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Journey to Haiti takes priest to the 'last world'

By the Rev. Michael Munro

Rector, St. Paul’s, Leavenworth

I was part of a small group who, in February, began a journey out of this world and into the “last world.” We went to Haiti for a medical mission, to serve Jesus by serving his poorest brothers and sisters.

St. Paul’s, Leavenworth, is a member of the Haitian Episcopal Learning Partnership and sponsors a congregation school, Saint Hillaire, in Petit Riviere. It is a daughter congregation of Saint Paul’s in Torbeck. We also form the nucleus of an annual medical mission to rural congregations in Torbeck and Les Cayes.

From the perspective of my prosperous life, Haiti seems not like the third world nor the two-thirds world, but the last world. Despite mobile phones and the Internet, poverty and life in Haiti are as extreme as anywhere on earth — more biblical than modern. It is that poverty that calls us to venture here in the name of the Lord and the cause of health.

Packing heavy for charity

On this trip all the team members’ personal luggage must be carried on, because the checked baggage allowance is given over to medical supplies and equipment. We pack light for ourselves so we can pack heavily for charity.

As soon as we settled in the parish house dormitory in Torbeck (built with contributions from the people of St. Michael’s, Mission), the curious start to gather. “Les Blancs” (the whites), as we are called, are a profound novelty. Some of the visitors are friends and patients from previous mission trips. Some come in hope of alms; some have goods or stories to sell. That first day in country always has the character of a reunion.

The next day’s plan for organizing and packing for the first clinic was preempted by an unscheduled clinic right there in the rectory. We saw about 70 patients. The typical flow has patients gather and register, establishing their place in the order. They have their blood pressure checked, wait for the doctor, watch the medicine-show and wait for the doctor.

Once seen, they tarry a moment with me for prayer — unction in French from the Book of Common Prayer and a blessing, “God bless you fast! Amen,” in Haitian Creole. Then they are off to the pharmacy to wait for their medicines.

This pattern holds for more daily clinics at Le Prete, a couple of hours up into the mountains, Savannette, Mersan, Gracette and once more in Torbeck. We saw about 800 patients when all was said and done.  We dispensed over $3,000 worth of medicine, half taken with us and half purchased in country.

Balance of health is tipping

My first trip to Haiti was four years ago.  We saw many patients but never had the sense that the balance of health was tipping in favor of the Haitian people. There was more disease, more malnutrition, more stress than our clinics could hope to overcome. We really were the medicine show — the biggest event of the year for many.  Disease could be treated but rarely defeated.

This trip was different. Sometime during the second clinic day I noticed a different mood among the physicians.  They were remarking to the nurses that they were seeing fewer “redheads.”

I learned that malnutrition and intestinal parasites lead to anemia, which shows itself as lighter skin and red hair. It seems that, between the regular visits by our docs and the resources of Maison de Naissance (a maternity center we’ve developed), people finally are starting to rise above the challenges of poverty and poor water. Finally we saw evidence that steady attention leads to change.

It is a spiritual privilege for me to be able to spend time with Pere Fanfan Cole in Torbeck.  He is a force of nature and faith in Southern Haiti.  I am deeply impressed by his devotion to his people, their acceptance of and respect for him. When I am there he asks that I preach; he translates. I presume that he is accurate; I understand enough French to think that I follow his translations.

This year he asked that I celebrate the Eucharist at three Sunday services and on Ash Wednesday.  I didn’t know that I could do that. My college French is by now decades old.  When I shared my fear that his people were not well served by my fumbles he assured me, “If it had been bad you wouldn’t have done it twice,” all this with a twinkle in his eye and the assurance of deep wisdom.

Belonging to others

I visit Haiti, and I leave behind all sense of personal security. Haiti strips me of my self-possession, for in Haiti I belong more to others than I do to myself. I belong to my mission team; I belong to the people we serve; I belong to my Lord and my church; I belong to my family left at home, more than any other time. I am no longer my own.

I count it a wonderful opportunity to take part in these mission trips.  They break me out of the predictability of daily life and thrust me into the extreme without recourse. 

From my perch in Leavenworth I view poverty as a great privation. Yet when I’m in Haiti I am amazed at how much pleasure such impoverished people find in life, how proud they are of their land and their culture, how hopeful and faithful they are. 

I begin the trip praying to be a blessing to others. I return home blessed beyond the telling.