Water for Chaveneau :)

 I wanted to give an update on the clean water project for Chaveneau (the remote farming community where Hearts United has done most of our ministry).  Last winter we took a medical team to the community with the intention of developing a long term plan for ministry.  It was determined that the people needed better nutrition and clean water first.  Then we could concentrate on education (school) and a medical center.  If the people (especially the children) are sick or hungry they are unable to learn properly and will continue to get sick and/or die from things that can be prevented.  So, we began a campaign to bring clean water to this community.

Well, after much prayer and direction from God we are happy to report that we have partnered with a group from Pennsylvania who will be coming in the end of November to install a water filtration system!  To prepare for their work we needed to first drill a well and construct a building to house the system, find locals to maintain it, find people in the community committed to learn and educate their neighbors about clean water, etc...   As of this morning we are SO BLESSED to report that we have paid a well driller who is expecting to dig the well this coming week (depending on whether or not he can get his drilling rig into the site- if not he will do it as soon as possible) and the funds for construction of the building are ready to be sent by the group donating them so construction on the building should begin within the next week as well!!  We are well on our way to having clean water for this community by the first week of December 2012!  WOW!!!  Only God can put the pieces of the puzzle together the way they have come together.  He never ceases to amaze me and to prove His love for His people.

Until then people in Chaveneau will continue to gather water from the new spigot system our July team installed- this water comes from a spring up the mountain and travels by pipe to this spigot.  This water has been tested and is contaminated but it is better than the water they receive from the river- the other alternative in the area.  Pray for those who will be receiving clean water SOON- Thank you Jesus!!

Isaac photos...

Here are some photos that will show you the damage from Isaac to Haiti.  Just yesterday I was visiting a friend and she asked me "Did they have much damage from that storm?" so I thought I would share these.  Most were found on the internet so I can't take any credit and wish I could give credit to the photographer.  The first two compare a photo I took about a month ago of the tent community in Carrefour to a recent photo taken after Isaac.  There are captions under the photos explaining what they are of.

This is the photo you have seen before- that I took in July 2012 in Carrefour 

Same community after Isaac- looks like many of the tents are still standing, but they are more tattered and people are obviously drying out their clothes, blankets, etc... 

This is from the internet- standing back up their tarp that fell.  

From what I read this one is of the road on the way to Les Cayes (where we drive very close to the ocean and many take photos- there's usually a retaining wall to the right of this photo if it's where I think it was taken- you can kind of see that)

Just another photo that struck me.   Oh how I wish I was there to help clean up!  

Keep these people in your prayers.  I have been there to clean up after Hurricane Katrina (in New Orleans and Mississippi) and can tell you that it's tough sifting through things to decide what can/can not be salvaged, seeing your belongings ruined from the rain, etc.. Haitians are resilient but this is a LOT to deal with for anyone.  :)  :)

Isaac update...

Still have not heard from some of the people I know in Haiti, but wanted to give you a bit of a follow-up.  I have heard from some of my translators and friends.  One had their tarp blow apart/rip and had significant wind/rain damage to their house (photo below- same house as the bottom photo of my last post).  One has had two different families whose tarps/tent home blew apart come to live with him.  His apartment has grown   to 10 people in a matter of a few hours.  Another has been helping survey the area around his home for damage and offering to help his neighbors where he and his family can. Still no word from Chaveneau, from Jean Bernard (probably won't hear from anyone about him to be honest), no word from the girls who left the orphanage yet, etc... So I am asking that you continue to pray.  There is a LOT of clean up needed.  I did talk to Redgi and he said in his neighborhood there was severe wind damage as well.  Thanks for the e-mails, phone calls and facebook messages asking about the situation.  And THANK YOU to those who have donated toward our December construction trip so we can get a family into a better living situation.  Yes, it's only one family, but to that family it will mean SO MUCH.  We are still a long way from our goal though- please pray about whether or not you would like to help out.  heartsunitedwithhaiti.org (go to the "donate" page and follow directions to either donate online or to send in a check/money order- remember it is tax deductible and will be used to bless MANY- thanks)

Notice how the tarp separated and let water in (the blue tarp in the background- kind of to the right- was also covering the house but blew off).  This is the same house in my post below at the bottom.  When asked how much was damaged they said, "We had very bad damage.  We need to repair a lot."  This breaks my heart- they are a family who has already been through enough yet their faith remains strong.  

Tropical Storm Isaac

Please pray for Haiti over the next few days- rains expected to start falling soon from what was expected to be Hurricane Isaac and continue through Sunday.  Here are some images from photos I took in the last three months alone!  (I have many like this)  MANY in Haiti are living under tarps or in areas prone to flooding and are in dangerous situations.  Pictures make it that much more real.....

Here is part of the large tent city as you enter Croix de Bouquet.  The tarps are nicer now in some areas but still tarps.

In the city- Port au Prince by the hospital.  

North of the city- going toward St. Marc-  these little villages are all over.

And so are these houses.  

I know the family that lives in this house well.  They do have another house on the property but it's dirt and rock.  This is more the kitchen but I am sure they use it for sleeping too.  

