Haitian Woman – Community Organizer
< Previous Part 9: EXIT December 1991 Survive/Die? Port-de-PaixChristmas Eve, 1991 Late that night, Jè arrives at the Port-au-Paix cathedral and is surprised to find its doors unlocked. He can hear piano music but doesn’t hear voices. He pushes a door open and steps inside. Jè has never been in a Catholic cathedral before, just … Read more
< Previous Mother Mary’s They arrive at Mother Mary’s with Ti Mon, Jocelyn and her baby just in time for dinner. The nuns quickly swarm around them. They guide everyone but Matt into a nearby women’s dorm and close the door. Matt’s not sure what to do with himself until an older priest approaches him. … Read more
< Previous Part 8: DEFEND Extract Montana Hotel Ashley and Matt are driving their Land Cruiser from their guest house to the Montana Hotel. It’s Sunday, so Jocelyn should be at church services this morning. They’re dressed in their best “missionary garb”; Matt in white shirt with clip-on tie and Ashley in her most formal … Read more
< Previous Part 8: DEFEND November – December 1991 Adapt Port-au-Prince, Downtown The airport is under military control and Kevin’s mobility is limited. He avoids public markets, gatherings, or churches and moves between houses frequently. Jè and Henri continue their plan to build out the Ti Legliz comms network. Kevin stays clear of Carrefour and … Read more
< Previous Part 7: MEN WITH GUNS Police State Haiti The military rounds up what remains of the political opposition and installs a provisional government with vague assurances of future elections. Haiti is open for business again so come on down and place your bets and bribes. In response, the international community places an embargo … Read more
< Previous Part 6: BETRAYAL Huddled Masses Bon Chance Refugee Camp After finishing up some meetings in Petionville a few days later, Kevin receives a panicked request via Tele-Joel to place a collect call to NYC. He finds a Telco, pays the “seating fee” to wait for a phone and makes the call. He’s connected … Read more
< Previous Part 5: LESSONS Choices Ti Legliz Village The pastors in Ceyes and the Americans at Protestant Radio are asking more questions about Kevin’s activities and whereabouts, now that his mission has been accomplished. Jè suggests that Kevin return to the station the following weekend. Kevin tries to argue that he should finish up … Read more
< Previous Part 5: LESSONS April – June 1991 Resilience Ti Legliz Village Kevin spends the rest of his time at Ti Legiz climbing up and down Mount Boueffe and working on other projects as assigned by Solange or Father Jean. He sends reports to Tim and Head Engineer about progress, never mentioning that he’s … Read more
< Previous Sitting on the ground while considering options, Kevin hears new voices. He looks up and is sees an old Haitian man climbing the hill, followed by a young boy. Panielle is already watching carefully. When the man arrives at the tower, he begins telling a lengthy story. Kevin can’t follow it, but Panielle … Read more
< Previous Mount Boeffe, Southern Haiti Mountain Range Their meal complete, Solange and Father Jean say goodbye. “We’ll be over at the orphanage for the rest of the day if anyone needs us.” Henri takes Kevin, Panielle and the rest of the men into a small garden shed behind the chapel. He turns on a … Read more
< Previous Ti Legliz As they walk, Kevin sees that this base community is a strongpoint that could easily become a kill zone. The houses are arranged around the stone chapel inside a walled town square. Kevin has heard from reliable sources that the GOH / cartels will send “tax collectors” into some of these … Read more
< Previous Part 4: COLLABORATORS Community Department of Sud, Ti Legliz Village Eventually they reach a plateau and the path fades into a small pasture, shaded by fir trees. There are a few well maintained homes arranged in a cluster around a one-story chapel which anchors the town square. This community isn’t on any maps … Read more