The year 2011 was a special year in my life as religious missionary. It was during this year that I professed my perpetual vows with the Missionhurst Congregation, was ordained deacon, and finally, ordained a priest. Thanksgiving and praise swelled the heart. My first assignment following ordination was to serve at St. Anne parish in Bois de Laurence, in the diocese of Fort-Liberté (Northeast of Haiti). I was to form a community there with Fr. Freddie Lucena, cicm, and intern Br. Zebedee Lobo, cicm.
Bois de Laurence is a community in one of the interior regions located in the northeast part of Haiti. It is a town hemmed in by mountains; there is only one road that traverses the path to and from the nearest cities of Hinche and Ouanaminthe. This road is woefully inadequate, especially during the rainy season. The Rivyè Granma River runs through the area, and serves as a major water source for the populace.
Numbering somewhere in the range of thirteen thousand or so, it is the children of birth to twelve years old, and the youth of thirteen to thirty years old, that comprise a great percentage of the population of Bois de Laurence. The major sources of income are farming (+/-98%) and jobs provided by governmental or private institutions (+/-2%). There are a small number of people who are engaged in commercial activities: there are some women who do embroidery, while others are into charcoal making and indiscriminate logging—two activities that pose great environmental problems. However, the bulk of the community’s commercial activity happens every Tuesday, when people come from the mountains into the town of Bois de Laurence for an open market. They gather along the main road just a few yards away from the church to buy or sell products such as corn, beans, peanuts, bananas, pineapples, mangoes, papayas, etc.
The town does have some government structures present, intended to provide social services such as a dispensary, primary and secondary schools, a courthouse, and a government records office. These institutions, however, don’t function effectively due to the lack of resources, supplies and personnel. There are three primary schools presently being administered by Catholic and Protestant groups though. This means that one of our missionary responsibilities here is in the administration of the parish school: St. John Bosco Catholic Elementary School.
St. Anne parish is comprised of four large communities aside from Bois de Laurence, which serves as the center. Each community has only kindergarten and first year elementary school. The children who wish to continue beyond their first year of elementary school are obliged to come to the town center (Bois de Laurence) to pursue their studies. Though St. John Bosco is just five minutes from the parish rectory, it can take hours (on foot) for many of these students to cover the distance from their homes. Remarkably, we welcome some 800 pupils from first year kindergarten to grade six of elementary school each year.
On the first day when Fr. Freddie introduced me to the community, I could see what a happy and joyful group our parishioners were. They gave a standing ovation to their new pastor. Indeed I saw that the church of Christ is a lively and tangible reality here in the remote mountains of Haiti. As days and months went by, I came to know a little bit more of the parish and its faithful. I soon realized that the women of Bois de Laurence direct community life. They are the breadwinners. From Monday to Saturday they move from one open market to another, trying to find something of value to sustain their families. Many men, however, are inactive or engage in illegal gaming or blood sport such as cock fighting. Though the population manages for the most part, still, many families live on less than one US dollar a day. Because of this situation, it is a daily occurrence for mothers to knock at our door begging for help; most of the time it is for the sake of their children (for food, for hospital or for tuition fee).
Indeed many of our parishioners live through some very dark times. They struggle to provide for their children, while their plans for the future often feel more like distant dreams.
One day as I sat preparing my homily for the Sunday mass, a young lady named Loudrige appeared in front of me with her five children—the youngest one just a two month old baby. Startled and a bit perplexed, I struggled to follow as she gave me a hurried greeting that quickly transitioned into a plea: “Father, I can’t afford anymore. Do something for me!” The 27 year old was instantly crying, while I was pondering just what sort of demand she was making. I looked her directly in the eyes, and managed to invite her to take a seat. After a moment to compose ourselves, Loudrige began to tell me her very story…
As one of eleven in her family—none of whom had graduated high school—Loudrige recalls a point when her parents had just grown too old and too tired to take care of them any more. Each child was simply on his or her own in finding a way to survive. One day Loudrige was proposed to by a young man, and in order to escape from her family misery she agreed. However, it happened that during the time of their engagement, Loudrige became pregnant. Though the marriage was promised, not long after she gave birth her fiancé disappeared. Now with an extra mouth to feed, she quickly realized the situation of single motherhood was difficult. Continually hoping to find someone who would accept and take care of her, a pattern of hopeful suitors, more babies, and more disappointment began. These endeavors only produced failed relationships and four children; her situation was dire.
Hope finally did arrive for her though; in the form of a man who wholeheartedly embraced her children and promised that he would marry her. In advance of the marriage, her fiancée planned to earn some construction income in the Dominican Republic. It wasn’t long before Loudrige would learn that, tragically, an eight-story fall on the construction site took her fiancée’s life. Her dream of real love and a stable family was wiped out in a moment. Not to mention that she was once again pregnant…
So, it was with her fifth child in her arms that Loudrige came to our rectory that day. Now living in appalling conditions under a soiled hut with little access to water or decent sanitation, it must have felt to her as though she was invisible and forgotten.
At the end of her story, Loudrige compared herself with Mary Magdalene: “How come Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene who, like me, was a sinner, and yet he can’t even show me his back in my daily struggles. Father, you are God’s representative—please do something for me because I can’t afford anymore.”
After some time of silence I tried to convince her that we would find a solution. All that she wanted was a promise: but of course, a promise that would become a reality.
I encouraged and urged her to understand that no matter what darkness there may be in her life, no matter what enslaves or imprisons her, God delights in each one of us. All who abide in God face a constant battle with forces that draw us away from Christ, but we are never forsaken. I assured Loudrige that her sufferings could not separate her from God’s blessings—abiding faith and hope would surely instead reveal His favor, whether through our own efforts or through those of our brothers and sisters who, continually and thankfully, believe in generosity and traffic in compassion.
This encounter made me realize just how extraordinary it is that God’s favor rests upon us. We are poor, weak, inadequate, and we sin. God does not mind: “He does not break the bruised reed nor quench the wavering flame.” These are the words that gave Loudrige a little bit of comfort. At the end of her visit, we took a few minutes and prayed, offering our hopes to God.
Here in Bois de Laurence, stories of great challenges and suffering are, indeed, not hard to come by. We witness many. To me, Loudrige’s story demonstrates what it means to walk with the abandoned. When the least of our society can afford no more, when their light is dim, it is our call to be a willing and generous servant; it is our mission to illuminate the covenant God has made with all who seek Him. We proclaim that God is not hiding from the suffering—He is ready and willing to be found. “Anyone who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he rewards those who seek him.” Hebrews 11:6
Anaclet Mukendi, cicm
Bois de Laurence, Haiti
Fr. Anaclet Mukendi Mpunga, cicm, is a native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo who joined Missionhurst-CICM in 2000. Following his studies in Kinshasa and the Philippines, he was sent to Haiti for his internship program in 2009, and was ordained in 2011. Fr. Anaclet is currently serving at St. Anne parish, Bois de Laurence, Haiti.
