Team has arrived

The Malone University students are here at the base safe and sound.  The York College group is mostly here (3 are still in Miami due to a delayed connecting flight and will arrive early tomorrow morning).  We had orientation and a great Haitian dinner of rice/beans and beef stew and they are all relaxing on the roof after a slight rainstorm which has cooled things off greatly!  We pray for a good night's sleep and will update again in the morning or early afternoon (after church) if possible.  Thanks for the prayers!

1/4 of team has arrived

Today was very busy with getting supplies for the upcoming trip, finalizing details, picking up Skyler and Auston at the airport, traveling to the orphanage, etc... but God has already been evidencing Himself for sure!  We were kept safe on the roads, Auston/Skyler got here with no trouble, we found all the supplies needed to paint the orphanage for decent prices, and more.  We were even able to stop by Redgi's house for a few minutes to get personal items for Madame Josee' and bring them to the base so she didn't have to carry them on tap tap tomorrow when she comes to begin cooking (all the while SHE was at the base delivering fruit/vegetables for the team that she had purchased in the city- lol).  We are all exhausted and ready for some much needed sleep.  

Tomorrow's plans include picking up three groups from the airport at three different times (12:30, 3:15 and 4:30) and then traveling to the base for orientation, dinner and to get organized.  Praise God we have electricity.  Hopefully tomorrow we will have the same since it is nice to get unpacked and organized/settled with light to help.  We can also use the fans to keep us cool when sleeping, though it is nice and cool here at night right now.  

Prayers for a good day of travel for the team members coming tomorrow and for the upcoming ministry God has called us to.  We have the tentative schedule posted and will see what He brings our way!  

God bless- Crystal

Christmas Blessing!

The concordance (in dk. blue), a book on Christian family living (light blue upper left) and two Bible study books on Romans along with 75 New Testaments in Creole!  What a gift from God to Haiti! (through the generosity of His people).

So, here is an amazing story of God's provision that I just have to share with you!  It all started with an e-mail I received from Delta Airlines saying the itinerary for my return trip to Haiti had changed.  I opened the e-mail to view it and it didn't seem to be any different from what I already had on record.  Then, I noticed the change!  I was moved from Economy class to BUSINESS class!  This means that in addition to the wonderful seat with more room I was now entitled to two free checked bags - 70 pounds each.  No, you have to realize that every trip to Haiti I take the allowed 50 pound free bag and then I always check a second bag that weighs 50 pounds and pay for that one (usually $40).  Since I keep my clothes and other items in Haiti at the base we rent, these suitcases are usually filled with donations, items for people I know, items for the base/orphanage, etc...  Well, I called Delta to confirm and YES!  I do get the two bags!  This is almost another whole suitcase.  :)  :)  

WAIT!  This story gets better.  Now that I knew I had extra pounds I could pack I began to pray, "God, what would you have me take to Haiti this trip that would be a blessing to Your people?"  It didn't take long until I got an answer.  Within a few hours I got a text that someone had donated a large amount of money for us to use to bless someone this Christmas season.  Again, I went to prayer.  "OK God, I have extra weight to pack, and extra money to spend.  What should I do with both?"  

A few hours later I was cleaning and came across the catalog feom a place near our house in Pennsylvania that sells books in Haitian Creole.  DING DING DING   The lights went off and bells whistled (not really, but you know what I mean) and I knew!  I called, placed my order and went to pick up the books.  75 New Testaments in Creole, a concordance for Pastor Yves and Pastor Robby, and three Bible study books for some of the translators we are close to. 

Not only did the price come to almost all the money I had to spend, but guess what?  Right before leaving I had a quick thought pass through my head.  I asked the guy selling me the books how much he thought they weighed.  He said, "I have a scale right here for when we ship packages.  Let's check".  Yep!  You are right.... the books I had just purchased weighed........... 40.8 pounds!  

If that's not God at work, then I don't know what is folks!  So, my bags are packed and I am ready to go back to Haiti.  Seventy five people will receive the word of God in Creole and some of those who have blessed us in the past year will have some material to study His Word (in their language).  THANK YOU JESUS!  A Merry CHRISTmas indeed!  

Blessings - Crystal

Update...

(photo thanks to my new friend Emmett!)

The past few days have been filled with meeting and visiting with some friends who stayed over, visiting with Pastor Robby and visiting with the children at the nearby orphanage (photo is of us making friendship bracelets).... TONIGHT my friends from Pittsburgh come for the night (8 of them on the team) and tomorrow Redgi and I will travel to Mirebalais to take his mom for her bloodwork.  We also bought 2 more bunk beds for the base bringing the total bunk beds to 7 in the guest rooms (sleeping for 14) and 1 in the staff room with another single bed for me.  SOOOO we could in theory sleep 17 now!  God is good!  And if you haven't read it yet, we paid rent for the next YEAR (until Nov. 25, 2014) so we will be using this as our base at least until then unless something major happens.  

