $7, and the oil we use to cook it all is almost $11 a gallon. Not only does this hurt the everyday person, its also hurting the ministries that operate nutrition programs. After almost 25 years, I don’t think anyone knows the answers to the problems in Haiti — NO human.

Steve had planned a March 8th trip, but the American Embassy sent an email to those on its list, advising a delay for the time being. They do this a lot, but when the Embassy sends its own families back to the U.S., we don’t go. If we were unable to get out to the villages, it would become a waste of money.

The picture is a new one of a class of preschoolers at Beaubrun’s school. Although a smaller group, this picture reminds me of the one sent last month when Alix was this size. You never know what one of these children will grow up to be. Investing in their health (spiritual and physical), providing an education, and giving them tools to face their future, will quite possibly result in one of them changing the things around them.

We hope you all have a great Easter. We appreciate the cards, prayers, and help for our friends in Haiti.