She’s back from Haiti, was 100 miles north of the epicenter, was never in harms way, has been on this mission for the 4th time and talks passionately about our friends and her experiences in Haiti. 

OurGrinnell spoke with Phyllis VanEs, former owner of  Images (Women’s Fashions) in Grinnell about her recent experiences in poverty ridden Haiti.

Phyllis is a volunteer with North West Haiti Christian Mission (www.nwhcm.org), an Independent Christian Church organization dedicated to establishing and partnering with indigenous churches to help bring people in Northwest Haiti out of spiritual, physical and social poverty to demonstrate God’s love for all.

She arrived the 11th of January, on the 12th after climbing a challenging hill with several others, including the spiritual leader for the group, she felt dizzy, then the ground started shaking, she immediately knew it was an earthquake. They were in the  community of Saint-Louis du Nord, eight miles east of Cap-Haitien on the northern coast. When realizing it truly was an earthquake Steve (the groups spiritual leader) ran to one of the local churches where a religious ceremony was going on and told them all to leave. They were immersed in religious singing and dancing but left as being told, then congregated on the street where they never missed a beat in their ceremony, continuing to sing, dance and praise the lord. There were only several marks where damage might be suspected but none serious from the earthquake.

Phyllis talked about the rest of her days in helping the malnourished, sorting food, medication, determining water safety (a huge problem), holding babies, helping the elderly, helping at the orphanage, cleaning and anything else that might be considered a labor of love. Poverty and malnourishment ravishes a large part of the population. Twice daily spiritual and praise meetings were part of the groups activities.

She truely loves her work of support and help with the Haitians through the North West Haitian Christian Mission.

Phyllis is optimistic that the next ten years will see dramatic changes in the politics and economic conditions of this poverty ridden country, all for the good.

Mayflower Community