fRieNdS

Putting Right Along

Since the medical team left us we have putting right along with life. We were able to enjoy a spiritual retreat with the CRWRC here in Haiti, enjoying the beauty of Haiti, spending time in God's word and fellowshipping, it was a beautiful time! When we got back from that we were once again struck with some kind of bug, both Randy and I took a few days to recover from the nasty little bug and now we are getting right back into the swing of things. Thursday we celebrated Amercian Thanksgiving, one of the plus' to living here - double turkey dinners! We do have much to be thankful for, it was nice to gather with friends and remember all the good things that the Lord has done for us.

And while we've been putting along with life we have been encountering some tough stuff. People who are have been hurt and are broken, and sick.... it's hard. Life is tough. Please keep these people in your prayers, the Lord knows their names. Pray that they may be touched and healed and that their lives may once again be filled with hope.

Bye Bye!

Well the medical team has packed up and gone home. Thank you Uncle Hank, Karon, Samantha, Deanna, Jackie, Andrea, Sarah and Kim for giving of your time to serve here in Haiti. We know that you were a blessing here and we pray that you were blessed as well. Maia is missing having you all around as there is really not much entertainment anymore while she eats her brekkie and supper.

The advertisement on the door for the clinic at Adoration
The "pharmacy"Moms and babies waiting for their medication. Some ladies in Canada knitted and donated the little teddy bears for the children, they LOVED them.One little boy proudly holding his and his brothers teddy bears.While glancing through all of the pics that the medical team took I found a few of Maia, enjoying life, that brought a smile to my face...

More Medical Happenings

On Friday the day was spent in Croix des Bouquets out in a small church. Again 200 patients were seen and cared for. Here are some pics of team members seeing patients ...

Group Picture up at Fort Jacques

Medical Team

well... we haven't been very good about keeping you updated on the medical team but hopefully this post gives you a good idea of what they have been up toThe Medical Team has arrived... a couple of days ago now already... and has been hard at work first around the Delmas 31 area registering patients, assessing patients, diagnosing them, prescribing them meds, packaging meds and distruting meds. They've had some big clinic days, the first two days being at Adoration School seeing about 200 patients as well as doing 10 minor surgeries. And yesterday they were out by Delmas 10 at Pastor Leny's church running a clinic where I think they saw close to 300 patients. We pray that the medical treatment that was received will be blest - that the patients will be healed from their sicknesses and relieved of some of the pain that they deal with day in and day out.

I should introduce you to the wonderful doctor, nurses and paramedics that we have with us. Uncle Hank Scholtens, Samantha Jongsma, Deanna Oosterhoff, Andrea Hopman, Sarah Otten, Karen Gazeindam, Jackie Schakel, and Kim Hutten. They are a fantastic team who are doing an incredible job and we are having a lot of fun hosting them.

Today they were out a little ways seeing patients in Bon Repos. It was a clinic of 200 patients in a church associated with Pastor Leny. Although the church was a little furnace - tin roof - the team persevered through the heat and were even done earlier than usual. Only one more clinic day to go tomorrow in Croix des Bouquet tomorrow and then their clinical week here in Haiti is done. They've seen some tough stuff this week, some heartbreaking cases and some people who really have it tough. Our prayer as a team is that through the small amount of time they were with us in the clinic they felt loved and cared for and we pray that the medication may ease their pain and suffering.

More happenings at the ACC

As I was just quickly glancing over our blog I realized that Maia has totally overtaken! There is more going on here...

Adoration Christian Centre continues to be a happening place.

The school is running very smoothly. This year we have 120 students, 8 teachers, and 2 teacher assistants. We have a great team of teachers who are committed to their students as well as encouraging each other. It's a beautiful thing to see them working for the Lord in the school environment. Most of the students are active and healthy and are enjoying their days at Adoration, through the sponsorship program they are provided with breakfast and lunch, an Adoration shirt, textbooks, and most importantly a Christian education. One thing that we have opened up at the school this year that is very exciting is the Special Education Class. We have taken in 10 students with a variety of special needs and have hired a qualified teacher and assistant who are working with them. This class has been a huge blessing as these children would not otherwise be going to school. Now these children have a chance to learn as well as interact and play with the other students in the school.

