Touch Ministries Haiti

Nearly Thanksgiving

2011-11-20T16:34:00.000-08:00

Here it is Sunday night, time for bed (for me) and I realized if I don't start writing blogs, no one will ever want to follow us. However, when you have the internet connection problems that we've had and carry the schedule that we do and play Words with Friends on Facebook, time for blogging escapes.
We had a wonderful dental clinic for five days, Stephanie Tamayo, my daughter in law was here as the Dental Hygenist. You know that was a treat for me!!! First family member to break the "I am not coming to Haiti mold" so now I'm looking for the others, but won't hold my breath!

Olivier and Junior had their first birthday party ever and it was fun although, it took all day when there was studying to do for Bible school and my presentation on Saturday showed the lack of prep time. But, Junior and Olivier had the time of their lives as we joined with the orphanage kids, Al and Bev Carpenter, for a few hours at the beach , then back to the orphanage for hotdogs and cake, and presents (the best part). They are still running around here playing with their toys and just finished off the last of the cake after supper. These boys are the best. God really blessed us and we pray they continue to be obedient even as Junior turned 13. Grades are good, they are fun and we love them.

In the throws of Christmas practice. Bethany Painter, volunteer , is teaching a dance to Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee, to the older kids. They are into it, no discipline problems there, all are striving to do it just right. Refreshing for me to say the least. A Christmas that did not depend on this aging brain to not only come up wtih an idea but also the execution of it. Ashley Longardner is working with the younger ones, and they are doing a great job as well. Kendra Swick is teaching the pre-schoolers a song and they will do their annual manger scene. Ahhh, Christmas! The tradition goes on. And Jesus really was born in a manger in Bethlehem, in case someone reading this has doubts. Everything needed to know is in the Bible.

Thanksgiving will see our house rocking with people. The whole missionary community that we fellowship with on a bi-weekly basis!! It should be fun, because all I have to do is a turkey (we'll have two) dressing, and maybe a little of this and that. When I get started in the kitchen the ideas start popping. Sort of like the vision for Touch Ministries.....the more I think about it the bigger the vision gets. Who will carry on the vision? Not that I'm planning to go to heaven anytime soon, but turning 70 has me thinking there better be someone who joins us to carry this thing on. Watching our volunteers jump around and have extreme energy reminds me of a younger Carolyn but today, she's not jumping around but walking from here to the chair.

During the Thanksgiving weekend there is a wonderful crusade going on in town and we will host some of the people who have come in. So that's our Thanksgiving weekend. Bible school fits there as well. Preaching on Sunday too. Never a dull moment when allowing the Lord to be Lord of your life. And we've started a Sunday church meeting on the days we don't have missionary meeting. It's really neat. Today there were over 15 so it's growing.

Going to add some pictures. Thank you, Family Harvest Church for the great team you sent. It was awesome and for me a time with family and friends. The people will never be the same due to your love, care and ministry. Going to WV for Christmas, getting there just about at Christmas but looking forward to seeing family whom we miss so much.

Busy School Days

2011-10-14T06:32:00.000-07:00

We are having a very successful school year. We are so thankful for the enthusiasm and skills that our American volunteers have! Their greatest asset is energy!!! Oh! How I wish for such. They never shirk at responsibility and spend their days off planning for the next week. Our children are exceedingly blessed this year. We have 104 students and each one is getting the love and attention they need to become good students. One day, they will be good citizens and hopefully lead their country out of the place where its been for so long.

Second Full Week........

2011-09-30T06:55:00.000-07:00

When school starts, I'm always thankful for the end of the first day. Here we are at the end of two and a half weeks. Amazing how quickly time goes, but also unnerving when one considers their age and the brevity of life here. It's also amazing how we have the honor of sowing into young lives, preparing them for an uncertain future but one filled with hope.
I'm particularly thankful today for the opportunity to lead the older kids in worship and teach the Word to them. Some listen, others wish they could escape. We had two kids ask for prayer for healing after the lesson and that was a blessing because it was spontaneous, not because I prompted it.
We are studying Jonah. There is so much more to Jonah than being swallowed by a fish. I am getting a lot out of the preparation for chapel. I've always heard that a teacher gets more out of preparation than delivery and it's quite true for me!
All the children are having a good time. With the lower grades getting to dance and do crafts and pre-school experiencing all kinds of science and art, El Shaddai is second to none (in my humble opinion).

Gary and I couldn't be happier concerning our volunteers. They are a blessing and a lot of fun.

One Full Week Completed

2011-09-23T10:41:00.000-07:00

We are still talking to new students about coming to El Shaddai, so our enrollment at 80 is far from complete. Already, we see some challenges and this year in first grade, it's girls. Interesting. Ashley Longardner said she was so blessed to see that the first graders were able to complete their first Word Building pace. They did it. They all passed, on to the second one and a new letter sound.

Junior has been relentless with his homework, and of course, Olivier follows. Work, work, work. I had to tell Junior to put his books away the other evening. Gary had moved him up ten paces because he felt he wasn't being challenged at the level he was working last year. Junior cried thinking he was in trouble. Then he decided to conquer it and has. He'll end up with a very high number of paces this year. Last year he did 106. Requirement is 60. (and a 99% grade average). Today he's working on his construction outside.

Junior has been building a house. He does it the Haitian way, gets the dirt, sifts it, mixes it (as though it were cement) and constructs. It's quite a structure and quite ingenious.

This looks very much like a Haitian house.

He's working on this one, the dirt on top is wet. This takes a lot of time and thought.

Everyone else is enjoying a quiet Friday. As a matter of fact this is what they are doing:

Kendra Swick and Ashley Longardner

Bethany had a fight with a cockroach last night which kept her up most of the night. She made it up at 11AM.

A few more pictures and I'm out of here.

Tuesday

2011-09-20T03:26:00.000-07:00

Here we are the fourth day of school!! Who would have thought in 2002, we would be here today doing that which began then. I remember Gary saying, "I don't want a school, I don't want anything to do with the school." So, with his permission, I started with two, then five and the following year we had 21. Needless to say, he joined in as there was no way I could do it alone. Now, he's really more involved in the ongoing process than I. This year, we ordered 11,000 dollars worth of curriculum.

Our pre-school has a licensed teacher directing it. Kendra Swick is enjoying preparations for each day and the children are the beneficiaries of her plans. God knows how to plan and to carry out the plans. All we have to do is be faithful. Ever think about that?

Our rent is going up on one building. As you know we use three rented buildings for El Shaddai. So, this is the year we are thinking, praying, planning for our own building. We must get out of these rental situations. We have our eye on a building that can be enlarged and we are waiting for approval and good papers on it. Once that happens, we'll begin to make it usable. It was once a church and has possibilities to be a structure we can use not only for school but for many activities, including Bible school.

According to Blogger, they've updated their blogging. I'm going to post some pictures and see what happens. If it gets too frustrating, I'm outta here. Time is of the essence as I'm now the principal of the pre-school, kindergarten, first and second grade. It's more work than the classroom, but there is nothing wrong with work. We simply need to make sure our work glorifies Him.

2011-06-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

Would You Like to Volunteer?

2011-06-20T05:10:00.000-07:00

Would You Like to Volunteer?

In the States with Thoughts of Haiti.

2011-06-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

When we gave Bibles to the Port au Prince grads, they were very excited, some kissing the book! This was a last minute gift as Family Harvest of Tinley Park, Robb Thompson Ministries sent us the money shortly before graduation. Surprises are always the best! Pastor Cesar is doing a wonderful job with his Bible school. We are blessed to have him, especially right now.

During the graduation part of the service the boys played their video games....not without permission. Olivier's is broken so he can only watch Junior play, that's probably why Junior smiled and he didn't.

I preached the morning service not at all prepared for a wedding sermon, so I sort of mixed it up. We so love this church as we see the attendance growing each time we are there. To think that the earthquake took the humble building he had and this now, is so much more. Out of tragedy surely can come triumph's and blessing.

It was also Mother's Day in Haiti this particular Sunday, (the last one of May) and the boys handed me an envelope which contained their drawing. They had worked on it the day before, as I saw them laboring. It was a complete joy for me to receive it.

2011-06-09T11:13:00.000-07:00

Bible School Graduate

Getting a reference Bible

Family Harvest Church, Port au Prince Bible school grads

St Marc First year students

Montrouis Graduation

Gary, a student, Carolyn, Barb Macleod

Passing the Torch

So Far From Haiti

2011-06-09T05:55:00.000-07:00

Although the island is just 750 miles from Miami, being in the States, wherever we are, is very, very far from our Haiti home. Olivier and Junior had a hard time saying good bye as their lives will change this summer. Less electricity, less different foods or treats, less cold water. We couldn't provide them with inverter power due to the high cost of fuel and no one to really know what to do if something goes wrong, so they are living with city power and from our experiences over the last weeks, it's few and far between. They are at the small guest house we use for teams with a Haitian family staying with them. Teenagers at night, their mother during the day to cook and keep things clean. I think Molly too, was very sad we were leaving. And, having said all that a week after we've been home, guess what? my thoughts gravitate there a whole lot more than I'd like them too. But, God is good, and I pray His blessing on all our staff and friends as rain is pounding Haiti far too much, stirring up Cholera and misery. Please Lord, spare Haiti any hits of hurricanes over this summer period.

This area is the first floor, the main sanctuary floor will be the ceiling of this.

When we left the church was coming along nicely. I imagine the rain is thwarting any continued building but we were able to finance it and the walls on the top floor should go up this summer. Pastor Chery is a wonderful man of God and we miss he and his wife as well.

Our graduations were great, the Bible school students so happy to receive their diplomas. We truly are blessed to sow the Word into these young men and women. I thought I'd transferred all the pictures but see that I haven't so, I'm going to close for now and get back to this later.

We had a wonderful time in Tampa with Pastor John Palideno and Charlie and Nancy Young. Everyone was so gracious. It's very humbling for us to experience so many kindnesses. Last night we were at Family Harvest in Chicago, Dr. Robb Thompson, and for me that is like going home. It was good to see our friends there as well. Being at our son's house, Ray and Steph Tamayo is a delight as well. The kids are so much fun. Experiencing happy families is a joy. I can see the Lord at work and it makes my heart glad.
Storm coming back, maybe I should get off here. Stormed all night, and now again!!!
Although we experience stormy weather, Jesus is at the helm saying, "Peace! Be still."

El Shaddai Officially Closed for the Summer!

2011-05-28T06:11:00.000-07:00

We got up to rain, rain, and more rain on Thursday. It looked like one of those all day things that are rare but do happen in Haiti. Much of the time was spent discussing the "what ifs" rather than believing everything would be okay. And it was okay. Sweltering hot with the humidity soaring after the rain stopped, we got through the evening. The kids were excited and everyone sang their songs with joy!

During the program, we observed a couple of our older boys taking leadership roles and it was exciting because we've been looking for those who would rise up. Kerwine had a group singing "Our God is an Awesome God"' as he played guitar. It was delightful. The humorous part was trying to end. He forgot how to stop. When he looked over at me, I gave him the "time to cut it off" sign and he slowed it down and ended, no one knew he was having a problem.

It's when you come to the finale of something like a school year that you realize all the work and dedication was well worth it. As the kids heard their averages and number of PACES they finished, they felt a sense of satisfaction, but the teachers more so. You can't be with a group for nine months and not have a sense of pride at accomplishment. As I looked at staff, I realized there was no way we could have done this without them. Yet there were those stress times when we thought we wanted to be done with them all. (Excuse me, but the reality of working here sometimes overrides the mission and you feel like you are banging your head against a brick wall). One long time missionary said: Face it! There is no meeting in the middle between the minds of Haiti and the Western mind. Words too true and I'm sure if any missionaries are reading this, they are saying "amen."

For the record, our boy, Junior did 103 PACES and a 99% grade average. He is amazing! We look for great things to come from this quiet, skinny kid! Oliver didn't do badly. He did 63 PACES (which is over the required 60) and had a 95% grade average. He reminded me that he was the highest in his room. He's forever working to keep up with Junior. I've never seen two boys totally unrelated be so totally brothers. Olivier is always trying to reach where Junior is. If it's art, Olivier is getting better. If it's music, spare me his attempts to sing. If it's building a village out of mud (a huge past time for them) Olivier is the one covered with mud. If it's riding bicycles Olivier does his best to go very fast. They are a delight to observe, not difficult to have around (but teaching organization is a bigger battle than I sometimes want to face).

The beach was a wonderful day for all of them and today we will go to the Montrouis Bible school graduation. Pray that Gary gets all the certificates completed as well as the program. He's struggling with it right now. Typing in French is not an easy thing to do....I'm very proud of him for doing it well.

Off to dry my hair. Blessings!

End Of School Year Crunch!

2011-05-20T07:37:00.000-07:00

Here we are ready to end the year at ESLC and there is always that rush to get things done on time. Thursday, I worked the testing room because Delson was home sick. I thought, "nice reprieve, don't have to deal with first graders" but by the end of the morning, I was desiring my post because it was at tremendous amount of work. There were so many kids testing and you know if kids test, the tests have to be graded!!! Imagine giving three different spelling word tests at the same time. My brain was dizzy! Thank goodness the kids know their words well enough that when I said Benjamin's word to Tiga, I got a look of, WHAT??

These bikes are worth a million dollars ....for smiles like this.

Always on the phone and a curious dog or lonely dog? Whenever she finds you available she's there.

Gary's sermon brought the whole church to prayer and repentance, not just a short prayer but an all night prayer meeting.

When you don't have electricity, you bring your cell phone to where it might be....even at church!

Junior and Olivie praying at church one night, no electricity.

El Shaddai kids practicing for closing program.

We are getting ready for our closing program as well, which will be next Thursday. Looking forward to hearing the kids sing because they love to sing and they love the songs they are singing. That makes for a successful event ....I hope. Beach on Friday. They are all looking forward to that as well.

Gary and I preached a crusade in a village church the first two nights of this week. Hard ground. Very hard ground. Hopefully the other preachers were able to harvest souls, we were hitting what seemed to be a brick wall.

Pastor Cesar's house is looking quite grand, and almost ready to move into. Pastor Chery's church is coming up and we are so enjoying the joy he has at seeing this church go up. Pastor Chery is the most real pastor we've met. He's not religious, not high minded, never asks for a cent.

We had money to build a school and while sitting in church one Sunday, the Lord spoke to my heart and said, "Build my house and I'll build yours." Yes, Lord, we will build your house. So, for weeks now, we've handed him money to continue the building and we are seeing God's house go up, while seeing people get saved and healed, delivered. The messages he brings on a Sunday are filled with something that helps us. Never did I think I would be ministered to in Haiti, after all, we were the ones who came to minister. I have a whole new respect for the CHURCH and realize that without it, you will die. There is no way to serve God outside of His church. It doesn't work. Our lives have truly been changed by becoming a part of the Body in Haiti.

Junior and Olivier both now have flat tires on their bicycles. How they did that is beyond me, they are new tires and they only ride inside the wall around the house. Need to ask the youngin's some questions. But, they were filled with shear joy when the bikes came home. They had worked and put together their little money to see it happen. Also, they are building houses, welllllll, mud houses. Quite the construction, I'd say, complete with trees and cars. They work for hours on these things.

As always, I'm in a hurry and if there were a dozen other things I should they've escaped me. So, I'll try and add some pictures and ask you to pray for us for the next week. A school closing (and that means not only the party but moving everything out of the school to our house so it will be safe over the summer). Two graduations, one of which is in Port. So, we have a big schedule and we need your prayers that we get through it all decently and in order.

(Old pictures, looking back)

Leaving Haiti on June 1st. Thank you all for every prayer and every cent that allows us to continue in this vineyard. This has been a hard year (what year hasn't ) and Gary is facing knee surgery sometime this summer. We couldn't continue with out you. Love you, Carolyn

ALWAYS IN A HURRY

2011-05-06T07:13:00.000-07:00

I have so much on my mind to do right now that I'm racing to get to the place where I can study!!!! Ever been like that. Desiring to read my new books, desiring to prepare for Bible school but first there were dishes to do, breakfast and lunch to cook. I'm sure you know the routine.

Olivier and Junior were blessed with new (used) bikes. What a thrill for us to hear their shrill of excitement! Of course, they can only ride them around the house, around and around but with Molly (the Rott) nipping at their heels they ride real fast. Clunk! a few accidents but nothing that needed our attention.

I knew it would be an early morning for them and the first thing Junior said, "Can I sweep the yard?" That's how they earned their bikes and I let them know that their job didn't change just because they got the reward. So, it was a blessing to hear him ask. Now, let me preface that by saying, if they have a smooth path, the riding is easier. It wasn't just a desire to please us with their willingness to work, it was also a desire to have a less rocky area to ride.

In Haiti, rocks are everywhere. Our "yard" is cement but it's not the kind of cement that you may picture. It's very rocky, sandy stuff. Smoother than the road out in front of our house, but rocky nonetheless.

Going to add pictures before internet gives way to the clouds, we are definitely in the rainy season. Three weeks and we say goodbye to our Haitian family and hello to our American family. It's always bitter sweet but right now, there is so much on our plate, preaching at a revival, preaching at church, teaching Bible school, teaching at El Shaddai, closing program at ESLC, two Bible school graduations...anyone want to come and help us do all this. We sure could use it!!!

One other thing, September help. We need teachers. Anyone good at math? We can use you. How about English grammer? We can use you. We have two girls coming in, one for pre-school, one for kindergarten. Does someone want to join them?? We'll make sure you have all the comforts of home, except, air conditioning, hot water, machine washed clothes, McDonald's hamburgers, let's see.........lettuce salads...I could go on but I'm really in a hurry.
Blessings and Happy Mother's Day to all mothers, grandmothers, future mothers. God is good and a rewards those who diligently seek Him! Being a mother brings diligent seeking of the Lord and because of that, great reward!

