A vision seminar is a one- to three-day event for people interested in CHE to see if we have a common vision for holistic community transformation and if they want to commit to sending people to a week-long Training of Trainers 1 (TOT 1). After trainers apply the principles they learn in a TOT 1 they participate in a TOT 2 which enables them to form and train a committee and Community Health Evangelists (CHEs).
In October alone we've got two vision seminars (Grand Goave and Leogane, both in West Province), a TOT 1 near Jacmel (Southeast Province) and a TOT 2 on the island of La Gonave (West Province). Our office is in North Province. I'm won't actually be present at any of those events but I've been involved in most of the planning since we are organizing them with other NGOs and the communication has mostly been in English.
Last Saturday the vision seminar was held in Leogane. During the starter for the first lesson everyone was given a piece of paper and told to find the "match." "Soccer player" and "ball","hair stylist" and "scissors."
One woman got "door" and found "key," who just happened to be a pastor. The assignment was to exchange information about each other - why they came to the seminar, where they were from, family info -- and then present each other to the group. She decided to tell this pastor about her faith journey -- she had been considering Jesus for a long time but continually felt blocked at the point of making a decision. And then she decided to follow Jesus! They shared this decision with the larger group and everyone prayed together and welcomed her into the family. We rejoice along with her because of God's persistence, mercy, and love!
This month we're also celebrating International Handwashing Day with activities throughout the month, not just on the day. In addition to all of this Osse -- the director of Medical Ambassadors Haiti -- and I will be traveling to Argentina for our Regional Council. We'll stay afterwards to facilitate a TOT 1 and 2. All told, I will be traveling from October 28 to December 6:
Continuing medical education conference in Orlando, FL
Regional Council (Caribbean and South America) in Cordoba, Argentina
Facilitating a TOT1 and 2 in Cordoba, Argentina
Travel to Buenos Aires to see friends!!
Trujillo, Peru to facilitate a training of CHE workers
Lima, Peru to meet a contact interested in working with CHE
