Glimpses of the rewards part 2

About a year ago or more, Mimis starting buying cement for her house with her little bit of savings. She is a single mom with one child and has been living with her brothers, sisters, mother and other family members in a small house. She has had a vision to have a house where she could raise her daughter, but knew it might take a very long time. We were able to help her with funds thru Brethren Charity, Cornerstone DB and the profits from the Blue Grass fundraiser from last summer. Shea took it on himself to organize the building project, line up the haitian bosses, ect...

Here is our friend Mimis, staking off her property of her new house.
This picture makes me think of the Proverbs 31 woman, "she considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard"
She has really worked hard at doing all she could by herself.



Looking down at her house, work in progress

one of the haitian bosses laying pouring and smoothing the concrete for the floor in her house

Shea and Aaron nailing on the tin for her roof.
It looks as if Aaron is getting his morning stretches in as well. :)

She asked us staff to come and visit her last Sunday for a "little thank-you celebration" and to see her new house that she has just recently moved in to. Its up on a hill, so you need to climb a little to get up there. I hope she can get some steps soon, she will be hauling her water and a lot of other things.

Here is Mimis and Lynsika her daughter in front of their house.

Inside of her house is two rooms, one for her dining room and one for their bedroom. For any of us, this would seem very small and unfinished. But she is very happy and thankful, she has expressed her appreciation to all the ones that helped her to have a house for her and her daughter.
 It has blessed us once again to see the glimpses of the rewards thru her thankful heart. 

Here, she served us cold soft drinks, cookies and crackers

Before we left, we laid hands on her to pray. Please remember her in prayer also, that she could lead a godly Christian life as she raises her daugher and that God could send her a godly man someday
 if it be His will. 

To express her thanks, Mimis wrote the mission the following letter.

Dear mission administrators Aaron and Shea.

My heart is full of joy as I write you to tell you thank you and all the other people that put their hands together to help me. I never thought that my house would get finished. It is only because of you and the others that my house was ever built. For this, I thank you very much and I am praying God will send blessings on you and your families as well as all the Americans which helped me build my house.

Thank you

Glimpses of the Rewards part 1

Last Saturday we met at Redeemer Vocational School for a graduation ceremony. The students were given a certificate, there were singing groups and words of appreciation.


This was a very exciting day, especially for Wismith and Rebecca Joseph (pictured below)
as it marked one year from when the school opened. Wismith has had a vision for this school for a long time and had waited on God for the timing. 

A year ago, Andy and Joy Eversole (pictured below) came to Haiti with IFM to help with getting the Redeemed school started. 

Joe Theliseme is handed a certificate for the business class.

Shea is handing out a certificate to one of the boys that participated in his English class. 

Here is the group of young ladies that attended the sewing class, wearing the clothing that they had made. 

Some of the fine young men that were touched by all that Andy had done for them presented him with a certificate.
There was much appreciation seen here, it blessed us greatly to see a glimpse of the rewards of what is being done here to impact the lives of others for His glory! May His name be praised throughout all the nations.

 

Bannann fri

Here, hangs plantains ready to be prepared to fry,


Steven had brought these over from his Dads bannann garden.
He offered to fry them for us and him and Rylan enjoyed being chefs for an afternoon.
When I asked Steven if he would like to be a chef someday, he looked puzzled. A "chef" in Haiti means
a chief, somebody in charge. Aaron is known as a chef here. :) After I explained what a chef was in English, he agreed he would like to be a chef in English. 

They cut them and fried in oil, 

and then sliced and smashed them and put them in salted oil again until crispy.
Below, is the finished product: lots of wonderful bannann fri yo for us all to enjoy!

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.