Winter 2006

Bishop O'Neill Tours New School Building

St. Paul's School Building Opens New Doors

The September 11 - 18, 2007 Mission Trip was a milestone for the Colorado Haiti Project. We had our first look at the completed first floor of the St. Paul's School building, and our hearts were full of many memories and much gratitude. We remembered when the "school" was students and teachers sitting beneath trees and inside lean-to's. Some of us looked and remembered the site in 1989, when there was nothing there at all! We gave thanks to God speaking and working through the pioneers and volunteers, supporters and donors from Colorado and the people of Petit trou de Nippes, working together to build an oasis for the spirit at St. Paul's Mission. We gave thanks for the vision, dedication and energy of Fr. Kesner Gracia.

The greatest pleasure was being able to tell the story of the Colorado Haiti Project to Bishop Rob O'Neill, who had come to see the work of CHP in Haiti. Also on the mission trip and visiting Haiti for the first time were Fr. Andrew Cooley, Rector of St. Mark's in Durango, Fr. Chris Ditzenberger, Rector of St. Gabriel the Archangel in Cherry Hills Village, and Fr. Max Bailey, Rector of St. Stephen's in Longmont. They had the best guides and historians: Fr. Ed Morgan, who co-founded St. Paul's Mission in 1989 with Father Octave LaFontant and Father Dayle Casey; Dr. Ted Lewis, president of the CHP Board, and Don Snyder, chair of the Three Bishops' Fund Capital Campaign. The new building was a culmination of years of vision and patient progress, while at the same time the next step on the road to a fully integrated, self-supporting community.

The new school building had been completed just in time for school to start. Inside the school building, each new classroom filled with students and teachers as soon as the floors were smoothed out and dry! In the courtyard, a team of carpenters worked from early morning until night building new school benches, chairs, and tables for the 150 extra students enrolled. As always, Father Kesner was everywhere, all at once. For months, the school building project had been a source of pride and excitement for everyone, as the foundation was dug and the walls began to rise. The building was designed to withstand a hurricane, and men throughout the town had worked at the construction site and carried home a salary. The rooms were spacious and bright, with chalkboards set directly into the walls, and worktables for the students.

The week of September 11th was a milestone for the community of Petit trou de Nippes. Early in the week, last minute preparations were underway all over the mission compound. Everyone was busy preparing for the community-wide celebration that took place on Saturday night - music, entertainment, decorations, and food for a special dinner for all the St. Paul's students. The culmination of the week for everyone was the confirmation service, presided over by the Bishop, with Fr. Kesner and the four visiting priests helping to officiate. Thirty-eight children and two young adults were confirmed by Bishop O'Neill.

After returning to Denver, Bishop O'Neill opened the Colorado Diocesan Convention with a homily based on his experiences in Haiti, and spoke about the confirmation ceremony and the people from all around the Diocese whose work at Petit trou is "wonderful and inspiring." He concluded that our relationship with the Church in Haiti is one that "challenges all of us in the first world to get over ourselves, to get out of ourselves, and to give of ourselves, for God's sake...for the sake of a suffering world."

Ted Lewis Takes on a New Presidency

Editor's Note: At CHP's Annual Meeting in October, Dr. Ted Lewis transitioned from president of the Board of Directors to president of the new Emeritus Board. He remains on the Board, active as always and working with the incoming president, Don Snyder. We asked Ted to summarize the milestones he feels are the most significant from his 18 years of enthusiastic commitment to CHP.

Since this is my last report as president of the Board of Directors, I have taken some time to reflect on Haiti. From the original site visit in 1989 to the most recent visit in September with Bishop O'Neill, the work that has been accomplished by our partnership with the Diocese and people of Haiti is truly remarkable.

On the first medical mission in 1990, dining was in a tin-roofed open air structure supported by a rudimentary cinder block kitchen (with the evening meal tied up outside). Bathing was an outdoor experience, bathroom facilities were limited to 3 latrines, and the government medical clinic was a 1960's relic.

Visitors to St. Paul's Mission are now greeted by the traditional Episcopal Church signs in French at the roadside that invite them into a complex of brightly painted buildings that includes a large church, a women's education center, the rectory/guest house, and the latest and largest addition, the primary school building, all gifts from donations of Colorado Episcopalians and the Diocese of Colorado.

