Jan 23-27, 2012
Health Center Dedication and
VOHLP Board Meeting

REFLECTIONS by Pastor Dave Wolber

It was “the best of times and the worst of time.”  The best? The events Wednesday at the Village of Hope campus, opening with the presentation of  a partnership Love Banner from Trinity Lutheran School (Kissimmee, FL), and climaxing with the celebrative dedication of the Health Center.  Nathalie Lambert (a native of Quebec, Canada, residing with her family nine months of the year in Florida), whose children attend Trinity School), made the presentation, speaking to the children in her native language, French.  The banner, measuring about 20 feet in length, conveyed the love and care of Trinity’s students to the students of Village of Hope,  who responded with appropriate thanks and happy songs. The banner will be hung in a prominent place on the campus for the students to see daily. The next day produced another response – several of the classes at VoH quickly created a banner of their own for Nathalie to take back and present to the students at Trinity. 

Then came the dedication, beginning in the chapel and ending at the entrance to the Health Center.  The ceremony in the chapel was marked by  greetings from several officials – Robert Acra (chairman of the Village of Hope Foundation Board in Haiti), Ralph Lapointe (Mayor of Ganthier), Mrs. Norgla Jean (a health department official with the Haitian government), and Pastor Ron Qualley on behalf of the VoH Lazarus Project Board.  The students sang several songs and the first members of the Health Center staff were introduced (a doctor and two nurses). Pastors Qualley, Hagen and Wolber led the service. 

Leaving the chapel, the attendees (numbering about 40 not counting our board members and the students)  walked to the Health Center entrance for the ribbon cutting ceremony, a blessing in the name of the Great Healer, Jesus, and with the sign of His cross marked on the entranceway, a song of praise and the benediction. Pastor Qualley’s dedicatory words  include “to the glory of God, to welfare of this community, and the memory of Carol Herget.”  We felt sure she was smiling down. The service was followed by a tour of the interior and refreshments.The event was marked with a festive mood, gratitude and hope for the future.

Toward the end of our stay was the visit to the mass burial site of untold thousands of victims of the earthquake.  That was marked with sadness and deep reverence, but also with thanksgiving that the victims are forever remembered at this national shrine. We will not soon forget gathering around the memorial marker in prayer.