Hurricanes, A Tsunami, and Left Field, meet Grace and Mercy in an Explosion of Joy

Have you ever had a period in your life when you feel like “ What’s the use?” you know when everything you do seems like …  well  it just isn’t enough? Like you’re trying to fill an empty lake  with a teaspoon? You look at the problems around you and do not see an end? Well the last couple of months have kind of been that way for me.

    It started on October 4 when Hurricane Matthew devastated the country of Haiti yet again.  The southern peninsula was utterly destroyed and the North western coast was ravaged and the people completely cut off from the rest of the country. It took us four days and just under 500 miles of traveling just to make a very brief summary of the devastation to the churches and schools affiliated with the Baptist Haiti Mission.
     The difficulty in getting to the areas where we work here in Northwest Haiti were then amplified by flooding that came two weeks after the Hurricane. The water destroyed villages and everything in its path, as the denuded mountains funneled the waters like a tsunami of devastation with relentless rage. The roads that had been quickly repaired after the Hurricane were now completely destroyed. It was almost two weeks before we in Atrel could get to Anse Rouge just 12 miles away.
    As if dealing with all of this was not enough there were some other situations that have been in development for a while that took a direction that I just felt like saying, “ God what is going on here? Really!?”  you know like “ God are you sure this is really the best way to do it. Don’t you think we should do it this way?”  Because we always know what is best right?
    When I finally do come around to God’s way and sheepishly say ok You do know best and if this is the way You want me to go then lets go. Just then God pulls the rug out from under you and you’re in a free fall. Unsure of what way is up and thinking everything is totally out of control.    
    Then earlier this week, out of Left field,  I got news that I never thought I would hear and I was at that point of……  Really!?! ……. WHAT JUST HAPPENED?……  WHY?…….  It Just made no sense to me and I was in a funk for the next few days with more questions and no clear answers in sight. Feeling worn out and frustrated.

    I left for church this morning and was not really in the mood to worship. But as we were about to enter the gate to the Church yard there was a young girl who came and greeted my wife and I with a kiss and said Merci beaucoup, I did not recognize her, and I was thinking for what are we being thanked? Then looking up I saw a familiar face, her mother, this was Mishmana. For the back story on Mishmana please see our blog post for Tuesday Jan. 19th 2016.  3 Songs, James, and a minor back ittitation

    Needless to say My Heart leapt for Joy. I was instantly reminded of Luke 15:7 A verse I had just literally finished reading not more than 25 minutes earlier at home.
    “Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” 
    Almost a year ago I transported a very burned Mishmanna to the Passe Catebois clinic.  Less than a month later, Mishmana’s mother took her and they left the care of the nursing staff in Passe Catabois.  The story is a little fuzzy after that but we had heard that she was taken to the local witch doctor and it just got worse from there. At one point we received word that she had a terrible infection and was almost dead. Finally God in His Grace and Mercy intervened and she ended up at La Pointe, the hospital that Jackie, the nurse who had been treating her at Passe Catabois, was trying to get Mishmana to go to for better care.    
    During the service Mishmana, her sister and mother sang a song, and once again tears moistened my cheeks but this time they were joyful tears.  Once again, a now 16 year old girl and her mother taught me God is in control of everything, and He is good all the time, ALWAYS. And I need to trust His hand when I cannot see the way. God forgive me for doubting you yet again. 
Oh yeah, the song they sang….

1.
Chè Ségnè kinbin min-m, Edé mouin rété fèm;  Precious Lord take my hand, Help me stand firm
Mouin bouké, fatigé, tèlman.                               I am tired and completely worn out.
Nan loraj, nan fè noua, Kléré rout la dévan;        In the storm, in the darkness, light my way;
Kinbin min-m, chè Ségnè, fè-m rivé.                   Hold my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.

2.
Lè chémin-m difisil, E m-bézouin ou anpil,         When the road is difficult, and I need you
Ségnè, rété la tou pré mouin.                              Lord, stay close to me.
Lè mouin prèt pou alé, Edé-m pou-m pa buté,    When I am near death, help me not to stumble,
Kinbin min-m, chè Ségnè, fè-m rivé.                    Hold my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.

3.
Lè solèy la kouché, E nuit la ap proché,            When the sun is setting, and night approaches,
Et tout la vi mouin va fini,                                   And my life is about to end,
Edé-m pa régrété, Nan ou sèl mouin konfié,     Help me not regret, You are my only confidence.
Kinbin min-m, chè Ségnè, fè-m rivé.                  Hold my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.

