Flag Day

In Haiti, Flag Day is a major national holiday and is celebrated with great fanfare.

During the early years of the Haitian revolt, there were three different countries that the slaves of the Island of Hispaniola would assist with to control this island. They assisted the Spanish against the French, then they banded with the French against Spain and England and finally they ultimately took on France itself to gain its independence. Through all this, they always carried the flag of who they were banding together with. Later, when they realized it was silly to use the same flag as their enemies, they made their own and agreed on a flag in May 18, 1803. Since then, May 18th is celebrated much like the 4th of July here in the states.

This year the schools of Fond Parisien organized a large parade and celebration that began and finished at the IFM school yard.

The parade marched about three miles, turned around and came back followed by a good portion of the town. Wendy and I took the moto and caught up with them on the way back.

Carefully we weaved through the throngs of people, cars and other motos. 

After returning to the school, they gave one final act. The kids dressed up like police and military personnel.

 

Finishing up with a final salute to the flag that represents their independence.

 

Results of Revival

Last week we were truly blessed by the revival services we had here. Starting Monday night Aaron opened with some thoughts of "Remembering our Creator in the days of our youth."
Phil Gish gave powerful messages from the book of Romans through the week nights, finishing up Sunday morning with a message to the fathers and their role in the home.


Tuesday thru Thursday night Kurt Rolle opened with many good thoughts from the Word of God. Starting the first night out with the importance of appreciating the parents God has given us.

It was a blessing to watch Phil and Wismith work together. Wismith did a wonderful job of translating the messages to his people at a level they could understand.

For us as missionaries, to hear these messages in our own language was truly living water to dry and thirsty souls. God is the fountain of life of which to draw from. Sometimes, it seems we allow ourselves to dry up and need that continual refreshing that only He can pour out. For the Haitians, they were eager as they learned new insights from the gospel. They appreciated hearing from somebody that didn't even know the struggles they face every day and yet understood what their real need was.

Their were different singing groups throughout the week. Here Jayla, Kenslie, and Jonathan Rolle sing "In Christ Alone"

Andy Eversole got to live out his dream this last week-to give devotions in Creole. He led out Friday thru Sunday as he stepped right up there into the culture and shouted, Alleluia!  and other greetings in the Creole language. He had good feedback from the Haitians as they listened.

One day last week, we got to finish a fencing project around the little village in Le Roux. Here is where we learn to work together. It takes many believers working together, all using their different gifts, for one common goal. Helping people see their need for Jesus and helping them along the journey.

It was rewarding to see a couple people come up after service to dedicate and rededicate their life to the Lord. Pastor Voltaire prayed with them and then allowed them to share their heart.

Thanks for your prayers thru this last week. Continue the prayers.

Pray for the believers, that they will take what they have learned and apply in their lives. .
And that they would have a passion to have a closer relationship with their Savior.

Pray for the ones that spoke. That Satan would not make them have doubts or in anyway throw fiery darts at them.

Pray for the missionaries here, that we would have a greater desire to love souls and that we would be willing
to do whatever He asks of us to further His kingdom. 

Pray for revival in Haiti

Please join us in praying this week for the revival services that are taking place here at the church in Fond Parisien.

• Please pray for Phil Gish that the Spirit will guide his message and protect him from the attacks of the  evil one
• Pray for Wismith as he interprets the message for the Haitian people.
• Pray for the Haitians that hear. Pray for new converts and strengthening of the existing church.
• Pray for the missionaries. They need spiritual refreshment.

Thanks for your support through your prayers.

A weekend get-away to Jacmel.

A couple weekends ago we got to enjoy a little family time of relaxing together in the beautiful little beach town of Jacmel. Family time is much more of a treasured blessing here as there are many demands that rob us from this.



The children enjoyed building castles in the sand at the beach.

This place was quiet and relaxing. We ate under the cabana and sat in the hammock overlooking the beach.

Enjoyed driving thru the quaint old town with its beautiful architecture.

Enjoyed some beautiful fruit in season. Yes, watermelon in January. :)

Fresh squeezed grapefruit juice

My hubby and I on his 42nd birthday.

On our way home we drove thru beautiful scenery. Fresh oranges here on the tree. We brought home a load of them among some mandarins and grapefruits too.

Mountainside villages

Beautiful sugarcane field.

I am thankful God placed us to be missionaries in such a beautiful country. 

