Back to the Blog - Lots of News

Now that the immediate emergency relief effort is over, I find myself working at my day job--Rector at Old St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Bloomfield. That's not to say there isn't plenty going on or that I'm not still deeply involved in the Good Samaritan Rebuilding project. It's just that maintaining the blog is time consuming and challenging. Sometimes it feels like feeding a hungry child. So, here's the overview.


École le Bon Samaritain has reopened with two classes--5th & 6th grades. They are meeting in the large tent provided by the Stamford Police Department. We would very, VERY much like to get two or three more of these tents so we can use them for more classrooms. If you know of any or can help purchase one or two, please let me know.

We have located more space on which to put additional classes. Temporarily, those children will be shaded by lean-tos & tarps. I'm sure you can understand why it would be best to have more of these large tents. I might also add, that the large tents can be taken down when a hurricane approaches and reconstructed after it passes by.

There has been a lot of discussion about what to do with the old school--repair or raze? The decision to demolish the building was finally made yesterday. It was difficult because of the history of the building. Remember, it was Jean-Elie and Mona's home for many years, their children were raised there, and it served as the School for 13 years. 

Jean-Elie came back to Connecticut on Friday morning to get some rest, but also to attend the ordination and consecration of Connecticut's new Bishop, Ian Douglas. That celebration occurred on Saturday, April 17th, at Trinity College's hockey arena which had been transformed into a most wonderful and holy space. 

Jean-Elie and I gathered with other clergy in a crowded hallway by the locker rooms. As we waited, we realized that we were pretty much at the very tail-end of the procession. I remarked to Elie, "Remember what Jesus said, 'The last will be first and the first will be last.'" We both laughed and waited, waited and waited some more. Then, much to our surprise, the procession began and, you guessed it, it turns out we were at the very front. Our seats weren't any better (in comfort or ability to see) but we did have another good laugh.

The service was magnificent in every respect. And yet, I must say that the opportunity to hear Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa preach is an extraordinary experience. In addition, our new bishop con-celebrated the Holy Eucharist with the two suffragan bishops of Connecticut and when Bishop Douglas spoke it was in Haitian kreyol. Ian is a fluent kreyol speaker and deeply committed to Haiti, where he lived for several years.

On Sunday morning, Jean-Elie preached & celebrated the Holy Eucharist at Old St. Andrew's. He is loved and always well received at OSA. The last time he was with us was the Sunday following the earthquake and right before he lead our Team 1 to Carrefour to set up the clinic. In his sermon Sunday, Jean-Elie stressed that, although only a few people actually traveled to Carrefour, everybody who helped went too. And likewise, he said that the people who were aided by our efforts are a part of our parish family even though they live far away. This spirit of One-ness is at the very heart of what the Good Samaritan Rebuilding Fund is all about.

An Episcopal Church Women's (ECW) bake sale had been long planned for after last Sunday's service. That Jean-Elie was there was an added surprise and bonus. Almost everything was sold out (including 4 pecan pies made by Russ St. John who traveled with me to Haiti in 2008). The total was $378. ECW chairwoman Shirley Greiman presented the cash to Jean-Elie for him to buy school supplies. Every gift, small or large, matters so much. Thank you OSA ECW!!! 

Attending worship at OSA on Sunday was Carolyn Lang and her husband Mike Lally. Carolyn was on Team 3 and she shared Team Coordinator with Lauren Lyons. Besides all Carolyn did while in Haiti, she has been driven since to provide the entire nation of Haiti with condoms...well maybe only the Waney neighborhood of Carrefour. The bounty of her efforts--8,500 condoms--were loaded into my Subaru after church for me to take to St. John's in Stamford for eventual shipment to the clinic. That makes a total of 11,500 condoms sent to Carrefour! Carolyn writes, "God is so good and his love continues to drive me forward to help our school and the Waney neighborhood." Special thanks to Carolyn and her daughter for collecting these.

On Sunday, also, a meeting was held at St. John's in Stamford by The Rev'd Lauren Stanley, missioner to the diocese of Haiti. The meeting was really well attended and filled with good information and questions. Mère Lauren, as she likes to be known, is the point person for Episcopal Relief and Development funds going to Haiti. She's the person who matches parishes with Haitian projects--churches, clinics, music education, schools, etc. It was good to have Mère Lauren explain some of the situation on the ground in Haiti now and especially with regards to what the Episcopal Church is doing.

One more thing. Trinity Episcopal Church, Newtown, and their Youth Coordinator, Sue Vogelman, are at it again. This time they have planned a children's variety show at the Blue Z Coffee House, 5 - 6.30 p.m. on Friday, April 30th as a fund raiser. This children helping other children theme strikes the right chord. If you can go to support these kids, please do. Thanks Trinity & thanks Sue.


So, there you have it. A lot is happening. A lot needs to happen moving forward. 

More pictures below

Please remember that we need large tents.