When one examines the varied strategies for mission work across God’s world, two approaches dominate the landscape: relief and development. Much of what we respond to when supporting mission involvements has to do with relief of critical situations caused by natural disaster, medical necessity and the like. The work of CODEP, the Comprehensive Development Project, in the impoverished land of Haiti is clearly development. Over the last three years, under the direction of Rick and Kathy Land, tremendous progress has been made in reforestation, education, and most importantly, the development of Haitian leadership.

Much of the work that CODEP undertakes is in the critical area of reforesting the denuded mountains in three sheds. Over 600,000 trees have been planted this year and millions over the twenty years of CODEP. Tree planting provides a source of income for the Haitians involved and reclaims land previously impossible to farm. In addition to this vital work have been the development of fish ponds and the support of five schools as well as providing cisterns and housing for CODEP workers. Over 600 Haitian peasants are working to improve the land, their stations in life and earning the right to a cistern or have a house built for them. The project has been so successful in restoring the land and hope that neighbors and people from adjoining areas have undertaken their own tree planting and fish pond building and seek to join CODEP.

Now the work of CODEP enters a new chapter. With the retirement of the Land’s, Mike and Nicole Carlin have been called to oversee and direct the work. Along with their four children, the Carlin’s have prepared themselves for their work among God’s children in Haiti. After an exhaustive search, the Board of Directors of Haiti Fund, Inc., the American support agency, extended the call to the Carlin’s. Mike and Nicole have attended missionary training provided by the Presbyterian and Episcopal churches, immersed themselves in learning Creole, have taken the time to thoroughly understand the vital development work of CODEP and are now prepared to take the reins.

Those of us who are involved in this enterprise are excited about what the future holds. While issues of funding and new leadership dominate the agenda, the vision of a land of plenty in the mountains of Haiti energizes our efforts. Underlying our work are the words of Jesus, “as you did it for one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it for me.”

Learn more about the work of CODEP by exploring the navigation links on the top left side of these we pages. Building on the success of the past, we continue the work of development among the “least of these.”

Join us.
Dan Wilkers, Chairman Haiti Fund

“Haiti is a beautiful place with beautiful people ....”   With a new missionary team and more requests to visit than can be accommodated, the Haiti Fund is combining members of several churches into mission teams. The first team this fall included members of Unity PC Newton Grove, Cornerstone PC Cary, Saint Michael’s EC Raleigh, Saint Andrews PC Raleigh, Wake Forest PC and scientists from the Marine Biological Laboratory Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Melinda Carr captures a poignant view of this team that returned November 6th.

Haiti is a beautiful place with beautiful people. Their ready smile lights them from within, showing me a bit of God’s love and joy in each encounter. Yet Haiti is a hard place, full of hunger and disease and few systems for bettering either. As visitors we only see the obvious elements of Haiti, frequently unaware of the harsh daily reality of life as a native. It is only as you get your feet wet that you learn of unwritten cultural and societal rules that govern behavior and keep order.

This is an isolated island looked down upon by its neighbors, with a history of corrupt leaders whose poor and often cruel leadership have frequently plunged it into civil unrest. Haiti has no military force, only a police force. Yet there is order and justice on this island, often carried out by the people, for the people. All the visitors to the L’Acul compound come into contact with the Haitians that work at the property. Madame Gabrielle cooks and serves food to the hungry, with a ready smile and pride in her dishes. Mimi is a driver extraordinaire, safely delivering us to all our destinations despite the Haitians chaotic road behaviors! Paul tends the garden, assisted by Gito, and mans the gate and most days also feeds local children after school from his lean-to in the garden. He is a good man. At night, if you wander outside you are sure to see (or not see) Luke and Paul, the night watchmen. Last but not least is Clement, right hand man and possibly the most popular man in Haiti! To me he is the face of Haiti; smart, resourceful, and joyful in all things. He has a smile in his every word. Yet he too has experienced tragedy in his life. Recently Clement’s 12 year old son was killed by a motorcycle while crossing the street; a tragedy that happens quite frequently given that pedestrians, motorcycles, buses and trucks all share the same roads. After Clement’s son was killed, the young man fled the scene and ran away to Port-au-Prince to escape for fear of punishment. But Clement understands that sometimes a good man can make mistakes and that children are not always attentive. Clement publicly declared forgiveness to the driver and sent word out for him to come home. In essence, giving the driver his former life back. When questioned about it Clement responds that his son is in heaven, there is no greater glory. What a wonderful example of Christian love and caring for your fellow man! As Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, so too Clement raised this man from death. Love and forgiveness are powerful! They can change lives, they can redeem lives.

