First week of March

View from a few minutes walk behind the mission

 This week marks completing our first month  in Africa. 

Fritz enjoys having kids his age to play ball with

We've traveled in: South Africa, eSwatini, South Africa's Kruger National Park, Mozambique and the past week back in eSwatini.

The last seven days included: computer work, financial accounting,  shopping, school, correspondence,  connecting with Haiti and USA by messenger/phone/text/emails; household chores; church; going out to eat to celebrate a missionaries birthday; games and fellowship.

Cory didn't feel well one day but after resting up he returned to his normal self.

The last Sunday of February the women of the church led worship and then a special offering. 

Much like a Haitian harvest festival when they announce a special project. 

Garden land on campus (now fallow, late summer). 

Differences: it was only one church; they had received pledges before and gave money in envelopes; no fruit, vegetables or other non-money gifts. 

Similar: the JOY they gave with their offerings, with song and a few danced down the aisle. 

Cory walked part of the campus garden land with one of the caretakers and a shovel to check the topsoil. 

Mystery flower along the road

Most of the campus is on rather sandy, shallow topsoil over gravel and fractured granite. 

The bush and garden areas tends to burn in the dry season.

So it looks limited in potential for growing fruits but on the campus there are good avocado, lychee, mango, citrus, banana, papaya, grape (like 'Concord'!) and macadamia.

The macadamia has a good crop of large nuts starting to mature. As one of the toughest food trees it probably has the best potential for a high value, easy to grow crop for the school but it takes longer than most fruit trees to start giving good harvests.

This Sunday the youth took a turn leading the song and worship part of the service. 

Sunday evening Cory talked with both Gener in Fauche, and Leon in Delice. 

View at the birthday meal

Heavy rains occurred this weekend in both locations.

Fauche, Limbee, and many parts of the north received significant damage and loss of valuable livestock, food and supplies.

LaGonave received some needed rain.

So many hurting people need prayer it can be very overwhelming. I'm thankful that God cares very much, "The Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. " Romans 8:26.

Lord have mercy. Lord show us grace and provide us with grace for others.