VISITING HEAVENLY LIGHT AND NEW LIFE SCHOOLS

This past week has been a busy one in preparation for the return of students to the seminary and the arrival of visiting professors.  Saturday morning saw us pick-up 2 professors at the Cap Haitien Airport arriving from Fort Lauderdale, and Sunday afternoon we are picking up another at the CaribeTour Bus Terminal who was coming in from the U.K. by way of Santo Domingo, D.R.  



Heavenly Light School/Church



Upper floor under construction



A week ago today (Sunday) we attended Heavenly Light Evangelical Church in Cap Haitien where St. Andrew’s supports the school.  They now have 150 students attending Kindergarten through Grade Two.  Pastor Vilmer Paul took time after the service to show us how much had been accomplished in the construction of the new school classrooms on the second floor of his church.  The church in Sarnia where Dorothy’s brother, Dick Page, attends provided the funding for this initial phase of construction.  The church was packed with close to 300 attendees and what was so good to see was that the majority of those in attendance were younger adults and children of all ages.

 

New Life School/Church



This past Wednesday we finally went up to the hills above Grison Garde where Pastor Job Vilma has his church and school, New Life.  The trip was not without its little bit of

drama as the well that was drilled just before the start of the cholera epidemic had stopped functioning so before we left we loaded up with Julien, the resident well mechanic, his tools and lengths of pipe, etc. to fix the well dependent on what was the problem.  As happens so much in life here he did not have the material needed to fix the well, but was hoping to return on Thursday to do just that.  At time of writing I have not heard whether he was successful.  The school, however, was working quite well with children dressed in their light blue school uniforms, teachers teaching, and children listening, all very much like what you would find in schools elsewhere.  St. Andrew’s should be quite pleased because without our assistance most, if not all, of these children would never see the inside of a classroom.

Of course the big news of the week was not the election and who would be included in the run-off elections that we are not too sure will be held any time soon, but the return of “Baby-Doc” Duvalier from exile after 25 years in France.  It is uncertain what this all means but it certainly keeps things interesting.

 

Hannah



Cholera is still very much an issue for the people of Haiti and we were told at our weekly missionary prayer meeting that the clinic has seen an upturn in the numbers that they are treating.  We wonder whether this is because people are starting to lower their guard and not taking all the precautions that were so much a part of the early warnings people were receiving.  We understand that a Canadian nurse is currently working in the clinic, and of course, we saw 2 of the stalwarts during the height of the epidemic, Hannah and Julie, depart recently having ended their year of service with OMS at the clinic.

Saving the best for last we also heard this week that Evens Gabriel, the accountant for HEARTS here in Haiti, and his wife Carline, are expecting their second child.  We are not sure just when yet but we will find out soon.  The other part of this good news story is that we understand that there is a possibility that he will also start working with the Joy & Hope of Haiti from Hamilton on their micro-business project in some capacity.  This could not have happened at a more auspicious moment. Talk about God’s timing being perfect!     ISN’T HE WONDERFUL!

THE TIME HAS COME THE WALRUS SAID....

Student making bread

Mission to Haiti – January 16, 2011

 

This week has been a quiet one on the Emmaus Biblical Seminary (EBS) compound with no students or professors, visiting or otherwise.  It has given us an opportunity to clean the overhead fans, scrub the floors, and wash the windows in anticipation of our first visitors to the Ville Auberge as we call it, or as others call it, “The Assisted Living Centre.”  I am not sure whether they are implying that we are of an age that this is what we are in need of or whether it is a different name for a Bed & Breakfast.

Last Sunday night the Hubele family, John, Rachelle, Jacob and Josephine, who are now living on the EBS compound with ourselves, arrived back from working with some of the staff from the Vaudreuil Medical Clinic who were conducting a mobile clinic at the small community of Roche in the mountains between Cap Haitian and the Dominican Republic.  Very early on Friday morning it took them approximately 3 hours to drive to the base of the mountain and then they had to walk another 1 ½ hours up the mountain to the village where they set up the clinic.  Between Friday afternoon and Saturday evening over 400 villagers and people from the surrounding area were seen by the medical staff, fortunately none were for cholera.  Additionally, some of the missionaries conducted a VBS-type program for the children of the community, singing songs, doing crafts, and learning Bible stories.  It was an outreach program that was so remarkable for its simplicity but so awesome in the way that the people of the community see God at work in the hearts of the medical staff and the missionaries.  There is no preaching but the actions of these 10 team members spoke fathoms in terms of discipleship.  It is the plan to conduct another mobile clinic this weekend at the fishing village of Gaudin where cholera has been an issue over the last couple of months, and where spiritual warfare is very much a part of the everyday life of the community as practitioners of voodoo battle for the hearts and minds of its people.

