We cleared out the “garage” and had English church this month! The people closest to the back are neighboring missionaries, and in front of them is part of the work team!

English church. We alternate with the missionaries in Bonne Fin holding an English church service every month. In the States, people are used to hearing 8-12 English services every month…we just hear one (anything else is definitely going to be Kreyol)! Last weekend was our turn again in Les Cayes and we enjoyed hosting a group of about 75. This consisted of the missionaries in Bonne Fin and the work team (Rockville, Connecticut) and visiting minister they brought, and the other local missionaries that like to be included. We use the carport between our houses to set up chairs and Bonne Fin uses the benches in their waiting room for services.

Following our worship service we shared a meal together. Much of that is planned months in advance as we purchase food in the States, but many ingredients can be purchased locally as well. It is a very special time and many linger and help clean up and share the evening as well. “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20

Hundreds and hundreds of Christmas letters are getting produced this month! The left sides are ready with the Kreyol message and next they will be individually translated into English!

Kreyol Christmas letters. The past two to three weeks at Child Care have been filled with rooms of children writing Christmas letters to their sponsors! They write a rough draft, get it proofed and edited, and then fill in the left side of the letter with their Christmas message in Kreyol. Later it gets translated into English in the column next to it. Hopefully the whole stack will be ready to mail out to get to their sponsors by Christmas!

The desks and benches have been absolutely filled some days with kids writing letters!

Working hard to express his feelings and best wishes.

Waiting in line for letter editing!

Patiently waiting and having a little fun with us too!

Exciting Announcement!

The Cite Lumiere Christian School has a volunteer position available this coming January through May 2015. For five months an elementary teacher is needed to teach seven 3rd graders! This is Grace’s class! Their teacher, Mrs. Leger (Renee Slagel), will be on maternity leave with her first child.

This will be an awesome opportunity for a committed Christian that loves children and has a desire to live in Haiti and and learn about its culture. Nearby, safe housing will be provided and an awesome adventure guaranteed!

If you are interested contact: clcsprincipal@gmail.com

Please let others know also! Thanks!

Mrs. Leger is definitely going to need a substitute teacher in a few months! Grace’s class is sharing in the excitement of Robenson-n and Renee’s first child!

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!

A BIG THANK YOU from Haiti!

News! We were so thankful to get our new Ranger on the recent sea container! We want to convey our thanks and appreciation to all those that contributed to this new set of wheels. It even came with the gas tank clear full! This has been a huge encouragement to us and will be invaluable here for many years to come!

Sea containers are driven across Haiti after being shipped from Miami to Port-au-Prince. Here it is backed up to our Depot.

Pursuing options to get our new Ranger off the sea container!

Here is Brent carefully driving it down the ramp!

Lazarre, a Haitian friend, was so very excited for us and couldn’t resist sitting in it when the camera came out!

We also got the 17 gallons of paint we put on that container…which only meant “Get to work!” We have been busy painting and organizing ourselves for our upcoming move upstairs to larger quarters. With thanks to many fellow missionaries and friends we got it all painted in three weekends! We never thought we would be able to move this quickly!

We thank the Lord for each of you and the many ways you share your love with us.

This is the two-story home we are preparing to move into soon. The first six months we lived in the lower level.

Most of the first floor got knocked out in the first weekend!

Figuens, Grant and Elore have been working hard on the upstairs bedrooms!

Painting is much more exciting when it is your own room! (This room will end up green.)

The girls were kept busy painting the office and bathrooms!

Lately, we have started a Bible study with three Haitians who often drop by the house.  They are all young believers in the Lord and we would like to disciple them further in their walk with Him. We have started the Salvation study with them, which is being translated into the Creole language. This study helps them all learn English much better as we go through these verses.

Such a blessing to share with Haitians who are hungry for God’s Word!

Sharing the gospel with a conversation club at the American University of the Caribbean.

Our first meal in our (nearly ready) new home when Marvin & Nancy Dotterer and John & Christie Zeller visited!

Education doesn’t come easy to a Haitian family without a sponsor to help at least one of their children.

