Last Day. More Good byes.

Last day of June and last full day for us at home before this year's trip to the USA.

This morning we hugged Chris and Kathleen good bye. This one harder than yesterday's to the Haiti 13 team as while we expect to worship with the team on Sunday in Michigan we do not know when once again we will be able to sit and chat with the 'Big Kids' in person. A great visit and many more memories added to our collection.

The rest of the day: LAUNDRY!! The last load again drying in the house but now the machine can enjoy a well earned break. Before the team it started to make strange squeaky noises that caused me to picture having to hand wash for 19 people!! Thank you Lord.

Packing. Getting the clean linens and towels for the House of Hope back in their place. Cleaning. This filled most of our day.

Heard that Todd's family returned home today..and one other family due in tonight. Chris and Kathleen's flight left shortly after noon. Lord willing we leave home around 5 am and should be on our first flight at 9 am. We have layovers in Ft. Lauderdale and Atlanta. If all goes according to Plan A by 11 pm we will be on the ground in Grand Rapids heading to Kris's folks.

Twice this afternoon we stopped to receive two different groups who came to send us off with singing, verses and prayers. I feel very privileged to live and work here with great people. As we discussed this morning there will be no more sad good byes in heaven. I'm looking forward to feeling 100% at home and no longer being feeling torn between locations and people.

Thanks for the prayers.

Monday June 27. Happy Anniversary to Chris and Kathleen

Main projects today included getting up some of the classroom partitions and painting the middles with chalk board paint. As they draw on all available surfaces anyway we may as well paint the dividers with dark paint to make the chalk more visible.

The school bench tops received a bright coat of blue-green paint as well.

Chris and Kathleen spent part of their second wedding anniversary stenciling and painting the clinic sign by the road.

After helping Chris see a man suffering from alcoholism, hepatitis and a urinary tract infection I packed up my clinic room. Will return my stuff when we return the end of August.

Cory drove part of the team up to the cell tower so they could enjoy a bird's eye view of both our valley and the Limbé valley.

Pastor Rigo already met with the team expressing his appreciation to them of their hard work, good servant attitudes and requesting that they pray for him and his work.

We met with representatives of the Wesleyan church. They spoke of their great appreciation of the team, gave very nice gifts and provided a cake and pop.

Tomorrow the Northern District will be meeting on campus so additional pastors will meet and thank the team. The team in turn voiced their appreciation and gave them some ties.

14 June.... TOMORROW is almost here!

My brother's family and team should be heading east to the Detroit airport where tonight they will board a plane for Ft. Lauderdale. Tomorrow, early they fly to Cap Haitian hopefully arriving at 8 a.m. for their great Haiti adventure. Check out their blog at: http://thehaiti13.wordpress.com/2011/06/13/10/#comment-8

The House of Hope stands with open arms, clean, beds made. Cookies wait in our kitchen and when we arrive tomorrow a full Haitian meal will be ready for all of us. Thunder rumbles over the mountains but this morning the sun shown.

Chris and I walked down to clinic but I deserted him as both Haitian doctors could handle the few patients without problem. I joined a few of the staff working in the storage depot for the dirty job of sorting medical supplies. A few hours after our sorting the burn pit smoked viciously as the fire dealt with the trash. I enjoy it very much when visitors inspire the staff and us to clean up and organize!

Check out Sloan's blog for pictures of the babies born at the clinic on Sunday-early Monday. Also get the weekend's events from a different perspective. http://cksloan.blogspot.com/2011/06/chris-delivers-his-1st-baby-and-other.html

A couple of the patient packets being shared with hospital patients. The mother who delivered on Sunday afternoon also received one. A blessing of being down in clinic more this past week is being able to interact more with the patients and seeing the packets being given out. Thank you KCC church.

16 April Interesting Visitors Today

Let's review what it takes to visit us on the Northern Fauche Campus. Flight to Port-au-Prince [then second flight or 9+ hour road trip] or Cap Haitian.

From Cap Haitian International Airport we're around another 1.5 hours over rough roads. The last 20 minutes or so is off the main road which is why we don't get many visitors.

