1561 feet

Many Hands for Haiti staff, community members, and workers gathered for morning prayer before beginning work to put up 1561 feet of barbed wire and cactus fence around the new land purchased recently in the nearby community of Sylvain.   The group prayed for God's hand of protection as the work begins and God's blessing to be over the land, AND for the people that God will touch through the work of Many Hands for Haiti.

                                 Kids are eager to see what is developing in their neighborhood

                                   We see a depth of poverty throughout this community, not just material.
                                        There is a sense of curiosity and of a hunger to learn and grow.

                                                 A strong desire for attention is very evident here


We are working to gather as much information as possible about the land.  Here is a scale drawing of the land to show the trees so plans can be formulated for future buildings to be positioned.  Soon, the process of gathering information about the area population will be underway.

                                Mango trees, Palm trees, coconut trees, Cashew trees, and more!

                1561 feet of fence is being installed with these tools and 12 workers with a desire to work.

                     Cactus by the truck load will reinforce the security provided by the barbed wire

  NO, it's not alive but don't tangle with the cactus.  You may not win.  :)   It is as if cacti can BITE!

After ALL (too many to count) 'fence posts' have been anchored and 12 spools (9600 feet) of barbed wire have been stretched taut and nailed, here are the hard working men working as a team.



Step one...Pick ax to break up the hard ground. (bottom)


Step two...(middle) the skillful trick of planting the cactus with minimal handling.

Step 3....shovel in the dirt around the cactus....for 1561 feet!

And as is usually the case, this is being done wearing flip flops!

                                    The hard working crew at the end of a long hot day.

                                                                 Cashew tree


Some other sights:

A delicious meal of rice and beans for lunch at an event nearby.
Served on what?  You guessed it...



A frisbee!

Garden tools that came from Hinch, a city just 15 miles away but a one and one quarter hour journey

    The twins whose mother died are being loved and cared for.

The twins have 5 sister and one brother (not pictured).  Gran (grandma) is a little lady but remains strong.  Many Hands for Haiti had blessed this family with a cement floor in January.  It will continue to be a health benefit for years to come as the twins grow up in this house.


An update will be coming soon on the little girl with the eye problem that was shared in a recent blog. The girl has been to a children's hospital in Cap Haitien.  She had surgery and the eye  was removed.
She is back home in Pignon and we will stop to see her tomorrow.


Recently, in our morning devotions with the MH Staff we thought about the concept of 'muscle memory' in regard to practicing a sport or skill. As a certain movement or skill is repeated over and over it becomes second nature.  It becomes something that can happen without even thinking.  It can become automatic. (Does 1561 feet of barbed wire and cactus fence come to mind right about now?) More importantly, we talked about muscle memory in terms of the more we are obedient to do God's will and are faithful to daily give praise and honor and glory to God that ALSO becomes second nature. In our discussion it was agreed that the muscle memory concept can apply in a negative way if a wrong behavior is repeated.

Romans 8:5-6 says:  For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.  To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

The conclusion we drew is that the Christian life is a real battle every day.  We need to keep up every day and say NO to temptation.  Sometimes we can fall but the more we practice obedience and being faithful to God; use 'muscle memory' in our lives for God's glory, we will win the battle.  Set your mind on the things of the Spirit.



                                    "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers,
             for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it."  Hebrews 13:2

God goes ahead of the needs

God often goes ahead of the needs.  Sometimes God answers prayer even before his faithful people are finished praying. God knows. Today we have seen 2 such occasions related to the 'unimaginable' situations we shared just a couple days ago.

There is another organization that has been working in this nearby area for many years.  They have a weekly clinic for undernourished or malnourished moms and babies to come for food, clothing, formula, diapers, blankets, basic medical provisions.  This morning we stopped in to share some diapers from MH4H's Sewing Hope program.  Part of the program involves students sewing diaper pieces that have been cut from t-shirts by people in the US and are sent here to be completed.  While at the 'mom/baby' clinic we received word that the twin babies were coming to the clinic.

Nai Love and My Love arrived.  They weigh 4 and 5 pounds.  We heard their story.... the deceased mother's sister, who has been married for a number of years but has no children, is ready to take them in. The provisions offered from the 'mom/baby' clinic will be a tremendous help to their new family.

