Hello from Haiti. Well Chris and I are sitting together writing this blog. It's been a whirlwind of activity here these days. We are not sure where to begin. We have a team from Saskatoon here at the moment, they arrived on Monday.
Chris has been helping Sterling with the Bible school that opened a couple weeks ago. He watches the video cirriculum with the students and then helps answer questions after. It's keeping him busy in the afternoons. Chris also preached this past Sunday on 2 Peter 3. He really enjoys preaching and the church recieves his messages well. We are so blessed by the people we have gotten to know in the church and community. They especially have a respect for Chris as he has been able to minister to them often. We've also had time to build relationship which is so important in a hot climate culture such as Haiti.
On a completely different note~
Chris wants me to mention that one of the best gifts his parents gave him was the love of reading. Thanks mom and dad! Happy 30th Wedding Anniversary~ :)
There has been a lot of spiritual opposition here lately. I believe the church here is moving forward and growing. In January we started Bible Study classes and the church is really encouraged from it so it makes sense the attacks have been coming. So pray for the church that it would stay strong and continue seeking God in this time. The childrens village wall continues to move forward but everyday there are people who don't want to see it completed. Some people have parts of their homes on the property line and are getting a bit excited when we are trying to build a wall exactly on the line. So we need prayer for this project to continue moving forward in a positive way. One good thing happened there yesterday. The well was drilled by a team of guys who are actually staying with us for a few nights. We are hosting them if they are in the area need a place to stay. They are from Ohio and are based out of PAP but drilling all over Haiti.
I have been busy teaching English and coordinating the teams that have been coming. We have been doing a lot of childrens programs. Everything from singing, face painting, story telling, games and snack time. On average we have about 120 kids coming to the programs today we had 160. So that means tomorrow we will have more. Lots of fun, it's encouraging though to have these kids to influence and share Christ with even if it's only a short time. Each time we do a childrens program we work out more kinks and each time it goes better.
It's been really great having people we know here on the last team and now this team. It's great to reconnect and have a familiar around.
Roy who is the engineer we have here now is really getting the technical school started. I am so encouraged by him and his positive out look. He works well with the Haitian workers and has experience working in Haiti. I am so thankful the school is finally getting built. The sooner the better because so many students want to come back and learn. The medical clinic is almost ready for the next section of roof to be poured. So things are really coming along on the property.
Please pray for all the projects that are ongoing here at the campus. Safety of the workers and teams. Also for Chris' health, he hasn't been 100% for a while and needs strength. We have a medical team coming next week so hopefully the doc can have a look at him. Wisdom for the leaders of Haiti Arise as they make decisions and lead the church. We can thank God though for his provision each and everyday for watching over us and providing all that we need. I am thankful and blessed. Even though Chris stopped helping me write this half way through. Well that's all for today seems there is a lot going on and i need to write more often so I don't forget something. Yikes~
God's grace and peace be with you all
Rebecca and Chris
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Happy Valentines~
Do you know what, I got a box of chocolates from Chris today! What an awesome Valentines surprise. (Who knew he'd find good chocolate here :)
We went out to one of the tent cities this morning to hand out rice and hygiene bags and on the way back he stopped and surprised me. The team from Moose Jaw SK is here and we had a great time this morning. The hand out went really well there were no crowds pushing or complaining. God heard our prayers and went before us. Lisa and I were security at one of the gates to the park and could only let in people with a ticket. It was great to be able to bless the people still living in tents. Though there are not very many left now.
Haiti Arise was really busy this past weekend as we had a women's conference for the ladies of the church. There were 4 sessions of speaking and worship. We covered lots of topics from serving one another to being a good parent and finding a good husband. We also had a rummage sale on Saturday morning and then spent the afternoon at the beach swimming, eating, and doing some crafts. I think it was received really well and lots of the women were challenged. I know I was blessed and have lots of things to think about. I was even given the opportunity to testify to what God has done in my life over the past year. Such a blessing to have all the women together. We even had the men of the church cooking for us. They sure made up some great meals, I was amazed to see the hearts of the men that came they worked tirelessly to make everything yummy. That cement pad that the last team poured worked out really good for cooking on. Everything was cleaner and all around better.
With 24 extra people around everything around here is bustling. The guys finished pouring 1/4 of the roof for the medical clinic today. Chris just told me there was a big cheer from everyone once they finished for the day. Seems to be a lot of joy around this place these days and lots happening. Also it looks like the wall construction will be resuming again soon. We've faced opposition, prayed and God is answering in His time. Still may get some more opposition but we are trusting God.
