Time is Moving Fast

My personal work has picked up this fall and it has been difficult to do much work on the Haiti Book. I have gotten a few articles in lately, but I am at a standstill with information on Fond Michelle, Fond Parisian, and Ganthier. More information on Cazeau would be appreciated. I also need to get in touch with the CDR committee involved with Gustav Hurricanes, etc. That is my update. December is still the date I am planning to complete a majority of the book. Thank-You

November Update

Busy, Busy is the keyword. As Fall has come on the projects before the Winter season have been pressing in. The articles have been coming in. The West End reports are nearly all in. Maxeau is finishing a article on Se Ines. Noah and his wife have sent in their earthquake experiences, which will wrap up the earthquake eye witness reports. Rawlin Koehn has to finish his facts on the CDR end of things about the hurricanes and earthquake. We need more material on Fond Parisian and Ganthier, and Fond Michelle and Cazeau
Dolores is working on a food section. For my part I need to finish the Haiti history section and edit the articles together. I will have two weeks in December that I want to finish the writing and editing. From now and till I will try to sew the articles together and bring in the missing pieces.

Labor Day Progress

Printed Out 19 Volunteer Service Boy's Reports spanning '69-2004

Also received the Messenger Reports on the Ferry accident in '92[?]

Received a 44 pg. Report on one area via e-mail that I have to edit

Have Three Earthquake reports, the forth one pending--very detailed

Have printed out Tent City report

Have studied the history of Haiti natural disasters and printed out a timeline to try to sort out the Hurricanes

Have sent e-mail to CPS and VS units requesting updated info


NEEDS:

More VS BOYs reports from 2004-11

More eyewitness accounts of Hurricanes (Gustav, Ike, Flora, etc.)

Would be nice to have more information on the Embargo and a little on the political unrest and how it affected the Church.

More Reports on the West End, Fond Michelle, Ganthier, Fond Parisian

For Now Thank-You 

Missionary Questionaire for Reports for Book

Hello. To be to the point, we would really like to bring this Haiti book to completion. We have a fair amount of material, (approx.150 pgs.) and after reading it it is still fairly scattered and now we need to give the book more structure and bring it together.  For one we have very little about
1. Any of the congregations on the West End
2. We need more on the ‘94[?] Ferry that went down
3. We need  material on Fond Michelle, Fond Parisien, Ganthier
4.  CSI or CPS experiences
5. Any news clippings or experiences appreciated on hurricanes, etc. unrest.

The outline of the book is
1. Haiti History
2. Haiti Church and Mission History
3. An Overview of the congregations of Haiti, how they got started, etc.
4. CSI and CPS
5. Other Church Projects, Clinics and TB Work
6. Hurricane and Earthquake

I know we we are a busy people and our  time is so valuable. However a certain amount has to do with priorities. Presently I run a ice cream shop, build game and cattle fence everyday, and have a wife and two boys and 23 acres to take care of. I come home literally sweat soaked from head to toe from  Alabama summer temperatures. I do not say this to boast in any way, but for some reason it just seems right  that this book is needed. It has felt good to be involved in this project and if God and the Church wants a book like this I will give my best to it. I feel for some reason that it does some kind of justice to our brethren in Haiti. Try as I might I just want to do something for them as I cannot forget them, my brethren. I believe you perhaps in even a more personal  degree know what I am trying to express.
The purpose of this book is to inform, inspire, and remind our brethren about the Great Commission especially as it relates to Haiti. It is not going to be depicted as a glory road, but as a work which we need God’s everyday direction and grace. All this said it is life and if you have some humorous incidents please put them in also.
These questions are to help you write a report quickly and effectively for the book so we can have uniform information on each congregation or outpost. It also allows us to present it in such a way that we can make it come more alive than dry stats to some one who has never been there.
If you can type it on computer and e-mail it---Hooray. Send it to jonluketws@gmail.com
If you can fax it send it to 334-289-8843
If you can mail it 2828 Co Rd 10, Newbern AL 36765
My phone number 334-624-4765
If it is typed we can scan it into our files, but we won’t cry if you must hand write it.
Thank-You very much and may you be blessed for anything you contribute.




Missionary Out Post Questions-so we can have a report on for sure all existing congregations--feel free to add if you so desire

Questions  [A sentence, paragraph or a page is acceptable per question, If you cannot answer it -so goes.The goal is what you can get done a couple hrs Sunday afternoon ;) ]

A. Setting

1. What is the Area Like? (terrain, etc.)

2. Are there any notable Landmarks that would strike a visitor? [Bridge, road,store, Where would you be sure to take your company?etc.]

3.What would be the main source of livelihood for the people and brethren there---If farmers what would they grow?

4.Is there anything that would make this place unique or special to Haiti?

5. What were your first impressions there?

B. Mission Work

1.What was the form of work that you were there for? outreach, support for congregation, CSI?

2. How much time did you spend there?

3. Were the people receptive to your presence or message? What was your approach to reaching out to the community?

4.What was the attendance like?

5.Do you know who are some of the first members? [Or even how it got started?]

6. Was the area you were in dominated by superstitions--Was that a challenge to deal with? What were some of the other challenges?

7.High Points or experience that made being there a blessing.

8.Could you list any of the missionaries before you or after you in that outpost?

9. In your experience as a missionary what word of advice would you give to someone wanting to give time as a missionary?

Progress Report on Haiti Book

I have heard from the Haiti Reunion in Greenland that they gave me the green light on completing this project. For those interested I will give here a little report here to what is going on.

1. As you can see on this blog-- my part has been trying to brush up on my Haiti history and come up with more illustrations.

