Go tell it on the mountain

In less than a week, Lord willing, three of our family will be back on the mountain at Délice.

So thankful for the prayers during this busy summer and during our transition.

The move should be 'interesting', character building, faith testing, and exciting.

Sometimes missionaries have a hard time finding a honest balance between sharing things in a too positive light vs. focusing on all the hard ugly details.

So I'll confess to finding this blog hard to write and post...not knowing if I hit the right, true balance. Trusting you will forgive me if I did not.

We plan to live in the new house, while pushing to finish up some of the start up tasks....

• Praying to find a workable internet system for the new house. We plan to travel daily to the neighbors to check our emails as our phone reception will likely be spotty. 

• Praying that the neighbor's internet is still working. Putting a back-up plan in place in case it is not.
• Cleaning up from the summer's absence. Getting bedrooms set up
• Unpacking
•  Getting working household and school area set up
• Completing the cement surfacing of the floor
• Continuing school with Fritzlin
• Getting the electrical solar/battery system bought, set up, and functional
• Moving from cistern water hauled up by hand in a bucket to running water

• Once both running water and electric are in place, we will be able to treat drinking water
• [Until then drinking water will be from our kind neighbor's place]
• Purchasing propane tank and pipe for the stove 
• Working on the front retaining wall and entrance way, replacing the rock and dirt ramp
• Getting the fence up the mountain and in place so that trees and garden can be planted
• Terracing the land to help prevent erosion and prepare planting areas in preparation for next year's rainy season
• Find a way to transform the gravel pit into a water catchment area
• Start to connect with the folks from the village and build relationships


• Continue to build relationships with the staff from Together We Can-Haiti and the kids Agape House
• Work on building the AMP team and partnerships

And more.....trying to be realistic without becoming overwhelmed

Only the Lord knows the time-line for these projects. We will do our best to stay flexible and content..counting our blessings.

 But we know there will be trying days and issues, so we ask you to pray for our family. [Remember Eli and Anna at Calvin as well-that they can continue to lean on the Lord while trusing Him]

Another reality is that some of the projects will need to wait for additional funding before we can purchase the needed supplies and hire help. You can read more about the house build funding here.  

While we would love to hire a handful of men from the village during the dry season, [when they don't farm as much], to work on some of the projects, we don't have the funds to pay them. So we will hire just a few or wait until the funds arrive. 

We know what a blessing it was to the village to have so many of the men working on the house last year and early this year. We look forward to hiring some of the same men to work on the land, which will not only bless their families and the community but will help us to continue our relationships with them. 

The faster the start-up/developement funds come in the faster the AMP proprieties will move to becoming self-sustaining and Lord willing, generating profits for supporting the ministries of the national Wesleyan Church of Haiti.

Other approved projects:
Agricultural Training Program
Creole Health Book Project

Coming soon...AMP project for second site.

We thank all who already joined the prayer team for our family, the new work at Délice and for those joining us by giving or praying for the funds needed to move forward.

Together we can make a positive difference.

Moving thoughts...thoughts about moving.

Since being married, most of our moves have been completed in a few days time. Only once, during our our first year in Haiti, did we move slowly across a yard on LaGonave. Our current move will be different because we will move in phases. We plan to pack up most of our household this week in order to be able to focus on the gardens and catching up with friends on our visits to Fauche over the next several months. Then once the house is built and ready to move into, we will finish packing up the house and move the bigger furniture items in a large truck.

Interesting what comes to light along with the emotions and memories when packing up your life for a move. Other than the farm I grew up on, I’ve lived in Fauche the longest period of any other time in my life. I came across a WISH newsletter this week, from August, 1975, talking about my folks - “Larry and Carol have been busy for days packing barrels for shipping their good and supplies to Haiti.” 

Little did they dream how much that move would change and shape our family's lives. 

So many memories of people who sent cards or gifted us items we will take with us. Cards from grandparents and strong supporters, no longer living in this world, continue to encourage even today. So many people who’s fingerprints remain on our lives many years after talking face to face or actively corresponding. Books from “Aunt" Marilyn and Gertrude; a small Japanese bowl, movies, wood pieces, a glass vase, kitchen tools, other tools and gifts from grandparents and friends…I thank each of you again for the impact you had and continue to have on our family. 