But may I remind you that President Preval did stop in for May Day 2008. Spring of 2009 we visited the USA so don't know who came here. Today we enjoyed meeting a team from Compassion Australia.

I knew that we'd been requested to meet some Compassion staff from Port but admit I expected Haitian staff. Neat that Eli recently spent a few weeks studying Australia and New Zealand.

The young man on the left with the black hat sang for the kids in church. Stan won the 2009 Australian Idol competition. I spoke to him a bit and this trip means a lot to him. The kids on campus spent the whole day excited!

Then in the afternoon we attended the District's farewell for Chris and Kathleen. Because of the rainy weather pattern we've experienced this week the rest of the members could not be present. But Pastor Jonus and Immanuel blessed us all with their appreciation and prayers.

Hope the Sloan's suitcases can hold a bit more stuff.

Hard to believe that Chris and Kathleen's 8 months visit is finished. We will miss them but know that the Lord's plan for this stage of their lives is in the USA. We are expecting a visit now and then!

April 3 Happy Easter.

Last year we traveled to the USA over Easter weekend. This year the only planned travel will be to the Cowman school [where the kids went our first year here to International School]. Easter Sunrise service with the English Fellowship starts at 6 a.m. so we need to hit the road at 5 a.m.

Cory remains busy showing the Jesus film on the campus for different groups-both the adult and children's versions. It is a blessing to be able to share with folks Christian videos in Haitian Creole or French. If you know of any good ones please let us know.

Sadly Chris and Kathleen's time with us is winding down. Two weeks from Sunday we'll be saying our good-byes. We're praying with them for a nice house, a great job for Kathleen and a wonderful church family to support them during Chris's medical school years. We've enjoyed them very much as they became part of our family.

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For rent-Dearest House. A very cute small house centrally located on the active campus of the Northern Wesleyan District of Haiti. This campus houses a church, school, clinic and large tropic fruit garden -all offering a variety of opportunities for Kingdom service. Nice neighbors. Rural location surrounded by beautiful mountains and lovely tropical weather. Interested? Let us know.

Happy Easter. He is risen. Words really cannot express a tiny fraction of what Easter really means. I don't think that we can know in this life and this body what our Lord and Savior really did for you and for me. My mind is to small to understand what it cost Him but I'm thankful. Thankful as well for our earthly families and spiritual families. Looking forward to the day that we can celebrate Easter all together.

MARCH 15

On Saturday Cory and Anna drove to Cap Haitian to exchange Joel [visiter from PAP for a week] for Chris and Kathleen-returning from their running the guest house in PAP. They had planned to return in the early afternoon but ran into a literal road block on the way home. A violent problem with rice distrabution ended up with someone getting shot and therefore the road was closed while the police and UN dealt with the problem. They sat for over 4 hours.

Then releaved to be on their way again and within a few kilometers from home-a man jumped on the back of the loaded truck, untied the ropes and took several boxes and a large suitcase full of medical supplies-including some important medications. SIGH Frustrating.

But in the end it is God's stuff and He knows all about it. No one was riding the back as they thought being so close to home that the tied in items were safe.

Today we restarted our school year-some subjects we're ahead while others a bit behind. But all in all I'm pleased with what we accomplished. I even got a few weeds pulled as we worked outside in the nice low 80's breeze. Plan on enjoying the coolness while we can as the kitchen hit 94 degrees this weekend.

Talked with Pastor Rigo today as I showed him some of the hospital supplies that the Michigan team brought, as well as the items that we brought back from TiGoave. He requested prayers for his wife as she is newly pregnant and having back pain for which the Haitian doctors placed her on bed rest. Monday clinics are now up to around 40 patients. Please continue to pray.

We're thankful for the supplies that will allow the clinic to serve many patients. Thank you to those who have been praying and supporting the clinic.

Sunday afternoon video time showed to a full house this week with all seats occupied by kids and family members. Every window was also full. Thank you Chris for helping this week giving Cory a week off.

4 Jan. 2010

A rainy start to the week. At noon in the kitchen where lunch had been in the oven the temperature was only 75. We had rain most of yesterday as well but that didn't stop the party for the local kids.

