Our Haiti team was headed for Baudin until 48hr before we left. Pastor Crisnell emailed and said instead we would go to Champin. We found an inner city church in a suburb of CapHaitian that has been waiting for 18 yrs for help with renovation. .
This is the plane we flew on Carbintair Airline.
Cap Haitian is a beautiful city. The buildings are very ornate. Most streets are one lane wide. The air polution mostly dust was bad. The statue is of Haitian heros in their fight for independance.
Pastor Crisnell was a good host. His home is just across the street from the bay. Sitting outside spray from waves hitting the seawall can be felt.
When we arrived at the Champin church a back hall was unfinished, dark, and full of rubble. At the end of the hall was a "toilet" which consisted of a 2x3 ft hole in the floor. Two other rooms came off the hall, also unfinished. The doors and windows were wooden and shutters falling off. The side of the church was unfinished. The well had been broken by vandals and not usable for years. The roof support beams were rotting at the bottom and thought to be lacking a foundation. The last problem was going to be addressed as we left. The other things were taken care of while we were there for about a week
When done, the rubble was cleared. A window was put in at the end of the hall. The toilet had a window installed. Also one stool and plumbing for a second one, a sink, and plumbing for a urinal were installed. The rooms had windows put in and one was divided into two rooms. Security grates were made on site and replaced the old windows and doors. The back area and the side of the church was parged. The well was repaired and working
At the end we had a celebration with singing and treats. Champin has a womens choir and a mens choir. Both are excellant. The men's group has been together for about 19 yrs. They are non professional but are better quality than any group we have heard in Haiti. We hope to find a way to get a CD made of them somehow.
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