Mishmanna's mother and Mishmanna

A Thanksgiving to Remember

For this year’s American thanksgiving celebration we were invited to dinner at our dear friends Bruce and Deb Robinson.  They live about 1 hour away (10 miles).  We were all looking forward to this time of fellowship and fun with friends.
At 12:30 pm we hopped in the truck and set off on our adventure.  We knew that the worst spot in the road was going to be a section of road right at the bottom of our hill.  IF we could get passed that we knew we could get there.  Kyrk had checked the day before and thought we should be able to make it.  But, it had rained the night before and this made it very slippery. 
The main problem with this section of road is that there is a spring under the road and with all the rains we have received in the past month the water is coming up in the road and making it extremely muddy and not passable.  There is a area that is on the side of a hill that motocyles are passing and that is the area that we thought we could pass.
We tried, but just slid down the side of the hill and there was no way we were getting through.  With the help of about 12 men they helped pull the truck back out the way it had went in and we were able to return home.

This was the bypass section that we tried and the truck ended up at the bottom of this hill (the back right of the picture)

This is the section of the road where the spring water is coming up in the road and making it horrible.  It is very deep mud.

Now thinking that we not going to be able to go we accepted the fact that we were just going to do something at home to celebrate.  We called Bruce and Deb and said that sadly there was no way for us to get there and we would not be coming. 
BUT, we have amazing friends and Bruce offered to come to the other side of this mud hole and pick us up.  So we went back to the mud hole walked through the mud and met him at the other side where the road was passable all the way to their place. 
Needless to say we were super thankful for that delicious feast and the time spent with friends old and new. 

Getting back home today was another adventure and there were times when we wondered if we were going to make it since it had rained a lot last night.  After getting stopped behind a truck that was stuck on a very muddy slippery hill and finally finding a way to get around him, we sloshed and slip along the roads back to our drop off point to walk through the mud and meet Johnny on the other side with the Gator to get us home.

Trying to find a way around the truck.

Walking through the mud section

Thankful for Johnny waiting for us in the Gator to take us home.

 This is a thanksgiving that we will remember for many years to come and we are so thankful for safety, friends willing to sacrifice for us, fabulous food (thanks to people from the US who brought in delicious turkey and ham and real apples for apple pie) and a wonderful God who knows what we need and blesses us way beyond what we deserve.

Helping those affected from Hurricane Matthew

Monday and Tuesday Kyrk spent visiting about 12 pastors who are the overseeing pastors in the areas west of us.  He was able to deliver some financial aid to those pastors to help people in their areas.  Those were long traveling days, almost 100 miles each day on very rough roads.
Wednesday we received a truck load of food that was purchased with some of the relief funds that have come in.  This is a huge blessing to the very hungry people in these areas.  Yesterday 3 areas come to pick up their food on motorcycles.  It is amazing what 6 motorcycles can carry, many sacs of rice, beans and clothing.

Getting their load secured for the 2 hour ride to their district

Thursday Kyrk spent the whole day visiting many areas along with the mission head carpenter.  They were taking measurements to determine what supplies will be needed to repair the many churches and schools that were affected.

Friday that project continued as they, along with a few others, visited many badly affected areas at the end of the northern peninsula.

Banana and Plantain fields were greatly damaged

This is the preacher from the Chili church and his home is badly damaged

The back and side of his home.

The Faligant church lost it's roof completely.  This is the main church for the district.

A school and a church that is needing a new roof.

Many houses in the far west are damaged like this.

We are so thankful for your prayers and a huge thank you to those who have donated to the relief efforts.  There is so much to be done to help these areas rebuild, but we know that with God all things are possible. 
Continue to pray for wisdom to know how best to help and share God’s love with those who have lost so much.  At the same time it is so encouraging to see the hope that the people have.  Their school walls may have huge sections missing, but that doesn’t stop them from finding some thatch to make new walls and still have school.  

Their church may have water all around it, but they will still worship and have services in the church. 

Their church may have been damaged but they will do everything they can to repair the damage and praise God that it wasn't worse. 

 
They may have significant damage to their house but they will do what they can to still live in it.  

Another praise report and prayer request:
For three days this week all the travel has been done with the gator.  This vehicle is a huge blessing to have since it is able to go to areas that are not accessible with a truck.  Here is a short clip of the "roads" that Kyrk has traveled with the gator this week.

