Compassion

While looking at my pictures from last week, I realized that I had forgotten our tour of the school on the compound. It is run by Compassion International, an organization that fights poverty by validating children from the time they are 3 or 4 years old. Children are taught that God loves them and that they are made in His image. They gain confidence and a sense of self worth that stays with them their entire lives and affects the whole family. People from all over the world sponsor the children, making it possible for them to go to school, eat a meal on school days, etc. The preschool program here at this compound is so successful that they are going to copy it to use in other countries. I wish school had been in session when we were there - the little boys and girls in their uniforms are so precious. The girls all have matching bows in their hair, jumpers, and socks.
The Grant team has been very busy. The electrician - Mike - has completely rewired the clinic, hospital, church, and is now working on the house the medical people live in. They only had one light in their home, so he gave them more lights, switches, and fixed the receptacles. They are thrilled!!!
Alan is a welder - but in Haiti he has replaced all of the screens in the clinic, hospital, and the medical house. They have had to rebuild some of the frames and paint screens to keep them from rusting. He has also helped Paul, the carpenter of the group, and Todd - the “jack of all trades” on carpenter and plumbing projects. Their first project, which was to be a 10-15 minute job, is still in process. When the last group was here, they pulled the only toilet in the clinic and replaced the base. In Haiti, they are cemented in place. When they put the back on and flushed it, they found that it was not flowing out fast enough. After digging up the pipes outside they have found a much bigger problem. A work in progress!! In the meantime, they have replaced a water tank at the Thede’s, tiled the counter tops in the clinic that the last team built, set a double sink into one of the new cupboards and hooked up the sewage. They also built a new counter-top in the medical house and set a sink in it. This afternoon they will tile the counter-tops at the Thede’s home and put gutters over the doors. I can not forget about Mikenson, a young Haitian man that came to help the team. He has put in long hours assisting Mike with the electrical work and translating. He has been an invaluable help to them.
They have all worked very hard, got the projects finished on the list and had time to help make lives easier for the medical staff. On top of that they are a group of men totally sold out to Jesus. We feel very blessed to get to spend time with them.
If all goes well we are planning to go to the Citadel on Saturday. Look it up on-line, it looks like an amazing part of the history of this country. On the way home we are planning to stop in Cap Haitian and eat at a restaurant. Hamburgers and fries for us!!!! It is the first time we have even talked about eating out since we’ve been here.
On Monday we are planning on flying to Port Au Prince to help run the Wesleyan guesthouse with the Sloans. It is a place where teams come and stay all night as they are coming and leaving Haiti. Everyone is sleeping on mattresses outside on the cement with their mosquito netting. I will try to blog from there. Please pray for our safety on the flights and that the earth will stay still while we are there. Always keep these precious people in your prayers.