SIGNIFICANT MILESTONES

1995 - Formation of Colorado Haiti Project, Inc. under the umbrella of the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado.
1996 - Start of St. Paul's School and Konbit sponsorship program.
1998 - Bishop Winterrowd's Diocesan donation for completion of the church.
1999 - Consecration of St. Paul's Church by Bishop Duracin.
2000 - Retirement of Fr. Octave Lafontant, visionary founder.
2001 - Partnership with Engineering Ministries International (EMI) to develop a master plan.
2002 - Appointment of Fr. Kesner Gracia, priest-in-charge.
2003 - Fr. Kesner attends CHP Annual Meeting, appeals for assistance.
2004 - EMI revision of master plan, Fr. Gracia visits Colorado parishes, Bishop O'Neill endorses CHP and expands our mission scope, development consultant hired, launch of Three Bishops' Fund.
2005 - Women's Center built, Bishop Duracin addresses Diocesan Convention, Fr. Gracia visits more Colorado parishes.
2006 - Completion and occupation of Phase 1 (primary) school building, and Bishop O'Neill with four Diocesan priests visits CHP project sites.

We have been richly blessed with a talented and committed volunteer Board of Directors, central office support by St. John's, Boulder, the work of previous executive directors, Deacon Pat Laudisio and Anne Skamarock, and current executive director, Melissa Mahaney. I wish to extend my personal gratitude to our Konbit sponsors and volunteers, and the many friends who have given clothing, school supplies, and medical supplies. I would especially like to acknowledge the donors of the Three Bishops' Fund, who are making our hopes and dreams a reality. One only has to experience the love and gratitude in the faces of our Haitian brothers and sisters to know that we are doing God's work in the world.

Help Us Help Them Help Themselves

"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same spirit."

CHP'S ANNUAL FUND

Supports the full range of projects we oversee in Haiti. Here's a sampling of what undesignated gifts to CHP helped to do over the past two years:

Support operating funds for the St. Paul's School. Quarterly payments to St. Paul's helped purchase rice, beans, and kitchen supplies for the school hot lunch program; salaries for teachers and the school nurse; books, school supplies, and uniforms for the students.
Medical supplies for the annual medical mission to Petit trou de Nippes.
Start-up funds for the first vocational courses taught at the Women's Education and Resource Center.
Start-up funding for the re-establishment of the Episcopal Seminary of Haiti in Port-au-Prince.
General support for the St. Vincent's Center for the Handicapped.

CHP'S KONBIT PROGRAM

Since 1996, Konbit sponsors support individual students at St. Paul's School with a gift of $300/year. The Konbit sponsorship, which is often given with $25/month payments, ensures that your child receives a hot lunch every school day. On many days, it is the only meal that student will eat; in times of drought or extra hardship, a student may take part of her lunch home to her family. Your Konbit sponsorship also purchases school books and supplies, uniforms, tuition, and an annual physical for your student. Sponsors receive a photo and information about one of the students at St. Paul's School. Help us meet our goal of one sponsorship for every child at St. Paul's School.

THREE BISHOPS' FUND

Is our capital campaign for new construction at St. Paul's Mission. Thanks to the generosity of Three Bishops' Fund donors, the people of Petit trou have built the Women's Education and Resource Center, faculty housing, and Phase One of the new St. Paul's School building. Next: Phase Two: seven more classrooms, an office, and a library. It's astounding what $25 per square foot builds in Haiti, and it's all been on time, under budget, and using local resources and local workers from Petit trou.

Dear All,

Brothers and Sisters of the Episcopal church, Diocese of Colorado, Friends, CHP Sponsors and Supporters,

The first floor of St. Paul's School construction is completed. By that realisation we have the possibility to welcome 600 students which brings more comfort and improvement in the Petit-trou de Nippes people's lives. That realisation generates more jobs in the area which decreases the sufferings immensely. Now, the moment is up to THANK YOU of the bottom of my heart to act with kindness and generosity for the well being of that abandoned population.

Everything today is possible with Jesus of course, but through you, by your understanding, your faith and love for the poorest ones in the world.

Although the school is not finished yet totally according to the previous drawing it makes a positive impact in Petit-trou de Nippes like Rains in the dry land.

By thanking you for your support to make the CHP's dream come true on behalf of people in Petit-trou de Nippes, this letter also come to let you know that your contribution is very appreciated and help to make a big difference.

The school in the community is as a houselight which flashes hope for every one, and means to people that they are not alone, since you keep working, praying for their changing life.