Love, Carolyn

TOUCH MINISTRIES

2011-04-23T08:04:00.000-07:00

One Missionary meeting Sunday a while ago.

2011-04-23T07:57:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter from the Walkers, Gary and Carolyn, Junior and Oliver and from the Lovelands, Peter and Carol (who were kind enough to visit us for a week).

2011-04-23T07:40:00.000-07:00

...And on your Feet Place the Gospel of Peace

2011-04-22T08:13:00.000-07:00

I must share a little excitement before it's forgotten and never shared. While on my way to school near 9AM Thursday morning, on my way to school to teach in chapel, I had an accident. Turning right to go up the hill to the school, a motor cycle ran into me. Of course, I was going very slowly while turning the corner so it wasn't a great impact, it was more or less that he bumped into the van.

As the taxi driver looked at me he pointed to his cheek then moved his bike away to the side of the road. I sat for a moment considering what I would do. Get out, get away??? What?? There was also a man talking rapidly at me, so thinking he was telling me to get out of the car, I did. By now there was a crowd.

The driver stood quietly, not saying much but kept putting his finger on his cheek meaning he was injured there. The other man who was doing a lot of talking, finally made me understand that he was saying, "It's not your fault." Whew! Someone saw it and said it wasn't my fault. He then told me to go on to school, that he and the taxi driver would come up. (He was really protecting me because the crowd was getting larger and in a crowd there can be big problems such as one in the crowd getting angry then you have a mob scene).

I went on up to school, parked, and by the time I got out of the car, they were there. Waiting for Petit Homme to translate for me, I put my fingers on the side of the taxi drivers face and told him how sorry I was that all this happened. With a translator, I asked him what he wanted me to do. He said he could not work the rest of the day that he was in too much pain, so he needed to pay the motor cycle owner what he would make in a day which was 150 Haitian dollars. Then he said he also needed money for pain medicine.

Telling him to wait there, I went to the big building to get money and a note that I wanted him to sign which would release me from future problems. I decided to give him 300 Haitian dollars and a bottle of Ibuprophen for his pain. Handing him the money, I told him 150 was for his boss and 150 was for him and told him how to take the pain medicine.

Do I think he was in pain? No, not at all. But, at that moment it didn't matter. What mattered was that the situation come to a conclusion. Too often, foreigners are slapped with huge fees in situations like this and I was determined that would not happen to me. The Lord had a man there that continued to say, "It was not her fault." And, Petit Homme recognized the taxi driver as his neighbor!!!

My lesson has been on the armor of God and today the part of the armor we would learn was the shoes as the Gospel of peace. I can't tell you how peace prevailed through all of that and as I related the story to the kids, they got the picture of what God desires for us. There isn't a situation that we cannot overcome if we walk in peace.

Walk in peace today and be blessed. It's Good Friday. Our Lord on the day He died, took a lot of pain for our peace. Bless Him by walking in that which He died to give you.

TOUCH MINISTRIES

2011-04-19T16:50:00.000-07:00

Teachers Seminar whoo hoo....I figured out how to get the pics on here!!!

2011-04-18T09:14:00.000-07:00

Left: Peter Loveland, Carol Loveland, Dr. Norm and Dr Carolyn

Picking a winner for door prize.

Introducing Dr Norm to our teachers.

Those numbers are hard to see.

God is Good!

2011-04-18T08:57:00.000-07:00

Our dog Molly. A great dog!!! We acquired her from a missionary couple that left the country.

When you can't get a bookcase through the front door and up the steps you come over the porch.

The porch is on the second floor...was not an easy feat!

Sunday Dinner at a favorite Haitian restaurant, the Moreno's, Jacob, Norm, the Carpenters, Crystal and the boys.

Jacob, Brian, church on Sunday!

We have been working very hard on several fronts and sometimes, you simply need a little help from friends. In May, Dr Norm Dobbs, (retired psychologist) arrived bringing with him, calm and laughter. Two days later, the Moreno's arrived bringing with them their medical expertise to help the hurting. They had a young friend with them who'd never been to Haiti before but Jacob will be back. Especially, to sleep in a mountain village and have a tarantula sleep with him. (It happened, he wasn't blessed but he became the brunt of much joking). Jacob is an Respitory Therapist at the VA hospital in WV and a wonderful Christian boy. A few days later the Lovelands came in. They are retired teachers from NY State and have a Haitian school north of St Marc. They help us for a week at El Shaddai and we are so happy to have met them. I mentioned laughter and laughter is what the house has been full of for a couple of weeks now. It feels so good.

Since we had three people who understood the teaching profession we decided to have a seminar to help equip our teachers. It exceeded all my expectations!!! Our employees received certificates of completion for attending. Dr Norm spoke about the mind and what happens when wrong words are said to children. Peter spoke concerning children who have learning difficulties and Carol tied it all together with the spiritual aspect of teaching. When the Moreno's return we will do another seminar teaching our staff first aid and how to prevent getting colds and flu from the children.

In the midst of all this, Bible school continues with graduation around the corner. My St Marc group are the best! I love them so much because they are so hungry for the Word of God.

Our season in Haiti is about to draw to a close and while we are anticipating seeing family and friends, leaving for three months is difficult. Last year, we were in Haiti part of the summer and due to the brevity of our visit to the States, we are looking forward to being in Tampa/Chicago/West Virgina and where ever else the Lord leads.

It's now beyond the time I said I'd be at school. Hope you enjoy the pictures! (Oh dear, have to figure out how to get the pictures I wanted to post into the right file so they can be uploaded. Is there ever a time when doing these postings become easy??)

Everyday is a Good Day

2011-03-30T08:10:00.000-07:00

After a serious talk with myself, I'm not watching what goes into my mouth. It dawned on me that my eating was not at all balanced or with moderation and that nearly daily everything was fried, carbs, sweets as well. So, now I'm drinking my breakfast (a smoothie of apple, banana, protein powder, cinnamon and honey--yum yum). Maybe it won't make a difference inside but it sure makes a difference in guilt levels. When we make right decisions, there's no way thoughts can turn to guilt.

Gary locked keys in truck at Bible school.

This boy got his arm in, popped the lock, but couldn't get his arm out. He got a reward for his help!

Having said that, think about spending quality time with the Lord. When we do, we don't feel guilty about not having done it. Such simple remedies to guilt feelings, amen?

Lately, I've been making myself scarce at school. There seems to be no reason for me to go there, when I have tons of things to do here. (Like writing blogs). It seems the time it takes to prepare teachings at chapel, church, Bible school are consuming me. I love it.

Yesterday, I forced Gary to take a day off. He was so exhausted and we hadn't had a day off since December. Not anything that you could truly call "a day off." So, we went to the beach and he slept all day. Then he went to bed early last night, so he's feeling quite well today.

I'm still trying to figure out how to get the office so that it's manageable. Without the proper places to put things, it's impossible. But, we'll keep working at it. One of these days, perhaps I can say, it is finished.

We'll be talking a lot about Jesus saying those words in the coming days as Easter approaches. The magnitude and the agony of that cry could have only also brought relief. When something is done it's done. But, what he went through before that cry we will never be able to relate to nor will we be able to understand. As the recipients of the price He paid, we can only say, "Thank you, Jesus." which will forever be our cry. I've done a lot of studying on the Blood of Jesus and the power in His Blood is beyond our comprehension. When you consider that His Blood came not from a human source but was Holy Blood, wow!

When Adam sinned it was his blood that became tainted with sin...think about it.....and it took the sinless blood of Jesus to rectify sin in all of us.

Haiti's election results have been delayed. We were supposed to hear tomorrow, now it will be next week. I'd say there are backroom deals going on and both Martelly and Manigat will get positions. Why not? No one here would ever believe they lost. Well, that's just my opinion. Let's wait and see what happens. By the way, have you noticed there are no good leaders in the world today. And all ground is shaky. Look at the number of earthquakes!!! And please pray for Japan. This may be their hour of salvation.

FRIDAY: A DAY OFF?

2011-03-25T05:17:00.000-07:00

Pre-school teachers: Elizabeth, Pierre, Hormise

Miss Clona and Max

Mr. Jean and Ken Ken

Mr Petit Homme and student

Mr Crispel in the checking room.

Crystal Salewski getting papers ready for her class.

It's Friday and I'm getting ready to prep for my meeting with David, the young man who is a Jehovah's Witness. I'm not sure how sincere he is but if you pray, pray for him. He was a Mormon and now a JW, 20 years old. Ahh, the Lord made sure a copy of their book was in my hands and I can tell you, it is no wonder they are so mixed up! So, we'll see today. Gary said Hebrews 1 answers the "angel question." In case you don't know, they believe that the archangel Michael and Jesus are one and the same, which denies Jesus being God's son, the begotten Son, it denies the trinity, it denies so truth. But, that's what error does, denies truth. What is truth? Jesus is TRUTH!
We are having wonderful chapel services at El Shaddai. Our worship brings God's presence. Sophonie said, the other week, Thursdays are great days, we worship God then we pass all our tests. Well, she passes because she studies, but the worship brings an air of calm and peace that resides with them the rest of the day. We are studying John 10, and will probably be there for the rest of the school year.
Gary is off to Port today, trying to get Al and Bev's papers. Hopefully, this will be their final trip and they'll have the results in hand when they return.
The boys just announced they were hungry so I better get breakfast for them. They are such good boys. Rarely do we have to correct them. Don't get me wrong, they are boys and do all the things boys do, but, they respond to me with a right attitude which means a whole lot! Right now, they are working to get bicycles. They sweep the yard, do their homework promptly, and any other little job I may have for them. Oh, almost forgot, they feed and water the dog.
Going to try to add pictures and move from this place. Please if you can, order the book on the ad. I listened to the author talking about it and it's info we all need with America taking a stand toward total sexual freedom in the gay and lesbian community.

Mr. Delson and Stally

Madame Tom, in office, she does copies.

Mr. Norkens, our secretary.

Dinah Deher, from Germany helping teach at ESLC.

Mr. Richy with Naika as she studies for exam.

We wait for election results next week. Pray the country remains peaceful irregardless of who wins!
Blessings to you today. John 10:10, The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly...Jesus.

My Mind is Racing as Fast as Time is Moving

2011-03-08T05:43:00.000-08:00

Bible School

Thousands hear that Jesus delivers from demonic oppression

There is so much to do and so little time. There is so much to teach and it is crowding up my mind. I'm not crazy or going crazy, I seem to have a tiny revelation as to how late the hour is. I'm not advocating Jesus return on May 11, 2011, not at all. He's coming, no doubt about it, and there are still souls untouched, unmoved by the message that Jesus will change their lives. So we must work while it's day for night is coming and no man can work!

I'm studying the Blood, the Kingdom and the necessity for deliverance. But then, last Thursday in chapel at El Shaddai, the interest the kids had in the life of Jesus as a real person brought another topic that must be studied out and presented. Can I do this? Yes! By the power of the Holy Spirit and by the Word that says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. So, that means praying ....a lot. It means studying....a lot. It means dying to my selfish desires, totally. Yes! Lord!

Speaking to the multitudes!

On Friday morning a young man is coming here to study the Bible. He's a Jehovah's Witness and wants to understand truth. Please pray for us to present truth to him and that his eyes would be open to truth!

I taught on the blood in Bible school last Friday evening and realized, my students don't have a revelation of it. Not yet, so please pray that they will. They don't get it. They don't understand the power of the blood. They proclaim it but when you start picking it apart and explaining it from the Bible, they don't get it. So, you can pray about that as well.

Speaking at Family Harvest Church

I was told that the Jehovah Witnesses sacrificed a goat!!!! Just the other day!!!! My student asked if it was WRONG!!!! At least he asked which means he wants to know.

We are in the middle of Kanaval. Noisy, demonic, terrible. But we are also in the midst of a great move of God. Oh that Haiti would step into what has been prophesied!!! That this little part of an island would become a giant in God and a light to the nations. It's going to happen and what an honor to be here right now spreading the Word of God to the least of these. Can you tell I'm excited??

Delson preaching at a village church

“We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” - Act_14:22 (3)

2011-03-08T04:40:00.000-08:00

“We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” - Act_14:22 (3)

Exciting Days in St Marc

2011-03-07T05:24:00.000-08:00

Exciting Days in St Marc

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1817897322731&set=t.1407732741

2011-03-03T17:44:00.000-08:00

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1817897322731&set=t.1407732741

THRUSDAY CHAPEL AT EL SHADDAI

2011-02-24T16:49:00.000-08:00

Thursday Chapel 2/25/11

We’ve been consistent about chapel at El Shaddai since its inception. We’ve seen children saved, healed, and set free from all sorts of things, but today………….Today was different. I must back up a little so that you will begin to understand why.
Two weeks ago, a Haitian pastor by the name of Eddy Francois came to town and did a two week crusade that really impacted the devil’s hold on people. There were so many healings and deliverances we couldn’t count them all. He’s gone but what happened is lingering and we saw a bit of it today with our kids.
Today, we were singing a Paul Wilbur song that had a line stating “what God has done for me.” When we finished, I said, “Someone stand up and tell us what God has done for you.”
Marc was the first to raise his hand. Marc is age 12. I knew his mother died a couple of years ago and that he was still hurting from the loss. He began to tell us about getting hit by a car, which resulted in breaking his arm. I told him God saved his life so he could serve God. He said, “I want to pray but I can’t pray. I go to church but there is always something there that keeps me from praying.” I asked if he’d ever been to the book (witch doctor) and he replied no. Then he said, “After my mother died, my father took me to the witch doctor and he gave me a bath.” This bath is like a baptism using very smelly water or mud. His father was trying (out of ignorance) to protect his children from death but of course, he was attaching death to them, thus the accident. By this time Marc was crying and we prayed fervently over him binding generational curses and the spirit of death. He was so shaken he sat down at the front of the class (on the bench behind us) rather than returning to his seat.
Henson came up. Henson is very slow with his school work and he’s usually in trouble for one thing or another. Henson came several years ago. His mother told him he was coming to Haiti for a vacation and then she left, leaving him with an aunt. Thankfully, this aunt is a Christian. Henson dropped his head as he began to speak and tears started to flow. He told us about a gun fight that occurred when he was very young out in a village. There was voodoo going on, when Henson’s uncle killed a man. His mother and father ran leaving Henson standing all alone. There was only one way to escape the village and that was across a river. Frightened, Henson ran and jumped in the river but was drowning. Someone rescued him and drown in the effort. Henson didn’t see his parents for several years after that. By the time he finished the story we were all tearing up. We prayed over him binding different spirits that have troubled him since then. (Mr. Daniel said he has had trouble with Henson so often and had no idea what this boy had been through. He said, “I will begin to treat him differently because he needs love.”) Mitch came next. Mitch is a very small 12 year old that came to El Shaddai last year having a command of English from another English school. He talked about 1/12/10, the day of the earthquake. He was in Port au Prince that day, many people died around him. His uncle rescued him. This is the first time we had any clue that he was in the earthquake in Port. You could tell that he was still very shaken from the experience and he probably hasn’t talked about it from that day to this. We prayed he would have peace of mind.
Stally came up and told her story. I knew that her mother had been taking her for demonic baths every week as she shared this with us over a year ago, after she had an accident that nearly killed her. Her mother had gotten saved, but the spirits were still after Stally and she called it a “snake in my throat.” Because she couldn’t breathe well, her mother got her on a motor cycle taxi to take her to the hospital and they had an accident. She ended up in a hospital in Port au Prince and has quite a few visible scars from that accident. After she came back to school, she was different about the Gospel. Instead of a dark look when she was in chapel, she was happy and singing. We came against all the curses put on her by the witch doctor each time she went to him.
Tara shared a long story about how people called her a sorceress, since she was a small child. She’d answer that she couldn’t be a sorceress because she was born into a Christian family. We know the famil well. Her story became so bizarre that we cut it off and intend to have some private prayer sessions with her. We spoke to her mother about it and she said, “My husbands family are all in voodoo and they have tried for years through witchcraft to get him back and out of Christianity. The spirits are coming to my daughter instead.
So, there you have it, a peek into children’s lives here on this island that openly serves the devil. Generation after generation, it goes on. I reminded all the kids that Jesus has all power and can set people free. I’m asking you to pray that our kids will be totally free as we preach and teach and pray over them. Pray there are more opportunities to bring true deliverance to these captives so the next generation will be Godly.
Later in the day Mr. Daniel came back and said, “That chapel service was the Holy Ghost. I thought you would have your Bible presentation, I didn’t expect anything like what happened…it was all God.” And it was!

AS HIS CUSTOM WAS….

2011-01-13T06:10:00.001-08:00

Luke 4:16

16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.

Custom is an interesting word. "as His custom was" We like things we are accustomed to. We generally don't like change even within our hearts. When we grow familiar with things being one way or the other, we are comfortable. Even a wife of an alcoholic grows accustomed to her husbands behavior, to the strange extreme as enabling his sickness. If he changes she is thrown off balance and has a hard time relating, even though she hated the alcoholic behavior. R.A.Torrey in his book How to Pray, states that a woman may pray for her husband to be saved but in reality she does not want him saved because she is not prepared for the changes in him which will be totally foreign to what she has known as his custom.

