Heartstrings in Haiti

By Alice Warkentin and Raymond & Vera Withers

Haiti is a small country, with many people. It is a beautiful country, with scenic mountains, trees that grow year-round, and bougainvillea blooming with pink and white flowers.

It is a poor country, with needy and destitute people who do not always know where their next meal is coming fromor whether there will be a meal at all! And each one has a soul that will never die. Most of all, then, they need the gospel. Who will tell them?

Heartstrings in Haiti tells of one mans efforts to help the people in Haitinot just by handing out food or money, but by bettering their circumstances and doing something to make their lives easier. Raymond and Vera Withers of Detroit, Texas, have spent years in Haiti working for the good of mankind. Read about their colorful and varied experiences, including an eyewitness account of the major 2010 earthquake that shook the country and its aftermath.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Inspiring Voices
• Release date: Feb 25, 2014
• ISBN: 9781462409129

Alice Warkentin

About the Author After raising her family of nine children, Alice Warkentin of Cartwright, Manitoba, Canada, started her career as an author by writing her mother’s history in story form, in Are We Home Now?, Which House is Home?, and A Home for the Heart—Granny’s Story. Composing life stories for others has become her favorite kind of writing.

Book preview

Copyright © 2014 Raymond Withers.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Inspiring Voices books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:

Inspiring Voices

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.inspiringvoices.com

1 [phone]

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4624-0911-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4624-0912-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014903127

Inspiring Voices rev. date: 02/19/2014

Contents

Introduction

Acknowledgements

Author’s Note

Chapter 1 Haiti – Here We Come!

Chapter 2 Driving in Haiti

Chapter 3 Hungry for the Gospel

Chapter 4 Come, Let’s Go for a Ride!

Chapter 5 For the Lord

Chapter 6 Company’s Coming!

Chapter 7 Come to Church!

Chapter 8 Haiti – the Land (Part 1)

Chapter 9 Trip to Nepal and India

Chapter 10 Haiti – the Land (Part 2)

Chapter 11 Helps and Hindrances

Chapter 12 Another Trip to India and Nepal

Chapter 13 Bio-Gas

Chapter 14 Sleepless Night

Chapter 15 Cast Thy Bread

Chapter 16 Crossing the River

Chapter 17 Rivers and Roads

Chapter 18 A Dozer for Haiti

Chapter 19 The Dozer Story – Continued

Chapter 20 Road-Building Adventures

Chapter 21 More Streets and Roads

Chapter 22 A New Hospital

Chapter 23 Lastic Water Project

Chapter 24 Road Blocks and an Accident

Chapter 25 Build That Road!

Chapter 26 Trust and Obey

Chapter 27 I’m Happy!

Chapter 28 Hold-Ups

Chapter 29 Lastic Water Project (Continued)

Chapter 30 Life in Haiti

Chapter 31 Pickup Imported to Haiti

Chapter 32 Good People Along the Way

Chapter 33 January 12, 2010

Chapter 34 Earthquake!

Chapter 35 Aftershocks

Chapter 36 More Shocks!

Chapter 37 Ambulance!

Chapter 38 Earthquake Experiences

Chapter 39 The Leatherman

Chapter 40 Help for Haiti

Chapter 41 Off to the Lastic Project!

Chapter 42 Moving On

Chapter 43 Helping One Another

Chapter 44 Vera is Bridesmaid!

Chapter 45 Chambellan to Abricots

Chapter 46 The Cry of the Poor

Chapter 47 Back to the Canal Project

Chapter 48 Moving the Rig

Chapter 49 What Next?

Chapter 50 The Bridge and… Oh, No!

Chapter 51 Three Minutes to Spare!

Chapter 52 Back to the Bridge

Chapter 53 Finished Projects

Chapter 54 A Terrible Price

Chapter 55 Hope for Haiti

Chapter 56 Heartstrings in Haiti

Making a Difference

Letter from a Dying Prisoner

Dad Surrenders Rights

The Tablecloth

More Inspiring Stories

Little Nuggets

Food for Thought

A Short History of the Withers

Introduction

May God be glorified and lifted up by this writing. With a lot of encouragement from other people we have tried to write about our experiences in Haiti.

