Over the past month I’ve been trying to spend as much time as possible in Meno. Splitting my time between the city, Jacmel, and Meno has worked out nicely as Tim’s schedule has slown down considerably and he’s had time to journey up the mountain for a few visits.
About 2 weeks ago as I was walking along a dirt path, returning to my host family’s house, a trail of young children came tearing out of my neighbor’s house, pleading for me to take their picture. I had no idea why today of all days they were set on posing in front of the camera. Since I was sweaty and tired, I politely made an excuse and said I would take their picture another day. As a final plea, the mother of the house came out and asked if I wanted to see the new baby. My friend Nadj, whom I would ask almost every day, when she was going to fè piti la, make the little child, had given birth just the day before. Now it all made sense. I went to get my camera and we took pictures, not only of beaming mother and child, but all members of the household performing their respective activities.
Nadj, overjoyed, gazing at her day old son. Nadj lost her first baby just a few minutes after it was born, an ocurance all too common in Haiti. The infant mortality rate here is 71.65 deaths per 1,000 live births, the highest in the Western Hemisphere. Even when women know they are experiencing complications in child birth, they often wait 2-3 days before going to the doctor (usually too long to save the child or the mother) because they do not have money to pay for the medical services. I’m so glad Nadj, with the help of the local midwife, was able to deliver her son without any complications.
Most of the rest of Nadj’s family, her father is standing back center, and the rest are sisters, nieces, and nephews.
Here you can see Nadj’s father, Jan, making charcoal, a common practice in the countryside. As one of the very few options to make a little money, rural peasants cut down precious trees, stack the wood under soil and leaves, light it on fire, and let it smolder for a few days. They take the end product, charcoal, to sell as cooking fuel in the city. Haiti is over 98% deforested, which has lead to soil erosion, desertification, and dangerous flooding during tropical storms. While most people are aware of the environmental problems associated with cutting down trees, they precede simply to survive. People live in absolute poverty and cook with the most affordable resource, wood-they don’t have to pay a monetary fee to cut down their own trees. In the cities, the majority of people cook with charcoal (made from wood) unless they are able to afford a gas burning stove and the cost of refilling the gas tank.
Odet, Nadj’s mother, and sisters were busy making akansann, a corn derivative, that I wrote about in a former post entitled Living on Less that a Dollar a Day. Here you can see the yellow corn gum and the way they package it inside of plantain leaves. They sell three of those for 5 gouds, or 13 cents.
It seems hard to believe that 5 years ago I began my own apprenticeship in rural Haiti. I still vividly remember those first days and all of the excitement and nerves. Those same feelings came back to me over the course of past few weeks as I installed our two newest apprentices into their new host communities. I am happy to report all three apprentices–Kim, Cara, and Leah–are doing a wonderful job and are to be commended for their willingness to step out of their own culture to experience the rigors of another. Their host families and communities are to be commended as well for receiving them with such hospitality. I can say with confidence that all three apprentices are in good hands! Here is a picture of Leah and her host family the Sen Jeans. (Sen Jean, Leah, Madam Sen Jean, Kikit, Roosevelt)
Meet our two newest apprentices:
Kim Montroll
Before moving to Haiti with Beyond Borders Kim Montroll lived in Washington D.C. and worked as Co-executive director of Good Shepherd Ministries, an organization which seeks to build and provide authentic community and quality educational opportunities for children in need. She has a B.A. in Geology, a 
Masters in Agronomy, and a Law Degree from Vermont School of Law. She comes to us from the Washington D.C. faith community Church of the Savior. In addition to two previous trips to Haiti Kim has also traveled to Europe, India, and Nicaragua.
Kim is currently living the rural village of Lazil, a community in the mountains of Fondwa, Haiti. Her host parents (pictured here) are Belange and Be-Mari Desir. When asked about her interest in the Apprentice in Shared living Program she says, “My experience in India impacted me in ways that I am still experiencing today. It awakened in me the reality that all lives are connected. It awakened in me a hunger to live a life with authentic mutually liberating relationships with those who are marginalized by poverty, and to be part of a larger movement/dream of justice, to be part of a larger vision for change and hope and equality. Most important…it awakened in me a hunger to follow the loving, nonviolent Jesus. I hope to continue my learning and living out these lessons in Haiti.”
Cara Kennedy
A native of Chicago IL, Cara spent the past 6 years at Arizona State University, where she graduated this past spring with a PhD. in Mental Health. While in Arizona she was active within the refugee community there, working to provide mental health services for refugees arriving from places such as East Africa and Bosnia. She is interested in using her time in Haiti to learn about the mental health issues of individuals who suffer at the hands of structural violence, human rights abuses, war and conflict, and unjust global/international policy.
Cara, pictured here with her host family, is living in the community of Nan Dal–just down the mountain from Leah. She lives with her host father Gabriel, his wife Madam Gabriel, and their daughter Beatrice.
When asked about what she appreciates about the apprenticeship program, she says, “I appreciate that this approach also means that I as a newcomer would be allowed and encouraged to spend a considerable length of time in building relationships and growing in my understanding of Haiti. This time feels necessary for me to begin to humble myself, to develop language and cultural understanding, to recognize, examine, and peel away some of the trappings of my own culture, and to begin to widen the lenses through which I view my surroundings, experiences and interactions. All of this feels necessary so that truer communication and cooperation can begin.
Welcome Kim & Cara. We appreciate your presence with us.