Sorry I didn't update much- no power since the line blew outside the house two nights ago burning our wires.  Don't know if/when it will be fixed and we will get power again.  This may be the last update until I return on Sunday afternoon.  

God bless-  Crystal

What a day!

Well, it is 6 pm. and Redgi is in his room taking a nap while I sit on the porch in the dark working on this blog.  That should let you know how this day was!  It was productive but it is draining going to Life is Wealth without a team- especially two days in a row.  The children ALL want your attention and hang all over you as you try to do whatever it is you came for.  Even if you just came to play, it is HOT and SWEATY but I love it for sure!  We went to get some things done and accomplished all that was on the list, but we also went to play with the children.

The "boss" looked at the location for the water building and is going to work up a quote for me.  He will need about 1/3 to begin the work and can start as soon as possible.  Both Redgi and I felt very comfortable with him and Pastor did too.  They will need to remove a large area of concrete to put in the foundation for the building, but we like the idea of locating it to the right of the gate as you enter the property better than the original idea of putting the building to the left as you enter.  There are so many reasons for moving it and thankfully it will work in the new location and Pastor Yves is happy with that decision.  I will call those responsible for paying for it once I return to the USA with a quote and they can begin to send down payments to begin.  This is exciting stuff!  Finally it seems these children will have clean water to drink.

We also got everything done on the list I put up earlier and even are hoping after Redgi wakes up we can go get money changed into gourdes and then pay the rent for ONE YEAR!  This means we plan to still be in this location all the way through the summer and fall of next year.  We are even praying about some space that has opened up on the property (another rental unit) which rents for about $160 per month.  We could use the area for storage for ALL our donations and extra items and also for an office space or for sleeping quarters for staff.  We will need to pray about that one first.  God knows!

Right now I am praying we get electricity since I am not sleepy and would love to sit and read a book or something.  God bless- church tomorrow if we can make it (we may try a new one nearby) and then Madame Esther's orphanage in the afternoon and possibly visiting with a friend of mine who also serves in Haiti.  She called and said she may stop by with her son on their way through Carrefour.  Redgi and I both need a sabbath because we have been running nonstop but praise God we are accomplishing much in His name!

Day 5

Hard to believe it's that many days I have been here (including the day I arrived).  Yesterday was super busy but we got a lot accomplished- Praise God!!

In the morning we worked around the house on various items (paperwork, answering e-mails, balancing receipts, etc).  Then, around noon we left to do errands.  First we visited Amondine and Madame Esther at the hospital.  We were able to pay more on her bill and buy more medicine for her.  It took FOREVER and there was a period of time when I sat and watched Redgi and Madame Esther just walk from one room to another - back and forth to pay things and get questions answered.  We have no further information about her progress/diagnosis because the results of the blood test were not available when we left there.  We will call this morning on our way out of here.

After leaving the hospital we went to the mattress place in Delmas and bought 17 mattresses- 13 for Life is Wealth and 4 more for the base.  They will not be in stock until Tuesday (Monday is a holiday) so we must come get them then.  Once we purchase two more Haitian bunk beds we will have beds at the base for 17 people and 2 extra twin mattresses on the floor (waiting for an American bunk bed to either be built or purchased).  It's really looking like a mission base the more and more we do around here.  Yay!

We then picked up Mr. Alvarez and Edwin and headed over to Life is Wealth.  I was greeted in the usual manner with screaming and dancing and I was very happy to be "home" with the children.  We were able to spend only a little personal time with them because they had their Leadership Class, tutoring, and other activities.  This week the men running the group gave prizes to all the children who were doing well in their class at school as well as those who looked clean and well dressed.  (they have been working on hygiene)  There was little trash on the property which was encouraging since we have the trash removal program in place.  Today we will spend more time there, meet with Pastor Yves (he was busy yesterday), meet with a man who will possibly build the water building and we will do some interviews on the children.  There were about 5-6 new ones I do not know (including some little boys which I am sure makes Robinson and Charles, Jr. happy).  Siliene was back which shocked me!  She had left about a year ago (summer 2012) to go home to Artibonite but she CHOSE to return from her family.  Redgi says, "Who wouldn't want to return to a place where your parents aren't around to yell at you all the time and discipline you.  A place where you have lots of friends readily available, food, a bed, and you have no jobs/responsibilities"-----Oh how that broke my heart!  I do NOT want to encourage children to leave their homes for the "draw" of an orphanage.  So lots to pray about there!

