Good-byes and Field Trip to Chocolate Co-op

A sunny start to the morning as the sound of wood chopping fills the air as a large mango branch [1/2 an old tree really] fell next to the carport last night during the rain. Thankfully it did not hit the truck. Too bad the mangos aren't quite mature enough to ripen.

Yesterday we started and ended the day with rain but the team did fly out of Cap Haitian heading back to their homes.

They helped us clean up the guest house a bit before loading the truck with their luggage to leave.


Having heard that Haiti's President planned to visit Port Margot Cory dropped off Eli, Anna, Evon and I at the town square after our good-byes and then returned to travel with the team to Cap and pick up a heavy saw that just shipped into Haiti. [The president did not come]

We stood around for over an hour, accepted hugs and cheek kisses from a mentally challenged lady, noticed the signs some people carried and a large truck with blaring sound system talking about the need for road repairs before the gentleman who would help us get back home came to tell us the real event was down the road.

So we decided to walk to the chocolate co-op where the rest of the foreigners gathered for the talks. On the way a light rain spurred us to pick up our pace therefore we'd almost arrived as a motorcade passed by.

Later we learned that the big truck carrying the team broke down climbing a small mountain in the middle of the road and the police in the motorcade told them to move it but offered no help.

The Lord answered the team's prayers by helping them: move to the side of the road (Fortunately no one fell off the benches when the truck lurched forward and then stalled again in a few seconds, just feet from the top of the mountain),borrow a wrench from the  mechanic we know who had just jumped on for a free ride to Limbe and lives at the base of the mountain/big hill to get the engine running, and delivering the team to the airport on time [actually their flight ended up delayed a while so they arrived with plenty of time]

 [Note our team did get to try the fleshy pulp that surrounds a fresh cocoa bean as seen in the picture below. They also bought lots of locally produced baking chocolate which we heard is superior.]

After only a few minutes of standing outside the co-op our pale faces recognized by a local church member who had something to do with the event got us in the door.


We stood and listened to the speeches that we could hear about the chocolate co-op. The goals to improve people's income by expansion, more exportation and fixing the road. The American Ambassador spoke.

About half the time we could not hear the speakers while we stood at the back of the crowd, near the road as the protesters marched between the co-op and Port Margot.

After the speeches people could visit the different booths and buy local products. Very nicely done. When asked to buy I told the venders that we were local and bought in the market and to focus on the visitors who would leave with their money, drawing laughs.

Then we prepared to go, not having invitations to the VIP luncheon and our ride had arrived. But as we neared the road the protesters were once again out front and an American man told us to move toward the back of the area since we would not be going anywhere soon as they through the crowd could turn violent.

I confessed not having an invitation, when he told us to grab something to eat but he waved us in to the reception. So we let our plates be filled with small bites of food unfamiliar to us and sat to eat.

Another foreigner who had greeted us earlier told me he had a gift and handed me a block of baking chocolate which I noted in interest carried a label stating it was made in Port-au-Prince. We picked up handouts for Cory.

Going home we passed through 2 rara (Voodoo) bands and the group of protesters without problem. Cory returned a short time later. Tired. not much school or study occurred but we did enjoy watching part of a documentary on Teddy Roosevelt's life and had an early bedtime.

Team made it to Florida OK but the small bag of Moringa seeds did not make it through customs.

We will continue to put things away and with sun fit in as many loads of laundry as possible the next couple of days.

Please be praying for Cory as he prepares to leave for Costa Rica on Tuesday.
Please pray for those of us staying at home as well.

Now at the 2 months, 2 week mark for waiting for our adoption referral.

Praying for all families in the process to hear news about their next step.

26 days until my family practice exam. SIGH

Tuesday Pictures

Our Final Evening in Fauche

Greetings to all on our final evening in Haiti!! It has been a very busy, productive day. After breakfast most of the team took the trek up to the top of the mountain that is virtually in the back yard of the compound. Everyone was able to make it to the top, although we stopped numerous times to "take some photos" and catch our breath.  The view was amazing and caused each of us to marvel at God's creation. It was interesting to see men farming the side of the mountain, goats grazing and people zipping up an down while carrying heavy loads on their heads or shoulders. We all had a sense of satisfaction when we safely and successfully made it back home. 

After a quick moment to catch our breath, Janet headed off to varnish some cabinets and shelves while the rest of the team donned gloves and gathered trash around the school. We weren't able to get everything cleaned up, but we did make a good dent and were able to chat with some of the children during their lunch time. 

We enjoyed a great lunch of beef pot pie while we talked about our experiences of the day and then headed off to begin packing for our journey home, spend some more quality time with the kids, or catch up on some much needed rest. 

We had the privilege of hearing from Pastor Dieucel about Compassion International. He shared with us what Compassion does for the children here in Haiti and around the world. After spending this time with the people here in Fauche, it has inspired many of us to join in the efforts of Compassion and support the program. 

