Huntersville 2 Haiti: "I'll have to google that"

OFCB

For nearly two centuries, subsistence farming has characterized the livelihood of 80,000 people in rural Bayonnais, Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere. This is not uncommon. Following colonial independence in 1804, former slaves exercised newfound freedom by cultivating their own land in the countryside. Today, OFCB (Organization of the Christian Force of Bayonnais), a ministry founded in 1993 through the vision of five inspired individuals, provides this generation with a new opportunity: education. Subjects such as history, biology, language arts, social science, philosophy, and visual art are now available to this community for the first time. Adults and children comprise a student body that has grown from 103 to 1460, and for many, the rice and beans served at lunch may be the only substantial meal they eat all day. Not only have national exam scores been some of the highest in the region, OFCB has sent 20 students to Haitian colleges! In an effort to stimulate long-term development, the college scholarship program stipulates that each student return to OFCB upon graduation to serve the community for 10 to 15 years, depending upon the field of study. One college graduate has become a doctor, currently in residency, and will return to start Bayonnais’ first health clinic! Deep in the heart of a country plagued by extreme poverty, political violence and corruption, the people of Bayonnais are finding new hope.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

"I'll have to google that"

Traveling together can really give you the opportunity to get to know a lot about each other, especially when you have cancelled flights, long bus rides, and a flat tire. On our trip to Haiti - we learned a lot about each other. We also learned a lot about other things, as well . . . it was kind of like traveling with a live version of "wikipedia."

Several in our group had answers for just about every question that came up. We were full of interesting facts. We discovered however, that like "wikipedia," some of the interesting facts shared, though they were interesting, may not have been all that factual. Sometimes it was hard to tell. So, I think it was Mark that coined the phrase that we ended up using several times during our trip - "I'll have to google that."

It's a polite way of saying that you do not believe someone's story. Try it out . . . it is the friendliest way I know of to question someone's integrity . . . trust me.

So, the next time someone gives you a very interesting and creative explanation as to why "fancy ketchup" is "fancy" just look at them and say, "I'll have to google that."