What’s Been Up with Us?
We’ve had a busy past couple of months to say the least. Jan has been learning more and more about designing trusses for schools and churches. It took a lot of effort, especially for him and Tess, but he has a 3-ring binder full of information for about every aspect of the construction job. His worse fear is loosing “his brains”! He has had many pastors stop by to discuss future plans, and so he continues to have opportunity to practice his Creole which is coming along nicely. Cell phones usage is on the rise here in Haiti. It makes communication with pastors so much better, especially when there are glitches in the schedule.

I continue to do the book- keeping and paying of bills, salaries, etc. I am very thankful for the good procedures set down by the Shicks, which help a new-comer get a grasp of the job. Running the Guest House has been quite challenging at times. I am glad for the wonderful staff which work very hard during the winter months, and often are asked to re-adjust their schedules because of late planes, or early arrival of teams from projects. Being flexible is the name of the game in Haiti. Today I went to the bank expecting to stand in line for at least 20-30 minutes. Next thing I knew I was escorted to the front and had a few minute wait with air-conditioning blowing right on me! You never know what is going to happen.

We spent a long weekend at Jacmel, which is a coastal town near Port. Each year the missionaries get away together for a time of renewal. The mornings and evenings are structured with a speaker from the US, but the afternoons are free for going to the beach, swimming in the pool, or just reading a book. It is always a nice getaway. This was our first trip to this resort. We were fortunate to get a room with a lovely view of the ocean and all night long we could hear the waves beating against the rocks. Serenity!

Our view from our room at Jacmel Retreat

We are coming home in a March to prepare for another baby due to arrive late April. Jan will be staying in Haiti until mid April. He will leave right after “Convention”. This occurs once a year, pastors, regional & district leaders, deacons and thousands of believers gather in our village for this week long convention. Jan will receive many requests from pastors for roof projects during this time.

Our Children
The children continue to adjust to life here. School keeps them busy during the week as well as helping prepare for teams and established play time with the compound kids. They really enjoy the time when the teams are around the compound. One team in January spent more time than usual around the compound, and Alisha, Mark and Derek enjoyed several trips to the local river for swims. They’ve pretty much established friends, and although they miss family and friends back home, they seem to be doing fine here in Haiti.

The children are all excited to come back, this being the longest we’ve been away. Even Derek keeps asking about when we go to the “States”. Mark has become my fruit buyer. When the fruit ladies show up, I send him out! He’s learning to ask about the fruit I might want, and also how to tell them we don’t need anything. I usually grab Tess when I can’t get my point across or understand the Creole being tossed my way, and Christophe is not around. She is doing very well at understanding, and she’s been told by natives that she speaks good Creole. Alisha keeps asking how she is going to learn, and we keep brainstorming for good ideas. Derek spends his day bouncing in and out of the house. He’s learned to pedal his tri-cycle, so he is getting a lot of good use out of the new cement porch floor. When there is a lot of action in the shop, we don’t see much of him. He also still likes to “help” our yard man. Sometimes I hear Audin saying “no Derek” and I yell out the window to Derek to obey Audin. Derek likes to think he is the boss!

A load of new church benches headed for 1st Baptiste Church

Teams
January was busy with 3 construction teams and one week break. February was slow with only one team which was a SEED team. Since we are not in charge of the planning of these teams, we just pretty much get to enjoy the fellowship with fellow Apostolics who come down to work with Frantz and Doris Clotaire. During February, Ron Shick worked daily with our Haitian help make church benches for one of the Baptiste Churches in Cayes. They look really nice. The pastor of this church was recently elected president of the MEBSH mission. It seems the Lord has much work for him to do, and he appears to be a man to get the job done. Please pray for Pastor Luders as he takes on this big responsibility.

We also enjoyed a visit from 2 board members and their wives, plus Tim and Joan Reinhard, who will be joining us in May. We had many meetings, but also enjoyed times of fellowship. The children were well taken care of by the ladies who came down. March will bring two construction teams, a well-drilling team, a trade school team, and another SEED team. The fellowship of the teams is a true blessing to us. Each team is unique and always a joy for us. We praise God for His protection over these teams as they travel in and out of Haiti.

What’s Ahead for Us?
After our return in May, we will be finishing up our “learning time” with the Shicks. They plan to depart Haiti the first part of June. Our last team for the season will come the first part of June as well and then we move into “slower” mode. It will be time again for heavy duty Creole lessons. There will be “places” to better organize, plans to develop in sharing the work with Tim and Joan, and maybe an occasional trip to the beach! Thanks for your continual prayers, emails of encouragement, and thoughts as we continue God’s work here in Haiti. It truly is God’s work and His alone. We trust we can be faithful to His plan. It is an exciting time for the Apostolic Church as we have taken the leadership role in the MEBSH Construction Dept. Be prayerful for the Caribbean Board as many new challenges face them as the work in the Caribbean continues to expand. To God be the Glory!

Psalm 127:1 Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.