Last thoughts

Well I'm sitting on the roof of the guest house tonight listening to the crusade worship from afar. Gab and I and security guards are the only ones around tonight. It's really refreshing to sit here and relax and think about our time here. Tomorrow we are travelling home and it's a long day so if any of you see this please pray for us. We start the day at 5am and won't be home in Innisfail until probably midnight. Today was a blessed day, church this morning and out for lunch then to the beach. I think all of us were quite thankful for the R&R as the last 3 days were full and intense. Lots of preaching and questions and lots of God working in lives, ours and the Haitians. I am always so encouraged to see how faithful the young people are in the church, They are the worship leaders the childrens pastors and ushers. It's just inspiring to see their maturity. Of course like any church it's not without it's problems and sometimes that's tough to hear about but we are all fallen and no one is perfect but we keep on striving! I just realized my battery is about to die so I have to sign off here. Thanks for reading I know we didn\t write lots of blogs but I hope you got a little glimpse of how are time was in Haiti. If you really want to know more about our trip please ask and Chris and I would be happy to set up a time to meet and talk about it. God bless you and good night~

Haiti is Hot!

What a truthful title for a blog, but for the first time ever the heat is just draining me. The afternoons are tough to get through. Gabrielle gets an hour bath time under the mangoes each day and that is a refreshing time. Everyone loves to come and talk with her and watch her play, it's quite special. So the youth conference is in full swing. About 250 have been attending. I haven't been able to sit in on the preaching but a bit of the worship so that's been a blessing. Chris said the question and answer time has been great after each message. Especially today as it was on sexual purity. The young Haitians want to know more all the time about how they can stay pure and wait for marriage. Very encouraging! :) Tonight Chris is preaching at the Crusade in town and unfortunately I can't be there. Gaby needs mom here with her, that's actually been challenging for me to miss out on some ministry things. But I can have time to reflect and know that Gab is one of my first ministries, so tonight that's been a blessing. I am so thankful to be done updating the kids. I missed a few but it's because they didn't come to school this week so I am very thankful for what did happen. Tomorrow is the last day of the conference and then another crusade tomorrow night. It's busy on the campus all day long. I am just taking it all in as ladies are cooking, young guys are serving, people are always cleaning the yard. Kids are playing and the sound of preaching and worship comes from the church it's pretty amazing. I want Chris to blog tomorrow night so hopefully he does. Well good night from Haiti see you in a few days!

A few pictures and thoughts~

Well today was Jen and Jon's last day in Haiti. They are on their way to Ft.Lauderdale in the morning for some debrief time before they land in Canada Friday. Jen and I updated about 50 kids today and it went really smooth, praise God. The pics below are of the beach we visited and swam at a couple times. The next one is the way a cement roof gets poured Haitian style. Lastly is all the elementary school kids singing their national anthem and raising the flag. They do it each day. Tonight at church Chris had the opportunity to preach, and it was well received and a blessing for all Haitians and Canadians! Tomorrow will be a quiet day on the compound as the team is leaving. But lots is going on to prepare for the youth conference and crusades that will be happening Thursday to Sunday. Please pray that the people who speak will be used by God to share the gospel and to encourage believers. Also pray for the hearts of the young people that are coming to take part in the conference. God is going to do great things, we can feel it AMEN? :)

