From Hope to Faith to Trust

by Ann Crawley, CSJP

Local workers build a house

I am fortunate to come from a family of twelve and was blessed to grow up in Dublin surrounded by lots of good friends and neighbors. We lived as one big happy family, and no one ever seemed to move house. We never locked our door. We played together, prayed together and often ate in each other’s homes. All were welcome.

Our Haitian brothers and sisters have similar respect for the poor and the outcast. They welcome everyone they meet with their most common verbal greeting: “Bonjou, Kouman ou ye?” “Good day, how are you?”

The response: “M pa pi mal, e ou menm?” “I am okay, and yourself?”

They, too, are most respectful and generous in sharing what little they have with their hungry brothers and sisters.

I arrived in Haiti in November 2009. When the earthquake struck in January 2010, the local people rushed to the bedsides of the injured in the hospital, bringing them food and comforting those who had lost loved ones. They bathed and fed the sick and sat by the bedsides of the dying for hours, often throughout the night. I have witnessed that spirit of generosity repeatedly among Haitians in my time here.

All people are entitled to dignity and basic necessities and tools for independence. For the Congregation’s part, we try to do what we can to improve the quality of life for Haitian families. Donations from friends and family have helped us build many Eco-Loos (compost toilets) for families. To date we have also built 155 houses, yet there are still many families living in dreadful conditions. We also build outdoor kitchens where families can cook and eat in a clean and safe environment. Our building projects provide employment for many local men, which allows them to support their families and send their children to school.

We provide assistance to families for school fees and have school uniforms made locally, another source of employment. We encourage locals to grow their own food, and we sponsor young men and women so they can attend trade school or third level education. We also share celebratory meals at Christmas and St. Patrick’s Day. They are enjoyed by all.

The bloom of hope springs forth in the face of constant adverse social forces and debilitating poverty. The improvements made over the last several years have sparked an emotional evolution in the Haitian people from hope to faith to trust. For the first time in my years here, the people are confident not only because of the support they have received, but because they have means to support themselves. And they trust there will be ongoing support for Hôpital Sacré Coeur, the sole provider of healthcare in the region and the largest most important economic engine for the community.

The needs in Haiti are never-ending. I have chosen to live my life not as a bystander, but rather to live in this world—in Haiti—as an active participant in fulfilling a dream of a better today and a brighter tomorrow. You and I want our lives to matter and for the world to be marked in some small way by our journey. Haiti has taught me in order to succeed on this journey, we need each other. We cannot do it alone.

This article was published in the Summer 2017 issue of Living Peace.