E-mail from Haiti
(General e-mail sent to the whole family)
We're on a dash to Atlanta.
Atlanta Schedule:
Friday . Arrive 7:00 PM. Check in.
Saturday . Go shopping like crazy on Saturday morning and early afternoon.
Meetings at 6:00 PM.
Sunday . Meetings from 9 AM through 7 PM
Monday . Meetings from 8 AM to 6PM . Interviews in the evening
Tuesday . Meetings and Activities 8 AM to 10 PM
Wednesday . Meetings 8 AM to Noon . Then fly to Miami for return trip home on
Thur morning. Hotel - Renaissance Hotel–right on the airport property. The
Seminar will be held here. Phone number 404-209-9999. Fax 404-209-8934.
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
HotlineHaiti
No. 6 . 2 Nov 2000
Greetings to All from Port-au-Prince!
With the Caribbean climate, we don't even know it's November here.
General Conference. What a privilege to participate in General Conference via Satellite at the Stake Center. Over 1500 Haitian Saints were in attendance. We relished every moment from the sensitivity of the music to the power of the spoken word. A remarkable blessing. It is always a delight to see who we know on the screen. Elder Newland's mother sings in the Choir. He had such a good time looking for her.
The Clorox Baby. In some of his talks, Michael has made the comment that his mother dipped him in Clorox when he was little so he's white on the outside but inside he has a Haitian heart. The members love it.
Larry Nelson (a WXHS friend of Joanna, Wm & Mary)on TV. We do have access to the three Utah stations on Satellite. One of the rare nights we turned on the news, there was Larry Nelson, a professor of Family and Child Development at BYU, making a presentation. He was awesome. (Wm, please pass the word.) It brought to mind the many fun gatherings of WXHS friends in our home.
Local Dentists Names. Two of the dentists our missionaries have gone to are Dr. Sincere and Dr. Severe. Who would you choose?
T-Shirt Logos. One can buy all kinds of surplus shirts in the marche. One serviceman who came to deliver gas had on his shirt "Park City Summit Hotel, Marriott Corporation." People just buy what they like without always knowing what it says. Could this be a problem--One of our very fine bishops came into the office wearing a knit sports shirt that said "Budweiser"on the pocket. I didn't have the heart to tell him yet what that means in the U.S. He's kind of a shy jolly green giant.
Traffic Accidents. An elder had a bicycle accident with the local donkey. With Uncle Lyman's wise counsel, an operation was avoided and he's at full strength now.
A relaxing evening. M&M come home at 6:00 PM. For the first time since we arrived, "Let's put our PJ's on and relax. We don't have anything this evening." Nightclothes on! Assistants call–We're bringing two elders to stay at the Mission Home so they can go to the doctor tomorrow (see above). Dress. Another call from the Assistants – "We'll just take the Elders to our apartment. It will be closer to the Doctor's and besides we have to carry Elder Teressant wherever he goes." Relax again. Another call–"President, could you come and jump start the truck. We're down by the airport." And so goes the evening!
Comings and Goings. Our first group of Haitian missionaries returned to their homes. They were exceptional missionaries and we know they will be a strength to their own wards and branches. In fact the Sunday after they returned home, one of the elders called to say he had been called to serve in the branch presidency. A great blessing to feel of their spirits and commitment.
Since October 13, we've served 130 meals to various groups. I may go into the convention business. What a blessing to have someone that takes care of the laundry.
