Answered Prayer and Completed Tasks

It is a pretty calm day here at the Haitian Queen, aside from our director forgetting his passport and wallet on the floor when he left for the airport early this morning and people having to go catch up to him at the Airport. Thankfully it all worked out. I am taking advantage of the slow time, to catch up on a few things and to take it easy as I am on day 9 or 10 of being sick.

I did manage to get the bunk houses set up for the 8 people arriving this afternoon, hanging bed nets and moving air mattresses out. Here are some pictures of how great the bunk houses are looking right now...





The addition of the bunk houses continues to draw the attention of the neighbors, one newly wed couple have even stopped by to get the directions, and find out what supplies they would need to make their own. We have more roofers coming on Sunday so we hope to get the tarp roof on the girls replaced with a metal one soon! But with the addition of the window tarps that Rick conjured up and the tar to patch the leaks in the tin they have stayed dry!

Other good things is that our 3 day kids club was a success, the first day there were 4 of us leading 75 or so kids and the rest of the time it was 3 of us and more kids. But even with a huge language barrier, limited equipment, i.e. a few balls, a bit of sidewalk chalk and a rope, and bandannas we managed to keep them not only entertained but share the love of Jesus with them and they with us.

I never ever want to hear someone complain about a VBS program, or budget or lack of staff. 75-85 kids 6months-15years in one room and under a tiny tarp for 2-3hours a day in 3 languages, with no budget means with the same goal accomplished as any other VBS except after and during Earthquakes and aftershocks, means I am pretty sure we make life much more complicated than it needs to be at home.

Thank you for all your prayers and support! Looking forward to coming home on Tuesday and sharing with you more in person about life and God here in Haiti.

Ever Changing

Life here in Haiti is never the same from day to day. The only constant is the heat and the rising and setting sun. (not that it changes the heat) Let me give you an idea of the comings and goings, shifts and craziness around here.

Monday: We thought we were doing a kids club not the case
We picked up Mark at the airport
2nd Earthquake of 4.7 close by
More people move outside under tarp

Tuesday:
Start building bunk houses so people have the option not to sleep under cement.
3 people from CARE come to do just that.
4 new teammates arrive
Mark Leaves to stay closer to the airport

Wednesday: 2 bunk houses are well under way
Most people move outdoors


Thursday:
Brian and Sarah Leave
CARE team leave
One bunk house is almost finished



I tell you this not to complain, but the opposite to share with you how fantastic my team members have been here. And how God is helping to guide and direct us, how He graciously gives us wisdom and the people we need as we need them.



Our Construction Crew are some of the most amazing men I have ever worked with. I have not heard a grumble, have not seen them without a welcoming smile. 3 great friends from MA and 1 from MN and now a guy from Vancouver, and one from WI, and one who already had to go home...have worked everyday to make the Haitian Queen a place ready to welcome teams and last for years to come. They have:

Knocked down walls,built new ones, installed shelving, made benches, designed and constructed these 2 bunk houses when things seemed a little too shaky, made a stool for our cook so she can reach the high shelves, fixed generators, rewired the house, worked on solar panels, plumbing, water systems and made 9 sets of bunk beds, carried blocks, mixed cement and likely far more. All this done with a great sense of humility and humor.

They are truly a blessing and we would be in a heap of dark hot mess without them.