Before the judge

Work has started again in the Le Roux housing project where we built earthquake relief housing. We have started building a fence around the housing project to help with security and to protect their gardens from the herds of goats and sheep that migrate through their land. After we started erecting the fence, one of the neighbors that was using the land for vehicle access to his property was upset and filed a case with the court to have the work stopped. The village was first given a an unsigned court order so they decided to ignore it and continue working. The next day the village was given a signed court order.

Because we want to support the village and want the work to continue, it was decided that Wismith and I would go to court with them. Another interesting Haitian experience.

The court order was for 11:00 on Monday. We showed up with about 20 other folks from the village. We were not let into the courtroom until 12:00, but still the judge hadn't showed up yet. During the next hour while we waited, they did have one small case that was held before a couple of men, not sure who they were, but they must have the authority with small cases. I didn’t understand all of it, but it was some dispute between two men that worked together and a hammer. After about 30 minutes of shouting between the lawyers, some kind of judgment was passed that amounted to 40 Haitian dollars or about the equivalent of  $5 US. Wonder what the lawyers cut out of that wasJ

At 1:15 we were told that the judge had arrived and we were going to meet in his office. So, we all crammed into his office and he took one look at me and asked if I spoke Creole. I told him only a little, so he explained to me in English that we was just a judge and was not taking either side, but was there only to ensure that justice was properly balanced. I guess he wanted to make sure I understood what going on. He then made an interesting comment. He said that I should be scared; I guess he thought I was going to be a little concerned with the process. Maybe he knows how things proceed in the states.

Then the case started. He asked a couple of questions and the shouting match began. I didn’t see a whole lot of order, but was pretty humored. It was an argument between the man that donated the land to the village and the lawyer of the disgruntled neighbor. Again, I didn’t understand what all was being said, but it did appear that our side was in control of the argument. After about 15 minutes of this, the judge started pounding on his desk to start wrapping things up which took about another 5 minutes of shouting. The judge said he couldn’t decide which side to support so threw out the case and told them if they wanted to continue they must take it to a higher court.

So, a whole day wasted with nothing accomplished.

Praise the Lord, there is a judgment day coming when true justice will be served.

Steven's baptism

A couple weeks ago we were privileged to witness Steven's Christian baptism. He has been a friend that has been around the mission alot. He has went along with us to town many times when we were first here and helped us get around, and with buying things. He has been searching for quite some time, and was determined to wait until he was 18 to completely surrender his life to the Lord. He asked for prayer on different occasions and we prayed with him. He didn't make it to his 18th birthday, what gave greater importance was giving his life to Christ. Praise God!

 

He was baptized in the lake here at the mission bright and early Sunday morning.
Here he is in the middle with the Pastor on the left and assistant on the right.


Pray for Steven, that he can continue to grow in his faith in the Lord Jesus. Pray for his father also, that he will give his life to Jesus. 

Pays-Pourri

Our family did our first hike up the mountain to Pays Pourri last Wednesday.
Here is Kenslie, Aaron, Jayla, and Ellen came along too.





As hard as the hike is, it is just beautiful up there!
 The mountain people are a whole other culture of people, very simple. They are very friendly, and it is fun to meet people along the trail. 

After 3 hrs. we made it up to a friends house, Jotasse and his family. It felt good to sit for awhile. 

Jotasse was going to take us the rest of the way where the seminar was. But they wanted to serve us some food first, this is their culture here. Very warm hospitality.
They served us something we had never had before. Very good!
It tasted somewhat like hot applesauce. Was similar to a cornmeal mush sweetened a little, with cinnamon and a little milk.  

We then headed on for another 20 mins or so to our final destination. Kenslie wasn't feeling too well that day and was glad for any breaks she could get. Rylan wasn't in any of our pictures because he thought we were too slow, so he was ahead all the time with one of his Haitian friends. :)

This is the leadership training seminar at Eralus' school up in Pays-Pourri. Very inspiring to see so many eager learners of the Word and willing teachers, (some missionaries here and a couple from the States came especially for this time). Here is Mike Martin and a native Haitian wrapping up their teaching session. 

A view from the school, at the small house below the woman is cooking. 

Here is Andy Eversole teaching and Wismith is translating. They had 2 classes, one for the literate and one for the illiterate. 

Here are some of the Haitian cooks, they would make rice and beans with a sauce for the noon meal.