District and Branch Conferences –The Gonaives District Conference (two weeks ago) had 550 saints in attendance. Last Sunday, we visited a branch conference in Port-de-Paix, where the "pirates of the Caribbean" used to hang out. An awesome 25- voice youth choir, all dressed in white and navy with red ties, sang "The Morning Breaks, the Shadows Flee". The branch holds their meetings in an old mansion (of the haunted mansion stature) on a large property filled with tropical greenery. With over 160 people in attendance, the crowd spilled into many rooms and outside. We flew into Port-de-Paix on Saturday. The elders greeted us with a local taxi. Picture a ride in a rickety old beat-up station wagon that the driver had to keep starting. The hotel only takes cash-- $65 US for rooms–and that didn't include your bottled water. Indiana Jones Airline Adventures--However the real adventure started after the branch conference on Sunday when Michael realized at 12:30 P.M. that our flight back to Port-a-Prince was at 1:00 P.M. instead of 3:30 P.M. The elders hailed down the a man who worked with Teleco (the national phone company). Michael and Elder Jones jumped in the back of the truck and I scrambled into the cab as the man graciously gave us a ride to the airport through the water, very large potholes, and over the bumpy road. The plane was going down the runway (continuation of the road we were on) just as we arrived at the airport and it was only 12:50 P.M. Goodbye Plane! What to do with Zone Conferences scheduled the next morning. The next flights out of Port de Paix to Port-au-Prince were in the morning and were full. We hopped the next plane leaving for Cap Haitien hoping there would be flights from there to Port-au-Prince. Sure enough, there was a plane leaving for Port-au-Prince in 20 minutes. The challenge, the airline didn't accept credit cards. Elder Jones and Michael put all their money together to come up with the $165 US needed. They were short and we were rushing to beat the clock. Elder Jones came up with some pesos that were exchanged by a local bystander for gourdes. [He made a little profit–the bystander that is.] Yes, we took the last three seats on the plane. A stunning flight with a rainbow gracing the sky as we flew over the ancient Citadel. Michael's suitcase had been left in the Elders truck with his cellular so we couldn't call for a ride home. Find a taxi! Whew! Zone Conferences Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Elder Jones flew home Wednesday afternoon. We fly to Atlanta tomorrow.
Elder Spencer V. Jones. Elder Spencer V. Jones, an area authority assigned to the Caribbean, was here twice for both the District and Port-de-Paix Branch Conference. He is tireless in his efforts to strengthen and build the Church here. He has a great love for the work and a vision of what can take place here as the leaders are strengthened and trained. It was a blessing to have him in our home.
Frantzsaint. Frantzsaint, one of our guards, said his dream is to become a member of the Church.
Madam Joseph orphanage. Madam Joseph, one of the top officials at Teleco here, started this orphanage for children who lived in Hinche–her hometown. This is the "shared spoon" orphanage [see Kouri article in June Ensign] where the children were patiently taking turns eating with one spoon. [One of the secretaries in the Area Office in Altlanta read the article and gathered eating utensils through her ward and stake for the children. We went to deliver these utensils with the Kouris.] These children had been abandoned by their parents who had gone to Santa Domingo to work in the cane fields. Madame Joseph gathered them up and brought them to Port-au-Prince so she could work with them. The children, ranging in age from three to sixteen, are in temporary quarters while a new orphanage is being built. The Kouris, LDS Charities missionaries, had worked with Madam Joseph to obtain some food supplies. They have been to the orphanage several times so the children knew them and were excited to see them. The children were all sad when Madam Joseph told them that the Kouris would be going home to Canada. (Madam Joseph is also a pastor and has taught the children hymns and prayers.) They sang "How Great Thou Art" for the Kouris and a little boy offered a remarkable prayer. There wasn't a dry eye in the house. Later Madam Joseph told the Kouris that the children wanted to walk to the airport to tell them goodbye. [The Kouris flew home on the 25th Oct.]
Joanna Quote. This had such a profound message of the importance of the "real eternal" work being done in the home that I wanted share it. (Hope this is OK Joanna) She wrote, "I really enjoyed going to the temple when we were up in Dallas a few weeks ago. Sometimes I feel like I am so out of place in the world–since I have so many young children and I'm not all dressed up in a business suit–and my nails are not manicured, etc. Anyway, when I was in the temple, I felt like I had found a place where I feel like I belong. I feel like I am special and honored when I am in the temple even if I don't feel honored in the worldly sense. And I thought that when I meet the Savior, I'd rather not have manicured nails and soft, smooth hands; I would feel more comfortable if my hands are worn from laboring to serve and from trying to bless my family. Just a thought." Bless all of you dear mothers and fathers!