Moving about this morning I thought about my customs. Get up, turn coffee pot on, find my books, find a spot to be alone, and for me it's to walk out on the porch and look at the black sky with it's multitude of stars, think about Jesus, talk to Him, get destracted, jerk my thoughts back to Him,....It's not like that every single day, there are times when I over sleep,or have something else to do that is pressing for this customary time with the Lord....what would my husband say was my custom? What are my customs? What do I want them to be for this new year? Jesus custom was to go to the Temple.

The other thought becomes; Do people know my customs? Do people look at me and say: She has the custom of: praying about everything, going to church on a regular basis, welcoming guests, never saying anything negative about others, chores, her children, grandchildren; or life in general. Will others say about us when we are no longer here: I remember her/him and it was always their custom to worship God, or shout Halleluia, or give to the poor, or (you can fill in the blank====what would you like people to remember about you and your customs)?

A dear friend of mine, who has gone on to be with the Lord, had customs that I admired. He had a smile on his face all the time, laughed easily. I remember one time in particular and have thought about it over the years since the experience. We were together in the car, his wife, daughter and I, on our way to the airport. He was going on a missions trip to Africa, I was invited to be a travel companion for his wife after we dropped him off. His daughter, about 12 or 13 said she was hungry. Time did not permit stopping so he said with a chuckle, "You can fast Becka....did you ever hear of fasting?" I thought that was an interesting answer to a child's request. He always brought everyone back to thinking about the Lord, it was his custom. He also had the custom of dancing before the Lord. If someone looked from a flesh point of view, it was a funny dance, usually out of rhythm, but it was a heart filled dance and he didn't care who was watching, he only cared that the Lord saw his dance. It was his custom.

So, here we are in a new year and I'm wondering what are my customs that will make a differences in others liives? How am I positioned to develop spiritually, physically, mentally, ministerially this year. so that relationship with the Lord will be seen in all I do. Jesus was known to go to the Temple. What am I known for based on what people see me do daily and what do I want to be known for after I leave the earth? The beginning of a new year is prime time to decide. What is our custom?

Carolyn

Christmas is behind us, the New Year awaits us..........

2010-12-27T11:17:00.000-08:00

What can we say after an ardorous time trying to make sure we got home before Christmas, then running around trying to make sure everyone would have a present, trying to get to see our church friends and pastors, all with coughing, sneezing, sore throats, shivering, fever.........oh! should I go on? How many of us had the same experience or part of the same? Most probably didn't have our Haiti exit experience but the American Christmas rush is most peoples' experience. Today, I'm enjoying a visit from my middle son as he tries to catch up on computer work while away from home (so we are fellowshipping, both having our laptops open and working---what has happened to conversations where we look at one another in the eye?

Gary is feeling better and doing some work in the house, which I should be doing as well, but couldn't resist the urge to blog. We did have a wonderful Christmas and we are so thankful for family!! And yet, my thoughts keep going back to Haiti. We'll be back there shortly, with gifts for Olivie and Junior, dinners for many kids at churches and we'll see school continue. We are watching the political situation closely but for now everything is quiet and we expect school to continue uninterrupted.

We are happy the new wall is built, Family Harvest in Tinley Park, IL came with a mission in mind and although we were having trouble politically, it did not deter their mission. We love teams who are committed to what they came to do and do it. There's a group coming from WI in February who will paint the wall. That will be super!!!

We remembered Dr. Haupt from St Louis, this holiday after a call from Pastor Ed saying Dr. Haupt's organization wanted to give to the orphanage so they'd have meals for the next six months! Dr. Haupt, an orthopedic surgeon came to Haiti after the earthquake with Service International. He brought his medical team with him and together they helped a lot of people out of their misery. Dr. Haupt went to be with the Lord, unexpectedly a couple of months after leaving Haiti. He loved our orphans and his friends have given a gift in his name. What a special gift! Another Dr. friend of ours, from WV, is donating new computers to El Shaddai. We stand amazed at people's giving. The generous hearts of everyone keeps the work going. Gary and I are truly blessed to say we can continue the work at hand.

I am sitting here with a huge sweater on and wondering why I am not too warm. But, my heart is filled with joy and thanksgiving for what we have here and what we are able to do in Haiti. The Lord is faithful and as we welcome a new year, we need to remember that He is faithful, that our part is to seek first His kingdom and all things will be added ....all things....all we need. I'm reminded once again of another scripture: keep yourself from idols. We seek Him, we keep from idols, we have all we need...He is all we need, He is our reward. Have a wonderful New Year.

Carolyn

Political Struggles in Haiti

2010-12-07T05:22:00.001-08:00

Here we sit, unable to have school because of possible riots in and around town. In the book, Too Small to Ignore, Dr. Stoddard stated that it's the children who are the first to suffer famine, disease, and war. It's true and as a living spectator in a country which has gone through an earthquake, still dealing with cholera and now a presidential election, 2010 will go down in history as the YEAR of struggle. The number of deaths is overwhelming without knowing the number of children who died and is dying. Haitian parents are quick to keep their children home from school if there is threat of any problems. But, when children miss days and days of school, it really interrupts their education. Two months after January 12^th, and now two days here, three days there, doesn't make for a successful school year does it? The problem right now is how long will it go on?

I was just thinking about 2004, when there were wars all over the country, particularly in St Marc. There was a group who wanted Aristide out of office (and the turmoil he was causing was excessive, whether it was provoked or whether he was a power monger, I don't know---however, in St Marc, the shooting up of a radio station nearly killing a pastor who was reporting news against the president—resulted in our thoughts being negative toward the president. These two factions, one for and one against the president, had shooting battles day in and day out for almost two months. I said, day but it happened at night as well. Gary and I would just get in bed when the gunfire would start. One shot, my heart would begin to beat rapidly and my stomach would turn over, then another and another…when it would get quiet I would lay there waiting for the next one. We had school in spite of the problems. Every other school was closed but ours. One day, after school was over, we had one child left (before we were busing kids). We waited and finally called the father who owned a grocery store in town at the edge of a Haitian market. He said, "I'm buried in my store, there is a war going on in front of the building." That was sufficient reason for not coming to get his child. Last week, we got a call from one of our teachers who lives near the UN base here in St Marc. He said, "I am buried in the back of my house because they are shooting and throwing rocks at the UN base." (Two Haitians died having been shot with rubber bullets that struck the head).

Those horrible days we went through six years ago are on the minds of all of us who lived through it. Parents remembering it keep their children home rather than risk coming to school and it's our first thought as well. I was on my way to school last week to see the team from Chicago work on the school wall. We had cancelled school because it was the day after the election. Traveling north on the Grande Rue (Main Street), there was a huge crowd coming toward us, filling the highway. They were carrying tree branches (which they use as their banners when manifesting) and I knew, 'get out of here quick'. Just as I looked left there was a place where I could pull in and turn around. I'm sure the Lord provided it….sort of like the ram in the bushes. Then I had to find my way to school via side streets and nearly ran into a guy on a motor cycle proceeded toward me as I was turning onto a side road. One of my choices was unfruitful and some kind men told me I couldn't go that way and told me the way to go. We got to the school just about the time gunfire erupted. The team was so brave! We closed the gate and went inside until it subsided. There were fires all over town from what I'm told but we averted it all as we stayed to work on the wall. When it was time to leave, we were able to get right home, but Al (Carpenter) and Joe had to carry the motor cycle across a river bed to get to where they lived.

So, we are in the midst of it again. There is a revival going on at the church we attend. I'm to speak tonight. It's great to be able to go to God's house at times like this. The joy of worship and the refreshing of the Word gives us strength to go on. We were in church all last week as well. I don't know what I'd do without that time with the Body of Christ. It's been a well of sweet water for me.

Haiti is in struggle. Haiti needs prayer and at the same time, Haiti is having its greatest moment in Christ. Perhaps that's what it takes to build a strong church. History seems to prove it takes struggle and turmoil outside to bring people inside. The scripture that keeps coming to mind is this: The kingdoms of this world have become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of our Christ and He shall reign forever and ever! Today they will announce the new president.

2010-11-19T19:33:00.001-08:00

Some of our teachers at El Shaddai. Some of our students.

2010-11-07T17:29:00.000-08:00

Our El Shaddai students and teacher of whom we are very pleased!!!

2010 A Year of Challenge For Haiti | Touch Ministries, Haiti

2010-11-07T17:02:00.000-08:00

2010 A Year of Challenge For Haiti | Touch Ministries, Haiti

2010 A Year of Challenge For Haiti

2010-11-07T16:43:00.001-08:00

Every year is a challenge in Haiti, but this year has certainly been the exception. A week ago Sunday, we discussed the coming hurricane, Tomas, during a missionary meeting. Gary said, "I am going to stand against this hurricane, it will not hit Haiti." Pretty bold statement but I was in agreement with him. Needless to say we watched the weather reports several times a day and speculated, praised the Lord that it would not come. If you happened to watch Tomas in his various wind speeds, twists and turns, you would have to agree that it was a confused storm. Thursday came, we obeyed the Presidents order to close all schools. Nothing much happened, Friday nothing much happened, intermittent rain, some gusts of wind. Gary worked making shelving that we need to get more organized, I got things done that we'd not had time to do since we moved. The sun came out for a while. About 9PM, Friday night, we were surprised by the wind and rain. I thought about the books I'd left on the porch and imagined them being blown about and soaked, actually ruined. Saturday, we canceled Bible school because of rain. When I checked my books, they were not even wet. No explanation for that, plenty of rain came in that porch. In other parts of Haiti, there is real suffering, homes gone by flooding, and the threat of land slides. We continue to pray but we believe Haiti was spared this storm.

Our guest, Charlie Young and his son Kenny tried to get out of Haiti on Thursday evening, only to get stranded when the flight was canceled. We arranged for them to stay at a guest house of a missionary friend of ours. They finally flew out on Saturday. I'm sure they were very happy to get back to Tampa, but we missed them when they left. Charlie taught how to plant seeds in tires to the school and to Haitian farmers. The children will enjoy watching the seeds grow.

The Cholera reports more numbers dying and it's popping up everywhere. I received a World Health Organization report today which says:

But the really big story here is that it then broke out in Nepal, around 2003-04. It now appears, though we're awaiting more confirmation at the laboratory level, that this pandemic in Haiti started with Nepalese peacekeepers who were the carriers. We have similar outbreak-carrier situations now in several places in the world. In fact, the largest cholera outbreak at the moment is Nigeria, with far more cases than are being seen in Haiti….. Actually, if aid workers and peacekeepers were taught proper hygiene and provided with toilet paper and proper soap and so on, they would not be transmitters. The problem with cholera is that it really is a classic hygienic issue. The spread of cholera is about water, it's about dirty hands, touching water supplies and food supplies, and about the inability to limit what's going into the water because either there are improper sewage systems; or people are drinking from, washing in, and defecating in the same water supply.

It's inexcusable that we cannot control cholera today. We fully understand the disease. It is generally treatable with a combination of appropriate antibiotics. But most important is heavy-duty hydration with consistently safe water.

The other issue is part of the reason cholera is always a crisis in the Bay of Bengal region--because the microbes, especially this 01 form, can live inside of other microorganisms that float around in such things as red tides and algal blooms. Wherever you have very warm surface temperatures, relatively still waters, lots of sun, you're creating a kind of stew that's ideal for the growth of the microorganisms that the vibrio cholerae [the organism that causes cholera] can live inside of. You get this constant feedback-replenishment thing going on where problems on the land mainly associated with humans--waste and water runoff--feed into breeding colonies in the sea, and vice-versa. We had a classic outbreak of cholera that hit Latin America in the 1990s, and it turned out to have reached Latin America because of ships loading bilge in the Bay of Bengal, going across the world, and offloading the bilge water into coastal waters where they were absorbed into clams, shell fish, oysters, and so on. Then you had an epidemic that spread across Latin America. If you don't have very good public health tracking systems, general population hygiene, and water safe systems, it spreads extremely rapidly.

So, based on the previous information, the Haitians were correct in blaming UN people from Nepal. We encouraged the church to continue taking precautions and to pray.

Good News!!!

First you need to get the picture of what the church is like. It's being built. We sit under tarps because there is no roof and we walk in mud after any kind of rain. So, there the people are, mud caked to their Sunday shoes. The children climb a ladder to get to the adjacent building's second floor, they too are under tarps.

We have a medical team coming in on the 14^th. They'll plant themselves at the hospital and be a viable force there.
Testimonies shared today at church. The testimonies were given by two women, both of whom had been sick with vomiting and diarrhea, (cholera symptoms) they rebuked it until they were better. It was definitely time to shout HALLELUIA!

As I sat there looking around at the faces, their love and dedication to the Lord, I thought about the excuses each one of them could have given for not attending church today. I thought about excuses that I've made in the past. For a moment my emotions wanted to spill over because the realization of how God looks at their dedication was overwhelming. I told Gary, "God doesn't take this lightly…..and in North America we argue over the color of carpeting"... or miss church because it's raining and walking to the church from the car will get their Sunday clothes wet. If you could see this church………….and it's crowded. One teenager stood up to tell about how he's given his heart to the Lord and sharing Jesus with classmates. Five of them accepted Christ and were with him in church today.

(Because of the rain, the tarps had filled with water. It was breezy today. The tarps blew up and dumped water at our feet. Pastor Chery was so embarrassed when it hit Pastor Gary, he apologized over and over again while calling someone to get a barrel to catch the water).

While Haitians meet the struggle getting through 2010, God is building His church. Jesus said it so clearly: Mat 16:18
Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means 'rock'), and upon this rock I will build My church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. We see it over and over again, in every church, every Sunday, people are coming to the Lord and they are hungry to learn of Him. Hurricanes, cholera, poverty, muddy churches with no roof, mud caked shoes, nothing can separate us from the love of God. Romans 8:38.

Fear is the Absence of Faith

2010-10-25T04:02:00.000-07:00

Fear is the Absence of Faith

We Have a Guest House and it Rained Last Night.....

2010-10-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

We Have a Guest House and it Rained Last Night.....

Three Weeks Into 2010/2011 School Year

2010-10-09T15:26:00.001-07:00

Oh my! We never dreamed we'd be this busy!!! Our school enrollment is nearly 100 kids, 20 high school age. The office is busy from the moment the doors open until the last child is out of the building.

We took Crystal's class (first grade) Petit Homme's class (first grade), and Kevin's class (kindergarten) to our old house. So now ESLC is located in three buildings. We hired a young man who told us he might not be there very long, he wasn't. Stevenson spoke fluent English, had graduated the ACE system, was excellent helping the high school do their math (although he wasn't much older than they). He got the opportunity for higher education in the Dominican Republic and bid us farewell. To fill the void, Gary is in the classroom, I'm in the office and Dan is directing the whole thing. WE NEED HELP!!!

We need a couple of North Americans to come and commit some time to getting this school off the ground. We are doing it, but Gary and I have so much more that needs done with Bible schools, the orphanage oversight. We also work with two Haitian pastors, one to build a building and one to build a house. This doesn't get done without us being on the scene regularly, so it 's on hold right now. Pastor Cesar asked me today at Bible school what we were doing or when we would begin. I know he wants to get started, but we must check prices and make sure his estimate isn't higher than what we can do if we purchase here in St Marc. All that takes a lot of t-i-m-e and we don't seem to have much as we are using every available moment now.

The new house is coming along nicely…the one we rented and moved into three weeks ago (as if school opening wasn't enough on our plate). We finally got our mosquito netting up so sleeping is easier. BUT now we have rats. Ever since the dog died, the rats have invaded. The other morning, I got up and came in the office, noticed that a utensil called Cleenere's was bitten off at the tip…only a rat could have done it. Then I saw the droppings and later proceeded to put my hearing aids in, only one was missing. A rat stole my hearing aid! Although, we are joking about it, with the price of such, it is no laughing matter. And, the difficulty I have in hearing since it was the aid for the worst ear.

I don't know if I told you about the death of our little dog. We had to cut down some coconut leaves because they were shorting out the transformer. We took pictures of Buddy frolicking in the branches on the ground, eating at them and having a very nice time. Four days later he was dead, a horrible death! The leaves balled up in his stomach and cut his intestines. They wouldn't come up or go down. He was in such pain and literally bled to death. That was hard to watch happening. The vet kept coming to try and help him but to no avail. (He really needed surgery but that doesn't happen here and/or a shot to put him to sleep but that doesn't happen here either).

Back to the rats. When we got up this morning, a huge piece had been eaten out of an avocado that was sitting on the table. There was also evidence of one being right back up here on my desk. Trust me, my remaining hearing aid was NOT laying here. But the rat had been back and left his calling card!!

We have a new girl in the orphanage, Sylvana, a dear child who is getting along very well with everyone. Olivie and Junior are doing well and have truly bonded as brothers. Last night, Dan and Gary both got out of bed and headed toward their room at the same time. They were having a very loud disagreement. It had to do with one touching the others' bed. So, they were moving their beds away from one another….if that isn't a brotherly love fight, I've never known one.

The other morning the scripture from Acts came to me.
Act 6:3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; Act 6:4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word."

Gary and I need to give ourselves to prayer and to ministry of the Word. We must find the workers for the school and we pray we have North American help. If you know anyone who ever thought they would like to do this kind of thing, please steer them our way.

Hopefully, I'll get to post some recent pictures when this gets posted to the blog!

Love,

Gary and Carolyn

Is My Heart Right?

2010-09-23T11:51:00.001-07:00

A good rule to follow in walking with the Lord is actually a question: Is my heart right?

We were told in April, that the building we were living in was going to be sold. Of course, we were asked if we wanted to buy it. But, buying was not convenient because we were already too crowded in the house. Since Olivie and Junior came to live with us and our American volunteer numbers have grown, the house was somewhat overcrowded on a daily basis and especially when team members were with us.