This is the tent community in Carrefour as you travel along the beach road.  

This is the home of one of my friends- pretty sturdy, but still scary with the winds and rain that is expected.  In July we had a quick wind gust in Carrefour and it knocked an almond tree over (like the one in the back of this house) and it fell on someone's small tent home.  It was really interesting yet scary to see how quickly things can happen and the damage that can be done.  Luckily no one was hurt and the house was fine.  Praise God.  

PLEASE continue to remember these people in your prayers!  Not only through the hurricane, but ongoing.  And if you ever want to go/serve in Haiti let us know- we would love to have you join us on a trip.  Mesi!

Back to "normal"

I hesitate to write that cause I really don't know what "normal" is or if it even exists, but what I meant by that is that I have been home for almost two weeks and life is back to my normal USA life.  Working on paperwork, making phone calls and networking, scheduling trips, corresponding with Haiti, planning speaking engagements, praying about what God has for HU, board meetings, fund raising work, etc...  Both of my lives are vastly different but both are equally exciting.  I truly LOVE what God has called me to and though I would love to be living in Haiti all the time, it's not reality right now.  But for now, here are some of my favorite photos from this last trip to Haiti and some of the things I miss...

I miss lobster on the beach- they row out in a small canoe and dive down to catch them and then bring them back to cook over the open fire on the beach for us.  One of my vices when I need some "God and me" time!  

The "lobster beach"- just beautiful here. I roam the beach and collect shells and just lay/enjoy the view.

I never want to forget the horror of the earthquake.  Many people went through so much!  I miss talking to people, hearing their earthquake stories and just getting to know them and hear about their lives and culture.

I miss having teams and watching them interact with the children.  Her's Logan as Joseph with his tie of many colors (we didn't have a coat- OK??)

 Here are some of my favorite Chaveneau children ... I miss them so much!

I miss hiking in the mountains with the children following along- slipping a little hand into mine.  

I miss so much more than these photos show.  The orphanage and children there, my "Haitian son" James, my other friends, walking in Carrefour in search of street food by myself and then feeling so excited to see how God provided just the right people to help me with my limited Creole speaking skills, the hospitality of Americans and Haitians alike when I need a respite, feeling closer to God than I ever do at home, the beautiful ocean and mountains, etc.. And yes!  I even miss the rooster crowing all night, the horns blaring in crazy traffic, never having personal space (always having Haitians leaning on me or touching me no matter that it is 90 degrees and humid), and the dust!  ;)

Until I return these (and MANY other photos) will be looked at a lot.  :)  :)  :)  Hope you enjoy them - seeing a little of my life in Haiti.

Here we go again!

Looked at a 2000 Ford Expedition tonight for sale near our home here in the states.  VERY nice SUV but the reality is that we will be about $2000 short right now to buy it, get a few things done to it and ship it to Haiti.  So..... we will keep praying.  Either the money will be there or God has something else for us.  This is hard though- this is a really good deal and the guy was nice/honest.  It's just the way it is...... welcome to missions.  :)  :)  To being totally dependent upon God to provide for your needs.  He knows we need something reliable to use in Haiti and He knows where we will get it from.  We just need to trust Him for that and for a base....  there are just times it is soooooo difficult to know exactly where He is directing.

Clean Water

Haven't written about the TWO clean water projects we have going on in Haiti in a while so here's an update!  The first is for the community of Chaveneau-  a remote farming community.  Right now they have water piped down the mountain from a spring but when we had it tested it showed that the water was contaminated.  There is limited access to health care in the area and people (especially the young and elderly) frequently get sick from waterborne diseases, parasites, etc...  Some even die.

We are SO EXCITED to report that in the next week or so a well will be drilled on the land of a church we partnered with for this project.  Then, a building needs to be constructed (working on quotes from Haitian builders) and in November a group from the USA (actually from right here in Pennsylvania) will come to install a water purification system which will take the well water and produce CLEAN water for the community.  :)  :)

The second project is at the orphanage in Port au Prince.  Right now we are working on getting a well drilled there.  It is VERY difficult to find someone in Port au Prince who wants to take on this project because the orphanage sits on a mountain that is known to have LOTS of rock underground and well drillers are concerned about breaking bits on their machines as they drill.  It is not like here in the USA where you can just order a new drill bit should you encounter trouble.

Once the well is drilled we will work with people committed to construct a building there to house another of these water purification systems and this one (hopefully) will be installed by a group from Kansas.  Right now the orphanage gets water brought in by truck and stores it in a large cistern and then it comes from this spigot (below) but it is expensive to do this and water needs to be rationed.  This means that the children at the orphanage (about 80 of them) have a limited supply of water available to them and it is not always good clean water that is brought in.

We are VERY excited about both of these projects and the way God has opened doors and is providing for each in amazing ways.  Let us know if you would like to help us reach our goal of providing clean water to both these sites in Haiti.  We are blessed that someone donated funds for digging the well in Chaveneau and another has donated toward the well at the orphanage.  Praise God for the way He is directing His people to provide CLEAN WATER for many!  :)  :)