Because we plan to shift the majority of our time to Délice, some of the good-byes from friends here have started. I remember my parents expressing during my family's two years of living in Haiti that they wanted to live so that they could leave well when the time came.I understand that so much better as an adult than I did as a child. After 19 years [come September] on the field, I’m sorry to say that we’ve seen more missionaries leave poorly than leave well. 

I’m thankful in a selfish way, to hear that we will be missed when we leave here, because that is so much better than people being happy to see us go. Leaving friends is always the hardest part. Although we will be back for visits we all know it will not be the same. At each location we serve we end up leaving a bit of our hearts. Change = pain. But we hope and pray that our time here will be remembered as a blessing and that people saw our love for the Lord in and through our lives. 

Please pray for our family during this time of transition. [Transitions and major trips tend to make us a bit grumpy!] Pray for the Délice project start up. Pray for our friends at Fauche. Pray for Cory’s guys, John Pierre, Evon, Gener, and Djordy to see what needs to be done and do it right to keep the agricultural work thriving without Cory’s daily supervision. Pray for F’s paperwork so he can join us soon. [Pray for us next week with 7 hours in the truck with Anna’s cat Kody!] Thank you.

2016 in Review

Thank you for the prayers.

Year 2016

January: Said good-bye to Kris's folks and Eli after a short visit. Deep River Mission visit.
February: Zika
March: Luthern Medical team. Interim President takes office. Finger print renewal-adoption. 4 church visits.
April: OMS visit with trees/plants. Clinic chats started.
May: School years done-Eli and Anna. Daybreak flip house sold.
              Amplifying Mission Summit in New York
June: Eli visit.
July: Eli to Germany. Anna starts school. Summer district conferences: men, women, youth, district.
August: 9 years at Fauche
September: 18 years in Haiti. Eli starts fall term. Weekly health talk hour for Adult Literacy classes.
October: Hurricane Matthew. Two trips to Southern Haiti for hurricane relief.
November: Historic flooding in northern Haiti. Trip to LaGonave and Délice. New ministry direction.
December: Plans for Délice. Travel to USA. Vacation time with family, making memories.

As we start 2017 we ask for your continued prayers.

• Adoption: Completion of the additional paperwork for exiting IBESR.
• School: Eli and Anna to finish up sophomore years well.
• Délice: Clarification of plans. Raising funds. Praying for someone to build the house.
• Planning of locations for trees and plants. Starting planting
• Fauche: Transitional planning. Training of folks to continue in our current roles. 
• Impact: to have positive impact in each area.
• Konsey: Reprinting of books. Continued distribution. 

Prayers for Survey Trip

Know that I will not think of everything but confident that the Lord will bring us and specific needs to mind when we need those prayers. But for those who like to pray specifically here's a bit of the plans [all subject to change!] and needs.

Sunday after church to install the new pastor at Fauche, we plan to head down to the Ortlip Center. Anna will be staying there with our teammates the Stephens.

Monday will continue on to Port-au-Prince to meet with Gilles [GP mission directors], Greg Edmonds [heading up H. Matthew relief], Dustin Stephen [Construction coordinator], P. Doucet [national superintended of Wesleyan Church of Haiti] and others...our roles being to direct the medical/health and agricultural relief efforts.

Tuesday we will head to Southern Haiti to visit and see as much as we can in three areas where the Weselyans have projects and gather information. What are the needs [immideate, mid and long term]? Who's already working in the areas? Where can we help without duplicating? Identify who we partner with and assist.

Not sure how long this all will take. Will be flexible. With the roads being worse than before, and it wasn't an easy trip then....we will do our best to stay in the area until we have the information we need. But if we need to we may return to closer to PAP for food, water, supplies and then head back.

Then will meet to share and plan how to best help.

