Clothing distribution in Fond Verrettes

Last Saturday, Mike & Joanna's family and ours went to the mountain town of Fond Verrettes which is about an hour and a half from us. We had contacted 12 churches and 7 schools to distribute clothing packets. This was one of the more fulfilling days we have had since we have been in Haiti. It was a blessing to be able to give something to a people that were truly appreciative of what they received.


Beautiful agriculture on the way up the mountain.

Our first stop was at Yonel's house, a good friend of the mission who coordinated the distribution. Here is Joanna and Wendy after we were served coffee, bread and Haitian beans and rice.
 
This is Yonel and his madam.

After a time of prayer and singing we were ready to unload. 

The crowd patiently gathered around the truck waiting for their number to recieve their bags.

Then they carried them back to their churches to distribute to their congregations.

Some went down the road, others up the mountain path.

Fun visits

Went to visit Double Harvest one Saturday.....here is
Julia, Michelle, and Sheila with Kenslie and Jayla
by some of the beautiful tropical landscape

this place has beautiful scenery as we drove past farm ground and
walked through greenhouses.
We even got to bring home a few flowering bushes with us!

We enjoyed visiting Wismith and Rebecca's vocational school.
Sheila, Edna and Susan were helping teach this class, and they learned
how to embroider on bookmarks. The girl above shows her finished product.
Here is the whole group of girls that participated with their teachers. 

 

...they who live by the sword...

Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take up the sword shall perish with the sword. Mathew 26:52

This week we had another tragedy here in Fond Parisien. There has been an ongoing feud between one of the local men here in our town and the Haitian border police. On Wednesday things heated up at the border and the police roughed the man up a bit. The man promised revenge and came back to our town and set up a road block to intercept the police with every intention of killing one of them when they returned home. The police were ready and when they got to the road block, they shot the man twice in the head.

Needless to say, this got some of the local rowdies in an uproar and we again had a "grèv" which is their way of protesting which pretty much amounts to setting up a road block with burning tires. (seems like this happens about once a month around here)

The shooting got one lady with heart problems so worked up she was having some issues that needed medical attention. Tiboutson (one of the Haitian boys that lives with us) agreed to run her to the hospital and I went along to keep him company on the drive. We drove through one line of burning tires and around another, thankfully there was no violence.

The next day the whole town was noticeably in shock. Schools were canceled and everyone was just hanging around and talking about the event. We had about 15 young Haitian boys that just sat in our yard and discussed for about 3 hours. I sat with them and mostly listened, but could only pick out a few words, but it was very passionate. I asked one of my friends that spoke English what the discussion was about and I was told they were debating the possibilities of this man going to Heaven. Obviously some of there views were very different than mine, but I am thankful they were thinking about eternity. I pray that hearts will be softened and opened to the gospel.

Please pray for our town as the heal from this tragedy.

Easter service in Haiti

"That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the
fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
if by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead."
Phil. 3:10-11

Enjoying a sunrise service up @ Mike's
with most of the IFM staff
on Easter morning.

 

Blessed Easter

So it's Easter week....What does this mean for each one of us?

For some; they think of the easter bunny or having something new to wear, chocolate eggs (wow does this ever sound good), or does it have more meaning for us?

It should. Because this time we celebrate what our Saviour did for each one of us. He died for me! Christ gave his only son for me! Let's Praise Him together!

Here in Haiti some take this opportunity to celebrate with what they call the "rah, rah" . So I asked one of our Haitian friends is this bad? No, he said it's not Christian, but it's not voodoo either. Others say it does have to do with voodoo. After reading up on this some this is what it meant to us.

Rah-Rahs are a form of musical street processions typically performed during the week of Easter using trumpets, drums, bells and whistles. Voodoo priests and all the voodoo followers of that town will join the procession dressed in colorful clothing and head dressing. Although the ceremony seems innocent enough, even interesting to watch, it is deeply rooted in the Satanic culture and is no place for a Christian.

We also have the opportunity to go to the revival meetings they are holding at church this week. Last night they talked about the cross (of course we only got a small part of it hearing it in Creole). But it's exciting to see a group of people taking this time and celebrating it for what it really is.

Each one of us made him suffer on that cross, so let's thank Him and rejoice that He is Risen!

Have a blessed Easter week .......... We love you all!