Just a plain great day......

There were two more events last night that I missed since I was just worn out. First one was with Michelle, girl that was at Maries and is staying here after a toe surgery. She spoke to all of the children during devotional last night. She told her brief life story and to told the kids that she really likes at New Life Children’s Home. Second one was with a 17 year old boy that a week ago stood up and spoke his dissatisfaction for conditions and food at New Life. Well, on Friday that boy was transferred to the orphanage at the tent city (yes THAT orphanage Patty and Renee). He was there for two days and two nights before he was transferred back with big tears in his yes. Last night he gave testimony how much the two day transfer changed his life, he appreciated to be back!  

Yesterday one of the nurses with Team Haiti 4 Jesus got sick and required an IV. Team members were scrambling to find something to make tunicate. I offered my wife’s rubber bands that she uses for keeping power cords organized. Those bands were very helpful for that purpose and the nurse was doing lot better today.

It rained last night once more, but not as hard as previous night. Morning came quickly, and I was back on bunk beds from the early morning. Boys were very helpful (no school today or tomorrow for Haitian Carnival), they were able to work on their own for the most part. I made a jig for them to use to drill holes, that way all of the holes will align during assembly.

Also this morning Rene and Frenzy showed up. They drove Marie’s car today and possibly will use it tomorrow as well (Marie is out of town). Remaining days of the week they will take Tap-Tap (funds for transportation were provided)

  I showed them what I needed them to do, and for most part they stay on their own cutting rebar and metal angle pieces. They cut enough pieces for 12 beams and battery rack. Tomorrow we will start learning how to weld.

In the middle of it I was asked to take few birthday pictures for one of the kids that is very hard to photograph.

A great and very fulfilling day!

Rain down on me........

It rained last night, and it rained. The field was flooded but not the spirits. Sunday school and the service were under the Mango Tree. What an awesome experience to worship God with no boundaries around you. His blessings rain down on us all! 

After the worship, off to make some chips (as wood chips). Started to plain out boards, router corners and pre-drill all screw holes. If you think yesterday was a challenge? Today I started with just two boys, but Pastor Donle told me that he really likes when the boys get involved. So he sent me half dozen of them. God was working on my patience today. Between teaching the boys what to do, keeping an eye on all of them so no one would lose a finger on power tools and boys trying to work with no safety glasses, it was truly a test for my patience. Well, by 5 o’clock all of the boards were finished and put away. Dan and Sherry will get the boys to paint them in Haitian colors. I still have the legs and fur strips for bunk beds to be cut and finish.

I was looking forward to a cold shower when my next call arrived. The kids have been practicing few songs and would like me to record them. Well 4 songs later and two wardrobe changes (the last one was finished in the dusk) but we got something to work with. I do have to admit (to those familiar with the subject) that we recorded a song about meeting God under the Mango tree. I do not know the name of the song, since right after the recordings were done; I went to grab a cold dinner and a cold shower right after. So just stay tuned, the official release is coming soon!

God's sense of humor

This was a full day today. The bunk bed building project was in full swing. I had several boys helping out off and on. I found that their attention span is no different that of those boys at home (or perhaps mine as well). To cut one two or five boards its fun, but to cut 200 it’s work! So through out the day I was teaching someone else. And then before lunch I had to stop, laugh and ponder on God’s sense of humor. I found myself cutting boards with a young man, Aeroness (he is 29 years old) that is legally blind. Well just stop and think about this, is that funny or what? On top of that we are making bunk beds from grade 2 construction lumber!

All together we were able to finish cutting all of the runners to length and were able to trim both sides of all the boards to resemble higher quality boards. We still have to cut legs for the beds and the fur strips to hold mattress slats.

This evening pastor Donle played his acoustic (amplified) guitar and the kids sang. During that time I was trying to remember who said that you need brick and mortar to worship God? If there was someone, they’ve never been to Haiti!

To those that are interested, Michalle had her toe surgery and is staying at New Lift to recuperate. She has fit in quite quickly and is doing well!

