February 10, 2014

Today we were reminded of one of the many reasons our team comes to Haiti. A group went to Degeance, a mountain school, to hold an OB clinic and take photos for the Mission Possible sponsorship program. The photo team took photos of around 250 students. The photo team also took 350 photos at MPCA. The OB clinic reached 47 women who heard about the clinic through word of mouth. 19 of these women were pregnant and got to listen to their baby’s heartbeat. The medical team treated women, babies, and children with a variety of illnesses. One of the little boys the medical team treated had broken his leg in October. He still had the sutures in his leg from over three months ago. The team was able to remove the sutures, clean his wound, and give him an antibiotic. These are the kind of circumstances that bring our medical team to Haiti year after year. We continue to see God’s provision in the people He brings to the clinics for us to treat.

The construction team was back at it this morning working on the roof at Chardene. They built and painted trusses and continued putting on the new metal roof over one of the school buildings.

Mark continued installing the electrical wiring in Rachel’s Inn today. The building will be up and running for our new team coming on Wednesday.

It’s hard to believe tomorrow is our second team’s last day. We are ready to finish strong and welcome a new team in the coming days. We’re thankful for the Lord’s provision and faithfulness.

“I am not ashamed because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day.” 2 Timothy 1:12

February 9, 2014

Bonswa, (Good evening)

Sundays are always a good time for our teams here in Haiti.  We wake up early, have our personal devotion time, get dressed, have breakfast and are off to St Mark Great Evangelical church by 7:00am. Today our team shared cardboard testimonies.  They wrote a short testimony of how their life was before they knew Christ and on the other side of the cardboard they wrote about their life after meeting Christ.  The testimonies were written in Creole for the church to read while the testimonies were being shared, a few of our ladies sang Amazing Grace in four part harmony.  Pastor Lynn spoke from Hebrews 13 about six exhortations to the church.  After the sermon we shared communion with our Haiti brothers and sisters in Christ.  Beniswa Bõndye! (Praise God!)

Dan Groman spoke at St. Mark Assembly of Saints in the afternoon.  His message was from Ephesians 6:12. This was another wonderful time spent with believers here in Haiti. 

Lynn and Liane spent the afternoon and evening speaking at a parenting seminar for church members.  They have been blessed and encouraged by the response. 

Tomorrow we are back to hard work, so we are thankful for the refreshing of the Sunday services. 

Ke Bondye beni ou (God bless you) and Bõn nuit (Good night)

Heather H.

February 7, 2014

Tonight our team is sitting around enjoying an evening of games and cards.  This team has worked hard and gotten into the swing of things quickly.

Today our finish carpenters ,Wynn and Mahlon, worked on making cupboards and shelving for MPCA school and clinic. Painters were kept busy staining the cupboards and scraping and painting the walls in the eating area.  Jeff Laing has been drawing and updating blue prints.  Mark and crew are putting new wiring in Rachel’s Inn.  Some of the construction team were at Chardene school working on a new roof. Painting on the other roofs will begin tomorrow. 

The nurses had two seminars today. Forty two women from Dupin came to the seminar, 32 of which were pregnant.  Two needed to be sent to a clinic in Pierre  Payen because of high blood pressure. Lanzac had 20 women attend.  These seminars were mainly for women who attend our churches. 

Liane’s sewing classes are a big success.  She has more ladies attending than expected and she even had to turn several away due to lack of materials.  Most are church ladies but several aren’t.  It is a great outreach to the community.    

A photography team went to Dupin, and Lanzac schools to update pictures of 450 students.  Everyone enjoys this assignment because it’s a day spent with the children.  Katie Hieronimus made a special connection with a little girl named Madjindie. She is in preschool and an orphan.  She has also lost her grandparents.  Katie was able to tell Madjindie that she also lost her daddy.   I think it was an instant bond for them.  Katie plans to be her sponsor when she gets home. 

Please keep praying.

Love to all our friends and family,

Heather H. 

