New Life for Haiti-Joline's February 2008 Journal

Another week gone and it went so quickly. Can't believe it is February already...almost Valentine's day! Amazing. We had a great week last week. For the last 10 years, I have been responsible for doing the correspondence for us. That area would include, newsletters, thank you notes, writing to teams before and after they visit, making sure we have prayer cards, etc. I think there were two years, quite awhile ago, where I managed to do 4 newsletters in a year, but that was the exception, not the rule. I always think I don't have much to say...that we haven't accomplished much and surely nothing of interest to people.....then I start writing and thinking about what we have done in the past 3 months....and oops...I have too much! But, February's Newsletter is done and has been sent out. Hope you enjoy it. My friend in Idaho, Jana Peer (who I have known for 30 years now.....ouch!), started helping me with the newsletters last year. I type the copy, title and send the pictures and she works her magic and puts it all together in a beautiful format! She is pretty amazing. She has made my newsletter life so much easier and more pleasant. I'm very thankful for her and all she does for us.

The Depot is finished!!! Can you hear the trumpet sounding? Steve is very pleased with the end result. You can see from the picture that it has a tin roof and looks great. The Bos mason and crew finished up the floor Sat. afternoon...so it is officially done. Someday it may get a coat of paint...probably not soon however.

Steve is going to go out to Marfranc tomorrow and start laying out the foundation for the house! Now, that is exciting. I went out with him Saturday and we did the general area together. There is a slight hill right behind where we need to put the house, so it will be dug out and terraced, which is fine. We didn't want to be too near the walking path that goes in front of the house, plus this will make the front of the house a little higher, which is good in case during a hurricane the river really flooded...high....then we would be off the ground more. So, all in all, it is a good plan.

The other picture is of several piles of rocks and sand. This is being purchased so that the foundation can be started after Steve gets it laid out! All of the foundations are made with these huge rocks and concrete...it is amazing, they put them together like a puzzle, breaking them up and fitting them together. Maybe I can get a picture of them doing it, it is really something to watch. So, since we don't do that in the US, I thought you might like to see the piles that are collecting in the front yard.

Last week I spent all 5 mornings interpreting for a US eye doctor that was doing eye exams. It was fun and we probably saw about 150 - 200 people in the morning (for 5 days) and then they saw as many or more in the afternoons....so a lot of people! It cost under $3 US for the exam, sometimes he gave medicine. So it was a heck of a deal. Unfortunately he didn't have any glasses, but could give out prescriptions. It was interesting and fun to help out.

Hope you have a great week....this week here is Mardi Gras...or Carnival. We have had EDH (Haitian Electricity) every night for a week because they're partying and playing music downtown each night....tonight (Sunday), Monday and Tuesday night it will get really loud...and last most of the night. One big party! Hard to sleep.

Then it will be over until next year!

Ke Bon Dieu beni ou......God Bless

What a wonderful week we had last week. Well, guess I shouldn't say it was all wonderful, but because it ended great, makes you forget the stuff before it, right? Steve had ordered a new laptop for me because our other one was doing some quirky things and I use it so much for our ministry that we knew we couldn't get along without one, so thankfully Steve thought ahead and had Pastor Fran bring it with him on Friday. About Tuesday afternoon....my other laptop crashed! Really crashed, like as in wiping out the entire everything...nothing left on my desktop...all the programs gone, everything, crazy huh? Thought I had lost all of my addresses, but fortunately, had most of them in the hotmail account that we carry too...so I could import them into this program! Was really worried there for a little bit. This computer (a HP) has 2 disk drives in it...so will use one for a backup. I did a backup about 2 months ago...yeah I know, not often enough...so I'm missing some report pages and some stuff about our expenses and some sheets I made up for a school...but can recreate them! It's only time, right? ha! Anyway, thankful that Steve thought ahead....and glad I can write and talk to my family and friends. I am behind on e-mails because we were down for a few days...but will catch up I'm sure.

Steve was sick for the beginning of the week, got better on Thursday, to go out to Marfranc and pick up the workers and bring them back for the week. Since we knew we would be busy with Pastor Fran for the next week, he had them stop on Thursday. The depot is totally finished! Yes!!!!! Will send pictures next week when I get this computer set up. It looks really nice. AND....got the foundation dug for the house, and you can start to see what it will look like. It will be higher off the ground in the front because we are building into the slope behind us. But, it's good because if the river floods, it won't come into the house! So high in the front is great. I hope he leaves it rock instead of cement facing it will look really nice. So, we can begin to see progress. Last night the Boss mason said he thought he'd have the foundation done in about two week! So will keep pictuers coming so you can see the progress.

