Church of the Brethren Newsline
February 11, 2017
Sixteen members of Chiques Church of the Brethren spent a week in Haiti in January. Their primary goal was to work on upgrades to the Brethren guesthouse of l’Eglise des Freres Haitiens (Church of the Brethren in Haiti) in Croix des Bouquets. The group served with l’Eglise des Freres Haitiens (Church of the Brethren in Haiti).
Much work was done to the guesthouse including screening in the back porch, installing solar panels on the roof, plumbing, fixing leaks, adding wooden strips to the ceiling where plaster was peeling, hanging curtains in the bedrooms, shelving units for storage, and on and on.
The group also assisted in providing a medical clinic in the community of Bois Leger, about three miles from the guesthouse, where a distribution of relief materials had been done following damage from Hurricane Matthew. A total of 157 patients were seen and activities were provided for 80 to 100 children throughout the day.
Much physical work was done but work for the Kingdom was being accomplished as we were drawn closer together with our brothers and sisters from Eglise des Freres. Our theme verse for the week was from Matthew 25:40: “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” This verse was painted on the living room wall of the guesthouse in four languages (English, French, Creole, and Spanish) and embodied the love we shared as we worked and served alongside our Haitian brothers and sisters throughout the week.
One Haitian brother summed it up when he said, “We have hope that one day, in the great assembly, we will see one another where we will work, eat, and laugh together again. And we are all going to speak the same language!”
— Carolyn Fitzkee is a member of Chiques Church of the Brethren near Manheim, Pa., and has served as a global mission advocate in Atlantic Northeast District.
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