Prayers:

• For relief efforts to reach everyone in need, esp. the smaller remote villages in the mountains.
• Travel-safety
• Sunday to Ortlip. Monday to PAP. Tuesday to the South...for a few days.'
• That the truck runs well.
• No road blocks or long delays of any kind
• Prioritizing and that we can get to where we need to go
• For donated water filters, and tarps to arrive from the USA before our trip.
• Good communications between us and the team.
• That we pack and bring the supplies most needed.
• Medical, chaya branches, breadfruit root starts, Konsey books, buckets for water filtration, moringa seeds....
• That we can gather the needed information to best direct fund raising and relief.
• Identify and connect with the leaders in the communities
• Wisdom to prioritize the needs 
• Connect with other organizations and work together
• Health for us but more so for the people in the South under so much stress and lack of water and food. High risk for Cholera, other GI diseases and mosquito borne diseases
• That we can be an encouragement and share the Lord's love.
• That we see Jesus in everyone we see AND that they see Jesus in us. 

Trip prayers and looking for Jesus

"This is worst than the earthquake" The words, not a sensationalized or exaggerated news headline but a one - line Facebook post by a friend, a veteran missionary veterinarian, made my heart cry and stomach ache as my mind tried to understand.

How can that be!?! As bad as the suffering, destruction, and loss of thousands of lives due to the 2010 earthquake, the rapidly approaching famine conditions that hundreds of thousands of Haitian people face is worse. Today, 10 days after the hurricane, hundreds of relief worker struggle to even reach mountain and remote villages. How many people can you feed with one truck of food...and they will need food for MONTHS to come even if they can replant rapidly And the first crops survive to produce a good harvest.

Wednesday night I did not sleep well following a Skype discussion with Gilles our missionary directors, making plans to travel to Port-au-Prince next week and then onto the South to get a first hand look at the devastation and try to provide agricultural and medical advice on how to best help people in the days, months, and years to come.

The tension of not actively having a plan on how to personally help with the hurricane relief was instantly replaced with the bigger tension of knowing the physical, mental, and spiritual beating and pain that will occur next week. Knowing that while we can help, and do what we can......the needs are too BIG to even begin to get a handle on and comprehend.

How do I deal with these mixed feelings? The knowledge we need to go, want to go, want to help fights with in me with the feelings of wanting to run the other direction, knowing from experience the pain and scars we are walking toward, that will change us for the rest of our lives.

1. Share from the heart to encourage our prayer team to remember the Haitians suffering and us. Posting this blog and the update that will be heading out to our support team, begging for prayer. Without the power of prayer and backing of our team I know that this would be almost impossible for us to do.  Please share with others, your family, small group, church, prayer warriors. While we praise the Lord for sparing much of Haiti the battle for lives continues. Thank you.  [Will later post a list of prayer requests for next week]

2. Intentionally keep my mind and heart turned to God. Reminding myself of His LOVE, and power in the midst of this overwhelming tragedy. Not for one minute relying on any strength I may think i have but asking Him to fill me with His love, power, might, wisdom, compassion, and courage. Easier to do here, safe at home where I can step away from the computer pictures and posts about the suffering than next week when we will be feeling, seeing, smelling and surrounded by the reality of the task the Lord has entrusted us with at this time. Pray.

3. My practical plan for preventing overwhelming, paralyzing feelings of inadequacy will be: to pray to find and see Jesus in each person I connect with on this trip. I read again yesterday about Mother Teresa Missionaries of Charity and how she taught. They try to recognize Christ in each person they serve. The belief that God hides in ugly or discusting disguises to test the love of His followers.
I think that by looking and finding Jesus in the people around us the Lord ministers to me, a visual reminder that He is with me every step of the way through difficult times. He will be holding me next week.

Reminding myself to look for focus on the joy and hope that will be there. I saw the Haitians praising the Lord in song and prayers immediately after the earthquake. I know they are a resilient people who will rebuild their lives. They will be helping others with loving hearts, generously sharing the little they posses with others.

I am very thankful that for this adventure Cory and I will be together. We plan to leave Anna with teammates at the Ortlip Center to help out there and have fun hanging out with people other than her parents.

Blogs may not occur next week or until we return home. Each time you check please send up a prayer. Will be taking notes and plan to share in the future about the trip.

Specific prayers following Hurricane Matthew

The cool, light rain continued throughout Tuesday and into Tuesday night in our part of Haiti.

