Tom Braak Speaks at Annual General Conference of Methodist Church of Haiti

January 27, 2013  

Dear Friends,

Tom had been invited by The Reverend Bishop Paul Gesner to address the Annual General Conference of the Methodist Church of Haiti to be held in Jeremie (see map), from Jan. 21 - Jan. 26, 2013.  Tom was to familiarize the attendees about Faith In Action International and to invite them to consider possibilities of the Methodist Missions of Haiti to join forces with FIAI.

Jeremie had once been the cultural center of Haiti.  Many of its residents were writers, poets and artists.  I was informed that this group, and its families, were massacred by Papa Doc when he heard that they were forming an uprising against him.  

This town is only 45 minutes away by plane from PAP.  As the flights were filled, Tom’s only recourse was to drive.  The estimated driving time would be 15 hours.  Some of the road would be over two mountain passes.  Tom invited Jean Rony and me to ride along with him.

We started from Verrettes on Jan. 22nd at 6 am.  We arrived in Les Cayes at 4:00 pm.  Tom had planned to visit SEED, a thriving nondenominational mission in Les Cayes.  SEED consists of a school where students, after three years of intensive academic and field work, complete combined studies in agriculture/animal husbandry and theology.  

The current student population is 95. The mission was founded and is directed by the Reverend and Mrs. Frantz Clotaire.  We were impressed by both the vigorous training provided the students as well as by the conscientious daily care that the students give to their assigned gardens.  We met several of the students as they began tending their gardens at sunrise on Jan. 23rd. The students work in their gardens from 6:00 a.m. until noon, after which they attend classes until 6 p.m.

The Clotaires graciously invited us to stay overnight in SEED’s guest house.  We gratefully accepted their invitation.

Tom has a vision that FIAI will someday hire several of SEED’s graduates.  I believe these students, with their blending of knowledge in agriculture and theology, could become a vital part of FIAI’s mission.

By 11:00 am we started up the mountain road toward Jeremie.  As the road turned from being wide and paved to being narrow and graveled, I prayed that the old Mitsubishi 4-wheel drive truck would hold together.  We averaged 7 m.p.h. over the bumpy, rocky mountain passes.  The scenery was awe-inspiring and breathtaking. The mountains were lush with semi-tropical vegetation.  This was so different from the barren mountains near Verrettes.  The dusty roadbed  turned from a dull bedrock grey to an intense deep red.  As we passed through mountain villages, Tom, with the window open, would call out his proverbial greeting, “Bonjou” (good morning), “bonswa” (good afternoon), “koman ye” (how are you) to everyone along the way.    The passersby, in turn, would smile and call out “nou byen.” (we are fine)

After we drove 5 five hours we came upon a stunning mountain view of Jeremie.  The city lie before us with the intense emerald/blue Caribbean Sea as a backdrop. Upon arrival in Jeremy an hour later we checked into a hotel. 

The next morning, Jan. 24, we drove to the Annual General Conference of the Methodist Church of Haiti.  There we learned, with considerable disappointment, that Tom’s presentation had not been included in the packed six-day schedule.  Tom also had planned on using a PowerPoint presentation-but there was no equipment available. 

During the lunch break, Tom approached Bishop Gesner.  The Bishop said that he would try to work Tom into the schedule sometime within the next few days, but there was no guarantee. 

By God’s grace, Tom was called upon by the Bishop right after the meeting reconvened.  Tom addressed the delegates in Creole.  The audience listened with rapt attention. Jean Rony and Tom answered several questions during Q & A. 

The fruition of the presentation is in God’s hands.  In attendance, in addition to the 90 delegates and the Haitian Bishop, was Bishop Scott Jones of the General Conference of Arkansas/Kansas.  His General Conference has a special interest and involvement in missions in Haiti.

By 2 p.m. we were back on the mountain road to begin our return to Les Cayes.  It soon started to rain, which turned the road into a combination of slippery rocks and mud.  At one point as we were ascending a steep grade with a deep ravine on our right, the truck, although engaged in four-wheel drive and low gear, slid backwards.    Jean Rony, who was driving, successfully repositioned the truck after which we managed to slowly move upward and forward. 

After this scary experience we loaded three boulders into the truck bed.  With this extra weight, the truck gained adequate traction.

We drove five hours and arrived safely in Les Cayes.  As the SEED Guest House had already closed for the day, we found a reasonably-priced hotel.  Upon checking in we were graciously offered cocktails ‘on the house’.  We also enjoyed an unexpected but welcomed air-conditioned room.  

In the evening Jean Rony and I ate at the hotel.  I had chicken pizza.  J.R. ordered Haitian chicken.  Tom traveled downtown by motorcycle taxi to his favorite oriental restaurant.  Imagine-we enjoyed cuisine from Haiti, China and Italy!

