First meeting

Sunday evening we met at the Forgille's. I better not try to write the names of the other 8 people who are going to Haiti as part of the team--it will take me a few weeks to learn everybody's name.

The other people seem like people I will easily get along well with. They all have a dedication and seemingly realistic expectations of the trip, and an ability to handle whatever comes their way. I pray we all will.

It shouldn't have been a surprise, but we are expected to do all we can to raise funds for the trip and for the Haiti mission in general. Perhaps I can make a series of segmented wood turnings (bowls, etc.) that can be auctioned off in February at the annual spaghetti dinner. They should bring a good price. I wish I could build a guitar to be sold, but it would really have to bring a good price to be worth the effort and the materials and would probably be too expensive for that venue.

I plan on corresponding with the "Luthierforum" an online group of guitar makers with whom I've been interacting for about two years. They have taken on some philanthropic ventures in the past, and they might be willing to chip in. We'll see.

So, my growth towards this project is beginning to take form.

The Haitians I worked with in the Bahamas back in the '70s were poor, but even they were able to send most of their money back home. They earned $10 a day--a 10-hour day and lived in make-do shacks on somebody else's land. I enjoyed their company and was able to help lead the singing at the Creole Mass each Sunday.

I learned to sing in Creole, but sometimes rhythm became more important to the Haitians than did the melody. I was left hanging--trying to figure out what key they were singing in. It was often NOT the key we had practiced in!!! The American and Canadian visitors to mass would look at us strangely wondering what was going on musically. I often wondered that also, but enjoyed the wonderful cacaphony that resulted from their (our) enthusiasm.

I'l have to get out my Creole tapes and re-learn some of the basic words and phrases. Jezi Kris leve'.

Ron Voss, a former priest at St. Francis has had extensive experience with the poor in Haiti. Perhaps he can help guide my efforts. I have told him that I'm going there and await his guidance.