Back to school? It is not always a given to a Haitian. We know, because as is gets closer to September and the start of the school year (or maybe October if the government chooses), we are seeing the anguish that this time of the year can give a Haitian family. They are coming to the child care office, they are even coming to our home nearly every day. Maybe it is just the mother who comes, report cards of her children in hand, maybe it is the mother with her children in tow, dressed up as much as possible. “I am here to see the blan (whites) to see if they can help me.” Often it is the child himself, “I am fatherless and my mother can’t pay. You are my last chance.” We cannot sponsor everyone…we would love to. We can listen to them, pray with them and tell them God knows their need.

Rising to their feet, the whole class says “Good morning” in unison!

Inflation is sharply increasing in Haiti, salaries are not. Families have to decide whether to send their children to school or to eat. If they go to school, they still might not have the money to buy school books. Schools are now charging entrance fees rather than monthly fees and it is a struggle to pay them. “Please help, please sponsor my child!” Families may have to decide which child to send to school, perhaps the brightest one. How would that make you feel if you were not chosen?

This is a true story. One day a mother came into the child care office with her youngest two daughters. One of our friends had decided to sponsor the 14-year old and she was very happy. Sitting next to her was her younger sister, age 12. Her mother brought her in her Sunday dress, hoping something could be done for her too. What grade was she in? First.”She is too big,” was what the receptionist said. How would you feel toward your sister who is bright and gets a sponsor and you are too old to receive a 2nd grade education? What is your future going to be? This is the reality of “back to school” to some in Haiti.

Sometimes we are out at night during the school year and this is what we notice: kids sitting under the few street lights they have. Lights high up on poles. They are studying. There is no electricity at your house and the test is tomorrow. You find a way to deal with it. Everyone is in the same boat.

Classrooms in Haiti consist of a blackboard, chalk, a few desks and some type of shelter from the sun. The kids primarily learn and recite from memory. They are so thankful for the 101 Favorite Bible Story books we give to each teacher.

Thank you to everyone who already sponsors a child or two. We know, we see the letters your child sends to you. To anyone else who has a heart for Haiti, you can also sponsor a child this “back to school” season. Check out the info. at: http://www.acworldrelief.org/sponsorships/  Either call, email or write to the address listed online and a child waiting for a sponsor will be forever grateful.

Here is an example of a letter that passed across our desk last week. Some of it is typical, but one simple sentence really stood out!

“I greet you in the name of Jesus the Savior. Today I am very glad to write you this letter in order to thank you for everything that you do and will continue doing for me. I am in 8th grade. I ask you to help me pray so I can go to the higher level (9th grade). Without you, I would not have been able to know how to write a letter. So I always pray God for you and for all your family and your friends too. I wish you a good summer. May God bless you my brother.”

Your sponsorship of a child’s education WILL give hope and change one life at a time. Can you do us a favor? Pass this along to a friend or two! (See the “share this” options below.) Thanks and God bless.

“Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.”  Proverbs 3:27

Grant’s graduation, June 1st, 2014

Graduation! We returned to Ohio on May 30th and the trip went very smoothly. Grant graduated from Smithville High School on June 1st, and even though Mike was enduring chikungunya fever (he discovered he had it the day we traveled) God helped him to deliver the graduation address! We were so excited for Grant and a very special class of kids! We had several busy weekends with graduation parties to attend and then Grant’s own party on June 15th.

Celebrating with Grant at his graduation party!

We set up our R.V. at a campground a little north of our former community of Smithville. Maple Lakes Campground had several lakes, a nice pool and a private, wooded spot for us for two months. We enjoyed spending time together as a family, even though it was tight sometimes, and had to deal with a few ‘daddy long legs’ (nothing like the spiders in Haiti but still a lot of them in the woods!). Evan and Grant had landscaping jobs through the summer and could drive together. It was a little tricky to pull off while camping! The time with Evan was precious, knowing that we would be separated again soon by the miles between us. We loved getting together with family and friends too in the local area. We visited Mike’s family in Illinois and saw his parent’s new nursing home rooms as they have needed additional care as they advance in age. It was so very good to see everyone again! We were glad to answer any questions about Haiti.

It was a cool and rainy summer in Ohio, but this was a place to call our own!

Grace enjoyed her 8th birthday party at the pool at the campground. She loved the time spent together with her friends. What a good time those girls had!