Over the last year, I'd ask Gary if he could possibly make the house bigger, perhaps another bathroom (in our bedroom--impossible), and a balcony knocking a window out and making a door, so I could go and sit to be alone. Impossible.

So, here we were knowing we would move sometime in April of 2011 but where? Most bigger homes are hugely overpriced as far as rent is concerned and how would we begin looking. Those that we'd looked at in the past were so overpriced we were sure the owners had lost their minds.

My prayer became: Lord, I just want to be alone with you, and right now there is no where to go in this house. When others are sleeping you don't dare make noise at 3AM (my usual wake-up time so I can pray). I would say it and leave it with Him, it wasn't something I dwelt on because for ten years I've consistently thanked the Lord for where we lived.

Gary and I have one goal and that's to be good stewards' of God's money and to be a pipeline. Concerning things, we gave. Concerning the Gospel, we gave. Concerning personal items we gave. Nothing means anything to us. If we have it and the Lord says give it, we do. That's it, Lord, make me a pipeline. That's still my prayer. Few people know what we do to help others. They can see the employees all of whom get paid a fair wage, but few know what goes out from our hand on a regular basis. God sees it, He's the only one who counts.

An employee came by and asked us to look at a house. We thought okay but here we go again. We were impressed by the size, the possibilities and that our vehicles would be off the street behind the gate. It wasn't just one house but two which answered the question as to what we can do with teams. This house would hold all our long term volunteers and teams adequately. To my utter surprise, the master bedroom had a balcony and a bathroom. (All I could think of was "God you are real aren't You?) We got some counsel from several people in ministry and approval from our board before we made the decision to draw up a contract.

The landlord was willing to sign that the rent would never go up, and the rent money did not cut into our budget. So we signed. When we showed the house to others there was silence and then talk. "I could never live in a house like that with so many people suffering." A statement like that brings me to one that my mother made when I was a child. "Eat all your food, remember the starving kids in China." How in the world would my eating all my food, help any child in China. How would my not living in this house help those who are suffering? And, those comments remind me of the time I wore a cheap ankle bracelet to Bible school. They asked me to take it off. I did because I'm well aware of the scripture that advises us not to cause a brother to stumble, but how was an ankle bracelet causing them to stumble? They gave me a pretty lame excuse. When I took the ankle bracelet off, I asked if now the anointing was greater than it was a minute ago. Is our anointing gone because we moved to a bigger house? Are more people in Haiti going to suffer because we live in a nice house?

As I pondered these comments and questions this morning the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said, "Is your heart right?" And so I thought about this house, it will be used for ministry, for teams, for our Haitian staffuse will be used for ministry to teams and to Haitians and to our resident volunteers. If there were a disaster (and I pray not) this house would be used for the homeless. I can answer the question because I took the time before the Lord to check my heart. Nothing has changed within me because of a house. I don't care about things, I care about Jesus. I care about ministry. I care about helping others with their needs. Where we live and what we wear has nothing to do with our heart and relationship with the Lord IF our heart is right.

Carolyn

2010-09-08T08:01:00.000-07:00

Waiting for dinner: Delson, his two children, Junior and Olivie. We were at the Pastor's house.

Gary had just fiinished preaching, sat down, little girl came to his lap.

Dr. Norm Dobbs and Crystal Salewski (teacher)

BUSY DAY

2010-09-08T07:28:00.001-07:00

IF YOU READ NOTHING ELSE, PLEASE READ THIS: WE NEED HELP. If you have ever wanted to come to the mission field to work, we need teachers at school. You do not have to be a qualified teacher, you have to love the Lord, love children, have at least a high school education and voila! We will find a place for you.

When I got up this morning, I realized there isn't much time to do everything there is to do. I don't know where I write things anymore so, here it is again…we are moving. We found a great house although we weren't looking for a house. We've been thinking that we should move since they want to sell this house, but we were no where near actively moving. But, as the Lord (and we know this is the Lord) would have it, an employee came by saying come and look at this house. We did. We dealt. We are moving. It's big and roomy and actually, it's two houses. So, teams will be able to stay comfortably. Balconies everywhere, no one has ever lived there. The house was built by a man who owns a cab franchise in New Jersey. He plans to retire there in ten years. That should be enough time for us to inhabit this house! What made the deal really inviting was his willingness not to raise the rent year after year. We drew up the contract, paid the yearly rent and then….he used some of the money to put razor wire around the top of the wall, paint everything, repair a few places in the concrete yard. We are blessed and so will the teams who come to visit.

Gary is so busy at school. People calling, coming in, questions to answer…busy time of year for him. He wasn't supposed to be doing this this year, but Dan Joshu met with some physical problems right before he was to leave the States. He's doing well now after a visit to the hospital and we rejoice he's well and will be here soon. But, in the meantime the load falls on Gary. He said this morning, "This is really too much, I'm being pulled in too many directions." Al Carpenter came up today to help with structural things. It seems the thieves removed the screen from the office windows to put what they were taking out the window. So, those need replaced. We couldn't figure out why the trombones (2) were still here. Well, they couldn't find the mouthpieces and left them, but praise the Lord, we found the mouth pieces!! Our band will have two trombones.

If you want to respond to our plea, email me at: wwgm_cgwalker@yahoo.com

Have a blessed day!

Carolyn

Everything Changes

2010-09-03T08:12:00.000-07:00

Things have changed with Blogger and I don't know my way around it anymore. So, until I figure it out, please be patient with me.

I'm ready for routine....

2010-09-03T07:48:00.000-07:00

I'm ready for routine....

Welcome to Facebook

2010-08-26T05:29:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Facebook: "Facebook is a social utility that connects people with friends and others who work, study and live around them. People use Facebook to keep up with friends, upload an unlimited number of photos, post links and videos, and learn more about the people they meet."

Beginning Again

2010-08-26T04:50:00.000-07:00

Beginning Again

School Thief

2010-08-23T05:35:00.000-07:00

School Thief

Our Wonderful Bible School Students.

2010-08-13T14:51:00.000-07:00

TRAFFIC JAM

2010-08-10T06:07:00.001-07:00

Sitting in a traffic jam outside St Louis, and no internet, oh dear. Always something to stop progress. Peggy gave me a Chronological One Year Bible. Pretty interesting having everything in that type of order. Reading Jeremiah which really fits in today's world. I thought it was interesting when he was arrested for prophesying doom and destruction to the Temple priest, who promptly had him arrested and beaten, put into stocks. When he was released, he said, "Look out, you will be punished for this." (Allow me some liberty in paraphrasing what happened). Think of the nerve of Jeremiah!!! How many of us would be willing to continue to stand for the Lord once we were put in jail and mistreated the way he was? Don't you think you might turn and run? I know there is not a way to know how you'd react to certain things. When we were living with kidnapping everyday in Haiti, often the discussion would be what would we do if. We couldn't have planned what to do when a young man with a gun came toward him as he turned the corner; or when the rebels came to our door wanting money and Gary was standing at the end of a gun barrel. Those are the times you depend on the Lord even though you may not call on His name at that moment. Sometimes my thoughts go to what I would do, but it won't happen in the crisis. At the moment of the crisis, God is there if we are seeking Him all the time and if it seems He's not, we know deep down inside He is, simply because He is God, Father God to me. A Father would never allow a child to be harmed or HE'd die trying to make it be so. I read a scripture this morning, actually posted it on my other blog stating that all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose. All things mean all things, whether good or bad, and of course, we would think in terms of the bad. Jeremiah complained even to the point of wishing he'd never been born, but at the same time he worshipped and praised the Lord for all the great things He is. Where are we in our walk with God as the world gets to be more and more against Christianity? Gary and I decided to eat in a neighborhood Indian restaurant the other day. It was his first time for Indian cuisine, I'd eaten it years ago on rather a regular basis as my deceased husband and I helped an Indian Fellowship on Sunday night (and there was always food afterward). We enjoyed the restaurant food but not the music. It wasn't because the music was Indian style, it was the repetitive words over and over and over again. So, we asked about it. Sure enough it was a worship song to an Indian god. We wondered what would happen if a Christian restaurant owner played worship music all day in his business. Would he be permitted? Or would he be afraid no one would like it and lose business? Jeremiah wasn't afraid to speak up for God, but are we? Would we risk popularity and/or losing money if it were a business? The Indian server didn't seem to mind at all that we were asking questions. And, he didn't offer to turn it off because we stated we were Christians. (not that I expected him to but I was hoping to dialogue a little more than we did about Christianaity). Jeremiah knew His God was holy, righgteous, full of justice and mercy and that he will discipline his people. I hipe that as time moves onward that we as chirstians are able to stand firm in our belief whether we are are called upon to prove who we are and what we stand for or not. We can't plan what we should say or how we'll say it. Jesus told us that when we are taken to the court, the words would be there. But, will we run scared before that time or will we realize that all things work together for our good all the time? Traffic is moving and so must I. We are almost to our destination.

Audrey Hamilton

2010-07-22T18:52:00.000-07:00

Audrey Hamilton

Aaron in Haiti

2010-07-22T02:04:00.000-07:00

When you can’t sleep you post………

2010-07-22T01:53:00.001-07:00

I must have gone to bed too early, 2 AM, wide awake, and now, after perusing Facebook and emails, I'm drinking my morning coffee..it's 3AM. But that's okay, I can enjoy the peace and quiet that only seems to happen this time of day.

We had a bunch of rain yesterday. It cooled things off, but it sure makes life miserable for folks. We happened to be coming home from a jaunt to Montrouis when it started. People riding tap taps had to brave the rain on the back of pick up trucks, people on motorcycles, trying to see beyond the rain hitting them in the face and then those walking with their wares on their heads, trying to get home from the day of selling at the market. I suppose the walk in the rain was not bad if they made enough to cook a meal once they got home. Most market people come from the mountains, so it isn't just a block or two and home. It's a climb and usually an hour or more. As we rode through seeing these sights, I was again reminded of how blessed I am, and how hard life is here for people. I'm not saying life isn't hard everywhere else, but my eyes and heart tell me it's hard here!

We are going to Port in the morning, although it's already morning, but you know what I mean, morning when everyone rises! We have to deliver medical supplies to another mission, and p/u our truck papers so we're legal when we come back into the country, PLUS, p/u my Haiti drivers license. Isn't that interesting, ten years here, just got the nerve to drive on the highway!!! So, it's time to get a license so the police won't quibble. Not that they do,it's okay to use a US license but, you never know when you'll get one guy (or gal) who wants to give you a hard time about not following the laws of this country. As lawless as it is, there are laws and sometimes, there are those who want to enforce them. That's not wrong and if we are going to be here (and obviously we are), we need to comply.

I'll never forget the time we got to the airport to leave the country and they weren't going to let me leave because I didn't have a proper stamp in my passport. They sent me to an office, the office sent me back to the airline agent, the airline agent sent me back to the office. Finally, I pleaded and they said, "Okay, next time have it right." Next time we did. We found out you have to purchase a Haiti ID, Permis se de Jour. And, every year you have to have it stamped (at a nice fee) but with it, you pass through the airport without question because the law is that a foreigner cannot stay here more than three months without penalty. With our permis' we can stay indefinitely. There's one thing Gary and I never forget, we are foreigners here. No one has to be nice to us and all the people we don't help don't care whether we live or die. The people we help love us, (most of the time).

Having Aaron with us this short stint has been interesting. He has done so well, no complaining about heat or anything for that matter. He has loved playing with Junior and Olivie, and they have learned a lot of English from him. We leave Friday and I'm sure there will be something he'll want immediately upon setting his feet on US soil. We have to spend the night in FL, so he'll get to eat something good and my guess is, it'll be MacDonalds!

For Gary and I, we've been so busy these three plus weeks, we've barely had time to think. Well, maybe Gary more than I. He's had all the structural things to do trying to make this house safer since the break in and things that needed fixing. I did get the office, bedroom and kitchen to a place where I can stand it once we return in September and not have to think about "organizing" (agonizing)jobs. That's an accomplishment for me! The heat only allows you to work until noon. After 12, it's too hot to think about anything. I know everyone in the States is dealing with heat as well but when you don't have a way to shut it out and no air conditioning, there's only one reprieve and that's to sit in front of a fan. Like right now, at 3:45 AM.

As far as I know we have two girls coming in on the 13^th of September to work at El Shaddai for two weeks. We have Crystal coming from Canada for nine months as well. So, we are beginning our year with a house full. We also have four teams booked already, so if anyone reading this would like to come to Touch Ministries for a mission trip, please contact us asap, our calendar is filling up fast.

More news, we got a Rottweiler pup. Right now he's at the Chris and Leslie Rollings who also got a new pup (thank God for their willingness to puppy sit). He doesn't have a name yet, but we are working on it. A dog is a good deterrent, except it takes Rotts a long time to become useful as a watch dog, so we might get a Haitian dog as well when we come back. They are ruthless when they are fed and cared for but I found them to be fickle as well. Libby left me for a Haitian family and now she's ailing badly. I doubt she'll live much longer. She was hit by a motor cycle and she's getting skinny. I'd have taken her in but she left and I've not seen her again.

Since the signal is so good, I'm going to try to put pictures on here and sign off. Two cups of coffee and I'm getting weary. Something is wrong with this picture, the coffee is supposed to wake me up. But, now it's almost 4 and it's nearly time to get up. Better push past the wearies and get myself charged up. Need to get into the Word.

SIX MONTHS LATER….

2010-07-14T07:44:00.001-07:00

Many are asking, and since we were in Port, yesterday, the sixth month since the tremble na te, (trembling of the earth), it seemed fitting to pen what I saw and didn't see.

What I saw: Thousands of tents everywhere as has been, on every available land space in Port. Some on mediums, if you can imagine living there, with traffic flying by all the time, diesel and gasoline fumes for air to breathe, plus the dirt from the street flying in your face, your food, your home. Some of the cities are rather well organized, so that the tents are in rows, and porta potties lining the periphery.

Traffic is horrible. You wouldn't think so would you? After all, an earthquake that destroyed the capital city of a nation, thousands of homes gone, people in tents and yet, traffic....unbelievable traffic. Much of it are the tap taps, (covered p/u trucks that shuttle people from one place to another, folks tapping the side of the truck when they reach their destination. Some of it are the newer buses that the former President Aristide had brought into the country, with the word Dignite written on the side, which is the name of the project. They are Mercedes buses, sleek and white, but the air conditioning must not work because the windows are always open. I don't know what the fare is or how it compares to the pick up trucks but both are always teeming with people. While you drive through all this, there are the "hockers" who seize every opportunity to sell you something when you are stopped in traffic. I applaud them for their desire to work. You need to understand that the sun is beaming and causing temps to be at least 100 degrees by 2PM. And they are out there, relentless, to find buyers for their various items; plug ins for recharging phones, plaintain chips (very good), soda and water.

Then there are the children who are begging, tapping on your window the moment you stop and in our case, windows open so a hand comes in asking, begging, "give me" Give me something, only make sure it's money because I don't want food, if you have no money, give me your watch, your ring, something that I can turn into money, but please, food is not what I want. (These children all work for someone who is watching and waiting for the money they get. They are beaten and abused and it's the most heartbreaking situation one can ever imagine. They are fearless, young, dirty, hungry, pathetic children, swallowed up by the street and all that entails).

I saw one building being restored. ONE. I saw others that were in the same shape they were six months ago, maybe a little more deteriorated. The government buildings are the same as they were, not repaired, not torn down, simply there, crumbling.

There were people in yellow T-shirts and yellow hard hats working on rubble. Shoveling it into a wheel barrow and depositing it in a special place. Their shirts read something like "Your Government at Work". Men and women working like machines to move away cement. The positive side, they have a job. The negative, of course, for how long? and how can their bodies take the abuse? Hopefully, they are getting paid a fair wage and not working with the "hope" that payday is coming.

There are places in Haiti where an American can cash an American check and get the Haitian equivalent right then. These are money changers who've gotten rich with this method of meeting a "need" for a foreigner. We operate this way. The man to whom we go, had a grocery store that went down in the quake. He and all his family (Christians) escaped. They had been in the process of building a new store and are continuing to try and get it open soon. While you can't buy groceries from him, you can still cash a check (for any amount, I might add). We pay our staff during the summer months, payday is coming again, we needed to get the cash for that. It was quite interesting to drive up to an iron gate in another section of town that has been building up for a long time. This area was not hurt by the quake, whether the buildings are being built better or why they weren't affected, is beyond me. The iron gate opens and we drove into a huge parking lot that had a couple of employee vehicles in it as construction for this building continues. Three guard dogs, and a guard accompanied us through the empty building to the office. We were greeted warmly and assured that if the store never opened, the check cashing would continue. It's a great service for us, and we appreciate the honesty of the man with whom we deal. The money changers have so much money it's mind boggling, beyond me. We are talking about the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. There are many of these "businesses" that change money.

We saw that the Epidor continues to do great business. The Epidor is across the street from where we pick up our mail. It's a bakery and a restaurant. They now have one in St Marc as well. The restaurant was full of young people, UN workers, French police, Americans. You can purchase a sandwich, a crepe, a MacDonald's type hamburger (only the brave eat the hamburgers) and pizza. The crepes are good, consisting of lunch meat, cheese, onions, sauce cooked on a thin pancake then folded over. Enough to take away that hungry feeling. I rarely eat all of mine, take it out with me and find a child who is hungry. And I did yesterday as well. He gobbled it down. It made me wish I'd not eaten any of it so that he could have had a whole on.