Lots Happening

So yesterday was an amazing day for us. Church, praising God together and celebrating Christ's resurrection. There was 3 singing groups that sang: men, women and the little girls club. They sing beautifully such a blessing for everyone. We had lunch then prepared to go to the Tapion children's church which was a high light for everyone. Roseline and Jhony are the very faithful servants who lead the kids every Sunday afternoon. They have the kids memorize scripture and songs and each Sunday they ask a few of them to share in front of the rest of the group. We sang some fun praise songs together and Jen and I shared the resurrection story on a flannel graph board. Then Chris and I had the privilege of praying for and encouraging the kids with a small word. I don't even know how to put into words how blessed I was to be there. Wow thank you Lord!! Then we went into town for a dinner out at the local restaurant Mondy's. Fried plantain and goat with a little bit of spicy coleslaw, very good. A little walk thru town and we were all pretty done for the day. Today Jon got to help form up the roof at the welding shop. Tomorrow they are going to pour the roof and it's going to be a 40 man job all by hand with 2 small cement mixers and lots of buckets. It's going to be an experience for him, and Chris is definitely going to help too. I think Jen and I will stick to working with the kids in the morning. :) Sponsorship updating is going pretty well, have lots to do over the next 5 days and Lord willing it'll all get done. Pray for that please. Today was pretty relaxing, Chris is busy preparing for preaching this week I think he's going to preach maybe five times in the next 6 days. So pray for him for that. He's super excited to share at the youth conference. This afternoon he was invited to preach at the boys club in the church too. Boys ages 10-15. I hung out with Gaby today gave her a bath under the mango trees. Lots of fun watching her explore the world around her. Hopefully the snow is all gone once we're back and then we can be outside which she's loving. Well I think that's all for today. Lots happening and going on, God is good keeping us safe healthy and relaxed. Praise Him! Sorry if this has some grammar and spelling mistakes. I sorta wrote it quickly.

Busy Relaxing Day

Hi Everyone, We had a great day today, Chris Jen and Jon went to the Grand Goave market to check out the sights. It was a learning experience and only one that needs to be done once. The heat and smells are hard to behold. Gab and I stayed back from some R&R. I had a great chat with an old friend and he was able to shed more light on Haitian culture. Then we had lunch and went to visit an orphanage called Hands and Feet. They have 27 children and are in the process of building permanent residences for the kids. It's a really new ministry and everything is temporary at the moment. They are doing great work, Haiti ARISE is doing something similar by helping orphans! On their sign is James 1:27 and we think that's being fulfilled. Then we went to the beach for a lovely swim and some relaxation. Gabrielle loves the water and sand, rocks etc. She is doing fantastic, praise God! Chris went to play bball with a few old friends and had a wonderfully sweaty time. We are looking forward to Easter Sunday service in the morning it starts at 8am. 7am for the Haitians as they have Sunday school first. Well good night from Haiti~

Mangos a plenty!

Bonswa from Haiti. Wow a great few days, lots of sweat, stories and more sweat. Yesterday Chris and Jon had an adventure going over to the children's village to tile the floor. It was a morning of road blocks where they learned nothing is easy or organized in Haiti. But not in a bad way it's just a reality. much patience was applied. In the afternoon much to Jon's surprise he became a tiling teacher. (ask him about it!) They also went up to the children's church at Tapion and extended the tin roof and levelled the ground around the church. They were blessed by Roseline the church leader with cool drinks and crackers. Something small for them but a big sacrifice for her. Looking forward to sharing there on Sunday! Jen and I have been having a great time updating the sponsored young people. It's amazing to see their growth physically but also the maturity that is developing in a lot of them. About 5 will be graduating high school in June and have all applied to go to college in September. Very exciting! We've had lots of down time in the afternoon visiting with many old friends and watching Gabrielle enjoy the little tin bath under the mango trees. The mangos are plentiful and delicious. The food and hospitality is fantastic we are very blessed. God is good and it's neat to see the work He's doing here at Haiti ARISE. One of the sponsor girls in particular gave praise to God as she has been healed of pain in her back. She has scoliosis (you can tell looking at her) but she says it doesn't give her trouble any more. SO amazing because the last time I was here she was wearing a huge brace and wasn't doing so good. Ah-mazing :) Tomorrow is Good Friday and we'll be having a special service for that at 3pm but we'll be heading to the beach in the morning. Looking forward. God Bless you thanks for reading.

Here Safe~

Greetings, Here we are in Haiti wow, lots of emotions. It's quite the journey to get here 2 flights a night in Miami and another flight early in the morning. A wild ride from the airport and thank you God we are here. Reunited with a few familiar faces and thankful to God for bringing us back. Gabrielle was an amazing traveller and had a great first day exploring Haiti and loving all the animals every where. Feeling thankful tired and blessed. We will write more tomorrow and Lord willing get a few pictures on here for you. Blessings, Chris Rebecca Gaby Jen and Jon!

Returning together at last!