Our gratitude and appreciation for so many blessings continues to grow. What a profound gift and blessing is the gospel and all that it entails. Grundles of love, The Haiti M&Ms
_
Port-au-Prince, Haiti HotlineHaiti No. 5 .
Dear Ones,
What happened to September? Here it is General Conference Weekend. For the first time in 27 years, Michael has not been involved with preparing music for General Conference and won't have a list to check. We'll be listening to Conference with our Haitian members at the Stake Center, even though we can get it at our home..
Arrival of Makayla Ann Moody, 1 September. As we wrote to Makayla Ann, "When your Daddy called us, we were coming home from a trip in the country side and had just come from the most densely populated part of downtown Port-au-Prince to the very center where the President's Palace is. The cellular phone rang announcing the news of your arrival while Grandpa and Grandma M were getting some US $ at Chatelain Travel and Exchange Service. Grandpa was talking loudly to be sure your Daddy could hear. When we told the clerks at the desk that we had a new pitit, pitit (grandchild), they were excited too." We hope you have all checked her out on the www.geocities.com/j_kmoody/FamPics.html.
The Food Planet. To celebrate Makayla's arrival, we stopped at "The Food Planet," one of two commercial fast food places in Haiti, and had an ice-cream cone. They have the one commercial bathroom "to die for" in Haiti so far. It is as neat and clean as can be. Everything works. It has soap and towels too! Luxuries. (In fact everything is a luxury here.)
Travel to St. Michael. The District Presidency said it was just a little way out of town. Well hours later and having made at least 16 river crossings, we started back a different way. The scenery was absolutely spectacular. The roads? Have you ever gone sliding on a muddy road? But what an adventure! It was breath-taking. And we're still alive.
Anniversary Dinner at the Montana. As lovely a restaurant as you would find, in a five star hotel surrounded by lush tropical vegetation, and with a gorgeous view of Port-au-Prince.
All Mission Conference (September 16) The mission tour of President & Sister Devin Cornish lifted all of the missionaries here. His talent for giving guidance and correction in a most congenial manner blessed all of us. He and Michael went out with the missionaries to visit investigators, new members, & families. Elder Cornish relishes working with third world countries. Sister Cornish is a delight. She helped make 100 sack lunches along with some of the missionaries while Elder Cornish and Michael were conducting business. They even changed the sheets on their bed before they left. Imagine that!
Elder Cornish made this observation: He said, "To get a perspective, think of this–maybe in 20 years or 40 years some of your children's, children may say to you, Grandpa & Grandma you were pioneers. You lived in the days when there were only 100 temples on the earth."
Michael Joseph, Photographer. He took digital pictures of all our missionaries while he was here. These were compiled into a booklet along with the addresses of the missionaries and the conference program for each missionary.
Temple Dedication. It was a great privilege to participate in the dedication of the Santo Domingo Temple via satellite in our stake center here. Over 600 members were able to participate. Michael was a little disappointed with the attendance, but after the final session ended, President Francillon, a member of the Stake Presidency commented that "now the Brethren will know that there are over 600 people in Haiti who are worthy to attend the temple." Sister Perpetue Robert, whose picture is in the September 23 Church News article on the dedication, has been tutoring us in Creole. Her comment in the Church News is profound: "There has been a history of trouble between our two countries, but when we are in the celestial room of this temple there will be no Dominicans, no Haitians -- only daughters and sons of our Heavenly Father." A number of our Haitian Saints who went to Santo Domingo were seated in the Celestial Room for the first session. The first couple to be sealed in the temple were Brother and Sister Paul Jean Baptiste from Port-au Prince. It was also a significant blessing that translators from Haiti had the privilege of being in the temple and understanding the operation of a temple dedication. The opposition worked hard to keep them from going.
Back to the States. November 3 we fly into Atlanta for a Mission Presidents Seminar and will return November 9. Wal-Mart here we come!