2. I have been phoning different individuals to bring new areas and congregations up to date

A. Ouanaminthe-- Shandon Koehn
B. Villa -- Milton Jantz
C. Oriani-- I need to contact Anthony Penner/ Clinton Holdemon
D. Savon Mouton--I need to contact Russell Toews
E.  Preville-- I need something on this area. Visited Wes Koehn's here in 2007
I also contacted
E. Thomassique--Mark Stoll who gave me a hint that there is a booklet written on this congregation and Hinche.
F. Hinche--Gregg Wenger helped write that booklet and so I contacted him to see if he had a copy.
G. Lovingt Area--Talked to Raymond Withers and he has submitted material in the past and is willing to give more if possible before going back to Haiti.

3.If any one knows of the history of these or other congregations--please let me know. I need more on the West End --Jeremie Area. Really to be honest-- if you have anything on your particular area it would be appreciated.

4. The book will most likely have these parts:

A. History of Haiti
B. Early History of the Church in Haiti
C. The Histories of Different Congregations and Areas
D. Missionary Experiences
F. CSI and CPS Work and Experiences
G. Various other Humanitarian and Medical projects , etc.

5. I need Experiences of CSI and CPS boys-- a record of their special projects and highlights with the purpose to inform and enthuse potential volunteers. Tell how you felt called to serve, a highlight or two, advise, whatever you are led to share. Essay size letters can be written in a hour or two, Sunday afternoon.

6. I am thinking of different ways to get people to contribute, If I get enough leads I will even send individuals letters with questions to answer and go from there if necessary. I will warn you I have a tendancy to be persistant and am not scared to phone half the Yearbook if that is what it takes.

7. I just know that a book on Haiti is overdue and is important for dedicated workers of the future to learn from past inspirations, successes, and faliures. To know the spirit of the book I recommend Irvy Goossens Go and Tell. Reading that book has only reconfirmed convictions I have had troubles expressing in words in the past. Thank-You

The French Settle St. Domingue which is now Haiti

The French sent a governor to western Hispaniola to see if they could not tame and settle the bucaneers into  peaceful planters and claim what is now Haiti for France. They sent a former bucaneer Bertrand d'Ogeron in 1665. He set up his seat of government in Port-de-Paix. The colony would become known as St. Domingue. In ten years he was successful in bringing 2,500 immigrants to the island and for setting up tobacco farming as the major crop. There was still pirate raids launched from St. Domingue as well as  Spanish and English raids that devestated this new colony. It was not till 1697 that St. Domingue was officially recognized as French territory.  

SUGAR AND SLAVES

At first the majority of settlers were Frenchmen, but as time continued slaves were brought in to help in the cultivation of sugar. Thousands of Africans were brought to the colony yearly to work on clearing the land, planting and harvesting this crop. To establish sugar plantations was a big investment and required a lot of capital to build mills and buildings to prepare, refine and store the sugar. The work was very demanding and required many slaves to plant and cut the cane. Such plantations appeared as little towns spread across the valleys. Coffee was grown on smaller plantations scattered in the mountains. As times got more settled toward the end of the 1600's till the Haitian Revolution 1791 the importance of sugar increased until France considered St.Domingue it's most valuable colony. 

The French Buccaneers settle in What is now Haiti

The Spanish focused their energies in the New World on Mexico and Peru's treasure trove's after the Aztec and Inca Empire's collapse. The Caribbean Islands importance was to provide ports and protection for treasure fleets on the way back to Spain. However The Dutch, English and French started sending ships and adventurers to the area as privateers and pirates that would prey upon Spanish shipping hoping for a share of the loot. As the Spanish islands became neglected these groups would set up their own bases. The coast and islands in what is Haiti today provided good cover for the buccaneers. There was plenty of wild Spanish pigs and cattle to provide meat and hides. The mountains offered good cover from Santo Domingo on the Eastern part of the island were the Spanish settlers lived. A few times the Spanish governor would send soldiers to burn the settlements on Tortue Island in the North, but it wasn't long after they left that more would arrive. Eventually they grew stronger and they became more of a danger when they started roving down the Spanish coasts raiding and holding towns and cities for ransom. Every time a war would brake out in Europe it would serve as a excuse to allow more ships to harass the Spanish which was at that time one of the top world powers.The age of the 1600's was an age of piracy.

Spaniards Come For Gold

Genocide, Forced Labor, Disease, and Assimilation took their toll on the Taino population. Conservative estimates of 100,000 were reduced to two-three thousand survivors in a generation's time. This dark episode is  known as the Black Legend. As gold and silver were "discovered" in Mexico and later Peru, Spanish interest in Hispaniola lessened. As the Indian's numbers diminished it opened the way for the Atlantic African Slave Trade

 The Portuguese had already set up a slave trade up and down the African coast, which would quickly expand as the demand for labor increased in the Americas.

The beginning of the History of Haiti and Hispaniola begins with the Taino Indians. The Indians crossed the Bering Strait from Asia to what is now Alaska. They migrated South across the Americas. A few bands from S. America worked their way back North along the Caribbean Islands. The Tainos eventually settled the bigger islands while it seems the more warlike Caribs settled the smaller islands closer to S. America. Then as we all know Christopher Columbus came in 1492. The picture above represents that meeting. He was in a hurry to find verification that he had indeed found Asia or at least find some kind of gold or treasure to ensure a legacy.   As for the Indians he was quick to point out their hospitality and the fact that they would make good slaves as they did not seem to practice much the art of war. 

The first European settlement in the New World other than the Vikings in Newfoundland was Navidad on the north coast in what is now Haiti. One of Columbus' ships sank on a reef and they decided to create a settlement on the island. By the time Columbus came back on his second journey they were all dead. They had worn out the hospitality of the Indians with their immorality and lust for gold.