Song, jokes, games, verses, a video and gifts were all shared yesterday afternoon with over 100 kids. Cory helped with the video and electrical issues. Some of the others lent a hand as well. Eli and I helped by covering the afternoon with prayer.

A few folks braved the wet weather today to come to clinic. The saddest case I saw was a 16th month little girl who came with her Aunt. She had been seen the end of November for another reason but today returned with a hard mass just in front of her left underarm. We prayed for her, wrote out a referral letter for the big hospital in Cap Haitian and a prescription for iron.

Now that the holidays are over our thoughts turn to teams. Dad and mom and team will be here in 22 days!!!! Cory, Pastor Rigo just left for the clinic to discuss projects and were going to try to pick up Bill on the way. Not only do projects have to be talked about and planned for but supplies then need to be located or the team asked to bring items in from the USA.

Baileys are settling in-today's project is working on the kitchen sink in the House of Hope. Sloans are planning for the next set of English classes.

Kids and I are working at school while working as well on de-cluttering the house. That is more than enough to keep us busy for the rest of the week. God Bless.

Happy New Years!!! and for Haiti Independence Day.

Bonne Anne!!

Yesterday Bill and Cory worked on the generator and electrical system of the campus. The kids and I are working on a few loose ends of school so Monday we can start on a new day with no backlog. We are also working bit by bit on decluttering/organising the house. This is important with Team Season less than 4 weeks away!! [Also a great way for me to go into a New Year]

Our New Year's celebration had double the participants than last year. More like a celebration when more than just the 4 of us-we have been blessed to have 'family' for the holidays this year.

The 'kids' made pretzels-they were very good.

They also played with sparklers that Cory had picked up in Cap Haitian.

Today is a big celebration in Haiti. Because the slaves were not allowed to eat squash-their traditional food on Independence day is Pumpkin soup. Large pieces of squash, carrots and other veggies and large noodles. If the family can afford it-goat or beef is also added.

It is also traditional to share with your friends and neighbors-it is very tasty! We were happy that our garden squash plant produced enough that we could give one squash to each family/house on the compound.

30 Dec. 09 Prayer Request for the New Year.

• Continued wisdom for the medical work. Thankfully we enter the New Year without the large debt that there was a year ago. The December patient flow wasn't as good however-so finances are still slim.
• Please continue to pray for the leadership. Teams in Feb. will be focusing on maintenance -screens, rain gutters, painting......
• Dr. Desaintvil and Miss Linda's salvation.
• Schools, Child Survivor program, Compassion
• Chris and Kathleen's second 4 months. Their English classes and deepening relationships with the Haitian people.
• Kathleen's family-her grandfather passed away on Tuesday. Her dad will have the service. Her family as they minister to the rest of the family. And Sloans as this is a hard time to be away from home.
• Bill and Elaine Bailey arrived yesterday for a 3 month visit. Language and adjustment.
• Three teams-the first His Hands team due in 27 days. Pray that they would have live changing trips, bless the Haitian people. And that we would find supplies for the projects.
• For Pastor Denord, the district superintendent who is having back and arm nerve issues.
• For the new Kid's Club that meets on Sunday afternoons-an outreached to the area children. Some who are not able to attend school and don't attend church.
• Dr. Viximar has left Fauche to look into residency-pray that the Lord will continue to use him for the Kingdom.
• For a new Intern. That he/she would be a Christan and a good doctor.
• For Pastor Rigo and his new bride-as he tries to balance his church, hospital administration, work with the district Youth and his home responsibilities.
• The Moringa Mountain Project-would continue to be a blessing.
• Politics-Senate elections are set for Feb. Already some issues have arisen about parties not being allowed to run.
• Protection for plants and trees. Garden class and garden visit's.
• Praise for our great support team!!!!!
• Mme. Onex, Mme. Jonus and Rigo's sister-mental health issues. This is Thed [Ted] Mme. Onex's baby boy.

The pictures are of the kids replanting close to 300 Moringa trees in cups. Kathleen's dad preached on Sunday before they returned to the USA.