I am so encouraged by the answered prayer and too at the timing of it all. God only wants us to know what we need to know at just the right time.
Tomorrow we are planning on doing a childrens program in the afternoon. So I am looking forward to that as always. Something about those children just touches the heart, love it:).
Oh just wanted to mention we now have an engineer staying with us until the first week of April. He's from BC and has been in Haiti since October. Anyways long story short he knows some people Marc and Lisa know and his term at another organization was up so he got in contact with us and asked if he could come. He's going to be really vital in getting the tech school construction up and going again. So that is exciting news for us concerning our building projects.
Well I think that about updates to today. So much going on don't know which way my head is going sometimes. Thanks for your thoughts and continued prayers.
Have a great week.
Love from Haiti
Rebecca
We went out to one of the tent cities this morning to hand out rice and hygiene bags and on the way back he stopped and surprised me. The team from Moose Jaw SK is here and we had a great time this morning. The hand out went really well there were no crowds pushing or complaining. God heard our prayers and went before us. Lisa and I were security at one of the gates to the park and could only let in people with a ticket. It was great to be able to bless the people still living in tents. Though there are not very many left now.
Haiti Arise was really busy this past weekend as we had a women's conference for the ladies of the church. There were 4 sessions of speaking and worship. We covered lots of topics from serving one another to being a good parent and finding a good husband. We also had a rummage sale on Saturday morning and then spent the afternoon at the beach swimming, eating, and doing some crafts. I think it was received really well and lots of the women were challenged. I know I was blessed and have lots of things to think about. I was even given the opportunity to testify to what God has done in my life over the past year. Such a blessing to have all the women together. We even had the men of the church cooking for us. They sure made up some great meals, I was amazed to see the hearts of the men that came they worked tirelessly to make everything yummy. That cement pad that the last team poured worked out really good for cooking on. Everything was cleaner and all around better.
With 24 extra people around everything around here is bustling. The guys finished pouring 1/4 of the roof for the medical clinic today. Chris just told me there was a big cheer from everyone once they finished for the day. Seems to be a lot of joy around this place these days and lots happening. Also it looks like the wall construction will be resuming again soon. We've faced opposition, prayed and God is answering in His time. Still may get some more opposition but we are trusting God.
I am so encouraged by the answered prayer and too at the timing of it all. God only wants us to know what we need to know at just the right time.
Tomorrow we are planning on doing a childrens program in the afternoon. So I am looking forward to that as always. Something about those children just touches the heart, love it:).
Oh just wanted to mention we now have an engineer staying with us until the first week of April. He's from BC and has been in Haiti since October. Anyways long story short he knows some people Marc and Lisa know and his term at another organization was up so he got in contact with us and asked if he could come. He's going to be really vital in getting the tech school construction up and going again. So that is exciting news for us concerning our building projects.
Well I think that about updates to today. So much going on don't know which way my head is going sometimes. Thanks for your thoughts and continued prayers.
Have a great week.
Love from Haiti
Rebecca
Friday, February 4, 2011
Time to relax~
Today has a relaxed atmposphere here at Haiti Arise. The CrossRoads team (from Red Deer, Alberta) left this morning. We have a team from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan coming on Tuesday. So today the pace seems a little slower, though the elementary school is in session, and construction is going on outside, so maybe its just me :).
The CrossRoads team was kept busy with various building and construction projects. They surveyed the land on the other property, helped out with the conscrtuction on a few houses, and some other odd jobs as well. The last project they did before leaving was pour a cement pad outside the kitchen for the ladies to cook on. Previously it was dirt so every time it rained, it was quite the mud mess. It was fun to help out with that and always good to labor in the sun. I was amazed after we were finished that one of the workers, Anel, had kept his white shirt clean. I mean most of us where covered in sweat and cement. But Anel worked right along with us, and yet kept that shirt clean, it must a Haitian secret or something.
