In the Past…
The Episcopal Diocese of Haiti established the Partnership Program, fostering connections between churches and schools in the United States and Canada with Episcopal churches in Haiti. Partners have paid teachers’ salaries, provided schoolroom equipment and books and helped to build school buildings, provided medical help, exchanged letters and gifts. St. John’s of Troy became a partner to the Church of the Holy Spirit in Lascahobas, Haiti in 1986.

Today…
For twenty three years we have helped to support the church and school at Lascahobas. There have been political disruptions and violence in past years, making it difficult to visit Haiti, but we have persevered, staying in touch with our partner. The staffs of the church and school have changed. The school has grown and improved academically. Students are passing their National Exams with honors.

A Poem by Christina Rossetti
“What can I give poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb.
If I were a wise man I would do my part.
What can I give him? I can give my heart.”

Fund Raising Mission
Our mission to Holy Spirit has several goals. We continue to support education but have found support the school feeding program to be important. We have aided construction but need to address the problems of the lack of or unreliable electricity at the site. A pilot project in 2009 installed solar panels on the roof of the rectory and it is working well, but there is more work to be done. In January 2010 working with students from RPI we hope to bring enough power to the site to operate a small computer facility.

NEXT STEPS
The time has come again to assess our partnership’s present needs and our ability to help. In 2006 we raised funds for a vehicle for the parish to facilitate the priest’s coverage of his congregation and mission churches. When our Team visits in the winter of 2010 we will be focused on solar and educational programs. GE has donated 12 solar panels for the school and a team of RPI students will join the January Mission to install them and train school workers to care for them. RPI has donated laptop computer for the high school. But we will also work with Fr. Milor to identify projects for his mission churches. There are always the on-going parish needs – school supplies, teachers’ salaries, building repairs, church vestments, and eventually an addition for the growing student population. Thus we will continue to raise funds. The Daughters at St. John are working with the women of the church to start a Daughters of the King Chapter in Lascahobas.

Haiti Committee Members
Mission Coordinator: Linda Stevens
Team Members: Lucinda Ballard, Edge Bagg,
Bill and Carol Daniel, Tim and Cindy Schmehl,
and Dawn Stuart Weinraub

WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Most important is your prayers and encouragement. In a practical sense, we will collect classroom supplies which we will send to help with the start of school. Financially, we will need contributions toward our solar project. Any amounts are most welcome. Our January Mission is an ambitious one. We need your support to help advance education. Passing the National Exams gives them entrée to Trade Schools, an opportunity to learn job skills.
If you would like to contribute, your check should be made out to St. John’s Church with a memo to the Haiti Partnership and left with St. John’s Church Office.