February 16, 2014

Hey all! This morning for church we traveled to St. Marc where the St. Marc church is located. This is the local church led by Pastor Herve. Needless to say we stuck out like sore thumbs but Herve had some of the church members pluck us out of where we were sitting to sit with them and I’m sure everyone from our team would agree that it was a pretty neat idea. We all felt more unified as brothers and sisters in Christ and less like visitors. I can’t help but talk about the worship we experienced this morning. 

I think it is safe to say that we were all pretty moved by the Creole language and Haitian voices booming out over the mountain side, loud enough for the entire town to hear praise to our Father. A few of us were brought to tears, myself included. I am not sure whether it was the setting, looking in front of me to see mountains in the distance and the sunshine beaming through the windows onto us, or if I was just overtaken by the compassion and love that I know the Lord has for the people of Haiti. It was truly an indescribable experience. It is such a wonderful thing to see God moving in Haiti.

After church the medical team and a few volunteers stayed to set up a clinic at the church. We all agreed it went very smooth and we were able to give care to about 130 people, church members and community members alike. We had three translators with us today and several nursing students and English students that were there to witness their teachers in action translating for us. It is such a great thing, they want to learn our language as much as I’m sure a lot of us would like to know theirs. We had a lot of the same complaints we’ve been seeing as we’ve given care over the past few days but I can say we are running like a well-oiled machine now that we are 5 days in! Turns out you can turn any room into a full functioning clinic J

While the medical team ran the clinic, the hard laborers of the construction team took a much needed Sabbath rest. It was a gorgeous, sunny, 85 degree weather day so everyone took advantage of the ocean and the hammocks today. All in all it was a solid day of worship, rest, and fellowship today. Below are some more shout outs to our loved ones back in frigid Ohio…

- Kathryn Bash

Thanks for all your prayers.  I have been doing finish carpentry for the first time in my life.  From chalk board trays up to and including the kitchen sink!

P.S. Larry, you can shut off my heat now.                                                                                          -David H.

Thanks for everyone’s support and prayers.  I’m feeling great. I’ve helped the medical and construction teams and also helped cook a few meals! Dad, I hope you’re being nice to Patrick!:) 

Alissa G.

Thanks for all your prayers while I have been in Haiti!  I have been doing construction almost every day and loving it.  Miss my Jackie, all my kids and grandkids!

Bob L. (BOZ)

Thanks for all your support at home. Been welding for three days and the roof is almost done. Hello to all my family, I miss you.

Ron

Earlene, I love you and the finger is still attached.

Steve

Hello to Madeline and Lincoln from Haiti! Happy 30th Birthday Nichole!

Kristen, Steven, Kathryn

See you soon Doneta, Brittany, and Amanda!

From sweaty Dad

All is going well! I miss you Will, Nathan, and Alison!

Charlie

Love and miss you all! Jack, pencil me in one of your time slots so I can tell you all about it when I get home.

Jean

Can’t wait to tell you all about everything I’ve seen and experienced so far! I miss you, Tara!

Thomas              

February 15, 2014

Yesterday (Friday) the medical staff saw 195 patients at Dupin. It was a bit crazy at times but we accomplished a lot. Today (Saturday) 100 patients were seen at Lanzac before lunch and then the medical staff enjoyed a free relaxing afternoon.

Yesterday the construction crew made good progress on the roof of the school in Chardene and should finish today. They showed their strength by manually placing the steel trusses in place with Haitian help.  Construction of a new schoolroom continued at MPCA with good progress made.

Pastors Jim & Dick, along with Pastor Herve, are leading a seminar with local pastors today, and will be preaching tomorrow (Sunday) both morning and evening.

We had three special visitors today. Sam, Daniel, and Winsor took a tour of the Mission Center. They were very pleased to see the progress as Sam was one of the original builders who built some of the Mission Possible schools. He embedded a stone cross in each of the schools and churches.

Shout outs:

Jeff - “Hi to Leah, Ben, Marco & Jack. Miss and love you a lot. Everything is going great here. Hope all is well back home. See you soon.”

Bev – “Love to family and friends. Thanks for all your prayers!”

Jeremy - “Hi and I miss you” to Ashley and Elijah.

Sarah - “I love you” to Jared, Jacob & Eli.

Dave & Kathy - “Thanks for praying, and we’re all doing well.”

Pam – “I miss my five grandsons!!”

Mary Jean – “Thanks to family and friends. I am benefiting from all the prayers. I am praying for you too! Blessed.

Liane – “Love to you, Lynn, and kids, and a special thanks to Laura for the quilt fabric!”

Heather – “Hi Hailey, Ashley, Jackson, Josie & James – miss you all!”

Katie – “Thanks for the Valentine’s Day gift, Mom. Andrew, you would love the medical clinics down here. Jenn, I miss you to the moon and back!”

Chuck & Saun – “Hi Jen & Tim, Alisha, Chris & Jen, Josh & Addie, Payton, Logan, Vera, Luke & Liv! See you soon.”

Dick & Cheryl – “Prayer Partners, we appreciate your prayers!! Family, we are experiencing life here like we did in the Philippines. Love you!”

Kathryn – “Mom, Dad, Ally, Cherilyn, I miss you all and hope all is well in chilly Ohio. I love you all and cannot with to share this experience with you!”

Lisa – “Hi Nick, Courtney, Emma, Brittany, Ashley & Elijah – miss you all! Thanks to all my prayer partners. God is faithful! I’m doing good! Keep on praying! Love you all!”

Mikaela – “Thank you all for your prayers and support! I have gotten a bruise and a tan. Mom and Chad, you guys should have come. (Mom, lots of people agree.)”

Diane – “Happy birthday, Mark! Missing all of you. Take care, and I will be home soon! Love to you all, and thanks for praying.”

Jim-Hi Pat and Family, all is well, having a blast.

February 14, 2014

Happy Valentine’s Day from Mission Possible in Lanzac, Haiti. We mention Valentine’s Day because everyone, I mean everyone, is wanting us to wish their family at home loving, endearing, and heartfelt wishes. We are, of course, obliging; however, Train and Reigie owe Dave their dessert for the rest of the week. So if you reading this and are a wife, husband, sweetheart, brother, sister, child, parent, grandparent, or pet, Happy Valentine’s Day!!

In the medical emergency area, while working with sheet steel, young Thomas Fett suffered what initially was reported as a gaping wound to his calf which required immediate medical attention.  The medical crew, however, reported treatment involving a Snoopy band-aid.  Although he is not known for it, Caleb Elsea demonstrated impressive song and dance skills after backing into some live electrical wires.  “Sparky” as he is now affectionately known, is doing fine.  I can assure you that the team is taking every precaution to be careful.  However, these young guys including Ben Moser are somewhat preoccupied with their Valentine sweethearts (for whom they forgot to get gifts.)

Believe it or not, we did get some work done on Thursday:

·       The medical team connected with 140 children and adults.

·       One construction team built and painted metal trusses and installed steel roofing.

·       Another team built cabinets.

·       Another group painted doors, cabinets, and jambs.

·       Still another group installed new doors on the mission center.

·       And others performed various maintenance tasks.

Dave & Kathy Brauen

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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