Breaking Ground; A Quick Look at the Building Projects

Almost immediately when we returned to Haiti, the work began on the future church building and orphanage, and continued on a small house for Pastor Bazalet.    For Barry, managing such a project isn't without glitches and trials, but things are mostly moving along nicely.  These projects, like before, are a good opportunity to employ some people from church, some old neighbors and usual go-to guys, as well as get to know and witness to a good number of others. 

Just outside the walls near the work-site is a good place to sit and have a visit with some of the ladies who attend church with us there. Sometimes its a blessing, and other times it's mind-blowing. Some of their extended family members like to hang around, and for lack of better words, "let it all hang out." However, this does also give a nice chance to be a light. Some of them have started coming to church and seem to be learning.

Unfortunately, there are cases that seem almost hopeless. Right outside the gate every morning while the work is going on, a 30-something lady, a regular attendee at church, sets up a little cooking shack and sells fried breadfruit and other various fried foods. She's a lady that will sing her heart out whether in a service or outside. She's heard all about sin, repentance, and redemption. She's asked for us to make her dresses. She's asked for baptism. But, she's also got a fiery temper and a stubborn will. When she was asked about her four children and their four different fathers whom are all nowhere to be found, she said that's not something that needs to be repented of because it was good for her. She got a blessing from those actions (her children.) The next day, she had beer in her cooler of drinks for sale. When she was asked not to sell them as she was on church property, she refused, because in her opinion, beer is good. When she finally sees the light, she'll be able to use all that fire for the Kingdom. In the mean time, may the Lord grant us the wisdom to know how to handle her.

A view of the existing "Little stick church" behind the recently dug outline for the new building.

Discussing building plans with the boss and Pastor Bazalet

Dumping rocks to form the foundation

Frido, an old friend and neighbor, works to bend wire to hold the re-bar together.

He's also been a school teacher, but he's thankful for any work he can get.

Taken from inside the existing church; the foundation is done and the center is being leveled and prepared for concrete.

The small building on the other side is a latrine/bathroom that still needs finished.

A house for Pastor Bazalet to live in is taking shape within the same walls as the church.

There's still a long way to go and likely some daily trials ahead while this project continues, as well as the many regular church events and meetings, and still traveling to preach. Thank you for your support and prayers!

Getting Resituated

The sun is still shining in Haiti!  Just as the cold, cloudy days become commonplace in the Midwest November that we left behind, the warmth and blue skies can soon be taken for granted on the other end.   I recall looking forward to our sunny walks to church while we were rushing to get inside out of the frigid rain in Indiana, and it makes me glad once again for the continually beautiful (albeit quite warm sometimes) weather here in Haiti.

Not only is the sun still shining, but the little church is still coming together here in Hostin, Arcahaie. Not only the three regular meetings they had before, but three new meeting times have been added as well.  They’re now holding twice weekly, 5am prayer meetings, as well as a leadership training meeting for those interested in pursuing the ministry. Barry said the prayer meetings are quite a blessing.  It is still completely dark out as brethren gather under the metal roof and begin to sing.  They had already begun to sing as he was finding his way through the quiet darkness approaching the church property. Their voices were all that could be heard, and it was quite inviting to hear that sound    At such a time!

All of these meetings are more precious at such a time as this, when the country, once again, is turning itself upside down with riotous behavior for the sake of politics.  The riots were becoming so violent that people began to question whether we should even go back to Haiti when we did , that it might be worth canceling our tickets.  Under the Lord’s direction we still felt led to go, and landed safely in late afternoon of November 20th. Ramos, who always comes to pick us up at the airport, said there was no possible way he could come.  Earlier in the week he had been robbbed on his way to buy pig feed, and he wasn’t about to try to come again just yet.

After some time waiting in the airport while Barry made some more phones calls, another couple we know was able to pick us up and take us to a nearby guesthouse. They had just flown in that morning and were also picking their daughter and a friend up that same evening. The place we stayed was only 5 minutes from the airport, and the route was clear as we made our way there just as nightfall made the situation more ominous.

We stayed there two nights before Ramos could make the trip. The leaders of the rebellion called for a “ceasefire” so that citizens could spend a day finding food and making a little money. We made a quick stop at the grocery store on the way, but by 11am nearly all the perishable foods were picked over. We got a bag of rice and a few vegetables and hurried home in the back of the tap-tap style Land Cruiser. I’m pretty sure it was the fastest Ramos had ever driven with passengers in tow.  We would have been easy, obvious prey for anyone on the lookout for Americans to pester, but as usual the angels of the Lord were round about us. I sang that Psalm to myself all the way home as a reminder of how we’ve always been safe and protected.

Once we were back at the mission house, a different battle was on, but this one was only with the dust that had gathered on every imaginable inch of the house after three months of non-use. With Katie and Saloma’s hard work, we’re gaining some headway. The little ants, however, might be succeeding in taking over. Yikes!  I’m so thankful to have the extra help along with all there was to do! I’m afraid I had underestimated when I thought about how we might’ve found the house. They’ve both been a temendous blessing with all of that, and even all the adjusting with getting a family with four little ones settled back in. It’s all new for Andrew, and he had some days that he just wanted to be rocked and held.

Barry jumped right back into the swing of things and is blessed to be preaching up North this weekend with Stanley Fox. He’s hoping to make it back in time for Bible study tonight. We’re thankfuk for all the prayers that lifted us up as we were able to get back safely! I want to take another opportunity to thank everyone immensely for all that was done while we were in the States during a roller coaster time in our lives. Your prayers and deeds of love and kindness are too many to write here!

P.S. Bear with me as a try to get more detailed posts done, too. The internet signal, or lack thereof, is one more thing to “readjust” to.