28 Dec.

Sunny day with light breezes at 85 degrees.

Kathleen's folks are back Stateside with her dad flying out of O'Hare to be with his dad and her mom and sister will follow in the car. Please continue to pray.

We had a good weekend. Working on school today.

Saw 4 folks in clinic but with the other two doctors working it didn't take much of my day. Today is Dr. Viximar's last day before moving to Port-au-Prince. He hopes to become a resident either in surgery or internal medicine.

The Baileys have started their trip South today and will overnight in Florida to fly into Haiti on MFI tomorrow. Cory will also be doing some shopping in Cap and picking up cargo.

I noticed that there was activity today by the foundation of the old church. Haven't walked down to investigate yet but I'd guess that some cement is being put down.

You may of been surprised by the wedding pictures-but Haitian weddings can be as fancy as those in the USA. This is the Route 23 Wesleyan Church in Cap Haitian.

Prayer Request-copy of E-mail update

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

We had a nice Christmas with the kids, Chris, Kathleen and her folks. They watched the kids on Christmas day while we attended Pastor Rigo's wedding. He and his bride looked very happy.

Thank you for those who continue to pray for the clinic-three days of rain and the holidays kept the patient load very small last week. Please continue to pray for the clinic and leadership. Doctor Viximar will be completing his time with us this week.

Dec. 29th the Bailey's are due to arrive for a three month visit to help us out around Fauche. They will be flying in on MFI.

Here is a prayer request that I copied from the Sloan's blog..www.cksloan.blogspot.com Please remember Chris and Kathleen also in your prayers during this time. Cory will be taking Kathleen's folks to the airport right after church this morning. They will overnight in Florida before continuing on North.

Serving the Lord in Haiti with your help.

Cory, Kris, Eli and Anna.

"While the trip has been a blessing, it's been difficult because about one day into the trip we learned that my Grandpa has taken a turn for the worse. He is battling cancer, as many of you know, and is not expected to live much longer. We knew that he was not doing well at the time my parents left, but the nurses and family members assured them that they should still take the trip to Haiti and that Grandpa was stable enough for them to feel fine doing that. Since being here, we have been talking with them and keeping up to date as things have been changing.

We have been praying that my parents will make it back and travel to Minnesota and be able to see him again. We just learned that they will be able to leave tomorrow, instead of Tuesday, and get to Minnesota by Monday night. This is another example of God opening a door--it is hard to get in and out of here and he has made a way for them. (though we are sad!)

Please pray that they are able to see him, for their traveling, and for my grandpa and grandma as they are going through this. It is hard being so far away, and weird not being able to get home. We're all being reminded how we aren't the ones in control, it's really God. Please pray for my grandparents and Mom and Dad, and Dad's brothers and sisters-in-law, Jim and Lianna, Bill and Cathy who are there now taking care of them. For peace and comfort..and strength for the days ahead. Thank you."

25th Joyeux Noel...Merry Christmas

to all!

We pray that you'll each enjoy this day remembering our Lord and His love for us.

Because Cory and I are heading out for Pastor Rigo's wedding today we had family Christmas yesterday. The morning was breakfast, family devotions, hunting and playing with gifts.

Then Chris, Kathleen, John and Beth came for Christmas lunch-ham, sweet potatoes and corn casserole [this time made by Anna]. Then we had more gifts!

In the afternoon we were able to laugh with my family in Michigan by Skype. Nice to see you guys-but we hope you missed us during fondue.

Anna made a pinata for a few of her friends. This morning we'll be giving out some treats to our neighbors on the compound-caramel corn, cookies, and some candy.

Merry Christmas

24th December Merry Christmas and H. Birthday to Tay.

The days of rain have cleared. We're enjoying a visit from Kathleen's folks who arrived on Tuesday. Thankfully MFI wasn't informed until to late that Port had decided to close both international airports. Cap was fine so they got to land anyway.

A drizzly day but everything went well......almost. When they returned from Cap they found out that someone had stolen a two burner stove and a 50 pound bag of rice from the back of the truck. Everything was under a tarp but because of the rain no one was sitting in the back.

