Back At It!
Boston engineers at SGH, Home Builder Len Gengel, and Architect Paul Fallon are all critical contributors to the successful construction of the MOHI School in Grand-Goâve, Haïti.
We let the first floor slab sit, covered and watered regularly for one week, while we focused on our AMAZING annual conference. This week we are back at it with the construction moving forward.
We have been building the walls on top of the slab. Tons of reinforcement are being formed to strengthen columns in between the CMU block that is going up. This floor has only classrooms, as opposed to the administrative offices, school kitchen, science lab, computer lab/library, conference room, art/activity room and storage areas on the ground level. Therefore, we are anticipating a quick turn around time and hope to pour the second floor slab by the end of August. Our team leading the construction are motivated to not only do the work quickly, but to do it very well. We send pictures daily to the team of engineers from Simpson, Gumpertz & Heger in Boston, to verify that we are following their design accurately. Paul Fallon, who created the architectural design of the building, oversees construction while in Haiti and answers lots and lots of questions while he is home in Cambridge, MA. Len Gengel lends his advise, as a home builder for over 30 years, as well as from his experiences building the Be Like Brit orphanage here in Haiti.
Here are some photos to bring you up to date on this week’s progress on the new school building:
Don’t Give Your Head a Problem!
That’s the literal translation of something Pastor Lex preached about this morning. The smooth way of saying it would be, “Don’t worry!” I actually prefer the literal translation, because that’s what worry is. It sounds “nice” to think that someone’s worrying about you. But do you really want someone to “give their head a problem”??? Of course not. Unfortunately, that really is what we do.
Pastor Lex was referring to how we can spend so much time and energy worrying about our needs and how we are going to get them fulfilled. This is contrary to faith, however, and is also known as doubt.
When we first came to Haiti, there was no cell phone service in the country. I’m (only slightly) embarrassed to admit that I was very angry with my husband on many occasions, because he didn’t arrive home at the originally planned time. I would give him a few hours extra, after all, we were in a not-even-developing country (or so it seemed). But eventually the worrying would kick in. I would imagine him dead on the side of the road somewhere and wonder how I would ever find out about it for real.
One time he was EXTREMELY late. I was fit to be tied! I was soooooo angry with him for being so inconsiderate and leaving me there to worry about him like that. When he finally arrived home, I was so relieved, but I was quite ready to lay into him for all I was worth. I looked at him as he entered the gate. He had a strange, tired look on his face. He didn’t look at all up for the fight I was about to give him. I decided I’d let him speak first, before I let him have it. He began to share with me what he’d been doing for the previous 6 hours or so. He’d happened upon a very bad accident involving foreigners. He pulled over and took control of the situation, picking people up off the road, ensuring their personal properties were secured, driving people to the hospital with horrific (some fatal ) injuries and offering comfort, encouragement and strength to those who were okay.
My anger suddenly seemed so ridiculous! I felt ashamed of myself and so proud of him. That day I decided I would not, COULD not, continue to live in constant worry for his well being. It occurred to me that there wasn’t anything I could do to keep him from harm’s way. I realized that I needed to cast my cares on the Lord and really believe, like the Bible says in Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
That day I stopped “giving my head a problem!” When the earthquake happened and we were separated for hours, I had no idea if he was alive or dead. Thank God that I had trained myself not to worry for his well-being. I trusted God to bring him home and He did.
Matthew 6:27 “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (NIV) Of course not. I want to encourage you to stop “giving your head a problem!”
Obviously I thoroughly enjoyed the message at church this morning. Here are some pictures from our time together…
Toooooooo Cute!
Maestro Odenet has been told many times by doctors that he would never live beyond his teen years, but here he is serving the Lord at 35!
Faith Sutton. Her folks direct the Hands and Feet Project in Grand-Goâve.
Pastor Lex preaching the Word!
Haiti Perks
One of the things I enjoy about Haiti is the fresh produce. Although many items are seasonal (grapefruits, avocados, beets..) some can be had at most any time of the year. Two of my very favorites are young coconuts and Cacao. Both are somewhat acquired tastes, but once you’re hooked, you’re hooked. I thought some of you might enjoy the pictures of the cacao I bought from the local market. The farmer takes the seeds from the cacao fruit and pounds them into chocolate. They then wrap the chocolate into banana leaves (no need for wax paper here!) and sell it. I usually take the raw chocolate and put it through a food processor to get the cocoa consistency you see below.
Cacao in Haiti
National Exams
Our 6th and 9th grade students have already taken their national exams. This week our high school juniors will spend the week in exams. As often as you think of it, please lift these young people up in prayer, so that they may have good understanding, knowledge and wisdom concerning these exams. Thank you!