17,262 Steps to Janou

Bill arrived back in Haiti on Jan. 7.  He spent three days that week working on our old truck which is on its last legs.  Praise God, he was able to fix it just in time to make it to the airport in Les Cases to pick up supplies that had been flown in on Agape Flights!  

Because of the gang activity and danger on the roads, we can no longer bring in large suitcases of supplies as we can’t drive across country.  We have to fly directly from PAP to Les Cayes on a small Haitian airline and can only take a carry-on.  We are so grateful for Agape Flights that brings supplies in for many missionaries.

While working on the truck, Bill got to spend some time with the folks from the church at Bedzimel where we are also helping to build a building for the community to meet in. 

B.J. at the church in Bedzimel

On January 17, B.J. and Allen Speers, CEO of Agape Flights flew in.  Bill had met Allen on a previous trip and when he heard of the effort to build a church/school in Janou, he wanted to come and see it.  Plans were made for this month and he came in with B.J.

Allen and B.J. coming in on the boat.

They spent the next day on Ile a Vache, visiting some of the folks we help, looking at the wood shop, snorkeling around the reefs, and then Allen and B.J. rode motorcycles over to see the dirt landing strip on the island.  After a full day, they prepared to leave early the next morning for the trip back across the sea to Bedzimel, the trip to the trailhead, and the climb to Janou.  17,262 steps Bill’s phone said, nearly all uphill!  It is a grueling 4 – 5 hour hike!  But they all made it!

B.J. and Allen on the trail to Janou

Bill and B.J. tell the tale.  

“Great trip to Janou.  Wonderful to see our friends up there. Allen loved it. Still almost a world out of time.

Progress is being made on the church.  We were able to sort out a lot of things on continuing the construction. We need 50 more bags of cement carried up. 

Church walls going up in Janou

We also need to help put a layer of cement over the walls on their houses. The walls were all knocked down by the earthquake. They build them back with mud and rocks but then when it rains, the walls just wash out again. 

Repaired home with exposed walls needing protective concrete coating

I told the folks that if they carry up 1 sack of cement to use on the church building, we will give them a sack for their houses. Most of the houses will need 5 or 6 sacks. It will be a blessing to the church project and to them! Cement is over $10 a sack now and they have no money to buy it for themselves. 

We had brought up funds to pay the men hired to work on the church while we were gone.  We had figured out what we needed pretty closely but when we paid them, we found ourselves with a little left over.  There was an old man that we had not hired but he had come voluntarily to throw out the rocks that they were chiseling out of the ground for the cistern so we gave him the little we had left and he started weeping.  These people have so little and money is so hard to come by! 

Bill giving the old man who helped the workers a coat. He was cold.

We came down the next day and are grateful for the safe trip.”

B.J., Allen, and Bill in Janou

B. J. wrote, “This trip to Janou wasn’t what I call normal.  But God always shows us things! God shows up through the eyes of child, or just an old man sitting in a chair! The key is to open our eyes wide enough to see him. As grueling as the trip is, I’m always ready to go up! The people of Janou are some of the friendliest people I’ve ever met. As we walk to our cars at home, I can always think back to these people who are happy with nothing and walking in almost nothing! God will provide as necessary!”

God is good!  Thank you for your prayers and support!

On the trail

 

The building at Janou

The boat B.J. and Allen were in crossing the sea

Digging out the cistern site back in September.  The old man in the story is in the center.

Estane cooking their supper