August Haiti Trip - Day #6 - Saturday, August 6

Prayer Partner of the Day - The Hogan Family

My cheeks hurt from smiling so much today! It was an early day again. Chris, Jerry, Steve & I went toward Jacmel to pick up the replacement parts for the solar systems, only to turn around 15 minutes into our drive, come back to Cheridant, repack and head toward Leogane. We made a stop at the monastery to pick up supplies, drop off supplies, and give hugs to the brothers. Then we were off to Leogane to the Notre Dame orphanage. Unfortunately, there was nothing we could do for the system there, so we made a list, made notes, and put a call into Bertone.

Rubble still sits in Cheridant as a everyday
reminder of the devastating earthquake.

Jean Jacques Sylvain was awaiting us at the Total station in Leogane to finally give us the solar parts we had been waiting for all week. Of course, since we were at the Total station, we took the opportunity to have ice cream! We stopped back by Trouin to install the new charge controller, and repeated the process in Cheridant. By the end of the afternoon, the operators of both systems had been trained, and the three systems were running on their own.

Finally we were able to get to Ancy's mother's home up the road from Cheridant. The fellas had the system installed under an hour, and four light bulbs were lighting up her home! What a great feeling it was to know we completed all of the tasks we set out to accomplish!

The Cheridant Volunteer House, complete with solar panels.

A bit of sadness hit me this evening when I realized it was our last night in Cheridant. I adore Father Desire, the priest in charge of the Cheridant-area. He is such a great man! Tonight he brought out pictures of his family, and they are just as precious as he is. I hope I will be able to get to Arkansas in October when he & Ancy are there for the Haiti Education Foundation conference. Ancy, of course, has been wonderful, and I do so enjoy being with him any chance I get. Gerald, Chris's Haitian son, has also been with us everyday! We're currently pre-arranging his and Lesedi's marriage! :)

The complete system in Trouin.

It's been such a great trip, despite the storm, and the lack of luggage. I've never been more thankful to be part of a team, especially THIS team. The week really could not have gone better. Many thanks to everyone who has joined us in daily prayer. Those prayers sustain us with energy, encouragement and a great Spirit!

August Haiti Trip - Day #5 - Friday, August 5

Prayer Partner of the Day - Jon Reece

It was a slow morning. Everyone awakened slowly. We were surprised Emily had passed so peacefully during the night. The clouds and the wind were still high, but the rain was gone.

Everything was on a delay today. Ancy was late. The Cheridant students arrived very late, and the Trouin class arrived very late. It was banner day, though, and we had a great time singing songs and making the banners. Lesly & Amos continue to come to class in Cheridant and teach in the afternoons in Trouin. What a blessing they are!

I took time this morning to rewrite my sermon after Caleb gave great suggestions and edits. I'm starting to get very excited about giving it on Sunday.

As of tonight, the health & hygiene classes have concluded, two solar/water systems are up and running, and the solar system for the volunteer house is powering the building nicely. We are simply awaiting alternate solar parts to complete the jobs. Green Energy promises they will meet us tomorrow with the parts. Chris, Steve & Ancy will ride down to meet them, and Jerry & I will be dropped off at the Notre Dame Orphanage in Leogane to repair the pump.

Still no luggage. Ancy has called the airport just about every hour every day. Ah well. Again, I simply so thankful for the members of our team and their great donations to my wardrobe! I am filled with humility, as I am such an independent person and depending on others is really teaching me the act of being humble and thankful for others. We are a great team, and I am so happy to be here. Many thanks to those who are holding us in prayer! We feel certain those prayers weakened Emily and steered her away from us!

August Haiti Trip - Day #4 - Thursday, August 4

A Five-Gallon Water Bottle with Clean Water
sitting atop the altar in the Cheridant Church.

Prayer Partner of the Day - Sean Devolites

This morning at 4:00am I woke up shivering! I thought the lukewarm shower would warm me up -- it was FREEZING! And now I've been cold all day long. HELLO! It's August in HAITI! What is going on here?

We woke up thinking the hurricane had passed during the night with the big winds and rain. However, around 9:30am, we received word that those were only outer bands and Emily had stalled off the coast. We spent the day with winds and rain, and messages came in all day long saying she was "on her way." Tonight, we're still awaiting the "rough" part. They keep saying 8:00pm.

Amos & Lesly teaching in Trouin.

The two education classes went extremely well today. Two students, Amos & Lesly, came from Trouin to Cheridant to sit in for the morning class. Then they taught the afternoon class in Trouin. It was perfect!