Haiti is a beautiful place with beautiful people……

Missionaries’ Perspectives

Perspective n. 1a) the apparent relationship between things as to position, distance, size b) a mental view of the relative importance of things.

Perspective is different for each person viewing an object or situation. A prime example is the comment we keep hearing from Haitians, “Li pral fret vit.” or “It will be cold soon.” It makes us laugh, we are Pittsburghers. It may be slightly less HOT, but from our perspective it is not getting cold, nor will it ever really be cold here in Haiti.

We have been in Haiti for 9 weeks and have used our time to gain insight into different perspectives of the CODEP project. We spent our first three weeks in Haiti with the Lands and April Leese, the former directors and intern. It was time for them to wind down as leaders and acquaint us to the project. We were able to listen and see as they showed us their perspective of the project. Since then we have had the chance to gain other perspectives as well. We have hosted a small group of board members, assisted in an audit of the facilities at L’Acul, hosted our first mission team and had the chance to see the project and Haiti through their insights and experiences. We were also gifted with some special visitors and their perspectives, (Nick Warren from the Marine Biological Lab and his cousin Noa and Jamie Rhoades - former CODEP intern now working in Northern Haiti).

However, the most crucial perspectives we have gained have been from our Haitian partners in the project. Both the staff here at the compound, and the animators in the mountains know this project from varying perspectives. It is a gift to grow in our ability to communicate in Creole so we can elicit and absorb their insights. Mike has been walking the project with Edvy, Jean Claude, Mme Enese and Clement, inspecting and assessing. He has delivered almost 700 bags of fertilizer and led 2 animator meetings. We look forward to a two day retreat with all of our animators in the middle of November. Our hope in hosting this retreat is to be able to get a handle on the history of CODEP from the people of CODEP, to gain knowledge from their perspective. They have seen the changes in the project both organizationally and in the physical environment. In addition, we have been in conversation with the community at L’Acul and the “beach kids” about the future of the ministry there. Each person involved has a perspective, it is our job to listen and learn. It is humbling to be part of such difficult and wonderful work.

We recently had a conversation with a friend and language instructor, Kinston. He is a lifelong resident of Léogâne, the city downstream of the CODEP project. He had not heard of CODEP, but as he shared his memories of how bad the flooding was when he was younger, he knew of CODEP’s impact on the community because he had seen it firsthand. “People don’t die in Léogâne anymore, they don’t lose all their possessions and their houses like they used to in the flooding. That has changed!” Life is different and it is better. That is a powerful testimony that puts what CODEP does in perspective!

Nicole & Mike Carlin November, 2009

Did You Know?
Land Reclamation and Agro Forestry

Land Reclamation

The first step in land reclamation is to stop the flow of water down the mountain slopes. This is accomplished by digging ramps or catch basins and contour canals across the face of the steep, barren mountain slopes. Last year the Haitians of CODEP dug 150 miles of contour canals, a prodigious feat in the hard, baked and rocky soil! Then vertiver grass is planted to hold the mounded soil in place, followed by forest trees.

This spring the 650 members of CODEP planted 500,000 forest and food trees. The trees are grown in family and community nurseries the members maintain providing needed tree stock and family income.

A cupful of fertilizer applied at time of planting results in 50% more growth in the first year and higher survival rates. In four to five years when the forest trees are well established, coffee and other food and fruit trees can be planted in the shade. Both the land and people who depend upon it for their livelihood have made a major step forward.

Cisterns

For many Haitians living in the mountains, the nearest water supply can be miles away and take hours a day to carry home. And then it may not be t to drink. A cistern to capture rainwater off the roof provides better quality water at home eight to ten months a year and frees hundreds of hours that can be used for a home garden or tree nursery. The result is a significant increase in family food supply, health and income.

The Haiti Fund provides cisterns and collection piping to members of CODEP who have purchased their own galvanized roof and have contributed significantly to the land restoration program. HFI purchases 500 gallon .fiberglass tanks made in Haiti and transports them as far as the roads allow into the mountains. Moving all the materials the final miles across the mountains is a team hand carry operation. Installation is a joyous and joint effort of the receiving family and friends and visiting mission team members.

Want to Learn More? Explore the navigation links on the top left side of these web pages to learn much more about the issues faced in the rural mountains of Haiti and the work being done to meet them. Pictures, stories and articles await you.