My Vagabond Quest

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.