Checking frequently on the Internet, we read reports of the severe damage along the southern coast of Haiti, flooding on LaGonave and Port-au-Prince and thankfully watched the radar clear as the hurricane winds weakened over the mountains.

We watched in astonishment after friends, and acquaintances shared my blog post on praying specifically for Haiti, as the number of page views soared into the hundreds and then thousands.

We realize that some of those page views represented family groups, or small groups praying. The large numbers of people praying brought great comfort to us and others in Haiti.

Now I don't want to lessen in any way the severe damage in the South and in families who lost everything.

However, reality is that the damage and loss of life in Haiti from Hurricane Matthew could have severely affected tens of thousands or even millions more had the storm shifted more to the east or had the rain totals reached predicted highs.

Some will talk about luck or chance, but we firmly believe that everyone who offered up a prayer for the safety of Haiti played an important role in reducing the damage. We also believe that continued prayers are vital for the recovery period.

Even before the early damage in the south was being reported, people started to ask for relief funds and post pictures. Unfortunately, some of the pictures people were posting turned out to be from past severe storms or from other countries.

Specific prayers after Hurricane Matthew:

-Immediate rescue for the stranded. Medical care, shelter, food and drinking water for the people in need.

-Restored communications between family and friends.

-No further damage from flooding, rains, weakened structures and damaged roads. No outbreaks of cholera, typhoid, mosquito borne illnesses or other diseases.

-Repair of roads and bridges so that emergency staff and supplies can reach those in most need.

-Funding, especially that the donated funds are given to agencies who will use them for the
people and recovery. Too many times in the past the money never benefits those it was donated to help.

-Wisdom to help in ways that will benefit people long term, including but not limited to: relocation of those in unsafe areas, building safe houses, micro loans, helping with education of children, medical bills, jobs, replacement of livestock and possessions....

-Building of safe [hurricane, flooding, earthquake, heat, ...] houses for those who need new homes.

-Political stability: Presidential elections which still need to occur in a timely fashion and in a fashion that limits corruption. As this did not occur in the last elections it will be even harder this time...

-Continuation of relationships started or strengthened during the storm. That together Haitians and expatriates can work for a stronger country, families, government, infrastructure, and faith.

-Prayers for those who live in the path of Hurricane Matthew as it continues north.

We are praising the Lord for His faithfulness. Thank you to everyone one who is joining us in prayer for Haiti and her people during the next days and weeks of recovery.

Prayer Requests

Twice today a young man sat on our doorstep.

Getting water for the trees in the first garden.

Once before, a few months ago he sat there as well.

His family attends the local church and many of the members pray for him.

I don't know much of LeeLee's story but enough to know that he comes during bad phases.

He spends most of his time in Cap Haitian I think but when his mental illness worsens he walks or finds his way on a bus and often returns to Fauche.

He will refuse food, bathing, or getting out of bed.

Friends can make it hard to study.

The family does their best to get him the treatment and medications that he needs but mental health care is very limited in rural Haiti.

Please join us in praying for LeeLee.

A week of school, book, office work and for Anna' volleyball practice. Eli finished up a couple of books along with his advanced physics course.

As we look toward Anna's next year we discovered that the teacher's guide became separated from the books. Since Eli's time draws short I decided a major organization of school year curriculum would be a good distraction from waiting for our referral phone call!

Boxes and plastic tubs containing 12 years of learning spread all over our living room. 

Most of the misplaced books are now returned to their correct boxes but sadly the missing teacher's guide for Anna's next year along with one from grade school remain missing.

With a small house and limited storage the mystery remains as to where the large notebooks can be hiding!?!?

Saturday Anna will travel to the other side of Cap Haitian to compete at a volleyball tournament. 

She will play on her normal team as well as both the girls teams for the older age groups; the 15-16 year olds and 17-18 year olds.  

Please pray for her to stay safe, hydrated and keep the sun screen on!  

A cloudy Saturday would be great, especially if it brings needed rains.

 The young local peanut plants in sandy gardens along the river flood plain look very wilted these days.

Rain is needed for a good harvest. The harvests in this area are generally sold to help pay for school. 

We continue to pray about our adoption referral...any day!

Praises and Prayers.

