The last few weeks have been filled with the usual events that occur with life in Haiti, as well as some of the unexpected. It was a blessing to have Barry's parents visit us for a week. Before that, we were all quite shocked when we heard the news of Gerald Miller’s sudden passing. We attended a beautiful memorial service which was held for him at the CAM base in Titenyen. After experiencing the loss of a parent just a few months ago, I really felt for his daughter who serves here in Haiti. If we can see a blessing in the whole tragic situation, one such is that she was able to be with her dad during his final days. For those who don’t know what happened, here’s the story, briefly, as was sent to us:
Gerald (55) and Rachel Miller, from Holmes County, OH flew to Haiti on Tuesday, December 11 to visit their daughter, Jana and Jerry Troyer & family who live at CAM’S base in Titenyan.
Their visit coincided with a work team. The building project was finished Friday morning, so in the afternoon, Jerry and Gerald took the boys snorkeling. The team included: Titus Beachy IN, Justin Jantzi KY, Matt Yoder WI, and Micah Yoder NY. They drove approximately 50 miles north to the “Free Spot,” that generally offers calm and pristine waters.
The boys and Gerald snorkeled for 15-20 minutes. It was windy, and the water was rough and cloudy. When Titus turned around to head back to shore, he passed within 10-15 feet of Gerald. It seems that Gerald was perched on some coral and was cleaning his snorkel and goggles. Gerald then voluntary reentered the water.
All four boys made their way to shore, but Gerald was still about 100 yards out. Jerry asked, “Is he alright?” They watched for a minute and noticed that he was face down and they could no longer see his snorkel. (Approximately five minutes from the time Titus passed him).
Three boys swam out and found him floating and unresponsive. They brought him to shore and began CPR. He vomited immediately. They found a faint pulse for about a minute, but he didn’t respond.
They continued doing CPR while driving to a hospital 15 minutes north. The doctors worked on him a little longer, but he did not regain consciousness.
No one knows exactly what happen. Gerald was a good swimmer and did not appear in distress. Stacy, the director of the Hero Ambulance service indicated it could have been cardiac arrest.
It took much longer than desired to get his body back to the States, but they were finally able to have visitation and a funeral service during the last week of December. Our hearts and prayers are still with the family.
Here in Arcahaie, the buildings are still moving along smoothly. The walls of the church building are taking shape, and it will soon be ready for trusses and a metal roof. Yesterday they worked hard putting a concrete roof on the little parsonage. The orphanage has the foundation completed and the electritions are working to get things in place before the floor is poured. The purchase of an efficient, diesel powered cement mixer has been a big help, taking away the need to mix with only shovels in a hole.
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| Putting the roof on the house for Pastor Bazalet |
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| The front of the church with the start of a porch |
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| The church building taking shape |
While men labor to construct a physical structure in which to meet and worship, the body of the church is being labored for as well.
There was one major change this past week that was sad to see, but necessary for the good of the church. Our translator of more than two years, Franz, has chosen to go a different direction doctrinally and spiritually, so he has been released from his position. For now, our old friend Anouce, our original translator that quit to attend a type of seminary training, is back with us again. The long drive home to Titanyen in the dark evenings is a great struggle for him, so time will soon tell if he is the one for the task. We desire to have someone not to just translate, but to be a part of the church and in the same accord. Unfortunately, we don't have any members that are able to do the task, so we are seeking the Lord's direction on the matter.
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| Anouce, in the center, translating Thursday evening |
We have lots of different people coming, some faithfully, some not. Another group is desiring membership and taking the 8 week session which details what's involved in that. One very old, delicate couple have joined the body without taking the class, as we could see that they are quite far from desiring the things of this world, but rather suffering to finish their course in this life. They have a lot to complain about, but we just don't really hear it from them. They are elderly, skin and bones, and the dear lady is crippled and often too sick to come to church. Their rented shack is nearly falling down, and the roof leaks on their dirty, ragged bed. She cooks their meager rations from her wheel chair, and he cleans her when she soils herself. Seeing them is enough to strike a chord of sympathy in even the hardest of hearts. As God leads, we're trying to help them spiritually and physically.
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| Myse & Mme Toujou |
The Thursday evening Bible studies are a time when we can see evidence of growth in the believers who were baptized. When we first started meeting, nobody knew anything about the Bible. Now there are some who can not only find a reference quickly, but can also quote verses and where they are found. Renaldson is even learning some of them well enough that he can tell us the reference after hearing the verse in English.
What an encouragement to know that God is able to take a scraggly, 20, 40, or 50-year-old, thorny shrub and turn it into a beautiful mango tree. There are a handful of those trees now. The real mango trees in our backyard are coming into a time of fruit-bearing, likewise some of the new converts are showing evidence of putting God first in their lives.
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Lord-willing, the great task of starting up fresh little seedlings will begin when the orphanage starts to take in young children. How much easier is it to help a tree grow straight when we begin small, give it plenty of food and direct sonlight, and set some stakes to pull it upright if it starts to bend sideways? What a tremendous job to be done, but a blessing to help a young child without parents, without love, and without hope, and teach him to be a soldier of the cross!
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| Little children from the mountain |
We look forward to more families coming to see what's happening here this winter, and welcome you to start planning your visit, too! (with the Lord's leading.) There is always plenty to eat and plenty to see. It can be eye-opening to experience such a vast change in culture and surroundings. In the mean time, prayers are invaluable!
Bondye beni nou!
