If you’ve partnered with Haiti Awake for a while, you might know our friend Frè Jacques. He’s been with our ministry for many years in different capacities. Though not an employee of Haiti Awake, he has worked with us for days, weeks, even months as needed through the years - often behind the scenes. Today we want you to meet him, and we want to honor him for his faithfulness.
Since August of 2021, Frè Jacques has overseen our projects in Camp Perrin, Les Cayes and Pestel. He is a trusted friend who can get the job done with love and care, and as we visit the communities where he has worked, we see how much the people of the area have come to know him and love him.
Questions:
Tell us a few things about yourself.
My first name is Jean Fritz, and my last name is Jacques, but some people call me Frere Jacque (Brother Jacques) or Jackito. I am a Christian, and I have been married to Cylotte Victor since 2013. I am a technician in construction, I am a carpenter, and I am a metal construction technician, as well.
Reading, playing and watching soccer are things I do for fun. I love watching the Brazilian national soccer team when they play, and I also love the Real Madrid soccer team.
What have you enjoyed about helping with earthquake relief work?
One of the things I have enjoyed the most about helping with earthquake relief work is watching the greatest joy and the biggest smile and emotions on the face of the person who is going to receive the house that Haiti Awake has built for them.
Tell us a story of something that has happened in working since the earthquake that showed you God’s faithfulness?
To me, one of the stories that happened in working since the earthquake that showed God’s faithfulness is about a friend of mine, Senal Bien-Aimé.
I have known him for a long time, and he used to be my classmate when I was a teenage boy in the Pestel community.
He has become completely blind and handicapped in both legs and kidney since 2010.
During the period of his handicap, God has blessed him with a son and now with a beautiful house.
Just to quote him “ Kounye a kèm poze, mwen ka ale ale en pè” (Right now my heart is calm, I can leave in peace).
Since people don’t know about the rainy season, how hard it was to continue?
The raining season was very difficult for me. It took me more time than I thought it would take to finish the house because the trucks couldn't access the roads to deliver the materials needed, especially in the Pestel community. But at the same time I consider the rain as God’s providence, so that we could get water to work on the house in Pestel because water in Pestel is a big issue.
Some people don’t know about not being able to find water or materials sometimes in both communities.
Yes. In both communities, Camp Perrin and Pestel, finding water was not easy. Since after the earthquake, people could not find water because their spring was destroyed and filled with rubbish.
Beside the rainy seasons, which was one of the difficulties I have faced, some times, even though we have the money to buy the materials, we could not find the materials we needed to continue the work.
Often materials come from Port-au-Prince, but unfortunately the roads from Port-au-Prince that take you to the South are not safe to drive. Trucks with supplies can not get through. That was a big challenge for me.
What do you wish Americans knew about how things are almost 8 months after the earthquake?
I would like Americans to know that the situation of people in the South is still hard. A lot of them are still living under their tents without knowing when their situations will be improved.
What is your great desire for Haiti?
Seeing people’s lives changed, improved in all areas.
