THE NEW ORLEANS HAITIAN CONNECTION: A Mission Trip to Grand Boulage, Haiti
by Barbara Duhe

4:00 A.M., December 3, 2008 found four of us at Louis Armstrong Airport, Haiti bound and attempting to check in 18 pieces of luggage. You ask, “Aren’t you allowed only two check-ons per person?  18 Pieces of luggage must have cost a fortune! Why so many pieces for a 7 day stay?”

This is where our Mission begins; the multitude of luggage bags were filled with the generous outpouring of the people of New Orleans for the schoolchildren in the parish of Notre Dame des Sept Douleurs (Our Lady of Sorrows) in the village of Grand Boulage, Haiti. Individuals and church communities allowed us the privilege of bringing Christmas treats and gifts to the children of this village on Goat Mountain.

Flying from New Orleans to Miami, we met with 14 other persons from Florida, New York and Chicago (with their 52 pieces of luggage) to make this event happen. The Christmas Dreams Mission has taken place for 8 years but for us in New Orleans it was the first. It began at the end of the summer of 2008 when  the  Family Life  Apostolate of Holy Ghost Church (currently, St. Katherine Drexel Parish)  was approached by the Coordinator of the Haitian Catholic Community of New Orleans, Fenelle Guillaume, and asked if we could help in their efforts to make Christmas happen for the school children in Grand Boulage.  When asked of the needs, she shared that there were many needs and proposed ways in which we could help. One of the critical problems Fenelle related was the need to provide the school children with at least one hot meal a day; she told us of how far they walked to school and that many did not have a substantial meal. Family Life determined that we could work toward assisting in ways that would extend beyond the Christmas season. Flyers were prepared for the parishioners. Additionally, members of Family Life e-mailed their friends, clubs, organizations and groups asking for their assistance in this most worthy cause.

The response was overwhelming. Some chose to provide Christmas gifts for the teen boys and girls at the school while others chose to send gifts for the parents of the children. Some found that giving $150.00 to provide tuition, uniforms and books for the year was more appealing. There were those who gave $60.00 to feed one child for the year and others who just gave monetary donations.  The children’s teachers were also included in the giving because the salaries are minimal.  

Just as our Christmas efforts for Grand Boulage got off the ground, along came Hurricanes Gustave and Ike which delayed the activity.  Once conditions got back to normal, we again took up our cause; those numerous pieces of luggage attest to the success of the activity! American Airlines granted the waiver which allowed the luggage to be transported gratis. Our accompanying the luggage insured that they would arrive at the proper destination.  

Upon arriving at Grand Boulage, we attended Mass with the children. Then, we fed the school children, parents, teachers and villagers−over 500 people. The meal was quite hearty and consisted of rice with pigeon peas, chicken, plantains, salad, punch and dessert. This was followed by a program of singing, dancing and acting that the children prepared for us. After the performances the children, in quite orderly fashion, as with the serving of the meals, lined up and entered the church which had been transformed into a toy store. The youngsters were so gracious, respectful and thankful for what they received. Their needs were quite evident as was their gratitude. It was quite a long and wonderful day but heartbreaking when it was time to leave. The children wanted us to stay and dance with them. 

As mentioned earlier, this is the eighth year of the activity organized by the sister of Fenelle, Rolande Surpris of Chicago. She shared that past donations were about $2,000 to $3,000.  This year, with donations in excess of $10,000, a much needed canteen and enough food for every child to have a hot meal daily became a reality. Twenty-five children were supported for school and eight teachers received $50.00, (their salaries range between $35 -$70 monthly depending on the grade levels). The priest, seminarian and principal all received monetary stipends as well as the 8 ladies who prepared the large meal. New Orleans donors included members of Holy Ghost, Center of Jesus the Lord and Star Bethel Churches as well as many concerned and caring individuals.