Time to resurrect our blog and tell you all that Chris and I are finally returning to Haiti this April. We've both gone back on 2 separate trips over the past couple years, but there's nothing like going together. What makes this trip even more special is bringing our sweet baby girl Gabrielle (she will be 18 months) with us. I know many of our Haitian friends will be delighted to meet her. We want to bring her to get a glimpse of what it would be like to be in Haiti with a child, as we consider long term missions in the future. We will be bringing friends of ours from our new church family in Innisfail, AB to come and see Haiti. And worship along side our Haitian brothers and sisters. We are going to be updating the Education Fund and participating in a youth conference. Plus many more adventures and times of reconnecting with old friends. My heart feels excited and happy as I think about this upcoming trip. Looking forward to telling our story as we get ready to go and while we are down there!

Haiti I missed you~

Greetings to anyone who's been checking for me to write a blog. I am sorry to report I've had no desire to write. Not sure why but it's like I am treasuring all the moments in my heart. So here I am back in Haiti the place where Chris and I lived for almost a year.
I found the piece of my heart that I left and it has been filled to over flowing with the love and reception I've received coming back.
I honestly am overwhelmed by the love of the people we worked so closely with.
Chris isn't here and everyone constantly asks about him. You never know the impact you have until you leave and come back. I know it was the Lord's doing as we sought him and asked to be led each day.
I am here to update the education fund for all the sponsors back in Canada. So far by the grace of God it is going well. Interesting timing though because the HAM students are on Spring/Easter Break but the Lord has provided a way for the children to come so for that I am thankful.
Next week we will be updating all the college, and high school students which I am looking forward to. It is great to see the improvement and growth in so many of the young students.
I am here with 2 teams from Med Hat and Calgary. They've been really busy helping build the homes and running VBS for the kids. We did a roof pour on the technical school that everyone was involved in that was awesome to witness again.
Today is Saturday and the ladies are planning an afternoon of blessing for the married women of the church. They will have a meal at the beach, go swimming, share testimonies, and do girly type things. I am looking forward to that for sure! We were blessed to be a part of that last year and now again this time. The men of the church are busy preparing the meal. What an encouraging time for the women to be blessed by the men.
Church services have been great and powerful. The prayers, songs and messages have blessed many hearts and you can feel the spirit moving among the people.
Weather has been very humid it has rained pretty much every night. Mangoes are ripe and falling so I've enjoyed munching a few everyday. There is much more to day but this is it for now.
Blessings to you all from Grand Goave.

Going Back!

So I don't know if anyone ever checks this blog to see if we've updated but if you are the lucky one reading this then thank you for taking the time. Sometimes I wonder if we should keep up a blog of our lives. Something Chris and I will talk about.

Well we've been living in Canada for 6 months now. It's been a mix of emotions, highs and lows being back.
But I am thrilled to report I will be headed back to Haiti on March 23rd - April 10th. (Lord willing :) I am going back to help update the education fund sponsor children. I've taken over looking after that part of HAs' ministry since being back here in Canada. It's been a huge blessing and I am a big supporter of Haiti using education to drive them forward. I believe HA is doing amazing things by providing 300 kids with education and Christian at that. So the goal will be to take as many new pictures and get letters written from each of the students who are sponsored and then send them to their sponsor here in Canada. But I hold this plan out with open hands because in Haiti you never know what will happen from one day to the next. My prayer is to be flexible and ready for that, just because I've been there before doesn't mean I won't forget or be anxious to get things done. I need a heart of service, so prayer for preparation would be appreciated if it comes to mind.

In case some of you are wondering what Chris and I are up too this is a little tidbit of info.
We live in Red Deer AB, I am working at a Christian school as a admin assistant. (also coaching jr. girls bball)
Chris is working for an oil field company cleaning equipment. This is definitely a temporary place for us as we look at
ministry positions in AB. Waiting patiently for the next step. God is faithful and we are seeing that and believing in it.