An awesome day

Woke up this morning to a very comfortable temps, it rain last night for quite a while. After breakfast of to work we go. Nothing too strenuous, unpacking 4 50 lbs bags of man stuff (I know that ladies will be disappointed. Sorted everything according to a project, went over the inventory with Danny and Bob and went over to the fish farm to come up with a plan for attack. Quickly (it’s a Haitian term) got a list of needed items put together and Danny with Bob went to get the supplies. I had enough time to install two auto water fill valves and pump float switch, when the guys returned from the store.  At 3:00 pm Roberto and Windsor were ready for. They were joined by Roosevelt and several onlookers for “Bunk bed building class”. We started with explanation how to determine length of the boards, went over the power equipment that we will be using and the safety aspects of the job. Each boy got a pair of safety glasses and the fun begun. We made a first template and the boys cut 24 boards based on that. They were very proud to get those boards cut and Sherry did not believe that I let them use power saw! Great start to this project.

Boys finished the late evening with a soccer game and all went to dinner. After dinner, it’s Friday night, movie night. It started with a worship DVD that the ladies left. Kids really like to sing to it. 

A moment of reflection for myself. During the day I asked Roberto if he likes to sing, he told me just sometimes in the church. Well he was standing right next to me while the DVD was playing “Here I am to Worship”. In the darkness I could see and hear Roberto sing. Somehow my thoughts during this moment strayed to Ben Thomas (I  tried ) to get Ben to join me on this trip, but the timing of it was not good for Ben. I thought that how much blessing he has to be able to lead worship at home. To view all that that come to worship God from the stage, it has to be just awesome. As I watch the kids really feel the songs, there was no one tonight that was leading, just a picture on the wall and feeling that God is present.

 After several worship songs, kids were treated to Mr. Bean. The laughter filled the area, and the kids have most likely seen this DVD several times. Movie followed, but this old body did not stick around a refreshing shower just sounded too good.

One really has to be blessed to experience all of this just in one day!

Just before I posted this blog, Sherry told me that Michalle is here. The proceedure went well and she'll be recouperating here for a week. Great news!

It’s like coming home!

My journey started early in the morning, up at 2:30 am (just woke up and figure it was time), leave home at 4:15 am and on the plane at 7:00 am. Was sad to see my wife drive off as she dropped me off at the airport. Since I was wearing an orange shirt with “Impact for Jesus” I had a young man from FT Wayne IN come over while waiting for boarding. He was on the way to Haiti to continue their efforts to adopt a 15 month old child. They are praying for August completion of this process. Would you believe that once sitting in my assigned seat on the plant both of them were sitting right next to me. Is this a God moment or what? During our flight we’ve spent 2 hours talking about our experiences in Haiti. In Ft Lauderdale I met up with Barry, he has been helping out off and on at New Life Children’s Home. It was actually nice to travel with someone (I did not say that!). Airport was chaos as always, all the work that has been done to the baggage area, and it’s everyone for themselves again. We were escorted on the side of the Local Customs since a Pastor that was traveling with Barry knows all of the officials working at the airport. We were picked up by the driver, and on the streets we went. The smell, conditions and the traffic have not changed. At the Orphanage, great feeling came to me. It was like coming home! Sherry and Dan by the Mango Tree with the handicapped children. Kids recognizing you from afar. And plenty of laughter in the compound. Danny took me around to show me progress and all the things that are going on! Dinner bell was shortly after, great meal and conversation to catch up on what is going on. Of course conversation with Jean Rony, Windsor and Roberto after dinner. All so happy to see me and so was I.

The pastor is off on Thursday so Jean Rony led devotional time for older boys and later gather all (including workers) for prayer time. He showed videos that I brought with me (Sometimes I cry, Bunk beds for Haiti, Your Child, Changed), kids just loved watching them. All that was outside school house, with summer breeze, comfortable temps and family all around you.

It’s like coming home; you just look forward to get there!