On January 22, 2016 Gene Gentry and Mike Sardinia, a veterinarian, accompanied by two pre-vet students went to the Northern Haiti Christian University to treat livestock in five areas near the University and to train three Haitian students to do the same work. Mike and the two students finished the  treatment schedule and returned to the States for registration at Whitworth University on February 1. Gene stayed an additional 6 days to work with the agriculture department of the university and complete plans for the completion of the men’s dormitory, Jerusalem. 

Agriculture Program: 

The combined Haiti / US team treated 180 cows, 564 goats and 116 pigs for a total of 860 animals treated.  We had intended to work the same villages as in July 2015 but the Haitian team wanted to go to two new areas, and not two of the old areas, because the people felt that we were showing favoritism. As a result, two of the areas treated in July were left to be completed by the Haitian trainees, Budry, Prophet and Junior. We have worked with these students on three previous trips. We asked for an additional student to join this team for hands on experience in animal treatment.  We can’t work intensively with everyone so we ask for students who demonstrate a desire to work with livestock and are not afraid of the livestock.  Our goals are to demonstrate in certain villages around UCNH (Northern Haiti Christian University) how regular treatment of livestock improves animal health.  In the process we are training some students how to do the same things so the program can continue.

In January the agriculture students are on break but 15 students showed up for instruction on subjects related to animal science and biology.  These students come simply because they want to take advantage of the opportunity.

We also met with the church development committee to continue discussions on a poultry project they are working on.  The goals are to help people of the community develop ways to help themselves and to become less dependent on more expensive food being imported from the Dominican Republic.  The committee wants to join hands with the University agricultural department to develop the program scheme.

When the agriculture classes restarted in February Gene joined with the Dean of Agriculture to teach a class on disease prevention in livestock and then turned his attention to plans to compete the men’s dormitory, Jerusalem

Jerusalem.  The men’s dormitory was started in the 1990s.  Harry Rittenhouse brought a group to UCNH to lay the foundation.  In 2000 a group from the Open Door church in Deer Park, WA raised money for the first floor and a team joined Haitians to work on the first floor.  Since then the second floor has been completed and part of the third floor.  Six rooms need to be completed.  Those six, and four additional rooms, are covered by a tarp and need a permanent roof put on.  Our goal is that the third floor be completed by this summer.

The first week we were in Haiti, Mike and Gene met with the outgoing President of the University, Pastor Casso, the newly chosen president, Pastor Dona, and Herb Roger, a retired missionary who advised on construction, to discuss the completion of the dormitory.  The hope is that the money can be raised and the construction finished this summer, hopefully by July.  The estimated funds needed to complete the construction are $35,000 because of increasing construction costs in Haiti.  It would be nice to have a little extra to improve the drain field and other details of the dormitory.  Currently there is $16,000 available to match gifts from other donors.  Our hope is a significant part of the funds for construction will be raised by May 1.  Three churches are in the process of raising additional support already.

During the second week in Haiti, Herb and Gene spent time discussing with the new President and the maintenance supervisor, Phanor, the completion of the third floor.  Our hope is that we can start with Haitian workers doing work that needs to be done prior to pouring the concrete roof.  Clean up needs done, stairs need made, materials gathered, rebar put in place and perhaps the roof poured the time the ESL team arrives in Haiti in July.  If we have construction volunteers at that time they can join in the finishing work on the rooms.   If work is not that far, we will join where we can to encourage the Hai1tian workers and work toward finishing the project.

Current plans and Needs at UCNH:

1.        The ESL (English as a second Language) is in the process of preparing for the July trip.  This is the fourth in our 5 year commitment.  We have monthly meetings to plan and prepare for the English camp.  Dates are July 1-10.  Some people will go a little earlier.  We would like to have three or four additional volunteers for the ESL program.

2.       The Veterinarian program will continue.  It will probably grow to include a vaccination program against anthrax.  We have had trouble getting that going because of local beliefs that vaccination will cause animals to die of Anthrax.  In January we were promised by local authorities that they would encourage this program so that animals and people can be protected from anthrax.

3.       There is need for support of the construction program.  Since the 2010 earthquake in the south of Haiti the University population has more than doubled.  There are more than 700 students.  If funds are available, Haitians can do most of the work.  There is a need to have some expertise in plumbing and correcting some electrical problems.  I have one contractor who hopes to go in July to help with those and other needs.

4.       While in Haiti in January, Pastor Duke, the Provost, asked for help in English for a new group of students studying at a master’s level in development.  The group meets three times a year for long hours.  He needs a volunteer to teach one hour a day, give homework, grade and work with the students by computer between times.  If he cannot get one volunteer to do all of the sessions he would work with different volunteers.  The goal is to teach development vocabulary so students can do research in English.  Staff and missionaries have a basic vocabulary list.  The next session is August 29-September 3.  There are currently 21 students.  If anyone in is interested Gene can supply additional information. One can and should work with Pastor Duke and the Volunteer team  American Baptist Churches USA.  (The Spokane Team is not taking this last item on except to publicize it)

This is a fairly lengthy report but I feel it is necessary to keep appropriate people in the loop.  It is also for people who have expressed the desire to know more about what we are doing as a team working out of Spokane, Washington.  We are a diverse team from several different churches and locations.  We love the Lord and are blessed and loved by working with the Haitian people.  God is good and we try to listen to him as we prepare to serve him in these ways.

If you are interested in serving at the University with the students please contact International Ministries by email, or call 1-800-222-3872 ext. 2366