Kevin:
As I reflect back on our trip to Nanpol, I keep thinking about a saying of Saint Teresa of Calcutta, “Do ordinary
things with extraordinary love.” I got a deeper understanding of just what Mother Teresa was talking about in seeing
the simple needs of the people of St. Paul, Nanpol, and Haiti as a whole. There are so many things we have come to
expect, and may not really appreciate that we have, that are basic necessities of life. Making a difference in the lives of
the people of Nanpol and Haiti all starts with doing ordinary, small things. We have started a positive chain of events
by joining with our sister parish, St. Paul’s. The grounds of St. Paul’s are a daily gathering place for many parishioners
where they come to meet, talk, play and pray. Teenagers find a safe place to simply hang out like teenagers do all
around the world. With just a few simple, ordinary things – a parish house, running water – you can see a great
impact on the community.
Another observation I had was just how deep and strong the faith of the parishioners of St. Paul’s is in the
Church and in Jesus Christ. The Mass for the feast day of St. Paul was amazing – although I did not understand
everything completely (it was celebrated in Creole), you could not help but understand the depth of their faith. The
church was overflowing, with parishioners standing outside each doorway and window. The music from the choir filled
the church and everyone joined in singing. With so much hardship and struggle around them, they turn to the Church
for strength and hope, a lesson I will take with me forever.
Years ago there was a book published called Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff. I’ve never really liked that saying
because I believe if you take care of the small stuff then the “big stuff” either doesn’t happen or it doesn’t seem that big.
With the joining of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Paul parishes, we are given an opportunity to help out in whatever
small way we can to make a big difference in the world and in in someone else’s life.

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Laurie:
Putting down my thoughts about Haiti has proved to be a bit of a struggle; it is difficult to reconcile all of the
sights and experiences I had. Haiti is a study in contradiction. Arriving by air, I could see beautiful, blue Caribbean
water and majestic mountains in the distance, but it didn’t take long to see just how difficult life is for the people who
live between the two. Traveling through Port-au-Prince on the day we arrived, I saw real poverty probably for the first
time in my life. Who knew that on our return to the city four days later, I would come to realize that there are people
on the island living in even worse circumstances?
We arrived in Nanpol on the second day of our trip and the contradictions continued. Some parishioners of St.
Paul’s walk miles to Mass, yet they arrive not just on time, but early. In spite of the fact that people literally wash
clothing in a stream, they arrived at Mass impeccably dressed – whites whiter than white, and not a wrinkle to be
seen. I hate to admit to the number of times I’ve told my children to put on a jacket so no one could see how wrinkled
their shirts are as we run out the door, trying to beat Father Richard down the aisle at St. Vincent’s! The people of the
parish have so little, yet they shared everything they had with us. Their welcome and gracious hospitality were like
nothing I’ve ever experienced in the states.
Perhaps the most amazing thing about the people of St. Paul’s, though, is the way they come together and work
toward a common goal. We saw it in the feast day preparations, watching as the choir practiced for over six hours and
as the church building was scrubbed and then decorated. We saw it, too, in the beautiful work that was done to
complete the rectory for Father Theo. Men, women and even children worked together to make a home for him so he
is now able to be with them, ministering to them every day. St. Paul’s parish isn’t just a place to attend Mass – it is a
gathering place and a second home for its parishioners.
Much work has been done to improve life in Nanpol for our twin parish, but the contradictions continue and
there is so much more to do. A well and pump bring water to the village, but it isn’t safe to drink. The rectory is
beautiful, but parts of the church structure are crumbling. So much remains to be done, but it is all very do-able. The
people of the St. Paul’s are very proud of their accomplishments so far and can’t wait to begin the next
project. Repairs to the church will be a visible sign to all of the residents of Nanpol that the Church is truly present
among them, and the installation of a filtration system to bring potable water to the village shows our commitment to
both their spiritual and physical well-being. The problems in Haiti are overwhelming, but perhaps the most amazing
contradiction of all is that the efforts of our small community can have a huge impact on the people of Nanpol. I want
to thank Father Richard for giving us the opportunity to be a part of this journey and to thank the people of St. Paul’s
for sharing their lives with us. Having seen how much has been done already, I can’t wait to be a part of the next phase
of our commitment to our sister parish.