Haiti Feb 22

Hello to you all,
It is Monday February 22nd - a cloudy day with a nice breeze. The week has been busy and eventful. The “His Hands” teams continued to work hard, getting many projects completed by the time they left on Friday. They repaired and scrubbed walls, ceilings, and cupboards in 4 rooms of the clinic, then gave everything 2 coats of white enamel paint. It was hard work with lots of paint fumes and no complaints. New cupboards were built - given 3 coats of varnish and hung on the walls, several tables were repainted and one lady spent several days making curtains for the clinic and hospital. We are very thankful for their wonderful contribution and those of the other people that have done their small part in making life better for the Haitian’s of Fauche. Imagine going to a clinic with only sporadic government power, - at that time their would be hot wires sticking out of the wall from half finished light fixtures. No water in the clinic at all and the ceiling had holes where rats would come down at night. The medical staff is so very thankful to have a safe, clean, environment to bring in patients. This clinic is not breaking even financially, so they have no extra money for the medications they need, let alone paint to make it look better, or for any of what we would consider essentials for a medical facility. One day, as Bill and I were working on the water system in the clinic, I was alone in a room for a few minutes. I started singing a song, and a rooster jumped unto the porch the right in front of the doorway and started crowing. I don’t know if he was calling his hens or competing with me. I sure wished that I would have had the camera ready to take a picture at that moment. How many times would that ever happen at one of our clinics?
On Wednesday of last week, Cory told us that many Haitians were going to be marching from the ocean past our compound to take back Haiti for Jesus. We all went out to the road to support them. We were amazed to see about 1500 people coming down the road dancing and singing praises to God. Our compound was the turn around point, so they all came by us, and then after a few minutes they went marching back toward Port Margot. It was such a blessing for us to see the people of Haiti choosing God and praising Him amidst the sorrow and grief of the last few weeks. I am including a picture of the parade - but it doesn't come close to capturing the event, and a picture of some of the new cupboards in the clinic.
On Friday both of the “His Hand” teams flew out together. We were busy all day Thursday and Friday, both getting the team ready to leave and getting our things ready to move to the Thede’s house. Because, Saturday morning Cory, Kris and the children flew to Petit Guave to spend the next two weeks, and another team arrived in Cap Haitian an hour later. We now have 4 men here from Grant Wesleyan in Michigan. We have an electrician, welder, carpenter, and jack of all trades. Most of them have been to Haiti before, and they are well suited to work here. A Haitian friend of theirs came from LaGonave to help and spend the week . He was in Port Au Prince during the earthquake and is very thankful for his life.
We are responsible for their meals and well being while they are here. We are finding out what the Thede’s do when visitors are here. They have been a great example to us of sharing and love. Please keep them in your prayers as they work in Petit Guave. Remember to pray for us as we pray for you.

Welcome home Chris and Kathleen

After much waiting and wondering whether the Sloan's would be able to fly in today, we finally received word that Cory had picked them up. We are very happy that they have returned safe and sound. They came back after 2 weeks; having been stretched and grown up in the Lord by their experiences,and happy to be back to their little house in the country.
We went to church here on the compound this Sunday. Since it had been raining all night long, there were very few people attending. Dr. Kris interprets for us, sitting behind us in the pew,so we get to understand the sermon quite well. They were planning to march to Port Margot, about 2 1/2 miles away, to reclaim the country of Haiti for God. They have told us that 200 people accepted Jesus in that service. Every sermon that we have heard since even before the earthquake was about "Loving the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. Be an example of His love, repent, turn your back on voo-doo, don't expect everyone else to take care of you, but be the light of Jesus yourself."We have been so touched by the messages.
On Sunday evening after eating supper and having devotions, the floor started shaking quite violently. We all ran outside - and the quake stopped before we even got to the doorway. Of course we kept going anyway. I felt that it was more violent than the original earthquake, but just a very fast few jolts. It was not mentioned on line, so Cory thinks it might have been a localized quake. The quake itself, being over quickly, was not too scary. The scary part was wondering if it would happen again in the middle of the night. Sleeping arrangements were changed for the sake of safety and speed in case we needed to evacuate the house quickly.
This seems to a time of decision for the people of Haiti. They need to choose God and Him alone to save them. Church services, when the weather cooperates, have been packed. On Sunday afternoon in Port Au Prince, Chris and Kathleen drove by the palace. There were approximately 500,000 people worshiping the Lord and singing praises to Him.That would normally have been one of the big celebrations of Mardi Gras.This experience has made me realize that as American's, we have that same decision to make AND that we can't depend on tomorrow coming. In a split second God could call us home - or - that friend or family member that does not claim Jesus as their Savior.
Keep the entire situation and the people of Haiti in their prayers. We have some upset stomachs and colds in the compound. We will keep you in our prayers too.

