busy couple of days

The team is off now.  We dropped them off just before seven this morning at the airport and since I haven't received any phone calls I am assuming all has gone well there.  Becca and I really enjoyed spending time with them and we are sorry to see them go.

After leaving the airport I dropped Becca off at Christian Light Ministries for her first full day of working with the children at Sherrie Fausey's school.  She was a bit nervous but I know she is going to do great.  Hopefully she'll be able to post something about her day here on the blog tonight when she gets home.

We've had a busy few days here in Haiti.  On Friday the team headed out to Fond des Blancs, a village nestled in the mountains just north of Port-au-Prince.  I was planning on going with them and had agreed to drive a few days before we were to go.  Friday morning however, Becca reminded me that I was supposed to go pick up the mail that morning and that it would only be available for pick up from 8:30-11:30 am.  Mail comes in once a week from the States and is flown here from Florida by Missionary Flights International.  We are only allowed to pick it up on Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:30-11:30.  While we are here I am responsible for picking up not only the Chapel's mail, but also for all the MAF pilots and all the mail that is flown to the missionaries on the island of La Gonave.

Pastor Martinez told me it would take about an hour to drive to the town of Cazalle, from which the team would then walk the rest of the way to the village as there is no road in.  We were planning on leaving Port-au-Prince at 6:30 which, after an hour driving out and then an hour driving back into the city would put me back here in plenty of time to get the mail.  Well, after leaving much later than 6:30, and after an hour and a half of driving and one river crossing we were still not at the drop off point.  I was beginning to realize that I would not be making it to get the mail. Finally, about two hours after leaving Port-au-Prince, we arrived at the drop off point.  I called Becca back in the city and asked her to get a message to someone from MAF telling them I would not be able to get the mail and then began the trek in to the village.

Aside from the intense heat, the walk wasn't too bad.  We had some beautiful views as we walked parallel to a river and snaked our way up the side of a mountain and then down into a valley where the village was located.  We stopped a few times along the way and at one point were able to enjoy some mangos that were growing along the trail.  Since Pastor Martinez is 68, he set the pace for most of the time and after an hour or so of walking we arrived at the village.

Our purpose was to distribute some food with the funds raised by DBC's gleanings offering.  The people of the village knew we were coming and they knew what we were coming to do so there was a small crowd gathered by the time we arrived.  After a brief water break the process of distributing the food began.  Within a few seconds we had a mob scene on our hands.  People were trying whatever they could to get to the front of the line to ensure they got some food.  There were literally women crawling over each other and a few of us had to physically block them from storming the place where the food was.  Eventually we were able to distribute all the food and some clothes and the mob began to dissipate.

These people are surviving, but barely.  They are desperate and desperate people do desperate things.  We were able to distribute some food, but not nearly enough.  In fact, most of the food we distributed has probably already been consumed and now they are looking to where they can find more.  It can be discouraging at times to see such overwhelming need and know that you'll never meet it all.  The important thing, as Pastor Martinez reminded us that evening, is to be faithful with what you have, and commit them to God.  That is what we are called to do and I can say that on Friday, Danville Baptist Church was faithful in the sight of God.

So, the mail is still sitting there, waiting to be picked up.  I'll get to it on Wednesday.  Instead I was reminded again of the pure desperation there is here.  I'd seen it many times before, but it was good to be reminded.  People are hungry and often have no idea where the next meal is coming from.  At times I'm tempted to question why I was born in such a land of abundance, but being faithful is more important than wondering why.  To whom much is given, much is expected.

Work

Our wonderful team wears many hats. From 9:00 to 11:30(ish) am they are VBS workers; running, playing, hugging, talking, creating with tons of children that seemed to multiply each day they were there. In the afternoons they turned into mighty concrete machines. They had piles of bricks that were in front of Pastor Martinez's house, but needed to be in the back of his house. Our team did not hesitate! They threw on their work clothes, work gloves, bandannas, and off they went. Now normally a line of people are made from where the blocks are to where the blocks need to be, then they start passing the blocks or conrete. This time Our team had the task of making their line go down stairs! They were amazing, and I think moved all they needed in record time! See for yourself!!

"Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways! You shall eat the fruit of labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you."

Psalm 128:1-2

Happy Birthday!