These “bathing beauties” had a great time at Grace’s birthday party!

Friends sharing a meal that they brought and made on one of the days it actually didn’t rain!

It was a whole different world to be back in the States. We saw everything in a new light. The U.S. is such a rich country, so constantly neat, and the roads are wide and smooth with overpasses every mile. There is no trash left anywhere like in Haiti. For the most part, people follow the driving and traffic laws, whereas in Haiti it always seems like people don’t follow any laws (the driving is chaotic all the time with the biggest truck getting the right of way). In the States there is so much open space, so few people outside, huge, seemingly useless lawns to take care of and usually only ONE to TWO people in EVERY vehicle! In Haiti, there are always so many people in every vehicle, and sometimes piled on top too. The food seems to be in abundant in the States, of course, whereas in Haiti there is always a lack of food and many people live not knowing when the next meal may come. These are just a few differences between a wealthy country and a third world country.

We spent a week at the Outer Banks (near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina) to get away as a family and make some great memories! That time just flew by as we enjoyed the house, beach, eating out, and some fishing too! After that, Mike and Susie got away for a few days alone to bike and hike in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. What a gift that was to spend time in that beautiful valley as it was such a different climate then the tropics!

Launching from our dock for some fishing at dusk!

Choices, choices! Restaurants and menus had so many choices…

Time away as a family provided some great memories…

We arrived at the Outer Banks a day after a hurricane came through, but it didn’t seem to affect the waves any.

Who knows what this is is? Needless to say, with fish with that many teeth and crabs in the canal, we stuck to swimming only in the pool and ocean!

We have fond memories of some outreaches we did on the 4th of July, the Rittman Sleepwalker parade, and the evening we made pillowcase dresses at the World Relief Center. What a blessing to all work together like we did! So many came that evening to the WRC to give their time, effort, and talent. We look forward to seeing what God will do with these dresses.

Handing out water and Bibles before the fireworks to start crucial conversations about eternity.

A huge evening where women and girls of all ages came together to make pillowcase dresses for Haitian girls!

We do have a neat story to share that we cannot forget! A dear brother from Smithville, Jeff Stoller, let us borrow his pickup truck the whole summer so I (Susie) could learn stick shift. I took that truck around all over learning how to drive. And I did learn and loved driving that truck! What a gift that was! Two weeks before we headed back to Haiti the clutch went out on the highway. I was able to pull over enough to the side of the road. I remember the gloom and doom when Mike told me the phone was dead too. We were supposed to pick up our daughter Grace from our friends in 15 minutes. We prayed and then Mike went out to check under the hood while I sat in the car and prayed some more. I asked in my prayer: “Please send us an angel of the Lord to send someone with a phone that I can call for help and to call the couple that was keeping Grace.” Well, soon after that, Mike and I decided it was best for me to stand outside the car and wave my hands for help (since I was a woman and we thought someone would feel sorry for me). It wasn’t long and a car pulled to the side of the road. Sure enough it was a woman! She gave me her phone and we made all the necessary calls we needed. We were so appreciative of her phone! I thanked her for stopping and letting us use her phone and asked her what her name was so that we could pray for her. She looked at me and smiled, “My name is Angel.” Wow! What a God we serve!

A special weekend to remember, the baptisms of Evan, Grant & Trinity!

Our furlough ended in the best way possible…Evan, Grant and Trinity were baptized together on Sunday, July 27th! There were also three others baptized that day so it brought out many visitors. The whole weekend was a blessing to hear their testimonies, to see and  hear them make their promises before their baptism, and through it all, to glorify God! God’s Word was loud and clear in the sermons we heard on Sunday. We were blessed to have friends come from Haiti and some from other States that we met in Haiti. It was such a blessing for our kids to fulfill Christ’s commandment of baptism.

Many thanks to all of you again for all you did for us during our time in the States. May God bless each of you! We love you. On August 2nd Evan dropped us off at the airport and we returned to Haiti. He returns to school soon and we look forward to his next visit to Haiti over his holiday break!

The staff of the MEBSH Child Care department in Haiti. They have quickly become family!