We're very thankful that the suitcases and packages weren't taken. And Cory had gone to a second location to buy the stove and had 'saved $20 dollars'. It could of been much worse.

We have Pastor Rigo's wedding to attend in Cap tomorrow. The Sloans will be staying here with the kids and Kathleen's folks. So we're mostly having our Christmas celebration here today. Yesterday we had Pastor Immanuel, his wife, daughter and grand-son for lunch. A very nice visit.

Traditionally our kids get to open a gift on Christmas Eve. So last night they got to open a couple. I write riddles and clues and they have to hunt for their gifts. Both were working puzzles until bed time.

I found some of the Christmas decorations in a shed a few years ago on LaGonave and adopted them. I think they were Dr. Hunters-Thanks!

14 Dec. 09

Reading to the kids during the weekend we got a few days ahead. We watched some Christmas movies as well.

On Sunday we took Chris and Kathleen to the Port Margot church. They always have great music. One of the highlights of the service for me was when they called up their first group of 'ancient' folks who have long served the church for a special time of appreciation.

Saturday Cory was able to share with about 20 of the area's young people banana plants and garden seeds. They are planning a community service project of cleaning up the road sides this week. He also spend Sunday afternoon sharing a Christian Christmas video with the local kids.

Even though I was not one of the three doctors on the schedule that I was given to work I had given a lot of return visit appointments for today so decided to go down and see a few folks. Well only one of the doctors is going to be here this week-so Chris and I saw 13 today.

The saddest case I prayed for but let the other doctor see as he knows more about the care available in Limbee-it was a small girl who was severely swollen-to her eye lids. Her legs shinned like they had been polished-due to the degree of edema and the fact that her top layers of skin had peeled off. Her mom said she had been sick a month. So sad.

Dec. 5th

We enjoyed a FAST couple hour visit from some of the team from LaGonave yesterday. They arrived just as Chris and I were walking up after finishing clinic.

Our Christmas decorations are now spread around the living room and we received our first Christmas card this week. The decorations will stay up until the end of

January when my folks come for a visit.

It may be in the 80's and sunny out but the Christmas carols still fill the air with cheerful notes that bring up lots of good family memories.

Thankful that our daily prayer partners for the clinic in December now number over 60! And many have told us that they are sharing the request with others. Thank you.

A new prayer request is for our baby Moringa trees-the ones that the kids are planting in cups. Some kind of illness or disease has attacked many of the trees. We continue to give out the healthy looking ones but Eli has over 100 in the 'sick area'.

Chris and Kathleen have completed their first English classes. Shortly they will start filling up their second set of classes.

3 Dec.

Blue sky and sunshine. Today Cory goes to meet the MFI plane in Cap Haitian because he has more banana plants coming in and hopefully a few Christmas presents made the flight. He will also be shopping for supplies for some of the compound projects.

The first two days of the clinic special we've had a few more folks but not overwhelming crowds. Thanks for the prayers. Pastor Rigo went out of his way to provide a Pediatrician like he had announced we'd have though Dec. 9th. He has a friend who works at the big hospital in Cap Haitian-so he went there and found a young lady who is really family practice but has additional training in Peds. She has agreed to work for the clinic though the 9th.

I hospitalized a patient on Tuesday. A cute 23 day old who has dropped more than 1.5 pounds since birth and hasn't been nursing well or urinating enough. She had 7 days of antibiotics at birth and has had an abdominal X-ray that didn't show anything. I put her in with the thought and prayers that close observation and encouraging the mom to feed her more may be enough. Yesterday her weight was up 0.2 pounds, her output slightly better, and she was more alert.

If she doesn't improve even more she'll have to go to Cap.

Chris and Kathleen are finishing up English classes this week. Overall I think it was a good experience. A few classes weren't great but they learned a lot. Sign up for the second round of classes will start the middle of this month.

18th Nov. Battle of Vertieres Day.

Today is a holiday in Haiti. The last big battle for independence fought just West of Cap Haitian was at Vertieres. So no Haitian school and only 2 people showed up for clinic.

Today was a fairly typical day for us-meaning lots of small things like a patchwork quilt.

