Bonswa! (Good Evening),

God is so good. Mission Possible has been diligent about training Haitian men and women to lead the next generation in Haiti-both scholastically, and especially spiritually. What we are witnessing this very week is another such blessing.  

The medical teams are flourishing with exhaustive preparation and remarkable data entry. This information is invaluable. Pam's groups are seeing the majority of students that are enrolled at each school. Today the medical team went to Degeance and examined 88 preschool through grade 6 - just girls! Pam was joined by Jean (Hi Gordon), Carly, Jennifer, Sandy, and Whitney (Whitney's sister Kelly shares a birthday today with Whitney's new sponsor child!) It is encouraging to see our group light up when telling stories about the children they were blessed to see.

The sewing team had another huge day at the Mission Center, There were 35 women working on their projects today under Liane's tutelage. Assisting were Elaine, Linda, and Cindy. The excitement from those projects is contagious. These women are so proud of what they are learning and accomplishing.

The construction projects have been truly groundbreaking this year. The mission groups have been accustomed to coming down and doing project after project without too much thought about long-term hand-offs. This has changed! Starting this year, we have been directed to start teaching certain school and church leaders how to do what we do. We are teaching wood working, welding, grinding, painting, staining....it has been such a blessing! Mark has been supported by Heather, Jeff H., Steve, Jon, Jacob, Mahlon, Winn, Chris, Stan, Wes, and Jeff L. The Hatian group we have the privilege of working with includes; Josep, Jean (Jon), Dolne', Maurice, Joseph, Zuckerlange, Raymond, Lifaite, Wilma, Lebston, Michael, and Marc.

The final blessing to mention is the marriage class taught by Lynn and Liane. It is titled; Foundations of Stable and Happy Homes. It is heartwarming to see many of the familiar faces we interact with through the years sitting with their spouse and honoring them by being a part of something bigger and better than themselves. 

Please keep praying for the many needs in Haiti. To be a small part of God's big plan is a privilege. There are many issues going on here that aren't in the news. Relationships are being formed. This is such a special time. God bless you all. 

PS: We have been having some difficulty with loading pictures so we have created a flickr account to share some pictures: www.flickr.com/groups/2757685@N25/pool/

February 10, 2015

MP team Mon. Feb. 9, 2015

What a glorious start of our week!  A team went to Chardene to provide physicals to the girls of the school. Just under 200 hundred girls were given eye screenings, physical check ups, ear washing-as needed, and the same with medications.  We are so excited that Jennifer is with us and setting up a data base for all the medical stats.  Lynn, Jean, Cindy, Heather Whitney, Carly, Pam, Sandy, and Jen, along with the five Haitian interpreters, were grateful for how smoothly the process was.

The ladies from Lanzac for sewing class are back.  Thirty four in attendance, some from last year have returned and brought friends.  Laine, Elaine, and Linda from our team were delighted to witness the ladies as they helped each other on their quilt projects and enjoy their time together.  

History was made yesterday as some of the Haitian leaders of the Mission Possible schools as well as pastors joined forces with the men of our construction crew to  begin the building of desks.  After a wonderful time of song and prayer the men from our team began instructing the leaders in the use of power tools such has a drill press, chop saw, and grinders. Mahlon took the opportunity to show what not to do when working with power tools at his own expense.  He is fine and has now provided us with a story to tell about this year's trip.  While Wyn, and Mahlon focused on the classroom cabinets Steve, Jacob, Jon, Mark, Jeff H., and Jeff L. successfully communicated the desk making process despite not being able to speak Creole. God blessed them with a enriching first day together. 

Please pray for our team members traveling from Canada that are to join us on Tuesday, safety for our construction crew (put and extra one in for Mahlon), and for God to continue to bless the growing relationships. 

Some photos of our trip can be found at the following link:

www.flickr.com/groups/2757685@N25/

MP team: Mon. Feb. 9, 2015

What a glorious start of our week!  A team went to Chardon to provide physicals to the girls of the school.  Just under 200 hundred girls were given eye screenings, physical check ups, ear washing as needed and the same with medication.  We are so excited that Jen is with us and setting up a data base for all the medical stats.  Lynn, Jean, Cindy, Heather Whitney, Carly, Pam, Sandi, and Jen along with the 5 Haitian interpreters were grateful for how smoothly the process ran.

The ladies from Lanzac for sewing class are back.  Thirty four in attendance, some from last year have returned and brought friends.  Laine, Elaine, and Linda from our team were delighted to witness the ladies as they helped each other on their quilt projects and enjoy their time together.  

History was made yesterday as some of the Haitian leaders of the Mission Possible schools as well as pastors joined forces with the men of our construction crew to  begin the building of desks.  After a wonderful time of song and prayer the men from our team began instructing the leaders in the use of power tools such has a drill press, chop saw, and grinders. Mahlon took the opportunity to show what not to do when working with power tools at his own expense.  He is fine and has now provided us with a story to tell about this year's trip.  While Wyn, and Mahlon focused on the classroom cabinets Steve, Jacob, Jon, Mark, Jeff H., and Jeff L. successfully communicated the desk making process despite not being able to speak Creole. God blessed them with a enriching first day together. 

Please pray for our team members traveling from Canada that are to join us on Tuesday, safety for our construction crew (put and extra one in for Mahlon), and for God to continue to bless the growing working relationships. 

       

Haiti February 2015

Saturday February 7, 2015
We made it! The airport travel went very smoothly and as planned, no complaints and no lost luggage! The two hour trip from the airport to the mission center also went smoothly, and it was enlightening to see the Haitian culture. Most of us are enjoying the lack of snow, although the humidity may be ruining some of our hairs dos. We are all very thankful for the safe travel and will enjoy our night of rest!