Stake Conference. Brother Lloyd W. Jones, Stake Conference visitor Sept 10. The chapel was filled to overflowing. Elder Jones said it was the first time he'd ever seen people looking through the windows to participate in the meeting. We enjoyed his spirit and direction. The Stake Presidency and their wives joined us for dinner Saturday evening. In the conference session , he challenged the stake presidency to hold two sessions of conference next time, and to prepare to divide the stake. He taught of the necessity of having the spirit. If you had died, what message would you give your children if you were to come back? "Tell the people to be humble and faithful, to get the spirit of the Lord. Do not turn away from the still small voice." Brigham Young. "Tell the people to get the spirit of the Lord." Wilford Woodruff.
Clorox Hands. Having been blessed with the luxury of an automatic dishwasher since 1976, I've been appreciating it a lot more as I put on my rubber gloves to do the dishes. Of course my companion is right there to help and we have it down to a system–the "Moody Two." The missionaries get to help us when they are here. Men anpil chay pa lou. (Many hands make light work.)
Visiting the Roberts' home. It was a privilege to walk in a tiny home with open doors and windows, and feel spirit of the Gospel. Here was Perpetue's mother, a fine seamstress who makes her own patterns after seeing a picture, using her treadle sewing machine in the dusk about 5:30 PM. She would soon quit sewing because there is no electricity. She is a regal, noble sister who radiates the spirit of the gospel.
Visit to Arcahaie. This village is proud to be the home of Haiti's Betsy Ross, who made the Haitian flag. Sadrac Petithomme, one of the men the Kouris (our humanitarian couple) have trained, took us around–first to the countryside to see the produce growing from the seeds that had come from LDS Charities, next, for an amazing walk through the teaming marché (what an experience!), and finally to the town hall to meet and have our picture taken with all three mayors of the area. We were treated like VIPs, mainly because of the good name the Kouri's have established for the Church through their widespread efforts.
Les Cayes. We attended the branch conferences of two burgeoning branches here. Michael interviewed 20 men to receive the Melchizedek priesthood, and about 12 prospective missionaries. Michael also interviewed the six full-time missionaries while Maria led the sharing of favorite scriptures and hymns offered by the rest of the group. It's a great privilege to be taught by the missionaries.
Music in the Church. All singing in church here is done without accompaniment because none of the buildings has/have a keyboard instrument. There is work to do, President Moody.
Grimalda's. I ventured to Grimalda's for a hair trim. Wowie, did she ever use a hot blow dryer to straighten and turn under my hair. It was an upscale place–a Haitian man washed my hair and massaged my head (I almost went to sleep). Coffee was offered, and everything was first class, including the price.
Missionaries. Seven new Haitian missionaries (four elders and three sisters) came on the September 28th to stay overnight so they would be ready to go the to the MTC in Santo Domingo the next morning. Two of the group are paying for their own missions, which is almost unheard of here. One of the sisters had her own printing business and was in school studying psychology but felt impressed that she should serve a mission. Her non-member sister agreed she would run the business while she was gone and make the $375 contribution. Michael is encouraging all new Haitian missionaries to pay as much as they can.
A Strange Twist. Michael handed one of the elders his call letter on the way to the airport to receive his MTC training to serve in Haiti. As we approached the airport he humbly said "President Moody, this says I am called to the Fiji Suva Mission and to report at the New Zealand MTC on January 21, 2000." At the airport Michael called Salt Lake City, and they said we could still send him to Santo Domingo to receive his endowments. It's all working out, and he will probably be speaking French in New Caledonia, part of the Fiji mission.
Blessings. One day before the temple dedication Michael needed to get information to all the branch leaders, and most of them don't have a telephone. During the day, one by one, they either came to the office or someone from their area came that could take the message.
