Travel Day-- Monday, March 4th

“Little by little, through the preparation of this trip, I concluded that the two of you did not decide to go to Haiti.  The two of you are merely answering God's invitation to walk closer with Him. God has been providing with all you need and will continue to do so. Therefore, go in peace, trust and listen to God's voice as you have been doing. Keep yourself focused in the things you need to prepare and prayers.

My wish is that your time in Haiti will liberate you to live your life here in freedom. That you will be able to see beyond the physical sufferings and see the beauty, simplicity & joy they have in their hearts. That you will be changed inside. That through them, you will see your own true beauty.”— words of blessing from our good friend, sister, and mentor Susi

 

God is indeed good.  We get up at 4am in St. Louis, soar above twinkling lights and vast waters, and by sundown that night, we are riding in the taxi prepared for us, travelling through marshes and mountains, looking for the Child Jesus school in Petit-Goave.  Not all goes according to our plans, but, sure enough, we arrive safely, and are greeted warmly by our companions--

 

 

--Fr. Magloire, Theodore, Jean Wener, Willy, Marcel, Cadneer, and others--who we will grow to know and love throughout the week, with a multitude of stars blanketing the sky overhead.  Could you be here, Jesus, in this little town, at this little school?

Bondye bene ou (God bless you!)

“It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important.”
― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

It is the night before we head out for this little school, in this little town, to visit the little ones, in order to know more fully the little way.  We have spent-- wasted, you might say-- much time preparing for this mission, meeting so many beautiful people along the way, in response to a call last year.  Those moments are what makes it so important, so beautiful. 

As we stuffed the last things we will share into our suitcases, we reflected on how incredibly loved we felt.  Many have sent their prayers and hugs and love... we are surrounded with support... and we feel this presence profoundly today... ready to go share and witness.  So, to use a couple phrases we have learned:

Gras a Dye (thanks be to God!) and Bondye bene ou (God bless you!)

Thank you!

Thank you to all who helped celebrate a beautiful fall day with us at Grace's house with food, family, friends, and raising funds for our mission :)

School has started at Child Jesus School!

 

Buenas Tardes Padre Martinez! Estoy en Petit Goave desde el Domingo pasado.Ayer,lunes,el primer de Octubre de este ano haciamos la entrada escolaria como todas las demas escuelas sugun el deseo del ministerio de la educacion nacional.

Los alumnos y profesores fueron a la Iglesia para participar a la misa del Espiritu Santo que se confundida este ano con fecha de Santa Teresa.Estamos todavia en la antigua escuela.Esperamos su venida para cambiar de lugar,haciendo la bendicion antes de empesar a trabajar.

 

 

Good afternoon Father Martinez! I'm in Petit Goave since Sunday. Yesterday, Monday, the first of October this year we opened the school and began classes as all other schools as expected by the National Ministry of Education.

Students and teachers went to the church to attend the Mass of the Holy Spirit, which was combined this year with the feast of Santa Teresa. We are still in the old school building. We are waiting until you come to move into the new building, so that it may be blessed before we get started to work there.

How you can help

Merci
Thank you
Gracias

We are so grateful for any little contribution you might have that would help pave Ellen and Grace's "little way" to Haiti: donate small and make a big difference HERE or personally through Ellen and Grace.  

Plans for our journey in Petit-Goâve, Haiti

We make the journey in joy and openness:  to be open to finding joy in all the people and places that we encounter, and to reflect the beauty back to them in an empowering way in our collaborations with the community.  



Throughout the week, Grace and Ellen will stay with a host family, explore the area, and visit the school every day.  

We will bring first aid kits, and share in finding God in taking care of our physical bodies.  

We will bring journals, and share in finding God in our artistic and poetic self.  

We will bring tools and paints, to help our neighbors build their wall and paint a mural, and share in finding God in our community. 

We will bring any additional money we raise from your support. 



We hope to bring back companions on the journey-- from both here and there-- and inner transformation to love every more deeply. 

Hurricane Isaac hits Haiti

We received initial reports of the tropical storm Isaac's damage to Haiti and to the School of the Child Jesus:

Greetings to all friends of Child Jesus School, Petit-Goâve, Haiti.  Below are the comments received from Fr. Marc Claudy Magloire, a priest of the Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince and Administrator of Child Jesus School and Servants of Mary Center.  His comments appear translated into English (green).

Please help us spread the word.  Once again our sisters and brothers in Haiti have been affected by natural disaster.  This time it was Hurricane Isaac.  There has some lives lost and much destruction, once again, to homes, churches, schools.

As you can read below, Child Jesus School, sponsored and supported by Order of Servants of Mary has once again suffered damage.  Once more, the protective wall has crumbled.  Once again, the property and the school are at risk, as Fr. Magloire indicates below.

We turn to you, once again, for your financial assistance in response to the needs of the children of Child Jesus School, their families and staff.  Whatever contribution you are able to make at this time will be greatly appreciated.

Please send your donations (check made out to Servants of Mary) to:

CHILD JESUS SCHOOL

SERVANTS OF MARY

3121 W. JACKSON BLVD

CHICAGO IL  60612-2729

In advance, we thank you for your generosity.  Please remember our sisters and brothers - children, youth, adults, and elderly - in Haiti in your prayers.  Thank you!!

Fr. Vidal Martínez,OSM

Spiritual Assistant

Servant of Mary Center

Child Jesus School

Petit-Goâve, Haiti

Bonjour mon Pere,je viens de terminer une visite a Petit Goave apres le passage de l'ouragan devastateur du nom de Isaac.A l'ecole Enfant Jeuss,les degats sont consirables.Beaucoup de nos bananiers sont tombes,le mur situe en face de la nouvelle construction est tombe ras le sol,la cours est devenue un peu desert et l'insecurite de la maison se fait sentir.

Comme solution provisoir,j'ai vite fait un barrage en bois avec des toles pour remedier provisoirement au probleme.Nous devons tres rapidement penser a relever le mur,pour eviter que des gents du dehors viennent penetrer la cours de l'ecole.Paix Pere Magloire Marc Claudy

Hello my Father, I have just completed a visit to Petit Goave after the devastating hurricane named Isaac.A Child Jeuss the school, the damage is consirables.Beaucoup our bananas are tombs, located opposite the wall new construction has fallen low to the ground, the course became a little desert and insecurity of the house arises.

PROVISIONAL solution as I quickly made a wooden dam with sheet metal to remedy provisionally probleme.Nous need to think very quickly up the wall, to avoid that the gents come out during penetrate the school. Pere Peace Marc Magloire

Suggestion: Il est un fait que le relevement du mur est une affaire urgente.Mais si vous voulez avoir une plus grande idee de ce qui s'est passe exactement,avoir des photos d'appui vous pouvez faire le travail apres avoir visite l'ecole en Octobre prochain. Bref! En tout cas, ecrivez-moi pour que je sache exactement ce que je dois faire. Paix! Pere Magloire

Suggestion: It is a fact that the raising of the wall is a matter urgente.Mais if you want a greater idea of ​​what exactly has happened, have photos you can support the work after having visited the school next October. Short! In any case, write me so that I know exactly what I do. Peace! Pere Magloire