Pastor Fran arrived on Fri. AM. He came by himself on this trip to finalize some projects...talk to Pastor Plaisir in Marfranc and do some visitation of members with him, to see all the projects and how they are doing and to go to Cayes with Steve to talk to the MEBSH Executive Council about our partnership with them. On Friday, he had a great day looking at things, talking to Plaisir and walking around the neighborhood, visiting church members and getting the feel for Marfranc. On Sat., he and I and Pastor Plaisir hiked about 1 1/2 hours to an area, that isn't really even a village, just a scattering of houses on the mountainside...called Canton. It has a really small church of about 50 members and about 60 attendance on Sunday. It has a lay pastor that serves the people there and is technically a Post, not a church. It was beautiful up there and we could down the valley and see the Marfranc Baptist church as well as almost see where our house will be! It was beautiful. We walked across 2 rivers to get there.We were served coca cola...with ICE! Amazing...they had sent one of the kids down to Marfranc (yes, 1 1/2 hours each way, by foot......down a mountain and back)...to get us something to drink and buy ice! What a reception.

On Sunday, we walked up to a mountian village called Chameau (sounds like the Marine World whale). Took us over an hour to walk, one way and crossed Grand Anse river by foot. We sat up in front during church looking out over the congregation and had the most spectacular view out of the door and windows. God's beauty was breathtaking. Steve went with us and we all agreed if it wasn't so hard to get there, and if the water source to drink wasn't all the way down the mountain....it would be tempting to live there. The people were beautiful, so warm and friendly and the mountain area was georgeous. It is such a simple life....ideal really (well, except for no water!!!)

We were served bread, eggs, coffee and bananas when we arrived and a wonderful meal of beans and rice, bannann pezi (fried plaintains), boiled yams, fried goat and goat in sauce! Plus coca cola (but no ice, ha!).

Steve and Pastor Fran left at 4:30 Am this morning to drive to Cayes over one of the worst roads in Haiti. They got there at 10:00 AM safe and sound...but very tired. They met with the Executive Committee this morning and Steve says they had a great meeting. They went shopping for food we can't get easily here in Jérémie...then went to the guesthouse there and took a nap. They will make the return journey tomorrow, leaving Cayes at around 4:30 AM! They should be home around 10:30 Am or so! Not much else tomorrow, they need to rest, it's a nasty trip. On Wednesday we plan to go back to Marfranc, visit the work sites one more time, talk to Pastor and maybe do some visiting again. Not a long day. Pastor Fran will leave on Thursday morning to go back to Port, then home, just in time for Valentines day!

Next week, I promise pictures! Have a blessed week! Keep us in prayer and we continue with the work here!

Well, another week gone by....why do they go so quickly? We had such a packed week last week that I know I can't get it all in on one journal page so I am trying to figure out how to give you the highlights. I really just want to give you lots of pictures....but should tell you about it as well.

Pastor Fran Leeman (our NLH director and great friend) was here for almost a week. We had a great time doing some different things that we do not normal do with teams. He came for several reasons...one was to have a chance to spend more time with Pastor Plaisir in Marfranc. He wanted to get to know him better as well as some of the smaller churches in the Marfranc district and to walk around Marfranc and get to know the people of that congregation and community.

On Friday (the first day he was here) we went to Marfranc and Fran got to see the new buildings and the beginning of the house at Kay Bo Rivye. We were corrected on what we could call the house. If we just said Kay Rivye, we thought we were saying River House, however they literally translated it into House in the River...said we couldn't call it that. Had to be Kay Bo Rivye, which would translate to Riverside House or House by the River. Guess it is better! Anyway, after touring what was being done, we went to the Catholic church in Marfranc where NLH will be helping a Catholic church from the states work on remodeling an existing old chapel into a multipurpose building that can be used for medical clinics when their medical teams visit. Hopefully will start that project along with one of their teams in May. Lots of planning to do yet.

Then we went to Pastor's church and house and Fran saw the finished school. It looks so good. We talked a lot about things, then walked around Marfranc visiting people from the church. It was great, being introduced to them at their homes. We visited one of the men of the church whose mother had just died a few days before. We talked with him and prayed with him, it was a real blessing. On Saturday, we decided to walk up a mountain and visit one of the small churches in the Marfranc district. It is called Canton, about 50 people attend that church. Our joke for the days was....How far is it Pastor Plaisir? Not far, right there. A half hour later...we would ask again and get the same answer. Another half hour later...I said, "It's not far?, it's right there?" He laughed and said, yes. Took us over an hour, more than 1/2 of that time up a mountain, crossed 2 rivers...it was great. Amazingly...we were graciously served Coca-cola by our hostess WITH ice! They had walked to Marfranc earlier in the morning, bought the Coke and ice and brought it up the mountain. Amazing.

We got back and had an afternoon meal with Pastor then had a great planning meeting with him. On Sunday, we walked up another mountain trail to go to a small church called Chameau to attend church with them. Wonderful people, a killer view. We had coffee, bread and bananas before church and a wonderful lunch of fried goat, beans and rice, boiled yams, fried plantains! Yum. We walked about an hour to get there....mostly uphill and crossed 1 river. Beautiful view......

