1 Month of Catch-up

Well this update includes about 1 month of information. To get it in the right order you will have to begin at the end of this post, and work your way back to the top.

Last week was pretty tense here for a few days, with rioting and demonstrating, but things have cooled down again it seems. We don't have any pictures of the damage, but there were demonstrations going past our school, up and down Delmas 31 and 33. Thankfully, there was no damage done to the school, and to our house. Most of the damage was done on Main Delmas, by the Presidential Palace, and by the airport. We were at school when the violence started, and when we drove home the roads were filled with burning tires, rocks, and hydro poles all over the road, garbage bins dumped over and lit on fire, and a lot of windows destroyed. We ended up closing school for 3 days, until things were quiet enough here again. We pray that the LORD may bless the government as they continue to lead this country and work to provide for the people. We pray that the people may be set free from the chains of bondage as the devil tries to stir up chaos, violence and hatred.

These are some pictures of our kindergarten classes.
Practicing spelling.
My beautiful wife and Reginald, a student in grade 1.

I am looking more and more Haitian every day. Soon you won't be able to tell me apart.
To those who have donated sports equipment - it is being put to good use. Soccer balls, Basketballs, skipping ropes, basketball nets, mesh, pumps, etc, etc - The children and students enjoy them immensely.
Cadeau's school had a soccer game against his old school from last year, a school which is just across the road from Adoration. They lost the game, but it was fun none the less.
Cadeau is in the front row, farthest to the left.


The beginning of the game, on the dust field.

We had a BBQ at our house on Sunday night with a bunch of friends, which was nice. We had a sing-song out on our patio, and enjoyed the beautiful weather. That is what I love about Haiti - it is a great outdoor climate.

This is Leslie. She is from Brampton, and she is an accountant, and is here in Haiti volunteering with CRWRC.

This is Rod and Brittany. Rod is from Australia, and Brittany from California. They met here, and just got married about 2 months ago.

We had vaccinations at the school for polio, something, and something. I can't remember right now, but, let me tell you, the were important shots.
The bravest of the brave were the kindergarten students, and the rest weren't too thrilled to be getting shots, to say the least.



Kindergarten teacher, Marline receiving a shot.

On Friday March ?( a few weeks ago), we had a youth retreat (all nighter) up in Titayen, which is up the coast a little, outside of Port au Prince. This is a picture of the teens just before breakfast, after most of

them pulled an all-nighter. It was a fun retreat, however, i realized that i am getting old. I used to be able to pull an all-nighter very easily - not any more.



Here I am preparing a Bible story for morning devotions with the school. Samuel is helping me translate it.


After our hike up to Seguine, I went with a friend of mine, Pastor Zack, to Belladere, for 2 days as they were beginning to build a CRC church. The first day that we were there we got to help dig the foundation, very hot and tiring work.


Fortunately, they had a lot of it done. A crew of us spent the day digging and leveling the dirt, and then the next day they finished digging, and prepared all the re-bar for the footings.
The next day, Tuesday I spent the morning helping haul water up from the river. The Haitians got a kick out of me trying to balance a bucket of water on my head - they thought it was the funniest thing. Wow, that was a tough job. I managed to carry the buckets on my head and keep up with the women and youth, but i could not balance the bucket on my head without any hands. I don't know how they do it.

Fetching water from the river. It was a pretty hefty walk down to the river, but the walk down was nice, compared to walking back up with a pail of water. That is how they filled their cistern, one bucket at a time, so they could do conrete with it.

A short clip of us walking down to the river.