Thanks for reading, I hope to be posting at least once a week with thoughts and preparation for Haiti.
Blessings~

For Claire

So we attended the Annual General Meeting for Haiti Arise in Calgary this past weekend. It was a great time, Chris and I got to connect with a lot of people we met in Haiti this past year. One of those people is a dear lady named Claire. (Hi!) She said she misses reading our blog so I decided to write one. I have no idea how many people will read it but that doesn't matter.
It's sad to not be writing from Haiti though. I definitely miss the warm/hot weather and people. Well lots of things really.~
Being back in Canada is a hard thing. Reverse culture shock or re-entry back into your own country is interesting and tough.
We spent a lot of time prepping to be in Haiti and to be ready for anything and I wish I would have done that in getting ready to come back here.
I forgot how 'go go' and fast Canadian culture is. It's a rat race and I don't want to join in or get caught up in the next 'thing.'
I want so badly to not forget what I learned in Haiti and live in a way that glorifies God and not myself.
Part of reverse culture shock is a feeling that you just don't fit or belong. That is probably my biggest struggle, whether it is going into a store, conversations with people or even my job.
May God give me the grace and strength I need.
I know Chris and I will be back to Haiti in the future so that is exciting. We definitely left pieces of our hearts there.
I am now helping with the administration of the Education Fund for Haiti Arise. So if any one has any questions about sponsoring students please send them my way.

Blessings, Rebecca

Farewell Haiti~

Here we are already in our hotel room in Ft. Lauderdale. We left Haiti yesterday afternoon at 3. There are no words really to say how I feel about leaving it is all quite surreal. Driving through PAP one last time I just kept thinking to myself I have to come back, I have to come back. A piece of our hearts is definitely in Haiti with the people. This good bye was probably the most difficult I've ever had.

We had a goodbye party on Friday night it was really great. Even though it was raining a lot of people came. We were so blessed with kind words, prayers and songs.
I am so grateful that God brought us to Haiti. In church last Sunday that's all I could do was over and over again thank Him for bringing us to Haiti.
In the days to come we are going to reflect and remember all the experiences and try to figure out what we learned and how our outlook on life has changed.
So hopefully in a week I can write again with some more insight into our time in Grand Goave Haiti.
Thanks for taking the journey with us this past year.
Rebecca and Chris

Rainy last days~

Well here we are 3 more sleeps till we leave. It's a mix of emotions that we can't really express. Saying goodbye is hard, everyone wants to know when you are coming back and we don't know. All we can say is if God wills it. Chris is having his last English class with the young guys right now. Like I said in the previous blog it's lots of lasts. The weather has been really strange, so overcast and lots of rain showers. We haven't seen the sun in a few days. Very different because I've seen the sun pretty much everyday since we got here.
The medical team left today. I posted their blog site on the right it's called HFL Blog. If you read that you will find out what they all experienced and the patients and different cases they dealt with. I think the most difficult case for everyone was a woman who was brought in having seizures. I guess she had pre-eclampsia with her baby and was now very sick. Her baby however was very healthy. They had to take her to the hospital right away or else there would have been no hope. She survived and came back about 5 days later with the baby, who was now sick. I will let the team tell it from here:
She (the baby) was dehydrated with a sunken fontanel eyes wide open and too weak even to cry. Her breathing was such a struggle for her as if she could barely have the strength to take air in. Angela was able to get 60 mls of formula in to babe but it was so hard to understand how this could have happened. A thriving babe last Friday and now so ill. Mum left with babe to go to a midwife who she said would remove a blood vessel from under her heart which was causing the problem. We only can pray for this little one and keep her and her mum in our hearts. There were tears shed over this babe and shock at how changed the situation was.


Chris and I haven't been doing too much, we shared our goodbyes with the church on Sunday and I also went and shared at Tapion church for the last time. Such a joy to see all the children come to church even in the rain. We've just been taking walks, packing and spending time with all the Haiti Arise staff. It's a bit awkward but I am beginning to like awkward more and more. :)
I hope I have more to say tomorrow or Friday. Until then.....

Winding down~

Well here we are in the midst of a busy medical clinic. For Chris and I its been fairly relaxed. We make photocopies and take care of the logistics of the team being here but for the most part they do what doctors and nurses do. :)
We always appreciate seeing the people of this community served in this way.
Since Chris and I are not so busy we've taken the time to visit some of the families of the houses that are being built. Yesterday, seeing Christoph's (Haiti Arises gardener) children hauling rebar and helping contribute to their new home was exciting to me.
The people receiving these homes are so grateful and you can see it in their faces and body language. Then today we went to visit a lady in the church (Madame Voltaire)who has 8 children and is receiving a home. Her daughters were so excited to have us in their home, I only see them at church or for childrens' program. They live in a more remote area of Grand Goave quite far off the main road. They don't have any power so at night when it's dark it's dark. We went for a walk with them to get water from the well. It took about 10 minutes. Again I am reminded of the many blessings we have even here at the Haiti Arise building. It's incredible to have running water and power. Wow I am so thankful.