We started out as missionaries and our hearts were captured! Our hearts have been entwined with Haiti for 42 years. This book tells you about our experiences.

Our hearts and minds have been enlarged by learning to know the country of Haiti. We have absorbed many things from them. They are a constant reminder that money and goods do not make happiness. They are happy and ready to smile even though things are against them. Their culture and way of life were new to us and taught us that there are more ways to live than just the American way.

My prayer is that this book would lead people to seek God’s face and become His children. May they find the Lord, and then tell others about God’s wonderful plan of salvation. May it inspire you to give yourself to being a missionary and spreading the Gospel. Then the purpose of this book has been accomplished.

Acknowledgements

We have gratitude and thanks for everyone who has helped us in many ways.

Many thanks to Ralph Reimer for all you have done for us and those less fortunate. He always said, You go do the work; I’ll get the funds – don’t worry about it!

Special thanks to Regena Hiebert for being our wonderful secretary always on time.

A very big thank you goes to our special neighbor, Dave Ensz, for the many hours you have given in our behalf, never too busy to help out.

Without these three doing what was so vital for us, much less would have been accomplished.

We also want to thank you for the many prayers offered in our behalf, plus all the financial assistance you have given – which oftentimes we knew not where it came from, but you know who you are…

Last but not least, to Alice Warkentin for editing and compiling the book and making it ready for publication.

Many, many thanks to you all!!!!!

Author’s Note

It has been a pleasure to work with Raymond and Vera Withers in writing this book. Raymond is a man of action and his story is the same – it moves forward. I hope this book inspires you and that you will enjoy Raymond’s many experiences and adventures! AW

001_a_APSI.png

Chapter 1

Haiti – Here We Come!

Haiti! A small nation with lots of people! Happy people! People who smile and welcome you, no matter who you are! This country of the West Indies comprises the western half of the island of Hibernia.

In the 1960’s we felt the Lord calling us to serve in Haiti. After much preparation, we with our three children, Kevin 11, Kimberly 9, and Kendra 5, said goodbye to loved ones in Wichita, KS on June 17, 1969. The plane lifted into the air. Off to Haiti!

Our hearts beat faster when we felt the thud of the landing wheels on Haiti soil! We wondered – what will it be like?

The first thing to hit us was the heat. Whew! Sure, it was hot where we came from in Kansas, but not like this! Soon we were wiping the drops from our faces. Everything felt sticky! The heat was everywhere – in the sunshine, in the shade, inside and outside. Even the wall felt warm when we leaned against it.

We walked with the other passengers to leave the plane. Our ears heard a far-away sound of music. What was it? It sounded like a band. We kept on walking. The music grew louder and louder.

Too many new impressions assaulted our senses as we tried to absorb it all.

We walked with the procession of travelers and at last we rounded a corner, and there they were – a band of musicians! They sang, and played a clanging accompaniment with a few instruments and metal pieces beaten in perfect time. The beat was lively and they smiled their welcome. We were mesmerized with their performance as the crowd of people carried us forward!

Too late I realized that they expected a tip for their efforts!

This was Haiti. Black faces crowded around us with big smiles! So eager to help, and friendly, but with words we could not understand! Our senses were dizzy with new sights, new sounds, new smells!

We went through the usual procedure – getting our luggage, and going through customs. After a while Kendra looked up at Vera and said, Mama, I’m so dumb, I can’t hear anything!

She heard the words but she couldn’t understand the new language. Learning a new language is not easy for most people. We are still learning the language today, some 40 years later.

Not only did we have to learn a new language but new customs as well. We Americans think the way we do things is the only way, but that is not so. There are other ways to get the same results.

Our missionary friends took us to their house. We tried to see everything of this new country, our heads turning this way and that.

