AMP Calendar.

We’ve dreamed of a photo calendar since we moved to Délice and enjoyed the amazing views.  Jodie, our friend and talented photographer came with her husband Pat and Kris’ folks to visit in February.  She not only kindly let us use her pictures from the visit but walked us step by step to put together a 2020 AMP prayer calendar. 

AMP:    Agricultural Ministry Partnership   striving to    Help Haitians support family, church and mission. 

Each month includes a prayer prompt at the bottom. For example: Agriculture; Medical care; Transportation; Working together; Solutions for Haiti’s Food Insecurity Problems; Political stability….  It will start January 2020 and the last month is January 2021. It measures  8.5 inches x 11 inches. 

We would like to gift members of our team a calendar to say thank you and to remind folks that we need your prayers. So if we don’t have your address and you would like a calendar please let us know where to send it. We hope to get them out by the end of June. We are currently waiting to see the final proof before they go to printing. 

If you attend one of our supporting churches and would like a calendar we might need a reminder of which church you attend so that we can save on postage by sending a group of calendars to your church.

 If you have friends that would pray for us and the ministry that you would like to give a calendar to, that would be great. Just let us know how many calendars you would like. Thank you for being an ambassador for us and AMP!

Pastors please let us know how many calendars you would like for your church.

If you would like to help off-set the costs of the calendars and postage, the cost is around $4-5 each or less depending on how many are printed. Setup is expensive, then each additional calendar we print is only about $1.12. We are personally funding them but if there is income above cost we will use it for the Delice mission.

Here's a couple of examples. 

Thank you!

Cory and Kris

First week of Christmas Vacation

A very good week. Dustin, Nancy and kids came to visit on Tuesday. We enjoyed our first bonfire and named the location, Wowwop.

A good view of both the fort, coffee plantation ruins and in the other direction the sunset. 

They graciously assisted us in deciding where to hang wall decorations and made bunk beds in Fritzlin's room.

We hiked to the fort, talked about additional house projects, laughed, read lots of children's books, the kids played, a good time had by all.

We kept the Calvin students in prayer who had finals the first 1/2 of this week. 

We continue to praise the Lord for allowing both our college kids to be able to complete their testing and projects before this week.

The extra 5 days made the decision to fly them home for Christmas easier and we are enjoying our second Christmas as a family of five. 

Eli and Anna helped paint after our great guests left on Thursday. 

Second coats yesterday, and this morning Fritz was not allowed in his room until it was cleaned, pictures hung, beds made.

He had a huge smile and said 'WOW!' when allowed back into his room.

Not all work. Computer games, reading of fun books, cooking, Christmas videos and just hanging out as a family.

Tomorrow we plan to join the Agape staff and children for their Christmas party.

Merry Christmas!

Heading up the mountain.

Tuesday morning we repacked our bags and then had breakfast with the team and Deep River folks. After the team left we posted the blog and chatted a bit before prayer and heading out.

We stopped for a SIM card for our phone after which I tried to text and Cory went to a store to exchange some money. 

The phone internet did not work so we stopped at a second phone location to get help making it work. Very thankful to receive texts from my folks and Anna assuring us that we can communicate while on the road!

Then we stopped at a mission where a mechanic teaches Haitians as they repair cars together and he checked our Land Cruiser. They switched the front and back tires for us to try to fix a shimmy. We will need to have a gear in the back axel replaced next spring..but it should be OK until then.

We will also be buying new belts soon but the rest looked OK.

We then headed to Fauche. Most of the crops this summer were lost in the drought and many fields were never planted this spring. All the animals were let loose which caused even more problems. Our oldest employee, in his 60’s, says it is the worst he has seen. Some of the area’s cacao trees died and most had large branch dieback. Breadfruit and bananas are also major crops around Fauche and lost most of the production, many of the banana plants sacrificed or stolen to keep livestock fed.

Cory’s plant/tree nursery looks better than we’d hoped it would. Some items damaged by a hungry goat recently but nothing of significance died.

We unloaded our bags and started to think about what we will pack.