The anniversary of the earthquake was January 12^th and all government offices, schools and banks were closed by order of the government in Port-au-Prince.  We are told that there were services of remembrance and thanksgiving; however, we did not see anything locally to suggest that this day was any different than any other.

The big news was that the Organization of American States (OAS) had given its report on the election and its results to President Preval who, it was thought, might take the opportunity to announce the OAS’s findings but this also did not happen.  The report was apparently leaked to the press and it now appears that Preval’s handpicked successor, Jude Celestin, has fallen to third place from second and would no longer be a part of any run-off election.  The OAS report is not binding on the Preval government or the Election Council but it will be interesting to see what happens and whether supporters of Jude Celestin take to the streets in protest like those of Michel Martelly did when it was first announced that their candidate had lost out in his bid to be one of the top two candidates for the run-off election.  Haitian politics are never dull and this election is proving how interesting things can be.  Please pray that whoever is the final victor will bring honest, stable, and good government to the people of Haiti.

We know each week that we ask for your prayers.  You have no idea how much we count on you to pray for the country of Haiti and for us personally.  Our God is a miracle working God and there is no doubt in our minds about that.  Prayer makes the miracles happen.  God bless each of you. 

RETURN TO THE VILLE AUBERGE

MISSION TO HAITI – January 9, 2011 





  We managed our get away early last Sunday.  There wasn't anyone around, not even a mouse.  Our drive to Florida was very uneventful to the point where I, Dorothy, thought about composing a song about the hours of driving put to the tune of The Twelve Days of Christmas.  It wasn’t until we had counted 7 armadillos munching at the roadside that John came on board with the song after I attempted to compose a line about the armoured armadillos!!!  To humour me he said, “Very good, hon," but immediately burst my bubble when he added, "You’ll never make it as a song writer.  Forget it.  Get over it.  Let’s watch for more licence plates instead.”  He was so relieved when we pulled into the condo at Daytona Beach for our two-night stay and quite frankly, so was I.

We checked in with Missionary Flights International (MFI) the day before our flight thinking that we were grossly over our weight limit.  We had originally asked for 200 lbs including our 100 lb. luggage allowance.  We then asked that it be upped to 300 lbs., and then 400 lbs.  When we weighed our luggage and plastic totes we weighed in at 501 lbs.  As usual God was looking after us because MFI thought we were asking for 400 lbs. in addition to our luggage allowance.  We were only one pound over what they thought we wanted. 

The flight to Haiti was as uneventful as the drive to Florida. (There were no songs composed and no licence plates to count.)  We had been warned that there might be demonstrations following what was to be a major announcement regarding the election results, and if there were our MFI flight might be delayed.  However, the announcement from the Electoral Commission was of no consequence.  It indicated that the Organization of American States had not concluded its investigation of the election, and it was uncertain when the report would be available.  It’s now too late to have the run-off election on January 16^th as previously scheduled because the run-off candidates need more time once an announcement is made to advertise and campaign again.  The Electoral Commission says it is unlikely that a run-off election will take place until well into February or March at the latest.

The sad part of this whole election fiasco is that the project funding for the rebuilding following the earthquake has ceased to flow pending the outcome of the election, and the cholera epidemic continues unabated without any clear leadership coming from the government.  If it were not for the NGOs providing primary care the death toll from cholera would be much higher than the approximately 3,500 victims that have died so far and the 120,000 that have received treatment.  By the way, we have both taken our cholera prevention meds.

Our seminary students will be returning the weekend before classes are scheduled to start on Monday, January 24^th.  Our visiting professors should begin arriving shortly before classes start, and we will be busy, busy, busy for the next few weeks.  We can’t help but remember when we feel exhausted Jesus offers rest for the soul.

We are also looking forward in the next few months to visiting the schools and orphanage that are supported by St. Andrew’s. 

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your call to Haiti.

On The Road Again

Mission to Haiti – January 2, 2011

As you read this morning’s installment of “Mission to Haiti” we are traveling down the interstate on our way to Florida to return to Haiti on January 6^th.  We were glad to be home with our family and friends, but equally anxious to return to our “missionary family” in Haiti.

We had the opportunity to share with a number of you the mission that we are now involved with at the Emmaus Biblical Seminary at Saccenville, and while the job of hosting visiting professors does not sound particularly sexy or significant it does serve a purpose in what we see as God’s plan for the people of Haiti.

