Good Things are Happening in Medor, Haiti

“For the 658 children who are attending school, the people of Medor say thank you. The faces of the children are changing; they are not so thin and they are more alert. This is because they are eating. For the school lunch program, (for some children, their only meal of the day) the people of Medor say thank you. No one thought that they had worms, but then they took the de-worming medicine and saw the worms being expelled from their bodies. For the de-worming medicine and the vitamins, the people of Medor say thank you.”

These words were spoken by Pere Leroy Jean Baptiste on his recent visit to Our Lady Queen of Peace. Pere Leroy is the pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Medor, Haiti. This parish has been the twin parish of Our Lady Queen of Peace since 1997.

Pere Leroy visited OLQP from March 2-6. He came to strengthen the bonds between our two parishes, to discuss the accomplishments in Medor over the last year and to explain the goals for 2006.

The accomplishments in Medor during 2005 are many.

For Education:

-658 children attended school, 548 primary school students and 110 middle school (7th-9th grade) students. Some students rise at 4 am and walk 4 miles to school.

-OLQP provided books, briefcases, benches and other school supplies for the schools, paid teacher salaries and provided teachers room and board.

-The schools employ 12 primary school teachers and 6 middle school teachers. The teachers are paid a higher salary than that paid by public schools. This has been a good decision: due to the teachers’ expertise, 15 of 20 6th graders at the school passed the national standardized exam required to continue to 7th grade. Only 12 of 200 students passed at the closest public school.

-The school lunch program for all students and teachers is thriving.

-This year the first class will graduate from the middle school. Donations from OLQP have allowed $5,525 to be set aside as a scholarship fund so that exceptional graduates will be able to proceed to high school outside of Medor.

For Development:

-Two new buildings were constructed for the middle school.

-The rectory has been enlarged by adding four new bedrooms, two bathrooms and a living room.. Pere Leroy has prepared the rectory for a prospective assistant pastor and to accept our next delegation to Medor.

-The new church should be completed this year and will be dedicated on St. Joseph’s Day in March, 2007. It will have an occupancy of 2,000, and is the largest church in Haiti built by Haitians. Pere Leroy said, “Because we’re crazy we can build the church. We have the rocks; we have the sand; we have the willingness.” One engineer refuses pay because of his pride in Haitians alone building such a large structure.

-A cistern was built for one of the 12 outlying chapels. This will allow the population to have water during the dry season.

The goals for 2006 are ambitious. They include:

-Responding to the requirements of the schools

-Continuing the school lunch program

-Completing the new church and purchasing pews

-Enhancing communication in Medor by installing satellite internet.

-Initiating a clean water program for the people in Medor.

This Lenten season we will be praying for our brothers and sisters in Medor at each mass. As in past years we will also be collecting money to help meet the physical needs of the people there. The target for this year’s Haiti Lenten Appeal is $44,000. This is a hefty goal. But if each family in OLQP contributes $1.00 per day during the 40 days of Lent, we will reach the target. When considering the amount you plan to donate, please consider the following:

- 1 in 13 Haitian children dies before the age of 1 year

- Of those who survive the 1st year, 1 in 24 dies before the age of 5

- Diarrhea is the leading cause of death for Haitian children under 1 year of age and the second leading cause of death for Haitian children 1-5 years old

- Most diarrhea disease is due to unclean water

- 80% of the world’s illness is due to poor water supply or improper sanitation

This Lenten season as we pray for our family in Medor, let’s pray and actively work toward meeting our ambitious goal, so that next year when Pere Leroy visits he will be able to say, “For the gift of clean water, which is to say, for the very gift of health itself, the people of Medor say thank you”.

Sue Carlson, M.D.
March, 2006