We've also started packing up our office this week, which is a little sad. Chris has the opportunity to preach on this last Sunday in Haiti for us. We have a lot of 'lasts' coming up but that's all part of leaving.
Well I can't think of any more news at the moment. So that's it I guess. Thanks for reading, not sure how many more posts there will be. Incredible that this part of our journey in Haiti is almost finished.
Oh please continue to pray for a resolution at the childrens home property. I have nothing to report except that Marc has sent letters to deputies, mayors and others asking them to get around to resolving this issue. Also for all the sick people that are coming into the clinic. Some with really bad situations. For Chris and I as we prepare to leave and our future.
Thanks :)

News for May 18th.

Good afternoon from Haiti Arise. Thought I would take a few moments to update life here at the compound. We had a busy morning with the elementary school kids. We had a mini kids market for them, Lisa and I had saved a whole bunch of things (like school supplies, toys, games etc...) to sell. It was great we pretty much sold everything. Actually I can not believe that all of the clothing and stuff from the containers is all gone, praise God. I know our church and community was really blessed by all the markets we had here.
We have found that having markets and charging a little money for things is better than just handing it out. People can choose what they want and they also value it more as they have to pay for it.
It's been a good experience for me to witness the different ways we bless the people here. I have learned a lot and can see what helps and what doesn't help and also what is just plain needed. I don't claim to have it all figured out by any means (I have so much more to learn) but I have some insight now by being here this long.
I am excited to read a book called, "When Helping Hurts, How to alleviate poverty with out hurting the poor or yourself" By Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert.

As our time shortens here there seems to be a different feeling about. We've noticed some people backing off a bit and keeping distance. It isn't nice but I guess that's how they can best deal with us leaving. It's going to be so hard to leave so please pray for us we prepare and say our goodbyes. Chris and I have been talking and planning for the future. That is our biggest prayer request, we have lots of ideas but no decisions have been made yet.
As I am writing this our last team is arriving in PAP. It's another medical team. They will be here for 2 weeks to serve the community. I am always blessed to see the Haitian people helped in this way.
This morning Chris had the opportunity to play bball on a 1/4 of a regular size court. A foreign aid group that fixes water wells is also building a bball court nearby one of their wells. Though the court is barely finished it is being used everyday all the time. He started playing bball at 7 am and came back at 11:30am very tired but blessed. He said it was a great experience just being with all the Haitian guys, something not many others are able to experience.
Another good adventure we had was on Monday. Marc and Lisa took us up to a place called Value, in the mountains. It's 5km from the main road but takes about 1/2 hour to actually get to the top. We had lunch at the hotel/restaurant they have up there and were able to go on a hike as well. It's a totally different life for people who live in the mountains, much more simple than people in town. (And I think their lives are simple.) It was nice to share some time with Marc and Lisa and get to see another part of Haiti.
I am really happy the kids are back in school now, it's seems to be a bit more 'normal' in Grand Goave. We can thank God for that answer to prayer.
Well that's all for today. Thanks for reading~

Picture Blog~

Here Chris and a few others are helping unload the container. I should have been putting up pics all along but the few times I tried this past year it failed and I just gave up. But in these last 3 weeks I hope to get some good ones up!

This is one of our full mango trees ready to bless us with its wonderful fruit.

This pic is was given to me by a team member. Often Chris and I stroll the beach!

Volleyball camp at Haiti Arise compound.

Young guys listening to a member of the team share their testimony at bball camp.

Playing Sports in GG.

