Saturday, January 25, 2014

First two weeks


Two weeks...wow that went fast!  We will try to show you a little of what we've been doing.

Going grocery shopping is not the easiest thing in the whole world, so usually someone stays home and watches the kids.  The ride gets long, hot and bumpy for them :( and it looks like everyone had a great time staying home and playing together.  These are most of the "AC" kids that are at Bonne Fin now.  Rick and Komari's - Mara, Krae, and Selah.  Eric and Jami's - Leah, Gracie, Conner, Quincy and Gideon (not pictured).  And of course Orrin...who is right in the thick of it along with everyone else!  By the way, he has been doing great, and seemed to adjust pretty good.  He runs around like he owns the place, and even gets out the gate and tries to go up our hill by himself :)
Mr "I-can't-sleep-at-night-without-a-sound-machine-perfect-routine-and-pat-my-back-sometimes" has surprised us enormously!  He is sleeping through roosters and chickens and neighbors making noise right outside the house...with the windows open!!  Good for him :) 
The other night, I was trying to put him to bed and he finished his bottle, wiggled out of my lap, took my hand, led me to the kitchen and tried to open the door to the fridge.  Mom, I want more milk!  Well, he knows where stuff is already and he gets his point across!  



Even though it's a lot like summer here, it feels a little like fall too.  The trees drop leaves constantly, so it's quite a bit of work to get it all cleaned up.  Yesterday I raked the leaves and today I was going to burn them.  Orrin was walking around another part of the yard, and he decided to crawl down the hill to come help me.  Then he started crying.  I got to him and there were ants all over his hand...and they bite!!  Poor Orrin...his hand got all bit up :(


Orrin getting ready to crawl down the hill.  Our house in the background.

Ant bites :(


David was working with some electrical issues around the Hospital campus last week.  This week they have been focused on what to do about the electrical generator problems.  The main source of power is supposed to be a hydroelectric generator.  The picture below the the reservoir.  It needed to be cleaned out and the lining patched so it wouldn't leak.  About 75 guys were hired to clean it out and it got cleaned and patched in one day!  Then we prayed for rain.  And Wednesday evening it POURED!!  Thankful for what we got, but we will take more :)



David also worked a few days in our kitchen.  The old kitchen cabinets were falling apart so they decided to put new lower cabinets in.  They were in place when we moved in, but no countertop or sink.  So for the first week, we ate lunch and supper with the work team at the guest house.  Then we got the countertop and sink put in and we are now in business!

Other pictures of our house, so you know where we are :)
Orrin's room even has a spare bed for company, in case anyone wants to come visit :)






It's been a good few weeks.  Still asking for your prayers so God's work and not ours will be done.
Until next time!


Friday, January 17, 2014

New Contact Info

As I'm sure you know, our phone numbers have changed with our move :)  The options for contacting us are pretty good...do what works best for you!  Our time zone right now is the same as Florida, so Eastern time (that's an hour ahead of those of you in IL and IA :)

If you have an international plan, this should reach us at all times. Our cell phone numbers are:
David - (011) 509 3446 2800
Janella - (011) 509 3446 2682
(And yes, you have to dial all those numbers :) )

If you don't have international calling, we have an internet phone number that will ring to our cell phone if we have internet at that time...kind of sketchy, but it's a US number so shouldn't charge you to use it..
David - 010 660 4895
Janella - 010 667 2224

Also another option is email.  Our addresses have stayed the same:
David - dlzimm4@hotmail.com
Janella - nella.gerst@gmail.com

Skype - under Janella Zimmerman

Facebook - under David Zimmerman...

and last but not least...good old snail mail...
This is kind of complicated as the USPS doesn't just deliver mail to our door in Haiti...
so..what basically happens is that any mail would be sent to an address in Florida, and flown into Haiti through Agape Flights.  This is a long process and we do not have this set up yet.  If you have questions of how to do this, please contact us or one of our parents...we will give them the instructions of how this works when we get it all figured out. 

Hope to hear from you!!

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Safe home in Haiti!

Left home at 115am Saturday.  Troy Slagel and Troy Brown drove us up to Ohare, and things went smoothly getting through checking our bags and security.  Wow we have so much stuff!

Orrin thought the airport was a great new experience!  He looked at everyone and tried to run away numerous times.  He did great even though it was 4am!


He did great on the flights too!  Slept about an hour on each flight. Praise the Lord! :)


 He thought Haitian driving was pretty much awesome too!  
Our drive to the hospital took about 5 hours, arriving at 8pm.
Wow, we are exhausted!!


After a good night's sleep, we went to church. 
Orrin only made it halfway through (one hour :) ) before having to go home 
for a nap (and opening the cap of his bottle and spilling milk all over 
the pack n play and then wetting through his diaper in bed..sigh).  
He changed clothes to a tank top and shorts and flip flops.  
Loving the 80 degree weather!!


Thanks again to everyone who has sent their love and prayers with us on our journey this far!  We can feel your prayers already and ask that you continue entreating the heart of God for us as we will for you!