Visitors. Brother Vasquez visited us from Puerto Rico to review membership/baptism records. Brothers Bruce Carter (Church Distribution), and Kevin Lowell (Church finances) were here this week. Michael was very impressed as Brother Lowell met with the head of one of the banks here and represented the Church so beautifully. He is working on a system to allow missionaries to go to a local bank and get their monthly allowance. Chester Hixon, the head of Scotia Bank in Haiti, was impressed that Dad knew of the Mr. Yunus (there's a man named Unis?)and the Grameen Bank micro-loan program.
As Bugs Bunny says, That's all folks.
Love, Michael & Maria
30 August 2000
Haiti, Mission Home
Greetings to One and All,
Last night we awakened after midnight and sat on our large bedroom balcony to watch Mother Nature's "Stadium of Fire" show. There were constant serges of lightning, one after another, mostly couched behind a spectacular display of billowy clouds resting below a starlit sky. Occasionally a clear bolt of lightning would burst through the clouds in slow motion, but there was no thunder–only the symphony of crickets singing in a variety of sounds and colors, punctuated by the barking of dogs.. The beauty and variety of it all were more than we could take in.
All is well in Haiti even though our A-1 Mission Tutor, List Recorder, Driver, E-mail & Letter Sender, Butler, Chef, Photographer & Equipment Organizer, Speaker of Creole and French, Testimony Bearer, Missionary Companion Sub had to return home for school. Michael J does have a video in his possession of our surroundings so if anyone wants to see it just plan a gathering and invite him to be the guest presenter for the true details of life in Haiti.
We've been without phone service in the Mission Home for three weeks, but the telephone company is reportedly working on it. Thank goodness for cellular phones. Michael carries one with him most of the time. One of the mission office lines also continues to work. We're still working on our own internet service within the next year or so .
One of the missionary couples here goes to the Hotel El Rancho three times a week for swimming and tennis. We have taken up table tennis instead and just finished our first round. We are also taking early morning walks and doing a little exploring. The sunrises are spectacular.
Today we are going to the American Ambassador's home for a Wardens' Meeting. Michael is considered the warden for all of the U.S. missionaries here. It will be interesting to find out who the wardens are here and what the agenda is. It will also be interesting to see his home, which is on a huge, landscaped property.
Each day we gain new insights in our "comings and goings" in the mission field. It is unique to be on the end of sending returning missionaries home and receiving new missionaries from the MTC. It is quite exciting as you visualize the greeting awaiting them and the excitement of their families to see them and the missionaries trepidation of what will it be like when I return home, how do I look in my suit jacket after two years which is bigger on me than it was. One of our dear elders returned back to the financial secretary the final two allotments of his missionary funding that he hadn't used. (Others struggle to make ends meet).
We've just about completed our visits to all the wards and branches in the mission. There are many beautiful chapels, with others under construction. We can hardly keep up with the growth. We have more members and investigators than there is room for them. (See below)
Today Brother Scott Poulsen from headquarters will be here to see that the satellite is in place for the broadcast of the dedication of the Santa Domingo Temple–the ninety-ninth temple. This weekend we are off to Gonaive (one of the bumpiest rides in the mission ). Next week is the Port-au-Prince Stake Conference and we will be hosting Elder Jones, one the Area Authority Seventies. He has asked us to speak in Stake Conference.
The following weekend will be the mission conference culminating with the satellite broadcast of the temple dedication. Elder Cornish, counselor in the Area Presidency, and his wife will be here with us. Were just finishing working out the details. All our missionaries, over half of whom have never been to the temple, will be able to attend the satellite broadcast of the dedication at our stake center. What a remarkable blessing!
We thought you'd be interested in a letter written by one of our Haitian elders:
Dear President Moody Dear Sister Moody
The pleasure is mine to write you. How are you doing? I hope everything is great for you. Thank you for all words you said to me the conference zone. I can see you are the blesses for Haiti. You have so more charities, more loves in your discours. Your words are the words of God. Every day I pray my Father in Heaven for you that protect you and bless you. I love you so much. This week we work so hard for win the work of God. Every day I ask me Him, his Holy Spirit cause I know without his Holy Spirit we can't win his work. This month we have 8 baptisms. We hope to have more again. Every Sunday we have 140-150 persons or people assisted [attends] sacrament meetings. We don't have any chairs. We need more. Please President help us. I have never sit, I have 3 months here. . . Good work! Good work! Work hard. Brotherhood, Elder Charlemagne Petit Goave, 31 juillet 2000
Love, Love, Love The Haitian Moodies
Greetings to all.