Well it's been a fun filled few days. The team that is here from Briercrest is doing bball and vball camps for youth and young adults. (I posted the link to their blog on the right) It's been a different dynamic having a team of all college age students. I definitely believe they are being challenged and it's good.
Last week they held a bball clinic for 3 days in Grand Goave at the Catholic school court yard. The school has some good hoops and the young people that came out had a great time. Yesterday and today they are teaching volleyball to the youth of our church here at the compound and everyone is just loving it. Lots of smiles all around. :)
On Sunday we went up to Tapion and partcipated in the church service and handed out rice to all the kids. After the service we went to pray with a family of 11 children who just lost their mother to cancer. It was very sombre, I mean what can you say.... really? But prayer was good and Haiti Arise is working on having all of the children sponsored so that in September they can all go to school.
On another note Eldon and his friend Dave just arrived here to help put the plumbing in the clinic. It's really encouraging to see the work projects here continue. The tech school and clinc site are buzzing with activity. Still no word about the childrens village property so we are leaving it alone for now.
Unfortunately there still hasn't been school in Grand Goave.
Some of the students we know from church are concerned they won't be able to graduate this year because it's already been 6 weeks that schools are closed.
So please pray that all these election woes will soon be resolved and then the children can return to school.
Well time is ticking away soon we will have our last team here and then Chris and I will have to say see you later or see you in a while because good byes are not fun and I don't like to think that I won't come back here ever again...
We have a medical team coming next week Wednesday so looking forward to serving the community in that way again too.
Well that's all for today~

No news is good news~

Well it has been really quiet these days after our eventful week. Actually the days following the 'event' were really strange. There was (and still is) no school and no work was being done at all on the property. Chris and I were the only ones here most of the time. Sort of lonely and waaaay too quiet. But now that has all changed as the Briercrest team arrived yesterday.
Right now I am sitting at the table with Miesha, Asher, Jasmine and Lisa. We are all doing homework together :) I guess I consider writing the blog my homework.
Yesterday Marc also arrived as did a couple of guys from Red Deer to help continue the work at the tech school. Albert and Dan are here for 12 days to help pour the rest of the columns.
This morning the team is collecting all the mangos from the work sites. It's nice to hear the drone of the cement mixer going again too.
As for the wall situation. Marc said the mayor called him while he was in Canada. He had tried to meet with the 'bad' guys to come to a resolve but nothing came of it. The guys dont care about the community and what Haiti Arise is trying to do for them. So Marc and the mayor continue to be in contact and a decision is being made and something will happen but we don't know when or how. Luckily the Lord knows and we will continue to pray for a resolution soon.
Well that's all for today. Thanks for your prayers, blessings to you all~

April 26th pics~

This pic is the trench that the 'bandits' filled with rocks that our guys dug.

Our sign amongst the carnage that we will be able to salvage and fix up. :)

Post from the wall that they tried to break but couldnt, instead they burned a tire on them.

Everyone surveying the mess~ This is what they did to try to block the road to Haiti Arise.

Haiti Arise gate with some burn marks!

Continue to Pray~

Hello, well nothing has happened since Tuesday and we are all very grateful. Thank you Lord. Apparently the mayor of Grand Goave held a meeting with all the persons involved and well nothing was resolved. Supposedlly he gave us the go ahead to continue working on the wall but we aren't doing anything at the moment. All work has stopped even work on the Haiti Arise compound. Marc asked for that to happen until he comes back from Canada on Monday. So it's really quiet around here with no work going on, no classes or school too. It's really different for sure.
Marc went to Canada to meet with some of the board members for Haiti Arise. Pray for him and the board for wisdom and that he would recieve a lot of encouragment during this short trip.
You wouldn't believe the rumors that are going around Grand Goave about this situation. I will just give you a few examples, some lady from our church called Lisa this morning asking if she is okay. She heard Lisa had been beaten up. The other rumor is that Marc and Lisa have packed up and headed back to Canada. So it's interesting. :)

People in Grand Goave continue to protest the political situation. Apparently there was no final announcement about who the deputy is going to for Grand Goave so both sides are upset. They like blocking the roads with big trucks and piles of rocks. Hmmmm we don't quite understand why these things continue happening....... But we trust that God is in control and things will settle down soon.
We had a great prayer service last night at church and God spoke to my heart and told me not to be scared because he's watching over me. It was very comforting.
We thank you for all your prayers and concern. We are safe and continue to prepare things here for the next team and will head to the beach tomorrow.
well that's the update for today. Thanks for reading.