Following breakfast the following day, we left for Verrettes.  As we entered PAP, the capitol and the largest city of Haiti (population 3 million), we were waved down by two men.  Our friend Obenis and his brother, Obes, had taken the bus earlier in the day to PAP to obtain a driver’s certificate.  They were waiting for a bus for their return trip to Verrettes when they saw us.  We were thrilled to see one another.  

We all went for lunch.  After Tom did some shopping, we heard that the road through St. Marc was blockaded by men who were protesting foreigners living in Haiti.  This demonstration erupted after a Haitian motorcyclist was hit and killed by a United Nations truck.  We had no choice but to return to Verrettes on a mountain road which circumvented St. Marc.

About 6 p.m. it turned pitch black and started to rain.  We stopped in Mirabelais to purchase a tarp to cover our luggage in the truck bed.  Soon we came upon a motorcycle which had no headlight, tail light or reflectors.  What a dangerous situation!  We closely followed the cycle in order to provide light for the driver.   After 15 minutes the driver pulled to the side of the road.  We stopped to offer assistance.  We learned the motorcyclist was headed to St. Marc (another two hours).  The motorcycle’s headlight had died earlier and it had just run out of fuel.  The driver had no money and knew no one in the vicinity to ask for help.

The driver accepted our offer to take him to Verrettes where he hopefully could find a replacement headlight and fuel.  We loaded the motorcycle into the back of the truck.   Tom slipped him $20.

We thus completed three days of challenges and opportunities.  Several times we gratefully acknowledged God’s omnipresent guidance, wisdom and protection. 

This week Ficilta and Tom graciously invited me to stay with them for another week.  I gladly accepted.  This will give me not only more time to enjoy their wonderful family, but also time to make more photographs for my project of documenting the lives of Haitians who live in the mountains.  

In spite of several cell-phone connection interruptions, Tom was able to change my return flight ticket with American Airlines from January 28th to February 4th.

May God bless you with His peace and joy.

Love,  Larry

Tom's favorite oriental restaurant is in downtown, Les Cayes, Haiti.

Jean Rony, SEED's founder and director Frantz Clotaire, Tom Braak

Tom and Jean Rony talk with SEED student about the fields of lettuce and garbage.

Larry befriends a boar goat at SEED's animal husbandry project.

We approach beautiful Jeremie, Haiti which lies on the Caribbean Sea.  

Tom is introduced at the annual General Conference of the Methodist Church of Haiti.  Bishop Paul Gesner of Haiti and Bishop Scott Jones of the Nebraska/Kansas General Conferences are at the speakers' table.

Jean Rony and Tom address questions during Q & A.

A bus travels over a mountain pass toward Jeremie, Haiti

Tom and Jean Rony load boulders into the truck to provide greater traction on slippery mountain roads.

As we descend from the mountain toward Verrettes, we are greeted by the majestic Artibonite Valley.

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Jeremie lies at the extreme tip of the southwest peninsula of Haiti. 

“If I really believed what you believe, I wouldn’t get up from my knees.”  

Mahatma Gandhi in a talk to Christians

Dear friends,

I have been pondering that thought of Gandhi’s the past few days.  Back in the states I admit that my modus operandi is that of self-sufficiency.  Whenever I have lived in a country such as Haiti for a while, I must relearn that this method of operating does not work.  It may take me a few days-this visit it took two weeks-for me to radically change my modus operandi and recognize that I am weak and helpless but through the power of prayer, all things are possible.

My bodily posture literally changes-from being upright to be driven onto my knees by God in prayer.  

Haiti is beset with many troubles and each church mission has its own unique hurdles.  During my short visit, I have become intimately aware of and directly affected by the many hurdles that Faith In Action International and Tom’s family face daily.  This past week we have been strained with the the breaking down of both of FIAI’s trucks, illnesses of staff, obscure power plays by key people in another Christian mission that significantly affect FIAI, failure of storage batteries which FIAI depends upon for power, failure of propane oven and refrigeration ...to name a few.  

In the states many of these issues could easily be handled as there are resources available.  In Haiti resources are few and, when available, are located often many miles away.  For instance, the nearest fairly complete hardware store is in Port au Prince which is a three-hour drive.

Although I don’t believe that God causes these troubles, God uses them to arrest our attention; to awaken us to a sense of helplessness and weakness.  I think this is why I see more devout Christians in Haiti than I do in the U.S.  Haitians have learned to depend upon their faith in God for power to overcome their many challenges on a 24/7 basis.

God has shown Himself again to be faithful in providing very tangible resources:  An auto mechanic, trained in the United States, appears out of nowhere this week and offers his skills;  the owner of a tow trucking business from a neighboring town arrives last night at our door and offers to tow the disabled truck down from the mountain; a Floridian pastor and his wife, visiting relatives in Verrettes, stop by yesterday to use Tom’s exercise equipment and stay and pray with us; ...and the list of his mercies continues.