Your loving and generosity gift allow us to welcome also 60 women at the Women's Resources and Education Center to prepare them to become self sufficient in the future.

Once again THANK YOU so much for everything.

May God continue to bless you all abundantly.

FR. KESNER GRACIA ~ PRIEST-IN-CHARGE

Konbit Celebrates its 10th Year!

A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

Could Father Octave and Marti O'Dell have looked into the future ten years ago to see Bishop Rob O'Neill stand on the roof of the St. Paul's School, surveying a thriving, active community going about its day? Did they dream that in 10 years there would be 600 St. Paul's School students walking down the halls of their own, dedicated school building? How did this miracle happen? It happened one child at a time.

When Marti O'Dell founded the Konbit Program in 1996, the children numbered fewer than 100, and the school was a collection of lean-to's and shade trees, constantly at the mercy of the weather. Under her leadership, the Konbit Program began to make Father Octave's vision a reality: an education for the children with regular food daily.

Konbit grew. People throughout Colorado responded to the vision of Konbit. By September 1997, funds paid for the first teachers' salaries and basic kitchen equipment. By January 1998, Konbit began supplying a hot lunch each school day, paying salaries for permanent teachers and cooks, and providing school supplies, textbooks and uniforms. By 2002, there were 225 students, 9 teachers and 3 cooks. There was always the dream of a real bricks and mortar school building one day.

In its early days, the school's budget was fully supported by Konbit supporters, most of whom donated $300 annually. We learned that since there are never as many sponsors as there are students, some children have sponsors and others do not. To avoid creating a system of "haves" and "have nots," we decided to retain the happy practice of matching each sponsor with a single child, while pooling all sponsorship gifts into a single fund to support everyone's books, supplies, hot lunches, uniforms, and annual physicals, plus teacher and school nurse salaries.

In 2005 the Women's Education and Resource Center was built. Although Father Kesner commandeered all its rooms for classrooms during the morning hours, some rooms still held two classes, divided by a blackboard. Kindergarten classes were held in corners of the St. Paul's church sanctuary. Teaching and learning in these rooms was a challenge because of the noise level, and yet, the St. Paul's School became known as one of the best in the region. The school population rapidly rose. By the end of the 2005-2006 school year, there were 450 students at St. Paul's.

Thanks to donations to the Three Bishops' Fund, construction on the School Building Project began in January 2006. Nine months later, Phase One was completed on time and under budget. The ﬁrst floor of a planned two-story building has opened for the 2006-2007 school year, housing 600 students - an increase of 1/3 - and 19 teachers and directors.

This year, CHP is holding a fund raising drive for Konbit Sponsorships to support the new students at St. Paul's. I hope you'll join Marti and me in sponsoring a student, with a gift of $300/year or $25/month. It's easy - use the form in the center section of this newsletter, go to our website, or email me at Melissa.Mahaney@coloradohaitiproject.org. If you already sponsor a student, please consider increasing the total amount of your giving to Konbit. Or consider sponsoring two students - it feels twice as good!

MELISSA MAHANEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

What's New?

CHP's new president of the Board of Directors is Don Snyder, who has been chair of the Three Bishops' Fund capital campaign for the past two years. Don will continue to chair the campaign. Father Kesner Gracia, Dr. Warren Berggren, and Dr. Eben Carsey have joined the Board of Directors. Dr. Gretchen Berggren and Sally Gullstrom, RPh, have stepped down from the Board of Directors, joining Dr. Ted Lewis on the Emeritus Board.
Near the close of the Colorado Diocesan Convention on October 7, 2006, Ted Lewis was awarded the Bishop's Cross by Bishop Rob O'Neill, for Ted's 18 years of service to the people of Haiti and the Colorado Haiti Project.
November 23, 2007 - Father Kesner Gracia married Anne Bedwine Darley Delica at Sainte Trinite Cathedral in Port-au-Prince, in a ceremony presided over by Bishop Zache Duracin of Haiti.
September 2006 - The first vocational courses for women began at the Women's Education and Resource Center. 60 students are enrolled, in programs for government-issued certificates in cuisine (professional cooking) and couture (professional sewing). To all of our donors to the Three Bishops' Fund, thank you on behalf of the Haitian brothers ans sisters whom we serve.
As of September 30, 2007, the Three Bishops' Fund exceeded half a million in gifts and pledges: $518,197.

NEWS