Forgive this poorly focused picture; it is a photo of a projector screen taken during the Partnership’s Annual Conference at St. Phillips Church in Charleston SC this past summer. For the fourth year in a row, our Haitian partners were unable to travel to the US for the meeting. We were able to simultaneously Zoom live with Pere Vil, Jean Thony, Dr. Lazar, Fred Cenatus and a translator. We talked. They led us on a walk-through of the new middle school in Palma. Wow! In the US we now mark time as before and after Covid-19; our Haitian partners delineate time as before- before President Jovenel ..read more

Two months ago, on February 21st, shock and sorrow reverberated around the world as news of the sudden death of Dr. Paul Farmer was announced. Paul Farmer challenged us all to think of humanity as one, not people and countries divided into rich or poor.  For many of us, Tracy Kidder’s book “Mountains Beyond Mountains” was our introduction to Haiti and to Paul Farmer. But actually, Paul’s influence on La Gonâve Haiti Partners goes back to the earliest days of the partnership and his friendship with its founding Haitian partner, Episcopal Priest Père Fritz Valdema.  Let Père Valdema a ..read more

Dear La Gonâve Haiti Partners, As we begin a New Year of mission and service on behalf of our friends and colleagues on la Gonâve island, I want to start by saying “Thank you.”   Thank you for your continued commitment to our Haitian brothers and sisters through your prayers and your gifts of time, energy, and financial resources.  These have been considerable over the past year and critical to the livelihood of the communities on la Gonâve. The images we see of violence, hunger, poverty, and despair in Haiti today can easily lead us to feel hopeless and that life will never improve ..read more

Christmas greetings to the beloved brothers and sisters, members and friends of La Gonâve Haiti Partners Dear Brothers and Sisters and Friends, Christmas is a special time to wish happy holidays and a happy new year to those who are dear to us.  It is one of the magical and wonderful times to express our gratitude toward all those who have done good things for us.  Aware of your love for the people of La Gonâve and the impact of your ministry in their life, I would like on their behalf, in this special season of rejoicing, to say THANK YOU and wish to all our sister churches, e ..read more

“What can possibly happen to make life better for the community here?” That is a question I have asked myself and the Good Lord every time I have visited the very remote village of Platon Balai, which is home to St. Simon & St. Jude, the farthest-flung Episcopal church on la Gonâve and our (St. Andrew’s Anglican, Little Rock, AR) sister church. The village is so remote and so poor that even our Haitian colleagues in Anse-a-Galets are stumped by this question. There are no easy answers and there are plenty of obstacles, but I believe there is also great reason for hope. One of my favorite m ..read more

He smiled. A huge smile. And signed his name on the contract. And he became a small business owner. This happens often in the United States, probably even in your own hometown. This time, it was a Haitian gentleman, who was becoming part of a micro finance program on the island of la Gonâve in Haiti.  La Gonâve Haiti Partners has supported schools and communities in ten villages for over 30 years, providing education from Pre-K through 6th grade. At a community meeting, one brave mother stood up and asked if there could be classes for the parents too. The parents were appreciative that t ..read more

August 30, 2021 Dear Partners, It has been just over two weeks since the earthquake struck the southern peninsula of Haiti on August 14th. The death toll has now climbed to over 2,200 with thousands more injured and over 50,000 homes destroyed.  2021.08.14 Haiti Earthquake The news from La Gonâve remains the same.  Our partner communities have been spared major damage and there have been no deaths or injuries on the island from the earthquake.  A concern, however, is the impact of the earthquake’s aftershocks on existing cracks in the walls of the Bill Rice Health Center.  ..read more

July 28, 2021 Dear La Gonâve Haiti Partners, Last week’s Annual Conference was a joyous celebration of accomplishments that defied the challenges of the past 18 months.  It was so good to meet in person AND have others attend virtually!  I want to thank the two partner churches, First Presbyterian Church and Trinity Episcopal Parish of Clarksville, Tennessee for hosting us.  They were wonderful in every way and the church sanctuaries are incredibly beautiful.  The eucharist service that closed the conference was based on the feeding of 5,000.  The parish priest, the Re ..read more

July 9, 2021 Dear La Gonâve Haiti Partners (LGHP), As most of you have heard, on July 7th, the President of Haiti Jovenel Moise was assassinated in his home in Port-au-Prince and his wife injured. It is with great sadness that we share the news of his death. The President’s wife was flown to Miami for treatment. She is stable, but in critical condition, and we ask for your prayers for her recovery. I have been in communication with the priest-in-charge on la Gonâve, Pere Jean Madoché Vil.  He is very sad and worried about the future, and he asks that you continue to pray for the country ..read more

I will never forget my first short-term mission trip. It was to Haiti, January of 2017. The previous year my wife, Mary Martha, and I had been visiting a new church for us – First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta. She made the comment on one of our early visits to this church, “…what better way to learn about this church and its members that to go on a short term (five days) mission trip.” I agreed – let’s do this! But as we got closer to the January departure day, I was getting a little anxious. What was I going to contribute? I’m not a doctor, educator or skilled carpenter – all I can do is pl ..read more