Special Partners

MOHI has so many special individuals, churches and organizations that partner with us.  Sometimes my mind does the whole “tilt” thing – you know, like a pinball machine.  (Hmmmm, I may have just dated myself!)  Seriously though, how could we ever fulfill the vision God’s given us on our own.  I have no doubt that it would be impossible.  When God has a plan, however, He provides in every way for that plan to be accomplished.  Every day, at any given moment someone is praying for this mission.  Daily people are acting out their faith by sending a check or making an online donation to MOHI.  More than ever, our special partners are getting on planes and traveling to Haiti to put their hand to the plow together with us.  I am so in awe of the incredibly detailed and beautiful tapestry He is creating through all of us.

Dan Lee, former pastor at Sturbridge Worship Center, founder of Lion’s Den Ministries

We started out this week with one last day with our dear friend and adviser, Dan Lee.  Dan is a visionary with a flair for the international.  I must admit that I’m *almost* afraid for him to be around my husband.  The two of them just take off dreaming while I listen to the “Kah-ching! Kah-ching!” echoing in my brain.  Despite my natural tendency to set my expectations too low, God always seems to honor those dreaming sessions.  So often Dan will say one little thing, God shows us the value in it, we begin to take action on it and a door opens into a whole new area of impact and expansion because of it.  After 13 years in Haiti, trying to catch up to my husband’s vision, I have come to accept that it’s not about me and what I think.  It’s about God and His heart for the people of Haiti.  It’s about how HE wants to touch them.  So, I will continue to endeavor to stay out of the way and let the Lord lead us into the green pastures He’s prepared for us and all those who are willing and obedient to His voice.

A family moment

Speaking of visionaries… enter Scott Long, founder of Mission E4.  He never thinks small either.  Scott’s better known here as “Madame’s brother.”  “Madame” would be me.  I lived with Scott’s family when he was 16 years old.  I committed myself to the Lord in Scott’s parents’ church in East Hartford, CT over 30 years ago.  Ever since, his mom has played the role of mom in my life, as well.  That’s why Scott is known as my brother here at MOHI.   This week we are hosting a team for him at our missionary compound.  It’s a lot of work, but it’s also so nice to have my “little brother” popping in each day.  Tonight he preached (in English AND Créole at the same time!) at our English service in Thozin.  We had a full crowd of Americans tonight with teams from MOHI, Mission E4, the Hands and Feet Project and Global Effect.  We’re so glad everyone turned out to be encouraged and to encourage each other!

Lex and Ed Locket

This morning, Ed Locket shared a great message with our church.  Ed has been working for almost two decades in Haiti and lives in the next town, Petit-Goâve.  Leah Fuller has been working with him for the past 6 months in preparation for the next step.  She had no idea “where” that next step would take her until a couple of weeks ago.  Angela shared with her that I have been looking for a volunteer to work in the clinic while Angela is back in the States for a couple of months.  Leah got so excited!  As soon as she got home she filled out our online application.  She will be coming to work with us in August.  She’s a sweetie and we are really looking forward to her support here.

Leah Fuller and a few friends

Pastor Kevin Groder

Kevin Groder has another week and a half with us, acting as host to all these teams coming in.  He does an incredible job making everyone feel as comfortable and cared for as possible.  It’s hard to imagine, but he and Tammy will finally be moving here full time next month after partnering with us for the past 13 years.  We already have so many ideas for ways they can help accomplish MOHI’s vision here.  It’s really cool, since their vision is so intertwined with ours.  All four of us are the best of friends, too, so I’m soooo looking forward to their move.

Janina just finished up her fifth (I believe?) trip to MOHI in Haiti.  She and another friend from Germany, Peter, spent three months directing and participating in work on the restaurant in St Etienne.  We are so blessed to have had them here with us.  I want to publically thank them for their dedication, persistence, hard work and the caring they showed to each person they came in contact with – rich, poor, Haitian, American, Sri Lankan, Canadian – they were a blessing to all.  Please pray for Janina as she spends some time in Germany writing.  Pray that it’s an incredible book that makes LOTS of money!!!  Why?  So she can continue her work here in Haiti, of course.  She plans to return in mid-October.

Janina, Peter and the restaurant in St Etienne

Mindy Rameau has been coming to Haiti since before she was even married.  This week she is back with her husband, David, her parents and a great team from the West Newbury Congregational Church.  This team will be focusing on medical clinics, children’s ministry and carpentry.  It’s so great to have Mindy back and I know her team’s going to have a great week!

David & Mindy Rameau with their team from West Newbury Congregational Church

Bless Back Worldwide

This week Team Freedom, from Bless Back Worldwide, has been working on several fronts at MOHI.  Every area has been a tremendous blessing to those concerned.

Dr. John and Susan Davenport, who have been working on an Electronic Medical System for our clinic for months now, spent the week collaborating with Kevin and Angela.  The team of doctors and other health professionals held clinic in Thozin and St Etienne.  There were several special cases where the patients could have lost a foot or even died from their sicknesses had they not come.  We’re so grateful the Lord brought them to us.

Kevin, Susan and John

Angela and Kathy

Part of the team held “China Camp” with our neighborhood children.  The kids learned about the geography, culture and food in China.  They enjoyed eating with chopsticks and chomping on fortune cookies.  It’s always a joy to be able to feed the children, as hunger is a problem every single day for most of these kids.  The team also got to enjoy being with some of the children in their homes, as they spent time in the villages of Thozin and St Etienne in the afternoons.  I know you’ll enjoy these pictures!

China Camp

BBW raised money to build homes for people in need and several men came to help build two of them this week.  The Haitian sun is intense and it’s been very hot, but these guys worked moving heavy blocks, shoveling sand and just being a blessing to the whole crew.  Saturday we had a dedication service with the two families that are benefiting from these homes, our pastoral staff and the BBW team.

Building and dedicating homes

Joy, who has been interning at the Hands and Feet Project this summer, had a visit from her mom, Leigh Ann – she was here with the BBW team, too.  Joy is the one who introduced BBW to MOHI, so it was extra special to have her mom with us.  The fact that she was so much fun was pretty special, too.

Leigh Ann and Garconvil coming back from the open market

Leigh Ann and Renée heading out

AND…

The rest of the electrical supplies for the new school arrived this week, inside a panel van that originated in Massachusetts, was driven to Miami and loaded onto a ship into Haiti.  It was a long route, but it made it!  We are expecting some folks from Massachusetts to come work on the installation and hope to be ready to go when school opens in September.

Kevin also managed to fit his ATV in the van, along with an electronic drum set for the church!  Unpacking the van was like experiencing Christmas in July!

The van from Massachusetts arrived this week.

UN in Haiti

If you’ve been around MOHI at all over the past 8 years, you know that we have a good relationship with the local UN Peacekeepers, serving here from Sri Lanka.  Every six months they have a new group of soldiers come in and each one has a special Medal Award Ceremony.  This group asked for a group of girls from our school (and Alexis, too!) to come sing the Haitian National Anthem at this special occasion.  They were honored and we were so proud of them for the fine performance they gave.

MOHI students singing the Haitian National Anthem at the UN headquarters in Leogane.

Children

There’s never a shortage of children at MOHI’s Thozin campus.  This is part of the Sunday School program from last Sunday’s service…

Computer Club

We are grateful to Child in Hand for continuing to send Junior and Elisabeth to us twice a week over the summer.  They continue to work diligently with the children.  They’ve been showing the kids how to research using Wikipedia, which is pre-loaded on their network.  They’re having a great time learning!