Time is flying and we are flying. Michael and Michael flew on a 17 seater to Cap
Haitian. It was a 45 minute flight. The sights from the plane were majestic and
intriguing. Lots of little villages nestled in the rugged mountains. Bigger
cities in the valleys. A bolt of lighting not far from the plane. They also saw
the Citadel. In Cap Haitian Dad presided at a Branch Conference.
We attended the baptism of the Joseph family. Her father was a prominent military leader with a past president. Interestingly, when we went into their home hanging on the wall was a full collection of the royal Copenhagen Christmas plates. Her aunt had imported them in and sold them in a shop in Haiti. Small World. Uncle Alten gave one of these plates to Grandma T. each Christmas.
We went with the Humanitarian Service missionaries( the Kouris) to a village a week ago. It was right out of National Geographic. We met a young twenty-four year old man, Pierre, who has organized this and many other villages in an attempt to improve the quality of life. He has worked with Brother and Sister Kouri to get tin roofs on their school rooms instead of thatch roofs, so they can have their literacy program regardless of the weather. It was touching to see a seventy year old woman bring her reading books to the class. This same village is involved in a pig project. There were twenty little pigs in a pen. One pig was stuck in a hole in the wall. They gently pushed his face out. Pierre's mother was a seamstress in a little shack. In a very small room without doors she had her Singer treadle machine and was not only making dresses for others but also teaching some to sew. After we had been there, they brought some coconuts from their tree. They used a machete to chop the ends off so we could enjoy coconut milk. Imagine me and dad drinking straight out of a coconut. Pierre cut the soft coconut meat out of the shell so we could eat it. Next time they will climb the coconut tree while we are there and pick them fresh for us. The humanitarian missionaries have really been a blessing as they have worked with various groups. "They teach them how to fish, they don't just give a fish to them" Accounting classes have been set up to give them business skills.
Dr. and Sister Petersen arrived Monday and left Thursday. They are a delightful and fun couple who live just above Uncle Milton in Provo. They are assigned to help the seven missions in the Carribean with medical needs.
We took them to our Zone Conference meetings and they talked about cleanliness and Clorox. We were taught to wash fruits, vegetables, everything in a Clorox solution. He taught missionaries how to avoid diarrhea through simple things such as washing hands, cleaning apartments, etc. He instructed them to eat fruits and vegetables to remain healthy. Dehydration is problem in these missions because missionaries don't drink enough water. MJ can instruct all interested parties on how to increase their longevity.
It was a privilege to attend the zone conferences and feel the spirits of the missionaries. We spent twelve hours on the road in our comings and goings to zone conferences. The irony is we only traveled less than 250 miles.
Tomorrow we will be attending and training at a district conference in
Leogane.
Love to all. The M's of Haiti
DEER ONES–
We are doing wonderfully. This past weekend we had all of the Zone Leaders
in our home for some training President and Sister Moody did wonderfully.
The food was top notch. We also had the Joseph Family in our home for the
6th missionary discussion on Tuesday evening. We had more cake and it was
delicious. Michael has become the mission cook replacing his invalid
mother. "Michael prepared a pancake breakfast for all the Zone Leaders. An
evening meal featuring Haitian haystacks...that is Hawaiian haystacks sans
chicken but with peanuts and avocados added to the long list of condiments.
He also served Aunt Liz's special beans and rice. An Italian noodle dish
was served to Sister Lefevre who had come for MTC training at the mission
home." Mother has pinched a nerve in her weightlifting. She was doing
pectoral work outs with 50 lbs weights in each hand.
