Thursday pack and play

 Thursday morning we got up and started with packing two trailers for teams that are coming in next week.  These trailers hold everything that they need to head out into the mountain villages to put roofs on schools and churches.  So we unloaded, checked, refilled and counted: water bottles, cots, pillows, nails, screws, bolts ect.  it was hot already in the morning!

  Once the trailers were finished, we headed to tour the domestic center.  This is a domestic school where women enroll to learn hygiene, family health, child care skills, family economics and such.  They also learn how to make patterns and sew clothing by hand and treadle sewing machines. They also learn embroidery and other sewing hand crafts. The women who graduate these courses and do good work are granted "jobs".  They come into the center and receive a project to take home to complete, when completed they bring them back and get paid upon inspection.  These items are then for sale in their boutique and in the open houses that are offered through churches here in the states.  The supplies are purchased through proceeds and from those sent to them from the states.  Like so much of the MEBSH programs this enables the Haitian people and helps them improve themselves, not try to convert them into western culture.

Where they check out and check in projects.

one of the classrooms

 

 Then, we went to  the orphanage that is near Tim and Joan's house.  There are children that actually live there and there are also some who come there for the day for food and a place to be.

 

  The children that live there have either been abandoned by parents unable to care for them or have nobody to care for them (no Parents living).  The children there get their basic needs met and schooling.

 

the new second story

These holes are in the cement counter top. They cook with charcoal in them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They were so much fun! We gave them t-shirts that a VBS had painted for them, a new soccer ball and took their pictures (they Loved getting pics taken! )

 

 

 

  

Old People and One of our Little Girls

Dec 28th

 Today we reached out to the elderly at a nursing home that is supported by the MEBSH/ACWR efforts here.  With this assistance they are able to give alot better care... it still isn't perfect, there is alot that could be done, changed, improved, but it is a lot better than what it was.  We arrived, took a look around while they were loading up the residents that were able to go, along with a few staff women to assist and the Pastor that oversees it. We first went to a privately owned ocean/riverside park area. The residents were just excited to get outside the walls.  They never get outside their yard area, unless someone takes them.  Tim and Joan are only able to do this every few years; it takes a lot of people.

and more chickens!

bananas!

yes, those are our girls in the back cage of that truck.... and Craig is driving in Haiti!! 

This is Paul...

 So when they sat in the park area and sang, they were really happy and excited! :)  Then those who wanted to get into the ocean were loaded back up and driven over to an easier access area.  We assisted them to some chairs under the tree and helped them disrobe (some swimsuits, some undies and what not, some in their slips... however they were comfortable, and down to the water we went...  once in the water they loved it!  There was a river stream that ran parallel to the ocean beach so they washed in the river and played in the ocean.  Many of these grew up here and probably played around and in the ocean as children, so to see it and get in in again was a cherished time.  It was hilarious to observe and very touching at the same time.

this lady clapped and about danced out of her chair when they sang some songs together.                                                         It was great to see her enthusiasm in singing praises.

Craig trying to visit with Paul

walking thru the rice paddies to the ocean to meet up with van of oldies.

Craig and Tim carrying Paul to the ocean.

 Paul is an elderly man that has no muscle strength, he sits knees bent butt on the ground and kind of waddles to go anywhere.  Craig and Tim assisted him to get him into the ocean, it was a touching scene...

Paul, and all the residents, loved being in the ocean again.

  it took me out of my comfort zone to be assisting some of these residents getting redressed, knowing that the clothing was ...who knows what... but you just do it feeling that God will protect  you from whatever you are touching... to put it tactfully...   then you get the hand sanitizer out and go to the next one.  After they were back in the vehicles, we took them for a drive around town to let them see the town again, then took them back to the home.  There were many mercie boques  (sp?) as they got out and we departed. 

little kids that come to the ocean daily to bathe.  Today they came to watch us :)

others were there doing their laundry

doing the hair of this lady that was over 100, maybe 103 or 106

we left a soccer ball with the kids

 We came back for lunch and then has a special visitor...
Back in 2000 we hosted a Haitian Hearts patient, she lives in Simone Haiti a village of Cayes  right down the road from where Tim and Joan live.  We brought a backpack of school supplies that Craig's students put together and misc things from us.  We set Leah up on Skype so she could join in our visit with Nahnah.  We were surprised at what she was drawn to, Time for Kids maazines and pocket knife that was really meant for her dad :) 

getting Leah pulled up on skype

Leyderlina Dorvilme (Nahnah) and her dad

 She just turned 13 the day before. We thought her birthday was the 28th but it was the 27th... she said she is healthy and her heart is working well. She looked good, still somewhat lame on her right side, like when we had her.  What an opportunity to see her again, so thankful she is doing well. 

Girls :) including one on Skype

Craig helping her dad with new work boots.

...and off she goes beck to her life until we see her next time.

 

Wednesday evening we gathered a Gutwein's for some devotion and singing, as well as some personal numbers by different ones from the missionary community.