December, 2004

Dear Friends of Operation-Starfish:

We begin this month’s newsletter with a New Year’s Prayer…

As the dawn breaks on a new year, let us give thanks for all we hold dear: our health, our family and our friends.

Let us release our grudges, our anger and our pains, for these are nothing but binding chains. Let us live each day in the most loving ways, the God-conscious way. Let us serve all who are in need, regardless of race, color or creed.

Let us keep God of our own understanding in our hearts and to chant God’s name each day. Let us lead the world from darkness to light, from falsehood to truth and from wrong to right.

Let us remember that we are all one, embracing all, discriminating against none.

May your year be filled with peace, prosperity and love. May God's blessings shower upon you and bestow upon each of you a bright, healthy and peaceful new year.

---By Reverend Marcy Sheremetta

Operation Starfish^®BECOMES “OPERATION-STARFISH”

As “Operation Starfish^®” has grown to include churches and organizations across the country, Nativity Church and Food For The Poor decided it would be prudent to research trademark and copyright registrations for this name. In so doing, we found that the name, “Project Starfish” is indeed a registered trademark for an educational foundation in Tennessee. We have, out of respect for this foundation, begun the process of changing the name of our effort to “Operation-Starfish.” The process of registering a trademark for “Operation-Starfish” is underway.

Our mission, our method, and our commitment to the poor are unchanged. Only our first name is different. The principle of the “starfish story” – making a difference, one person at a time – remains our goal and our inspiration.

NATIVITY VILLAGE HOUSING – 11 DOUBLE UNITS REMAINING

In our November Newsletter, we reported that 37 double units remained to be built in Nativity Village to reach our goal of providing 500 families with new housing. As of December 20, 2004, only 11 double units remain and we will have fulfilled our dream of housing all 500 families in decent, safe shelter.

Construction progress is being made in spite of the difficulties of violence and unrest in the Port-au-Prince area. For the last few weeks, Food For The Poor project staff have been unable to safely travel to Nativity Village because of the conditions along the main road out of the capital. The people in Nativity Village, however, have been somewhat protected from the violence because of their strong hope for the future. They want to protect the progress that they have made and continue working toward improvements in health care, education and small business opportunities.

In the next week or two, we anticipate receiving plans, specifications and a cost estimate for construction of a school building in Nativity Village. Once the housing units are completed, we will begin work on the school. The new building will also house vocational training and a sewing coop.

Parishioners and friends of Church of the Nativity in Burke, Virginia are assisting financially with the housing and school costs through “Operation-Starfish,” a simple fundraising effort begun in 1998 by Fr. Richard Martin, Nativity Church Pastor. For more information go to www.Operation Starfish^®.org.

NATIVITY VILLAGE FUTURE PLAN ANNOUNCED

In our November Newsletter, we announced a plan for the future of Nativity Village, developed in consultation with the people of the village, their parish priest, and our partners at Food For the Poor. We have received several inquiries about this plan, so we are repeating the highlights again this month:

The plan for Nativity Village includes the following elements:

• A school building with lunch area and vocational training space. Currently more than 200 children are crowded into an open-air pavilion. 4 grades share one room with only 2 teachers.
• The opportunity for all children in the village to attend school. About 200 children attend classes. 80 children are currently registered for school but cannot afford the $31 annual tuition. Several hundred more do not have the opportunity to go to school at all.
• A nutritious meal for children once a day. Malnutrition and resulting health problems are very evident in the younger population. Through a partnership with Caritas and Food For The Poor, each child would receive one good meal a day at the school facility.
• Vocational training for teenagers and young mothers. Teens, without skills, have no chance for employment. Many young women are raising children without fathers. Job skills training would take place in the school building evenings and weekends and would bring the possibility of jobs and wages to these young people.
• A sewing co-op program. 10 – 12 women would be set up with treadle sewing machines, fabric and thread. They would be trained by experienced seamstresses who are living nearby, and they would produce school uniforms, first for village children, then for sale to others.
• Expansion of Ste. Madeleine Clinic. We would work with the existing clinic operation at Ste. Madeleine, about 5 km. away. Project Starfish would provide resources to expand the capacity of this clinic, allowing them to serve Nativity Village residents, who are now turned away because of overcrowding.
• Starting a chicken farm. With training from Food For The Poor’s agricultural facility at Santos, selected village candidates would be helped in developing a community chicken raising operation. Chickens and/or eggs would be sold and profits would be put back into expanding the farm.
• Experimenting with micro-lending. Using a cautious approach, we would find a third-party partner with solid experience and a record of success to set up a small micro-lending bank in Nativity Village. This would help jump-start the talented local entrepreneurs with small loans to set up vending, food, supply or other enterprises.

At this time, cost estimates and implementation details are being developed for all the above elements. The plans, specifications and cost estimate for the school should be ready in the next week or two.

