Bridging Words From Haiti to Iowa!
Mike Schmillen from Hope Reformed Church in Spencer, IA,traveled to Pignon
earlier this year. He offers words for thought and inspiration that he shared
with his team members. A copy of these words are as follows:
" I just returned from Pignon last night. It was my sixth trip having b
een there each year since 2006 (missed 2010 due to earthquake).
Last year I wrote a little thoughtful reading that I shared with our
team while sitting on the roof of the Minnesota House prior to our
return. It is a good jump start for a "going home" discussion as to
how to handle questions and reactions when home again.
January 14, 2011
I woke up this morning with a story that I need to share.
Many are familiar with the animated Christian series, Veggi
e Tales. Larry the Cucumber has always been the most easily r
ecognizable character from that series for me. He is taller in
stature than most of the others, has a sense of humor that s
ometimes isn't taken as humor, seems to be easily noticed,
sometimes a "goof-ball", but also is a vital part of the work/
story being told.
Larry the Cucumber went to Haiti.
He saw, heard, smelled, and felt the needs of the people.
He was so convicted that he wanted to give himself totally to
helping, SO he sliced himself into ten pieces (Silly Pickle) so
he could do more in less time. He could reach out to more people
and be of more service in the time that he had.
So the sliced up Larry went ten directions and helped serve f
ood at the hospital, he delivered food and God's love to some
of the poorest people in the world, he bought something he d
id not need from a lady in the street because she needed money
to help her sick child, he helped repair a school, he visited and
helped at an orphanage, he supported a church in Caiman with
his presence and a donation during collection, he visited the hospital
nd talked and sang songs of hope and God's love for the sick, the
amputees, the new born and the dying, he gave his clothes to those
who were without, he literally walked hand in hand through the streets
and garbage with the needy, and he cried, and he gave a little of himself
and God's love to everyone he met. He felt blessed by the Haitians to whom
he came to help.
But most of all, Larry did all of this without any thought of himself
(remuneration). He had humbled himself to God and gave of himsel
f freely. He felt good about what got accomplished, but it wasn't what
HE had done but rather what God had ordained for him.
When the ten smaller Larry's were ready to return home, God spoke
to them. God said, "Larry, you have fed the hungry, you have visited
the sick, you have visited and helped the orphans, you have reached
out to the Haitians in my name. But most of all, Larry, you did all of this
without thinking of yourself but rather giving a slice of yourself to all you
have served. I have noticed your humility for my sake. But now you need to
reach out to those whom you will return to. (God stacked the ten pieces of
Larry and breathed on them thus restoring Larry to his original physical self.)
You can not out give me as I will return to you ten-fold or more. Thank you,
good and faithful servant. Now take your stories and your experiences and
your giving attitude home and share it so others may be touched. You have
always been one of mine, but now your mission has expanded. I have see
and heard your compassionate heart. Reach out and share my love and
compassion with those in Spencer and to all you meet. You are to be my
ambassador. You will still be the fun-loving Christian Goof-ball you have
always been, but when the topic of helping others is breached, you will not
just "tell" of your experiences but the Holy Spirit will reveal to you that same
humble conviction you felt while serving in Haiti and it will touch those who
hear and see. Now go and serve the Lord, you Silly Pickle."
Thank you, Lord, for the experiences you have allowed me to have in Haiti.
Only with your help can I continue this mission in Spencer. I pray for your
continual intervention in my life so that I can do your will and not mine. Amen."
by Mike Schmillen, Hope Reformed Church, Spencer, IA
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Fargo medical mission team
Fargo Medical Mission Team Sees Pignon With a Different View!
Kevin Wallevand traveled with the Fargo Team in January.
Here is a glimpse of their hard work and efforts as they
put together supplies for these trips. Click here for a link
to their Haiti trip. Kevin Wallevand has been a Reporter at WDAY-TV
since 1983. He is a native of Vining, Minnesota in Otter Tail County.
His series and documentary work have brought him to Africa, Vietnam,
Haiti, Kosovo, South America, Mongolia and the Middle East. He is an
Emmy and Edward R. Murrow award recipient.
After visiting Pignon for so many years, the landscape is changing with
a different view around Pignon. Accompanied with his pictures, Kevin g
ives us an inside look at the great things happening in Pignon.
" What another great welcome and surprise for the Fargo-Moorhead
Medical Mission team when arriving in Pignon a few weeks ago. Even
after 15-years, it is always a great way to start the trip: landing at the
grass strip, riding in the back of a pick-up truck to the hospital.
But this year? What an amazing change in the village. A large number
of workers joined contractors in paving some of the streets in Pignon. Sidewalks,
along with water systems, fiber-optic and electricity are slowly being installed
in town. A new park with fountains is completed and will open soon
And compared to just a few years ago, the market is bustling.
A good gauge of what is happening economically in Pignon.
Smaller businesses are sprouting up and motorcycles are everywhere.
(Not always a plus when you are a Medical/Surgical Team)
Of course there are challenges. There is still too much poverty
and too few jobs. Promise for Haiti staff at the hospital and clinic
continue to do an amazing job of providing care to those in need.
