The following is an update from our group currently in Guatamala on an Eyeglass Trip:
We arrived safely and have had a couple of good days of R&R.
Joanne and Miguel should be back with the rest of the team shortly and we are looking forward to once again reuniting with old friends and new.
We will be off to Rabinal tomorrow morning and should arrive just in time to enjoy some All Souls Day festivities and in Rabinal there will be alot.
Den Shannon
Update as of October 29, 2010 from Project Director in Haiti, Dieudonne Batraville:
While we are having good response in the Bertrand areas, Deschatelles, Bertrand, Bas Foss, Paran, etc, we are having problems now in the Haut de St Marc,: Guidchamp, Lalouere, Bali, Bois L’Etat, some of you know these places.
Bertrand is doing fine, we were able to get an organization SESAM to give them 3,000 gallons of water, we were able to get soap 150 cases of 24 oz to give in the villages and in the schools. Kids who were sick are alive now and feeling better, they have passed the worse, Thanks God.
Now we are working in the 4th section where is our main programs, where the orphanage is . We do not know yet what policy to take as the kids at the orphanage go to schools in the community. It is not wide spread but it is there and we have registered 1 death to date, this person had not followed the information she did not go to the hospital after seeing us. OK, we are keeping on working in the schools imagine 33 schools, staff is not enough but we are trying with the schools and door to doors to do the work.
It can be overwhelming but we are doing our best, it seems we are more equipped, more experienced now after the earthquake. It is just a question to get the infected person to the hospital, to get the meds etc. We had received medicines from other organizations, we are doing our best to do the Job.
I just wanted to informed you re : our progress, and to let you know that we are still counting on your prayers.
An Awareness Trip to Haiti this past March, 2010 was cancelled due to the January 12th earthquake that occurred in Haiti earlier this year.
Rayjon hosted the Awareness Trip Information Meeting the first Sunday of October to offer trip opportunities to the public for this upcoming year.
The interest to attend an Awareness Trip to Haiti was huge!
During March Break 2011, Rayjon will be hosting two Awareness Trips to Haiti. One trip will be visiting the Cap Haitien project area in northern Haiti, and another trip will be visiting the St. Marc project area in central Haiti.
As of October 28th, both trips are full. The next meeting is Sunday October 31. No new trip participants will be added after this date.
Unfortunately, so many people were interested in attending the Haiti Awareness Trips, as a result, we will not be having an Awareness Trip to the Dominican Republic during March Break 2011.
In addition to our Awareness Trips this upcoming year, Rayjon is also hosting a Leadership Development Trip for May 2011. As a result of a Youth Committee Trip Proposal, Rayjon has decided to organize a trip focused on developing future trip leaders.
Trip participants will be raising money for their trips by attending Rayjon’s Starvathon event on Friday November 20th to Saturday November 21st. If you are interested in attending or supporting the Rayjon Starvathon, please contact the Youth Committee.
Feel free to contactus for more information on Rayjon trips as well.
Bob Topliffe, our Trip Director, can answer your questions on Rayjon Trips.
Dianne McKillican, our Awareness Trip Leader, can answer questions on the upcoming March Break Awareness Trips.
M&PE is the Rayjon Member and Public Engagement committee.
The next meeting will be on Monday November 1 at 7:00 PM in the Rayjon office.
A major focus will be on planning the events of next year’s 25th Anniversary year.
This month’s Board Meeting is on Tuesday October 19th at 6:30 PM in the Rayjon office.
Please note that this meeting is beginning 30 minutes earlier than usual.
Learn more information on the Board of Directors.
Anyone is welcome to our board meetings to keep up-to-date on decisions in Rayjon and updates in Haiti.
