I think that I could begin every post with the phrase, “This was a busy week at MOHI.”  Maybe one week I’ll say it was quiet, but that will not be this week.

Pastor Ricardo translating as Dan Lee preaches

School is out for Summer, which always coincides with our annual conference at the church in Thozin.  The churches from St. Etienne  and the island of La Gonave had lots of people participating.  Pastor Revenais, Lex’s pastor from his youth, was with us, which is always a blessing.  He is very insightful and always has a pointed word to share with the youth in the church.  This year we had several American guest speakers: Kevin Groder (MA), Ricardo Volcey (NY), Craig Cook (MO) and Dan Lee (MO).  Pastor Ricardo came with a group from his church in Syracuse, who did a lot of work with the children during the conference.

Odenet, Elsie & Nelton Michel

We finished up this morning with some songs from the women’s ministry, a baby dedication and communion, followed by a traditional meal of Rice and beans with beef from the cow the church purchased without any help from us.  We LOVE that the people have made a sacrifice for the past two years, by putting their money together to purchase a cow.  It makes them feel so good when they can provide meat to the people who’ve come from far and wide to stay for the 4 days of conference.  And it is indeed more blessed to give than to receive!

The group from Syracuse has been working hard.  They had the opportunity to visit some families in Petit-Paradis, as they walked through the village talking with people.  They had the privilege of praying with one man to receive Jesus into his life.  That’s cause for much rejoicing!  They’ve been painting, playing with lots of children, singing, dancing… Tomorrow they may be hiking mountains.

Our friends at the Hands and Feet Project are making great strides, as they prepare a place for the orphans.  Andrew and Angie Sutton (along with their 5 month old baby, Faith) spent their first night on the new site last night.  They will still be eating meals with us, for the time being, as they don’t have running water or kitchen facilities yet.  Besides, the folks at the mission house would miss them.

The Be Like Brit team has completed the footings for their orphanage project.  What a milestone for them.

At the MOHI School Project, we have been doing a lot of excavating by hand.  It’s very hard labor and very time consuming.  The workers (27 of them this past week) are very grateful for the job and we are happy to give them the opportunity to better provide for their families.

Tonight there are240 families with electric lights in their homes that probably never imagined it would be so.  The “Sunblazer” project that we are working on with Sirona Cares, have all been deployed to their various rural areas, from the farthest point in southern Haiti, to Marmelade in northern Haiti.  In the mountains of St. Etienne, where MOHI has a church and school, 40 families are seeing tonight without using any kerosene.  Isn’t that exciting?!!!

Flatbed truck tipped over on Brit's Way (Be Like Brit's road)

We had a couple of mishaps this week with our flatbed truck.  We were delivering re-bar to the Be Like Brit job site when the engine cut out while going up a very steep incline.  As I’ve now learned is the case with many large trucks, the power-assisted brakes cut out, too, when the engine dies.  The driver was a quick thinker and steered toward the high banks as the truck began slipping back down the hill.  This avoided kept the vehicle from running into people and tents that were below the truck.  It did, however, result in the truck flipping over.  We are grateful that no one was injured.

The following day was spent repairing the truck and then the drivers took off with the solar blazer to Jeremie, at the point of the southern peninsula – a ten hour drive!  They delivered the unit safely to Jeremy and headed back to Grand-Goave.  Unfortunately the truck engine blew about half way back.  The truck has been towed to Cayes (about 3 hours from Grand-Goave), the third largest city in Haiti.  We will try to locate another engine for the truck there.

Please remember us this week in your prayers.  We need to find an engine and be able to pay for it, as well.  Obviously this was an unexpected situation, but with the investment already made in this truck (new tires, extensive body work and other repairs) we think it’s best to put an engine in it and utilize it in our work here.  Thank you!