After a night in my own bed, back home, sleeping with the rain making music on the tin roof and cool breezes sweeping though our bedroom I can honestly say.....I'm still tired.


Thank you all for the prayers. We met and bonded with new friends. Through 5 days of clinic the medical folks [American and Haitian] saw over 670 patients [over 500 school children checks], I think there were over 300 eye checks with many pairs of reading glasses given out.

Pastor Kip taught pastors and lay leaders and Cory taught about nutrition and gardening. We touched lives as they touched ours.

We enjoyed some perks in Cap Haitian: great food, hot showers, air conditioning and ice cream.

I thoroughly enjoyed being asked questions about Haiti, life overseas or my opinion multiple times a day.

In our house "Did you know?" frequently fills the air as each of us look for someone to teach the interesting fact we just learned.

This week provided us with a team eager to learn and ask questions so we did not need to search for someone to teach or share our insights.

No major issues with flashbacks to the field hospital. Medically 90% of our time consisted of well child checks and a chance to educate.

The two main teaching points we focused on consisted of choosing to use one's money wisely by buying vegetables, fruit, eggs or peanuts over pop, sugar drinks or cheese puffs.

 Second major point due to all the children receiving treatment for GI worms in school consisted of pointing out many dirty finger nails and explaining the important of not just washing hands after using the bathroom or before eating but also keeping the nails clean of dirt.


Lots of talking during clinics as well as with the team at meals and after clinics. As I already noted I enjoy teaching, especially information that can help prevent future problems.

Those of you who know me already know this part. Many would label me as an extrovert and Cory as being introverted.

In truth I am close to 50/50. I can enjoy time spent with people and groups but this does not energize me.


At the end of a team I'm greatly in need for some time of reflection, time by myself or just with our family to recharge and prepare for the next interaction.

To be honest without the Lord's strength I could easily be happy staying at home with my books, cross stitch and family and only interact with others for a few hours at church on Sundays.

 But the Lord helps me to overcome this urge to stay in the house during the week by providing the push and strength or sometimes just sending people to the house for me.


I say all this because I feel that your prayers helped me and our family to have a wonderful week with the team last week. Next Thursday we will welcome a team of our own from Michigan for a week of ministry and connecting them with Haiti.

On Saturday, November 9th Pastor Emmanuel's family will hold the funeral for Mme. Emmanuel, a dear women, who lived right here on campus and treated us like family.

We need your prayers again. Specifically as we prepare for the team arranging Kid's club meetings, tours, small projects, meals and transportation.

That our family can power up again to teach and be gracious hosts.

 Please pray we stay healthy and get rested up mentally and physically.

Pray we can bless this team and accomplish all the Lord has planned. Thank you.

Road Open-thank you for the prayers.

The end of the week flew by-sorry for not updating sooner.

Thank you for the prayers.

By Wednesday the road toward Cap remained open although anyone who traveled to Port Margot for market day got turned back by the Haitian police.

Cory and Scott went to market today and reported [Cory didn't have our camera along] that the police station did mostly burn down along with an old pick-up truck. While the front of the station was brick the back burnt down. They did not see one policeman in Port Margot this morning.

We hear that the police were to release all the folks they locked up following the protests.

No word yet from Mme. Fanny about her son. As of Friday she still was not feeling well.

Cory did pick up Scott on Wed. and with his interests in plants and medicine we've enjoyed talking with him. He plans to go with Cory next week to visit LaGonave.

Eli and Anna worked very hard on school work this week and we're very close to the 50% mark of our school year.

Cory's guys moved breadfruit trees from pots to large plastic sacks getting ready for distribution.

The baby Artemisia plants continue to grow in their trays. 

Stamped 33 new books [mostly bought by Cory on Wed. while in Cap] for the Book Herder project.

Continue to work on translation of additional topics for the Konsey book, the 1st aid handout as well as getting an E-mail update ready to go and some thank you letters for next week's mail.

Isaac Report and Update.

Tropical storm Isaac provided parts of Haiti with heavy rains and wind but only light rain here at Fauche.

Praying for those in areas with flooding and those who lost tin off their roofs.

Thank you very much to those who prayed for Haiti's safety from Isaac!

