This was a powerful trip, as we laid the foundation for our summer teams and trips, as well as assessed the full extent of damage in the village we are working on.
Our team included Kenny Ellis, Jerry Carpenter, Tom Younger, Kendal Anderson and Jonathan Capre. This was Tom and Jerry’s first trip to Haiti (I know, we made several references to the cartoon duo…and down deep I think they thought it was funny).
Jerry and his wife, Jorgeanne became CPI partners last year at our community dinner. Tom is a General Contractor from The Crossing Church who was willing to assess the damage to our partially constructed church/school building in Chauffard. Whether this was the first trip for those on the team or not, none of us could have prepared for a post-earthquake Haiti.
Port-au-Prince Post Earthquake
We left the makeshift airport and began our journey through the bustling, crowded streets of Port-au-Prince. Regardless of how much media footage we had seen, nothing could prepare us for the undeniable and overwhelming
reality of a city and a people shaken and crushed by the earthquake – literally and emotionally.
Amidst the endless piles of rubble and the overly-congested streets, you could easily spot those who had lost arms or legs in the quake. The tent cities were a new reality and seemed to occupy every piece of land not already covered by rubble or buildings. Our hearts swelled with sadness and compassion as we made our way through Port-au-Prince and began our long journey out to Chauffard.
Our Friends in Chauffard
We reached Chauffard at dusk and were greeted by playful children and their parents who had been waiting for us to arrive. The rain had begun to water the mountainside and we unpacked quickly, visited with the few who had anxiously awaited our arrival and then bedded down for the night.
The next day we took a hike to the top of the mountain while visiting with
families at their homes along the way. One of our school teachers, Willy, is standing next to what is left of his home after the earthquake. 
He and 6 others lived in this home and now are making due with the shack and tent you see in the other picture.
The shack had been their “kitchen” but now has become their home. We will begin to help rebuild Willy’s home and 4 others that were destroyed in Chauffard in the coming months.
We were able to deliver and distribute almost 1,000 lbs of rice and beans thanks to the much-needed support you gave.
We also helped purchase a generator that will enable
the church and school to use the building at night for classes, community gatherings and services.
The people of Chauffard are hard-working, filled with warmth and hospitality and sustained by a relentless hope. It was a privilege to be with them and demonstrate our resolve to continue working with them for a better future.
Although there were only a few of us physically there, we represented a growing number of friends and partners here in the U.S. who funded our compassion and continue to promote the cause of CPI.
Hope For Summer and Beyond
The trip was not only a HUGE source of encouragement for our friends in Haiti, it will also go a long way in helping us finalize our plans for upcoming project trips. In fact, we will have our first team meeting with the First Presbyterian Church team on Saturday, preparing for our trip in July. Kendal and The Crossing Church are also gearing up for the next wave of projects and trips to Chauffard.
Whether or not you can make the summer trips, you can always remain active and partner with us. Use the “Donating” and “Connecting!” tabs to get involved and join the cause! Thank you for all you do, and we look forward to hearing from you soon.
Gratefully,
Kenny Ellis
Director, CPI Haiti
Grant R. Nieddu
Assistant Director, CPI Haiti