The Fargo-Moorhead team worked along side and with talented Haitian
Operating Room staff that does so much when we are there;
helping perform 35-operations.
A mission trip once again peppered with stories of perseverance and faith. A reminder we all hope for growth, strength and peace for our friends and loved ones in Haiti."
Kevin Wallevand traveled with the Fargo Team in January.
Here is a glimpse of their hard work and efforts as they
put together supplies for these trips. Click here for a link
to their Haiti trip. Kevin Wallevand has been a Reporter at WDAY-TV
since 1983. He is a native of Vining, Minnesota in Otter Tail County.
His series and documentary work have brought him to Africa, Vietnam,
Haiti, Kosovo, South America, Mongolia and the Middle East. He is an
Emmy and Edward R. Murrow award recipient.
After visiting Pignon for so many years, the landscape is changing with
a different view around Pignon. Accompanied with his pictures, Kevin g
ives us an inside look at the great things happening in Pignon.
" What another great welcome and surprise for the Fargo-Moorhead
Medical Mission team when arriving in Pignon a few weeks ago. Even
after 15-years, it is always a great way to start the trip: landing at the
grass strip, riding in the back of a pick-up truck to the hospital.
But this year? What an amazing change in the village. A large number
of workers joined contractors in paving some of the streets in Pignon. Sidewalks,
along with water systems, fiber-optic and electricity are slowly being installed
in town. A new park with fountains is completed and will open soon
And compared to just a few years ago, the market is bustling.
A good gauge of what is happening economically in Pignon.
Smaller businesses are sprouting up and motorcycles are everywhere.
(Not always a plus when you are a Medical/Surgical Team)
Of course there are challenges. There is still too much poverty
and too few jobs. Promise for Haiti staff at the hospital and clinic
continue to do an amazing job of providing care to those in need.
The Fargo-Moorhead team worked along side and with talented Haitian
Operating Room staff that does so much when we are there;
helping perform 35-operations.
A mission trip once again peppered with stories of perseverance and faith. A reminder we all hope for growth, strength and peace for our friends and loved ones in Haiti."
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Greetings from Pignon, Haiti
Wednesday night and we are getting ready to leave Haiti around noon tomorrow.
Team members are saying their goodbyes and packing.
Tuesday part of the team headed to the Citadel but were not able to get there
do to demonstrations near the hospital in Millot. They turned around and had
a leisurely drive back to Pignon. The rest of us worked on desks and cabinets.
Later in the afternoon some rice and beans were delivered to selected families.
We also brought three of the gals out to UCI to work with the peanut butter program
at the school which their church is currently funding.
Today we loaded the trucks and headed back to Guimby. We delivered and
assembled 21 desks did a bible lesson, sang songs and some crafts with the
students. It was also baby clinic day at the school. Approximately 40 mothers
showed up with their babies to be weighed and get vaccinations. A couple of
nursing students doing a rotation at the hospital went with us and did the
clinic. Many of the mothers were pregnant so I think the school will have a
lot of students in the future.
The storage depot was broken into last night. The thieves came through
the tin roof and took our miter saw, extension cords and some other
small stuff. A disappointing way to finish the trip!
Dr. Guy’s goose nipped Paula’s toes while we were up at his house
on the patio this evening. The goose is very protective of Dr. Guy
and goes after you when ever he thinks you’re not looking. Right after
that she asked Dr. Guy if he likes baked goose. He says he does but
not this one! He also said if we stay here again next year we will have
peacock. Says it tastes like turkey?
See you state side the end of the week.
Bondye Beni Ou,
Dean
Greetings from Pignon, Haiti
Wednesday night and we are getting ready to leave Haiti around noon tomorrow.
Team members are saying their goodbyes and packing.
Tuesday part of the team headed to the Citadel but were not able to get there
do to demonstrations near the hospital in Millot. They turned around and had
a leisurely drive back to Pignon. The rest of us worked on desks and cabinets.
Later in the afternoon some rice and beans were delivered to selected families.
We also brought three of the gals out to UCI to work with the peanut butter program
at the school which their church is currently funding.
Today we loaded the trucks and headed back to Guimby. We delivered and
assembled 21 desks did a bible lesson, sang songs and some crafts with the
students. It was also baby clinic day at the school. Approximately 40 mothers
showed up with their babies to be weighed and get vaccinations. A couple of
nursing students doing a rotation at the hospital went with us and did the
clinic. Many of the mothers were pregnant so I think the school will have a
lot of students in the future.
The storage depot was broken into last night. The thieves came through
the tin roof and took our miter saw, extension cords and some other
small stuff. A disappointing way to finish the trip!
Dr. Guy’s goose nipped Paula’s toes while we were up at his house
on the patio this evening. The goose is very protective of Dr. Guy
and goes after you when ever he thinks you’re not looking. Right after
that she asked Dr. Guy if he likes baked goose. He says he does but
not this one! He also said if we stay here again next year we will have
peacock. Says it tastes like turkey?