 
On a trip last night to deliver some much needed funds to a pastor in the north west of Haiti, one of the gator brakes broke. Quite literally the brake broke. So we had to remove the caliper and limp back home in the dark. Thank the Lord that no one was hurt and pray that we would be able to get the parts to fix it quickly as this tool is invaluable for the work right now.
The parts will need to come from the US, so pray that God works out the details to get these parts into country quickly.  We are going to Port-au-Prince the last week of October and it would be a huge answer to prayer if we could bring these parts back with us. 


Canadians can click here to donate to the Relief efforts
Those in the US or any other country can donate here.

Joy of Being Able to See

This past Monday we had the privilege of having Dennis and Sara Cowley come to Atrel for an eye clinic.  Dennis is an optometrist who has been working with Baptist Haiti Mission for the past 2 years.
This clinic had been planned for several months and there were many people from the community who we so thankful that an eye doctor had come to Atrel.  It was a privilege for Kyrk and I to be able to help out with this also.
Dr. Dennis was able to see 93 people through out the day.  I had the privilege of helping Sara with the medications and reading glasses.  Wow, to see the looks on people’s faces when they put the reading glasses on for the first time and could finally read clearly, was a very neat thing to see.
Four of the people who went through the clinic were ladies from our sewing ministry.  Two have been complaining about their eyes and I was curious what Dr. Dennis would find.  They both needed strong reading glasses.
Our sewing time on Tuesday was filled with great rejoicing!  They were able to thread needles by themselves, they could sew much straighter all because they now had glasses.  There was much singing and rejoicing!  “Thank you Jesus, I can see.  Thank you for sending a doctor to help me have glasses to see!”
It is so wonderful to see the body of Christ coming together and to see the impact that this can have.  Missionaries from Fermathe, working through the local church in Atrel to enable to them to be a light to so many from the community of Atrel and many surrounding areas.

Ten of the people who came through the clinic need to have surgery to remove cataracts.  They have a great opportunity to have this surgery by a team of visiting doctors on Feb 15.  Pray for them as they travel about 3 hours away and that their surgeries would be successful so that their eye sight will improve.
There were also a few people who were discovered to have glaucoma, an eye problem that if left untreated can cause blindness.  These people were still able to see, so they were put on medications to be able to keep the eye sight that they have.  Pray that we will be able to find ways for them to be able to continue to have the medications that they need to retain their sight.

Dr. Dennis and Sara

First patients registering

Waiting outside

Sara fitting glasses

Talking with Pastor Fritz' brother.  Sadly his glaucoma was so advanced there was nothing that we could do for him, but he was still so joyful.

3 songs, James, and a Minor Back Irritation

What kind of faith do you have?

James 1:2-4

Consider it a sheer gift, unbounded joy, my dear friends, when tests and challenges, difficulties and pain come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

Does your faith allow you to praise God in the middle of intense pain? Or is it the kind that finds it's much easier to praise God when life is comfortable?

Matt Redman's 10,000 reasons starts with these words
The sun comes up it's a new day dawning , it's time to sing Your song again.
Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me, let me be singing when the evening comes.

When I sing these words do I really mean them or do I only mean them if everything is fine and easy, trouble free. WHATEVER  may pass and WHATEVER lies before me?     Really?!

Song 2
114 kreol Chan de Esperance
1.
Chè Ségnè kinbin min-m, Edé mouin rété fèm;  Precious Lord take my hand, Help me stand firm
Mouin bouké, fatigé, tèlman.                               I am tired and completely worn out.
Nan loraj, nan fè noua, Kléré rout la dévan;        In the storm, in the darkness, light my way;
Kinbin min-m, chè Ségnè, fè-m rivé.                   Hold my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.

2.
Lè chémin-m difisil, E m-bézouin ou anpil,         When the road is difficult, and I need you
Ségnè, rété la tou pré mouin.                              Lord, stay close to me.
Lè mouin prèt pou alé, Edé-m pou-m pa buté,    When I am near death, help me not to stumble,
Kinbin min-m, chè Ségnè, fè-m rivé.                    Hold my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.

3.
Lè solèy la kouché, E nuit la ap proché,            When the sun is setting, and night approaches,
Et tout la vi mouin va fini,                                   And my life is about to end,
Edé-m pa régrété, Nan ou sèl mouin konfié,     Help me not regret, You are my only confidence.
Kinbin min-m, chè Ségnè, fè-m rivé.                  Hold my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.

Song 3
88.   kreol Chan de Esperance

    Kè:
Présié, présié Jézu,                                            Precious, precious Jesus
Zanmi sètin, juska la fin;                                     A friend for sure, all the way to the end;
Li ofri kò-l pou mouin gingnin la vi,                     He gave his body so that I can have life,
Jézu, présié Ségnè.                                            Jesus, precious Savior.