When we finally got through the traffic and headed out of town, we saw more rubble, more tents, and that tents are spreading outside city limits along the hillsides. We stopped to see Pastor Cesar. He'd had a wedding at his church on Saturday, the decorations were still up. The amusing part of that visit was the tent in the middle of the church, on top of the benches. Someone who stayed there during the night decided sleep would be more satisfying if they pitched their tent on top of the benches. Perhaps it was to keep mosquitoes at bay. We never quite got the full story. All is well there, he's getting ready to paint the wood so the rains don't damage it. He chose pink. Ahhh, it's Haiti, what can we say? He told us he had a wonderful Sunday service, that everything was going well and that he has a vision to have VBS all summer long. It's a marvelous idea to want to get the children out of their tents and have them in church. I hope he has the people to carry out this vision and I know we'll be involved somehow as we begin to plan with him in this endeavor.

Today there is supposed to be a political manifestation in Port au Prince. The way I understand it is this: President Preval has declared November for the election. Sounds good right? Well, not quite because those who will be "elected" will either be his wife or the former Prime Minister. No one in the political realm nor the people will allow this. Thus, the demonstration. We don't know how the political situation will be resolved but right now, Haiti has no government and no direction. All the Haitians we've talked with want Bill Clinton to run the country. Can you imagine? But, perhaps it's in the working and the people know more than we read in the news.

What I see is a grim future if I look from a physical standpoint. But, there is something else happening that far exceeds what the news media portrays and what one can see with their eyes. It's what is happening in the realm of the spirit. People are flocking to churches all over the country. Every pastor we speak with says, "My church is full. I don't have enough room, I don't have enough benches." It's happening, new converts, baptisms, repentance, interest in the Word of God. It's amazing that after ten years, we see a break through with the Gospel. People are afraid there will be another earthquake and they want to be right with God. They've left voodoo and embraced Christ. They are praying night and day, services at 4 AM. Services all night on Friday night. They've done this for years, they are praying in the harvest and harvest time is here. So, we are encouraged and excited not by what we see in the natural but what we know in the supernatural. God is at work and those in Haiti who embrace the Lord will survive eternally.

What have we accomplished?

Facilitated 13 teams from Jan through May: medical/surgical, teaching, evangelical.

Two quake victim boys, ages 11 and 8, out of Port au Prince, live with us.

Built a new church for a pastor who lost everything. (Continuing to help with this construction, need benches inside church).

Fed many children in that area

Gave tents to church members who lost homes

Gave clothing, shoes

Medical clinic saw 950 people in three days, all received meds and were ministered to.

Team bought new property to increase size of church

Generator

Sound system

Supplied money for a pastor to accept quake victims (children) in his school.

Clothing given to many different pastors for quake victims who came into St Marc.

Orphanage outside of Port, badly damaged, gave rice and beans, water and money.

Accepted three children from quake into El Shaddai Learning Center, free of charge.

Team helped St Marc pastor to get sound system.

Evangelical team had many new converts.

Helped those families in St Marc who increased in size due to family victims moving in with them.

Thank you
for your prayers and continued support in the efforts here. Our general fund operates El Shaddai Learning Center, the Bible school and the orphanage as well as maintains all our equipment. We need to build on our property. We are growing out of the two facilities we currently rent for school children and we are growing out of the house we live in. Only time will tell how many students will want to enroll this fall. We just spent over 7,000 dollars on curriculum for the 2020-2011 school year.

Concern: Our landlord is selling the house we've lived in for ten years. He wants 150,000 USD. It absolutely is not worth that price. If we had that kind of money we could put up a building that would far surpass this one. First, we have to put a road and water pipes in to the property, at least 20,000 USD. After that, another 20,000 USD would allow us to negotiate getting a Quonset hut type building on a boat to St Marc. (Earthquake and hurricane safe building). A new building will cost at least 100,000, if we include the orphanage and a place to live on the site I'm appealing for prayer and for help. This is no longer something we'd like to do in the future, this is something that must be done soon. In case you don't know, our orphanage is located on the other side of town, our Bible school is in another town. We'd like to pull all our programs together in one location. We can't tap our general fund, it keeps the programs moving that we do day to day. It's currently taking 7,000 dollars a month to run this ministry. We have 26 employees, and five Americans working with us.

We remain, your missionaries in Haiti.

Pastor Gary and Carolyn Walker

Amazing Grace

2010-07-09T05:47:00.000-07:00

I got the office cleaned and organized. It's awesome. Some new shelves at my work station, everything in order. I'm all set for the fall season!! Well, almost. I discovered that the calendar is in the wrong place and not convenient so it has to be changed. Gary isn't happy about that, but we definitely will have to change it. If I could adjust to doing everything on the computer, it would be great. But right now, I'm basking in the GRACE the Lord gave me to do this job. It took four days to get it to the point where Gary could come in and do some shelving. On to bigger and better things.....like continuing our private investigation as to who the perpetrator was that entered the house. I can report we know as much now as we knew before. Nothing really.

We do have the window fixed and we have razor wire around the wall so that now we look like a prison. Not a fun thought. Also realize that no one trusts anyone so why should we be so trusting. There will be some new rules as to who enters the house and where we let people go in the house.

Bible school is going great. We certainly loved being back with the students. I love it when the Lord takes what I'm teaching and hits me square in the heart with it. I love it not because it feels good, but because it's what I need. He is really all we need, isn't He? This time we've taken to be in Haiti when we are usually in the States has been wonderful for me in that I've had time to seek the Lord. While cleaning up the office, I ran across a book, Developing Heart Faith by Mark and Patti Virkler. It's been years since I went through this instruction book and a joy going through it again. I've also ordered Communion with God, by the same author. These are things we allow to slip and I'm blessed the Holy Spirit is directing me in this way.

On Facebook, I've been quoting a book by Reb Bradley. My intent is to try and help young parents so they won't look back with regret as I have so often. If parents set the standard high, and don't quite reach it, the child will be all right. But, if our standard is low and we don't reach it, how low is that? And, what happens to the child? I would suggest everyone who is a parent or grandparent get a copy of this book. We all know parenting is work, but it's more work than I imagined as a young mother. It isn't the ordinary household duties, but time consuming interaction with children who need direction and rules. This book points out areas of rebellion that we take as individuality.

The child who broke into our home, whether he acted alone or was coached by an adult, is in for a life of crime if we don't find him and intervene. Not only crime but if he's caught stealing from a Haitian, he'll die. We pray we find out the truth of this whole thing and save a life.

That's about it for now. As you can see we don't live in "house beautiful" and we hated spending the money on this kind of stuff but what else are we to do? We have to leave again in a couple of weeks and this time we will make sure no one comes over the wall.

Back in Haiti

2010-07-02T17:45:00.001-07:00

The three weeks we were home were wonderful. Family and friends, plus the Lord Jesus, who could ask for anything more? We had a very nice flight in, no turbulence which blessed me tremendously because I'm not good at that. I'm really a big chicken about a lot of things.

Before we got here we knew we were going to be faced with the looking at evidence of the robbery that took place a few days after we left Haiti. But, after looking at and talking with so many folks, we have no answers as to how the person got in, they didn't come through the hole in the window. They couldn't have, it was too small for an adult body, we aren't even sure if a child could come through it. There were two lights left on in the upstairs of the house where we live. The office was rummaged, as was Nancy's room. And out of her room was taken two computers, that we'd used at school. They were here for Nancy and Gary to work on. Why just those two when there were several others? Why not the cameras? Cell phones? And the safe! We have two, one bolted down, the other smaller one, not. It had money in it, would have been easily carried off. We think something scared them off and they left in a hurry, perhaps thinking they'd come back? The Lord knows and He will reveal what is hidden. It isn't about the "stuff", but after ten years of living here and no one breaking in, we are curious. If it was a young boy, we'd like to help him and if it is one of our staff, we certainly would like to fire them!

Gary is at the police station right now. We will go through the process of an investigation. It might bring the thief forward. One man had a key, our yard man. The problem we are having is this: the key that opened the gate to get in the yard would have also opened the kitchen door. Yes, he's been a suspect and we spent three hours grilling him last night. We had the neighbor here who thought something might be wrong at our house and contacted the yard man, came in with him to check. The yard man's story seemed to parallel the neighbors story. So now, many of us are playing detective and no one knows anything really. It's rather amusing if it were not so awful.

I wonder what happened in the realm of the Spirit. Did the angels of the Lord prevent further theft? What made him leave? Fear? Sure would like to know. But, I don't know so I trust that all the prayers we've prayed in this house sustained us in this moment of time.

Aaron, Gary's grandson is with us. He's adjusting well and enjoying Olivie and Junior. Not sure how they are communicating but they seem to be doing well. The two Haitian boys just told me they were hungry, evidently, meals were served by now at the orphanage. Aaron says little about food, I don't think there is anything to look forward to in that department. Madame Pierre is cooking us a Haitian meal today because sandwiches have gotten old.

Bible school tomorrow. It will be good to see our students. But, at the moment I think a nap is in order. I've been up since 4AM and the office organizing/cleaning should be done by now, second day at it but it'll take another day or so. Then the bedroom and I should be set for September, when it all begins again. We leave here at the end of the month for Chicago then St Louis, then WV. Less than two weeks in WV and we'll be back on the road again. What ever happened to the rocking chair, the front porch, children visiting grandparents, has not been what our elder years have been about. And, perhaps I wouldn't want it any other way than it is. God is good. I love Him because He first loved me.

Almost Time To Go Back To Haiti

2010-06-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

Today I pack for our road trip to Chicago. I wish I could say I'm looking forward to packing, NOT. There are some things that don't work well with me and packing is one of them. The challenge will be thinking of clothes that we'll need at the end of July when we return for Family Harvest Connect 2010, conference.

We've had a wonderful time these three weeks. We probably squeezed in more visiting and churches than we would have had we been here for a longer stay. It's difficult to process it all though. I wish there were a way to make a video of it all and replay so that I don't forget any wonderful moments. Trusting memory isn't a real good reliable all the time.

Thinking about Psalm 103...Bless the Lord oh my soul and forget not all His benefits. He forgives all my sin and heals all my diseases. I'm reading John G. Lake Sermons edited by Gordon Lindsay. Pretty powerful, thought provoking and changing my thinking. For those of us who've hung around the faith movement and believe for healing, or fail to believe, this book jerks the slack out from under the faith feet. Today with so much disease, we'd better get a hold of God on this subject. I'll spare you my words, this is what John G. Lake said: A lot of folks pray but do not get in touch with God. They operate the machinery of prayer at one end, but never get a response from the other end. Real prayer is communion with God,not just praying words, but getting an answer from heaven.
I don't know about you, but that sure did convict me. I'm not sick. I simply want more of God and would love to walk in a divine area so that I never reach for an aspirin or any other medication, but that I reach for Him.

It's raining in Haiti. That means two things. 1.)Havoc for the tent dwellers. 2.) It'll be cool for sleeping.
Almost an oxymoron, isn't it? When it rains, we sleep in comfort but the tent dwellers are having sleeping havoc. That's why when the temps soar due to humidity, we feel a burden of guilt if we ask the Lord for rain.
Pray that Haitians cry out to the Lord in their distress and forget not all His benefits. He forgives sin and He heals all disease. As the rain falls, disease is imminent for those living in camps. Many are coming to the Lord, many more are hanging in the balance. With elections coming up, pray for Godly leaders that will have solutions to this problem.
I better get to packing. Aaron and Faith will be here shortly so we can enjoy the activity of youth and perhaps I'll sound like my grandmother: Stop slamming the screen door! Ever hear that as a kid? And, I'm longing to hear the sounds of Olivie and Junior skating down the hallway....

Fleeting Time

2010-06-19T08:53:00.000-07:00

Psa 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. I must keep reminding myself of this otherwise, I'll allow my thoughts to race way ahead of where we are and miss today.

It's nice being home. The pace is different and it's good. I'm enjoying times with the Lord and good fellowship with friends.
The church services we've been in have been wonderful, meaningful. We haven't been speaking, simply participating as part of the Body and enjoying the Lord. Picture of ice cream shop in St Marc

Our guys in Haiti, Kevin and Marko have patched the hole that was knocked through the block in the window on the first floor by whomever. We thought it was a boy but Kevin isn't sure it could have been and the hole was large enough for him to get through (although he didn't go in). So, we still don't know what was taken. I'm very thankful we'd planned our summer they way did. We need to get back and solve this mystery.

Interesting note. We live (in WV) near a railroad track. Last night as the train went by (even though I heard the whistle and knew it was there) the bed began to vibrate a little. My thoughts immediately went to the quake (after shocks were usually at night). I laid there fully aware of what was causing the vibration and wanted it to stop. It was a bit strange but as Gary said, "The impact of what happened made a deeper mark than we realized."

We will attend a church in Quaker City, Ohio, tomorrow. It will be nice to see friends there. Tonight we are going to see Ezra and Audrey, play and sing at a praise and worship festival, at the church where they were married. That should be a treat for this mom, anyway.

If you can, get a copy of The Meal that Heals, by Perry Stone. It is the most informative book on communion I've ever read and taking daily communion is powerful.

Blessings to you today!

I'm a truly blessed woman. God has been so good to me!

Nicholas Beaty

2010-06-15T10:03:00.000-07:00

We just had the best visit with the Beaty family of St Mary's WV. Nicolas, their 13 year old son, was moved by seeing all the devastation in Haiti after the earthquake and decided to do something. He started putting jars in different business locations, and as he worked people got involved. A Tshirt company donated T's to sell at a benefit, the school got involved, the bank helped by giving him an account. It was a fantastic effort all generated by a teenage boy who was moved by compassion to do something. Thank you Nicolas! I took pictures of the album in which they collected all the ads, articles, letters to him thanking him for doing this.

Pray Blessing on this Union

2010-06-15T07:33:00.000-07:00

Mr and Mrs Ezra John Hamilton. Ezra and Audrey had a lovely wedding, Gary did an excellent job with the ceremony. Everyone rejoiced over this union. They are on their honeymoon in Canaan Valley, WV.
Since the wedding, we've had a chance to sleep a little later (not actually, the internal clock gets me up), but it's nice to have the wedding over with. I can't imagine how the Yakopin family feels. They certainly did a lot of work. Planning and carrying out the plans for an event like a wedding is tremendous. God is planning a wedding as well and he's been working on it and us for a long time.

We are waiting a visit from a boy who raised money for Haiti by putting jars in stores. He lives out of town and will be here shortly. It's so encouraging to hear that children want to help world situations. It was his idea and he followed through on it. We are blessed to be here to receive the gift!

We got a message from Haiti saying our house had been broken in to. After many messages, it turns out to be a young boy. He got in the yard somehow, can't figure that out because no one else has been able to get in the yard...over the wall....and if he came across the roof, getting down from the roof would be a feat. But, Marko managed to get into the yard, six foot tall, strong, agile. He saw that the louvered blocks in a window close to the ground in the back was knocked out, a small hole but big enough for a skinny kid to get through. Once the child got in, he was not able to get out through any door as they are absolutely secured. So, he had to go back through the little hole he made in the window. A laptop computer could not fit through it. Marko could see that he tried to get it through. He probably got some little things and we doubt he went through the whole house. But, we'll find out when we return. The mother has been visited by someone. She's frightened that her son may go to jail. We pray and ask you to pray that this boy will completely turn around and become what the Lord has planned for his life.

I was going to put videos on here (easier to do in the States) but there is no icon for such. So, if you are on FB you can see them there. Have a blessed day.

The Big Day is Here.....Ezra and Audrey's Wedding Day

2010-06-12T05:53:00.000-07:00

Reading a new book, Her Mother's Hope by Francine Rivers. Anytime a new book comes out, I grab it because her stories grab me!

Had wedding rehearsal yesterday, all went well, but now I can't find the camera thing you use to unload the pictures. Always something to prevent smooth sailing when you have the time to do what you aim to do.

We are looking forward to this afternoon as Ezra and Audrey wed. He is sure one happy boy! (man). And, he's going to cry, I know it. He almost cried at the rehearsal. I told Gary, Ezra doesn't just shed a tear he sobs. Oh, Lord help him to not sob. It's an emotional release, of course, and it shows his heart. We had a wedding in Haiti some time ago, and the groom cried. Very unusual in Haiti.

Our grandson is going to Haiti with us end of June. This is going to be an experience, not only for him, but us. First family member to join us on the field. Aaron is 13, so the first thing he'll miss is MacDonalds, and after that, it'll be everything else. He will have Olivie and Junior to play with...oh no! another one skating down the hall! It'll be good. We believe this will impact his life and steer him in a positive direction to want to do his school work and most of all, choose to serve the Lord.

Better get my wedding dress ironed.

Christy

2010-06-09T04:51:00.000-07:00

We are back in the States. Yay!!!! Both flights were good. The lay over in Ft Lauderdale was long but now I have a Ft Lauderdale sweatshirt---we froze during the seven hour wait. Steph, Emily and Sarah, greeted us at the airport, and I have to say, the ride home was more than a grandmother could ask. In the back seat with both girls, simply wanting to be close. How wonderful is that? Conversation and laughter until about midnight made the long wait for our Chicago flight worth it.

While flying and sitting, I dug in to finish the book Christy. If you've never read it, please do. I was fascinated at how the lives of mountain people in TN, parrot the lives of those we minister in Haiti. The superstitions, lack of medical care, lack of education, the way funerals are conducted, revenge battles, struggle to bring truth--all of it reminded me of Haiti.