See you state side the end of the week.
Bondye Beni Ou,
Dean
February 6, 2012
Bonswa (good evening),
Saturday before breakfast part of the team climbed Mt
. Pignon. They looked pretty hot when they got back but
all said they enjoyed the hike. No major casualties! After
breakfast, off to the market for some shopping and to give the
“newbees” a new experience. Mike bought a cow at the auction for the
noon lunch feeding program at the hospital. I think it was one of the items
on his “bucket list”. They took it back to the hospital maintenance area. T
hey plan to butcher it on Wednesday. Zeke bought food and gave the cow its
last meal today. Not quite sure why since it was going to be butchered tomorrow!
The team spent the rest of the day working on the benches and
delivering rice/beans to houses scattered around town.
Jesula and Thompson stopped by in the evening. It was good to finally
meet him. He doesn’t speak much English so Jesula translated!!!! He is a nic
e looking man, employed, and by the time the evening was over had loosened
up a bit and tried out more of his English on us. They are coming back
on Sunday morning to go to church with us.
On Sunday most of the team went to UCI to worship with the Mompremiers.
Paula, Sharon and I stayed in Pignon and went to worship at Zeke’s church.
It’s a large Baptist church with great music. The service was two hours long
and the message was about loving your neighbor. A bit long, but OK! Had
lunch at our place and when the team got back from UCI Zeke and Babi
treated us to cassava smoothies. Cassava is a tuber similar to a potato
that they boiled then ran it through a blender with water, milk, sugar and
ice. The mixture ended up tasting like tapioca which is
actually made from cassava. Later, I froze some of it and had it with chocolate
chips. This was very close to ice cream!
Monday most of the team was at the family life conference. I think
they had about two hundred attend again. I worked on the cabinets for the
prosthesis dorm and Paula did some varnishing. In the afternoon I drove
over to UCI for a board meeting. Three other board members from the US
were here so we thought it would be a good opportunity to get together.
Jesula came tonight to say goodbye. She is heading back to PAP in the
morning to look for work at hospitals in the PAP area. She would like to
continue her anesthesia training but we’ll have to wait and see what happens.
First she needs to find a job! Thompson is in the PAP area so at least she
has some company. No news on a wedding date.
Not much change at the zoo. A hen hatched out a batch of chicks in the
garbage pit today so we’ll see how many survive the night. With all the
hungry dogs around I’m amazed any of them make it to adult hood. I’ve
been driving the truck more lately around town and out to UCI. It took a
some time to get use to a straight stick on the floor. When I get back home
I’ll probably try to shove my left foot through the floor. The kids say I’m
getting pretty good at missing the giant holes and rough spots in the road.
I usually take a couple along for translating in case I get in trouble. They also
think it’s pretty macho to roll down the window and holler at their friends
riding in a truck with a blanc (white person). The donkeys, horses, goats
and people are starting to recognize my horn toot and slowly head to the edge
of the road!
The month has gone fast, four days left in Haiti, but we are anxious
to get back home to see family, friends, eat fast food, TV and spend
some serious time on the couch!
Bondye Beni Ou,
Dean
Bonswa (good evening),
Saturday before breakfast part of the team climbed Mt
. Pignon. They looked pretty hot when they got back but
all said they enjoyed the hike. No major casualties! After
breakfast, off to the market for some shopping and to give the
“newbees” a new experience. Mike bought a cow at the auction for the
noon lunch feeding program at the hospital. I think it was one of the items
on his “bucket list”. They took it back to the hospital maintenance area. T
hey plan to butcher it on Wednesday. Zeke bought food and gave the cow its
last meal today. Not quite sure why since it was going to be butchered tomorrow!
The team spent the rest of the day working on the benches and
delivering rice/beans to houses scattered around town.
Jesula and Thompson stopped by in the evening. It was good to finally
meet him. He doesn’t speak much English so Jesula translated!!!! He is a nic
e looking man, employed, and by the time the evening was over had loosened
up a bit and tried out more of his English on us. They are coming back
on Sunday morning to go to church with us.
On Sunday most of the team went to UCI to worship with the Mompremiers.
Paula, Sharon and I stayed in Pignon and went to worship at Zeke’s church.
It’s a large Baptist church with great music. The service was two hours long
and the message was about loving your neighbor. A bit long, but OK! Had
lunch at our place and when the team got back from UCI Zeke and Babi
treated us to cassava smoothies. Cassava is a tuber similar to a potato
that they boiled then ran it through a blender with water, milk, sugar and
ice. The mixture ended up tasting like tapioca which is
actually made from cassava. Later, I froze some of it and had it with chocolate
chips. This was very close to ice cream!
Monday most of the team was at the family life conference. I think
they had about two hundred attend again. I worked on the cabinets for the
prosthesis dorm and Paula did some varnishing. In the afternoon I drove
over to UCI for a board meeting. Three other board members from the US
were here so we thought it would be a good opportunity to get together.