We headed back to Port Margo to give our final Bible School and were able to minister to approximately 150 children. It was so good to hear their laughter and the beautiful sound of so many voiced lifted in unison, praising God. 

We have just finished dinner (mmm… pizza!) and Stacy and Kimberly shared a timely devotion regarding serenity, peace and surrendering to God. As we have found that we really had NO control over anything that happened during out time here, we have truly learned to surrender to God and trust in His will. 

It is harder than anyone imagined to say goodbye to the people that we have met over the past week and a half. They are an incredibly beautiful people who have shown us how to look to our Lord in appreciation and trust. We know that God has used each one of us through this experience. God has also blessed and changed each one of us right here in Fauche, Haiti. 

A big thank you to Dr. Kris, Cory, Eli and Anna for their hospitality and their transparency. 

Until tomorrow!!!

Kris

Tuesday Pictures

Team's second to last day

Hello from Haiti!

Today has been an amazing day! Early this morning we went on prayer walks. We visited 11 houses, the people were very welcoming for that early in the morning. How many American women would welcome strangers into their homes or let us take pictures of them before they have gotten ready? They loved having us pray for them and always asked us to pray for their families.

Kimberly gave her massage class today. At first only 10 people showed up and soon turned into 80! They were all very excited and fighting to get onto the table, at one time 3 or 4 people were on 1 table!! The class was very successful their was one star student who will make a very good massage therapist!

Then Madame John Pierre gave us tub balancing lessons! We all learned how to balance tubs filled with containers on our heads like true haitians! Stacy did well, but Kimberly and Peggy walked all the way up to the house with tubs on their heads!!

The rest of the evening was filled with soccer and arm wrestling, Pastor Jay is going to need to pump some iron when he gets home. :) The dinner was amazing haitian spaghetti. We also heard parrots today!

We have one more full day in beautiful Haiti. Some of us are ready to go and other wish they could stay forever. Keep sending prayers!!!

Team Monday

Greetings from Haiti,

  We started our day out by going to the beach after breakfast, it turned out to be a wonderful sunshiny day.

We loaded the truck with 14 people, well below the 16 person limit. On the way to the beach we stopped at another Wesleyan church in this district.

 The water was so blue and clear we could walk out ups to our chins and still see the bottom. We got to see many crabs and starfish while walking along the beach. Were all tanning very well.

 We came back and ate lunch which consisted of White Rice with Red Chicken Sauce, banana and grapefruit salad.

After lunch we  had a "restful" afternoon listening to the band practice right outside our window.

 At three we went to Port Margot and attempted to do Kids club, which didn't happen because the church was being used.

 On the way back to the compound the ambulance caught a cold and started sneezing, to bad it sounded like gun fire to all who were around, causing people to jump and run, including Pastor J who was riding in the back of the ambulance.

Thankfully we have Scot who knows whats wrong and they are going to be getting parts to fix it. 

 Dinner was tomato soup and grilled cheese bread.

  We will be attending the revival services on the compound that started tonight.

  Thanks for following the blog daily, and contue praying for the team.

-Britney

Sunday Pictures

March Birthdays 

Sunday Post

Sunday-March 23

The day of worship began at 6:30 for some people. There was a service in Limbe and Pastor J was asked to be the speaker at this service. Some of us stayed and waited for the service on campus, but the service Pastor J spoke at was energetic, preaching was difficult because there was not a whole lot of congregational response as opposed to the worship service at Port Margot which consisted of around 500 members! Acts 12:1-12

The majority of the group went to the service here on campus at 9:30 a.m. This service was filled with singing, announcements, and a traditional preaching. The service was about keeping God at the center of everything in our lives. He is the Almighty One! He also spoke about being content with what we have and there is not enough ink and paper in the world for all the blessings He has done in our lives. During the service, I was thinking to myself with admiration of the Haitian people who are so excited and ready to worship, that sometimes we need to be better at coming before our Lord with such enthusiasm! If we do feel as though we are enthusiastic to come before our Savior…come visit the Haitians! We could learn a lot from them.

After church we had lunch which consisted of pizza and tuna noodle casserole and molasses cookies. If anyone thinks we are losing weight while being here…your wrong!  After lunch we spent more time playing with the children while some people napped, chilled out, etc. The kids are really blessing each one of us with their sweet sincere personalities and lovableness :-)  We had our VBS program at 3:00 this afternoon with a little over 80 children! Their attention span is pretty admirable too for such young ones! We have been doing all the days of creation during our program and they seem to be enjoying and participate very well! After the program we handed out a pair of sunglasses to each of the children and the joy on their faces was priceless! All of us went picture crazy and the children were loving it! It was a blessing to see the happiness that fills them with little things we take for granted.

Thank you to our families and friends who are continually praying for us night and day. We miss you all very much and send our love! Stacy

Saturday Pictures

Garden team! 

Starfruit trees

Waiting patiently