Living in a small home or even worse a small tent is never ideal in Haiti but under these conditions very miserable, with health considerations.

Thankful because it could have been much worse for Haiti.

Work on the agricultural book continues with now over 50 pages in book form [no illustrations added yet.]

Next month at this time we should be in a rental car driving North to Michigan from Florida. Continue to work on the US schedule and appointments. Our speaking schedule found here: Thede Visits

We will continue to update as we learn more about the various events. Hope to see many of you during this trip.

Next week Cory will travel to Southern Haiti if the roads remain passable. We will finish up our school year and start to prepare the house for our departure.

Prayer Requests from our August E-mail Update: 

• Missionary Flights International regulatory issues: Our mail service and the plane we're due to fly out on Sept. 25th
• Bedonia, daughter of LaGonave hospital administrator Met. Rousvel, continues to heal from surgery.
• Thankful that Cory's trip to Port-au-Prince July 24-26th to renew truck papers and visit Love a Child mission/orphanage went well.
• Church leadership-national and local levels. For their families as well as ministries. 
• Clinic almost empty due to a new, cheap clinic in Port Margot and the road issues.
• Merline, LaGonave's mission bookkeeper, Mme. Felicien's daughter and a dear friend, married an American over 1 year ago but still hasn't received her visa to travel to the USA. 
• Creole Health books. Second book translation going slowly. Need a good translator for revision of the first book before reprint.
• Thankful to have our trip to New York set up and all Sunday mornings full. Scheduling weekday activities. Return travel now set.
• Soft rains for the gardens but protection from hurricanes and violent wind storms. 
• Eli and Anna down to 10 days of school. Will enjoy a long weekend and then get a head-start on the new school year before we travel to the USA. 
• End of August evangelism outreach planned for the Fauche church.
• Missionary health and travel safety.

As the rains came down, the river went up.

Sunday morning to be in time for Sunrise service we left the house in the dark at 5:40 a.m.

Wet earlier in week..but a new spot kept them dry last night.

The service started at Cowman school at 6:30 a.m. We enjoyed the singing, preaching and then breakfast with others serving in the area. 

About 50 folks attended and I met three other  foreign women doctors as well as several nurses. 

Thankfully no one needed medical care.

A short rain storm delayed our drive home and the rain appeared to follow us back.

 The afternoon service occurred between rain showers and everyone enjoyed a short service followed by a meal.

 The early church shared their possessions and often ate together as we did yesterday. 

Then the rains really started in and included huge blasts of thunder that rattled our house. 

A leak made its self known in the kitchen, reminding us to pray for our neighbors who's homes normally leak and flood with heavy rains.

All through the night the heavy rains waxed and waned.

 The lightening and thunder time and time again woke me up to pray for the neighborhood.

 As expected the morning light found Cory's rain gauge overflowing it's 6.5 inch capacity.

Brother Yvon's house which two years ago suffered from a landslide received even more damage but thankfully his daughter jumped out of bed just in time to avoid injury as the mud and dirt pushed in the wall and destroyed two rooms and furniture.

Peanut crops planted in the river bed washed away along with precious topsoil, goats and cows.

 The river also swept away a man who thankfully survived to be pulled from the river waters downstream.

Light rains continued on and off today making for a quiet day, with little activity on campus. 

Wish we could send the extra rain and water to other parts of Haiti that need it [minus the topsoil]. 

Rice & beans, beet salad, fried cooking bananas, fried chicken.

 Happy Easter. Tonight our family will enjoy a Easter meal as yesterday's supper at 4:40 p.m. did not leave space for another meal. Not pictured small bags of popcorn, a small piece of cake and a drink.

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.

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.

Call to Prayer 16 May

Yesterday Pastor Jonas talked about a changed Haiti. Not because of the new government but because of the country wide prayer on Friday night claiming Haiti for God.

A three day wide Billy Graham Association evangelistic campaign will be held across Haiti June 21-23. Every television channel, radio will cover this campaign with the rural areas showing it on DVD's. Here is some information I found on-line:

http://goodnewsdaily.net/with-situation-in-haiti-still-dire-billy-graham-evangelistic-association-offers-hope/.