Jesula came tonight to say goodbye. She is heading back to PAP in the
morning to look for work at hospitals in the PAP area. She would like to
continue her anesthesia training but we’ll have to wait and see what happens.
First she needs to find a job! Thompson is in the PAP area so at least she
has some company. No news on a wedding date.
Not much change at the zoo. A hen hatched out a batch of chicks in the
garbage pit today so we’ll see how many survive the night. With all the
hungry dogs around I’m amazed any of them make it to adult hood. I’ve
been driving the truck more lately around town and out to UCI. It took a
some time to get use to a straight stick on the floor. When I get back home
I’ll probably try to shove my left foot through the floor. The kids say I’m
getting pretty good at missing the giant holes and rough spots in the road.
I usually take a couple along for translating in case I get in trouble. They also
think it’s pretty macho to roll down the window and holler at their friends
riding in a truck with a blanc (white person). The donkeys, horses, goats
and people are starting to recognize my horn toot and slowly head to the edge
of the road!
The month has gone fast, four days left in Haiti, but we are anxious
to get back home to see family, friends, eat fast food, TV and spend
some serious time on the couch!
Bondye Beni Ou,
Dean
February 3, 2012
Bonswa…Greetings from the north central plateau.
The last team from Hope arrived Thursday afternoon.
They got settled and started in on the school bench project.
There was a possibility they would have to move to the dorm at
the hospital because of the lack of water in the compound.
The workers were having a difficult time finding the leak in t
he water system. They moved their bags into the MN dorm but
didn’t unpack until they knew where they would be staying.
Later in the afternoon they found a broken water pipe next to the
water heaters (they don’t actually work). They replaced some
piping and the tank appears to be holding water. The hospital
generator has been running quite a bit trying to keep us in water.
This is an added expense for the hospital but very much
appreciated. The tank on the roof on our house is again
full so we have better water pressure.
Friday we again worked on the bench project.
The Hope team worked really hard and got a lot done
! We have cut out and varnished the parts for 60 benches.
We plan to finish the assembly tomorrow and deliver some to
Guimby next week. I also worked with an organization out of
Port au Prince today that is coordinating the delivery of 44,000 p
ounds of packaged meals from Food from the Heartland. This will be
divided between four organizations in the area. UCI, HAFF, Haiti House o
f Hope and Promise for Haiti. This will get us started feeding the kids at our
elementary schools five meals a week. We are currently doing three
meals a week. This will be a great nutritional boost for our kids.
I have also been doing some coordination of the shipment of boxes
for the eye team that will arrive the day we leave.
My last construction project that I plan to start tomorrow
is building some kitchen cabinets for the prosthesis dorm.
They plan to open that later this month. Doctors and technicians
will come to teach and train others how to fit and build prosthetics.
There is quite a demand for this after the earthquake.
Jesula called from PAP today that she passed her last exam
for her nursing license. Quite an accomplishment! We are very
happy or her. She is coming to Pignon tonight with Thompson
her boyfriend. I think we will go out and celebrate tomorrow. Rice/Beans etc.
At noon we have rice with beans on the left side of the plate
and in the evening we put the beans on the right. Once in a while
the cooks mess with us and put the beans in the rice! I’m pretty much
off the rice/bean diet. Sometimes they have a side dish of potatoes, s
quash or macaroni with mystery meat that is very good. Paula’s down
to coleslaw, bread with peanut butter and instant soup. We’ve both had
some gastro issues but are on the mend.
Things with the zoo are pretty much the same. The dogs
are getting friendlier but Paula insists that I don’t feed them
no matter how sad they look at us. They stopped by tonight
for a longer visit before they headed out to forage.
Until next time…..Bondye Beni Ou
Dean
Bonswa…Greetings from the north central plateau.
The last team from Hope arrived Thursday afternoon.
They got settled and started in on the school bench project.
There was a possibility they would have to move to the dorm at
the hospital because of the lack of water in the compound.
The workers were having a difficult time finding the leak in t
he water system. They moved their bags into the MN dorm but
didn’t unpack until they knew where they would be staying.
Later in the afternoon they found a broken water pipe next to the
water heaters (they don’t actually work). They replaced some
piping and the tank appears to be holding water. The hospital
generator has been running quite a bit trying to keep us in water.
This is an added expense for the hospital but very much
appreciated. The tank on the roof on our house is again
full so we have better water pressure.
Friday we again worked on the bench project.
The Hope team worked really hard and got a lot done
! We have cut out and varnished the parts for 60 benches.
We plan to finish the assembly tomorrow and deliver some to
Guimby next week. I also worked with an organization out of
Port au Prince today that is coordinating the delivery of 44,000 p
ounds of packaged meals from Food from the Heartland. This will be
divided between four organizations in the area. UCI, HAFF, Haiti House o
f Hope and Promise for Haiti. This will get us started feeding the kids at our
elementary schools five meals a week. We are currently doing three
meals a week. This will be a great nutritional boost for our kids.
I have also been doing some coordination of the shipment of boxes
for the eye team that will arrive the day we leave.