Yesterday was Trevor's 16th birthday! We celebrated with a basketball game, cake, and team time on the roof! For the first time I made a cake. Not only that, but I made them in Haiti! As I was frosting the cake the frosting kept melting because it is really hot here :) All in all they came out looking fine, and everyonw ate them, and are still here! Happy Birthday Trevor!!!!

VBS

Today was the second day of VBS. We have a team from our church in Daville, NH down staying with a Haitian pastor, and working on his ministry as well as hosting a VBS for his church. Most of them have been here before, but there are a few new ones! It has been so much fun seeing the enthusiasm to work and help from the team members who have not been here before, and to laugh about the memories we have with the "seasoned" team members (I meant "seasoned" like they have been here more then once, not old. Although, we do have some old ones on the team as well, sorry dad). :)

Rebecca is doing a great job teaching the children about Ruth, and Erik is translating for her.

Donna Edwinson is in charge of the games, along with Trevor and Cody! I wish I could have captured the expression on the children's faces when she brought out the parachute!

Donna Burleigh is in charge of crafts. It is not easy to pass out the crafts with 60 children on you :)

"Rejoice in the Lord always.........

Again I say REJOICE!!!!"

Philippians 3:1

busy day ahead

We have a busy day ahead of us today.  We'll be heading down to the airport this morning to help pick up the team from Danville Baptist Church and bringing them to Pastor Martinez's house so they can get settled.  Soon after that I'll take my Dad, who is coming with the team, up to Hotel Montana in Petionville for Marc's graduation.  While he is there I'll probably go with the team over to Eglise Bethesda so they can check out the place where they will be doing their VBS next week.

Then, this evening,  Karl, Ann and I will be taking Becca to the Villa Creole for dinner to celebrate her birthday!  Becca turns a quarter century today!  I keep reminding her that this is only 5 years away from 30 and for some reason this doesn't excite her.

New York City

Today while Karl and Luke were working in the church office I decided to play with the children from the orphanage. We were playing Frisbee and having a blast when the boys came and took over our (the girls) game. The girls were bummed so I decided that we were going to paint our nails. Now some of the girls already had their nails painted, but when I got out my nail stuff they all gathered and were amazed at all the colors of nail polish that I had laid out before them! Now the nail polish I had was a collection dated back from my high school years, so some of the colors were just a bit bizzar, but nonetheless so much fun. The last color I pulled out was red….” I want to look like New York City”, “Can you paint me like New York CIty too?” I heard from all around me. I looked at them and asked them what they meant, and they said that everyone in New York City has red fingernails. I told them that not everyone did, but they were not believing me. So after about 45 minutes of painting every girl’s nails we all looked like New York City :)
On another note; Luke’s dad and a team from our home church in Danville, NH are flying down to Florida this afternoon. They will spend the night in Florida, and then venture their way to Haiti tomorrow morning. Please pray for safe travel and open hearts for this team. There are some people on the team who have not been to Haiti before! Please pray for them too! Thanks guys, you are all so great! Love to all :)

Here

We are here!!! We arrived Tuesday afternoon after a long but safe flight from Boston to Miami, then Miami to Haiti. We had no problems with our bags, and were greeted excitedly by Karl and Ann! Luke has been like a child in a candy store bouncing around here as if he never left. It has been fun to watch him pick up Creole (the Haitian language) and connect with friends.
We have only been here for a couple of days, but already having a blast! We went up to Baptist Mission Mountain yesterday for lunch with Karl and Ann. Then went to visit some other friends last night. Karl and Ann will be leaving next week for the summer, and we have a team of people from our home church in NH coming on Saturday to work with a Haitian pastor.
Next week Luke will start working at the church, and I am getting ready to start summer school with the Haitian children.
Things are going well so far! We thank all of you who continue to lift us up in your prayers and support! We cannot tell you how much we appreciate you all!

These pictures are from the place that we are staying. We are so blessed! The flowers are from the outer wall that encases the house and yard. On top of the wall is barbed wire to help protect the house from intruders that could jump the wall. There is also Mike (the dog). He is our guard dog. Also, the best part is that I have all the pets I could want! The lizards for example come from every where just to hang out and eat bugs. Hope you enjoy :)