Monday Steve and Fran drove to Cayes, which is located about 65 miles across about 5 mountain ridges on the Southern shore of this peninsula. They went over to have a meeting with MEBSH Executive Committee. The committee wanted to meet Fran and also wanted to talk about NLH's plans for the Grand Anse Valley. The guys said it was a great visit, good meeting and they were glad they went. They turned around and came back to Jérémie on Tuesday morning. It takes 6 hours to drive the 65 miles...(one way!) so you can only imagine what the road is like...beat you up.

Then on Wednesday, they drove back to Marfranc for a final meeting with Pastor Plaisir to say good bye and check on construction one more time. Great visit with Fran and I got to go places I hadn't gone before. We had a lot of time to talk to Fran as well about future things with NLH and some planning. We enjoyed his 1 on 1 visit and look forward to doing it again.

Hope you enjoy the pictures. I could talk a lot longer (surprised?), but shouldn't make this so long. Next week I want to tell you about a little 2 year old that lives down the street...who received a wonderful gift of a doll and also another little 2 year old girl at Chameau that is an Albino. Stay tuned! Next week will be here before we all know it.

May God continue to bless you all and keep you safe....enjoy your week!

What a week! I hope I don't get too long winded for you all. There is just so much to talk about sometimes, which is good I guess. Last week I promised to tell you about two little girls and I want to do that before I forget. Children are my favorite topic. The kids here are so precious and have so many needs, they pull on my heart strings all the time. Here in Jérémie, we live at the end of a long driveway and have several neighbors along the way. We have interacted a lot with one family, the dad has done yard work for us and made our fence to keep the dog in. One of the boys takes out our trash and burns it as well as gives their pigs our garbage every other day. Steve has also given a little work to Mackenson (the son). We have been watching Mackensen's niece grow up since she was born 1 1/2 years ago. We've watched her learn to walk...and fall! She's cute. I took a few things down for her to wear a couple of months ago, and they were appreciated. I thought it was too bad that she didn't have a baby doll, so I e-mailed my friend at LifeSpring church, Leslie Zurita. I told her about this little girl and wondered if she could find a black baby doll, that was soft and cuddly. Leslie found this place that made baby dolls that are perfect. The clothes are attached so nothing comes apart, it was perfect. Pastor Fran brought it down....the picture you see is Snaida with her baby doll. It was precious, she loves it, it goes everywhere with her!!! It was so easy to make her so happy, all little girls should have a baby doll. Thanks Leslie.

The other little girl I want to tell you about lives in the village of Chameau, where we went to church with Pastor Fran. I don't know her name and I don't have a picture, but I will when I visit next time. After church we were standing outside talking waiting to eat lunch. Pastor Fran and I were looking around and I noticed a little girl sitting with her mother. She stood out because she is an Albino. We see Haitian Albino's fairly often, they really stand out! Usually they are older and have forms of skin cancer and have horrible skin because they have not been taught how to stay out of the sun and take care of their skin. When I saw this little girl, we went over to talk to her mother. She is 2 years old and was wearing a tank top and shorts, no shoes...no hat...no sunscreen (hadn't ever heard of sunscreen, actually) I tried to explain to her mom that the sun would burn her daughter's skin, that she needed to wear more clothes and a hat or she would get a disease that would make her sick. I don't think I got through at all, but I told her I would send up some sunscreen, or lotion to put on her daughter whenever she went outside. It breaks my heart when something so simple can be taken care of and isn't.

The next week, I sent up some sunscreen, then in my requests for thing to have the March team bring I asked for more sunscreen and some long sleeved shirts, pants and a hat. Again, Leslie came through with all of the above, the sunscreen is 72....so hopefully it will help. I'll try to go up and take the stuff and talk to the mom more. Steve says I'm being optimistic about the mom caring enough to do all of this. I told him, all I could do is try. God puts people in front of us to help, and all I can do, is my best and let God take care of opening the mother's heart to her child. I can show our love for them and express God's love for this little girl...and pray that the mother will know what needs to be done. I'll keep you posted and put a picture on when I get it!

It is so exciting seeing the work that is being done at the property on Kay Bo Rivye! Steve has a super crew working for him and they are doing a great job. I'm sending a picture of the progress that was made this last week...it is a view like last weeks...this one has foundation walls on it! yeah!!!!! You'll be impressed! When you look at the picture, the 2 rooms on the right are the dorm rooms for teams, it is starting to look like a house! I walked along the foundation walls and the view is going to be so great. I think you'll be able to see the river from the porch. We are having to put it high off the ground because of the hill behind us...but that's fine, it won't flood if the river rises! I'll keep sending weekly pictures so you can see the progress each week!

I'm also sending a picture of a Haitian cement mixer. This is how all of the cement is mixed for all the walls that you see in the pictures. They mix everything by hand...so when you watch the walls go up, or the cement posts or the cement roof....it is mixed by hand!!!! Plus, Steve is having the cement blocks made at the site...they will be making a total of 5,000 blocks...all by hand! Thought you would enjoy that!