Huntersville 2 Haiti: We are not Missionaries . . .

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.

Monday, December 10, 2007

We are not Missionaries . . .

Thank you for thinking about and praying for us while we were in Haiti. What an incredible journey. Our trip home was much less eventful than getting to Haiti - no cancelled flights, no lost luggage, no flat tires - just a quick run through the Miami airport. We are now all home, safe and sound.

We apologize in advance - for all of the stories you will tire of, the laughter at "you had to be there" phrases, and tears we may shed about leaving our new friends in Bayonnais.

It is interesting . . . I doubt any of us ever thought of ourselves as missionaries. That sentiment was echoed by Actionnel himself, who told us that we "are not missionaries . . . we are their brothers and sisters." That about sums up how we all feel, as we leave and settle back into our "normal" lives.

Stay tuned on the BLOG as we continue to reflect . . . upload additional pictures . . . and who knows . . . maybe, begin making plans for our next visit.

Thank you, again. We are grateful for your support.