February 5, 2014

Wednesday has been a sad but happy day as we say good bye to the fab five and hello to a new team.   Tyler, Lauren, Jeremy, Tom and Megan we will miss you dearly.  Welcome to the week 2 team!  We are glad you made it safely here out of the snow and to the 90 degree sunny weather.  For those of us who stayed behind our day was spent cleaning the mission center in preparation for our new team. Jean our hotel concierge kept us all organized with sleeping arrangements and clean linens. Jeff L., Jon, Steve S., and Jacob and later Steve A. went up to Chardane to begin working on the roof.  Liane held her second sewing class with the help of Shari and Anne continued her teaching at the nursing school.  God is good! All the Time! And all the time! God is good! We are so blessed to be able to serve our Risen Lord.

Shout Outs

Jean – Hello to Gordon, my Family and Omega I love you and miss you all

Steve S – To Earline and Olivia I love you and miss you both!!

Tara – To my Kids I made is save.  Love you and miss you bunches already!!

Krystal – To all my family and friends I love you all and Thank You for your prayers keep them coming

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February 4, 2014

Happy Tuesday! We are nearly finished with the roof on Rachel’s Inn. The team has been hard at work climbing on the roof to finish it by tomorrow. Once the ridge cap is put on, the roof will be done! The plan is to begin putting the roof on Chardene later this week. Jeff Laing and Jon went to Chardene today to take measurements and order the roofing supplies.

It rained a lot last night so we didn’t get to travel to the schools today because we were worried about getting stuck in the mud. Pam, Anne, and Krystal did go to the Nursing School though. They worked in the pharmacy section of the school and organized supplies.

A paint crew painted two apartment rooms today at the Mission Center. We painted the walls and the ceiling after the drop ceiling was torn out. Tomorrow we will finish painting the cabinets and it will be ready to house a new group of people this week!

It’s hard to believe the first week is over and part of our crew is heading back to Ohio. Maybe they will bring back some of the warm weather to melt the snow at home. We are excited for new people to arrive, though. Keep praying for us!

Shout Outs:

From Steve Amstutz: Hey Jana! Miss you like crazy…I am doing great and feeling blessed being here…the people are beautiful and we will have a lot to talk about when I get home! I pray you are doing alright and can’t wait to see you in a week! Love you, Steve.

From Jacob Suter: Hey mom, dad, and favorite siblings, it’s been 80 degrees and sunny every day this week so I hope you are enjoying the cold and snow. Looking forward to seeing everyone especially the Pizza Princess! Jacob

From Shari: Happy Birthday Dillon! I wish I could be with you for your special day but know that I’m thinking of you and I love you.

From Anne:  Hi My Daughters (Alyssa, Kayla, & Addie… Daddy too ;)   I love you and Miss you VERY MUCH.  Enjoy the Snow… Make another Snowman Oleuf for me ;) 

From Jeff Laing: God is so good. These people have so much of what counts. Hello Linda, Brianna, Clay, Aaron and Adam. Miss you so much. Saved by grace.

From Jeremy Basinger: Dear Mom, I miss you Mom. So so much, Mom. You are the best, Mom. Love you Mom. Mama’s Boy 4eva.

Hi Dru.

From Pam: To Bethany, my favorite child. I miss you.

From Mark: Dear Amy, my favorite child. I miss you.

February 2, 2014

Feb 2

Sunday started with a very emotional church service at St Marc with Lauren, Katie and Tyler providing special music.  Jeff Lange gave an inspiring introduction of the team.  Pastor Herva was prayed over by the congregation in honor of his birthday.  Tyler gave an inspirational message from Matthew 9:31-38.  The rest of the day spent doing what God intended the seventh day to be (napping and laundry…lol)  The food continues to be plentiful.

February 1, 2014

Feb 1

Saturday was a long busy day with extra projects added.  The Mission Center is now RAT FREE in the ceilings because the drop ceilings are now gone.  Lots of dead rats were laid to rest…lol  We decided to paint the ceilings black with looks very nice.  Half the framing is done for Rachel’s Inn.  Hopefully the tin will be going up Monday.  We are still questioning how many Americans it takes to fix a Haitian oven. 

Teaching continued for Anne Shari at the Nursing school with CPR and OB classes.  First test were given and scores were good.  It’s helpful they can read French J 

A nice end to the day was a quick swim in the Ocean