September 16, 2016 at 5:31 p.m.
A change of scenery
Rhinelander's Brunsch family set for move to Haiti in November
A change of scenery
"The focus of our work will be day-to-day living conditions. There is no infrastructure, no electricity and life there is very tough," Brad Brunsch said. "Many impacts that the Lemuel organization can make for the people of Haiti can be the difference between life and death."
This will not be the first visit to Haiti for members of the Brunsch family. Each individual has spent varying degrees of time in the country.
The move in November will mark Brad's fourth visit. For his oldest daughter Shayne and his oldest son Brayden it will be the third trip to Haiti.
The entire Brunsch family made the trek to Haiti last year for a six-week period. This trip solidified the family's notion to call Haiti their new home.
"I first went to Haiti approximately five years ago. There was a group of 13 people from the area represented by four churches who went to help with relief following the earthquake, which killed over 100,000 people," Brad Brunsch said. "We were all looking for an area in Haiti that nobody was helping, and that's how we found Lemuel Ministries."
Founded by Haitian-born Manis Dilus, Lemuel has spent the past 10 years based in the barren area of northern Haiti known as the Plateau. Families there dwell in mud homes and rely on limited agricultural resources for food. The founder Dilus, his wife Judy's organization serves and supports over 600 people in the Plateau area of Haiti.
"That first trip to Haiti really changed my life, to say the least. It impacted me in an emotional way that is really indescribable," Brad Brunsch said. "I fell in love with the country and I fell in love with the people in the area of that Lemuel functions in. I envisioned myself being a part of an organization like that, but at the time I didn't imagine it would result in my whole family moving there."
The Brunsch's eldest daughter, Shayne, recalls a journal entry she made following her second trip to Haiti, which she said helped solidify her desire to make the Caribbean country her home.
"Before we were talking about it seriously, I had written in my journal that it felt like we were going to move there," Shayne Brunsch said. "Even though I had no way of knowing, I was able to pick up on something that told me Haiti might be our new home."
In July of 2015, the Brunsch family sold their McNaughton home and sold their disposable belongings in an estate sale. Since that time, the family has relied upon the support of friends and family members for shelter as they prepare for their departure.
"We've moved 15 times since we sold our home last year to try to limit the burden as much as possible," Danyel Brunsch said. "Next week will be our 16th move. We are blessed to have people around who have been willing to take in a family of seven."
As the Brunsch's become settled in their new homeland, they will begin embarking on projects such as food/cash - for-work programs, community dug rain water catchment holes, preparing unsued land for gardening, job skill training and assisting families in the construction of cisterns, latrines and cement block homes.
In addition, a reforestation project that has been jump-started by the Samuel's Trees organization that is seeking to help reinvigorate the devastated tree population. While over 1,000 trees have been planted in the Plateau under the direction of the German-born Samuel Schafer, there will be efforts in place to begin a tree nursery to continue to facilitate the reforestation project.
"We come from a place here in northern Wisconsin that is all trees and water, to Haiti, where trees and water aren't very common, at all," Danyel Brunsch said. "That will take some getting used to, because we love to swim and climb trees."
The things that we take for granted in the United States can be considered luxuries for many in Haiti, according to Brad Brunsch. Water trucks have to make a two-hour round trip in order to supply the Plateau community with adequate drinking water each day. If urgent medical care is needed, a 52 minute flight must be taken to the nearest hospital.
"Most families live on what they can harvest from their own gardens and they are in six-year drought, which has no allowed for a consistent food source," Brad Brunsch said. "That, along with generations of non-education - not from lack of desire, but from lack of availability, has prevented a stable way of living. Lemuel is hoping to build skills that can result in people starting their own businesses have gaining the means to live comfortably."
"It's not about giving hand-outs," Danyel Brunsch added. "It's about retaining the dignity of the Haitian people and giving the access to pursue the trades and skills to better themselves and their families."