The biggest joy of the day... I was walking back from the water building in Cheridant, and as I looked up toward the volunteer house, I see Pastor Evens from Blanket walking toward me! It was a great surprise! I had not expected to see him at all, as Blanket is VERY far from where we were located. He sat with me for the health class in Cheridant, had lunch with us, and rode down to Trouin with our group. It was SO good to see him. Great news about our goats.... Leo and Ashley have both given birth to two healthy, happy baby goats! The Blanket church is taking very good care of them! Ancy & Sam are apparently very proud dads! :)

Our Haitian family is doing well, but clearly they are worried about their families and the storm. Ancy has been nervously pacing and continues to call Lorna and the boys. Valdes and Charles have been riding back to Leogane everyday after our work is complete for the day. Salien is staying with us in Cheridant. He told us today that his sister was killed in Port-Au-Prince last week. A gun fight broke out between the police and gang members, and a stray bullet came thru her house and struck her. I'm glad we could be here with Salien this week, as we are his second family.

Father Michaud brought the Scripture for Sunday. It's Matthew's story of Jesus walking on water. I went with the theme, "You Just Have To Believe." It's coming together nicely, as the Spirit is inspiring me quickly!

I'm so thankful for this wonderful group of people to serve alongside. At one point today, I had on Linda's pants, Lesedi's shirt, Jim's shirt, Steve's jacket, and Claudia's socks. (Can you tell I was COLD!?) I couldn't make it thru this trip without them.

Still awaiting Emily... What will she bring?

August Haiti Trip - Day #3 - Wednesday, August 3

Prayer Partner of the Day - Barb Black

Early to bed, early to rise! A good morning, with a good shower, a good cup of coffee and an amazing view. The weather was cool for most of the day with rain off and on. We're starting to wonder about this hurricane. Will it be bad tonight? Will it not be? Maybe it will pass right over with no damage? We cannot get cell phone service in Cheridant, so all of us had our phones out in Trouin, downloading messages and getting the latest news.

The Solar Powered Water System in Cheridant

This morning, while part of the team was working on the solar/water system in Cheridant, the rest of us were teaching the health & hygiene class. We had a great group of children and adults. Maybe 50 participants in all. Ancy did most of the translating. He is so animated and excited! I sat with three children, a boy named John and two little girls. Ah, they were so cute! Class went well, and afterward Jim & I went by the clinic to drop off supplies. Lorna, Ancy's wife, was working, as she is a nurse and gives her time there twice a week.

After lunch, we went down to Trouin. Part of the group began working on the solar/water system, while the rest of us taught the health class there. Basically, it was a repeat of the morning, but we felt much more prepared and ready! Our class was great, mostly male young adults. They were responsive and seemed to be having much fun. Father Michaud Fruito, Trouin's parish priest, asked if I would preach at his worship service on Sunday. I nervously agreed.

The Solar Powered Water System in Trouin

By the end of the day, the system in Cheridant was finished, and the system in Trouin was nearly complete. Jerry also found the short in the electrical system at the Volunteer House, and now it is running without fault! Tonight we went down to shock the system in Cheridant. It was nice to be able to teach the fellas who hadn't shocked before... All those system installs with Bob & Chuck really paid off!! (Miss y'all!)


I am so thankful for everyone chipping in undies, toiletries, and clothing for me to use this week. I wouldn't be able to make it wearing the same smelly clothes day after day! With the supplies and the encouragement, I've been able to keep a smile on my face and be comfortable. The storm is starting to roll in now. Lightning is filling the sky, and thunder is rumbling. Emily is on her way! Ready to see what tomorrow will bring!

August Haiti Trip - Day #2 - Tuesday, August 2

Prayer Partners of the Day - Bob McCoy & Sarah Anderson

It was a rough night's sleep, as I was worried Ancy and I would oversleep and be late to the airport! We were off by 5:15am, excited to see Kendall & co and to pick up my bags. They'll be there, right?

Without said luggage, Claudia nicely lent me a pair of undies to wear for the day! Nothing like a new pair, just to feel clean! Our first stop down the mountain was at Ancy's house. We visited with Lorna, Hans & Kerry for a bit. They are such a wonderful family.

At the airport, we met up with Ancy's cousin. I was able to go inside baggage claim, look through the baggage room, and go through the bags that were coming in from the new flight. With it being Kendall's first time in Haiti, I was so happy to be able to meet her inside the airport and usher them through the chaos. Unfortunately, my bags were not there. They assured me they'd be on the next flight.

