Celebration of Children Sunday June 19.

Although the United States celebrated fathers today I think that Fauche celebrated children. Happy Father's Day Dad! We will celebrate when we get to Michigan.

The school children from the Wesleyan school on campus joined us for church this morning so that the members could remember to pray for them this week of final exams, especially those who will be taking government tests.

These tests need to be passed before advancing to the next grade. Thankfully Cory walked down to church before Sunday school and roped off 3 pews otherwise we would not of easily found seats. Todd greeted the church in Creole and did a good job [I translated his greeting a couple of days ago and then we worked on it so that he had the words written phonetically] Then the team shared 2 songs and presented a saxophone to the church. A very different service I'm sure than most ever experienced but a good spirit as we praised the Lord together.

The set up for the Kid's Club celebration of the International Day of the child stared early this morning. The parade started very close to the target time of 2 p.m. The children walked down the road a ways, led by the school band [fan fair as it is called here] then returned to campus. Visitors and leadership were presented.

A number of special music and a few short speeches or funny moments. After the team introductions each received a homemade card. Later Todd and I returned to center stage to introduce 'Little Kong' the monkey puppet who will visit again next week with a few friends. Little Kong scared a few of the younger kids but most laughed.

Each of us received a small bag of popcorn along with a few pieces of candy. The children also enjoyed juice. Because many of the local children came who are not enrolled in the program they were unable to hand out small gifts as the 545 that were prepared would not of been enough for the estimated 600 children who attended.

The supplies for the school projects made it to campus yesterday so I'm sure that tomorrow will be a busy day.

June 18th. Team & Prayer Request

Today we took most of the team down the coast to a nice beach. Stopped on the way to check out one of the Wesleyan churches. Slowed the pace a bit as between a couple hours [likely hot ones!] in church and then the BIG afternoon Kid's Club party [over 400 kids expected] tomorrow--we will be needing stamina and energy.

Laundry, some blogging, playing with kids, a bit of work and shopping filled the afternoon. A relative of John Pierre's came by with various types of souvenirs to show the team. Small pictures, metal lizards and fish brightly painted, bracelets, necklaces, wooden: bowls, machetes, a chest set, small square and round boxes, small statues..and more. This way they do not have a whole bunch of people pulling at their arms.

Thundering out so need to hurry. Spoke to Vero, a senior nurse on LaGonave this morning after learning that the hospital is full of babies with gastroenteritis. They are running short of supplies and have had 3 die who were brought in after other home remedies didn't work [thus delaying proper treatment until it was to late] Please pray for the staff, proper supplies for treatment, that the families will bring in the children early and for the Lord's mercy.

Congratulations to Merline, daughter of our dear friend Mme. Felican on LaGonave who was married on LaGonave today to Caleb.

17 June First Friday.

Party for Ty's birthday.

Another good day with the team. At sunrise Norm and Steven sealed the roof of the laboratory. Pastor Phil headed for the airport. Additional projects during the day:

• more repair & painting of doors
• the school room partitions taken down
• cement repair of a support pillar of the car port
• laundry
• celebrated Ty's 8th birthday
• two hospital rooms-old paint removed [much rejoicing when we learned that the next two rooms do NOT need scraping.
• Painted gazebo benches

After the work day we took some of the team on a walk across the river to see some of the gardens. The kids caught a few small pale crayfish...and I learned that the name for them is........ crayfish. I think I can remember that one.

For lunch Ty requested fried sweet potatoes, fried cooking bananas both green and ripe, fried chicken along with rice, beans and sauce. Supper again a Ty request-pizza, banana bread, fresh pineapple and birthday cake.

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.

8 June ONE more WEEK!!!!!

Last night although I went to bed tired I experienced a sudden burst of excitement about my brother's family coming next week [and the team] and could not get to sleep for over an hour. Lord willing next week at this time the team will be with us and talking about the travel and first day in Haiti.

My brother's E-mail daily E-mail frequency jumped considerable this week and today I also received a phone call. Nice. I'm not only looking forward to sharing our life here with the team but I should not need to think hard on what to blog.

Today we enjoyed a short visit from a team visiting the Christian University of Northern Haiti. College kids [nursing, social work, art, biochemistry, along with leaders and Haitian staff] We talked about plants, clinics, the book and Haiti. We enjoy meeting new folks and talking about life here.

So if you are ever in the area....stop on by.

Chris accompanied Dr. Jean Pierre today in clinic while I helped Eli with school. Kathleen helped Anna. Cory worked on office work. Another cloudy day with a few sprinkles. Praying for less rain for the Limbeé valley next week.

My flowers like the rain as do most of Cory's trees and plants.

66 pound banana bunch..picked now [Gennier says it would of continued to grow some] so that it ripens for the team!