June 18, 2004

Dear Everybody:

This week is a good time for me to write an update letter because my motorcycle fell on my foot, rendering me incapacitated. Perhaps this letter will be quite long, as I don’t have very much to do as I lie here with my foot elevated.

Saint Marc is infested with seemingly thousands of “Taxis” which are actually 50cc Honda scooters piloted by guys who will take you where you want for a very small amount of money. None of them have driver’s licenses, nor do they obey any traffic laws at any time, ever. In fact, you may note in the photo I included one taxi passing down the left side of the street, another carrying a female passenger sidesaddle and another taxi turning from the left lane of the main road into the left lane of a side street. Helmet use is unknown, and every day the local hospital receives more than a dozen “Taxi” victims. I have personally witnessed at least a dozen taxi accidents.

On Monday I made a trip into Saint Marc to get the results of my Tuberculosis test and an oncoming taxi veered into my lane, seemingly because he preferred the bumps and potholes on my side of the road to the bumps and potholes on his side of the road. Rather than running the taxi over directly, I dumped my bike over and it landed on my ankle. By the time I got up, the taxi had left, but I don’t think he would have been much help if he had stayed. I managed to ride to the hospital before my ankle swelled up which was convenient since I was headed there anyway to get the test results.

An x-ray showed my ankle to be unbroken, and my TB test was negative, so all I have are a badly swollen ankle, some minor road rash, and the same viral infection that has kept me coughing for the last 7 weeks. I hope to be on my feet again in a few weeks and one of these days I will stop coughing, too. I consider it a great blessing that my ankle is unbroken because the blow it received could have done a lot more damage.

Well drilling has not been very productive for the past several months. Last week we came upon the well driller’s worst nightmare: the drill bit got stuck in the ground. More specifically, 80 feet of drilling stem and the bit we were using are under the ground, 80 feet down. The ground in this area is mostly limestone, and it will take quite some time for the crew we hired to dig the equipment out. Fortunately, we have been able to start drilling in another location because we still have more equipment to use.

I sometimes feel a little discouraged when things aren’t going well for the mission but what really helps me is to remember the volunteers outside of Haiti who are working to support Clean Water for Haiti. Nathan Marion is one such volunteer and he came to mind when I stumbled across a picture I took of him unawares. Nathan came here last year in October to learn about how he could help the mission. He spent much of his time rebuilding our website, even after he contracted malaria and didn’t have energy to do anything. In the picture I included the poor fellow actually dropped off at the computer, crippled by malaria but still hard at work. Since his return to Washington State, he finished rebuilding our website and continues to act as webmaster. The website has been invaluable in that we have gotten to know many other people who are interested in helping Haiti’s water situation and made a search on the internet. In addition, he is presenting the Powerpoint presentation he made at various events around the state. It can be found at www.cleanwaterforhaiti.org/powerpoint/slideshow.zip. The various fundraisers he has helped organize have raised some money and substantial awareness of the mission. I really appreciate Nathan’s professionalism, enthusiasm and ability to get things done.

There is good news for the mission! We have been approved by Rotary International to receive a grant to purchase a 20kw generator. The new generator will triple our power capacity and mean that we will no longer trip breakers and otherwise have to suspend work for lack of power. I can hardly wait to buy it and plug it into the system!

Our next filter technician training class will be held from July 19-24 and most of the students will be sponsored by Catholic Relief Services, making this the second class to be sponsored by them.

I am still very much interested in having more full time staff come to Clean Water for Haiti. However, no one has shown interest as of yet. This is in spite of the fact that I have described so many of the exciting and dangerous places, activities and diseases we have here in Haiti. Why would anyone prefer the comfort and security of North America over what we have here? Someone suggested that I include a job description to give potential volunteers an idea of what working here would involve. \

VOLUNTEER JOBS IN USA:

- Help Nathan Marion with fundraising and awareness campaing. Email help-at-cleanwaterforhaiti.org for more info or see the Contact page.

VOLUNTEER JOBS IN HAITI:

Job Title: Well drilling coordinator

Responsibilities:

· Identify prospective well site communities through location visits and communication with community leaders. Educate selected communities on the maintenance of the community water pump.

· Support the well drilling crew through every stage of the drilling process: providing logistical support , including ordering supplies, transporting equipment, water, and supplies.

· Maintain required records.

Language Requirements: English, Haitian Creole. Creole can be learned on the job.

Important Qualities: Technical ability, patience, willingness to learn and to drive in third world conditions.

Pay scale: Are you kidding? All Clean Water for Haiti staff are volunteers, and contribute $150/month to the mission for living expenses.

Benefits: Benefits include the opportunity to serve God with your life along with other people who are doing the same thing. We also live in a house by the beach.

Job Title: Filter Technician Training School Coordinator

Responsibilities:

· Promotion of the bio sand water filter in Haitian communities along with teaching The Community Steward Program of Water Filter Hygiene and Sanitation are important aspects of this position.

· Coordinate quarterly water filter technician training classes. Responsibilities include: scheduling, identifying and registering students, collecting tuition, maintaining appropriate records, team teaching the technician training class, including overseeing the practical application segment: water filter construction.

· Provide technical and business practices mentoring and support for technicians who have graduated from the school and are working to establish a filter business.

Language Requirements: English, Haitian Creole can be learned on the job

Important qualities: Must enjoy working with people, have patience, enthusiasm.

Pay scale: Are you kidding? All Clean Water for Haiti staff are volunteers, and contribute $150/month to the mission for living expenses.

Benefits: Benefits include the opportunity to serve God with your life along with other people who are doing the same thing. We also live in a house by the beach.

Job Title: Water Sanitation and Hygeine Educator

Responsibilities:

· Teaching and promoting the Community Steward program to introduce sanitary practices and the importance of treated water to communities in which biosand filters are being introduced.

· Following up in communities to determine progress towards good sanitation and hygiene practices as well as proper filter usage.

· Promoting biosand filter sales in the context of community health in select communities.

Language Requirements: English, Haitian Creole can be learned on the job

Important qualities: Must enjoy working with people and be able to establish repertoire with women of influence in select communities. This person must have a heart for the poor.

Pay scale: All Clean Water for Haiti staff are volunteers, and contribute $150/month to the mission for living expenses.

Benefits: Benefits include the opportunity to serve God with your life along with other people who are doing the same thing. We also live in a house by the beach.

To apply, e-mail your resume and a message stating what your thoughts are. I would invite anyone interested in the work we do to come out for a month’s visit before making any long term commitments. I eagerly await inquiries from people who might fill these positions.

-Chris Rolling