There are times I really have to search to decide what to share with you.  Other times, like right now, there’s just so many exciting things going on that I have trouble prioritizing.  After careful consideration, the top priority for me to tell you about is not in Haiti, but in America.

Lex and I and our kids are coming to America in a few days for a short visit and we really want to see YOU!!!!  Please, if you are in the New England area, make it a priority for yourself to come see us on Sunday, August 7th at 3PM in Westminster, MA.  Even if it’s for just a few minutes (stay into the night, if you’d prefer!), we’d just really love to meet everyone who is making this work in Haiti possible.

While in New England, I would like to put together a barrel full of tuna and peanut butter to ship to Haiti.  If you would like to contribute, please bring them along to the open house in Westminster next Sunday.  If you are not in New England, but would like to contribute, please go to our donations page.  Make note of your desire for these funds to go towards tuna & PB.  Thanks!

Now, let’s look at some of the other exciting things happening at MOHI!  The re-bar is in place and we are just awaiting the call from the engineers so that we can start pouring concrete Monday and Tuesday.  As you can see from the picture, this is going to be a very strong foundation for the offices, classrooms, library, computer lab, school kitchen and community room that will built on top of it.  It reminds me of the bridge construction that was happening in Gardner, the last time I was home.  Please keep us all in prayer, as we endeavor to build this building according to American standards, so that it will remain for generations to come.

This morning, Lex preached a message at church about being prepared for the Lord’s return.  It seems to be part of the fleshly, human nature to procrastinate, but there are some things in life (or eternity, as the case may be) that we simply cannot afford to procrastinate on.

Last night, Lex was resting in bed when a tremor came.  A. Jay ran, I pulled on Lex’s foot to wake him.  I said “Earthquake!  Let’s go!” and I ran out of the house.  Fortunately, it was a minor tremor and we weren’t in any danger.  The kids and I stood out in the yard barefoot on the wet and muddy concrete.  Lex came strolling out eventually, looking a little dazed.  He was not prepared to run for a tremor, but my encouragement got him out the door eventually.  When the Lord returns, there will be no time for a little reminder to go.  Either you’re ready or you’re not.  Like Lex was telling us this morning, get ready NOW!  Never assume you’ll have time.

We had a group arrive yesterday from Sovereign Grace, in Northern Massachusetts.  We are glad to have Will Coley, who went through the earthquake of January 2010 with us, back in Haiti, along with Jerica Miner, who is also here for her 3rd or 4th time.  They were all prepared for intense heat, but instead we got a tropical storm with lots of lightning, thunder, wind and rain.  Most of us were quite wet and very chilly.  They greeted the folks at church this morning, trying out a little Haitian Creole.  The church appreciated their efforts.  Currently they are up in the mountains of St. Etienne, hiking through the beautiful mountains to some waterfalls.  A little later they will be attending a concert at the MOHI campus in St. Etienne.

It’s been 3 years now, since we first started caring for this group of kids. They came to us from another orphanage and were in very poor shape, both physically and emotionally.  They have all made incredible progress.  Physically, all are growing and well nourished.  Some of them are now taller than me and our youngest, Jean Bernard, well he’s just sprung up quicker than many of the others.  I’m amazed every time I look at him.  The majority of these kids failed their first year of school at MOHI.  But through a lot of determination and hard work, all of the kids are doing well in school now. Some, like Joël, are just accelerating unbelievably academically.

We are so grateful to the Lord for having us in the right place at the right time to be able to make such a difference in the lives of these kids.  We are also grateful for others who are here in Haiti taking really good care of children.  These kids should be moving sometime in August into the new Hands and Feet Project Children’s Village, which is being built right now up the street from the MOHI Thozin campus.  They have been supporting these kids for close to three years, from afar, but now they will be directly responsible for all of their care.  The kids will still be a big part of MOHI, as they will be involved in the church, as well as continuing their education with us.  Once they move, they will have the opportunity to “go” to school and church, rather than living there.  We are excited for this new chapter in their lives.

This is our friend from Kids Against Hunger, Sherry Horn, with her good friend, Kendy.  Sherry and her husband Marshall have been great advocates for the well-being of the children of Haiti.  Not only in word, but also in deed.  They have packed many containers of food for the children of Haiti over the past 4 years, when they sent us 3 shipping container of food.  The food they send us is a high quality and highly nutritious soy and rice casserole.  We have seen malnourished kids made new by eating this food regularly.  Right now they have a container of food ready to ship to us, but are in need of about $8,000 to get it to us.  If you’d like to help feed hungry children, please go to their website and let them know that you want to help send this container to MOHI in Haiti.

Our friends at Be Like Brit continue to make progress on the incredible orphanage they’re building in memory of Britney Gengel, who died on January 12, 2010 when the hotel she was staying in collapsed in the earthquake.  Britney saw something special in the children of Haiti and wanted to come back here to start an orphanage.  Her family has taken that dream and are striving to continue the compassion that brought Britney to Haiti.  MOHI is proud to be working with the Gengel family to make their dream a reality and to impact the lives of more children in need of loving care.

We’re very excited to see the progress BLB is making on their construction.  Len Gengel, his nephew Pat and others coming to Haiti with BLB have been advising and helping us with the MOHI school project, as well.  The kids that come to BLB will be attending school at MOHI, too.  We love sharing with BLB and that they share with us, as well.  It’s a great way to accomplish great things.