My last construction project that I plan to start tomorrow
is building some kitchen cabinets for the prosthesis dorm.
They plan to open that later this month. Doctors and technicians
will come to teach and train others how to fit and build prosthetics.
There is quite a demand for this after the earthquake.
Jesula called from PAP today that she passed her last exam
for her nursing license. Quite an accomplishment! We are very
happy or her. She is coming to Pignon tonight with Thompson
her boyfriend. I think we will go out and celebrate tomorrow. Rice/Beans etc.
At noon we have rice with beans on the left side of the plate
and in the evening we put the beans on the right. Once in a while
the cooks mess with us and put the beans in the rice! I’m pretty much
off the rice/bean diet. Sometimes they have a side dish of potatoes, s
quash or macaroni with mystery meat that is very good. Paula’s down
to coleslaw, bread with peanut butter and instant soup. We’ve both had
some gastro issues but are on the mend.
Things with the zoo are pretty much the same. The dogs
are getting friendlier but Paula insists that I don’t feed them
no matter how sad they look at us. They stopped by tonight
for a longer visit before they headed out to forage.
Until next time…..Bondye Beni Ou
Dean
January 31, 2012
Bonjour from Pignon, Haiti
It’s Tuesday night and all is well……the zoo has quieted down
for the night. They will start greeting us again at 3:00 am.
Paula said she is tired living the “little house on the prairie life style”
but I’m sure she’ll hang in there for another week! Water is in short
supply which doesn’t help any with the creature comforts.
The last few days have been busy as usual. We
spent Sunday out at UCI with the Mompremiers, Worshipped
in their church, had a leisurely lunch, toured the facilities and
were home by mid afternoon. Jesula was with us which is always
a pleasure. She is leaving for Port au Prince on Monday and returning
on the weekend with her boyfriend. This will be our first meeting with
him and I think she is looking for our blessing? We took the rest of the day
off except for the last minute prep for the family life conference on Monday.
Monday morning Phil and I worked on the school benches while
the women of the mission teams spent the morning at the conference
with the women. Phil and I joined them after lunch when their husbands
arrived. This was the first time they invited the men to the afternoon
session of the conference. We were trying to encourage improving relations
between husbands and wives. Phil and I each did a short presentation and
I think from their reactions they enjoyed it, especially the part where we laid
a BIG kiss on our wives. Zeke and Babi also helped out with that part.
There were over 200 people at the conference. It was over at 3:30pm to give
them time to get home before dark. The Hope team plans to do this again
next week but they will have a couple of guys here them so I may be out of a job.
Today part of the Hope team went to the Citadel and the left behind
remnant of the Sunnybrook team went out to Guimby school to deliver
and assemble our first shipment of school desks. We finished the final
assembly at the school with quite a crowd around us. Phil said it was like
a school assembly. The desks were for the upper grade students. We furnished
two and a half classrooms and with another delivery of 11 desks we will have
all the larger size desks delivered and upper grade classrooms furnished.
The students could hardly wait for us to get finished. They came rushing
out and carried the desks into the classrooms. They were beside themselves
that we would do this for them. Quite emotional!
On the way home we were invited to the home of a student that we
are currently sponsoring in high school. She and her mom said it was
only a little way off the road. Next time I need to get more definition of
what a little way is in Haitian terms. It was a nice walk/hike! The father is
going blind and can’t work. We visited about how he and the family were
spiritually handling this and prayed with them. Our hike back to the truck
found hot and tired team members that stayed behind and waited for us.
We weren’t real popular at that point but they soon got over it!
That trip out to Guimby is a real back breaker! A couple of Ibuprofen
tonight and we’ll see what tomorrow brings. No goats tied in the yard
today so it will be a meatless day tomorrow, which is fine with most of the team.
Bondye Bon……..Bondye Beni Ou
Dean
Bonjour from Pignon, Haiti
It’s Tuesday night and all is well……the zoo has quieted down
for the night. They will start greeting us again at 3:00 am.
Paula said she is tired living the “little house on the prairie life style”
but I’m sure she’ll hang in there for another week! Water is in short
supply which doesn’t help any with the creature comforts.
The last few days have been busy as usual. We
spent Sunday out at UCI with the Mompremiers, Worshipped
in their church, had a leisurely lunch, toured the facilities and
were home by mid afternoon. Jesula was with us which is always
a pleasure. She is leaving for Port au Prince on Monday and returning
on the weekend with her boyfriend. This will be our first meeting with
him and I think she is looking for our blessing? We took the rest of the day
off except for the last minute prep for the family life conference on Monday.
Monday morning Phil and I worked on the school benches while
the women of the mission teams spent the morning at the conference
with the women. Phil and I joined them after lunch when their husbands
arrived. This was the first time they invited the men to the afternoon
session of the conference. We were trying to encourage improving relations
between husbands and wives. Phil and I each did a short presentation and
I think from their reactions they enjoyed it, especially the part where we laid
a BIG kiss on our wives. Zeke and Babi also helped out with that part.