Partners who have assisted in funding the housing construction in Nativity Village, such as St. Colette’s Church in Michigan, will be contacted to see if they will continue to help. Other potential partners who might provide in-kind services will also be approached. The major portion of funding for this work will come from Nativity Church parishioners and friends through their “Operation Starfish^®”. Work on all aspects of the development plan can be done simultaneously, depending on funding.

BISHOP SULLIVAN DEDICATES NEW SCHOOL IN HAITI

During the first week of December, 2004, Roman Catholic Bishop Emeritus Walter F. Sullivan of Richmond, Virginia, traveled to Hinche in the Central Plateau of Haiti to dedicate a new school. Funded by $120,000 in donations from St. Edward Parish in Richmond, the 8-classroom building in Colladere will provide education for 387 children. Deacon Bob Ewan of St. Edwards said, “the new school will allow the children to grow intellectually, spiritually and physicallyfor generations to come.”

After having second thoughts about traveling to Haiti in the midst of the current turmoil, Bishop Sullivan put aside his reservations and ventured forth. This was his 6th trip to Haiti, where more than 50 Richmond Diocese churches have twinning arrangements with parishes in the Diocese of Hinche.

At the dedication of the school, named for Bishop Sullivan, Hinche Diocese Bishop Louis Kebreau said “to build a school is to close a prison – the prison of ignorance, poverty and violence.”

Summing up his travel experience, Bishop Sullivan said, “I love returning to Haiti. I felt safe the entire time. I believe we receive more than we bring to Haiti. The people have a real dignity and beauty despite their constant state of poverty…the people show great humanity. Their rhythm of daily life centers on survival.

CHILDREN’S BOOKS ABOUT HAITI

A generous donation by a parishioner who traveled to Haiti on an earlier pilgrimage has filled a bookshelf in the Nativity Elementary School with books about Haiti. Bill Hummel first traveled to Haiti with fellow parishioners of Church of the Nativity in Burke, Virginia. He later returned with a dental team that he organized to treat children with HIV/AIDS at Rainbow House, an orphanage in Kenskoff. These books, recommended by a children’s librarian, are suitable for young folks. Consider buying one and donating it to a school library near you.

Tonight, by Sea – Frances Temple
Painted Dreams – Karen L. Williams
Bouki Dances the Kokioko – Diane Walkstein
Mama Rocks, Papa Sings – Nancy Van Laan
Behind the Mountains – Edwidge Danticat
Haiti in Pictures

THESE SHOES ARE MADE FOR WALKING – TO SCHOOL!

During the course of meetings in November at Food For The Poor Headquarters in Florida, Fr. Berard Wedner, the parish priest for Nativity Village, remarked that almost none of the children in the village own shoes. Many parasites and diseases infiltrate children through their bare feet. Upon hearing this, Robin Mahfood, President of Food For The Poor, committed to provide a pair of new shoes for each child. He asked Fr. Berard to supply numbers and sizes of shoes needed. That list has been received and arrangements are being made to ship the new shoes to FFP’s warehouse in Port-au-Prince, from where they will be transported out to Nativity Village.

In addition, all 80 of the school children who had dropped out of school because their families could not afford the $31 annual cost, are now back in class. Nativity Church families, on hearing of this situation, immediately began sponsoring children in Nativity Village by paying their $31 tuition. Fr. Martin, Nativity pastor, provided up front funding to get the kids back to school right away.

Barbara Fazekas at Food For The Poor, said to Fr. Martin, “It's good to know that you and all those at Nativity, now have these children enrolled in school with a chance for a better life. They also will get a meal and milk at school. As always, thank you for all you and everyone at Nativity do for our friends in Haiti who remain in our hearts.”

LETTERS FROM OUR READERS

FROM BETH SLOAND IN BALTIMORE, MD…

Thanks for this newsletter, Jim. It is very inspiring, especially now in the face of the current political turmoil. I was making plans to bring a group of nursing students to Jeremie in February, but the State Department travel warning may prevent the university [Johns Hopkins] from allowing it. Really too bad, as there is so much work to do there. Thanks, too, for the meditation and Haitian prayer. Wonderful stuff.

God bless you and all your crew.

Fondly,
Beth

NEWS BRIEFS

Kathy Wycoff of Burke, Virginia, reports that the Knights of Columbus Virginia State Council wives made 195 outfits for babies in Haiti. The beautiful outfits, along with two bassinettes, were sent by the K of C ladies to Food For The Poor in Florida. They were then shipped by FFP to a mission in Cap Haitien, Haiti. According to Barbara Fazekas at FFP, “Everyone here thought the baby clothing was just gorgeous. Fr. Ducan in Haiti will be so pleased to provide these thoughtful gifts to those who need them most – the children and mothers in Cap Haitien.” Our hats are off to Kathy and her colleagues!