Thursday..I enjoyed attending the early prayer meeting. Cory walked to the gardens across the river with the guys. Fritzlin and I took apart the boxes that make up the base of our bed. His aunt and mother came for a visit just as Cory arrived back from the gardens and we had a good visit. Lunch. More packing. So thankful for our Land Cruiser! Solar panels, a tall bookshelf, the entertainment center, 2 big mahogany boards (1.5”x22”x4’!) that we plan to use for bathroom counters; Lots of smaller things stuffed down between the shelves, the items from our 3 checked, 3 carry-ons and 3 personal bags. We also organized the remaining things for pick up. 14 years of curriculum take up a lot of boxes! As well as favorite books. 

Thankful for Jean Pierre’s family who provided us with stew, eggs and bread, rice and beans with chicken & sauce- what good friends we leave here. After dark his family came to pray with us and send us off well. Continue to pray for Jean Pierre’s health as he’s doing much better but still struggling with his diabetes and high blood pressure. 

Friday’s plan is to leave around 6:30 [left at 7] and slowly drive south to Ortlip [made it at 2]. Stop in to see our teammates and hopefully check e-mails and post this blog. Then we will continue up the mountain. [another 3-4+ hours] If the internet at the neighbor’s is working we will post on Facebook and I’ll put a praise on the blog.

Thanks for the prayers. A few delays..and Anna's cat not happy but small things. 

Cory's Haiti Trip..Part 2

Monday I headed back to Delice / Blessing after getting some pvc pipe and supplies in Port au Prince.

Hard cement layer over soft, rough cement floor

Resurfacing the floor is about half done, will take a few more days this fall to finish.

 Plumbing is mostly done and now a toilet works.

Planting macadamia trees

A few fruit trees, macadamias, potatoes, yacon and ornamentals are planted.

Pepino dulce/sweet cucumber has produced well the past year, along with some tomatoes that sprouted in the neighbor's yard and produced well on their own.

Plumbing challenge

Pepino dulce or "sweet cucumber"

Macadamia trees

Jackfruit at Fauche

The next Monday I returned to Fauche.

Peach palms from Costa Rica 3 years after planting & good grazing

We checked out all the gardens and most are growing well.

We spent part of two mornings weeding and trimming the tree nursery. 

Malay apple tree

On the way to the airport Friday, we stopped at Deep River Mission to deliver a few fruit trees, coconuts and see how the trees we provided a year or two ago are growing.

Many have grown fast and should start fruiting soon. 

Starfruit is already producing and had good flavor.

Délice Project Report

Short review of 2017 - March 2018:

• Jan. 17       Délice Station and Farm Development project approved
• Late January  Shared on the blog our new ministry and location
• Feb.            Anna's blog and fund appeal.
• May            Plans for location of driveway and house
• June 26       Crew started on road/drive and started to dig white gravel for mixing cement
• July             Water cistern excavation
• August        Water cistern built and excavation of house foundation
• Sept. 11       Lower walls started
• Sept. 26       Inside of water cistern sealed
• Oct. 25        Cement floor poured over metal composite decking
• Nov. 4-11    Wade welds house frame. 
• Nov. 9          Lower level floor poured
• Nov. 20       Haitian welder starts on roof frame
• Dec. 8         Inside plastering around rocks started. Roof started
• Dec. 19      Widow glass ordered
• Dec 21       Outside plastering started
• Dec. 30       Inside non-opening windows done
• Jan. 15-18   Kitchen cupboards / island made, upstairs doors hung, 4 windows that open put in,          
•               Stairwell covering made, NE gutter on house
• Jan. 19-27   Painting or staining of kitchen cupboards, second gutter up.
• Feb. 19      Starting on the interior walls.
• March         Interior walls plastered and painted. Fence supplies purchased 

Some are wondering how all this work occurred, when the Délice Station and Farm Development  project fund still shows over $47,000 needed. We've been encouraged to share more about the funding, so here is the answer.

The appeal we made in 2017, to donate for Anna's 16th birthday, brought in many gifts and we received a few thousand more during March-April. From May to Oct only a bit over $1,000 dollars came into the fund.

Left = house   Middle = coffee plantation ruins   Right = fort

Lots of room for trees

Because we felt so strongly about the importance of this project and the timing [being able to house-sit for the neighbors during summer/fall, as well as being able to be in the house before the rains and 2018 planting season started this spring.....we asked and received three significant transfers of funds from our general support [covering more than 70% of the expense of the build so far].

Early December, before the third transfer request, I sent out an Email to some specific supporters asking them to pray for the funding and the continued building project as we were feeling a lot of pressure and stress.