We watched greatness as we attended the funeral of Brother Dely. He was a
young father and second councilor in the Petionville Ward. Sister Dely sang
with the ward choir during the funeral. Brother Dely's parents were upset
with her because she refused to take her husband to the voodoo witch
doctors. She said to them we are Christians and I will take him to the
local hospital. He was diagnosed with liver cancer. They sang "The Lord is
My Shepard" and "Be Still My Soul." His parents have asked her to leave
their home. She has two young children to take care of, she is full of
faith and courage for the future.
Do you remember the scene in The Matchmaker (Hello Dolly) where Barnaby and
whatshisname have to jump in the closet to hide from the Horace
Vanderguilder. I had the same experience when Ben was cleaning the house
and came into our room while I was changing. I jumped into my walk-in
closet and shut the door. Dad told me when it was safe to come out.
KUTV special on Healing Hands for Haiti: For all interested parties there
will be or was a special on KUTV about Healing Hands for Haiti. Mom and Dad
attended the grand opening of their new clinic. Michael J. helped hold the
microphone for the segment at the orphanage. It may be in the next few days
or we might have missed it. Questions or concerns can be addressed to
Jonathan Wyatt at 292-1549
One of our District Presidents does not own a vehicle. In his
responsibilities he covers the Northern half of the island. He uses buses or
taptaps to get around. This weekend dad and Michael will be going to Leogan
and then to Cap Haitian. Dad will preside over a branch conference in Cap
Haitian and Michael will stay in Gonaive to work with the Zone leaders for 9
days.
The mountains in Haiti are gorgeous. If you think your mountains are
spectacular wait until you come and see ours. They are magnificent
witnesses to God's creation. The fresh air is invigorating. July 25th
fireworks were provided by Mother Earth and Daddy Sky. Black Mountain was
covered with clouds and the thunder gods were battling. Lightning bolts
jolted across the sky. We witnessed lights in the clouds and the
illumination of the evening sky by numerous lightning bolts. It was
awesome. We even got live film footage, our first in Haiti.
We drove up to the peak where President Monson dedicated the land for
missionary work in 1983. It has an impressive overview of the valley. We
also visited the Mountain Made Self Help Mission (Baptist Mission) and found
bagels and other delightful treats. Surprises for each of you. Dad was so
pleased to buy 20 postcard for $1.40 Haitian ($.35 U.S.) Of course they
were all the same and on sale. You will probably be getting one from him
soon.
Love Love Love
Your Haitian Family
MTM:mjm
Editors note: Michael acting as scribe takes all responsibility for
exaggerated details of house size, weight sizes, etc. I also take full
responsibility for grammatical errors and overuse of descriptive adjectives.
Dear Family Members,
Greetings from Haiti! What a remarkable adventure. Port-au-Prince is a
city teeming with people selling their wares in the streets. Tap-taps,
buses, huge cement trucks, cars all share the streets with the people. You
also see pigs, goats, and chickens. The Assistants drove us around for
about two days. Then Michael took over the wheel and has been doing a super
job. There are no traffic lights. You just flit in and out. After I had
been holding onto the handles and saying watch out for this person or that
person, Michael told me it would be better to just relax rather than be
stressed out. "After all if you are in accident, it is better to be
relaxed." So I'm working on relaxing. It's coming along. There are very
few street signs. You just have to get a feel for it.
Roads: There are a few roads that are cemented and have cement dividers down
them. There are other roads that are washboards. We went to Zone
Conference over a washboard with tons of potholes–it was like riding on the
old Stauffer machines for losing weight. Another road was a little like
driving on Highway 1 on the Pacific Coast–absolutely gorgeous as you look
out at the ocean. There is one road that goes over seven river beds. Two
of the elders returning from Zone Conference got stuck in the middle of a
river bed and had to be towed out. Sometimes it feels like we're with
Indiana Jones on his adventures.
Home: We live above Port-au-Prince in a huge home. It's probably 4 times
the size of our upstairs level. There are 15 rooms, numerous large
hallways, foyers, entrances, two stairways, seven bathrooms--but only four
have bidets! It includes a large living room with a piano, a dining room
with a hutch (I told Michael it reminded me of the one in Murder by Death).
