EDH

EDH is the city power we get in Haiti and it's random.  You never know when you are going to get it and when you do get it you never know how long you are going to get it for.  Some days we get four hours some days we get 12 and other days we don't get any.  In light of the randomness of the electricity situation here I find this Avis highly entertaining.

Haiti - NOTICE : Phase II of the commissioning of the new transformer
20/06/2013 07:16:20

The Directorate General of Electricity of Haiti (EDH) informs its customers in particular and the population in general, that the Phase II of works of connection of the new 50 MVA transformer at the substation of Ancien Delmas, will be carried out this Thursday, June 20, 2013, from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm, during which the municipalities of Delmas, Nazon, Christ-Roi, Clercine and Silot among others, will be without electricity.

Following this installation, the EDH will conduct a series of tests and adjustments for at least one week to make the new transformeroperational. Given the unexpected that can happen during this period, the EDH is not yet able to give a precise date for the full recovery of power hours.

Ah! Help me!

Beach Bums

Cornelius and Mindy and their family are leaving soon.... which is very sad.... but a great excuse to head out to the beach for a night!

Judah enjoying the lounge chair

Levi checking out the view

Besties

Yummy!

Big Sister/Potty Supervisor

Maia takes her job as big sister very seriously!

Sleeping Little Boy Beauty

Levi can pretty much sleep anywhere...

First Harvest!

A couple of weeks ago I posted about our second/third attempt at a garden.  So far it's been successful!  This photo is from a couple of weeks ago, our first harvest, we've cut the microgreens a few times now and are enjoying our fresh salad.  We've also got cucumbers, radishes, onions, corn, pumpkins, cabbage, tomatos and flowers growing in the garden.

Cutie

Chickens!

Last week we went out do Double Harvest and picked up our chickens!  We know have 5 egg laying chickens who provide us with nice brown eggs every day.  Maia and Levi are loving their chickens.

Picking out their chickens

Chickens!

Hoping to get us some of these!

Transporting Big Bird, Bertha, Princess, Ketchup, and Simon home

Maia and Levi waiting patiently for their eggs

Eggs!

Fête du Drapeau

Yesterday, May 18th, was Flag Day in Haiti! At Adoration we celebrated with a little parade around the community on Friday morning.  

Enjoy the video!

Cha-os

Little Lambs Chaos

A "Maia Joy turns 4, Joel Robert turns 1" birthday party!

Today we celebrated Maia Joy and Joel Robert!
Four years ago we were blessed with our exuberant, passionate, creative, expressive, social, sweet-loving Maia Joy.  Thankful for our little girl and the joy that that she brings to our life.  Praying that the Lord continues to work in her heart and that her passion for Jesus continues to grow deeper and deeper.
And... Maia has the privilege of sharing her birthday with Joel, son of Cornelius and Mindy, so what better way to celebrate than to have a joint birthday party, costume style!
Enjoy the pictures!

The Birthday Girl and her good friend Esther

The Birthday Boy

Friend Jayden posing as a pirate

Chloe and Maia making preparations for THE birthday party

Spongebob!

Some of the kiddos playing the Princess game

Some of the fun costumes!

Check out that cute centre piece!

Judah's Baptism

On Sunday May 5th Judah Josiah was baptized!  We are so thankful that he was able to receive the sign and seal of the covenant.  Thankful that he belongs to Jesus Christ having his life hidden in Christ Jesus, sharing in His death and resurrection, as he is adopted into the family of God, as a member of his church.  Thankful to have been able to share this day with Jemima's family, our church family, and friends in Haiti.

Judah Josiah being baptized by Pastor Benjamin Hopp

Praying over the little ones, Jemima and Judah.

Family Picture

Pastor Hopp, Jemima's family, Judah's family and Pastor Octavius

Maia's definition of a Big Girl

Driving Directions

I always love how people give directions in Haiti.  It's quite entertaining reading how they try to explain different landmarks and where to turn.  Check out the directions below that I received in order to get a Women's Retreat in Carrefour the other week, they were perfect!  

And note to self... don't use google maps, they send you through the bad parts of town!