Three days after we arrived, Minister Carl Nightingale drove us to the airport to get one piece of luggage that didn’t arrive when we did.

We took the road back to the airport with all its bumps that jolted and tossed us around in the vehicle. Not only was it a rough ride but the traffic was heavy. A road that in America would carry two lanes only, was used for three, four, or if needed, five lanes of vehicles. Motorbikes and pedestrians filled the spaces between.

Suddenly a woman dashed out from behind another vehicle right in front of us! Carl tried to stop, but it was too late! The left front fender hit the woman and she went flying off to the left, rolling like a rag.

We expected her to be dead. By the time we got the vehicle stopped and walked towards her, we heard the death wail start from all around us. What now?

When we got to her she was not moving, but soon we noticed she started to move a little. We loaded her onto our vehicle and headed to the hospital.

The x-rays showed that she had no broken bones, but she was badly burned from sliding on the asphalt of the airport road.

Carl went to see her every day, and paid for her hospital stay. He got her address so he could visit her after she was dismissed.

One day when he went to the hospital to visit her she had been discharged and was gone, so he went to find her at the address she had given him. When he got there the people at this address said they didn’t know anyone by that name. Carl never heard from her again.

Our first three months in Haiti were spent at Petionville as house parents for the VS (Voluntary Service) boys who worked at the Grace Children’s Hospital. Robert Schmidt and John Mark Koehn were with us.

When Minister Paul Becker and his wife at Jacmel had to go home because her health was failing, we were sent to Jacmel to take their place.

Getting to Jacmel was a story in itself. It is on the southern coast of Haiti across the mountains from Port-au-Prince.

We had an old 1950-some Jeep pickup to drive, so Chester Esau and I set out for Jacmel, a distance of 55 miles.

The only way to get to Jacmel was to follow the river up the north side of the mountain, then follow another river down the south side. We crossed the river 65 times with only three bridges. It is a full day’s drive… unless you come upon a vehicle that broke down and you can’t get around it. Maybe the man is waiting for parts which he says should be here tomorrow. So either you camp it out with him or turn around and go back.

While we edged slowly along, trying to avoid the worst spots, I thought back to the roads at Port-au-Prince.

Today there is a nice blacktop road but it still is curvy. In 26 miles there are 390 curves!

Vera and the children stayed behind at that time because one of the children was sick, and they planned to come a few days later on the public bus.

Dave Smith took them to the bus station. They were the only passengers on the bus but ‘they’ said, Yes, we’re going!

Dave left them there but came back a little while later and they were still there.

When he came back the third time they started the bus and drove just a little way to where a truck was parked. There Vera and the children had to get off the bus and get on the truck, and that is how they got to Jacmel.

That was a pretty good test for a new missionary. Today we wouldn’t think much about it if it happened again. We are more used to the way things are in Haiti.

One night soon after our arrival in Jacmel Vera woke me up in the middle of the night.

I feel so sick! she told me. It feels like that kidney infection I’ve had so often the last years.

What could we do? In the States we would have gone to the doctor for antibiotics and she would have soon been over it. But here – we didn’t even know any doctors and how would we get there in the dark, and would he be in, and…?

We decided we would have to find a doctor first thing in the morning. Maybe someone would help us find a doctor.

First thing in the morning I told her we would go find a doctor.

But she said, No, we don’t need to do that. Last night I prayed God to heal me and He did. I have no pain!

That was 42 years ago and she has never had kidney infection again. We give God thanks for His healing in our time of need.

We spent the rest of our four years as missionaries in Jacmel, at that time an outpost with eight Church members.

The years teach many things the days cannot.

Chapter 2

Driving in Haiti

There is a saying that goes like this: When I was an American, I spoke as an American, I understood as an American. But when I left America I put away American thinking… This is something every missionary has to learn sooner or later but it is not always easy to do.

Driving in Haiti was a big challenge. At first I thought that traffic rules were non-existent but after a while I found out that there were unwritten rules. The rules were not American rules but Haitian rules!

