University Presbyterian Church - Chapel Hill, NC

 

The alley that took us to St. Joseph’s Home for Boys and Guest House was so narrow that our driver had to back down toward the entrance. The surface of this descending road was rubble-y and dust gathered into a cloud that enveloped our van and pushed its way through the windows. We finally came to a stop and climbed out of our vehicle. Vendors descended on us as we approached the entrance to St. Joseph’s but they did not seem desperate and refusing to consider their wares was really not that difficult. The heavy metal door to St. Joseph’s, however, was formidable and it appeared to discourage us from entering. It was such an effort to get to this point on this, the first day of our journey to a country burdened with economic woes, that we wondered what we were doing there. But once inside St. Joseph’s, we immediately knew exactly why we had come. The welcome was unbeatable.

That big heavy door opened and several of the 24 teenage boys who live at St. Joseph’s greeted us with big smiles, hugs and refreshing glasses of water. We were escorted up one level to a lounge area to await the official greeting. All the available boys plus staff came out of nowhere to joyfully sing their welcoming song to us. They held bouquets of wildflowers and, at the close of the song, we were presented with the flowers along with a hug from each and every boy and staff. Their enthusiasm was genuine. Royalty could not have received a better welcome.

Founded in 1986 by Michael Geilenfeld, a former brother in Mother Teresa’s order, St. Joseph’s Home for Boys began with five homeless teenage boys in a one room shack. Today it is a multi-storied building that houses living quarters for 24 boys, guest rooms, a huge kitchen/dining room complex, a chapel and a giant room for the amazing dance performances that are a special treat for guests. There are several lounge areas for the guests, including a terrace and gazebo that overlook the city of Port-au-Prince. But the most appealing feature of St. Joseph’s is the way in which guests are made a part of their family. We were guests but we were also welcomed into the family. We talked with the boys, worshipped with them and marveled at their achievements. In the evening of our first night at St. Joseph’s, the boys performed Resurrection Dance Theater. The concept of Resurrection runs throughout the life of this home. The dances enact the stories of the boys and how they became members of the St. Joseph family. The dances also give the boys a chance to take pride in the culture in which they live. The quality of the performance was first class and we were impressed with the exuberance and creativity of the dances. But the ingredient of the performance that truly warmed us was the emotion that spilled into our hearts. At the end of the performance, the audience was invited to join in song and dance. Lights went out early at St. Joseph’s and we collapsed into our bunk beds, exhausted but exhilarated by our first day in Haiti.

The routine of staying at St. Joseph's took some getting used to. Electricity is at a premium in Haiti and life revolves around getting the most out of daylight hours. Roosters woke us up well before dawn and the first sound of the bell was at 5:00 AM to call the boys to chapel. Guests are welcome to join in worship but not expected so early in the morning. Breakfast for guests was at 7:00; so it was wise to shower before the sound of the breakfast bell. Getting the hang of the cold water shower was a challenge but, like all challenges, once mastered, the rewards were immeasurable. Breakfast, like dinner the evening before, was delicious. 

 

St. Joseph's Resurrection Dance Theatre