Our bedroom would be the size of our Master Bedroom and the current guest
bedroom in our Bountiful home. The master bathroom area is bigger than our
bedroom and bathroom area combined. One of the elders commenting on the
master bedroom said it looked like it belonged to the President of the U.S.
There are three bedrooms for incoming/outgoing missionaries with a total of
eight beds. Another bedroom is designated as the general authority room.
Hey, we could hold a family reunion here.
Thanks to President and Sister Miller, the mission home has individual air
conditioning units and fans in a number of the rooms. A new generator was
put in. The electricity goes off from about 7 AM to 4 PM. The generator
kicks on. The guards turn it off when we aren't here to conserve on the
fuel. Things like the refrigerator, freezer, computer are on an inverter
system which keeps them functioning whether or not the generator is on.
There are also a washer and dryer here. We wash the dishes and fruits and
vegetables always with a CLOROX wash. Big bottles of Aquafine water are
delivered weekly for drinking.
Yard: Outside there are tropical plants, huge coleus plants, pine trees,
an avocado and a lime tree with tiny limes. There are balconies all around
the second level. Sunsets are stunning sitting out on the balcony. We can
look up from the balcony and see the mountain where President Thomas S.
Monson dedicated this land in 1984. We also have a little lizard family.
Any suggestions for lizard names. (Michael J told me that in his travels
through Haiti that he saw lizards about a foot to a foot and a half long
that looked like little alligators..) There is a large patio where the
swimming pool once was. And guess what, the good news is that we have a
tennis table. The bad news, there is no net, balls, and only a half paddle.
We'll see if we can remedy that .
Neighborhood: There are a number of very large homes around us–several
embassy homes. We've been exploring during our early morning walks and have
found two little fern forests, two spots where tropical plants are being
grown for sale. There are also areas of squalor not so far away. Again the
contrasts are something to ponder.
Guards: Ben, Franz-St., and Marcelin are the security guards. Ben also
comes in on Monday and Friday mornings to clean the floors, bathrooms, and
make the missionary beds as needed. He is a gentle soul. Franz-St is
working to teach us Creole.
5:30 A.M. 12 July NEWS Flash!!!! Our boxes arrived yesterday afternoon.
The company who was supposed to have delivered them to our home said that it
would be easier if the Assistants could load the items in their truck. The
Assistants had gone to the airport to work with Customs. So feature a
pick-up truck loaded with boxes–all tied in driving along the bumpy roads.
Michael F. had to go in another car to bring a few boxes too.
MJ: Michael has traveled across Haiti with Brother Chad Lowe. They went
from one side of Haiti to the other. He traveled a road we haven't been on
yet–a six hour ride on the bumpiest, hardest ride he had been on.
Magnificent scenery. They went with the physical facilities brother to
check on some of the outer church units. Sometimes you fly there instead of
drive. Today he is going with Brother and Sister Kouri, the humanitarian
missionaries, to an orphanage. What a blessing to have him here. He is
also tutoring us and helping us to understand the missionary program. We
are grateful for his assistance.
In the next installment, we'll tell you about the office and missionaries
and the Church here. Briefly, we've been in three different wards here.
Wherever you go, you are at home. We spoke in one of the wards. One of the
Relief Society meetings was as well-conducted and taught as many that I have
been in at home. (This was in a long established ward.) One of the Church
buildings was in good repair. Several others we have been in were not.
That may become an area of teaching. We've also attended our first zone
conferences and visited with all the missionaries. We'll be traveling this
weekend. Dr. Petersen, who is the Caribbean doctor for the missions, will
be here in August and will go with us to our Zone Conferences.
What a privilege to be here and to look into the faces of these pioneer
saints. Some are so well-seasoned in the Church and most are just
beginning.
Love, love to all!!
The 3 Haiti M's
P.S. Thanks to all who brought goodies and helped with our open house. You
are life savers, bless you.