Coming from Delmas 75 area there are several ways to get across town. (To Rt National #2)  I recommend following whichever you are most comfortable with.  When I used “google maps” they suggested driving down Delmas to Blvd J J Dessalines (also known as Grand Rue) and coming directly through downtown PAP…PLEASE DO NOT GO THIS WAY!  If you know how to get to Rt National #2 you can start reading these directions at #3.

1   Drive all the way down Delmas to Blvd La Saline (the road that goes by the wharf)

2   Turn left onto Blvd La Saline, pass the wharf, keep coming.  The road will pass a traffic circle, stay to the right, the name of the street changes to Blvd Harry Truman, but there is no sign to say this.  Keep coming. 

3   The road eventually merges with Blvd J J Dessalines, coming from downtown. (The road is then called Carrefour Road, or Rt National #2)  There is a large white catholic church on the left near this merging intersection.  (St Bernadettes Catholic Church). Keep following the road as it keeps curving to the right. 

4   At this point there will most likely be a good bit of traffic.  It should only last for about 4 blocks.  When you get to the 1^st gas station (National) you should leave the traffic behind you.  Keep coming on the same road.

5   Start counting gas stations.  The 2^nd station is also a “National” on the right, but smaller than the 1^st.  The 3^rd station is a “Sol” on the right.  The 4^th station is a “Total” station, also on the right.

6   AFTER the 4^th gas station look for the “United Plastics” Building on the left.  Then you will see a UN post (painted blue & white) on the right.  Across the street from the UN Post is your turn…

7   You will turn left onto Bizoton #53, but I don’t think there is a street sign.  On the corner is a bright blue & green building marked “Eric Jn Baptist ap Vini”  “Pere Eternal – Eric Jn Baptiste”  It’s a lottery building. Turn left here. 

8   Follow this road up and through the market area.  Start counting the speed bumps.  Not the dips…just the bumps.  After the 6^th bump turn left at the “Aleluia Bar Resto”.

9   Take the next right and the gate for the guesthouse is a large grey gate with razor wire above it on the right.

Mr. Judah

Judah (who we usually call Jude) is 2 months!

Weekend Gardening

We planted our vegetable tire garden this weekend!  It's our second attempt at the whole vegetable gardening thing... first attempt was a total failure hopefully this time around things go better.  The kids loved planting the seeds and Levi loved watering his pants and the rocks and anything else in sight that he thought needed water.

Grow plants Grow!

The supervisor

Blogging

So I'm realizing that I cannot keep up with blogging... the blog is constantly on my list of things to do and I often feel guilty about not blogging but the reality is I just don't have time!  Most days I hardly even get to checking my email by the end of the day.  But I want to keep up our blog because it's neat to look back and see the things that were going on, the ways God has provided and to see how our children have grown!  So instead of feeling guilty about all the blog posts I should be doing I think for this season of my life I'm just going to stick to pictures.... hopefully it will keep the grandparents happy and the pressure off my shoulders!  This weeks picture...

Nap Time

Sowing Some Seeds

"As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it.  He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty"  Matt 13:23

Agriculture day is coming up and so this past month has been Agriculture month.  Earlier in the month a team from Faith Christian Reformed Church came to the school and taught the students a little bit about planting seeds.  They gave each student a pot and went through the process of sifting the dirt, adding in the fertilizer, planting the seeds and giving it water to grow.  Then they finished off the day with an assembly and a devotion on the verse above.  

Praying that hearts are continually being watered, fertilized and growing for the Lord at Adoration.

Sifting the dirt

Pastor Zach handing out seeds

Students helping with the soil

Students getting ready to plant their seeds

Each class was also given two trees to take care of  for the rest of the year

Closing assembly 

 And... a couple weeks later... check out some of the student's plants!

C-A-N-A-D-A

The highlight of our time in Canada was obviously welcoming Judah into our family but we also have great memories of time spent with family and friends.  We don't have pictures to document all of it but here are a few of our favourites from the freezing North.

Maia and her daddy with their Maiasaurus and Leviathan

Rides in the wheelbarrow

Maia and Leah sledding

Sledding with cousins

Cuddles with Grampa and Grandma and cousin Trent

Hanging out with Alyssa and Joshua