Just a couple of weeks ago, retired officers Colonels Dennis and Noella Phillips (pictured above with Yves Montoban, a Salvation Army employee in Haiti) chose to take a week to serve Salvationists in Haiti, where they served as Territorial Commanders for some time. They were there spending time with Officers, soldiers, and children. And as is often the case with those who travel overseas, they were blessed probably more than they thought they would be.
Through a series of three letters, Col. Dennis Phillips tried to take an account of their activities. Enjoy and be blessed! Tomorrow will be the last posting in this series.
Contrasts: The road to Oro-villa (a Baptist Retreat Center) gives new meaning to the word, “arduous.” Mostly dirt roads strewn with rocks, rubble and pot holes that would challenge the most experienced driver made up the main thoroughfare from the airport to what would be our home for the next three days. Throngs of people (think – Manhattan at rush hour x 10) busily crowded the pavements severely damaged by the earthquake as vendors, shoppers and school children courageously tried to return to some level of normal life. The broken, dusty road was a challenge to navigate, and many times vehicles were barely millimeters away from crashing.
Upon arrival at Oro-villa, it was clearly obvious that a large section of the cement-block security wall that typically surrounds every property in Haiti had collapsed during the earthquake and had been replaced temporarily by corrugated zinc. The main entrance remained in tact with its imposing iron gate that, after a few loud beeps from the van’s horn, opened, and we entered a veritable tropical wonderland. Palm trees of various sorts, breadfruit and mango trees, brilliant bouganvlllia (spelling?) and an inviting swimming pool provided a beautiful setting for the Haitian officers who were gathering for their first Retreat since the earthquake. What a contrast.
On the streets, we saw the terror that remained in the eyes of those who had survived the earthquake, and the many tent cities were a loud declaration that fear still gripped this city of 3 million people. But, upon meeting with Haitian Salvation Army Officers, another striking contrast was evident. Here was a band of soldiers who had experienced unimaginable experiences that had threatened their lives and the lives of their loved ones, but they were neither looking down nor back. Their singing and their testimonies resounded with an increased faith in God, a thanks for His redemption and protection, and a determination to look ahead with faith in what they believed God had in store for them. I tried to capture the energy of their singing on a video. I’m not sure how it will turn out, but I know it will not even come close to the real thing. As they sang – with intensity and power, “No, I never, never, never will give in. No, I won’t (Hallelujah), No I won’t. For I mean to have the victory forever.” To hear their humble testimonies of how God spared them and their children was a blessing I cannot express.
Before going to Haiti, we had confided in someone that we were not sure how we would be able to bring blessing and hope to a people who had suffered so much. We were counseled to know that we did not need to worry about blessing them……..they would bless us. How true.
Our private conversations with several of them were both heart warming and heart breaking. One young man, 36 years old and single, is in charge of three corps. One of his corps holds their Sunday meeting at 6 am in order for him to arrange public transportation to the next corps. The Divisional Commander told me he is a very fine officer. He and I made an immediate connection, for 10 years ago, I visited his corps in Couyot (KOO-yo) which is the most isolated corps in the Caribbean Territory. Couyot sits atop a mountain which is the fourth mountain away from the sea. To get there required an 8 hour mule ride. So far, I am the only territorial commander to have visited this corps, and this Captain was pleased to tell me how he, a soldier then, led the song just before my message.
He has a fiancé who is an accepted candidate to enter training this year if she can pay the required US $1000. Everything else about her case is acceptable, but she only has $400 so far. Noella and I added another $100, and will probably add more to make sure she gets to training in 2010. The couple will be separated most of the next two years, and then will marry in 2012. Yes, I am determined to raise the remaining $500 to make certain she goes to training this year. (btw, Haitian cadets must report for training in July in order to take two months of English before the session begins in September, so there is little time to spare.)*
Noella and I were able to spend some good time with Major Violet (Doliber) Ezeh (EE-zay). She and her husband operate a clinic, hospital and pharmacy in Fond-des-Negres (FON-da-neg) in the southern/western strip of Haiti. She is a Central officer, and it was good to get caught up with her. She and her husband are providing hope and medical care to hundreds of people every week in their area of the country. Their facility is the only one within many miles. Some of our conversations were in the pool.
Yes, I managed to go for a good swim every day, either early in the morning or in the evening. The water was warm…very warm, and the pool was long and deep. (Not a kids’ pool by any means.)
The food has been incredible: freshly baked bread every day for every meal, tropical fruit served at its peak of ripeness. We were especially pleased that the Haitian officers were able to enjoy good nutrition and plenty of it for three days.
I plan to write up our experiences in Haiti, and when I do I will say, “Do not pity the Salvation Army Officers serving in Haiti, for pity is not what they want, and it certainly is not what they deserve. Respect them…honor them…support them. For them, just knowing that people in America care means much to them.
We emptied the four suitcases of medical and educational supplies that had been donated by officers and employees of Metropolitan DHQ, family members and friends. Actually, Captain Felix Ezeh (a doctor-optician) helped me distribute the medicines so that every officer benefitted.
Oh my, when I told Violet we had kites, I wish you could have seen her eyes light up. “Kites?” she asked. “You actually brought kites?” Then she went on to tell how much the boys in Fond-des Negres loved to fly kits…how they would make their own including the string which they would make by unraveling a “gunny sack” and tying all the strings together. “They will go crazy over real kites,” Violet told us. I wished I had brought more of them.
The youth department at Metro also gave T-shirts. I only had room for 20, and again, I wish I had taken more. They were gone in seconds.
This has been a great, great experience. And it isn’t over yet. More to come, so, stay tuned.
Denny and Noella
Blessings!
* We have received word that all of the $1000 has been raised for her to go to Training in July.