There were over 200 people at the conference. It was over at 3:30pm to give
them time to get home before dark. The Hope team plans to do this again
next week but they will have a couple of guys here them so I may be out of a job.
Today part of the Hope team went to the Citadel and the left behind
remnant of the Sunnybrook team went out to Guimby school to deliver
and assemble our first shipment of school desks. We finished the final
assembly at the school with quite a crowd around us. Phil said it was like
a school assembly. The desks were for the upper grade students. We furnished
two and a half classrooms and with another delivery of 11 desks we will have
all the larger size desks delivered and upper grade classrooms furnished.
The students could hardly wait for us to get finished. They came rushing
out and carried the desks into the classrooms. They were beside themselves
that we would do this for them. Quite emotional!
On the way home we were invited to the home of a student that we
are currently sponsoring in high school. She and her mom said it was
only a little way off the road. Next time I need to get more definition of
what a little way is in Haitian terms. It was a nice walk/hike! The father is
going blind and can’t work. We visited about how he and the family were
spiritually handling this and prayed with them. Our hike back to the truck
found hot and tired team members that stayed behind and waited for us.
We weren’t real popular at that point but they soon got over it!
That trip out to Guimby is a real back breaker! A couple of Ibuprofen
tonight and we’ll see what tomorrow brings. No goats tied in the yard
today so it will be a meatless day tomorrow, which is fine with most of the team.
Bondye Bon……..Bondye Beni Ou
Dean
January 26, 2012
Bonswa,
Greetings for Pignon Haiti…….
Thursday night and we just got back from an evening
sharing time with the Hope Spencer, IA team. The first Hope
team arrived this noon and the first Sunnybrook team left on
he same plane. Three people from the Sunnybrook team are staying on
for the second week in addition to Paula and I.
We worked on a rough schedule for the week and
it’s looking like another full week ahead. The major focus
will be the adult conference at Pastor Francois’s church. The
school bench project will continue as well as rice/bean distribution
program. We’ll again visit UCI, Guimby and some of the other mission
sites. Some of the “newbees” are planning to head off to the Citadel and
also climb Mt. Pignon.
One of the young people that I met our first year in Haiti, and
helped with high school, is currently in Ghana, Africa doing a
project. He called yesterday to wish us well. Cell phone technology
is truly amazing! Jesula arrived Tuesday night. It’s good to see her again
. She is currently between nursing jobs so we hope she finds work soon.
This weekend she is supposed to introduce us to her boyfriend for the first time.
I think she is a little nervous about that. I always kid her that I need to approve
anyone that she may be getting serious about. Might be a wedding in the future!
People continue to comment how much we resemble each other! For those
of you that don’t know, that’s a joke’
We have some sad news to share, while maybe not so sad to
some of us that have been here for a week. The goat that has been tie
d in the front yard making a lot of noise disappeared yesterday. The last two nights
we have had goat for a main meat dish. Kind of miss the little fella’ but he did taste
good! No new news on the dog front. She comes and goes! The geese were a
little more aggressive today. I went after one of the males with a basket today to
call his bluff. After a lot of hissing, honking and wing flapping he backed off from
his attack position. Hopefully he’ll leave us alone for a few days now that he
knows I’m the boss. The peacocks are roosting in the trees and settled in for
the night. Some days it seems like we are living in a zoo!
Paula and I are half way through our time in Haiti. The time
is going fast and we have really enjoyed our stay but do
miss our ice cream, TV, couch and hot showers.
Until next time…….Bondye Bene Ou
Dean
Bonswa,
Greetings for Pignon Haiti…….
Thursday night and we just got back from an evening
sharing time with the Hope Spencer, IA team. The first Hope
team arrived this noon and the first Sunnybrook team left on
he same plane. Three people from the Sunnybrook team are staying on
for the second week in addition to Paula and I.
We worked on a rough schedule for the week and
it’s looking like another full week ahead. The major focus
will be the adult conference at Pastor Francois’s church. The
school bench project will continue as well as rice/bean distribution
program. We’ll again visit UCI, Guimby and some of the other mission
sites. Some of the “newbees” are planning to head off to the Citadel and
also climb Mt. Pignon.
One of the young people that I met our first year in Haiti, and
helped with high school, is currently in Ghana, Africa doing a
project. He called yesterday to wish us well. Cell phone technology
is truly amazing! Jesula arrived Tuesday night. It’s good to see her again
. She is currently between nursing jobs so we hope she finds work soon.
This weekend she is supposed to introduce us to her boyfriend for the first time.
I think she is a little nervous about that. I always kid her that I need to approve
anyone that she may be getting serious about. Might be a wedding in the future!
People continue to comment how much we resemble each other! For those
of you that don’t know, that’s a joke’
We have some sad news to share, while maybe not so sad to
some of us that have been here for a week. The goat that has been tie
d in the front yard making a lot of noise disappeared yesterday. The last two nights
we have had goat for a main meat dish. Kind of miss the little fella’ but he did taste
good! No new news on the dog front. She comes and goes! The geese were a
little more aggressive today. I went after one of the males with a basket today to
call his bluff. After a lot of hissing, honking and wing flapping he backed off from
his attack position. Hopefully he’ll leave us alone for a few days now that he
knows I’m the boss. The peacocks are roosting in the trees and settled in for
the night. Some days it seems like we are living in a zoo!