One time I took a picture of a little child with a necklace around his neck. Beads around, center a small bone from a hogs head. Voudou. I hung it on the bulletin board at our church in WV. The young woman who cleaned our church had a background much like those in the Christy book. One day she approached me saying, "I know that bone!" I didn't know what she was talking about until she took me to the picture and pointed to the necklace on the little child. She went on to say she had a necklace just like that one pictured. Of course, I asked her to bring it to me which she did. She told me her grandmother made them for all the children in the family. It was the same necklace. The mystery remains as to how a family in the hills of WV could have the same type necklace as those in the villages of Haiti. There is a thread that runs among the poor of the world that fascinates me and reading Christy made it even more so. I took that necklace to Haiti and all the Haitians were awestruck when I told them I'd gotten it in the US from a white American who's grandmother made them for the children.

Out with my friend Peggy today, tomorrow heading east, wedding date is about here. My youngest son getting married. I wonder if what I'm feeling was felt by my mother-in-law when Gary married me? I'm looking forward to a new daughter-in-law and sharing in their joys and sorrows for as long as the Lord allows me to remain on the earth, but of course, I'm praying against sorrows. We were at a Haitian wedding last week as we witnessed Daniel''s marriage. It sure was hot, doubt we experience that kind of heat next Sat.

More about the comparisons of the two weddings next week.

Touch Ministries Haiti

2010-06-06T12:57:00.000-07:00

Touch Ministries Haiti: "Photos by carolyn, Sep 21, 2008"

Bible School Graduation 2010

2010-06-04T04:55:00.000-07:00

Despite the earthquake, our third year Bible school class graduated. It was a great day, Saturday, May 29th. On Sunday, the first year students at Pastor Cesar's IAM Bible school got their certificates.

Hearts in Action Ministry from Guatemala

2010-06-03T09:33:00.000-07:00

When Mario Babrascy contacted us, we had no idea as to what they were about. But after two wonderful meetings and many Haitians' eyes opened to the value and the way to teach children we now know. With a team of 13, our people learned from others who were not from the United States. It was very exciting.

2010-06-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

2010-06-03T07:18:00.000-07:00

Jose cutting James hair

Left to right: Mike Paledino, Dave VanAooza, Jason Thompson, Jose Breton, Charlie Young, Pastor John

Church dedication for Pastor Cesar

Hungry for the Word of God

Busy Days Are Here Again

2010-06-03T06:26:00.001-07:00

I must write all this before it becomes a fleeting memory. We have had the most incredible days in May. I told you about the team from Virginia and from Pennsylvania each team made an awesome impact on the lives of the people they touched. Medical and work teams mean more than you can imagine to our mission and to our beautiful, struggling Haitian people. Work teams help us tremendously because they do work that we aren't able to accomplish as we minister to people. Medical teams help those who never get to see a doctor. We finished this season with an evangelistic team that was anointed bringing salvation, physical healing and deliverance to Haitian people. All work done for the Lord will be rewarded whether it's good or bad. The work we've seen over the last month has been extremely good!

Evangelistically, we are seeing a different Haiti. People are responding to the Gospel in a way that we've not seen before. Pastor John Palideno, had not been to St Marc, in over ten years. He immediately saw a difference, because there is a difference. We've been seeing it since the earthquake. People want God, not in a religious way, but in a desire to know Him.

Pastor John Palideno, from Family Harvest Tampa, brought five of his men and together, we saw captives set free. His team consisted of Charlie Young, who is a farmer. Charlie taught people how to plant in little soil and how to keep the plants watered. They are all very excited about this. He used the orphanage area as the example so we will have a garden very soon. Dave Van Aooza put in plumbing at the orphanage as well. Jose Breton, a barber in Tampa, cut hair and taught how to cut. Mike Palideno, Pastor John, and Jason Thompson were on the street for two days, preaching, reaching out to the lost, inviting people to the church service in a village area of Pont Sonde.

On Thursday and Friday evening, the whole team and I drove to this little church where people packed in with great expectation. At least seven people came to Christ, several healed, several deliverances. When people come out of voudou, demons fight them to keep them from Jesus. The outworking of that is thrashing around on the ground. But, at the name of Jesus, they must loose their captive. One young girl came back the second night smiling and very happy, completely free!

On Saturday, Pastor John preached at our Bible school graduation and preached Saturday night in Pont Sonde. Sunday morning we drove to Port for Pastor Cesar's church dedication. We left there for St Marc and Pastor Chery's church that night, Monday night and Tuesday night. The people cannot get over the power of the Word of God. They responded in faith.

Salvations: 31

Deliverances: 8 to 10 that we know about

Healings: 10

Awesome time. But that's not all. On Sunday, Gary picked up a team from Guatemala. Mario and Suzanne Babarczy, of Heart's in Action Ministry. They did a meeting at Pastor Cesar's in the afternoon then came here for a meeting in St Marc. Their team of 13, spent two nights and we made more new friends. God is really something when it comes to connecting people and we've been on the receiving end of this blessing since January 12^th!

I'm going to try to get pictures on this blog. I have to work fast because internet has been going out everyday as clouds move in. We are in the rainy season, no doubt about it.

2010-05-23T16:50:00.000-07:00

SO WE FINISHED ONE WEEK WITH TWO GROUPS: TOP IS A SHOT OF THE MEDICAL TEAM, THEIR GROUP IN FRONT OF THE BUS. SUSAN HORNSBY BRUCE TEAM TAKEN MAYBE IN THE STATES BEFORE THEY LEFT. OUR KIDS, TAKEN BY SUSAN, WHO IS A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER. LESNELSON, PETER, PABLO. LOTS OF PICS ON FACEBOOK, CHECK THEM OUT.

It’s Been a While!

2010-05-22T17:39:00.001-07:00

When I realize how long it's been since I've posted something, I feel like I should not even blog. Again with all the other writing this one seems to become weighty and difficult to do. But, there is so much to tell that I'm sure for the next few minutes you'll begin to wonder why there are so many words. I remember when I set the goal to finish a doctorate in my thoughts were: I have enough words for 150 pages. Of course, it was easier to think it than to do it but it did get done. And, now to catch you up on our current events.

We hosted two teams at the same time. It was a mistake I made in scheduling but with Dan and Nancy here taking care of one team, it allowed Gary and I to be with the other team at the Xuargua. They insisted that we stay the week so that's what we did. First the team that was here in St Marc with Dan and Nancy.

Susan Bruce Hornsby from Richmond, Virginia and her team of seven, had a great week of looking for an Episcopal church to partner with. One of my Bible school students is from the Episcopal church in Montrouis, so I was able to set up a meeting there for them although they had a contact through their organization. Ultimately, they chose another church which had been damaged by the earthquake, located near Port au Prince, but they did have a nice meeting with my students' pastor. After that was resolved, they worked at El Shaddai, helping to teach and painting. PAINTING! In 90 degree weather the thought makes me want to faint. But, paint they did. The school walls, the lunchroom, the playground wall, and the little school inside. We are so thankful for all they did and we missed not getting to know them better. But, Nancy and Dan did the job quite well without us and probably better than we could have.

Ron and Sue Hillard from Scranton, PA, headed the 20 member team from that area. They were all medical people and had a system for clinic that worked so smoothly, we couldn't not believe their tally of 925 people seen and helped in three days!! It was a very busy week with all the driving to and from Port for the clinic at Pastor Cesar's church. And guess who drove daily? Gary and I. Gary was able to experiment with the bus we purchased last November, thanks to Family Harvest Church in Tinley Park, IL. It had done short runs but not the constant use it got last week and guess what? It ran like a top! I drove the van daily and guess what again? It was my first time driving on the dreaded highway but that too was a success. I actually conquered a fear and when that happens one can rejoice. Of course, I dreamt about it every night because those trucks are not fun and they do run you off the road. I learned to drive and pray. Don't talk to me now, I'm busy (driving and praying). God was certainly faithful.

When I say it was a lot of work, I mean getting it all together. The team had mailed all their meds to us before they came into the country. Box after box had to be picked up then taken to the Xuargua after picking them up at the airport. Lugging and driving….Gary is a champion in my estimation. It was an extremely hot week and there were a couple of times I felt as though I'd become overcome with the heat. I don't know how the group managed, but they seemed to do okay. (We are having rain in Port this week which is helping the humidity somewhat).

Olivie and Junior hugged me upon returning home which was a treat. They aren't real expressive and of course, we know they will move from this destination sometime since Junior will be adopted and Olivie has family who loves him very much so we don't want them to become extremely attached. But, I was watching and listening to them today and it wouldn't surprise me if they think they are in the best place in the whole world. Olivie will not drink warm water (room temperature) he wants water from the refrigerator. That's not a problem except they had to spend the night at the orphanage during one of the days we were gone and when they got home their biggest complaint was "no cold water." They'll have a few more nights and days of that inconvenience when we leave for the States. I wonder if there will be hugs when we return or scowls?

Bible school is going along nicely. We had our last class until July (when we'll meet to finish the curriculum) and next Saturday is the graduation. On Wednesday, we pick up Pastor John Paledino and his team from FL. Pastor John will be speaking at the graduation, dedicating Pastor Cesar's church and while he's here, there is another group coming in from Guatemala. Mario Babarczy is the director/founder of Hearts in Action ministry in Guatemala. We are helping him get two training meetings arranged, teaching teachers how to teach children and win them to the Kingdom! What is so interesting to me is that God arranged this so that I could meet the people my daughter-in-law and granddaughter know from their short term mission trips to Guatemala!

El Shaddai has it's last day on Wednesday, but Gary and I will be at the airport. On Monday, the little ones will go for ice cream, Tuesday is a beach day for the older kids and Wednesday they get their report cards. FINISHED. Tough year considering all the interruptions with the January quake, but we finished. Looking forward to next year and a new teacher on board from Canada. The orphanage is doing well, a man on Pastor John's team is a farmer who will build and plant a garden (actually instructing the Haitians on the how to of it all) with Al Carpenter at the orphanage. Should be interesting. Praise the Lord, I had someone to pass that off on. I am not a farmer, although if it produces a crop, I'll enjoy eating it.

Thank you all for standing with us over these hard months. We've felt your prayers and now we have another request. Our landlord wants to sell the house we live in. He wants 100K for it. Way too much and actually, we've outgrown this building so it wouldn't be worth our while to buy it even at a reasonable price. We need to build. We have the land. We pray the Lord sends the money. For 100K we could put up two buildings! So, join us, agree with us for the funds to take this plunge. Buying this building would be a mistake or so we think at this point. Our school is growing, we need room there as well, and the orphanage needs to expand in space. Thank you in advance for thanking God that we have funds to build.

God Bless!

2010-04-29T06:20:00.000-07:00

2010-04-29T05:52:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone, Seems these days of posting get harder and harder. We are in the midst of being in the midst of....winding school down, gearing up for teams in May. The weather has been so incredibly hot we can hardly breathe. That may be a gross exaggeration but Delson came to me the other day and said, "I can't breathe right." It's the high humidity because he's still breathing and so am I. With rain everywhere in the country but St Marc, we tend to have to deal with it. And deal with it we will.
I am finding that Facebook, emails and newsletters cause me to either be repetitive or wonder where I said what. The Lord has opened doors for me to speak in churches lately. That's pretty exciting because that's what we are called to do. The Gospel message is what we do. All the other is wonderful and necessary but like Paul it's a woe to us if we don't (1Cor. 9:16). This Sunday I'll be in a village that is very dark. Please agree with me that the light of this glorious Gospel will break through the darkness and many will come out of voodou. By the way, we understand that the voodou people are attacking Christian churches. Something to make a matter of prayer! They are losing people since the earthquake and have started attacking by burning churches. My understanding is that it's in the Hinch area, not near us.
Testing some picture things that may make this a better venture. I think I'm getting homesick for my little, wonderful grandchildren.
Have a blessed day!

2010-04-29T05:35:00.000-07:00

Where does the time go?

2010-04-15T04:23:00.001-07:00

I promise myself that I'll post regularly and don't. Why is that? One of the reasons is Facebook. Another reason is busy. We've been having a grand time getting back into routine. I love it!! Bible school has begun, and I've volunteered to teach Sunday School at a great church I've been frequenting. Can't be there every Sunday but most of the time.

You should see this Sunday school room! It is below ground level, mud and cement walls, dirt floor, tin roof, not enough benches for the children and too many kids packed in this small space. No ventilation except for the door. YIKES! I began to wonder where my head was when I said I'd like to do the job. Hopefully, we can get some more benches in the room and maybe split the class. What's happening is with all the Port au Prince people moving into St Marc, they have to find church homes and/or are getting saved. It's great for church growth but hard on teachers of children because there are so many!

This Sunday school starts at 7AM. The children come and learn a memory verse, then go to the adult church with all the others to recite it as a group. After that they file back into the Sunday school (about 8:30 which is when I arrive). Then for the next hour we have a story and a time of questions and answers. When I leave for church the children sing and play games. I'm talking about ages 2 through 10 and at least 70! Imagine that the next time you want to complain about size of classroom, heat or air conditioning. It will take the complaining away quickly. Not that any of you would complain. But, I must confess I did complain about the lack of order although they were doing the best they could and if permitted I have a few ideas that might help the situation.

Bible school has moved from the church we were using to a better place. For some reason the Haitian outdoor market moved right down by the church. The noise was unbearable. We were shouting trying to be heard over the din and one another. Saturday, the Pastor informed us that he'd received money to continue with construction of the building and there was no room for us. That was fine because we'd been discussing leaving there for a long time. (I love it when God undertakes and makes things so that what we want works out without us having to say anything). The building we are in now, is a school, we each have a classroom, it's quiet and cool. For the first time I could really see my students and not strain to hear them or be heard by them. Gary and Barbara felt the same way.

Kreyol class coming up. I will never really learn this language without a formal class. But, I've never found anyone who I believed could teach me either except now. We hired a young man by the name of Claudy, whom I've known for years. When the Peace Corps was here, he was hired by them to teach the people Kreyol. He's trained, he speaks very good English as well and he will be teaching Dan, the Carpenters and I on Mondays and Tuesdays for one hour each day. I'm excited about it.

Another thing I've decided to tackle is English grammer. In order for me to teach the kids, I have to teach me. So, I'm doing PACE's. It's been fun and I'm exercising my brain!!! Very important for those of us who fall into the category of "senior citizen." What I discovered is this. I can write and speak the English language correctly but it sure is different being expected to name verbs, parts of speech, etc. But, it's a good exercise in thinking.

That's what's happening in our neck of the woods. Soon we'll welcome teams once again.

Wow!

2010-03-30T18:16:00.001-07:00

It's so quiet here. Dan is in his room, Nancy is in her room, Gary and I are fellowshipping at the computers (same room, not same page), Jr and Oliver are playing on the porch and they are making the only noise in the house. Everyone is gone. After people here since 1/14/10, except for four day stretch in first of March, it seems strange not to have the house full. Tasha was the last of the Family Harvest group and she left Monday. Cindy Rahl who was here for three weeks left on Saturday. So, here we are, each of us doing those things we had on hold.

I've been working in the testing room at school nearly everyday for, let's see…..the third week? Interesting and I enjoy it but there is much on my plate that take early morning energy. Perhaps we'll get someone to do that job soon.

Pierre came in this evening to have his dressing changed. Oh dear! The Dr. had to cut away a huge piece of flesh due to an infection. He needs a skin graft, anyone know of a Dr coming this way?

We have great things coming up. Building the church in Port with Pastor Cesar, about done. Next it will be housing, etc. Big things actually for these very impoverished folks. Pastor Cesar is living in a tin shack, another story and will go into detail on that one soon. We are going to deliver tents to him this week, as well as food.

I watched a video clip about amputees on MSNBC (Walking With No Place To Go) and how they were giving prosthesis' at a hospital not far from here, so we decided to take a ride and see. To our amazement, Albert Schweitzer Hospital is all set up with equipment to get people who have lost their legs into prosthesis' and Physical Therapists to train them to walk again. We hope to transport people to and from there. Another project we can spearhead.

At the end of April we will have a team from a big Baptist Church in Tampa, FL., Family Church, headed by Pastor Joe Windham. They will basically be a construction group and finish the school wall. In May, we will welcome a medical team from PA, headed by Ron Hillard and with them will be our good friends, the Haas'. At the end of the month, Pastor John Paledino is coming in to preach the graduation ceremony for the Bible school. He's got a farmer, a barber and a couple of evangelists with him, so it will prove to be a great time in the Lord.

We leave Haiti on June 8^th and head to PA for Ezra and Audrey's wedding in Little Washington, on June 12^th. We are still working on the return date to Haiti, since there is so much to do here, summer in WV will elude us but we plan to go to Family Harvests' conference at the end of July, first of August and maybe a couple more weeks in the States before returning to St Marc.

God is so wonderful. He amazes me every day with His goodness and mercy. I'm reading or should say , just finished a book by Mahesh Chavda on Fasting and Prayer. I would recommend it to anyone whether you ever thought about fasting or not. It's changing my life AND helping me to be successful in fasting. Whoo hooo!!!! A quote from the book is this: There is a place beyond victory called triumph. Victory is being able to defeat our enemies. But triumph goes far beyond mere victory. When you triumph, you come out of the battle with more than you had before. God wants to give you more.

I'm looking to get to the place beyond victory. I'm looking for triumph. Prayers prayed for years may have been answered by doing the one thing that Jesus said we should do….fast and pray.