In addition to the prayers, the donations that we received in December were larger than the previous 11 month total.

The "Délice" tab at the top of the blog tracks the funding in the project fund. This does not include the transfers from our general support. 

The last two big project costs on the house were having the interior walls put up, and even more important, getting part of the land fenced off.

Trees and landscaping needed...after the fence

Cory planted many trees and plants in the gardens around the neighbors house and the battle to keep the cows from eating or stepping on them has been long and frustrating, even with a few hired guys doing weeks of fence improvement around the 5 acres.

Due to the slowness of plant and tree growth from the cool mountain climate, avoiding setbacks will be important. The local fences made from sticks have proven inadequate against the cows and horses. 

So a strong fence is a must and imported wire "cattle fence" will probably be the most economical  fencing that is effective. We continue to look to the Lord to provide the funding.

The last transfer covered getting the interior walls put in and purchasing the fence materials.

Any more work will need to wait for additional funding. Examples: entryways, finishing floors, porch, landscaping, tiling the showers, drop ceilings in bedrooms to lower the noise of rain/hail.

The Lord provided a great team of 8 men from Canada in January to build the kitchen cabinets and help out in many other ways. We know the Lord will provide partners, both new and the faithful for the pioneer work at Délice.

We know that He will send the funding to rebuild our general fund to continue the farm development, the house, and our ministries.  Thank you for your interest, prayers, and support.

With the spiritual warfare we've already experienced during the build we are also in need of additional prayer partners for our family and the project. If you will commit to praying at least once a week would you please let us know. 

House name...

Nine years ago today, I blogged about my mom painting names on some of the buildings at Fauche. Full blog here.

Over our house door she painted 'Lakay Elim'. "Lakay Elim" means house of trees and is named after an oasis that Moses stopped at with the children of Israel.

Since we knew we were moving I've been thinking about what this house or station should be named. 

LaGonave and Fauche stations reflect the name of the town/village where they are located. 

The Ortlip Center was named after a missionary family who served many years. 

I pondered many ideas while painting and working on the house. I've prayed about it during the weeks and months of developement.

A name reflecting descriptions: mountains, rocks, views, ridges - verses minstry type names....? Something that points to the Lord or to what our goals on earth should be?An acronim? Something short or long? Something that could be used with a new mailing address or separate?

I thought about a poll or contest but many of you have not seen the location or been here to visit.

It came to me during the team from Canada. We knew sadly that they would have little time or oportunity to interact with the Haitain people as they were focused on our house project.

We hope that they will have an oportunity to return and exerperence the best part of Haiti...her people. 

We tried to emphasize and express our gratitude to the team and asked them to pass it along to their families and others who suppored the trip and the project. 

They were a huge blessing to us. And that is when the name clicked. I shared it with Cory and the kids and been continuing to think and pray about it the last few weeks. It still resonates with me.

So we plan to call the station: Blessing or 'Beni' in Creole. 

Various meanings of Blessing: 

• God's favor and protection/help and approval; 
• a benifical thing in which one is grateful; 
• a thing conducive to happiness/welfare or bringing well-being; 
• a person's support; 
• approval, encouragement; 
• the act of words of one who blesses

Synonyms or realted words:

• benediction, delight [Delice also means-something giving pleasure; delicacy]
• grace, mercy
• intercession, asking God's favor for
• petition
• prayer
• aid, assistance, help, relief, support
• comfort, consolation
• sanctification
• to dedicate to God

Bless the name of the Lord: praise, worship, glorify, honor, exalt, reverence, magnify...our ultimate goals as followers of Christ. 

This location showcases the Lord's creativity in every direction with the stunning views, ever changing clouds, and spectacular sunrises and sunsets. A blessing to us.

Being able to look down at Port-au-Prince, Cabaret, the southern and northern mountains and pray, interceding for those living in the areas - a blessing. 

How the Lord has provided for the project in funding, supplies, and people to help pray and build. Meeting new friends and feeling the support of many- a blessing. We dedicate the house, the land, our work, our lives, time and energy to the Lord. 

We hope to encourage the local people and our neighbors though spiritual, agricultural and medical training. To help improve their physical welfare and find hapiness in the Lord -to be a blessing.

Our goal to support the national church, in time, through developement of the land to a productive, profitable farm - a blessing.