NOVEMBER PRAYER REQUESTS

Our readers have submitted the following prayer requests for this month:

† For the families of Capt. James Adamowski and Capt. Mark Norman Stubenhofer, parishioners of Nativity Church who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country in Iraq, that God may provide a measure of His comfort to those who grieve the loss of these two fine young men;

† For Sr. Francis Annice, that she continue her successful recuperation from surgery, and that her always good spirits continue to be an example for us;

† For all our friends at Food For The Poor, and for all those who work here and abroad to alleviate suffering;

† For the people of Haiti, that the violence may subside, and that the international community come together to help alleviate their suffering;

† For the people of the Asian and African countries who lost loved ones, who were injured, and who are homeless, as a result of the Indian Ocean earthquake and tidal waves;

† That we may be ever mindful of God’s chosen ones – the poor, especially those who have touched us in Haiti;

For these and all our intentions, hear us, Oh Lord…

PEACEFUL WORLD

At the annual Christmas Pageant of Peace in Washington D.C. on December 2nd, President George W. Bush, accompanied by two “Brownies” from St. Timothy Catholic School in Chantilly, Virginia, turned on the lights of the National Christmas Tree. Marty Stuart and his wife, Connie Smith, well-known country music performers, wrote a song especially for this occasion. They performed the song for the President and the live audience of 7,500. The song, reprinted here, is titled “Peaceful World.”

Peace – you can’t buy with silver or gold.
It will calm the waters of a troubled soul.
There’s troubled days at our door.
I pray they won’t come round no more.
I pray for a peaceful world.

Love – is the song we sing.
It’s the greatest gift we all can bring.
Yes, love’s the answer, love’s the key.
So let it begin with you and me.
I pray for a peaceful world.

I pray for a peaceful world.
The way it was meant to be.
Let’s come together, do our part.
One by one, heart by heart.
And pray for a peaceful world.

Think – of how it could be.
A universe in perfect harmony.
No more strife, no more wars.
A world our hearts are longing for.
I pray for a peaceful world.

Written especially for the 2004 Christmas Pageant of Peace
Marty Stuart and Connie Stevens

Operation Starfish^®WEB SITE UPDATED

Visit us at www.Operation Starfish^®.org . The Welcome Page has been updated and there are photos from the flood in Gonaives.

For information on Food For The Poor’s programs in Haiti, contact Barbara Fazekas at 954-427-2222 x6258; barbf@foodforthepoor.com. Web: www.foodforthepoor.org.

CLOSING THOUGHT…

From Bishop Emeritus Walter F. Sullivan, commenting on his recent trip to Haiti…

“I love returning to Haiti. I felt safe the entire time. I believe we receive more than we bring to Haiti. The people have a real dignity and beauty despite their constant state of poverty. I heard several times that things are much worse since the overthrow of President Aristide. Life is much worse, economically, politically and, because of the lack of security, people live in uncertainty and fear.”

“At the same time, the people show great humanity. Their rhythm of daily life centers on survival. They have unrealized dreams for a better life. Our partnership with the people of the Diocese of Hinche makes a positive difference in the lives of so many. I recall the words of our diocese’s patron saint, Vincent de Paul, who said, ‘The poor are our greatest masters. Because of them, we can be called Christian.’”

“I love the words of Bishop Kebreau who said that early every morning we rise to the ‘Haitian Philharmonic,’ the barking of dogs, the crowing of chickens, the braying of donkeys and the grunts of pigs. They sing in unison for the glory of God. Our people travel to Haiti for one reason, ‘for the honor and glory of God.’”
Courtesy of The Catholic Virginian - Dec. 20, 2004

Those of us who have made the pilgrimage to Haiti will understand Bishop Sullivan, for we have heard the “Haitian Philharmonic,” we have seen God in the eyes of the poor, and we have renewed our faith through this powerful spiritual experience.

God Bless You…

NEW SUBSCRIPTION? If you have a friend who would like to receive this newsletter, go to www.Operation Starfish^®.org to sign up, or send a note to Project Starfish, Church of the Nativity, 6400 Nativity Lane, Burke, VA 22015.

CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION? If you no longer wish to receive Project Starfish news, send an email to Jim@starfishmission.org or send a note to the address above.

Operation Starfish^®NEWSLETTER (Vol. III, Issue 10), Dec., 2004: 0412newsltr
Edited this month by Jim McDaniel (Jim@starfishmission.org)

Operation Starfish^®: MAKING A DIFFERENCE, ONE PERSON AT A TIME

As a young boy walked the beach at dawn, he noticed an old man ahead of him picking up starfish and tossing them into the sea. Catching up with the man, the boy asked why he was doing this. The old man explained to the boy that the stranded starfish would die if left in the morning sun.

“But the beach goes on for miles and there are millions of starfish,” exclaimed the boy. “How can your effort make any difference?”

The old man looked at the starfish in his hand and then threw it safely into the waves. He turned to the boy and said, “It made a difference to that one.”
--Based on the writing of Loren Eiseley