Today is (as I said) Life is Wealth day.  We will call the builder one hour before we leave the house and he will meet us in Carrefour (he lives on the way to Gressier) and we will drive him to the orphanage to figure out price for construction of the water building.  Then, we will do all our meetings at Life is Wealth and hang out with the children there. It doesn't sound like much but I have a HUGE list of things to go over with Pastor Yves, he wants to meet with me, and we want to give the worm medicine and talk to each child (ALL 60 or so of them)..... LONG day ahead!

Your prayers are heard and appreciated.  Traffic yesterday was horrible and we spent a great deal of time just sitting, sitting, sitting plus weaving around others (whose cars had run out of gas or were overheating) the whole time.  We have had long days but the nights are cool so sleep is good!  God bless-  Crystal

Update

OK... too tough to respond to all the messages on facebook and e-mail asking what we have been up to and how things are going, so I am going to try to put it all here.

Tuesday I arrived.  After lunch with Redgi and his father we went to visit his mother and to see Sparky (and the rest of the family).  It was wonderful to see Madame Josee'.  She looks great and her hair is just beginning to grow back! We will take her to Mirebalais on Wed. of next week (Monday is a holiday so they rescheduled the chemo for another day) and I hope to be able to talk to the doctors or nurses then to see how she is progressing.  Her breast is softer now and she can no longer feel the lumps under her arms or in her neck.  A repeat of the CT scan (abdominal) and chest X-ray need to be done before deciding on treatment.  We are praying she is now a candidate for surgery but time will tell!
     We left the Alvarez residence and came to the base where I cleaned my room, handed out gifts and other things to Redgi/James (that they bought from me for either themselves or friends) and then we relaxed around the house and just caught up on the past two months apart.  Both Redgi and James had much to share!  They have been very busy in my absence.

Wed. was a "base day"- the three of us had meetings all day (and some breaks from English/Creole too) but we got most of the planning done for the December trip, most of the plan for the rest of my stay, receipts balanced (money accounted for), etc...  Pastor Guy (the owner of the lot next door) stopped by so I got to have a meeting with him about using the lot.  Please pray with us about that one- not sure how it will develop.  He is a shrewd businessman who has been to the USA many times so he knows how to "work a deal".   In the afternoon James got a call from Jean Bernard's brother that they had located him (see story below) so in the evening we got to have Jean Bernard over for a while at the base.  We also bought gas for the stove and did some other errands.

Thursday (yesterday) we spent a large part of the day at the hospital with Amondine. (one of the children at Madame Esther's orphanage).  Before I left for Haiti a friend gave me some money and said, "This is for Madame Esther.  Meet with her and find out what her greatest need is".  Then, yesterday Redgi's phone rang.  Madame Esther didn't know I was in town but she told him that Amondine was very sick and in the hospital.  We went to see her, paid her hospital bill (from that money my friend sent- we have $100 left to cover her new expenses).  We met with the doctor and he said she is extremely anemic which makes her hemoglobin very low (that carries oxygen throughout her system).  So, she is receiving oxygen and blood transfusions.  When asked the cause of the anemia he said he feels it is a "chronic problem" rather than acute (meaning she doesn't have any bleeding or anything making her lose blood SO it is most likely due to malnutrition).  Madame Esther has been telling us for a while that the children do not have enough to eat but this really brought her situation to light.  We have been taking her food monthly and vitamins when we can, but she is in a very desperate situation.  We got to spend some time in prayer together and I got to hear more about her needs.  She really loves the children- no doubt there and we were blessed to be used  by God to show her that HE loves them too!  (by sending us with the money when he did- the hospital was refusing to do any more treatment until the bill was paid)
     We also saw Dr. Carl and paid a bill we had there (he had seen Peterson last week because Peterson was sick) and bought worm medicine for the children at Life is Wealth.  We hope to go there today because it is the day their leadership classes are held.  We will photograph and video tape the class and even participate.  We also hope today to buy the mattresses with funds that were donated for that specific purpose.

It may not sound like much is being done, but God is at work for sure and we are quickly checking items off the "to do" list.  Keep the prayers coming and we will try to update more as the trip progresses.  God bless! His servant-  Crystal

Amondine in her hospital bed.... Bless this little one.  She was so cute when I laid hands on her and prayed - she was like a little angel and sooooo grateful afterward. Both our eyes were filled with a few tears!  I think she is very scared so I pray this comforted her a bit.