An idea for the future of the Haiti Mission

30 August 2017

To all who love and support our Haiti Mission:

Since Fr. Gregory's death, his Matushka has been trying to keep up with the needs of the Haiti Mission as best as she can.  Donations slowed to a trickle, so Matushka has been trying to  pick up the slack from her own resources, –– resources which were then and now both uncertain and inadequate.

When I arrived in Tennessee this past May, Matushka then expressed to me her belief that the Haiti Mission can not continue in ROCOR.  We had already been severely weakened by the schism of the MP-union, and now, without Fr. Gregory, (our giant), it is not possible for us to continue to provide for Haiti as usual.

There is no way we can continue to raise the amount of money that Fr. Gregory regularly provided to Haiti.  We managed to collect enough funds (thanks to you all!) to get pretty well caught up and to get this year's food shipment to the school.  But it took every ounce of energy we had, we can not maintain that level of urgency.  Our donors, too, have extended themselves and need time to recover.  We can't just keep having back-to-back emergency fundraisers.

My idea for a solution comes from my father of the flesh, himself a successful businessman:

"Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day.  

Teach a man to fish, you feed him for life."

How about if we give the Haiti Mission start-up money for their own business?  Something that brings in money from outside of Haiti, such as from tourists or maybe an export. 

The school, St. Augustine's, already does generate some income.  But the income is from within Haiti (tuition).   I wonder what business we could reasonably afford, something the Haiti flock could run themselves –  not a million dollar hotel, but maybe we could afford a B&B..?  Or what about a taxi service?  

It might be a possibility for a representative from Haiti to be set up with a business in the USA, if business ventures are too risky to set up in Haiti.... 

I want to ask Rdr. Nicolai to think about how this might work.  He is probably too busy with the school to operate a business along with the school, but he has a good head for business.  I want to see what his thoughts are, but communication is difficult through the machine translations, and I'm afraid misunderstandings will occur.  We need a volunteer who speaks French.

First, I think we need a chief.  This project needs to be separate from the existing Haiti Mission Relief Program which juggles all the different ongoing needs (food, salaries, supplies, repairs, construction, etc.).  

Please everyone, think about this, and please share your (positive) ideas, suggestions, and nominations for a chairman.

joannahigginbotham@gmail.com