We moved upstairs into this 2-story house this month! We enjoy this grove of palm trees at the entrance.

After a month of work we have moved! We enjoyed living in the lower level of this house, but now we are really enjoying our new home upstairs and the space it has! We will be able to entertain and welcome larger groups for dinner. We have never lived in a 2-story house so we are finding out all the benefits and drawbacks of a second story…where does everyone go when you need them? We are waiting for some furniture to arrive, but truthfully we have everything we need.

We thank God for everyone that has been a part of getting this all accomplished. Looking back we can only say that God is so good!

In the front, a large, semi-circlular vehicle court sees a lot of activity during the day!

Here is our concrete house! A pass-through into the kitchen, high ceilings, and lots of windows open up the space!

A large kitchen and dining area will provide lots of room for good times!

On the back porch there is lots of space to hang out laundry or feed crowds of people! The porch and all outside spaces are shared with the Yordy’s, missionaries who live in the house adjoining ours.

The master bedroom has a door that opens onto the roof, where kids enjoy playing.

The roof gives a wide view of the city of Les Cayes, the ocean and the island of Ile-á-Vache on the horizon.

School is in full swing in Haiti as well as in our house. Grant and Trinity have their own rooms to study in now and Grace is in third grade at the Cite Lumiere Christian School. Grant is taking online Liberty University classes to receive a teaching degree, while Trinity resumes her homeschool classes with Abeka Academy as a 10th grader.

Grace is enjoying 3rd grade. She only has eight in her class and has the same teacher as last year, Mrs. Leger. She was so excited about that! The entire school started the first day with a chapel service for the teachers, students, and their families. We all sang songs to begin the service and had a wonderful speaker who spoke about Solomon. The message was clear that he could have chosen anything…but he chose wisdom!

Trinity and Grace enjoy their new room! Trinity spends most of her day here in class and studying. She has an awesome view of palm trees out her window…I don’t know how she gets anything done!

Grant is enjoying his own room (it will convert into a guest room as necessary at times) and he is also enjoying his flex schedule for online college!

Grace is loving third grade. Here she is with her “forever friend,” Faith Reinhard, before she moved back to Illinois.

The missionaries here and in Bonne Fin enjoyed a group of men who came on a “vision” team this week.

It continues to be very dry here in Haiti. Dust blankets the plants and trees, machines, and food sold along the road, etc. Many families did not get a crop this Spring or Summer so they are in worse shape than before. There are some watering holes that have dried up around here that some have said has never happened in the 30 years they have been here. Pray that many wouldn’t give up hope and that “showers of blessings” will return to Haiti in all forms!

Receiving a new school kit leaves kids of all ages simply beaming!

For years we had helped assemble school and health kits with our kids as a Sunday School activity. We had no idea where those kits actually went. Imagine our surprise to now watch as hundreds and hundreds were passed out this week at the Child Care office! The kids signed their names on a register, accepted a school kit and a health kit and then sat down and excitedly looked through the bags! You could just sense the thankfulness as they waited on a hard bench to get their turn. It was a blessing to see. The little things we can do as Sunday Schools or churches really make a difference!

This week, annual check-ups were provided and medicine and vitamins were also handed out to each sponsored child. Sharing the love of Christ comes in many forms!

The child records their name to receive their kits. In the background…school kits packed in boxes that read “Ohio apples!”

Primary school kits are more like backpacks, but are just as exciting to receive!

A group of students wait for their health screening with blood test. Vitamins, aspirin and other supplies are very appreciated!

“And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.” Matthew 10:42

When the kids came to get their kits, they also have started receiving a hearty meal of either rice or pasta. The kids sit a long time to wait their turn; some a few hours, some stay most of the day! They are thankful for the food!

Here is an amazing woman! Marie Lucie not only runs almost the whole child care operation single-handedly, she also decided to start cooking a meal for the students!

The meeting was supposed to start at 9:00 and most of the people showed up between 10:00 and 11:00…”Haitian time!”

Child Care Meeting with Parents and Kids

Before school started there was an informational meeting for all the parents and their sponsored kids. It was held inside the local MEBSH church of Simon. Marie Lucie, the director, was in charge of this meeting. Each one that works at the Child Care office had a part to play, including us. We presented information on the Moringa tree and the many nutritional and medicinal benefits that all the parts of this tree has to offer. We tried to explain to them that by growing the Moringa tree they could really improve their family’s situation. It is truly a “tree of life” modeled after how Jesus can meet all our needs spiritually.

First of all, the meeting entailed the importance of writing letters to sponsors on a timely basis and to express more about themselves in their letters. Students were reminded what to bring to the Child Care office such as their church attendance cards, report cards, and birth certificates. It was also expressed to the students to work hard to show appreciation to the sponsors who pay for their schooling. Discipline was also discussed in much detail, explaining the importance of a good attitude and proper dress at the schools and when they come to the Child Care office. They honored the students receiving good grades to encourage the rest to study harder. Students were also encouraged to look for a trade in the future where they could be sure of a job.

A view from the back of the meeting of us trying to share with the use of a translator.

Recently we have been getting experience delivering rice and beans to the four local schools that serve lunch!

Most Haitians feed their children once a day. What a blessing to have a part in delivering a child’s second meal!

When a child is sponsored, it is an enormous blessing to them. They look at it like they are one of your own children…it is that big to them! Unfortunately many are looking on and hoping their children can get a sponsor to help with educational costs. We are still getting asked for help every day… are you thankful for a government that provides education for every child? It is not the case in every country in the world!