The little band of short--term missionaries milled around the very drab and primitive Cap Hatien Airport
waiting for the airplane that would take them back to what each would consider a "normal" way of life.
It was March 1995. Life was far from normal here in northern Haiti. Haiti, the poorest country in the
western hemisphere, had been suffering from an international embargo thus crippling the already--fragile
economy. For the common people, both in the cities and the rural villages, survival was the rule of
the day. Sickness and poverty were everywhere, and many did not survive.
These missionaries had put aside their normal pursuits, had invested their own money, used their
vacation time from their employment, and left their families, to come to a little village called
Caesse (pronounced Kyez), to among other things help improve the primitive conditions by putting
in a well to provide clean drinking water and they had FAILED. When they were ready to return home
to the United States the surface well that provided the green water that was not safe for anyone to
use, was still the only source of water on the mission station property.
We were dissapointed. My name is Ken Johansson, and I was one of those discouraged missionaries.
The plans to drill a deep well and build a water distribution system had been carefully made.
The money to pay for the project had been raised, and the well driller had been selected.
What had gone wrong? In the remote sections of Haiti there were no "yellow pages" to find business and
tradesmen and, no--readily available telephones. Instead, we had relied on a personal referral and in
this case the reference was to the wrong man!
Felix, the well driller, had required payment "up front" to purchase well casings and supplies. We had
busied ourselves preparing the base for the water tank while waiting for Felix to show up.
Our medical people had held clinics and the carpenters had built
some school benches. However, there was a growing uneasiness as each day passed and no Felix.
Towards the end of the first week, he showed up with a drilling rig with a large water tank in tow.
However, this was no ordinary drilling rig! To the trained eye it was obvious that this machine had
not been used for years and would require major restoration before it could be used again.
As it turned out, he had apparantly used this for a decoy and he never appeared again while we
were there. At the airport on the day we were to leave Haiti we went through the customs search and
paid the airport tax. The small plane which would take us to a major airport in Providenciales in
the Turks & Cacos Islands was due to depart at 10:00 a.m. As the day wore on we were given various
reasons why the aircraft we were waiting for was late. A growing uneasiness signalled our group that
all was not well and that what was happening was beyond our control.
The weather was hot and humid, adding to our general discomfort. Bathroom facilities were primitive
and certainly far from desirable.
One of our young adults noticed an American standing nearby who had been silently watching us.
We later learned he was waiting for an incoming missionary flight. With the enthusiasm of youth,
she went up to him and introduced herself. Although we did not know it at the time, this was another
step in a series of "happenings" that only God could orchestrate. The first step had been the delay
of the airplane, which at the time was not considered a blessing by any of our now--weary,
hot-and--hungry group!
Burnell Pudwill had been in Haiti for more than twenty years. He and his wife Delores, a nurse
practitioner, operated a medical clinic in the city of Cap Hatien. Besides medicine, Burnell had
other credentials. He was a pastor, a contractor and believe it or not, he was a well driller!
He was introduced to our group but because Felix had the money that had been designated for the
well and because we were leaving Haiti (we hoped), we did not pursue his services for a well.
Finally, in late afternoon, we were told what we had suspected - the plane was not coming. (In fact
,it would be delayed for several days!)
North Haiti Mission president, Clint Goddard, went to the airline office to find out what arrangements
could be made. We knew that there were no hotel rooms available as they had all been occupied by the
International Police Force, which was training a new Haitian police force.
As it turned out, the airline was able to find five rooms which had been recently vacated and painted
in one of the best hotels in Cap Hatien. This was the third "happening". The hotel prepared a
sumptuous meal for our now--very weary--band of travelers. This hotel had its own safe water source
originating in the mountains of Cap Hatien, thus allowing a refreshing shower before going to bed.
Friday was spent trying to reschedule the flight to Providentiales but for a variety of reasons,
the flight was further delayed to Saturday. It was late Friday afternoon when Pastor Laroche,
vice president of North Haiti Mission arrived at the hotel where we were staying. He and the rest
of our mission team had been scheduled to leave Haiti on Saturday and had heard by the "grapevine"
that we were still in the country and he had come to our hotel with news - GREAT NEWS!
Felix had returned the well money - ALL of it.
(As it turned out, the men from the village of Caesse had found out that Felix had taken the money
for the well and they had paid him a visit. Exactly what went on during that visit we will never
know.)
Now we had the money for the well and we had met a brother in Christ who was a well driller.
It was early Friday evening when several of our team members were driven to a local Pastor's home in Cap Hatien. Pastor Maurice Laguere was a good friend of ours and he
knew where Burnell Pudwill lived. Pastor Laguere immediately stopped what he was doing, got into
our vehicle and directed us to the Pudwill home to meet with Burnell.
As darkness fell, we stood in the compound of Burnell Pudwell's home and made arrangements for the
installation of the first well on North Haiti Mission property. That supposed "chance" meeting between
one of our youth and Burnell at the airport not only led to the success of our clean water mission,
but has grown into a wonderful relationship with Burnell and Delores.
In addition to their direct ministry to the Haitian people, they have blessed North Haiti Mission in
many ways.
So that is the true story of the first well on the North Haiti Mission station. It has been providing
free, clear, water for the mission and its neighbors since November, 1995. But there is still more to
the story. When Felix paid back the well money to Pastor Laroche, Pastor Laroche had to find a safe
place to leave it. He was planning to leave Haiti on Saturday morning. He thought of Pastor Laguerre,
an honorable and trusted friend. It was he to whom Pastor Laroche entrusted the money for safe keeping.
One of the mission team felt an unusually strong urge to caution Pastor Laguerre that many people knew
that he had this money. Pastor Laguerre said that he would put it in the bank on Monday morning. On
Tuesday evening Pastor Laguerre arrived home after dark to find men with guns waiting for him. They
forced their way into his home but the well money was safe in the bank! The men took some of his
possesions but left he and his wife unharmed. (Friends of North Haiti Mission collected funds to help
replace their personal possessions.)
GOD really cared about that
WELL
in Caesse Haiti. He cared whether or not the people there had access
to clean water. He cared about the Laguerres' as they were confronted by robbers, and He cared about
that weary band of travelers and turned their discouragement into
JOY.