We can continue to pray for each one involved to accept the circumstances... for the big brother of the infant twins who is without his mother, for the father of the children, for the aunt who overnight became the mother of these babies.

After the blog post showing the desperate need of the little girl with the eye problem, there have been helpful comments from medical professionals about what could be done.  As we needed some more information we contacted our friend Jean Ronel to ask if we could meet with the family.  He in turn contacted the girls father and learned that they are in Cap Haitien today, waiting for surgery to be done tomorrow!  The father said he does not know how he will pay for the medical care.  Another continued prayer need.

Yesterday and today presented housing needs.  This house in located in Savan Pignon which is a bit west of the main part of the city.  (Savan loosely means suburb)  We were introduced to the man who lives in this 2 room house with 6 children by our friend Pastor Clebert Jean. The entire structure leans as if it might collapse.  It is easy to see where rain water drainage is eroding ground right under the house.

We also met Kolbert who is living with relatives in the countryside because his house in Pignon is not suitably enclosed to live in.  He came from his garden to meet with us with a machete and leather sheath slung over his shoulder.  He has worked to get his house to this point but it seems there is no possibility for him to be able to purchase needed building materials. There is potential for his small 2 room house (below) to have a cement floor, tin roof and Krepi (Cement) covering the stick walls.

                                                                Boys from the neighborhood


Psalm 139:4-6  Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely.  You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it.

How good to know that God goes ahead of our needs.  You may find yourself in the middle of some unimaginable challenges.  Bring it to the feet of Jesus.  Ask God to work in your life.  God knows!

The Unimaginable

The unimaginable…

Each day in all parts of the world, unimaginable situations arise.  Just in the past few days an unimaginable number of these unimaginable situations have happened in our small part of the world in the Haitian communities between Acassia, Lacoste, Maliarette,and Pignon. 

This is Winley Presume, a 16 month old little boy who lives in a small stick and mud hut in Acassia.  Winley is part of the Many Hands for Haiti Thrive for 5 program.  We have known him since our arrival here June 2014.  Many Hands has given Winley the opportunity to receive much needed health care at the local hospital in Pignon.  Recently a doctor here referred Winley to an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist in Port au Prince.  A generous Iowa family provided the necessary funds for Madame Presume to take her son for the appointment.  Being from the countryside of Acassia, Port au Prince would swallow this timid mother and son alive so a friend of ours who knows the city well made the offer to be their escort.

The first trip to Port lasted 8 days.  A follow up visit a couple weeks later was a 5 day stay.  Even with the gift of being able to see the specialist here is Winley now. 

He again has been to the local hospital for some tests and received some medication.  We are praying today for healing, hoping to avoid yet another trip to Port au Prince for further treatment. 

                                                                                                                                          

This mother came to the dorm where we live in Lacoste with a plea for help for her 3 year old daughter. 

A simple assessment was that the little girl was starving to death.  A group that had come in February had brought some cans of baby formula so we knew THIS was why!  But no bottle was to be found.  A team that had been here earlier in March had planned to do a water treatment seminar and would utilize a quantity of small plastic bottles that would dispense the water treatment solution by the drop.  

           

         A quick snip and the small bottle was perfect for getting some nourishment into the lifeless body.

     Later that day and the next 2 days, visits were made to the baby’s home.  She is thriving a little better.

Our friend, Jean Ronel, introduced us to this little girl one evening in Pignon.  We don’t have much for details other than 3 months ago her right eye was normal.  

We currently don’t have anything in place to be able to offer assistance.  We continue to pray for God to provide a way for her to receive the help she needs.

Early one morning we heard music coming from an area just down the road from us.  We learned that it was music before a funeral that would take place later in the morning.  The night before, a mother had died after giving birth to twins.  The babies were alive in the local hospital.  We also heard that the father was looking for someone to give the babies to as he felt he could not care for them without their mother.  And right now, our prayers are all we can give.