In Haiti anyone drives wherever they can go. They pass you on the right side or on the left side, whichever is most suitable at the moment, while trying to dodge the big holes in the road.

A road that would be two lanes in America, here will swell to three or four or more lanes, as the need may be. Motor-bikes thread their way between the vehicles besides. Vendors on foot ply their trade in among all this, serving those traveling by car or on foot. Other vendors spread their wares at the edge of the road, waiting for customers.

005_a_APSI.png

Thirsty? A look or a nod and someone will be at your window to sell you a bag of cool water or a bottled drink, whichever you prefer! The bottles are not necessarily new.

You might be sitting at the red light waiting for the light to turn, when someone on the far outside lane decides to make a left turn in front of everyone. All the vehicles can do is wait till he has done his thing!

At other red lights nobody at all is stopping and the traffic moves independently of the green or red light.

In Haiti any piece of junk that runs is on the streets. It is rare and worthy of taking notice to see a vehicle without one dent.

Many pickups are used as taxis and are overloaded and then loaded some more. What does not fit inside a pickup is loaded on top. What won’t go on top is tied on the sides, such as chickens, baskets, and barrels.

Inside the back cage of the pickup people ride with all their things tucked around their feet. When the cage is full they stand on the back bumper. Then it is loaded.

But down the street they come upon another person who wants a ride, so the driver stops to pick him up, too! Somehow one more person finds a place to ride! The big cardboard box about three feet square full of things he wants to sell at the market has to go with him so it is placed on the hood of the pickup.

Away they go! The last person on may not be sitting on the seat but after a few bumps he slowly settles, and works his way down.

With a load like this the front of the pickup barely touches the ground. If you watch them hit a bump you might see daylight under the front tires!

Trucks are loaded with 50-70% more than they are rated to haul. On the average the trucks would have 30-40% of their lug nuts missing. Many trucks tires have tire cords showing; some have two or three cords worn through. We have seen trucks that have one whole wheel missing and the empty axle end is spinning away as the truck drives!

006_a_APSI.png

Quite often the clamps holding the springs in place have broken, so it goes dog-tracking down the road, black smoke rolling out of the muffler – if he has one! But he is happy; at least he has a job!

Buses think they own the road. They drive fast holding the air-horn down all the way, trying to get people and other vehicles to give them the road. They will pass someone while meeting an oncoming vehicle. The only way to get by is for that vehicle to pull over and let the bus barrel on through.

Trucks and buses are loaded like the pickups.

Here is an example: The truck has side boards six feet high. It is loaded to the top with sacks of charcoal, making it rounded on top. Then on top of this dome the people sit shoulder to shoulder, covering the entire top.

Wherever a vehicle breaks down it stays in that very spot until it’s fixed. There are no warning signs or flares, but they break off a green-leafed branch and lay it on the ground a short way from the vehicle – in front and in back. The vehicle might sit there for days or weeks waiting for repairs.

Roads are often full and traffic at times comes to a complete halt when everything is plugged up with cars, trucks, buses, motorbikes, and people going every which way. All you can do if you get caught in a jam like this, is wait.

So this is what driving in Haiti is like. Picture yourself on a road filled with the above circumstances. How will you get from Point A to Point B? A five or ten mile jaunt can easily take an hour or more.

That brings us to Rule Number One. If you can nose your way far enough into a line of vehicles so that no one can get by, you’re good to go! All you do is ease in, an inch at a time. No doubt this rule contributes to many of the dents on vehicles!

You need to be alert every moment of the way while driving in Haiti. To a certain extent you get used to it, but it’s no wonder you feel tired when you arrive.

One time while following a truck loaded with what looked to us like trash, we saw young boys clamber up into the box. They busily sorted through the contents – at least the top layer – and threw out the pieces that were worth something to them. Boards, steel, and other things came flying out. I suppose they later went to gather them up and sold them for whatever they could get.

Another time I was riding a public bus to Jacmel when the brakes failed. Coming down the mountain without brakes is no fun!

008_a_APSI.jpg