Ancy thought it best to stay in Port Au Prince, and off we went to Petitionville to look for Hans a video game. Did you know they have a Radio Shack in Haiti? This little suburb was where the "rich folk" live! It was like entering a new world. Back to the airport we went... Still no bag. Everyone was incredibly helpful and apologetic, which kept me from losing my cool and going completely insane. What's a week in Haiti without clean clothes? No big deal, right? We'll just go by the WalMart on the way back up the mountain :)

We stopped back by the monastery on the way back up the mountain. Internet check and bathroom stop! We also stopped in Trouin, the site of solar/water installation site #2. Our team was unable to make it down to the site today because we had the KIA in PAP all day. We'll start work there tomorrow. Back in Cheridant, we were warmly welcomed home by the team. Lesedi, Kendall's daughter, is thankfully my size, and opened up her bag to me. Everyone has donated a pair of undies for the week... I'm so thankful for their extra clothes!

Hurricane Emily is on her way... This should be interesting!

August Haiti Trip - Day #1 - Monday, August 1

Prayer Partner of the Day - Becky Field-Ross

What a day. I don't even have the words to describe it!

Meeting the team at the airport was so exciting! We were pumped! We were ready! We were anxious to get to Haiti and start working! However, three of our team members were delayed and they called to say they wouldn't be in Haiti till the next day. The flight down was uneventful, though my seat mate was quite the chatty "cathy!" Always making friends on the plane rides to and from Haiti...

Roody Joseph's plant on the main road in Leogane.

When we arrived in Port-Au-Prince, we got off the plane, rode the bus to the terminal, went through customs, and began the process of finding our luggage amidst the chaos. Nothing out of the ordinary... until everyone had their bags...except me. We looked until we could look no more. Nothing. Thus, I filed a claim with the baggage folks, and we went on our way. Not to worry, it'll show up tomorrow, and since I'll be with Ancy picking up our three delayed team members, all will work out perfectly.

We stopped along the way in Leogane to visit with Roody Joseph and his prominent solar/water system on the main road. There was a medical team staying with Roody, and one of the guys just happened to know Chris. They were old high school classmates. What a small, small world. Afterward, we started up the mountain. It was a bit weird not stopping at the monastery, as that has been my home in Haiti for most of this year.

The building is lit up now by this outside light...powered by
the new solar panels!

We arrived in Cheridant, just before it got too dark. The building was lit up, as our solar system had already been delivered by Green Energy. Mannes and Salien, along with many others, were there to greet us. As always, it's just like coming home! We settled in, had dinner, and then Ancy & I decided to drive back down the mountain and spend the night at the monastery to knock an hour off our drive to the airport the next morning. Olizard, Ignace & Sonie happily greeted us. It was so good to see them, and my room had not changed a bit! Even my ear plugs were still on the ledge! My bed, my belongings, everything was as I had left it. Talk about having a second home!

Tomorrow will be an early morning. Ancy & I will need to leave by 5:00am to get to the airport on time to pick up Kendall & the kids...and my luggage!

Haiti Travel Day - July 31, 2011

Prayer Partners: Bill Goad (AKA Dad) & Carl Jones

It was a fairly uneventful day of travel, which is exactly what I like! Since American Airlines still cannot get me from Vegas to Port Au Prince in one day, I spent the morning hanging out with John, and then I enjoyed a smooth flight to Miami. They played the movie Rio, which I highly recommend! It was very entertaining! And since American Airlines will not keep my bags overnight, I picked them up and drug them to the hotel with me. The hotel shuttle pulled away from the airport at about the time I walked outside...just my luck. Thankfully it was a nice evening, not too hot and humid, and I patiently waited.

Tomorrow is the big day! I'll sleep in, have a nice breakfast, and meet the gang at the airport midday! Fourth trip to Haiti this year... By the end of this trip, I (with the help of many teams) will have installed this year three solar-powered clean water systems, six standard clean water systems, and two stand-alone solar power systems. WOW! God is using our teams to do amazing things in Haiti. How lucky am I to be a part of it?!

We thank you again for joining us on this journey! Your prayers will be very helpful! Specifically we will ask for a couple of things -- first, please pray the storm brewing to the southeast of Haiti does not turn into a hurricane! While I love a good storm, I don't want to experience one in Haiti! Second, a few members of our team are experiencing travel woes and will not make it to Haiti with us on Monday. Pray for their safety as we hope they will still be able to join us!

Good night!