2010-03-20T08:26:00.000-07:00

Nancy took the team to Jacmel then up a mountain. During their three days (two of travel) they installed a solar water purification system that will give clean water to a whole village. A couple of them came home a little ill but it was over in a day or two and they were able to continue enjoying their stay in Haiti.It's great to see men working in the heat with a smile on their face, is it not? Janice Myers had a great time organizing the kindergarten room. One of her projects was to bring all the puzzles home and let Junior and Oliver work them. Those little boys worked from 2 to 8 PM, then got up at 6:30 AM and went right back to working puzzles. It was so delightful to watch!! Anna Grassman got to help several of the El Shaddai students with their work. Mark and Jim worked a long time on installing the new electrical system, please forgive my ignorance but I have no idea what it was they installed. All I know is this: Gary is so excited it's as though it were Christmas!! The picture of the hand is on the wall at school, Ketia drew it. Most of the time when our kids draw it has to do with God. Neat, huh? I'm so thankful to be in a place where God is in our thoughts and where we can freely talk about Him and the Word of God. I would not do well in the American system such as it is today. Mike Harrawood is with Jean Philip Felix. We've known Jean for at least seven years. He's a preacher's kid, which spells ornery, but he's a great delight. He liked Mike so well, that when he came to me in the testing room to show me he was doing his Word Building test, he said, "May I have it back, Mr. Mike is going to give me the test." Oh, fine with me, one I didn't have to do. Have you ever given three different spelling tests at the same time........not fun!

2010-03-20T07:54:00.000-07:00

The wall is just about finished, now for the other side!

The beginning of our new shed started with a lot of breaking down and clearing away rubble. The picture of welding is quite interesting. Mark Grassman sent us a welding machine with the generator to run it. They are working and did fix the gate at the school so now we the rollers work, which will allow us to park one of the vehicles inside the school at night. We recently had our truck battery stolen due to the fact that it sat out all night. (Not bad though, the truck is going on it's sixth year, first battery theft!)
As you can see there is much activity going on and it's great to watch first hand things getting done and school in session at the same time is a joy for me.

Has the Rainy Season Started?

2010-03-20T07:06:00.001-07:00

We've had rain and overcast skies……has it officially started? The rainy season creates more problems than it solves and since 1/12/10, it's worse. We are working very hard to get Pastor Ceasor's church under roof so that the 20 members who lost their homes in the quake will have a dry place to sleep at night. Haitians are quite used to living on the outside of any dwelling during the day, but everyone wants a safe place at night. Sleeping on the floor isn't a new experience, for many it's the way life is. So, the church will make a wonderful place for these folks. The roof must go on soon because the rain has started. When it rained the other night, all our thoughts went toward Port au Prince. The news I read the next morning was horrible and Gary's trip in and back was the same, everything was a mess in Port. Living in a tent leaves a lot to be desired in wet weather, but what about four sticks with sheets for roof and sides….not a way to get a good nights' sleep.

Gary and I have been doing many things, but we are waiting for the influx of problems that will begin in a couple of months when homes here in St Marc get too crowded and people begin running out of food supplies and room. We continue to pray for a plan to receive these victims in a way conducive to real help and not just a handout. Right now, we are receiving new students at El Shaddai, and fall promises an influx. Our school will only hold so many. We are thinking about another building for the preschool which would create more room for more kids. Help us to pray in that regard. We come up with a lot of ideas but there are kinks in them. We need a God plan.

We've had a team here this week from Wisconsin. We had a team here last week from Wisconsin. I had no idea that Wisconsin folks were so mission minded but (what is the phrase?) a shout out to Wisconsin people. (Is it called a shout out or call out, oh dear, age showing again). Mark Grassman, his daughter, Anna, Mike Kees and Jim Weyers have been so wonderful. They have worked in very hot temperatures from morning until night. We thought Saturday would be a day off for them but NOT, they are out completing their goals. We will go to the beach this afternoon but we'll be taking the orphans with us, so it's sort of a last effort to get as much of Haiti as possible.

Cindy Rahl continues to be a blessing, giving of herself in the kindergarten room. She loves children, the children know it and love her in return. What she's accomplished with one very slow child (due to malnutrition his brain has been affected), should be one for the study books. I got a short video of Cindy working with Joel and it's priceless.

We also had Mike Harrawood with us this week, from Family Harvest/Tinley Park, IL. Mike was an incredible blessing as he taught the highschool kids and as we took time to get to know one another. Mike loves the Lord, it showed in every way as he reached out to our kids and staff. He worked with one girl all week on her math, when she tested she got a 95!! How many teachers know the victory of that kind of success. When a student does well, the teacher has done well. Pastor Robb Thompson has said many times, "Teaching requires learning." Mike experienced that statement this week. Thank you Mike for coming to see us!!

The Grassman group leaves on Sunday, Nancy leaves on Sunday for Cap Haitian to translate for a medical group for one week, Tasha Witherspoon comes in on Monday from FH church, to help at El Shaddai.

God has been incredibly good to us!!!! We are blessed and highly favored. We rejoice in His goodness. We thank you for your prayers and kindness.

2010-03-15T14:35:00.000-07:00

Don't ask me what the photos have to do with everything written below, except it gives a new peek into our preschool. The lower pictures are of Al and Bev Carpenter, Barb Macleod, Janice Myers and I. Directly above are Jan and I in front of the first orphanage gate. The blue motor cycle belongs to the ministry and is used at the orphanage for runs to wherever. It was purchased by a Wisconsin group and is exactly like the other one that we have at El Shaddai site (and purchased by the Fearing group, WI).

Better go get supper on the table and cut the boys hair, haven't forgotten! Read below.

What a Day!

2010-03-15T13:56:00.001-07:00

Monday's are always challenging are they not? Or maybe it's me, but every Monday is one that by the end of it, I'm glad it's over. Having said that, I also have to say it's been a good day, the word is hectic, I think. Challenging and hectic?

The team from Wisconsin, headed by Mark Grassman, had a great time going to the mountains with Nancy. They got there about 8PM on Friday night and returned to Port Sunday evening. Because they couldn't get a bus to come to St Marc, Gary went to Port to pick them up. Tired, hot and dirty, they got here about 8PM. I'd made tuna sandwiches, had some left over rice and beans, chips and that filled the void for them, although, Mark was attacked by diarrhea during the night. Was it the tuna? Or water on the mountain? Nancy said, "Surely not the water because they'd installed a water purifier." (Which was their biggest reason for going). Morning came a little too early for Mark! The two other men with him did what was planned for the morning which was to dismantle the old storage house out back so they can build a bigger, newer one. As we grow, we need more room. I still can't figure out why the Lord never provided the money to build on our property. We certainly could use a compound about now, with people and "stuff" in every conceivable corner of this house. I guess the answer to that would be whatever it is and my place is to be thankful for what we have, which is way more than those in Port. A solid roof over our heads as opposed to a tent roof.

School proved to be challenging as one teacher didn't show up and Cindy Rahl was taking her turn at the kindergarten class after Janice Myers did it last week. Since Hormise didn't come (due to a long bout of diarrhea, she and daughter both) I had to change my plans and be in the classroom. Oh dear! Those little ones! How many are there? Many! They seem to be everywhere. We've taken in several new ones since the earthquake, and the new ones are from Port. One little girl will not sit at the table, but we made her and then compassion took over and I sat with her. Her head came over on my lap and she seemed calm. What did she experience in the quake? Is she really traumatized or is she spoiled? Wading through that will take time I'm sure, but she did settle and became part of the group as the day wore on. So, having conquered that problem and Elizabeth working well with the children, I exited to the big school where I manned the testing room for the rest of the morning. That's an interesting place to be….doesn't take a lot of energy, just eyes everywhere making sure the kids don't cheat. And, grading which is even more interesting when you read that God is between the stars and the earth that's why the stars twinkle. Some of their answers can be quite amusing.

We had a teachers meeting at 12:30 which meant the children were dismissed at 12. That was another experience because I was back at the preschool, and what a noisy bunch during lunch. More work to do in getting transition times organized. Isn't there someone who has expertise in this field who can come and do the job right? Since they finished eating, I decided they should put their chairs away and sit on the floor. Chita la! Said I pointing to the floor, no one would move. Aww, come on kids, surely you understand my Kreyol! I finally did get them all to sit after barking the order several times only to find out that Haitian parents tell their children not to sit on the floor. (They are always on the floor as younger ones, but somehow the message is taught that as school children they shouldn't sit on the floor). FINALLY, it was time for them to file out and get on the bus only filing is not something they like to do, so struggle again getting them to each take a turn at the door without pushing and shoving.

Does it sound hectic yet? I came home to find everyone leaving their job because it was time to leave but the work was not completed. Madame Pierre was still sweeping (due to having to go to the market and making salad and potato salad) while the wash ladies said goodbye because their work was done. Another problem. How can you all leave her with so much left to do? Easy. Our work is done. But how can you simply leave? Then offense at my suggestion that Madame Pierre had more work than they had, blah, blah, blah.

Putting it simply, it's Monday. Tomorrow will go smoothly I'm sure. I think I'm sure. But, before tomorrow there is Oliver and Junior's hair that needs cut and they won't let me forget as it was supposed to have been done over the weekend. Plus, there is supper to get and a trunk with crafts in it to find.

We are blessed to have Mike Harrawood here from Family Harvest in Chicago (Tinley Park) but at this point I'm not sure what he's thinking he came to. This mission is moving faster than I can. God spoke to Gary's heart at Christmas and said, the mission is going to change, are you ready for ten more years. Pretty interesting considering what we are doing now compared to a year ago.

BUILDING THE HOUSE OF THE LORD

2010-03-11T03:24:00.001-08:00

When Pastor Cesar, our wonderful Bible school student joined Bible school, I asked "Why are you here?" He had been through seminary. His answer was, "I sense the Holy Spirit here and I like the way you teach the Word of God." That was nearly three years ago. Every Saturday he came/comes with three other people, which is a hardship for someone who lives just outside Cite Soliel, the poorest section of Port au Prince. He had to make sure he had the money to get a bus to and from (and many times he only had enough to get to school, we'd help him get home).
He became one of our most diligent students and asked us if he could start a Bible school at his church. We approved and he has 40 students to date.
On January 12th, his little church came down, while he was having Bible school. He told me he was teaching, "Knowing Your Ministry." Every thing fell, but due to the humble structure no one was hurt, just frightened.

Twenty two members in his church lost their homes in the quake. When we visited him shortly after the earthquake, the one thing we could do for this faithful man of God was to rebuild his church. We brought in an engineer who told us exactly how to build it, earthquake safe. This venture is not cheap, but Pastor Cesar will have a church to house people during the night, when the rainy season comes.

He already has 43 new converts and his church is going to be twice the size it was before. We are so honored to be the carriers of the funds and overseers of this project. But, it's the people in the States who are funding it. Thank you if you've got any part in this building project. You are truly building the "house of the Lord."

Pastor Cesar said, "I want a baptismal pool. I believe that when they get saved they should be baptized." If you knew the Haitian thinking toward baptism, you'd know this is a powerful statement.

Pray for Pastor Cesar as he is coughing up blood although he does not seem sick. He is seeing a Dr. God is the healer, the Body of Christ needs Pastor Cesar! He will graduate from Bible school in May.

God is continuing to bless us with people to help. This week, Janice Myers, from Family Harvest and Cindy Rahl, from Florida, both teachers. They are a huge asset at El Shaddai. Cindy will stay until the 27^th and when Janice leaves on Saturday another Family Harvest person, Mike Harrawood will come in. When Mike leaves, Tasha Witherspoon will join us for a week. We are thankful for this wonderful help. Also, this week, a Wisconsin team from Appleton will arrive (actually today). They are a construction group. Mark Grassman and his team will do some welding, electrical work here then travel to a small village in Jacmel to install a solar powered water filter system.

Dan Joshu will travel in April to attend a conference that will better equip him to lead El Shaddai in the fall. With the teacher expertise we've received and this training, the next level toward excellence will be achieved. I stand back in awe at God answering prayer.

The Holy Spirit is prompting me to add this note: Please be encouraged about your prayers. Are you praying and nothing seems to be happening in terms of answers? Don't give up! God's listening and putting all the pieces in the right places so the answer is powerful and accomplishes His eternal desires. We pray "thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" there are no mistakes, the answer comes and is perfect because heaven is perfect. When He answers the answer is multiplied many times over. We prayed for a second vehicle, we got two more. We prayed for help, we got many more. During the time of praying we kept working and believing. Luke 18:1 says: Men must always pray and not give up. Giving up means caving in. What do you cave in to? Doubt and unbelief that what you are praying will not come to pass. I've heard it said, God will move heaven and earth to answer prayer. Our answer came due to an earthquake. Rather interesting isn't it?

May your day be filled with HIM.

Carolyn

2010-03-03T14:37:00.000-08:00

A day going to the airport with the Fearing group. We delivered food to Pastor Cesar, rice and beans so that he could feed some hungry kids that I've pictures of down in the blog. Gary gave him explicit instructions that Doug, Lois, Niki and Lynn wanted the children fed everyday. We have enough food to go back again. Then we checked the church. The blocks are going up, and everything was okay except for a few adjustments. Pastor Cesar will listen, that's why we like working with him. He also loves and serves the Lord with all his heart, laboring in that dusty vineyard near Cite Soliel.

2010-03-03T14:13:00.000-08:00

We were able to tour a tent city which was quite organized and funded by the Lyons Club. As you can see it had order and the tents for the most part were large and well built. One picture is the inside of a tent home and as you can see they had very little.Others had beds. You can imagine how warm these tents get as temperatures are hovering in the high 90's some days. The other picture is the palace and the tents that are everywhere in that area.

2010-03-03T13:56:00.000-08:00

Children in a yard, living in makeshift tents in Port.
A picture of the destruction that still prevails as life goes on day to day in Port au Prince.
Doug and Lois Fearing, Niki Briggs, Pastor Cesar and Lynn all from Wisconsin who came to bless the people with food and provisions, teach at El Shaddai, and take home memories that changed their lives forever.

Recap of Busy Days

2010-03-03T13:34:00.001-08:00

Well, SI is gone then we had four more people the day they left, the four from WI, Doug and Lois Fearing, and two others, left yesterday. Gary went to Port to pick up a Pastor from FL, Baptist, big church who will spend the night and a day or so. We were working with a church member (business man) who was supporting another work (Haitian run and one of our employees, he would send money to Touch to give to Daniel for a school and all the time ask us questions about us, and how we believed the Haitian school was doing). He would give us 50 dollars a month for our trouble and service and sometimes send money in at Christmas. After being faithful to help him do what he does for about three years, his pastor is coming to check us out. So, I'll let you know how that goes.

Remember Pierre, the guy with the badly burned neck, etc? He's, right now, getting surgery by Italian doctors on an Italian boat. They came to St Nicholas after all our people left and their expertise was fixing facial problems. We took Pierre and they are fixing him. Isnt' that wonderful?

If you checked fb and all the pics of the hospital or my blog, what was done here by the SI medical group, Diana and Brian Moreno was probably the best care anyone could get. They sure worked hard.

We are still working on the school wall getting it up according to the engineer, Jeff Samida, so that it's earthquake safe. No wonder the Haitians can't do things that would last an earthquake. It's very expensive. Also, giving $$ to Pastor Cesar in Port to rebuild his church. He isn't in Port but near Cite Soliel on Route Nef. He's a good pastor and he'll have a fine church, earthquake safe when it's all done.

Sunday a woman from Family Harvest is coming in for a week to work at El Shaddai, Monday a woman from FL is coming to work at El Shaddai as well. Then when the FH woman leaves we pick up a man from FH to work another and when he leaves another gal coming in for a week. And the FL woman will be here for three weeks.

We have two Haitian boys now living with us. You knew we had Jr from the orphanage that Silsby visited (who may get released from jail this week) and the other is from Port. His sister lost everything in the quake wanted him to be someplace. Nancy Hibbard, who works with us knew a Dr from Portugal who orchestrated getting him off the street. Both are delights really and not a problem at all. We all take turns doing things for them if need be but they are pretty easy. They both go to El Shaddai.

The orphanage has opened it's girls' home, with twin 2 year olds. So, we have room for more kids that may come our way. The boys house can hold 8 and the girls house the same. (Have 6 boys now).

Let's see......the SI team worked on Adolph's house and made it quite nice to handle about 18 people, I think. We slept ten (Dr's and nurses) along with regulars, Dan, Nancy, Gary and I and not one stopped up toilet. Pretty good huh? We fed 21 SI people a night plus us, plus Pastor Jeff Perry was here with another guy for two nights so the number went up. The SI builders made a serving bar along the grill work and benches for the two long tables (that have been here forever) and the space where the banister came around the stairwell (that created an opening that nothing fit in, they made a big pantry. They made shelves downstairs kitchen which I'm trying desperately to make into a nice place for teams to have morning coffee and breakfast rather than coming up here.

That's about it. All in a week!! While many, many people at the hospital were getting quality care and surgery.

Port is still a mess, nothing is really getting done except the highway and that's working very well. (DR is putting it in). Tents are everywhere. Every available space. It looks like Cite Soliel. Can you imagine Port becoming Cite Soliel. No one seems to have a good plan to fix the problem.

Falling asleep at the computer.

2010-02-24T17:16:00.000-08:00

WELCOME OLIVIER OUR NEWEST ADDITION TO THE MISSION HOUSE, A FRIEND FOR JUNIOR.

OPENING THE GIRLS' HOME

2010-02-24T16:48:00.000-08:00

We have two wonderful little girls in our orphanage now. Twins! Mama neglected them. She was more interested in her headache and getting something for it than she was in saying goodbye to these little darlings. Both are malnourished. With the loving care they get, good food, vitamins, we will see them change and become who the Lord created them to be.

God bless Al and Bev Carpenter for their labor of love!

