Political Update

Michel Martelly was inaugurated as the President of Haiti on May 14th. During his inauguration the electricity went off in the legislative chambers where his inauguration was taking place.  (That could be a "sign" OR it just could be the "usual happenings" of a day in Haiti).  :)  Anyway, the people of Haiti are excited for the change and are eager for President Martelly to bring about positive change.  He has no legislative experience and we need to pray for him.  I believe Haiti is at a historic crossroads.  The international community is ready and willing to help rebuild Haiti  but it will not happen with the status-quo.  Pray that President Martelly will seek God, hear Him and then follow Him regardless of what the pressures are on him.  2 Chronicles 7:14-15.

Memorable Anniversary-April 2011

Art and I spent our 38th Anniversary together in Haiti -- GPS-ing some of the cement block homes built in remote places in the southern pennisula. We traveled over some VERY ROUGH "roads" and I felt like either the truck or myself--or possibly both would shake apart!! One remote place we traveled to we came to the end of the "road" at a river--the water was low and we proceeded across to the other side, but there was no "road/path" in sight. We were instructed by the pastor with us to drive down the riverbed a ways and so we did until we saw a little path that went up the mountain before us... I was skeptical that it was wide enough for the pickup truck we were in, but the Haitian pastor seemed confident that we would be fine. It was the "bare side of a rough mountain"--nothing graded--just the vegetation cut away barely enough for us to pass through. What a ride!! We traveled up and down and around 3-4 mountains. I think we saw them from all sides and all the way around as well as up and down!! We rode for about 2 hours on a "road" like this until we reached the pastor's house!! This pastor was a tiny man--about my height. He had a toothless smile from ear to ear and exuded the joy of the Lord! His house and church had been destroyed in the earthquake and he was so excited for us to see where and what he had built. The DRC had helped him rebuild a block home and he had managed to get "something" up to worship in--woven sticks.  I asked him how many people worshipped there on Sunday and to my shock he said "250-300"!! I turned around in a circle and asked, "Where do the people come from? I don't see anyone else in sight ANYWHERE??!! He just smiled and said, "They come."  It was a very humbling experience and I felt a bit like we must be "standing on holy ground"... I had to admire this pastor and just ask God to bless this little man's efforts to share Jesus in this remote location. What a mission field he has!! 

(Left to Right) Pastor Hercule, who heads up all the pastors of the Church of God in the southern part of Haiti, Art, and the pastor I described above, standing in front of his church.

One of the block homes

Texas Team - April 14-21, 2011

Texas Team and Haitian Team

Fifteen people from 3 different churches in Texas arrived April 14th to finish off the preparation for stuccoing houses in the village of Prospere. The week went well and the village work day ended at noon on the 20th with Pastor Don Bergstrom leading in a foot washing service. Each of the Haitian team members and Prospere's Pastor Fancois & his wife had their feet washed by the American team and vice versa. It was a great closing for the last work team to this village. All were blessed!




Preparation for stuccoing





Texas Team Singing at Prospere Church on Sunday



Maryland Team - March 31-April 8

Eleven members from the Federalsburg area arrived safe and sound after delays with each of their flights.  Praise God that all of the luggage came through (no little miracle). They have been continuing the work of prepping houses in the village of Prospere for stucco which will increase the longevity of the wooden structures put up by other teams by about 15-20 years. Below are some pitures...


Group Singing in Church Sunday



Pastor Peter Smith preaching



Preparing firring strips





Mixing cement



Prepping the house with tar paper





End of the week with the Haitian Team



Spring Break-Care Center Lake Wales, FL Group

A group comprised of 6 students and 1 staff person from Warner Univ., 4 Lake Wales Rotarians, a Youth Pastor from Lakeland, FL, 2 persons from Mt. Sterling, KY and myself (Suetta) are going to Haiti March 12-18.  The Care Center coordinated group will be going to Calabasse to the House of Blessing Orphanage for 2 nights (many in our local community and Rotary have supported HOB in various ways over the years) and then to the village of Prospere for the rest of the time to work on stuccoing houses there. I won't have access to a computer until I return so will give a report then.  Keep us in your prayers.  THANKS!              

WE'RE BACK!   It was a great time!  We were able to prep 6 homes to be stuccoed, interact with the people of Prospere and get to know the Haitian work-crew. We even got to observe the clinic that happens there twice a week, play with the children at recess and after school and help one of the village ladies sort her beans for market. Everyone was enriched by the experience.

Below a couple more pictures of preping the houses for stucco and sorting beans.

Goshen, IN Group - February 17-24

Still stuccoing in Prospere...

 The Goshen group is alive, well and actively at work in the village of Prospere. They are getting houses ready to stucco and working with our Haitian team applying the stucco to the homes. Michele, a senior nursing student, is spending today in the clinic with John Ackerman.





Steve getting ready to lead Troy, Michele, Bruice & Joel
on a morning hike part way up the mountain.



Update - February 5, 2011

Elections are "still in progress"... They announced the two candidates for the runoff on March 20th:

Mirlande Manigot
Michael Martelly

Jude Celestin, the current President's son-in-law withdrew from the race.
The new president is to take office in May.

On the "Home" front:  Eleven homes are completely stuccoed in Prospere. Some supplies have been hard to find--a shipment of tar paper has finally arrived but now we are needing chicken wire... be praying.


Woody & Art "at the top" of Mt. ChaCha

Art and Woody climbed Mt. ChaCha earlier in the week to GPS the ten homes that were built up there. They started out on two horses but about three-fourths of the way up, Art's horse went down under him and would not get up.  They took turns riding the other horse and finally got to a point where they had to "hoof it" themselves as the terrain was so steep.  Their return trip down the mountain was by foot. Needless to say, Art was very sore and worn out when that trip was finished.