I believe that I know a little more now of how the wayward son in the Prodigal Son parable must have felt when he realized--having finally acknowledged his own weakness and rebelliousness--where his true home lay and returned on his knees in total submission to the Father.  I ponder why it takes me so very long to fully acknowledge this truth and to incorporate it into the depth of my being.

Love,

Larry

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

Romans 8:28

Photographic Highlights of Haitian Friends 

January 19, 2013

Veronie Derilus lives with her family in a mountain village.  She babysits for a friend.

Obenis Charlouidort, a high school student (on left) is a good friend of the Braak family and works part-time for Faith In Action International.  Annrik (Echo) is also a good friend.  He comes over to the Braak house almost daily to hang out.  He and Ryan enjoy playing games together.

Pastor Gustin Enadieu visits his parishioners Lemesia Pierre (left) and Asainvil Kettelie.  Jean Rony and Larry spent two days with the pastor making pastoral calls with him in his mountain parish.

Tom and Larry Braak made four pizzas from scratch for a surprise 21st birthday party for Limene.

Ficilta Philius Braak, Tom's lovely wife, is a superb hostess.

Mountain family pound millet to make meals.

Maricia Charlouidort is Mother of Obenis.  She buys corn wholesale and sells it retail in the market.

Charlouidort Onondieu is Father of Obenis.  He has been too ill to work in the fields.

Kathy, director of the preschool where Ryan attends, is a very creative and caring woman.  She brings a variety of experiences to the students.  She started the school eight years ago.

Pastor Marc Montunat and his wife Maria of Palm Coast, Florida visit Tom and Ficilta for Christian fellowship, prayer and hymns.  The Braak's home is a welcoming respite for many visitors to Verrettes. 

Tom treats us at a new restaurant in Verrettes following Ryan's first week at preschool.

Tom erected a security light on the home's roof.  Local vendors take full advantage of the light while sorting onions to sell the following day in the market.

Watson Charlouidert, brother of Obenis, and Ryan Braak enjoy each other.

Ryan attends preschool with these children.  He enjoys school.  They begin each day with singing.

My Journal   

   A Visit to a Haitian Pastor’s Mountain Parish

Friday, January 11, 2013 at 4:30 am

The purpose of my visit to a Haitian mountainous village is to document the villagers’ lives with a camera.  Faith In Action, International has served these mountainous people for the past 15 years.  Many churches and individuals have faithfully supported FIAI’s ministry.  It is my hope that through the photographs supporters will come to appreciate the work that is being carried on with their help.

Upon awakening to the orchestra of the roosters at 4:30 am in the dark church building where Jean Rony and I are staying, I poured a two-day-old cup of coffee and set up an office on the dirt floor with a mattress and a pillow.  I began journaling thoughts and experiences of the first day’s visit to the mountain village of Dike.  

The local Protestant pastor, Mr. Gustin Enadieu (he goes by name of ‘Senusa’), escorted Jean Rony and me around his parish during which time we visited and photographed over 30 of his parishioner families in their homes.

At homes we sang hymns, prayed, shared our favorite Biblical passages and discussed Holy Scripture including the beatitudes, the teaching of St. Paul about being content in whatever station of life one finds oneself, the transfiguration, and others.  Two of the tunes that I recognized were  ‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘Alleluia’.

Senusa told us about some of his pastoral duties which include pronouncing God’s forgiveness upon hearing a parishioner’s confession, calling upon families, sharing with the most needy, counseling, preaching and teaching. 

I asked Senusa how he provided for his family of eleven children.  I knew that his salary as a full-time pastor was minimal at best.  He simply stated, “God provides.”

As I knew that the pastor had probably no more than an elementary school education, I asked him where he had received his knowledge and wisdom about being a pastor.  He said that everything he has learned is from studying the Bible, receiving revelations from the Holy Spirit and attending Faith In Action International’s quarterly Church Leadership Training.  I came away knowing that he had much to teach me about living as a follower of Jesus.

I slept only intermittently because the voodoo musicians were constantly beating there drums and singing nearby.  At one point they marched, danced and chanted just outside the church where we were staying.  I prayed for protection as I did not know the men’s intent. Thank God they left without incident.

I have learned from Haitians that the voodoo ceremony is meant to conjure up the spirit of the voodoo god.  The participants then become possessed with the god’s spirit.  Until they are thus ‘protected’ they do not leave the voodoo ceremony for fear of meeting another group of voodoo practitioners who might be vicious.  One of their beliefs is that when one is thus possessed with the spirit one can disappear and move secretly from one location to another without being detected.  

Last night before bed J.R. and I read from Thomas Merton’s book on contemplation.  We heartily agreed with Merton where he expressed his belief that the best form of prayer is when we ask God to water and nourish the seeds of joy, love, compassion, peace, stability, unity and understanding that are planted deeply within each of us. 