Sunday February 8, 2015
 We all got an early start to the day and expierenced a Hatian Church service in St. Marc. One of our own, Lynn preached the message on Galations chapter one and two. After the service we enjoyed fellowship with the local people. The congregation graciously provided us with cold Coke and Pepsi after church, which was very much appreciated. Today is a day of preperation for the week ahead. We have prepared sewing kits and organized preparations for tomorrow's physicals and construction that will be going on. Everyone is feeling great and we are all looking forward to the week ahead.

Please pray for us that we are able to serve with all of God's intention and fill all the needs for this week, and that our hearts can be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading.

Teacher Team/Haitian School Board - A day of Teaching

Waking up today, it felt somewhat bittersweet knowing it was our last full day here on this island that, for the past week, has truly felt like home. However, the last day of teaching surely didn’t disappoint. We visited the school Dupin today. This school has an amazing hike through small villages, across a stream, and up a mountain. Once we arrived we got straight to teaching. I personally taught an English lesson today to fifth and sixth graders (about 42 students). Since their English knowledge is little to none, I started with a lesson on teaching them their numbers and played a counting game, and ended with a lesson on family and created family trees. The students seemed to especially enjoy hearing me try to pronounce some of their family members’ names. It was an amazing experience to interact with the children and be a part of their education. After that we finished up our day at MPCA teaching language and math classes. Reflecting back on this week I have seen God’s hand at work in so many ways. It won’t ever matter how many times He brings me back to the same island, I continue to stand in awe of His majesty.

Last night as I was preparing for my lesson, my devotional reading said this:

“Our Lord Jesus differs from all other teachers. They reach the ear, but He instructs the heart. They deal with the outward letter, but He imparts an inward taste for the truth, by which we perceive its savor and spirit. The most unlearned of individuals become ripe scholars in the school of grace.”

Shelby

Teacher Team/Haitian School Board - Welcome to Haiti!!

Today was a busy, but wonderful day.  We got up early and brought all our bags and teaching supplies to be packed into the van for the drive to Haiti.  We took over 150 children’s pictures at Ebenezer School in record time, with everyone doing their part. Since we didn’t have the opportunity to see Ebenezer classes last week, we were thrilled to have the opportunity to observe the opening ceremony then be able to quickly visit the preschool and elementary classes.  Ruth and the kitchen staff served us a filling Dominican breakfast for the long journey and we left around 9:30AM.

Crossing the border into Haiti was an unforgettable experience! To compound the activity, Monday is market day and so many retailers were there with bulk goods to sell.  There didn’t seem to be any order to this process and so many vehicles were trying to squeeze into such a small area at the same time. Herve and the Haitian School Board calmly led us through the chaotic experience and we continued into Haiti.

We arrived about 2 pm at the Mission Center and quickly dropped off our luggage, gathered teaching materials and headed to the Teachers’ Academy to begin the first day of lessons.  Ellionaire introduced us and the teachers sang a song to welcome us. The room was beautifully decorated with ribbons, balloons and flowers.  Instead of keeping the group together this year, we divided into two smaller groups of about 30 each. Bev taught a lesson on how to incorporate music and movement into their classrooms while Sharon taught a lesson on mathematics using the place value manipulatives and rulers that will be left at the schools.   Nicole and Sherry reviewed Piaget’s concepts on learning and demonstrated parachute activities.  The students at the teacher school loved trying out all these activities.  The parachutes and balls will also be left at the schools and Judy gave a lesson about the basics of public speaking.

Afterward, we came back for a delicious spaghetti dinner and organized tomorrow’s (Tuesday’s) plans. Tracy led devotions from Matthew 14 when Jesus walked on water. Tonight we will fall asleep with the background of the waves of the Caribbean Sea against the shore.  Ah, a slice of heaven here on earth. 

Teacher Team/Haitian School Board in the DR - A day of Worship

What a wonderful Lord’s Day we have had!  Praise God for the Sabbath! We shared a delicious breakfast of oatmeal and eggs, although one of our Haitian pastors teased that oatmeal is baby food and eggs without toast is for girls.  ;)   After breakfast, we joined the Ebenezer congregation in their morning service, where we experienced worship in many different forms and languages.  The praise songs were sung in Spanish, French, Creole, and yes, even some in English.   We were moved by the graceful and prayerful dancing of ten Dominican young ladies.  Pastor Rosemond, one of the Haitian school board members, shared the message from Galatians 3:21-29. He encouraged and reminded the congregation that nothing is too difficult for our God.  The service was spirit-filled and the joy of the Lord could be felt throughout.  We praise God for such spirit filled leaders!

In God’s providence, a young couple that is also missionaries in a nearby project attended the morning service with their three young sons.   What a surprise to find that they all spoke English!  We enjoyed conversing with them and we will be praying for their family and mission.

For lunch, we introduced the Haitian leaders to an American treat of chicken salad with sliced avocado on rolled tortilla shells.  Thanks to our Dominican host and her helpers, we have enjoyed a variety of tropical fruits and juices.

We spent the afternoon on preparations for our departure to Haiti tomorrow morning and the lessons we will teach tomorrow afternoon at the teachers’ school in Lanzac.  We then rested in the sunshine, visiting and looking at our view of the mountains and the blue, blue waters of the Caribbean (from the top of the mission center).

Our original plan to travel to Haiti this afternoon was changed.  Once again, God provided a better option.  This allowed us to rejoin the Ebenezer congregation for their evening worship.  What a lively celebration!  We witnessed such joy and love for God in their singing, dancing, beautiful smiles and warm hugs!  There didn’t seem to be a language barrier, even though there were four different languages being spoken and sung.   That is the work of the Holy Spirit!   Amen!  And to all a good night!

Bev, Judy, and Sharon