Yesterday as I sat listening to the announcement encouraging folks to invite their friends and neighbors I started to think how I would encourage you to partner with this wonderful opportunity. Imagine my delight when the sermon passage mirrored what I planned to say.

The message talked about the good seed of the Gospel message falling on different types of bad and good soil. A couple of times Cory was pointed out as farmer who understands planting seeds. Most of us know that a seed has a much better chance if planted in good soil with proper amounts of light, rain and fertilizer. Removing the rocks and thorns, keeping the birds and pests away increase the chances of a good harvest.

Join us in praying that people will be prepared to hear the Good Word. We know that Satan will not want this campaign to change lives and ultimately the country.

• Pray that everyone in Haiti will be able to hear the Good News.
• Pray for good travel for those in charge and good health.
• Pray for protection of the equipment and that electricity will be available for these days.
• Pray for good weather.
• Pray that hard hearts will be prepared to hear and receive the freedom that can only come from our Lord and Savior.
• Pray that those who make decisions for the Lord will be able to grow in their faith and not return to the old temptations and ways of life.

You can make a difference in Haiti right now by praying. Thank you.

28th April Prayer Requests

-Continued protests [including LaGonave] and violence due to the results of the legislative elections.

-A lady who runs volleyball programs on campus and at other locations and ships items in via shipping containers is being sued over an accident with one of the company trucks and a motorcycle driver who was only slightly injured.

-Continued prayers for the 2 mission vehicles and a container in customs for the work on LaGonave and earthquake rebuild.

-Pray for Gille's daughter who needs a visa to travel with the rest of the family.

-Praying for the WISH board meeting and ministry on LaGonave.

-Thankful for our support team: financial and prayer. Still trying to finalize a couple church visits for this summer.

-Thankful that our road is now open and politically things are calm here lately.

-Thankful that Chris and Kathleen have seats on MFI to come and visit us for the month of June-overlapping my brother Todd's family/team visit [only 6 weeks 6 days away!]

-Thankful to Cory for helping with the translation of the Creole Health book into English and an offer to translate and publish it into Spanish. Still working on this project-hope to send part of the book off by tomorrow.

-Thankful for the time spent every day learning with my children. [a huge change from 7 years ago or so]

Thankful for the life full of blessings that the Lord continues to shower on me.

13 April.

School day declared finished and 'Spring Break' officially started. Basically the time arrived to pack and straighten the house so called it quits.

Read today that the official results of the Presidential elections which were to be released on the 14th will be delayed until the 18th. If all remains calm we travel back home on Tuesday the 19th so please pray for things to remain calm.

Heard today that Chris and Kathleen Sloan plan to join us for the month of June!! You may remember that they spent 8 months working with us and Chris is now finishing up his 1 st year of medical school. Now to work on tickets.

A prayer request for our area. Last week I shared about the pastor who feared being attacked over his association with the man who won the local deputy race. Well a couple times since then we heard large groups of people walking down the road, making lots of noise. We also heard gun shots one night and were told it was due to this group protesting the deputy election. Cory learned yesterday that they continue to cause trouble..have nailed the Wesleyan church door shut in Ti Bouk and causing other problems like digging a trench 1/2 way across the road.

Politics in Haiti can become violent fast. Revenge also takes place. Last year just down the road from us an man fresh out of prison was killed after beating up a motorcycle taxi driver and steeling the bike. Please pray for a peaceful end to this groups frustration. Pray that people learn that God's love works much better than violence.

If all goes well we will be back home late on Tuesday the 19th. Don't know if I'll have a chance to blog or not. Thank you for your prayers.

28th March...warming up.

The temperature continues it's creeping upward....nothing like on LaGonave but still when the days start to hit 90 or more we know that summer's arrival will happen in the weeks to come.

Eli and Anna completed the first 1/3 of their school year so the 'warm-up' period is well past us. The goal--to complete the next 1/3 prior to Todd's visit and our trip to the USA...2 1/2 months. Will need to keep up a nice pace. "Spring Break" will occur in mid-April when we travel to attend missionary retreat.

Cory heard today during a shopping/bank trip to Limbé that a general strike hit Port-au-Prince, protesting a jump of close to .50 cents a gallon of gas making it $4.88 a gallon. This means that folks deciding to drive on a strike day could very well become a target of the angry folks who called for the strike.

