Our team from San Jose has gone and we have been running around like crazy having meetings, keeping appointments, shopping, taking care of business and a million other boring but necessary things. We are very thankful to the team for all the varied things they accomplished while they were here. Every time I try and list projects completed, I leave out important stuff, but here are some highlights of the week:
- School finally began! Thanks Katie & Rachel for all your sweat and energy in helping make that happen. These girls really worked.... and we sweated a lot, too!
- School Photos were taken of most of the school kids (We'll get them posted as soon as we can- I promise :-)
- ALL school children (did I mention we have 7 classes of kids?) were fitted with new uniforms and received a bookbag !
- A new bench was built. (Those who have visited here, know how short we've been on furniture.)
- A LOT of work was done at the church. The stage was repaired and the sound system was overhauled- including new speakers.
- The guys- especially Ted, Jeff, & John- spent a lot of time getting to know some of the young musicians in the church, reaching out to them, teaching them & jamming. A new, multi-cultural band was formed for the week. It was awesome.
- Katie was the on call Doc. She treated all kinds of yucky skin infections and nasty wounds.
- Small repairs were made at the orphanage including screen doors & plumbing.
- Tim led the group in doing some concrete repair to the floors at the school and smoothing the floor in the kindergarten classroom. He also built a new shelf unit for our orphanage kitchen.
- Curtis and Pastor Mike led the gardening crew... I think it qualifies as farming when you plant an acre or so, though. Oh man, that was some sweaty, dirty work!
- Rachel and Katie sorted and sized clothing and made sure the orphanage kids all had some decent new play clothes.
- The church was in the middle of a prayer revival, so there were also services every evening with typically spirited Haitian worship, which is amazing and joyous.
- A special service was held Friday night, with the group providing a meal for the community- 250 or so attended.
- The group also visited their sponsor child and prayed with the family at their home. They took gifts for Pierrelens and food for the family.
- Sunday morning the team conquered the mountain and worshipped with the people of Terre Noir. Pastor Mike brought a wonderful, inspiring message.
As if that weren't enough, there were lots of other things going on also.
Our guests from Gonaives left shortly before our team arrived. A beautiful house was found in Port-au-Prince and the orphanage children were relocated. The two groups of kids bonded and meshed beautifully and we were sad to see our new friends go.
Emory and Mary have also returned to Gonaives to dig out from the storm and resume their ministry there. They will still come and stay with us from time to time as they go back and forth while working on their home.
And.... drum roll, please...
Our 4 sixth grade girls started at their new school!!!
They were so excited and giggly we had trouble getting a picture that wasn't full of silly poses!
Vignier will never be the same, now that the Bercy Brood has arrived!!
Seriously, we are excited for them and oh, so proud.
(Papa Rusty insisted on personally delivering them to school every day for the first week!)
Well, that's a bit of an update on the past week or two of happenings here in Haiti.
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