An Oasis

Our team set off early again today for another crazy, chaotic, and confusing ride through the city of Port au Prince on our way to the Village of Jesus in Leogane, Haiti, a home for over 30 abandoned women. And just as we were treated to spectacular views of the mountains yesterday as we left the city, today we were we humbled by views of the ocean in every array of blue on God’s magnificent pallet of colors.

It wasn’t until after Father Reiser’s death that we learned about the Village of Jesus and discovered that a great part of it was built by the beloved founder of our organization, Father Reiser. In as much as the ocean was an oasis of hues of blue, the Village of Jesus was an oasis of peace, love and tranquility to these women. It was located on a side road nearly hidden by greenery and was a complex of well-kept buildings and perfectly manicured grounds.


We were greeted by Sister Alta who runs the home, and within a short amount of time, the women who live there also welcomed us. We treated them to peanut butter sandwiches and cookies, lotion rubs, foot washings, and massages, and they treated us to their music, their smiles, and their love. It was rewarding to see a group of women who had been rescued from abandonment now living in a loving community and being given such great care. We were even served a delicious lunch by Sister Alta before we left, with one of the entrees being goat—which she raises on their small farm in Leogane!

While we were at Village of Jesus, I studied a collage of photos hanging on a wall that included pictures of Father Reiser and of the building process in Leogane. I wondered how he could possibly have envisioned the results of his efforts as he set forth to transform that downtrodden piece of land. Without doubt, it had to be his tremendous faith in God that gave him the strength and direction to move forward with the project.

And I also think he may have been inspired by the aqua colors of the ocean!

Blessings, Ann