Home Teams

We had a lot of special teams from home the last month!  Started out with a team from West Bend - Pat's hometown - who came to help get a home ready for her and other single ladies who come to live here.    The finished product is very nice, and we hope it will be a blessing to those who live there!  So, welcome home Pat, and Dona (missionary school teacher for spring semester 2017)!

Mike and Amber were here visiting the same time as the WB team, and it was great to see them.  They have come several times since we've been here, and it's great to see family!  We had them down to our house one night and enjoyed food, games and visiting.

Mike had a service Wednesday evening, and since the kids were with us that night, made it into somewhat of a Sunday School lesson.  One of the things I enjoy so much about living here is that we have church outside sometimes, and such was the case tonight.  Mike taught us the meaning of the word minister, and how it was like a slave who worked in the belly of a great ship.  You don't know the course the ship is taking, but we have to trust the Captain that He knows what He's doing, and obey what He tells us to do.

The kids participated by showing us how this would have looked.

Then we had a team from our home church, Forrest!  With lots of friends and family, we have been looking forward to this team for a very long time!  It was a really special week, and we were left feeling re-energized, filled, and very thankful for those from our other home.

Walking to Haitian church Sunday morning.

 Carol took a picture of us in front of our house on the way home from church.  Most all of the pics of this work team are thanks to her!

After an English church service in the afternoon, David showed the team a tour of the hospital, and explained some of the work that would go on that week (note large pile of fencing material).

Supper that night was at Rick and Komari's house as we had had "joint" services with the folks from Cayes.

 Got a good start on Monday morning!  The team's project for the week was to install a new fence around the hospital itself.  Our old fence (in background) was falling down, and didn't do much to prevent chickens and other wildlife out of the yard and sometimes the hospital itself (disease control!!).  It also did not provide very good security keeping the patients in (who would sometimes leave before paying).

Worn out....

Cass even got to come and hang out with the team sometimes :)

The team split into two groups and went out into the community to visit some elderly/shut-in's.  We brought some rice and beans, a few clothing items and a blanket.  We talked to them, sang a few songs, and had a prayer.  The visits were very enjoyed by all!

There was one scary moment when a stampeding bull came charging down the road at us....

Some of the living conditions are hard to imagine, even though I've lived here so long.  One very frail elderly lady lived at the top of this hill we about had to climb on our hands and knees. 

Lots of homes were damaged by the hurricane, and thankfully lots have been rebuilt or patched up.  This house was completely destroyed.  The man who lived here moved into a new home with his brother, whose home was also destroyed (next picture).

The team even had some time to do a project on David's to-do list.  They brought the tractor down and made a "lane" in our yard so that our neighbors can drive through our yard into theirs.

Carol and Wendy came to visit when they had a little free time.  It was so special to have them come and "do life" with us for an afternoon!

And what a surprise when Roselyn and Vania showed up at the Hospital!  They were passing through the area with another work team and we were so glad to see them!  Cassia even got her first set of Haitain braids in her hair!

We had the team down to our house one evening, and Troy played blocks with Orrin.  Orrin asked me one day, "Why didn't Tristan come?"  What a hard question to answer.  I told him his mom needed his help.  "What kind of work does he do?" :)

Love this picture.  I have a picture of Wendy's youngest when he was about Cassia's age.  It was right after we got married and we were camping with the Zimm's.  Simon had two Mountain Dew bottles in the cup holders of his camp chair, and was alternating between them :)  It is just really really special when we can have family here to share special moments with!

The team worked really hard and got the fence finished up late Thursday evening.  They wanted to get it done so they could go hike the hydro and go to the beach on Friday!

Finishing touches - it wasn't straight enough :)

We loved this team's enthusiasm for everything - God's Word, the work, the people, church, village visits, seeing local coffee and bread being made, tasting honeycomb, etc etc etc.  David M. and Ed thought it would be really great to stay at someone's house for a night.  So I asked Emanier (who works in our yard and lives alone) if they could stay with him.  He said yes, so we packed some old fold-up cots and drove them out to broaden their Haitain experience.  They said they had a good time, even though they couldn't talk to Emanier, and the chickens were loud :)

That same night, David (Z) took a group out to look at the stars as they were incredibly brilliant that night.  They had a really good time and good talks together.  The next day was the recreation day, and the team enjoyed the outdoors and the wonderful weather we have here in the winter.  On the way home, we ran into some large crowds of celebrants who were rooting for their mayoral candidates before the election.  We got through safely, but it was one more Haiti experience for the team :)

We are really glad for all the love and support from those "back home."  It was very special and we say a big thank you to all those who were able to come.  We love visitors, so anytime......