A Joyful Janou trip and Now…..They are Coming!

We’d been needing to visit the church and community in the mountain village of Janou for a while. It had been over a year since we took the school uniforms up on the last visit. It is pretty far up in the mountains (upstairs as they call it), barely a mule trail. We were finally able to go in March.

We left Ile a Vache for the mainland about 7:30 am. The sea was calm so we made good time. Seven Haitians and I made up the team. From the seashore, we took the truck to the trail head, buying supplies along the way. We took food up, planning on cooking a meal for the people in the village, maybe 150 – 200 people. It was a long rough hike but we had a good time going.

Bill and the Haitian team that went to Janou

It was great to see all the folks. There was a lot of laughter and kissing and hugging. They were so happy to see us again! The eight of us slept on the concrete floor of the church building. 

Some of the food waiting to be used

The next morning, two goats were killed, cleaned, and cooking preparations were made including, hide, hair, and all, I think. (We fried the blood for a morning snack. Not too bad.) We cooked a big 55 lb. sack of rice, 10 or 15 pounds of beans, and beet salad made with beets, carrots, potatoes, and corn. A feast for these folks!

Cooking for many

The team worked tirelessly fixing food from 7:00 in the morning till about 5:00 that afternoon. Everyone got a nice plate of food. When the big pots were empty, they scrambled to scrape them of what was burned to the bottom.  It’s hard to see people so hungry when we hardly know the meaning of the word. 

The goat is cooking!

That evening, we made hot chocolate for the kids. Everyone got a small piece of bread and the chocolate which is a real treat for them, especially when food is so scarce. 

Hot chocolate and bread! What a treat!

Sunday morning we had a wonderful worship service. There was preaching from the Bible, singing, and praying to God the Father and Christ our Savior with much joy! People were happy and so blessed. 

All the hard work and investment to build this building for the church and school over the last few years is paying off in treasure not of this world. We are so grateful to all those who contributed to make it possible for the people of Janou to have a meeting place and to have water without walking three hours to get it!! 

Picture of the side of the church with the cistern taken in 2023

I talked together with the elders about how Jesus taught us that it’s best to be a servant and how the first shall be last and the last first. We acted out the story of the man coming and taking the best place. It was a good talk and they all acknowledged the truth of it. 

We brought up a Proclaimer to give them, a solar powered audio Bible in their language, to be taken from village to village up there in the mountains for the people to hear the Word!  

Before we left Monday morning, we waited for the children to come to the school. They all stood as they prayed and recited. When they sat down, I talked a bit with them. They were mostly little kids. I asked if they knew and loved God. They answered in unison, “Oui!” (Yes)

Bill with many of the children

I talked to them about how important education was for them and how they should respect and listen to their teachers because they were there to help them to have a better life. I told them how the most important thing was to listen and obey God because He loves us so much. 

I asked if they would like to listen to some American music. “Oui!”, they said. I played “Come to the Fountain” by Need to Breathe. I got them up, first one and then another, dancing with them till we were all up dancing and clapping to the music. I told them they were singing for us to come to God and how Jesus made a way for us. Great times!

We headed back down the mountain. All the team from Ile a Vache just loved the mountain people. Old Yan carried some stuff down for us on her head. Her husband died a while back while we were gone which left her all alone, childless with no one to help her. We hope to send her and another widow some support each month.

The team ready to go.

It’s a miserable, beautiful, difficult place here in Janou. I hope I can learn to be more thankful for the life I have been granted by the grace of God.  

For King and Kingdom,Bill

(Scroll down for more pics.)

Thank you to all those who are a part of the mission to share what we have been given in Jesus name by praying, serving, and/or donating funds. We are grateful.

We would like to ask for special prayer for Haiti. The gang situation is growing worse. A communication came out last week saying that well armed gang members are planning an attack in Les Cayes. They plan to come from two different directions. There is no information on the estimated timing of this attack. 

Please pray for wisdom for Bill in knowing what to do to help the people we work with in Haiti and specifically on Ile a Vache. He must legally come home later this month anyway but time is of the essence if we are going to make any arrangements for some of the folks in our care.

Just Mercy operates solely on donations from generous folks like yourself.  God takes those gifts and multiplies them in order to serve the multitude.  As cost of living continues to rise in all of our worlds, we don’t take your gift for granted and want you to know the people in Haiti are shown the love of Jesus and His gracious gifts of provision are from people who have been blessed and choose to bless others. Thank you in advance for all you do to keep the work of Just Mercy continuing in these villages of Haiti.

School girl in her uniform

Bill with a couple of the children

Where we hope to build a depot and teacher home