Lesly Gassant, lead hangar assistant for the MAF Haiti program, died last Saturday, January 11, following an electrical accident in his neighborhood in Port-au-Prince.
Electrical lines for city power had just been run into this new neighborhood that has sprung up since the 2010 earthquake. Another MAF worker, Marc Zalus, who lives next door to Lesly, had turned on the city power wire and was shocked. Lesly went to check on the problem and was also shocked. He died soon after that, at approximately 8:00 p.m., as he was transported to the hospital.
Lesly had worked a normal day on Friday, though his wife, Majorie, mentioned that he had felt ill on Saturday.
Lesly was 47 years old and is survived by Majorie and his six children: Davidson, Jamesly, Shoumala, Sailande, Christopher, and Madjalie.
Lesly began working for MAF in March 2005. He helped to load and fuel airplanes and was a big help in the hangar when doing mechanical inspections. He had a pleasant personality, a good sense of humor and was well liked. He was a conscientious worker who didn’t like to go home until the last airplane was unloaded, refueled, and parked for the night. He will be missed.
Funeral arrangements are set for Saturday morning in Port-au-Prince and the body will be transported to his home in the province for burial. Your prayers are appreciated.
Attached are two pictures. One showing Lesly, Marjorie, and two of their children was taken last month at the MAF Christmas party. The second was featured in the MAF 2008 calendar.
David Carwell
Program Manager, MAF Haiti
Team Journal 6, written by Jacqueline T.
Thursday, January 9
The boys unexpectedly got an early start to the morning. At 5:30 they left to check out some farm land that the mission is considering buying. They all described there walk as absolutely gorgeous.
They met back up with the rest of us halfway through breakfast. After breakfast we all left to start building a latrine. We were in a very poor village and together with the locals started to dig a 5x5 foot hole, 15 feet deep for the family. It started out to be difficult enough to get going because of the many tree roots, but it just got worse. We started hitting limestone, and digging became a slow, difficult process. Because not all of us could fit in the hole at the same time, we took turns digging and playing soccer with a few young local boys. It was a ton of fun, but each time we stopped, one little boy would say, "Give me a dollar," the only words in English he knew! They were extremely poor and dressed only in rags. They absolutely loved playing soccer even though their ball was half deflated.
We dug about 3 feet, and then headed home. On the way, we stopped for fresh grapefruit, which we had to shake down from a tree. Once we got back to the compound, Frantz, our translator, took us to try sugar cane. He chopped down a stalk, planted part of it again, and used his machete to peel it so we could all chew a section. It was very moist and sugary.
Then we ate lunch, which consisted of pumpkin soup, a Haitian specialty, and black pea fritters. We were surprised at how good it all tasted as the food was quite foreign to us.
After lunch we went with Kristie to teach 4th grade English. Right after that we squished into two cars and a few of us had to sit in the back of the pick-up. We went out to a small church and taught a lesson on the fruits of the Spirit, sang a long song with the kids, played a few games, and then did a quick craft. After that, only the kids that were part of the nutrition center where the VBS was being held were allowed back in. We fed them lunch: juice and peanut butter sandwiches. I had the job of scooping juice, which left me with bright red hands. I still can't get all the color off! The kids were also given many gifts to take home.
We got home and ate dinner. Dinner gave us an extraordinary amount of energy for some reason, especially Rachel and I, so we played a game of MAD GAB, but that wasn't enough. Next we tried skipping rope, remembering all the different songs, and even trying Double Dutch. Most of the team was thoroughly tired out by these amusing activities, so they crashed right after devotions, but Rachel and I still have extra energy, so here we sit, she holding the flashlight while I write this journal entry.
The Day in Pictures.
Sunrise.
Early morning scouting trip.
Tall palm trees.
Fresh plantains.
Rural sugar cane processing.
Interesting, handmade sugar cane contraption.
Little critter.
Group shot.
Make new friends.
Digging the latrine.
Hard at work.
Working together.
Loving on babies.
Coconut trees.
Delicious sugar cane!
Black pea fritters and pumpkin soup.
Smiley kids.
At the nutrition center.
Handing out gifts to the kids.
Team Journal 5 by Rachel O.
Wednesday January 8
Well we all made it to the halfway point alive and happy, so that's a good thing! Today was busy. After a delicious breakfast of eggs and toast we were on our way. Our first activity for the day was to go see the water pump that we raised money for to help some Haitian farmers increase crop production and size. It was very rewarding to see how helpful the pump would be to the farmers. Now they would be able to grow vegetables even in the dry season!
Back at the mission we worked alongside the locals to level the cafeteria floor so we could pour concrete. For lunch we ate rice and beans, though some of us snuck in a few peanut butter sandwiches!
When lunch was over we joined Kristie who was teaching English class to the elementary students. We also played tag with the kids on the playground which was a lot of fun!
Our next job was to to paint the outside of the cafeteria a light blue, a little paint mysteriously ended up on each other however! Once we cleaned up a bit and Uncle Joe received a second shower from a water fight, we were served pizza for supper. What a treat!
Then we had to hurry to make it on time for the 6 o'clock mid-week service. During the service our team sang 'How Great Thou Art'. Later that night we practiced playing 'Amazing Grace' on Andy's homemade instruments of glass coke bottles. Singing praises to our heavenly Father was a great way to end another amazing day.
The Day in Pictures.
On the way to where the pump would be installed.
A farmer plowing his field.
Interesting trees and vegetation.
Best way to carry everything!
Little cutie.
Plowed fields.
Growing crops.
Meeting with the farmers.
Getting the pump going.
Back at the mission; mixing cement for the cafeteria floor.
Rice and beans for lunch.
Spending time with the kids.
The Cook's baby!
Painting the cafeteria.
Andy and his guitar.
Yummy pizza dinner!
Darkness falls.
Team Journal 4 by Melanie O.
Tuesday, January 7
Our team started out at 7:30 a.m. to try our hand at construction work here in Haiti. As we worked alongside the local Haitian people breaking down a concrete wall in the cafeteria, we saw just how much more difficult it is to work without the luxury of all the modern tools we take for granted! As we worked we occasionally took breaks to hold one of the Haitian cook's babies. We also toured the student dorms with two university girls.
Just as we were about to head in for a fairly similar spaghetti lunch, Gisella joined our team as she had been sick for two days but was thankfully feeling better now!
For the afternoon, the guys headed back to the cafeteria to pour the concrete floor while us girls went with Kristie to help teach the Grade 2 English class. We were all absolutely thrilled to have the Haitian kids run up to us for hugs, high fives and pictures. They sang English songs for us with much enthusiasm and clapping.
After this Kristie drove us girls to a nutrition center about 45 minutes away from the mission to help her. We weighed and measured the height and arm circumference of the children, something Kristie does about every 4 months. We were then privileged to help hand out Christmas presents to them.
As we drove home, Kristie told us all about how the mission began and grew in the last 8 years. I would say, the biggest thing that shone through to me was how God's was using JeanJean and Kristie and others to share the gospel and be a light illuminating the community around them. Thanks be to God!
The Day in Pictures
Ready to work!
This is harder than it looks!
Working together we get the job done.
Joe having some fun.
Smiling Michelle.
The village landscape with the university in the background.
\
Learning from the locals.
Spending time with the university students.
Working hard.
Haitian Pikliz.
May I feel your hair?
Empty market.
Haitian homes.
Beautiful landscapes.
At the nutrition center.
Christmas presents!
Rice and beans for dinner.
Soccer game.
Part of the mission compound.
Sundown.