We also have a new boy, Oliveria (and I'm sure my spelling is not correct. He was living with a 15 year old sister who had taken care of him since she was 10, and an older sister who was a nursing student. A medical Dr. from Portugal and his wife took a liking to Oliveria, and when the childrens' home came down in the earthquake, they were on the street. The Dr., contacted Nancy Hibbard (who works with us) and asked if she could find a place for this little boy. She did. The day Gary and Nancy picked him up in Port, they took Junior with them so he could meet him. They played and talked all the way home. Now, the mission house has two orphans. Both will go to El Shaddai and live as brothers. Isn't God amazing? There is always room for one more. Right now, we have four people from Wisconsin visiting and helping at El Shaddai. The really neat thing is they raised money for the orphanage and got to be a part of getting Oliveria. I don't think we will become another orphanage but you know what? Our job is to heal the broken hearted, bind up their wounds and prepare them for the coming of the Lord.

Delivering Beds

2010-02-23T18:41:00.001-08:00

Before the SI team came, we had to get the house ready for a large group. The day before they arrived, I hired a tap tap and off we went to get the bed, deliver them to the orphanage and pick up two beds that had mistakenly gotten there. These are the pictures I took of that day. The team visited the orphanage and they are the pictures at the top.

Making the Wall Quake Safe/Making the House More Organized

2010-02-23T16:27:00.001-08:00

2010-02-23T16:04:00.000-08:00

Whew!

2010-02-23T07:28:00.001-08:00

We were able to house 21 people. It has been so neat. People were everywhere and when it came to meal time, we had seven more. Service International came in with a team of four Dr's and four nurses to work at St Nicholaus Hospital; two orthopedic surgeons, one plastic surgeon, one anesthesiologist. Brian and Diana Moreno, friends and nurses from WV got in two days before the St Louis team to assess everything so they could give a report and the team could begin working immediately. On Wednesday, they hit the ground running. The list of everything they accomplished is quite extensive, it must be posted.

Rewired one operating room during surgery
40- E. R. Patients treated
1- laceration repair
1- pin removal
1- abcess repair
1- wound debrivment
2- cast removals
4- splints
1- fractured arm repair with plate
2- incision and drain
4- fractured bone set and cast
10- nerve blocks
12- spinal blocks
60- dressing changes
17- skin grafts
1- severed heal and sole repair
1- gunshot wound treatment
1- machette wound repair
3- amputations
150- patients
Prayed with ALL

Sunday distribution of personal hygiene kits to over 250 patients along with prayer for each one!

More surgery and treatment scheduled for Sunday.

If you notice there were 17 skin grafts, every one needed. When I walked through the hospital while dressings were being changed, all I could see is huge pieces of flesh missing on arms and legs from the quake. The only way they could possibly heal would be to graft skin. Dr Corbin, a retired plastic surgeon from St Louis area, (with a reputation of being the best, I'm told) did the grafting and people are healing because of his laying down his life to help the least of these. By the way, I've said more than once, 'if a plastic surgeon ever comes to Haiti, perhaps I'll get a facelift,' but it did not happen. :0)

The orthopedic men and anesthesiologist work together on a regular basis and it was apparent as they made rounds, each doing their part of looking, diagnosing and counseling with one another.

The nurses were Service International volunteers who, except for one, had been on other teams around the world. They were so kind.

The construction side of the team was awesome as well. Service International has rented a house on the street above us and they spent their time, fixing, securing, and sleeping. In their love for the Lord, one gentleman was assigned to me and was told to do anything I wanted in the mission house. Do you think I had fun? Every woman desires someone who has the skills, to do everything they want to make a house more convenient (especially when there was no kitchen originally). That's not to say that Gary hasn't done plenty, he has and I'm blessed, but those "little thing" or "bigger things" take time he doesn't have. I now sport more selves in the kitchen, a huge cabinet with a door, in a space that was unusable. Now the only problem is my inability to find things because they are so rearranged! Today, I will have time to plan where to put things and maybe label drawers so Nancy won't be lost trying to work when there are other groups.

Speaking of other groups, today we said goodbye (to the SI team) and this evening we will say hello. There is a group of four coming in from WI. Moreno's are still here and with five of us who live here all the time, we still have a house full. The Fearings will teach at El Shaddai and get to sight see a bit. They are excited, raised money for motorcycles. Touch Ministries now sports two brand new motor cycles. One Joe drives and he runs for the orphanage needs as directed by Al and Bev Carpenter; the other, Kevin drives and will keep at his home at the end of the day. It will be used for school needs. There is always running to do at school and it's always an emergency. A "moto" will get there in half the time it takes the truck to lumber off the hill and through town. The blessings of the Lord maketh rich and He adds no sorrow to it. Just for thought, I've confessed for years that this is a house of abundance. Not for Gary and I but so we can give to others. Truly, I've watched God bring abundance into this house. Our refrigerator is so full I can barely get the door closed. We didn't buy the food, it is left over from what SI brought in from the Dominican. Everyday now, Junior wants a turkey sandwich for breakfast.

Ed Fasnacht, has traveled literally hundreds of thousands of miles with teams for SI. He certainly knows how to organize and motivate the team to flow toward one direction. We learned a lot during his stay by observation and his counsel.

I know this is a long blog, hope you stayed with it because there is some more. We saw Richard, a former employee, who had the opportunity to go to medical school in Port au Prince. He told me the day of the quake, the professor gave them a ten minute break. They were all outside the building, the quake hit and they watched their school fall to the ground! Now, he's living in a tent, volunteering at a big hospital, and distraught to say the least. He told me about all the children wondering around without father or mother. They come to the hospital daily to get food. He also told me about a 15 year old girl, who is alone, no one to care for her because the rest of the family was killed. She has had to fight off rapists at night and she too, comes to the hospital for food each day, after she sweeps and mops the hospital floor. It's very hard to hear these stories and not do something. He asked if we'd take some of these young boys in the orphanage, but right now, we don't have the space. Richard is one of many whose hopes were crumbled in less than a minute on Jan. 12^th. His school is gone, it will not be rebuilt for many years. The future Dr's for this island is grim. Not to mention children, young women, teachers. Everyone who had anything now has nothing. It's overwhelming and the stories keep coming.

KEEPING YOU POSTED ON TOUCH...

2010-02-13T07:26:00.001-08:00

From the day of the quake one month and a day ago, our lives continue to change. We have made upteen trips to Port au Prince, for one reason or the other. Every trip reminds us of the horrible thing that happened here, but people are beginning to come to grips with it, and lives are returning to normal, even in the tent cities.

We were contacted by a group out of St Louis, Service International and we've been networking with them to get a foothold here. Their mission is to go into crisis countries, states, and help rebuild. Service International will be here for the long haul, they are still in the planning stage as to how they will work in Haiti. We have given them our three acres of property to use for the duration. It is my guess they will make it a refugee camp. In the meantime, they are bringing in three highly skilled doctors and four nurses, all of whom will stay at our place and work at St Nicholaus Hospital. Service International have also acquired housing right behind us, and will use it for teams coming and going in the near future. The vehicle that Family Harvest church bought for our ministry will be used by Service International to get around in. They have purchased the needed tires and battery for us. We will help them get all the employees they will need for their ongoing work. They will do construction work on our building to make it better.

An engineer by the name of Jeff Samida is with us for a few more days to show Haitians how to rebuild earthquake safe. They are listening and your dollars are going toward the purchase of the right materials for them to build. There is another construction man coming in a couple of weeks who has sent us a welding maching and generator that Gary is picking up today and a Methodist group has sent in tents so we can help a few get into temporary housing.

Many of our Haitian staff has family from Port au Prince living with them, we are albe to help give them extra food. For instance, Hormise, a teacher we hired in September who had been deported from the US because she didn't have the correct papers (discovered when her mother applied for a SS number for her) is now housing 20 people!! She barely makes enough money to feed she and her daughter. Feeding 20 is a big responsibility compared to feeding two. In Haiti, no one says NO. If family is in trouble and needs help, the answer is always yes. Pierre has three family members living with him in his two room house, wife and two children. He came yesterday with another family of three that came to him. He said, "I have no place to put them." We will help them find a place.

Our school wall is being torn down before it falls. It was bad but the earthquake made it worse so we will rebuild, making it quite safe.

The church we are rebuilding in Port au Prince, is going to be so much better than what they had. Pastor Gary believes it will cost 10,000 USD plus some before it's finished, but if another quake hits, this building will not kill anyone. Pastor Cesar has twenty people without homes, we will help rebuild.

In the meantime, Junior, age 11 is with us. He's going to school at El Shaddai and learning English (slowly but surely). It's fun having a youngster around amidst all these Americans coming and going. We pick up Diana and Brian Moreno tomorrow at the Dominican border, nurses who will work at the hospital. Then Wednesday, 19 people coming from Service International. It's going to be interesting to say the least.

The Tshirt campaign continues under the direction of Anthony Thompson, if you've not gotten your Tshirt yet, log on to Gesu Christo. com and purchase one. 100 percent of profit goes to this ministry.

Thanks to everyone who is praying and who has given. We could not maintain if people were not praying. I read a FB post from someone at Family Harvest saying a little boy prayed they'd find the people in the rubble. The teacher thought, how can that be, it's too late. The next day, one month from the quake, they found a man in the rubble alive, stating that a man in white gave him water. Could it have been the little boys' prayer in Tinley Park, IL? Our God hears and answers prayer and how fitting that is because yesterday Haiti prayed as a nation, and today they are there again, all over town, at the park, people are praying. God is working in Haiti.

PICTURES OF PETER AT THIRD BIRTHDAY

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It was Peter's birthday and everyone had a great time. Because I've not mastered this blog thing, the pictures are not the way they should be presented but Peter is the chunky guy. The other one is Lesnelson. Believe it or not, Peter and Lesnelson are almost the same age. Peter turned three and you may remember we found him in a yard nearly a year ago, dying from malnutrition and diarrhea. There was no hesitation in getting him into our orphanage quickly. The caring love and attention given him by Al and Bev Carpenter, using the medical mamba peanut butter program resulted in Peter becoming that programs' most successful patient. Peter grew and grew and grew. To date, he's quite a hunk of kid! He's sweet, quiet, loves to sing in the morning when he first wakes up and is tender to the others if they are crying. Little Lesnelson is nearly Peter's age, but so much smaller. I guess my whole point in posting these photos is to show you how children thrive in safe environments. Our children are not for adoption. They all have at least one parent (except Junior, who was rescued from the orphanage in Bon Repos, along with his brothers and sister who got to go to the US on an Humanitarian Parole, and is now with the Picketts in Kentucky...Junior will be adopted by that family).

Did you ever think about how children suffer? What goes through their young minds when they are hungry, afraid, lonely, struggling to exist? Peter, for instance, was ignored by his young mother who didn't stay home much. When he got sick, his grandmother gave up and didn't attend to him, because she was so impoverished, she was worn out by all the other children there were in her house. Peter could barely stand. The effects of that hard time show up when it's time to eat. He ravishes the food like there may not be anymore later. He's not forgotten that terrible time when he was near death. And the compassion he exhibits toward others could be from knowing what being alone is like.

Our children's home, House of Hope, does exactly that, brings hope to the hopeless. Tires is happy, helpful, and yet the fears he dealt with when he had no hope, linger. The earthquake scared him trememdously. He dreams about his father dying and he cries at the slightest failure. He too, has a tender heart.

The girls' section is almost finished. The hard part is finding the right Haitian staff for the children who are with them overnight and on weekends. Housing children is a great expense, we appeal to anyone who would like to see lives saved from the horrible sufferings that go on here prior to and after the earthquake. Children die all the time. And, for every child we have (which are few in number right now) there are hundreds more. Because you give, others live happy, healthy, lives and learn that Jesus is real. They are Haiti's future. When Rosemary Sunderman (founder of Touch) was working in this field, she wrote a poem, Hait's Child.
I touched the heart of God one day

When Haiti’s child, in full display

With the world’s uncaring eyes to see

I took that child up to me.

I touched the heart of God one day,

For Haiti’s child I knelt to pray.

“Oh God, you see she’s all alone,

The world has dealt with hearts of stone.”

“For Haiti’s child, You shed your blood.

You gave your life, You gave her love.”

And so, we wait to hear her say,

“Lord cleanse me, Wash my sins away.”

The heart of God was touched one day

When Haiti’s child knelt down to pray. . . . .

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Tout Moun Preya….

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Every church is either having service or the Christians are gathered in the Park, singing and praying for their country. All the stores are closed, traffic is blocked off, no public transportation. It is incredible how the people have mobilized to pray and recognize the God of Glory!!!

Tonight, they'll pray from 9PM until 3AM in their churches and tomorrow, they will gather again in the park or in their churches. There have been a lot of "firsts" for me during these ten years, war (a big first) floods, hurricanes, death everywhere, but , never has it been a people, an entire country gathered for prayer.

Remember, this is Mardis Gras season. This is when the revelry that goes on around the world comes to Haiti. Every year, each city in Haiti is given money to build stages for bands and singers. They have parades, dance, drink, anything and everything sin enjoys before Ash Wednesday. In Haiti, this revelry goes on until Easter. Mardi Gras will not and is not happening this year, what's happening is everyone, the entire church is worshipping and praising God.

Saturday Morning: The music has already begun for prayer this morning. Jeff, an engineer who came to look at our buildings (and others) and to instruct on how to rebuild "earthquake" safe, was in Jacmel, left today when he had the chance to get public transportation because everything is closed! Everything. It's most amazing how seriously the Haitian people have taken this call to prayer.

Jeff Samida, instructed Pastor Cesar and his people on how to rebuild the church and they are listening. It's been our experience that no matter what instructions you give as to a better or easier way to do things, it falls on deaf ears. Not this time. They are afraid and they are willing to do it exactly the way they are instructed. In times past, we'd give the money for better construction only to find short cuts, so the money could be stretched…there is always need for other things. This time, they are building to "code" so to speak. Gary figures the church will cost 10,000 USD before it's completed, but it'll be a building the church members won't fear falling on them.

Today, Gary is leaving for Port to pick up a big shipment of tents, a welding machine and various other items that will be necessary as we continue to plan for relocating people.

President Preval Proclaims Fasting and Prayer…

2010-02-10T17:34:00.001-08:00

Since January 12, Gary has done nothing but drive to and from Port. Today, he took Service International's Trey and Mike, to catch a small plane to Santa Domingo and from there to St Louis. Certainly don't envy their returning to snow! While we sport 81 degrees at 6:30 AM EST, everyone seems to be inundated and overwhelmed digging out of snow. Guess that's a lot better than the rubble in Port au Prince. But, when I also read early this morning, that a 4.3 earthquake struck near Chicago, wow! As many 4 pointers as we've felt in the last month, I know what those in IL were feeling at the impact of it all. A very "earth shaking" and mind boggling experience!

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, typically, the revelry of Kanival (Mardi Gras), will not take place, fasting and prayer will. The President has called the island to prayer. Schools will be closed as churches gather together in parks and fields to pray for their country. They've been instructed not to pray for personal needs but to pray for Haiti. Sounds like 2 Chronicles 7:14, doesn't it? It's wonderful when leaders call for prayer. Perhaps it takes something so horrendous as the January 12^th earthquake to shake people to cry out to God. It's a fact that the church in peace and safety loses it's power because everyone becomes complacent and religious. Even the Christians in Acts didn't fulfill the commission until they were persecuted and dispersed to other places. So, Haiti is going to pray and call on Bondye, the Good God. To the unchurched that's who He is. Good God certainly suggests there are many gods, doesn't it? For those who've trusted in many gods who are not good, who cannot be trusted, who cannot hear the cries of help and desperation, I would expect many to come into the Body of Christ over these three days of meetings. Since the earthquake, Haitians have been coming, repenting, choosing Jesus.

When you consider Haiti to be the most evangelized country in the world, there is rarely a soul who has not heard the name Jesus here. Every child grows up shouting, Halleluia and singing His praises, only to wander off into voudou or worldly living. January 12^th has awakened hundreds of survivors whether they have all their limbs or not. They are worshipping the Lord. All the prayers and prophetic words spoken over this little island will come to pass and Haiti will no longer be a reproach but an example of what the Lord Jesus Christ can do when He is Lord. I wonder if the American President would ever call Americans to a day or days of fasting and prayer. Several years ago, the Holy Spirit prompted me to pray Ezekiel's prayer over this nation, speaking to the dry bones. (Ez. 37). This could be that time.

I know where our thoughts go with calling a nation to prayer based on all the comments that have been made in the past. Haiti has been known for it's demonic worship and fasting and prayer will be to many gods. Yes, that's probably true, and there are many gods here in Haiti as well as the US, but when people rise to the occasion of crying out, there is only one GOD to which they cry and that is the Living God. He's called Bondye. He is the only TRUE and GOOD GOD.

Pictured Below Are:

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Jeff Samida (Engineer) Deb Bachman (Nurse), Left Mike from Service International, Right seated, Pastor Trey Perry from Service International, far end, Nancy Hibbard. With Junior the little boy who survived the earthquake and was not permitted to leave the country with his brothers and sister to live with adopted parents in Kentucky, (and now lives with us) Nancy Hibbard and Jeff Samida, teaching him how to use the computer. Deb Bachman stayed with us during her two weeks in Haiti and became out contact person to get other medical teams who are coming in later into St Nicholaus Hospital. She has worked over 12 hours each day and kept us abreast of what is happening medically in town as St Marc received many quake victims. Networking at this time is vital, we see that together we buildings will be constructed earthquake sustainable in St Marc, Jacmel, Port au Prince. Together, Haitians will have the opportunity to start new businesses. Together, long range plans will be accomplished. It's all very exciting and the Lord has allowed Gary and I to go along for the ride!!! We will keep you posted as it all begins to develop.