 Many Hands for Haiti staff in Haiti.  Pictured L-R...Christi, Appolon, Claudin, Ebens, Burns, Craig, Woody

                (Also pictured far right, Lucia VanMaanen, team leader for many groups coming to Haiti)

This morning we met for devotions with the Many Hands staff and talked about how Jesus can be a bridge.  He is available to everyone, the strong and the weak.  Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me.”  One of the staff members commented how amazing it is that we can have a direct connection to Jesus.  He said, “Just close your eyes and talk to him.”

So...just close your eyes and talk with Jesus.  He can care for each of the unimaginable situations in your life too.

Try to imagine being an elderly woman and not having a mattress to sleep on. This was the unimaginable case discovered last week while visiting some families in the small neighboring community of Maliarette. 

        The team overwhelmingly agreed that they would like to bless this cute little old lady with a mattress.                             As we left we said, "Bon nwit" and "Domi Bien".  Good night and sleep well.

Another unimaginable circumstance....An elderly couple raising a 6 year old grandson.  On a visit, this team discovered the family was attempting to cook what little food they had by burning some dried cactus because they had no charcoal.  

BUT...We know God is unimaginably GOOD and is present here..

.                                                                                Bondye Bon, toutan.    God is Good, all the time

            All of these school children became part of a skit portraying the unimaginable Bible story of 

     Baby Moses as he was placed in a basket by his mother so he would escape being killed by the king.

Many Hands for Haiti will soon be serving God in the community of Slivain, just a bit south of Pignon.  The man on the left was invited to attend a Leadership Conference that a visiting team hosted.  He has shown leadership qualities that will be a tremendous benefit to the community.

                  Ebens and Craig enjoying a cold drink while waiting for a team to arrive in Cap Haitian.  

         Our son, Michael, came as part of that team during his college spring break!!!  Unimaginable JOY!!

                          Some mother-son time. Just finished an early morning climb up Mt Pignon.  

                                                         Made it to the top to see the sunrise

     Beautiful smiles from Jean Rene and his family.  Jean Rene lives nearby, is a driver for our teams and                   watches out for us in so many ways.  We are unimaginably blessed to have him as a friend.

                                                       And finally....Simply unimaginable beauty

Seeing God

Seeing God!

The other night the team that is here put together some bags of school supplies that will be given to primary school kids at a local school.  The items are a combination of things this team brought along with things a previous team brought.  110 bags were ready plus 8 bags for the teachers.  The group visited the school on Tuesday morning and learned there were 121 students present.  We began to consider our options so that each student would get a bag.  Maybe God would multiply the bags so that each student would walk home with some valuable supplies.  There were 10 children present at school that live together in an orphanage so it was determined that we could take bags to their orphanage home later in the afternoon.  

The team went about sharing the bags of school supplies, and suckers, class by class while the 10 kids from the orphanage sat together outside, graciously waiting for the afternoon gift. 

There in the suitcase, after each student in the classrooms had a bag, were… (yep, you guessed it…)  were 10 bags!!  Each team member looked around at the other with amazement and big smiles.  We love how God works with mystery! Amazing mystery!  Praise the Lord!

Seeing God!

Small correction....Soup pou Malad  (soup for the sick might sound better!)

The cooks have been a blessing to the woman that has been eating the soup they have been making.  BUT, as it is with many situations, the more you give in service to God to bless others, the more blessed you feel yourself. Such is the case for Beatrice and Evenie and their Meals on Wheels soup effort.  

They wrote the recipe out and Woody, one of the MH staff, was looking to translate what he could into English.  As you might guess, there are many of the ingredients that might not have an English name!

Recipe:

Soup pou Malad

  Viann Kabwit (Goat meat)                            Fèy liann ponye

*Bannan Miskaj (Big Plantain)                        Fèy etina

*Bannan Poban  (Fat Plantain)                     *Fèy chou (in the center)

*Bannan Zedinèt  (Small Plantain)                   Fèy lòzòy

  Malanga                                                       Fèy seleri

*Mazanbèl                                                     Fèykieson

  Yanm                                                        *Donbòy Farina (in the bowl)

*Kawòt  (Carrot)

*Pòmedetè  (Potato)

*Militon

    * (list above top to bottom pictured clockwise)

Besides building up the ones serving, the soup seems to be doing just what we hoped for the woman who is sick.  She is getting stronger day by day.  It is evident each time we do a meal delivery.  