Paula and I are half way through our time in Haiti. The time
is going fast and we have really enjoyed our stay but do
miss our ice cream, TV, couch and hot showers.
Until next time…….Bondye Bene Ou
Dean
Saturday January 21, 2012
Bonjour from Pignon Haiti,
It’s Saturday night and all is well in Pignon.
We have had two really full days. Everyone is really tired and
can use a day off. Friday the team did the first rice/bean distribution
to over 300 families. We worked through Pastor Francois’s church.
He and several other pastors bring members of their congregations
that really needed some help. The people and Pastors were very grateful
and thankful that we would do this for them. Many prayers were said and answered!
We also got started on the school desk project. The materials
arrived by truck from Cap Haitian at 9:30 pm Thursday night.
The power was off so had to unload the truck by flashlight and
cell phone lights. The workmen did a very good job at the end of
a long day. Friday morning we set up the saws, fired up our
generator and started cutting the desk pieces. We are cutting lumber f
or 40 desks and hope to get them assembled, varnished and delivered to
some schools next week. Another part of our team headed out to Guimby to do
some repairs on the school that we support out there. The roof was leaking very
badly in the valley, another section was sagging and the water pipe to the school
from the spring on the side of the mountain has been broken for over a month.
The guys had to make two trips and were able to get the roof that was leaking rebuilt.
They found rotted wood underneath the tin and had to do quite a bit more repair than
anticipated. We will work on the rest of the projects next Wednesday when we go
out to visit the students. Another part of the team got ready for the bible schools
that were going to be done on Saturday. We are doing two sessions at two different
church locations with about 400 kids.
Saturday morning it was off to the bibles schools. The whole team went to
supervise/manage the kids. We sang, read a bible story, a craft project and
games out doors. Finished up with a snack and then back to town for lunch
. The hit of the day was Tim found Rufus(a puppet) that he had left here ten
years ago in a store room. The kids hadn’t seen a puppet before and really
went crazy. Even the parents that were there were fixated to the story. After
lunch most of the team went out to do the second bible school and a couple
of us stayed back at the dorm to finish cutting the wood for the desks. Monday
will be an assembly and varnish day.
Tomorrow we are going to UCI to visit the Mompremiers and worship
in their church. After lunch we will take the team on a tour of the UCI facilities,
visit well sites and the irrigated garden projects. Back to Pignon in the late
afternoon and if time permits do some rice/bean distributions to individual homes.
We have a young goat (kid) in our yard that desperately wants to find her
mother. I hope mom comes pretty soon or it will be a long night. The peacocks
are in the roost, the roosters are napping to get ready for the 3:00am serenade,
the dog ran off with her friend so other than the goat it is rather quiet! The generator
is off so we will have power as long as the batteries hold out. Hopefully we’ll make
it until Monday.
Bondye Beni Ou,
Dean
Bonjour from Pignon Haiti,
It’s Saturday night and all is well in Pignon.
We have had two really full days. Everyone is really tired and
can use a day off. Friday the team did the first rice/bean distribution
to over 300 families. We worked through Pastor Francois’s church.
He and several other pastors bring members of their congregations
that really needed some help. The people and Pastors were very grateful
and thankful that we would do this for them. Many prayers were said and answered!
We also got started on the school desk project. The materials
arrived by truck from Cap Haitian at 9:30 pm Thursday night.
The power was off so had to unload the truck by flashlight and
cell phone lights. The workmen did a very good job at the end of
a long day. Friday morning we set up the saws, fired up our
generator and started cutting the desk pieces. We are cutting lumber f
or 40 desks and hope to get them assembled, varnished and delivered to
some schools next week. Another part of our team headed out to Guimby to do
some repairs on the school that we support out there. The roof was leaking very
badly in the valley, another section was sagging and the water pipe to the school
from the spring on the side of the mountain has been broken for over a month.
The guys had to make two trips and were able to get the roof that was leaking rebuilt.
They found rotted wood underneath the tin and had to do quite a bit more repair than
anticipated. We will work on the rest of the projects next Wednesday when we go
out to visit the students. Another part of the team got ready for the bible schools
that were going to be done on Saturday. We are doing two sessions at two different
church locations with about 400 kids.
Saturday morning it was off to the bibles schools. The whole team went to
supervise/manage the kids. We sang, read a bible story, a craft project and
games out doors. Finished up with a snack and then back to town for lunch
. The hit of the day was Tim found Rufus(a puppet) that he had left here ten
years ago in a store room. The kids hadn’t seen a puppet before and really
went crazy. Even the parents that were there were fixated to the story. After
lunch most of the team went out to do the second bible school and a couple
of us stayed back at the dorm to finish cutting the wood for the desks. Monday
will be an assembly and varnish day.