The idea of "toxic charity" is fatal flaw that the Brunsch family is taking preventative measures to avoid. Danyel Brunsch notes many countries' inclination to come to a land-in-need and give services, as opposed to instructing how to perform these services themselves. Lemuel is very firm on insuring there is a collaborative process involved with the volunteers and the Haitian people, according to Brunsch.
Brad will keep an intensive work schedule, while Shayne, Brayden, Carsyn, Dayne and Ryen will continue their education under the direction of a home-schooling program from their mother.
"I don't think there is an 'average' schedule that we will be sticking to because there are so many day to day needs there. For Danyel and the kids, the primary goal will be continuing education, but they will each fill roles within the organization," Brad Brunsch said. "The older kids - Shayne, Brayden and Carsyn, I see them being involved with skills and job training for the teens in Haiti. For me, I will be working daily with the development team which focuses on building projects and maintenance."
Each individual in the family will also take on the responsibility of helping facilitate and delegate tasks for temporary volunteers of the Lemuel organization as they visit the country.
For the Brunsch family, telling their friends about their planned move to Haiti came with a mixed bag of emotions. From unbridled support to utter shock, the news was met an ultimate theme of curiosity and bewilderment.
"Some people think we're a little crazy," Shayne Brunsch said.
"But, the people we know well have been incredibly supportive," her father added. "We go to Pine Grove Community Church and everyone there has been fantastic as we've been preparing to go."
A natural level of anxiety of the unknown reigns throughout the Brunsch family. Though the source of the nervousness varies through each individual, one commonality is present - the language barrier.
The people of Haiti speak a eclectic take on French, known as Haitian Creole. The language combines elements of 18th century French, Portuguese, Spanish and West-African languages. While French was interjected into the Brunsch family curriculum, immersion will be the key towards mastery, according to Brad.
"We're all a little nervous," the Brunsch's youngest son Dayne said.
"They all know that there is a true purpose for us being there, but of course they are sad for leaving their friends and family behind," Danyel Brunsch said. "We've all been there before, so we know what to expect, but we're all a little hesitant about certain things."
Those fears range from building friendships, to "finding scorpions in my bed," as stated by the Brunsch's youngest daughter Ryen.
"It was fascinating when we went on our first mission trips there. I had all these preconceived notions of what life would be like and for the most part, it was better than I expected," Shayne Brunsch said. "Then when we decided we were going to move there, naturally I started comparing life to here in the U.S. and saying 'oh, they don't have this.' It was interesting how my perspective changed so quickly."
No one in the Brunsch family seems to be dreading the change of environment, though. Each member of the family shares a sentiment of enthusiasm to assist in whatever manner they are able and to learn new aspects about a once unfamiliar culture that they have come to love and respect.
"In Haiti, the focus on monetary value is much less than it is here in the U.S. If you ask them if they are poor they would immediately say 'no' and probably think you are quite crazy because they have their families and friends surrounding them," Brad Brunsch said. "The U.S. tends to look at physical items to determine whether someone is rich or poor. The contentment and peace of mind that the Haitian people hold with what they have is something we can all learn from."
Though a simple concrete structure will be the place the Brunsch's call home, the change of scenery will be very much welcome after a year of temporary housing. Each member of the family holds the notion that they are prepared to work towards the goal of bettering Haitian living conditions, while maintaining their own tight-knit family.
On Oct. 6, the Brunsch family will head to North Carolina to enroll in a four-week cross cultural training program, that will include two weeks of a second language acquisition program. The Brunsch family will return to the Northwoods for a week to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday before they depart for Haiti on Nov. 29.
"It's been a long, crazy year of moving around and getting prepared, but I think we're all ready now," Brad Brunsch said. "Let's go."
Evan Verploegh may be reached via email at everploegh@lakeland times.com.
WEATHER SPONSORED BY
E-Editions
Latest News
E-Editions
Events
August
To Submit an Event Sign in first
Today's Events
No calendar events have been scheduled for today.
Comments:
You must login to comment.