Feb 12th

Today is Friday Feb 12th,and the government has named this a “National Day of Mourning” in Haiti. They had a church service on the compound this morning and we will have a prayer service tonight after supper. The music coming from the church was beautiful. As the team worked at the clinic, they were blessed by the music.
Remember that I told you about climbing the mountain with Anna last Friday? On Saturday she took Dr. Kris and her dad, Eli, Gene and Bill up again. On the way back down Gene slipped and went off the path. It didn’t seem so bad, but when he grabbed for a root to keep from slipping further down the hill, he couldn’t grasp it, and tumbled backwards down the slope. Bill and Larry ran down and helped him up. His only serious injury was a cut on his arm that required 5 stitches, but he was bruised and scraped up from the fall. They spent about 20 minutes looking for his glasses, and Anna found them in one piece. We are so thankful that he wasn’t seriously injured, that his glasses were found and alright, and that the wasps in the nest that he tumbled over stayed in their nest.
On Sunday we went to Port Margot to church. It is the largest Wesleyan church in the Northern District of Haiti. The church was packed when we walked in, but they moved over and made room for us. They had a women’s choir, and a band that played for offering. A young men’s group got up and sang with a great lead singer, and the other 10 men singing a doo-wop background. It was an amazing sound and a very long song!!!! Since it was our first time to attend that church, Bill and I had to stand up and greet everyone.
That was a surprise!!!! Bill, Larry, and Eli road to the church in the back of the truck on a board. Gene got to ride in the front seat – since he had his tumble the day before. Anna will have her ninth birthday on Feb 21st, and wants the privilege of riding in the back for her birthday.
The team finally came in from Warsaw Indiana. Four women and two men have come to paint and help fix up the clinic on the compound. They brought lots of supplies and a lot of energy to work. We are at a standstill with the plumbing for lack of parts. Bill is not able to work in the fumes from the oil paint either.
The other day we were trying to re-plumb the drain pipe from one of the sinks. (Cory had used duct tape to tape the valve shut – so nobody could turn the water on.) We went to the shop to get some parts, and when we returned there was water all over the floor. Since Bill has to sit on the floor – I was not happy! There was a young man cleaning up the water with a big smile on his face. Evidently he wanted to wash his hands, and since he helped put in the water line, he felt that he had the right to turn on the water. He managed to turn the water on with the duct tape intact. These people are amazing.
Bill and I are trying to keep the house in shape, and helping with some of the cooking. Yesterday I made two piecrusts and 48 tortillas. Bill fried the tortillas up, while Gerda made the fixings for the tortillas and citron cream filling for the pie crusts. Bill said he went from “plumber” to “cooks helper.”
We are very happy that Chris and Kathleen are returning from Port Au Prince on Monday. Keep their travel plans in your prayers, and these precious people of Haiti. They are worshipping God amidst the sadness. Our hearts go out to them.

February 7

It is a hot Saturday in Haiti, with just a little breeze. Anna is going to lead everyone up the mountain to see the beautiful view from the top. I went up with Anna yesterday – took several pictures, but the camera cannot capture the beauty of God’s creation. I had to stop several times to catch my breath and wait for my heart to stop pounding, but eventually we made it to the top. 2 little boys followed us up. When Anna asked why they were following us, they told her they were coming along so I would take their picture. Of course I took a couple of pictures of them from the top. They literally ran down the steep parts on the trip back down; both to have fun and to show us what they could do. Anna ran down too, and then would come back to walk with me. She reminds me so much of my granddaughters.Unlike Anna – I will not be making the climb two days in a row.
Earlier in the week a few of us were varnishing furniture on the cement patio behind our house. A couple of little boys were standing in the bushes just outside the compound. They asked our names and tried to visit with us for a little while, then they started singing in Creole, “I Love you with the Love of the Lord.” After they finished, I sang it back to them in English. That made them laugh, then they sang it to us in English too. A few days later when I was cleaning a sink outside, one of those same little boys came up to talk. I didn’t recognize him as one of our new friends, so after a couple of minutes he started singing that same song to me in English so I would realize that I knew him already.
Since Chris and Kathleen have gone to work in PAP, I have become a “plumber’s helper.” I found that I am qualified to have that new title. I can measure, write, hold pipe, and go for parts. Most of my time is spent running back and forth from the shop to the clinic. I don’t really mind, since Bill is repeatedly getting up and down off of the cement floor. He is really doing a good job.
The Haitians dug a trench about 2 ft deep and 150 feet long from a pipe bringing water down from our cistern to the clinic. We laid PVC pipe in it and glued it altogether. Then we cut into the original pipe, put a T in it and hooked the whole thing up to the clinic. We have 3 different shut-off valves in place, so we can stop the flow. Otherwise, if there was a leak, we would have a serious problem. The first time we turned on the water, Bill and I were watching for leaks at the 4 sinks that we hooked up. For the most part it was uneventful, however when Bill turned on one of the sinks, the water pressure blew one of their fittings apart, and water was hitting Bill in the legs. As Cory ran up the hill to turn the water off, Bill got down and reconnected the elbow. Of course he got totally sprayed in the process. I was in another room, and missed all the fun. They realized that somehow that elbow had never gotten glued onto the pipe – that makes a big difference in the plumbing with PVC business! Of course that mistake happened before Bill got his new “plumbers helper.”!!!!!!
We are getting ready for the team of 6 to arrive on Wednesday. Gene and Larry have made beautiful cupboards for the people to put their clothes in. There is even an area to hang clothes. They also built a new set of bunk beds so there is room for everyone to sleep. Next week we will get the beds all made up. They have projects and painting to do at the clinic, to keep everyone busy for the 2 weeks the Warsaw team will be here.
There is more to write, but I have to get this blog posted. Keep praying for these people who have a deep love for Jesus that they will be witnesses of His love to those who are lost spiritually.