This seminary with its 50 students is very much in the battle against Satan for the hearts and minds of young Haitians.  The majority of these students after graduation will go out and plant churches to teach the word of God to people who have had little opportunity to hear the stories of the Bible.  The pastor, once the church is established, will then begin the process of starting a school with a curriculum based on Christian principles of honesty and integrity.  It is these children who will ultimately take leadership roles in bringing the people of Haiti to a relationship with Jesus Christ.  We feel our call is to help the children of Haiti, and if this involves nothing more than the hosting of visiting professors that are teaching the seminary’s students then we have been blessed with the opportunity to serve God in this way.

We know you have heard the term “Haiti Fatigue” as it refers to the seemingly never-ending call for financial assistance to aid the people of Haiti.   Hurricanes, mudslides, an earthquake, and now cholera are contributing factors to this sense of fatigue.  When will it ever end?  Add to this the stories that we hear of corruption, embezzlement, and theft of monies intended to help the victims of these calamities and you get “Haiti Fatigue”.  Our prayer is that the people of St. Andrew’s know and understand that what HEARTS is doing in Haiti has nothing to do with disaster relief, and the money they send to Haiti is accountable down to the very last nickel.  There is no mishandling of funds and it is being used for the purposes for which it has been given, education and care of children.

I know that for the foreseeable future there is no end in sight, particularly as it relates to the education of the children of Haiti.  HEARTS has been involved in the education of children and the daily needs of the children at the orphanage for over 15 years.  And with your help we will continue to work with the children of Haiti for many more years to come.  Please don’t give up on Haiti or it’s children.  We ask for your continued support of the HEARTS mission, and we also ask for your continual prayer for us.

To be a part of the HEARTS mission to the children of Haiti call (519)843-3565 and ask Sandra how you can help.

Have a very happy New Year and may God keep you in His care.

Old Year Out - New Year In



Grand River flowing
through Elora

 Since our arrival home in Elora for Christmas it seems we have not stopped running, visiting, being visited, etc.  We have enjoyed every minute being with family and friends, but today we are thinking about how blessed we have been throughout this last year.


God has a plan, and while we may not always appreciate or understand the whys and hows of His plan we will know in the end that what happened to us this year was within that plan.

Pic from internet

This past year we were to travel to Cap Haitien, Haiti, for the month of February to host visiting teams at the OMS Vaudreuil compound, but this was not to be because of the change in needs following the disastrous earthquake in the Port-au-Prince area.  Another door was opened when we had the opportunity to travel to Haiti at the end of February as part of the Sudbury work team.  It was during this trip that we had a conversation with Matt & Stacey Ayars about when we were going to return to Haiti, and our answer was that we were waiting for the offer of a "job".  Then, again when we returned in early May with another work team from the Fergus area, we had another conversation with Matt & Stacey about the possibility of our returning to undertake a support role at the newly built site of the EBS (Emmaus Biblical Seminary).  Our answer was a "give us some more details". 

After prayer and reflection we decided that we should just place our trust in God and give an unequivocal yes.  However, this was not exactly the end of the story as the original "job" was re-evaluated, and we were asked to host visiting professors at the EBS instead.  Again we gave an unequivocal yes to this latest turn in events.  As we were quick to quote someone from 1695, in for a penny, in for a pound.

We have been going to Haiti over the course of the last 8 years.  The two months that we have spent in Haiti this past fall has been something that is so far removed from anything we have experienced, making sense of it is impossible.  Knowing how difficult the last year has been for Haitians in both the north and south of Haiti, the adjustments that were made within families to cope with the loss of family members and/or the sudden arrival of family members trying to escape the devastation in the Port-au-Prince area, together with the pressures surrounding the cholera epidemic followed quickly by Hurricane Tomas, and the turmoil of a national election has sometimes seemed insurmountable, but Haitians have, for the most part, been resilient if nothing else.  If all this was to happen to ourselves it is impossible to say if we would have been as patient and understanding as they have been.

We think the Haitian people we know are very special and very kind in the face of all the adversity that they have had to contend with in 2010.  We are praying that 2011 will bring them responsible government that has as its primary goal, both in the long and short term, the needs of the Haitian people. 

We are praying that 2011 will bring them a greater understanding of how God can be an agent for positive change in their lives.

And, we are praying that 2011 will bring them a greater awareness of how they themselves can be agents for positive change in their lives by living out their faith.

We look forward to our return to Haiti January 6th and the rewards and challenges that will come with hosting the visiting professors.  We ask that you pray, along with us, that we will continue to have good health enabling us to be a part of bringing the word of God to the people of Haiti.

Have a blessed New Year of 2011.
Dorothy & John