CLOSE THIS ARTICLE HAITI CHALLENGE Published in Calhoun Times, Calhoun, GA – 8-16-07 Haiti school director thankful for local help 08/16/07 For the past several years, good-hearted folks in Gordon County have devoted their time and energy and funds to helping educate less fortunate children in Haiti. While we loaded up our kids and took them to our fine public schools last week, without giving much thought to what would happen if they weren’t there, that’s not the case in Haiti. If not for the help of folks like Deacon Balliew and the late Bill Childers, their philanthropic organization known simply as The Group Inc., and many other volunteers in our community, it’s doubtful that many of the kids (who are handicapped, ranging in age from 3 to 5 years) now attending The Bill Childers Preschool in Haiti would be. Today we are printing a copy of the graduation address delivered by Roger Honor’e, school director at the locally sponsored school in Haiti. Roger asked that his address be given to the Calhoun Times so all their supporters in our community would know about this current graduation class and how the school and the people in that area feel about what has been accomplished in that small community in the mountains of Haiti. The students that he is talking about are the poorest of the poor in the surrounding area with little chance of success and are starving. “We know we are saving some of their lives,” Deacon said. “Without those meals they become weak, then diseases invade and a little guy dies. Telling us he knows God is the reason then the next word Roger mentioned was our collaborators. He was definitely talking about Mrs. Shirley Childers, wife of my pal Bill Childers, and how she is carrying on Bill’s work. “He was referring to the hundreds of county and city school students here who collected thousands of packs of seeds, personal hygiene items, and school supplies. He was referring to the many individuals who are continuing financially to support our children with sponsor ships. He was thinking of our Calhoun First Baptist Church’s Sunday School classes who are a God-sent blessing to those babies. And the Hikers Sunday Class at Trinity Baptist church who are sponsoring a little girl with cerebral palsy, who I doubt seriously would not be here today with that support. “Roger mentioned danger. Those teachers who walk many miles to teach our fellows every day face threats of being robbed or kidnapped for ransom.,“ Deacon pointed out. We all should be grateful that God has blessed us in Gordon County to be so affluent and generous to help these little kids who can’t help themselves. We are certainly proud to be from a county that is so thoughtful of others. Here is Professor Honor’e’s graduation address: Dear professors, parents, friends, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen: It is difficult for me to find the exact words to let you know how happy, privileged, and contented I am to greet you under these noble circumstances. Parents, it’s self evident that you are our reason for being here. On this beautiful morning of the 10th of June, 2007, oh how wonderful it is to be able to come together to share our Joy. How did this event come about? It must have had an author. God is all, and in every sense, without hesitation, we can say that He is the author. I come before you with the desire and the need to say this thing. It is also assuredly the case that Roger Honor´e, your servant, under the orders of this divine motivator, took up the challenge of creating this school in 1985. Undeniably, I was not alone in this work, and couldn’t have done this in any of its myriad facets without many able and willing hands: from any point of view, such as moral, physical, spiritual, social, or financial. Many invisible hands have contributed to this work, and I would like to shine a light on some of them. In the first rank we must place God, who has directed all since the beginning of the world. He foresaw the channel by which He would pass to accomplish this exploit. It was Brenda Cooper, who, after visiting with us several times, sought an understanding of how we would manage this work. She brought to our aid a young woman named Michelle, who came from the United States with all of the support necessary for the debut of the work. She then passed the torch to two great gentlemen: Deacon Balliew and Bill Childers, whom we consider heroes. Unfortunately, death with its pitiless sharp sword took Bill from us; Deacon was spared, however, and for four years now Deacon has sacrificed himself to the struggle to procure the means to do it all, from the materials of administration, to the salaries of the professors, to the food that the children eat, etc. For three consecutive years he scrambled to find a way to organize professional development seminars for our teachers, so that our school would deserve its good reputation. One must say that Deacon has accomplished amazing things. In particular one should note his acts of kindness to the handicapped, as the stories of Jean-Luc or Jasmine attest, and whose parents are with us today. As the saying goes, education and redemption are one and the same. Thus how can we not thank God for choosing Deacon as the executor of this marvelous plan? As much as God, Deacon has merited our thanks for the manner in which he has selflessly and joyously responded to our call. May God bless and preserve him, and bless also our friend Bill Childers’ memory,as well as all of Deacon’s collaborators. I would be remiss if I did not mention many others who have contributed to this work. I might start with Alex, to whom I offer special thanks: with all my heart I consider him the inspiration for this saving establishment. My wife Jacqueline Honor´e has much sacrificed, walking miles daily, from the center of Ranquitte to Roi, in order to help realize this project. Mrs. Delistine, Miss Nad’ege, Mrs. Carius have all contributed daily to the education of these poor little ones. Mrs. Berlius and Mrs. Youyou have given of themselves, sometimes even exposing themselves to danger, for the good of these children. We wish you all courage in your work. And, as I said at the beginning, we offer our thanks to all these parents who entrusted their children to our care during the 2006-2007 academic year. You are the reason we’re here. It is time to bring these thoughts to a close, but I wouldn’t dare to do it without once again thanking all of you for your participation today, and without wishing you a pleasant moment during these exercises.
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