November 2007

Makeover or facelift?

Friends,

Rodney and Sharyn have been teaching for a year at the Episcopal University in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

The Episcopal University (UNEPH) is undergoing a facelift. Over a year ago we were reassigned to a facility that could best be called urban rustic. Internet, electricity, running water, and flush toilets were occasional amenities. This past summer a serious effort began. Stucco has been applied to weathered block walls and then paint to the stucco. Doors were added to classrooms. A library room was built. What appeared to be the first coat of new paint in two decades was brushed onto the administration building. In fact, the entire facility participated in the revival—except the agricultural building. Just as impressive are the new outdoor concrete seats and cobblestone parking lot that’s being added this week. By Christmas, the façade will be complete.

Most of the structural problems still remain but they are expensive to change. A poor Internet system would cost almost as much as re-wiring and adding an inverter system. Ten more working computers would nearly double the school’s present number. Adding shelves and books to the library room would be another huge expense. But fixing the simple problems gave nearly everyone a new vision of what is possible.

The education and computer departments have both requested Sharyn to teach courses this semester. The education department has doubled the number of students this year, and Sharyn’s education technology class has more students than working computers! Anticipating the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) program will eventually reach Haiti, this is a wonderful time for her to be teaching future leaders the skills they can use in the near future. Her computer science course ends at the appointed hour, but the students won’t leave—they frequently remain, asking questions for another half hour or more. Modifying her expectations, this year she is enjoying teaching much more.

My experience with the agriculture administration has proven less fruitful. Outside of the university I have worked with the Episcopal Development Program at several seminars training a couple dozen development workers (“animators”). I also have worked extensively training two new animators for a new program that planted 30,000 trees this fall. These two animators are now being used for training others in reforestation and community development. The future shines brightly for me to do more animator training and reforestation work and maybe incorporating university students as well.

The demand for Sharyn’s skill set at the university and minimal interest in mine has caused a very interesting makeover in our relationship. I guess in marriage counseling it’s still called a role reversal. I haven’t been totally decommissioned solely to housekeeping, food shopping, and bookkeeping, but working less than 90-hour weeks was an uncomfortable first-time experience. Unfortunately it did not lead to a great outpouring of communications, and if you’re reading between the lines, you know why.

One huge change still needed is our page on the PC(USA) Web site. Many, many people still write us about our previous assignment and I forget why they’ve written until I look back at the 12-year-old site. I’m still wondering if a makeover or a facelift is needed. Sometimes it’s easier to start fresh rather then re-working old material.

It is terribly difficult to express how much energy was spent in adapting to Port-au-Prince apartment living on the edge of a ghetto. Water problems, drain problems, electric problems, Internet problems, vehicle and marketing problems have been pretty well straightened out. We thank many very special people for praying for us during this time. Sorry we’ve been lax about keeping you updated but please know your prayers and letters have been extremely helpful. The security concerns have abated greatly. Walking on the roads is still not wise but otherwise security has improved dramatically over this past year.

One consistent message is knowing God expects to do great things through us in Haiti. As we look back on this year of adjustments and changes and yes, unbelievable frustrations, we see God continues to use us to help others. We continue to thank God for your support. Your prayers strengthen and direct us. Your finances help us to remain here serving the people of Haiti in the name of the church. We continue to read of the great success of the recent PC(USA) Mission Challenge ’07 blitz and truly hope your church had a chance to participate directly.

Thank you for entrusting us to proclaim Christ’s makeover message to the people of Haiti.

In Christ,

Rodney and Sharyn

The 2007 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 49