Long Overdue Update

Sorry for the long absence over the past couple of weeks.  The last couple of days of February most of our family came down with a very bad stomach bug.  We then traveled to Fermathe on February 28th, and I will not share all the details of that trip.  Let me just say it was very eventful and we stopped 8 times along the side of the road :(
We really enjoyed our week in Fermathe.  We felt like we were at a resort as we enjoyed our home their.  To have warm real showers, enjoy yogurt, cheese and fresh fruit and vegetables was a huge treat.  We were able to get a couple of the kids' passports renewed and buy some needed supplies.
On Saturday we returned to Atrel and even though life is a little more challenging here, we were glad to be back "home."
Sunday was a special harvest celebration service at church.  It was neat to be apart of this and to worship and give thanks with our brothers and sisters in Christ, giving thanks for the harvest that they have finally had after losing 2 crops to drought.

On Monday we were back to work on our house.  Here are a few pictures:

 This is a water tower that will hold a large 300 gallon water tank.  Thank you to Uncle Bob for welding it for us. 

 The guys are building a small rock wall to make a larger porch at our front door.

 This rock wall was started by my brother Caleb, and the guys have been working on finishing it.

 The kids are enjoying playing in their rooms when they are finished school.

 Kyrk has most of the interior walls finished now.

We decided to bring our couch up on the last truck.  It is so nice to have a couch, even if the house isn't finished.  We all sat as a family on the couch on Sunday afternoon and watched a movie together in our new house.  We were squished, but it was fun.

This turkey was a gift from the church committee.  The kids are enjoying it and they are really looking forward to it's execution tomorrow.  They are all excited about plucking it's feathers and eating it.  It is going to be a great science lesson.

Exciting Times in Haiti

There have been many exciting things happening over the past couple of days.
We praise God that we received over an inch of rain on Sunday and Monday.  This is a wonderful answer to prayer.
On Friday a group from Holland with World Servants arrived to help the community of Moulin Gouane build a 3 room school building. 

On Sunday afternoon it started to rain!

We were so excited to see rain that we went up to our house just to listen to the water fall into the cistern.  Yes we got soaked, but it felt so good.

This has made the roads very muddy

There is a group from World Servants here and they get to experience the super muddy roads.

Arriving at the Moulin Gouane school, where they are building.

Communicating with the help of an interpreter

Boss Joubert explaining how to tie the iron together

The cistern at the school was in great need of repair and the group is helping with this project also.

Wash Day!  Naomi and Anna loved to help Aunt Helen.

The dedicated window and door trim painter

Painting the plywood for the ceiling

Praying for Rain & Construction Continuing

Since we said good bye to the group that was here, work has continued.  The team of local men have put the coating on the outside of the house and work continues on the inside also.  Everyday we are one step closer to moving in.

Huge Prayer Request:
On Tuesday we got some water from the spring and noticed a big difference in the water.  The water level is getting so low that it now has a salty taste.  It has been over 4 months since this area has seen measurable rain and it is getting very critical. 
Please join us in praying that God would send rain.  As I sit writing this, I can see rain falling in areas close by, but it is not raining in Atrel.  Praying for a miracle rain fall.

The outside coating is almost finished.  Only the front needs the second coat.

Johnny and Bob worked to get the last of the mesh on the house.

We have a front door!

Bob has welded all of the metal grates on the windows

We can now collect water off the back side of the roof to start filling the cistern.

The windows are being put in.

Thank you to our Creative and Diligent Groups

We are so thankful for the people who have come to help us build our house.  As of tonight the electrical is basically finished, most of the dry wall and plywood is on the walls, all the exterior is sheeted and our yard is starting to really look like a great yard.  They have been a fantastic group of very hard workers.  They have also been a very creative group.  Here are a few of their creations.

Group from Forest Baptist, Alberta and Steve who stayed from the last group.

Dustpan the size of a shovel

Step scaffolds also known as miniature ladders

Walter's T-square

Walter's step ladder

Pull cord made from left over rope and a small piece of wood

Electrical wire spool holder

When you don't have paper, use drywall scraps.

Nurse Helen's Post

Today's blog post comes from my Aunt Helen:

Wow, Thursday has come and is almost gone and we only had three minor injuries, and only one asked if I was really a nurse.   

Sean doing well and learning fast on how to install electrical boxes and string electrical wire

Bryon's personal goal is to have all the metal brackets on the window frames (there are 70 of them)

Kyrk has three sides completed on the exterior, only one to go

Caleb has found real dirt.  It even smells like dirt.

It is like Christmas when the truck arrives, everyone gets excited because no one can remember what was ordered.

Walter, Bryon and Steven hanging drywall.

Deborah preparing a meal in the space that 18 of us will sit to dine.

Sean, watching closely what his father is doing, so he can take his skills back to Canada.

The main gates to the new house, getting a fresh coat of paint by Laura.

Helen paints the high spots, Laura paints the low ones.

Caleb and Deborah clearing brush around the toilets so that fruit trees can be planted.

The exterior of the house ready for plastering.

Picture update

Some pictures from the past couple of days.

Walking to church

Enjoying our noon meal together.  It is a tight fit to get everyone in, but it works.

Some of the neighborhood boys stopping on their way back home from gathering wood.

Sunday afternoon we were blessed with rain!

The house is really coming along.  Since this picture was taken, the roof is now completely on.

Brian and Sean started working on the electrical wiring today.

Kyrk with the help of a couple others, has over half of the outside sheeting on the house.

Helen and Rebekah were sifting some of the good dirt so it can be used for a garden.

Laura painted our water tanks black.

These children live close to our place and love to come up in the afternoons to talk and play.