After teams leave we usually try to take the next day a little slower (doesn't always happen). I spent the morning reading, and reflecting which was a blessing. I am reading through the book of Acts in the Bible and the Lord continues to show me the Apostle Paul's heart for the Church. He traveled around modern day Turkey and Greece and led many to faith in Christ. But he never stopped there, he always had to know how they were doing, gave them encouraging words, as well as loving rebukes too. He cared so much that a believer would grow in their faith and be strengthened in the Lord. That is my prayer for the church here at Haiti Arise as well. That as people grow in their faith in Christ they would be a positive influence on their families, and the surrounding area here as well. That the light of Christ would bring many hope who are in spiritual darkness here in Haiti and through out the world as well. Praise the Lord!
Please continue to pray for us and all who work with Haiti Arise, that we would have God's heart of love and service here. It is good to have a moring of rest, but I only have rest because I rest in Him :). Chris
Hi, Rebecca here, thought I should say a few things before we post this blog. Had a really great week with the team from Crossroads. I really enjoyed teaching the elementary school kids this week. Also I am teaching the kids how to jump rope during recess time. (some don't know how to)
Kathleen Morrissey is back here in Haiti to continue helping with the Medical Clinic construction. It's neat to have someone return who we spent time with before.
The wall construction hit a bit of a road block this week. Some people in the community are not happy about the wall being built over 'their' walking path. The property is owned by Haiti Arise so we arent doing anything wrong. It seems as though a few people want to cause a little trouble because we are causing a slight inconvience to their walking travels. The houses continue to go up this morning another roof was poured on the 3rd house and it looks like number 4 will be starting soon.
Lisa, Madanm Luc, Madanm Artis and I took a little trip into Peti Goave yesterday which was fun. The market on Friday is a lot more quiet then on Saturday. We did the grocery shop for the next team and bought a few treats for ourselves. It's nice to get out and about once in a while.
Looking forward to next week as we will be having a women's conference here on the property. I will report about that as the time gets closer. Should be an interesting week as the next team has 24 people. Well good that's all for today.
blessings~ Rebecca
The CrossRoads team was kept busy with various building and construction projects. They surveyed the land on the other property, helped out with the conscrtuction on a few houses, and some other odd jobs as well. The last project they did before leaving was pour a cement pad outside the kitchen for the ladies to cook on. Previously it was dirt so every time it rained, it was quite the mud mess. It was fun to help out with that and always good to labor in the sun. I was amazed after we were finished that one of the workers, Anel, had kept his white shirt clean. I mean most of us where covered in sweat and cement. But Anel worked right along with us, and yet kept that shirt clean, it must a Haitian secret or something.
After teams leave we usually try to take the next day a little slower (doesn't always happen). I spent the morning reading, and reflecting which was a blessing. I am reading through the book of Acts in the Bible and the Lord continues to show me the Apostle Paul's heart for the Church. He traveled around modern day Turkey and Greece and led many to faith in Christ. But he never stopped there, he always had to know how they were doing, gave them encouraging words, as well as loving rebukes too. He cared so much that a believer would grow in their faith and be strengthened in the Lord. That is my prayer for the church here at Haiti Arise as well. That as people grow in their faith in Christ they would be a positive influence on their families, and the surrounding area here as well. That the light of Christ would bring many hope who are in spiritual darkness here in Haiti and through out the world as well. Praise the Lord!
Please continue to pray for us and all who work with Haiti Arise, that we would have God's heart of love and service here. It is good to have a moring of rest, but I only have rest because I rest in Him :). Chris
Hi, Rebecca here, thought I should say a few things before we post this blog. Had a really great week with the team from Crossroads. I really enjoyed teaching the elementary school kids this week. Also I am teaching the kids how to jump rope during recess time. (some don't know how to)
Kathleen Morrissey is back here in Haiti to continue helping with the Medical Clinic construction. It's neat to have someone return who we spent time with before.
The wall construction hit a bit of a road block this week. Some people in the community are not happy about the wall being built over 'their' walking path. The property is owned by Haiti Arise so we arent doing anything wrong. It seems as though a few people want to cause a little trouble because we are causing a slight inconvience to their walking travels. The houses continue to go up this morning another roof was poured on the 3rd house and it looks like number 4 will be starting soon.
Lisa, Madanm Luc, Madanm Artis and I took a little trip into Peti Goave yesterday which was fun. The market on Friday is a lot more quiet then on Saturday. We did the grocery shop for the next team and bought a few treats for ourselves. It's nice to get out and about once in a while.
Looking forward to next week as we will be having a women's conference here on the property. I will report about that as the time gets closer. Should be an interesting week as the next team has 24 people. Well good that's all for today.
blessings~ Rebecca
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