Sunday in Fauche

It is a beautiful Sunday in Haiti. We had an eventful week. I told you about Dr. Kris’ parents and the other couple who arrived on Tuesday. On Wednesday afternoon, Bill and I along with Chris and Kathleen walked to the market in Port Margot. We walked along the riverbank instead of on the road. Chris thought it would be shorter. I’m not sure about that, but it was a beautiful walk. We had to wade across the river twice to get there. We saw lots of people going to and from the market just like us. They have little plots of ground on the flood plain where people raise little gardens – about 20’ X 20’. There were rocks around each plot to mark the border. One little woman grabbed Bills arm and was calling him some name and pointing up in the hills. People were all around us, as she was almost yelling out to him. Since Chris knows some Creole, he came back to interpret. He said,” She’s calling you her papa.”He then told her in Creole that Bill was not her papa. When he said that she and everyone around just started laughing and went away. Bill thought they might be playing with him because of his white hair. It is VERY unusual!! The market was jammed with people selling goat, chicken, fish, and just about any vegetable available. Many more things too numerous to mention are sold there too.
Dr. Kris came home on Thursday afternoon and we all celebrated her return. It was wonderful to see Cory and the children so happy again. We are very thankful that Kris’ parents are here to be with her after the devastation and grief that she witnessed in Port Au Prince.
Bill fixed the electrical end of the generator on Friday. It was not putting out enough voltage. He opened up an area filled with a nest of wires, and as he tried to follow one he found several spots where there were bare wires causing shorts. He cut all the wires out and rewired it all. Just like that we had plenty of voltage and another problem was solved. He prays for wisdom when he is working on generators, since he hasn’t worked on them since he got out of the service in 1967.
Bill and Chris worked on plumbing in the clinic again. They have one building done; meaning everything is plumbed to the sinks. Water is not piped into the building yet, and they don’t know if they have sewage or not. The sinks are there with pipes attached, but they do not know where they go or if they go anywhere. I know that sounds strange, but you don’t take anything for granted in Haiti.
As I write this, it looks like I don’t do anything but journal. Actually, I keep fairly busy just trying to help out where I am needed. It just isn’t anything to write home about. On Saturday morning the Wesleyan's sent a small plane to Cap Haitian to pick up Chris and Kathleen. They are going to be at the Wesleyan Guesthouse in Port Au Prince. Dan and Joy Irvine are left to run the place without much help. They brought the Sloan’s in to help with the organization of food, clothes washing, etc. Hopefully, they will only be gone a couple of weeks. They will be greatly missed here in Fauche. I have just been named the new "plumbers helper."
On Feb 21st the rest of us are scheduled to go to Petit Guave. We will meet up with the team that was to come here, and we will all work together rebuilding a facility that was damaged in the earthquake. I’ll let you know more details as we find them out.
We are praying for you - please remember Haiti in your prayers. The people are so generous and giving that it is humbling to witness.