God has been trying to teach me something this week, I think maybe I'm a little slow but I think I am starting to learn. I still have a long way to go.

My week went something like this;

Tuesday 7:15 am  Boss Noel shows up at the door.  Must be the load of cement (150- 94 lb. sacks) we have been expecting. ( why couldn't this have come tomorrow) oh well grab the keys to the gator, out the door, pick up Johnny and down to the school to unload the dump truck.
       I am not sure if it was the first or second bag but something in my lower back just sent a message to my brain that was not very nice. I wanted to scream in pain and stop,
BUT Yesterday was Monday. (We'll get to Monday in just a moment.) Instantly,well okay maybe there was some griping and complaining that happened first but not long after that the three aforementioned  songs started repeating themselves in my mind. I must carry on.

Wednesday
    Today we are going to continue laying block in the shade house for our gardens. This is day three of laying block. I am not a mason and it is on the ground so a lot of bending over, oh sweet back pain, we meet again. But two days ago was MONDAY. Keep plugging away.  3:15 done with all the block we have for now. Let's rest a while.  3:17  Deborah  " Do you think you could take my mom up to La Salle to get a view of northwest Haiti?"  (I knew we had talked about this earlier this week but it had somehow slipped my mind) immediately three songs started playing in my head, okay maybe not right away but nonetheless my reply was "okay"  (selfishly thinking to myself I really do not want to drive that road right now) BUT two days ago was MONDAY.

Thursday
    8:00 AM.  Truck loaded time to drive to Port-Au-Prince, I love to drive but more and more I really do not look forward to this trip. If you have been to Northwest Hait you know what I am talking about. My back just does not love this trip but three days ago was MONDAY, so off we go. 3:40 PM Arrive at Fermathe my back says thank you very much. Three songs rip through my frontal lobe. Man, when will I learn.

MONDAY was just three days ago.

Friday
     Slept in today, what a great feeling. 8:30am. Off to see Noah.  He asks if I would be willing to pick up George, (name changed to protect the innocent) a professor coming in for the Masters program, from the Airport. I inquire about the time of his arrival. Noah says he gets in at 2:40 pm.  I think about the day ahead, we leave to take grandma to the airport at 10:15, I need to go to 2 different hardware stores and then to the wholesale depot, all in the area of the airport.
       "Yeah, I think that is doable." I tell Noah. Traffic is great and we get all things accomplished in great time and are at the airport at 2:20. As we get out into the Port-Au-Prince oven that is the waiting area for disembarking passengers.  Three songs dance through my mind.
      MONDAY was just four days ago.
        Two weeks ago we waited for Deborah's mom and to our delight there was a new feature that let us know that her flight had been delayed for 58 minutes. Not today however the new board gave us nothing except a one word message " Loading"  I guess it should not surprise me but we did not even have a flight number anyway,so we wait. After an hour of waiting and playing the "is that George?!"  no "  game I decide to call and get some info on the flight. Reply, “it should be on the big board just above the door.” three songs softly begin to ring in my ears,    
      MONDAY was just four short days ago.
    5:00 pm we leave the airport parking lot with George and company safely in the truck. Now just a quick stop at the grocery store for needed supplies and then back to Fermathe. Arrive at the mission at 6:34 tired and not feeling very happy but….
     MONDAY was just four days ago.


MONDAY
     8:00 AM. Boss Noel shows up and we need to go get the last 10 sacks of cement for the work being done at the training center. 8:20 at the house where the cement is and I am flagged down by the director of the National school in Atrel. I roll down the window and greet Ric. He tells me that last night a student was burned and needs to go to the clinic at Passé Cata Bois ( 10 miles away or about 40 minuets in the gator) and could I take them as there was no way they could ride on a motorcycle. Now, running through my mind are a plethora of thoughts, What, of all that has been told me is true and how much of this is just theatrical over exaggeration, are they just trying to take advantage of the blan (foreigner), etc.
           I tell Ric I will be back as soon as I drop off the guys and cement. I wasn't really prepared for what I encountered on returning to town and to the house of Mishmana, a 15 year old girl. When I first hear the sobs and looked in the direction of the sound I was not sure what to think. She was still about 50 feet away but I could tell that this was not good. When she arrived at the gator the sight of melted skin almost made me vomit, I had to turn away.
          Once everyone was loaded into the gator we left. What should haven been 40 minutes took one hour and fifteen minutes due to road construction and a detour that was more of a donkey trail than a road. I cannot even begin to imagine the excruciating pain she was in.
          As we were driving I could hear both her mother and sister muttering what I can only guess were prayers, I say guess because what I could hear through the sobs of Mishmana were these words coming from her lips....

