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Family is Everything

Anthropologist Margaret Mead wrote of the family as the "continuing source of human life, the cradle, the teaching place for all future endeavor." Kirkus Reviews once noted that "she writes of mothers whose unconditional love is so essential, of fathers, representing the outside world into which children grow, families from atomic to tribal, brothers and sisters and grandparents, the child alone, friends, and that time when 'the old rules lose their meaning,' adolescence." In Haiti, too, family is everything.


In the spirit of Thanksgiving, Jatrofa Projenou sends you a glimpse of the many families we work with every day to help them increase their farm yields, protect their land, and reduce their poverty. Families are Haiti's farmers and the backbone of how Haiti feeds itself. They are at the center of what Jatrofa Projenou does.


Everyone has a part to play farming the land in this three generation family.

Father, family and one cool dude.

Brother, sister and mango tree to plant.

Mother and daughter making fried plantains.

A group of farmers standing in a forest that was planted six years ago. All are the heads of farming households supporting 150-200 men, women, and children.

A loving father

Jatrofa Projenou is treated like family

Caught with a mouthful, Mother and son.

Brothers and best friends and both patriarchs of big families that dot the mountainsides.

One proud Grandmother and one ‘not so sure’ little grandson.

The love of a mother.

Maybe the kindest family you’d ever meet.

Young family with a serious Mom and a case of earring tug.

Brother and big sister at the start of the work day.

A widow and her two sons who have stepped into their father’s shoes.

Buckets of cousins hamming it up for the camera, but not Auntie, who seriously loves each of them.

Bob Gore

After a demanding four-days photographing the Women in Religion Conference in New York, I headed to the last event. The cocktail hour for the obligatory discussion replay and business card exchange. My goal was to be seen, speak with key participants, and find a quiet corner.


After a few pleasantries, I saw an empty chair beside Berry Rice, a woman who appeared perfect for a few minutes of low keyed polite conversation. She appeared around my age, with salt and pepper colored hair and wearing a short leg cast from some kind of leg injury. Little did I know she was Bethlehem Ministry's chief recruiter. After a few minutes of introduction, it became clear I was hearing a well-crafted pitch. In spite of a near-death auto accident there, she remained evangelical about the "miraculous transformation" in Northeast Haiti sponsored by Bethlehem Ministry.


With a little delay, she popped the question in her disarming silky southern accent, "Bob have you been to Haiti?" I shared the story of my enjoyable week in Port Au Prince and how I spent a day with the dean of the business school who indicated the need for computers.


After enlisting my then employer, Westinghouse Electric, and other donors, I hit a wall of bureaucratic obstacles in Haiti, preventing delivery of the machines. Even my Haitian friends warned me of impenetrable obstacles that often frustrate outsider involvement.


Berry acknowledged everyone has some difficulties in working in Haiti. She also explained Bethlehem Ministry had succeeded because of its deep community roots and capabilities not available to most other NGOs. We left the event promising to stay in touch.


After a series of convincing phone conversations, I was on a plane headed to Terrier Rouge for the first in a series of, what would be, eye-opening and thoroughly rewarding visits. Father Bruno welcomed me warmly and was curious about schools, low-income housing, and social programs sponsored by my church. Though humbled by his interest, I conceded we in New York have more to learn from his accomplishments with meager resources than he from our programs that benefit from extensive public support.


Being there fulfilled two long-term interests. As a child, I dreamed of visiting one of the few countries that welcomed African American vacationers during the segregation era. Photographing the lovely school children and community was my way of publicizing and supporting the school Bethlehem Ministry had created a magnificent educational oasis and much-needed health services. Having participated in many not-for-profit organizations, I knew this was is the crown jewel of the region that, in no small way, has fueled the area's growth and development. Father Bruno's stature and family history provide unquestioned credibility among residents and officials. He and the staff embody the spirit and aspiration of the country and a model for creative development throughout the Caribbean and North America.


The next year, 2008 my son, Dr. Rob Gore, Dr. Christina Bloem, and a number of their colleagues from Kings County Hospital and Down State Medical Center began their visits and have continued to provide patient care and emergency medical training for professionals ranging from nurses to physicians, tap-tap drivers, and teachers.



The commitment of Berry, husband Peter, daughter Sarah, the generous U.S. donors, staff, and dedicated board members underscores the credibility of this vital, sustainable venture. Oh yes, since 2007, I've returned a number of times. My association with Bethlehem Ministry and the people of Terrier Rouge is a once in a lifetime privilege.



Every Day is a Thanksgiving Day

Last month, while I was taking a nap one afternoon, a lady showed up at the gate and told the watchman that she wanted to see me. The man denied her request, telling her that I had worked the entire morning and now I was not available because I was taking a nap. The lady is the kind of person who does not take no for an answer. She insisted that she had to see me. Finally, my oldest daughter Dominique, heard her complaining, entered the house, and woke me up.


When I went outside, I found sitting on our porch an almost devastated woman with tears streaming down her face. Very agitated, she spoke in an almost inaudible voice. It took me a while and the use of all my pastoral skills to get words out of her mouth and listen to her dramatic story.


She told me that she brought her mother to Esperance & Vie Clinique (our health facility in Terrier Rouge) because she has an injury in her left leg. What she believed was a simple injury, however, turned out to be something that she would have never expected. The doctors found out that the mother was diabetic, and the injury was so profound that the left leg had to be amputated just below the knee. When they heard that, mother and daughter broke into tears and could not stay still. They were crying, their body shaking as if they were in a sort of trance-- a way some people in the country express their emotions when facing distress.


Their pain doubled when they heard that we could not do that type of surgery at our place. The doctor had to refer them to a hospital located at almost 30 miles down the road and the most devastating part was that they did not have any money for the surgery which was estimated between 40,000.00 to 50,000.00 gourdes (US$ 800.00). One can only imagine the situation of those people who live on scarce resources.



As soon as she told me her story, I went to the Clinique, talked to the doctor, found the words of hope to comfort them, and promised that Esperance et Vie would drive her to the Hospital and would take care of the bills. Their faces shined immediately. They could not believe that the miracle could happen so quickly. They immediately started to thank and glorify the Lord.


We took her to the Hospital in a town called Milot. She spent two weeks there and is now back home. I visited her yesterday. Now daily, she told me, she praises the Name of the Lord. Everyday for her is a “THANKSGIVING DAY”. Thank you to all of you for allowing those miracles to happen in Haiti.


May all of you have a “HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY”.


JMB+


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