Susie and I have had the pleasure of beginning our official child sponsorship work here in Haiti this month! It has been neat to see how God places us where we belong and continues to provide. We are hoping to add value where we can after we get better acquainted with the scope of our work and our schedules. In many ways Haiti reminds me of the 1950’s or 60’s in the U.S. and especially in the offices here. The desks, chairs, filing cabinets, dusty stacks of folders, cotton mops and vanilla envelopes all feel original to that era. The only thing we don’t hear is a typewriter (that I’ve noticed) because there are a few computers.

Marie Lucie is pictured above in the middle of the group. She is the heart and soul of child sponsorship in Haiti and we feel privileged to work with her. A few months ago we were meeting with Marie Lucie and I asked where our desks could be located, and she said, “Follow me.” She took us to the door of a room in the entrance hall and opened it with a key. “Here you are!”  We had been in and out of the office several times and we had no idea there was even a room there! The whole situation made me think of the parallel of God someday welcoming us into our eternal home…it is ready and waiting for our arrival!

When we follow Jesus we must leave everything behind, not knowing what is ahead. God already knows, so we simple follow, believe…and then see!  “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7

One of our favorite “new things” is the morning devotions. For a half hour or more we share a song, read part of a chapter and discuss it, and then close in prayer (praying for three sponsored children and their sponsors each day)…of course, all in Creole language. Some days we understand more of what is being said than others! One special time I will always treasure was the morning we read in Romans 11 about the wild olive branches being grafted into the olive tree. By the time we arrived at verse 25 they became very animated and were making loud exclamations! (Because of Israel’s unbelief we as Gentiles are able to be grafted in and have the opportunity to inherit the promises by faith.) I’m not sure if this was something they had never read before or what, but to sense the joy a group of Haitian Gentile believers experienced over the goodness and favor of God was pretty cool. It made me think of all the tribes and nations that will be praising God around His throne someday!

We have opportunities to use our Creole when the kids come to get their Sponsorship money. We try to talk to them and ask questions. We ask what their names are, where they go to school, if they like school and their favorite subject, how many brothers and sisters they have, where they go to church, what their sponsor’s name is, etc. We also ask them if they would like a Pastor (several work at the office) to pray for the needs they have. We are looking for opportunities to share the gospel. We are stretched out of our comfort zone to visit with them in their language, but it is a good for us.

Evan is here and we celebrated with a day at the beach!

UPDATE: School has been out since the first week of May and Grace is missing it already! She did well jumping up to 2nd grade. The only bad thing about that is that our baby is a third grader already!

Evan is here for a month before we all return the end of May! We are enjoying every moment we have together. He has been studying and picking up Creole at a good rate already.

Thanks for your prayers and support and we are looking forward to two months in Ohio. Grant will be graduating with his class in Smithville and we look forward to camping the whole time and spending quality time with family and friends!

Grace has finished second grade! She is showing us her personalized “shield of faith.”

Grace’s class held a program for the parents. Where else can you go barefoot to school?

Evan found a mission in no time…he has been taking this deaf man to the MEBSH clinic all week for help with his leg injury. That bandage is really standing out for some reason?

Here we are (once again) at the only place we eat out, The Hot Spot! They serve pizza and hamburgers as well as many other good things at good prices!

Thanks for your continued love, prayers and support!

Our last full day in Maniche. A Monday full of people and activity. Laundry! Canning! Real Haitian life!

What gets wet has to dry. There are no electric dryers in Haiti! Wash gets started early so it has a chance to dry by evening!

The work was hard, but they dug right in. They kept asking for more of our stuff to wash!

After breakfast, Trinity and I got to wash our own clothes with two Haitian ladies on the porch, luckily not in the river like most Haitians have to. Three large tubs were lined up; one for soapy water, one for rinsing, and the other one for wrung out clothes ready to go on the line. That was an experience! One Haitian lady gave me the job of rinsing the clothes and I rinsed for about an hour or more. We were amazed how hard they scrubbed the clothes and what work it was! Later we took the wrung out clothes to hang them to dry in the sunshine.

