The last couple months have been so full I hardly know where to begin! First of all, we are extremely thankful for all our friends and family that have come to visit us and support us! On behalf of our family, I would like to thank each one who has made the effort to come! The anticipation and joy that we feel when we see a vehicle pull in with people we know is hard to describe! We know what a big trip it is, and how many shots you have to get, and how many unknowns there are, and how winding the roads are, and how big the potholes are, and how different the culture is, etc., etc.!!! So, to put it plainly, we feel loved!
A large group came from our church in Goodfield at the end of February to work on the Medicine Ward in the hospital. I am happy to report that last week was the ribbon cutting ceremony, and it is already being well used and appreciated! It looks beautiful! And, perhaps of equal importance, was the baseball game we played at the end of that week:). Our boys were looking forward to it all week, and they were not disappointed! Many people were touched by the team throughout the week ---hospital patients, Haitians in the community, and definitely our family and the rest of the missionaries here!
Our niece Abbie and her friend Brooke came for a week in March, and it happened to be the kids' spring break from school. They did so many fun activities with the kids and really made it a great week for all of us. We also spent a day doing a project at the hospital moving files from one room to another. It was a fun and accomplishing day, and we were so glad for their help!
Last week we hosted Kurt's cousin and his wife from Ohio. They helped out at the hospital, our house, and wherever they were needed. So grateful for the fellowship and joy they brought!
Lastly, please join us in praying and spreading the word... we are in need of a teacher for the missionary children for next school year. Click here for more info. on this teacher position!
Joan
Our team from Goodfield.
Our kids had a blast with Jayci and Alex who came with the Goodfield team. They spent a lot of time hunting geckos, tarantulas and snakes!
Some very adventurous folks enjoyed riding on top of the Toyotas!
Throughout the week we took small groups out into the countryside to visit some Haitians in their homes. We took them rice and beans, sang a song, and had a prayer with them. It was a huge blessing for all of us. One day, the group was hiking a particularly strenuous mountain, and they weren't sure if it was worth the hike. When they came back, however, they told us it was VERY worth it....the lady that they visited told them she had just had a dream the night before that a group of people came to visit her and encourage her!
Passing out some gifts at a Haitian home.
Kurt's sister working hard painting!
Our kids had the special privilege of going on a class trip to Cape Haitian in the north of Haiti (about a 10 hour drive from us). They were gone for 3 days and had a wonderful time experiencing and learning the history of Haiti. A special thanks to all the chaperones that went along and especially to Miss Desma for giving them this opportunity!
My Ladies singing group recently sang for a team that was here from the States.
Kurt took Reg and Hadley and a Haitian friend to Port to pick up some guests, and they had some time to sight-see,
This was our 10 hour file moving marathon that Brooke and Abbie got to help with.
The files all had to be kept in order, and they ended up in this narrow hallway.
One day we took the girls to a pizza place in Cayes.
I enjoy visiting the hospital during the week. I sometimes take my mandolin and play and sing for the patients. I have typed up several Creole songs, so I can sing for them in their own language. They also like to sing along!
Sometimes Brenna comes with me, and she brings a coloring book and crayons to color with the patients.
The last few months we've been taking our students to Cayes for sports day once a month to play with the kids at the missionary school there. It has been fun for them to play soccer with a bigger group of kids.
This is the boutique at the Domestic Centre in Cayes where I help out once a week. Olga (in the picture with me) has become a good friend of mine, and I enjoy working with her.
This was at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new medicine ward.
Last week we had a dental team here that set up a clinic at the hospital. They either clean teeth or pull teeth, but nothing in between. I watched a guy get four teeth pulled! Kurt's cousin Scott and his wife Sara helped out a bit with the team while they were here.
Sara, Scott and I spent a day painting Kurt's office.
The kids had a science fair for school and spent a lot of time on research and presentations. Toby did the science of baking ingredients....
Hadley did the science of hydraulics....
Brenna studied different trees of Haiti. It was a fun and informative project!
We continue to thank God for the beauty that surrounds us here. Thankfulness, I believe, is the key to finding joy in the journey.
