Roof Collapse at the school

During the night of Wednesday, February 20th, the beam collapsed in the roof over a 4th grade classroom (top photo).  If it had been in the heart of the day, there would have been many deaths.  We thank the Lord for His infinite goodness.  The roof and ceilings have now been removed from 12 classrooms which had been built at the same time.  The structures are being studied for strength before rebuilding can begin.  The children and teachers still use the classrooms.  When it rains, it is more difficult for all but much better than risking another collapse.

St. Simon parish is collecting money to repair the buildings.  The bottom photo shows the school before the roof collapsed.  If you can help with this rebuilding, please send a donation to St. Simon Parish--Haiti, 702 E. Bryant, Ludington, MI 49431.  Thank you!  Mesi!  --Kathryn

The top picture is a water filter.  It is located at a different school but it is on the wish list for the School of the Infant Jesus.  This filter system would save them considerable money.  They need to provide clean water for the school lunches, the school orphanage and convent.  At this time, the school is using chlorine tablets and supplementing it with purchased water.  They need approximately $10,000 to purchase the system shown in the top photo.

Travelling to Anse-a-Veau

Anse-a-Veau is a 3 hr drive south of Port-au-Prince.  There was new concrete road for the first 2 hours.
To see more photos, click here

Children attending the tuition-free classes

Sometimes, a rural family can not afford to feed all their children.  They may send one or more of their children to work for relatives in Port-a-Prince.  If the children are lucky, they will have a sheltering home and food in exchange for their work.  The Sisters offer the servant children in Cite Militaire and Cite Solei a free education through 4th grade during the afternoons.  It starts with a hot nutritious lunch.  --Kathryn

Haitian Coffee

When the Sisters at the School of the Infant Jesus learned we raise money for them by hosting a Sunday morning brunch once a month, they presented us with bags of Haitian coffee.  We'll be selling them $9 / 10 oz after the Masses on Nov. 18th at St. Simon Church in Ludington.  --Kathryn

Please come back

We took 1200 photos during this 2012 trip.  I'll continue posting for the next few weeks.  --Kathryn

K-6 Class Buildings

The School of the Infant Jesus provides primary education, Kindergarten through 9th.  The K-6th area of the school is used in the mornings by the children who can afford tuition and in the afternoons as a free school for the servant children.

To see some of the students in their classrooms, click here.