May the indwelling of God’s Spirit bring you immeasurable joy.

Larry

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:

to loose the chains of injustice, and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter---

when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear;  then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.  

Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;

You will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

Isaiah 58:6-9

First photo is Pastor Senusa with his wife and Larry Braak.  This is taken in their church at the village of Dikes.  The pastor took Jean Rony and Larry to visit over thirty of his parish families in their homes.  

Second photo is a street scene on market day in front of Ficilta and Tom Braak's home.  Their home lies behind the red gate on the left.

Third photo is Tom overseeing construction of his family's new home.  All of these were taken during the past 24 hours.

First photograph is of the Haitian pastor, Senusa talking with FIAI employee and interpreter Jean Rony.  The other photographs are some of the pastor's parishioners.

David Wenger, my spiritual guide at The Hermitage, sensed what I needed most on my journey was to learn how to be in a state of “holy leisure.”  He sensed this after hearing parts of my spiritual journey and learning of the many goals I had hoped to accomplish during my 10 day stay at the retreat.  I learned that what he meant by this is for one to waste time with God; to rest in Him rather than to rigorously engage in spiritual disciplines as I had planned.

I found this initially to be difficult as I had always prided myself in accomplishments, particularly reading classic books on Christian spirituality.  When I wasn’t doing something I would feel a sense of guilt.  Once I was given permission, however, to ‘waste time’ and just ‘be’ in the presence of God, it came rather easily and I began to really enjoy and look forward to this Presence of the Holy.

As a personality style “nine” on the Enneagram, I have recently learned that my deepest life-long need is to acknowledge and accept that “my presence matters.”  I am learning that my presence indeed matters not only to family and friends but also to God.  I know that He delights in my presence!   Alleluia!

I am realizing that a spin-off of practicing holy leisure is the gift of living fully in the present moment and seeing God’s grace being present in many situations and in others.  Gentle tears are often triggered by these treasured moments.

Through photographs I would like to share some of these special “moments of grace” which I have experienced this week.  May you experience God’s presence as you view them.

Ficilta Braak’s sister Joane’s 5 month-old-daughter, Maria Bell Christi, totally trusts her Mother’s friend, Wiguens.

Best friends Ryan (Ficilta and Tom’s) and Echo live fully in the moment.

Ryan unabashedly enjoys eating a mango followed by indulging in a bubble bath.

Ryan takes delight in making spaghetti from pipe cleaners, mud and stones.  Yummy!

Ryan plays “hide and seek” with a neighbor’s goat.

Ryan and cousin Mael enjoy companionship.

God’s presence be with you today and every day.

Love,

Larry

All morning I have been driving one or the other trucks between Tom's current and his future home.  Hauling supplies, people, generator, water, rebar, etc.  I am taking a break for awhile but trying to make myself available to help Tom and Ficilta.

Ficilta went to St. Mark this am to buy backpack, etc. for Ryan in preparation for his first day of school on Monday.  This pm she attends her first class in baking.

Limene has been visiting her biological family for couple of days.  They live up and over several mountain passes and it takes 6 hours to walk as there are no roads.  She is scared to walk alone.  Her father accompanied her this am.  They started out walking about 6am and arrived at noon.  We just now gave him a coke, peanuts, water and $5 to buy lunch in the market.  Now he will return home.  Love in action!

I have attached three photos.  One is yours truly with the mountain pastor and his lovely wife, one is of Tom overseeing construction of their new home, and one is of the Braak's street.  On the left is the red steel sliding gate to their home.  As this is market day, the street is very active with vendors.

Januray 12, 2013

All morning I have been driving one or the other FIAI trucks between Tom's current and his future home.  Hauling supplies, people, generator, water, rebar, etc.  I am taking a break for awhile but trying to make myself available to help Tom and Ficilta.

Ficilta went to St. Mark this am to buy backpack, etc. for Ryan in preparation for his first day of pre-school on Monday.  This pm Ficilta attends her first class in baking.  She hopes to establish a wedding catering business. 

Limene,  an 'adopted' daughter of Tom's,  has been visiting her biological family for a couple of days.  The family lives several mountains beyond Verrettes.  As Limene is frightened to walk alone, her father accompanied her this am.  They started out walking about 6am and arrived in Verrettes at noon.  We gave her father a snack and $5 to buy lunch in the market.  He will return home later this afternoon.  Love in action!

I have attached three photos.  One is yours truly with the mountain pastor and his lovely wife, one is of Tom overseeing construction of their new home, and one is of the Braak's street.  On the left is the red steel sliding gate to their home.  As this is market day, the street is very active with vendors.  I will relate more about a visit I had with the pastor in the future.

Blessings,

Larry