Burlington Township Council President Joyce Howell and Burlington City Council President Suzanne Woodard, who both worship at Christ Baptist Church, put their municipal rivalries aside this October to bring donations and a few extra hands to help rebuild Dame Marie
The road to Dame Marie from where the pavement ends in Port-au-Prince is fraught with dangers ranging from groups of armed military to a coarse and difficult terrain, but those things never stopped Strings of Love-Haiti, a missionary outreach of the Christ Baptist Church of Burlington, from making its annual service trip to the isolated village on the Haitian coast.
Burlington Township Council President Joyce Howell and Burlington City Council President Suzanne Woodard, who both worship at Christ Baptist Church, put their municipal rivalries aside this October to bring donations and a few extra hands to help rebuild Dame Marie, which was devastated by Hurricane Matthew in October 2016.
A year later, Howell, who has traveled to Dom Marie with Strings of Love in the past, was shocked and saddened to see much of the community was still completely leveled. Though Woodard had never visited before, the extent of the debris and damage hit her hard.
“They lost the church, the benches, everything. So we had a day devoted to helping rebuild the benches,” Howell said.
Along with Woodard and their fellow missionaries, the group spent four grueling days without running water, electricity or comforts of home doing what they could to contribute.
Bringing along tools, food, goats, feminine hygiene kits for girls, 500 pairs of shoes, solar lights and, most importantly, Howell said, the “gospel of Jesus Christ,” Strings of Love was welcomed with open arms by Dame Marie’s residents, 200 of whom Strings of Love were able to serve. The group hosted a free clinic, where diabetic and high-blood pressure patients were seen and given several months worth of medication.
“It’s amazing that they have so little, yet they have such a deep, heartfelt gratitude for everything they do receive. It’s not about material things for them,” Woodard said, reflecting on the experience. “Kids there walk miles and miles to school, and I can’t even get [an American] kid to walk to the bus stop.”
The poverty in Haiti, according to the councilwomen, is exacerbated by what they say is a complete lack of infrastructure and a recent series of crushing natural disasters. While the members of Strings of Love bring all they can fit in their suitcases to give to the denizens of Dame Marie, three months worth of blood pressure medication, canned goods and personal care items will not last until the group returns next year, and they will not receive any help or supplies from the Haitian government.
“I honestly couldn’t tell you who is in charge there,” Howell said.
Though she does not foresee stability or even potable water for most of the country in the near future, every little bit of the work Strings of Love and the other missionary organizations do helps.
For the people of Dame Marie, who Howell and Woodard said are willing to give the shirts off their backs, Strings of Love works all year to collect as many supplies and monetary donations as they can before they make their annual journey. Monies collected are submitted for a total check for paying shipping companies or purchasing goats.
Despite the good-natured rivalry between Burlington Township and Burlington City, Woodard and Howell now have a common cause and a friend in one another.
To contribute to Howell and Woodards’ volunteer efforts, Burlington County residents can donate to Reciprocal Ministries International or Christ Baptist Church via check. The organization can be reached at (609) 280–9298 for any questions regarding donations.