In the process of getting the recipe ready to "publish" here and getting the pictures ready, the cooks have been peeking to see just 'what is this'? that we are doing!!  They looked at the picture of the ingredients and showed one more vegetable they have today.  They brought out one "Malanga" so we took another picture.  BUT...in the picture the vegetable doesn't really look like something you would eat.  More like something you might need to....  well....  um...  how should we say....   flush.   ha!

Seeing God!

Another situation where some simple resources and knowledge can make such a HUGE difference is with a young man who experienced serious injury from a live electrical wire. 

His name is Limas Dugue.  His wife, Philomise Seneya, and 20 month old baby girl named Rith-Naida Sanaelle Dugue live in a small 2 room house in the countryside.  Limas had spent about 2 weeks in the local hospital and had just returned home the day before we met him.  The team that is currently here is blessed to have 4 women that have nurses training.

His burn wounds were healing pretty well but had a couple of open places that were still draining.  The place that concerned us the most was the bottom of one foot. looking at the location of the burns it is as though the electrical shock went through his body, down his leg and 'out' the bottom of his foot.  Yowzer! 

We felt he and his wife needed to have instruction on keeping the wound clean and access to bandages and ointment.  We returned to their house later the same day with clean water, small towels, bed sheets, gauze, cloth tape, triple antibiotic ointment and clean socks

One of the young nurses cleaned and bandaged the open wounds.  We gave the advice that the bed sheets should be changed each day while the wounds were still draining. We returned the next day to do the same. We will go again to try to continue the training they need to understand the importance of keeping things clean and dry.

One of the other gals is using her knowledge to fill ziploc bags with the things they would use to treat the wounds.  One bag for each day.  He has one place on his chest that is also draining so we are going back with several clean t-shirts that teams have left behind so that a dirty shirty isn't rubbing against the open wound.  

In each of these encounters we have been - Seeing GOD!  

Yours, O Lord, are the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heavens and on the earth is yours; yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all.  In your hand are power and might; and it is in your hand to make great and to give strength to all.  And now, our God, we give thanks to you and praise your glorious name.  1 Chronicles 29:11-13

Soup Malad

Friday afternoon the team had food to deliver to some families around the area.  Ebens prayerfully planned where the team could be a blessing to families in need.  At the first stop the team discovered an elderly woman in bed.  Her family said she had not been out of bed for a month because she had been sick. 

Friday evening after the evening meal the team was reflecting on the day and began to wonder if there would be more they could do to help the woman.  The idea came up that we should bring her something very nutritious to eat because she really seemed weak and needed to gain her strength back.  Someone suggested soup.  We asked Beatrice and Evenie, our cooks, what kind of food would make a person strong after being sick.  They had a recipe for soup that they thought would be the best thing.  We wondered if there would be a place to buy the soup already made somewhere in Pignon.  They said no, the only way would be to purchase the ingredients and make it. 

We began thinking of other ideas but right away, Beatrice and Evenie said they would make the soup for the woman that was sick if there would be ingredients available.  In no time the cooks brought a list of things that could be purchased at the Saturday market in Pignon.  The Creole name of the soup... “Soup Malad”, translation…”Sick Soup”.  J

Saturday afternoon the ladies were busy cooking this wonderfully nutritious soup.  At 5:00 PM Beatrice, Evenie and several team members went together to bring the “Sick Soup” to the sick woman.  Evenie dished up some of the soup in a bowl and gave it to the woman.  Without hesitation, the woman raised her hand, said “Mesi Bondye” and started eating.  The team stood in amazement as she ate the soup as fast as she could.  It seemed to be that she was literally starving. 

We hesitate to say but the possibility is there that the family has not offered her food to eat.  What if the family decided there wasn’t enough food to go around so the elderly woman was left out at meal time? 

Beatrice and Evenie were troubled by the situation as well.  They said we need to bring the woman food every day because she is so hungry and weak.  They offered to keep cooking for her if we could provide the ingredients.   How cool is it that these wonderful women are willing to give their time and energy!  Bondye Bon, Toutan!  God is good, all the time!

Hmmm, what if we call it ‘Meals on Wheels’?  J