Chè Ségnè kinbin min-m, Edé mouin rété fèm;
Mouin bouké, fatigé, tèlman.
Nan loraj, nan fè noua, Kléré rout la dévan;
Kinbin min-m, chè Ségnè, fè-m rivé.

              Kè:
    Présié, présié Jézu,
    Zanmi sètin, juska la fin;
    Li ofri kò-l pou mouin gingnin la vi,
    Jézu, présié Ségnè.

Lè chémin-m difisil, E m-bézouin ou anpil,
Ségnè, rété la tou pré mouin.
Lè mouin prèt pou alé, Edé-m pou-m pa buté,
Kinbin min-m, chè Ségnè, fè-m rivé.

                 Kè:
    Présié, présié Jézu,
    Zanmi sètin, juska la fin;
    Li ofri kò-l pou mouin gingnin la vi,
    Jézu, présié Ségnè.

Lè solèy la kouché, E nuit la ap proché,
Et tout la vi mouin va fini,
Edé-m pa régrété, Nan ou sèl mouin konfié,
Kinbin min-m, chè Ségnè, fè-m

                  Kè:
    Présié, présié Jézu,
    Zanmi sètin, juska la fin;
    Li ofri kò-l pou mouin gingnin la vi,
    Jézu, présié Ségnè.

    For one hour and fifteen minutes singing praise to God. I cried for that one hour and fifteen minutes.
     What kind of faith do you have? Could I have done the same thing that Mishmana had? I do not know, but this week has taught me I sure do complain a lot, about some pretty petty irritations. Can you praise God through your pain? I certainly can’t speak for you, but I have a very long way to go. Father forgive me for complaining about so many little irritations, minor setbacks, and petty inconveniences, for complaining when things do not go MY way, and failing to praise You for everything. 10,000 reasons and many more.

    Please Pray for Mishmana as her road to recovery is going to be very long and painful, Pray that she will continue to praise God in the midst of pain and not become discouraged.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from warm sunny Atrel. 

We recently sent out our Christmas newsletter.  If you did not receive it you can  click on this link to read our most recent newsletter.

Thanks for your prayers and support throughout the past year.  You truly have been a blessing to us and the people of Atrel.

Fall Update

Showers of Blessing
We are so grateful, that since the end of August we have been receiving rains.  The crops are growing and there is beautiful green plant life all around us.  We are also praising God that our cisterns are full once again.  The 2 of the 3 springs in town are still dry, but we are praying that as we continue to get rain we will see water return to the springs.

So encouraging to see green crops growing.

Young boy helping to weed a millet field.

Meet Johnny
At the end of September we welcomed Johnny Brutil as our first full time staff member for the Northwest Training Center.  Johnny has been a huge help and is very eager to learn various construction skills and help out in any way he can.  Johnny has been living at the Fermathe campus of the Baptist Haiti mission for the past 12 years and recently graduated from Highschool.  We are very privileged to have him working with us in Atrel.

Sewing Ministry
It continues to be a delight to work with the 5 ladies who faithfully come each week to sew.  It has been such a fun, encouraging time to interact with these ladies and also help them to learn sewing skills.  We are currently working on sewing dresses and doll dresses.  This is our first adventure into making clothing and the ladies are appreciating learning skills to help make clothes for their children.  Our next step is hopefully little boy shirts and pants (any willing seamstresses out there what to teach this skill.  I have no idea where to start :)

Modeling the purse she finished.

Our machines were in great need of repair.  Thankful Bob was willing to use his skills.

Gardening/Construction
Thanks to some donations we have been able to keep a crew of 6-8 men working all summer and fall.  They have almost finished all the concrete work of the Quonset hut.

Johnny and Berend (visitor from Holland) hanging the doors

The men are now working on preparing the foundation for a school in the community of Marot, that will be finished by a visiting team in the spring.

Mid October we welcomed Bob and Helen Shaw.  They are planning to work with us for the next 6 months.  Their skills with gardening, sewing and sewing machine repairs are greatly needed and appreciated.
For the past two weeks we had Anita and Berend visiting from Holland.  They were a huge help with the construction of our shade house.  In this hot, dry environment we are struggling to grow vegetables.  We are hoping that this shade house will help us to grow vegetables and trees.

The wall are going up.

All the wall built, ready for shade cloth.

Team work to put the shade cloth on.

The finished project.

Sifting donkey poop to add to the soil.

Filling the first bed.