In Memoriam

This is Met Vernio Joseph in a photo taken in September 2005. Other than updating the days and the tenses, I don't think I can put things any better than Barb Van Schoyck did in an email to HAFF's Board of directors, "Met Vernio, one of our teachers, died Monday. It may have been stroke, or heart attack. He was one of our young teachers.

He had been a student at HAFF for six years, then did his 13th grade in Pignon, and then came to work with HAFF last year. His funeral was Tuesday. Many of the teachers went, along with a delegation of students in uniform from the school (which is customary in Haiti). HAFF sent a cash gift to honor him and a letter of condolence from the entire staff and Board with Carla, Colin and Jerry who went to take the teachers and delegation of students to the funeral. (Connie was still en route and we go back Thursday).

Met Vernio was an orphan, but does have one sister (Saisette, also a former student) and at least one older married brother. The funeral is in LaVictoire which is a very difficult road. Thankfully our delegation made the trip safely. Please pray that God's hand of comfort and grace would surround Saisette and the rest of the family, as well as our students and teachers.

Carla and Colin did an exemplary job of handling this crisis and we are all grateful for their presence during this time."

School is closed for the rest of this week. Monday, when school opens again, we plan to have an extended devotions. We plan to take most of the morning to counsel, encourage and pray with the students and teachers to help them through this hard time of grief. Pray for us Friday as we meet to plan the time Monday morning, then pray for us Monday as we seek to minister to eachother.