Tomorrow we are going to UCI to visit the Mompremiers and worship
in their church. After lunch we will take the team on a tour of the UCI facilities,
visit well sites and the irrigated garden projects. Back to Pignon in the late
afternoon and if time permits do some rice/bean distributions to individual homes.
We have a young goat (kid) in our yard that desperately wants to find her
mother. I hope mom comes pretty soon or it will be a long night. The peacocks
are in the roost, the roosters are napping to get ready for the 3:00am serenade,
the dog ran off with her friend so other than the goat it is rather quiet! The generator
is off so we will have power as long as the batteries hold out. Hopefully we’ll make
it until Monday.
Bondye Beni Ou,
Dean
Jan 18
January 18, 2012
Bonswa,
Wednesday night in Pignon, Haiti.
We have news, an addition to our family! Little did we know that when you move into a house in Haiti
a dog comes with it! She comes and goes but usually takes her afternoon nap on our patio.
Sometimes she brings a friend. I don’t think she is monogamous to us but that’s Haiti.
We loaded up the truck this morning with 24 cases of paint and headed out to a rural
satellite medical clinic of the hospital. It’s about a 45 min drive and the roads weren’t too
bad. Two river crossings, we’re glad the water is low this time of year, up a steep grade a
nd we were there. The place is Lauvintua(sp?). It is kind of on the upslope of the plateau
before you get up to the mountains. Really quite a pretty drive. Unloaded the paint, got a
tour of the clinic and back to Pignon. Finished out the day getting some tin for repairing
the roof out at Guimby school, wood to build some benches on the back of the truck and
getting a new simcard installed in one of the phones. We have one phone in for repair but
don’t hold out much hope! Late afternoon I built benches for the back of the truck so it’s more
comfortable to sit on the back of the truck.
The first team from Sunnybrook arrives tomorrow noon. We think we are ready but
you never reallyknow in Haiti. We are anxious to see them and get started on
our projects. Over the next three weekswe are doing a rice/bean
distribution program, 300 families through a group of local churches and then
100 individual homes scattered around Pignon, two bible
schools, two adult women/men bible conferences, bible stories at
some of the other elementary schools, various building repair
projects and building new school desks for all ten of our sponsored
elementary schools(700 desks). A couple of teams have been
able to build 30 a week but I don’t think we will get that many
done because of all are other projects. It will take many team
s to complete the project.
We tried to watch a Beth Moore DVD tonight,
part of Paula’s Tuesday morning women’s bible study curriculum,
but part way through the DVD player quit working. We tried the laptop
but didn’t have the right software loaded. Since we weren’t connected to the
internet we were out of luck. We will have to wait until some of the “techies” arrive.
Paula and I have been in Haiti a week and the time has gone
quite fast. We still miss our TV, newspaper, diet coke and ice cream b
ut we’ll catch up when we get home. The Haitian people are very gracious to us.
Until next time…..Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)
Dean
Bonswa,
Wednesday night in Pignon, Haiti.
We have news, an addition to our family! Little did we know that when you move into a house in Haiti
a dog comes with it! She comes and goes but usually takes her afternoon nap on our patio.
Sometimes she brings a friend. I don’t think she is monogamous to us but that’s Haiti.
We loaded up the truck this morning with 24 cases of paint and headed out to a rural
satellite medical clinic of the hospital. It’s about a 45 min drive and the roads weren’t too
bad. Two river crossings, we’re glad the water is low this time of year, up a steep grade a
nd we were there. The place is Lauvintua(sp?). It is kind of on the upslope of the plateau
before you get up to the mountains. Really quite a pretty drive. Unloaded the paint, got a
tour of the clinic and back to Pignon. Finished out the day getting some tin for repairing
the roof out at Guimby school, wood to build some benches on the back of the truck and
getting a new simcard installed in one of the phones. We have one phone in for repair but
don’t hold out much hope! Late afternoon I built benches for the back of the truck so it’s more
comfortable to sit on the back of the truck.
The first team from Sunnybrook arrives tomorrow noon. We think we are ready but
you never reallyknow in Haiti. We are anxious to see them and get started on
our projects. Over the next three weekswe are doing a rice/bean
distribution program, 300 families through a group of local churches and then
100 individual homes scattered around Pignon, two bible
schools, two adult women/men bible conferences, bible stories at
some of the other elementary schools, various building repair
projects and building new school desks for all ten of our sponsored
elementary schools(700 desks). A couple of teams have been
able to build 30 a week but I don’t think we will get that many
done because of all are other projects. It will take many team
s to complete the project.
We tried to watch a Beth Moore DVD tonight,
part of Paula’s Tuesday morning women’s bible study curriculum,
but part way through the DVD player quit working. We tried the laptop
but didn’t have the right software loaded. Since we weren’t connected to the
internet we were out of luck. We will have to wait until some of the “techies” arrive.
Paula and I have been in Haiti a week and the time has gone
quite fast. We still miss our TV, newspaper, diet coke and ice cream b
ut we’ll catch up when we get home. The Haitian people are very gracious to us.
Until next time…..Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)
Dean
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