One top of the regular running of the school the organization also has 60 secondary students that we sponsor. When they are done at Adoration, which ends at Grade 5, the students are sponsored to go to other schools. The majority of our students attend either Chima or Guilgal but we have a few students in other schools as well. Through the sponsorship program these students are provided with their books, uniform, class trips, exam fees and tuition payments. And because most of these students are older they have a few things that they need to take responsibility for. They each have a day once a week that they need to come in and help clean the school and they are required to attend Bible study once a week that is lead by the pastors of the Presbyterian Church.

And while all of this is going on at the school there is also a medical clinic run by Dr. Ed and his two Haitian assistants. Four days a week they come to Adoration and host free clinic days for the community. Through the course of a week 120 people are seen and treated and are also exposed to a short devotion, to share with them the good news and encourage them. These devotions are given by either Pastor Octavius, or Pastor Leon or Randy. Dr. Ed also sees the students of the school who are sick. Kim goes around and finds the sick students and Dr. Ed sees them and Kim administers the medicine to the students at the school.

And then when classes are over, clinic is done, and the school is cleaned the church comes in and uses the property. Premiere L'Eglise Presbyterian de Port au Prince uses the property four times a week for prayer service, Bible study, church services and their theological seminary. The church is active with four supervising pastors and Randy all working together to teach Reformed doctrine. This past week we were able to celebrate our 1 year anniversary of the church plant. We celebrated with church services every night and then a special service on Sunday morning with a social afterwards. It was a full house! One thing in the church plant that we are very thankful for is the amount of committed young men. We pray that these men may become Christian leaders in their communities and in their households.

So that's an overview of what is happening on the frontlines, their is still lots of other stuff going on behind the scenes both here in Haiti as well as in Canada. None of this would be happening if we didn't have the board and committees and volunteers in Canada giving of their time to make things happen. When we reflect on the organization and all the people that are involved, both in Canada and in Haiti, we are amazed at how the Lord has provided and blessed the organization. God is Good!

Back to "normal"

Well life is getting back to normal... whatever normal is. We were fighting some kind of viral infection in our neighbourhood, both Kim and I were sick which meant extra busy days for Randy as he looked after the school, sponsor students, running errands, and Maia. Thankfully Kim and I are both feeling healthy again and have been getting back to our regular routine. In the midst of the sickness my sister, Nicole came down and saved the day by filling in at the school making sure things ran smoothly, her expertise is selling pens and pencils :) At Adoration we finished off our first controle, today was the parent teacher meeting and tomorrow, the Lord willing we will be starting our second controle. It's hard to believe we are already a quarter of the way through the year. We've seen many ways in which the Lord has continued to bless Adoration, He is good and faithful and for that we give Him praise.
Maia continues to do well living in the Caribbean. She is almost 6 months already which means we've started her on a few solids. So far she's eaten some baby apple sauce and some rice cereal and she spends many hours chewing on bread but she mostly just makes it soggy and then throws it on the ground. But it entertains her for quite some time. And she has her first tooth! Her bottom front tooth broke through last week, she still getting used to having it in her mouth as it shocks her quite often. Here are some pics sharing what we've been up to with Aunt Cole
Maia chewing on her bread. Aunt Cole with Maia spending the day at the beach on our holiday Monday

Maia eating her first solids...

Randy presenting a devotion at the parent teacher meeting

And life continues.... Saturday, si Dieu vle, we will be hosting a medical team of 8, please pray for them as they prepare to come down and host clinics for the Haitians who are sick and need healing. Pray that they may be a blessing to the community and that they too may be blessed. We'll try our best to keep you posted while they are here.