The first thing scheduled for my day was 7 a.m. 'chat' with instant messaging with my mom. We 'talk' for an hour a couple times of week. While I type to her and wait for response I can work on E-mails and check out the Internet.

After that Chris, Anna and I headed down to clinic. Brought down 6 Moringa trees, set Anna up with her school work and saw two ladies. The first was a first time patient who has some chronic complaints. Two Haitian student nurses joined us. The most interesting physical finding was that she has a large hernia under her C-section scar from 3 years ago. She was sent for labs. The second lady was a delightful 86 year old lady who came on her home from a nearby town for a check of her blood pressure. She was fine so sent home with a prayer and her normal medications.

Back to the house for school. The kids continue to do well. Before lunch Chris and I returned to clinic to write our lady some antibiotics, iron, chloroquine, pain medications and prayer. Lunch was left over pizza and spaghetti. Two ladies who cook and clean for us spent the morning cleaning and re-organizing the kitchen. when visitors start coming we need them to work well in the kitchen-they are short so some items were put in the lower cupboards while less often used items were put up high.

Afternoon- about 30 minutes personal time which includes devotions and a short nap. Then school, read to the kids while they planted 80 Moringa Tree seeds, pulled some weeds, shower, blog.

Returning from clinic saw a large air-plant had fallen off its perch high in a tree.

Kids had fun on Saturday afternoon creating with Legos.

Cory, Chris, Kathleen traveled to the border on Tuesday so that Chris and Kath could renew their 3 month visitor visas. They also dropped off trees to Pastor Rigo's church. Did some shopping in Cap and brought home the Thanksgiving ham!!!

Oct. 10th

Saturday, Cory is out 'playing' with his new toy. With all the rain around here it is a constant battle to keep the weeds at bay. Some you would recognise as mild house plants but went growing in the tropics they can be come monsters! So Cory is going to see if a weed whacker can help.

Chris and Kathleen survived their first week of English classes. A few issues still to work out but all in all I think they have done very well during their first 7 weeks. They are still learning and processing the experience on a daily basis. Thanks for praying for them.

Cory's birthday is coming up on Monday. Some of the early presents that he bought with money from his folks this summer were orchids. Now the ones he brought from the USA are still small but he bought a larger one on his last trip to Port-au-Prince. Here is it's first bloom. He is hoping in time that the selling of orchids could be a small business opportunity for someone.

We had a good week at school and clinic. [Picture of kids with local guavas. Cory's first dragon fruit]

It was a relief to see Dr. Viximar back and to know that the new doctor was going to work twice a week. Thanks to everyone who remembered to pray for me during my 'solo' days.

PLEASE don't stop praying. As it so often happens in my life I trip up when I let down my guard. The last two Saturdays I was on call. I was prepared to have the clinic call me but when your ready and prepared----nothing happens. So today-happy in the knowledge that I have the weekend off who comes to the door but the nurse.......for 'hiccups?!?!?'

I didn't respond well. I instantly became defensive and grumpy. But she said she thought that they would go on to Limbee if they weren't seen by the doctor. While I didn't actually stomp my feet I was on the inside- I hadn't even had breakfast yet.

I wish I could report that by the time I walked to clinic the Lord had changed my heart but I can't. I grumbled my way though questions-further frustrated with the fact that the gentleman had had no appetite, stomach pains and frequency on urination for over a month while visiting another country. "What county could you possibly been visiting that didn't have a clinic or doctor?? Were you on a star?" Yep I really said this.

After a whole month of waiting they come on a day when the laboratory is closed. So after the exam showed nothing serious, and some counseling about losing weight, returning for labs, and following for his diabetes and high blood pressure I returned home.

It was on the walk back that I finally heard the Lord softly speaking about my attitude. SIGH! Will I ever grow-up and lose this selfish part of me? I'll apologize to the nurse and if I have a chance to the gentleman.

So keep praying!! The Lord isn't done with me yet. I'm amazed that He can work through sinners like me.And for that I'm thankful. Thankful as well that He is a Lord of grace, forgiveness and unconditional love because I fall short so often. Thanks Lord.