This was yet another opportunity to interact and make conversation and use our language skills. Another lady told me she has two daughters, actually had three but one got sick and died at 1-1/2 yrs. of age. She also told me she currently had a very bad toothache and that she was in pain. I told her to go see a dentist and she responded, “Pa lajan.” (No money) My heart sank. The lady had only a few teeth left in her mouth that I could see. She was headed to having no teeth left like the other lady that I was washing clothes with. She told me they were pulled out by a doctor. I was saddened and bothered. So many are so poor and there is not enough money to get cleanings or have cavities fixed.

Next up was canning jelly! They are using cherries, Haitian apples and another fruit here.

They have obviously done this before!

They gave all the finished product as a gift to us!

After the afternoon of canning a Haitian-style jelly (half sugar!), the neighbors and church folks started coming by to say good-bye since they knew we would be leaving after breakfast the next morning. We took group photos in the church in the evening and also enjoyed some time together.

The Pastor and some of his extended family. We never did figure out who was who. Their one son is on the left.

Grant made some great friends (this man and his wife have already visited us!)

A few favorite photos will finish this post!

No surprise, in the morning several came after breakfast to say goodbye again. The house started to fill up. Suddenly Brent and Sean also appeared to take us back home and we found ourselves standing in a circle holding hands in prayer. Then they really prayed and worshipped as we sang a farewell hymn! Many hugs followed as we packed the Toyota and then piled in with all our stuff. It was a blessing to realize we had arrived as total strangers and now were leaving with many new friends. There were so many stories and memories to recount on the way home!

This was the Lord’s Day! It was an amazing day as we attended Sunday School, morning and evening services worshipping with the Haitians in Maniche.

As visitors we found ourselves ushered up to the second row.

Sunday School – started at 8 a.m. We met in the church first and then the classes split up. We didn’t know where to go but were ushered by our Haitian friends. Mike went with the older men. Grant went with another Haitian friend. Madam Pasté told me to go with her. Trinity and Grace did not want to be separated from me so we stayed together. We listened and tried to catch what the lady spoke, but it was a long hour. Afterwards we found out why we were in such demand. They are very competitive with their stats, how many in each class, how many visitors, how many brought their Bibles!

The Pastor didn’t have a microphone so were glad to be near the front!

Singing practice after church. Every MEBSH church has the same tin roof and the same benches!

Church service – I wasn’t sure if we would be asked to speak that day, but I thought to myself what could I say if the opportunity was given. Just in case, I tried to be prepared in Creole in what came to my mind. Sure enough the Pastor asked all of us to stand and speak a little Creole to the church. This was the first time for all of us and we were out of our comfort zone.

The singing was wonderful. Alive! It was so touching to sing with these people that we got to know this week. We loved it!

Here, as everywhere in Haiti, they wore their very best to church.

Afterwards we went for a walk to the river. This time we had a few Haitians that went with us. It was very hot. We finally got to the river and it was very low. It is the rainy season and it is not raining much. They say this is the second year in a row this has been the case.

On the way home, Grant’s Haitian friend wanted us to stop and visit his Aunt briefly so we followed him. When we found her in the back yard with a small circle of friends, I leaned against a tree and a lady sitting there told me “Don’t touch!” (in Creole) I was surprised! They were making some kind of drink or liquid for something in a large basin which a man was pouring over the Aunt’s foot. It was green and it had an unusual smell. I didn’t feel comfortable. Mike heard the explanation, “Exorcist.” He told me quietly that it was probably a witch doctor so we said, “Ale!” (Let’s go!) and headed out of there really quickly!

We enjoyed a walk Sunday through town and to the river.

A view of the new levee walls they are stacking to prevent the town from flooding. These were incredible, at least a mile long!

A very tall mapu tree. Haitians involved in voodoo activity associate these with evil spirits and so they do not cut them down!

Evening song and prayer service – We sang and then everyone prayed out loud. A special Haitian friend invited our family to sing a special song to the ones there. We stood in front and sang, “The Solid Rock” in English (3 verses we could remember!) They loved it! They said, “Amen!” afterwards. Then they were so excited that they wanted to also sing it in Creole! Pastor Enock preached to all of us from Luke 12:32–35. He talked on trusting and staying fixed on Jesus. It is dangerous to put your trust in anything else, like money, a house, things, etc. It was a good sermon from what we could get out of it!