Do you know your neighbors? For ten years, the people of Fond Doux, Haiti have been receiving visitors from Epworth Church, Durham. They are our neighbors, “our far neighbors,” just as surely in the Christian sense as the people in Durham are “our near neighbors.” You now have the opportunity to learn to know them. The Fond Doux Foundation just published a book on these Haitian Partners.

Learn to know Emile Maceus. He is the chief translator for the interviews and also serves as executive director for most of our work. Now at age 31 is completing his college education — this year — a man whose father died when he was 9 years old and put himself through school. He explains, “I made most of my classical school without even having a book. I had to borrow books from my friends, which was not always easy.”

Learn to know Schneider Saint Surin, our most recent university scholar. He is now studying Spanish in the Dominican Republic in preparation for taking up the study of computer science. He has a great story to tell including how the study of English changed his life.

Learn to know Madam Gabriella of Platon, the village midwife. She is self-taught. Hear her tell her story, “I have been doing this work since 1992. Yes, since 1992! At that time, there was a woman that was about to give birth to her child, but there was no one to help her. Then, I assisted her with the birth of her baby; I helped her to deliver and I cut the umbilical cord.”

Learn to know Faédra Olivier, who is the first person in her family to obtain a job — all because of a Foundation scholarship. Learn the life of a sand miner, a fisherman, a school teacher, a farmer, a school principal, a pastor, a homemaker, a church deacon, a widow. They are all here. Listen to their struggles. Listen to their dreams. Hear how the Foundation has affected their lives. Hear what they have done to improve their community in face of malaria, Covid, typhoid, earthquake, hunger and political unrest. Hear how young adults are changing and will change their community in the face of formidable obstacles.

The author is the Rev. John Clausing, an associate member of Epworth United Methodist Church and a retired pastor of the United Church of Christ. But most of it is told by our Haitian partners and neighbors themselves.

If you would like to order a book, please email info@fonddouxfoundation.org, or you may click on the Donate button on the top right of this page, make a $22 donation ($2 for shipping), in the notes of the donation form enter your mailing address. When this is received a book will be mailed to you.