Thankful today that 4 young people joined our prayer team this week. I think it would be interesting if by looking at a person you could tell how faithful of a prayer partner they were or the intensity of their prayers. I often share in churches that I don't think that children's prayers are smaller or weaker than the adults and they may even be stronger.

So as we actively recruit prayer partners ..we don't have any restrictions on who you are, your age, health, strength, lanugage abilities ....and so forth. You just need to agree to pray for us once a week [but we encourage you to pray as often as the Lord brings us to mind]

18 March Elections, prayers, praises

A windy day alternating between rain and sun. Overall cool weather so didn't hear many kids in school today. Today and yesterday distant drums fill the afternoon air.

Our days focus on school and office work. Cory talked to several people yesterday about plants and grafting. The office work includes making contacts and plans for this summer's travel.

Please pray for presidential elections on Sunday. John Pierre who normally travels to Cap Haitian several times a week will be staying home, choosing not to travel. Warnings of potential violence and how to best prepare have arrived from the US embassy. We don't plan to go anywhere.

Please pray as well concerning my brother Todd's team due to visit us in June. We thought last Friday that the purchase of all the needed tickets was completed but we wait for conformation on the flights into/out of Haiti.

Praise! I visited Pastor Jonas's wife a couple of days ago and she reports feeling much better. No more voices in her head since she restarted medications following a visit to a new clinic. Our clinic doesn't handle most psychiatric cases therefore carry only a mild antidepressant.

Praise- received a request for 75 adult health books and 50 children's from an organization working in Southern Haiti. We're thankful that the book will touch lives throughout Haiti where we've never visited.

March 16 Plant delivery.

Late yesterday Cory and the guys loaded the truck full of banana & bamboo plants and a couple other trees in preparation to today's trip up the mountains to Plaisance.

They left about 7 am and were waved through a UN/police checkpoint when they entered Plaisance. At the Wesleyan school they learned that presidential candidate Michel Martelly would visit the town later in the day.

Needless to say they unloaded the plants, talked briefly about the distribution and headed back home, seeing at least 12 UN vehicles (mostly armored carriers) in town. Even with a short stop in Limbee for vegetables they returned to campus before noon.

REMINDER: Please continue to pray for the Presidential Elections on Sunday, March 20. Folks are starting to gather supplies in case things heat up politically and it becomes unsafe to travel. If Martelly doesn't win protests are likely.

Home ministries time always takes a bit of advanced planning. With only 8 Sundays on average a year in the USA and 35 supporting churches we need to work out a schedule to visit in advance so we fill up our dates.

Today we contacted a few of our churches by E-mail and already one church responded positively. Not only that they requested we come for the evening service! Yea. Not many churches continue to have Sunday night services and this will free up the morning for another supporting church. Please join us in prayer as we contact churches and work on travel plans, as we want to use our time in the USA efficiently and wisely.

March 9th.

The long noisy carnival weekend ended yesterday. Compassion program activities during the last two days sounded like lots of fun making it hard for my two students to focus on school work.

While the noise level fell far below what normally occurs in the larger cities we still heard the distant noise of a ra-ra band on and off yesterday afternoon. Monday night, after dark a voice at the back, kitchen window drew our attention. An older man stood there asking for cigarettes and alcohol. His slurred speech and the smell of his breath indicated his drunken state. He left after I assured him both as a doctor and a missionary that we had neither item and that they were not good for him!

Late afternoon drama came to the house in the form of Anna wiping her eye with fingers that had held a tree frog. The burning eye caused tears even after minutes of standing in the shower, rinsing her eye out. Thankfully with some soothing drops and antibiotic ointment the pain left allowing her to sleep normally. Thank you to those who prayed for us Monday night.

Reports indicate the carnival violence rose this year. We pray that during the next 11 days, ending the presidential campaign season with elections on March 20th that no further violence occurs.

I wish you could smell the air around our house these days. While we really don't have a spring season that those who experience winter enjoy we do enjoy the sweet smell of orange blossoms and tropical flowers. Not the same as cheery daffodils or tulips but nice in their own way.