5th Haiti Trip – Vol. I

Just wanted to update you on the latest trip to Haiti.  (I stayed in the states for the birth of our 11th grandchild.)  Bill tried to return to Haiti on Dec. 29th.  Due to mechanical difficulties, he had to spend the night in Ft. Lauderdale.  He flew on to Haiti the morning of the 30th. His luggage was delayed but he did finally receive it, two bags later that day and one the next day.  (On our return from our last Haiti trip, we found that our luggage had been rifled before leaving Port au Prince.  Our video camera and an SD card out of a new Nikon camera were stolen.)

Bill had packed five pounds of pool shock (chlorine) in his luggage.  One pound will treat 10,000 gallons of water to make it safe for drinking and prevent cholera!  Three out of the five pounds of the pool shock made it through.  Two pounds were confiscated.

Bill had also packed a frozen ham.  The frozen ham was in the last bag to arrive on New Year’s Eve day, still cold.  He had gone to see Yvrose earlier that day and her now 16 children.  (She’s taken in two more!)  They were going to try to have a little celebration and then pray in the new year. Bill had the girls help him make up little ham sandwiches with some French bread he had taken.  He bought a case of pop and went back to Yvrose’ home. (2 rented rooms in a small house).  The children were so excited and Bill said you should have heard them singing hymns and reciting scripture!  Yvrose said she couldn’t believe what a wonderful celebration they had.

As I’ve said before, Yvrose is an amazing woman, passionate about the Lord. She and her husband have taken in 16 children to raise in two rented rooms (no running water or bathroom) in a house located next to some land they own with three large tents on it that they use to run a school of 150 children.  They depend on donations and networking to survive and keep their school going.  Bill will often haul water up to their house in the truck.  They usually carry it up in buckets on their heads.

Much of what we do in Haiti seems to be networking with other people and ministries to do things.  We are looking for ways to try to get a house built for Yvrose and her family on their land and this is no exception.  Bill talked with some people from the Peruvian embassy that Yvrose knew.  They want to help and can supply some of the labor to build a house but they have no money for materials.  Bill talked with some folks from the Brazilian embassy who may be willing to help with hauling materials.  They have a big truck and some machinery.  Please be in prayer about possibly  helping with funds for materials for the house.  Nearly every time I talk with Bill, he says we have to find a way to build this family a home.

Here is the current status on some of our ongoing projects:

The stem walls are up on the house being built for Jolius.  They are hoping to pour the floor this week

The rice is nearly gone at our school up in the mountains of Pays-Pourri. Two other ministries donated rice last time and we purchased the rest of what was needed to supply the 188 children of the school with a lunch each day. We will be trying to find donated rice and purchase more to take up very soon.

Bill was able to take several items from the US to the Mennonite hospital next door.  They had requested blood pressure cuffs and thermometers.  The cholera clinic there is enlarging and the needs will be ongoing.

The saga continues in trying to get the papers on the truck completed.  We believe we are close to completing it.  Bill meets with the magistrates of Gantier on Tuesday.  They are going to issue us a paper that was needed to complete the registration verifying that we are officially an organization working in Haiti.  We will then find out how much it will cost to register the truck.

One of the most difficult things in Haiti has been the difficulty communicating.  Yvrose continues to bless us by being able to translate for us when we talk with people.  Since she spent 20 years here, her English is good and with her heart for God, she can understand much of what we are trying to share with people about the Father and is able to translate.

Each trip to Haiti seems to bring a particular song to the forefront of our hearts. One trip it was You Raise Me Up.  Last time it was Somewhere by Rich Mullins.  Bill called today and told me to listen to Robin Mark sing In The Beauty of Holiness from the Come Heal This Land CD.  Yvrose had translated for him as Bill shared his heart with the people at the house today concerning the words.  I’d like to share them with you.

IN THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS

In the beauty of holiness

We see You Son of righteousness

So we bring all that we possess

To lay at Your feet

In the place where Your glory shines

Jesus lover of all mankind

You have drawn us

With love sublime

To make us complete.

 

So I pause at Your gates once more

As my heart and spirit soar

And I wish I could love You more

My God and my King.

 

Is there tribute that I could bring

Was there ever a song to sing

That could ever express, my King

The work that You’ve done

Could I ever conceive of this

All the depths and the heights

And breadth of the riches

I now possess because of Your love.

May our hearts always wish we could love Him more, our God and King, as we lay our lives at His feet!