Touching the Pulse of Community

Bas Cange, Haiti

Several times in my life I have been granted the great opportunity to experience esprit des corps; that wonderful sense of belonging with others joined in doing something that really matters. I never thought that I would get to do this again. This wondrous form of community has come my way once again. There is something important that is forged and refined by the combination of difficult circumstances, challenge and shared purpose.

Today the seven of us did a field survey of the water projects that were laid down twenty six years ago. The journey down to the existing dam and pump house required a descent down into a steep valley. We were stunned to find that since a summer survey in July that some 1,500 concrete steps have been built down the cliffs above the natural spring that feeds the water supply for 12,000 people. These steps were astounding in their scale and quality of construction. We felt like were climbing on one of the engineering wonders of the ancient world. As we descended we collected quite a large entourage of village people, who must have been figuring seven Americans in this remote area must be up to something important.

I would be hard pressed to pull up from memory a more impressive or beautiful view than those we were immersed in on that staircase to a new life for these people. I can’t imagine any all-inclusive resort in Mexico, Southeast Asia, or other tropical setting holding a candle to the emerald realm we found ourselves in. One can only hope that the leadership of this country will one day learn to care for its people and its land.

The last part of the descent required climbing down rocky faces with tree roots. I reached out to grab a tree for balance. As I touched it I felt a strong pulse. The 3.5 inch above-ground galvanized pipe that is the life line for 12,000 people was touching the tree. It was a bit like having an epiphany. Suddenly, I realized that this pulsing metal pipe was the aorta of life for the thousands of people living on the edge of survival in these mountains. I literally was able to feel the pulse of this community. I felt like I was on a open heart team, privileged to be touching someone’s beating heart. Twenty- five years ago men of vision decided to pull these people away from the brink and revascularized the dreams of people who long ago forgot how to dream in their struggles for survival.

We surveyed and photographed the existing dam, pipelines, and pump house. We were most heartened to see the beginning work of a new dam. We are hopeful that tomorrow we can see the beginning of work to install four new valves in the new dam for the vascular system of the several towns and hospitals that depend on it. Like cardiac surgeons, our work will have to take place while the system is in use. People go on bypass during cardiac surgery. This water system will be on bypass as well. A new pump house, hydraulic turbines, high pressure pipes, and public water taps will assure another fifty years of safe drinking water. Women will no longer have to climb down slippery cliff faces and then climb back up with 5 gallon buckets of water in tow. Days long lost to carrying unsafe water will be freed for other life tasks. Safe water will be a few steps from every house.

How grand it is to be working with others to build the infrastructure that so many of us take for granted. I don’t think I will ever view plumbing quite the same again. I think I have gained a greater understanding of the scripture that exhorts us to give a cup of cold water in the name of Jesus. What a privilege.