To have a small base where other missionaries and teammates can come and enjoy the cool mountain breezes and a bit of Haitian history- a blessing. 

And a reminder of the goal...to be a blessing to others and the Lord. 

Saturday hike and house, by Cory

This morning we, Kris and I,  did our first hike to some colonial ruins about 45 minutes away.

Thursday a load of 200 bags of cement and iron rebar arrived on a dump truck. Construction of the house foundation should start Monday.

Picking up rocks

While some of the rocks for the house come from the gravel pit, a small crew of men spend their time walking around the property looking for the type of rocks that the builder wants for the walls and foundation our our house.

Looking at all the rocks and now the areas where rocks have been harvested from, I couldn't help but think about life. Looking at the terrain that continues to change daily I wondered what it will look like in the months and years to come.

The rocks will slowly disappear and trees and plants will be straegically planted replacing the wild bramble, rockly hillside with a cultivated appearance.

Then in my reading this week, Out of Sorts by Sarah Bessey...she talked about rocks on page 202....
" Sometimes, yes, we do speak to a mountian and it will lift up and be cast into the sea. But I've also learned over my lifetime that it is just as holy and just as ridiculous and just as miaculous for the people of God to pick up their own small shovels and get to work, a million small stones at a time. 

I have decided that, rather than being someone who denies the existence of the mountain entirely-whatever that represents in the moment-or someone who simply gives up in despair, I will be a women who picks up small stones and moves them. Small acts of fatih and justice are still acts of faith and justice. I will be a women who slowly and over time and alongside many others will make that mountain move. 

Revolution doesn't look like changing diapers or making meals, right? Kind people don't change the world. We can't imagine overturning the empire through these small stones that we lift up, one after another, through the small lives we minister to, through our words and our prayers. "

How many prayers have I lifted up over the last year. How many adoption prayers since the summer of 2012...not only for F but others stuck in the process or other's who moved through smoothly and entered into transitioning to a new family.

How many prayers for other missionaries? For missionary kids? For our supporters? For the Lord's wisdom, patience, love, and strength to get me through the day? How many words of praise and honor before, during, and after His plan is revieled.

Lord help me to continue to listen to Your whispers so that I don't miss the small opportunities present daily to minster, to advance Your Kingdom, to pray, to encourage with words and deeds.

I look forward to moving into a house where the outer rock walls will be not only a reminder of the Rock, the Cournerstone of my faith but as well as to remind me to keep moving the small rocks that the Lord sends my way, so that in time the mountain will move.

Week of August 14.

We spent most of this week getting into a routine of sorts.


Breakfast, then school starts.

 I generally get some cleaning done.

Cory heads over to the house site at least once during the day.

Lunch. More school.

Some exercise, reading time, other...

Before sunset the generator is put on as a lightnighing strike damaged the inverter last week and it was sent back to Port au Prince to see if it can be repaired.

With the evening generator time we can check internet, emails, do a bit of office work, enjoy having running water and lights.

Then bed. Repeat.

At the gravel pit this week there was more rock and dirt than gravel, but now there is another big seam of good gravel to dig and have ready for the next stage of cement and mortar mixing.

Cory is surprized to see how big and deep the the seems of rich, red soil are right next to the veins of gravel.


So the good dirt goes in a pile for later use in a garden or as nursery potting soil, the gravel to the gravel pile, and other's are moving rocks to save for retaining walls or road work.

We hope in time to turn this pit into a water hole for swiming and for irrigation during the dry season.

Next week we hope to purchase more supplies for the lower level of the house.

Meanwhile the collecting of rocks, gravel and excavation continues; the men clearing the area in front of the water cistern where the lower floor will go.

Cory and I went today and talked through the plans again.

The end of the driveway will need a bit of adjusting at a later time.

Many people from the area are asking to be on the work crew but we have plenty of workers for now.

The area corn crop looks like it is doing well.

 Most of the newly planted trees are also off to a good start but most plants grow slower here with the cool weather than they do in the hot lowlands.


Eli finished up his summer internship and will enjoy a couple weeks with family and prepareing for his Jr. year at Calvin.

No word on our adoption.

Some weather may be heading our way over the weekend as Harvey passes to the south of Haiti. Thank you for your prayers.

'Little Cory/Mysore' banana brought from Fauche.