General Updates

Mackenlove has an unusual way of eating a banana and this was a very unusual week for us.

First of all, we had no guests staying at the mission compound for the entire week.  It was so strange to not have to check if food is being prepared on time, if the driver is at the compound on time to pick up our guests, if everyone is where they should be…  You get the picture.  While I appreciate the break from those responsibilities, I’m glad things are back to normal, as David Besse and Cassandra Chugh arrived yesterday and more guests will be arriving in a couple of days.

Lex’s “baby” sister’s husband passed away suddenly last week.  Lex and his sister are very close.  I’m glad that he was here in Haiti to help carry some of the burden for her, as well as for emotional support.  There were many arrangements to be made for the funeral, as well as for a burial spot.  Several men spent the week building his tomb, making sure it was done before the funeral.  Many people from Grand-Goâve traveled to Gressier today to show their support for our family.  It’s wonderful to be a part of a community where people are there for each other.

School is out for the summer.  Still the school yard remains very busy.  Students who didn’t pass are here each week day for summer school.  Students preparing for national exams have their own “work groups” that come and study together.  And then there’s the construction.  This past week we employed 74 people, about 25 of which attend high school here at MOHI.  That, in and of itself made the yard noisier.  One of the great things about high school students is that they are full of energy.  So, even though they talk a lot (sometimes in the form of complaining, even) they still manage to get a lot of work done.  They spent the week pouring concrete for the columns of the first floor.  I still end up with little boys coming in my office looking for bananas to eat, too.  🙂

Our friends, David and Cassandra, had a long day yesterday, with flight delays, but it was so good to see them finally arrive last night. They were both here six months after the earthquake.  Cassandra was here with the World Race and David joined a Campus Focus team, from Akron, OH.  They were both so impressed with the changes they saw in the country.  Port-au-Prince was buried in rubble when they came through it, but now there is no more rubble in the streets.  They stayed in tents by the beach, but now they each are staying in a dorm room.  One of the biggest things for them was seeing the roof on the choukoun (round, grass-roofed pavilion).  We were working on the base when they were here.  I don’t think they knew what to expect.  We’re so grateful for the preschool supplies they brought for us.  We are requesting preschool supplies all summer, as we prepare for school in the Fall.

It was a great week for construction.  95% of the classroom walls are a full 13 rows high.  We will be ready to start forming beam cages soon.  I’ll tell you what, this is one HEAVY building. Hundreds of tons of concrete and metal reinforcement have gone into this building already.  There is a lot of re-bar for strength, but it’s also tied together for flexibility.  Should there be an earthquake, the building will stay together and move as one unit, rather than coming apart at the seams.  What a blessing it is to provide such a safe structure for the community – especially for the children!

Edmés to America

I am very excited to inform you that our family will be traveling to America on September 1st.  We will go on vacation for a week (Woo Hoo!) and then head north to New England.  The picture to left was taken during our last vacation in October 2010.  A. Jay is now the tallest member of our family and I am the shortest.  I look forward to sharing a new picture with you in a couple of months.

September 15th our dear friends Lennie and Amy Engman will be hosting another open house for us, as they did last year.  If you are in the New England area, please join us in Westminster, MA for that day.  Last year there was lots of good food (New England corn on the cob is the BEST!!!), kids playing, good conversations and plenty of laughter.  It was such a treat to see so many of our partners and friends turn out – some we had never seen face to face.  I will share more details as the time approaches, but for now SAVE that date for us!

If you are interested in doing a group gathering of friends, family, youth group, business associates in the New England states, please contact me directly at renee@mohintl.org to schedule the meeting.  Pastors and church leaders, please do not hesitate to contact me, as well, to set up a time to meet in person.

We will also be spending some time in Ohio and Pennsylvania (Sep 18 – Oct 1).  If you are from those areas, please contact Joy Youell <overjoyed3@hotmail.com> to see how we can meet up while we are there.   We’ll gladly update you on what’s happening here, share some more of the vision and answer questions.  Seriously, it’s not every day that we can thank you for your support in person and we can’t make it to everyone’s home, so please take advantage of this time. (See Rom. 1:11)

Partner Updates

Be Like Brit continues to raise the bar for construction practices in Haiti and making great strides toward completing the orphanage by the year’s end.  A water tank on the roof brings the project a step closer to having children living in this incredible building.  Kudos to Len Gengel who has done an incredible job of spearheading this project.  Completion is within sight.

The Hands and Feet Project is preparing to launch into a large construction project, as well, in preparation for training the older kids to live in Haitian community.

Wilson is back in the hospital, undergoing his second round of chemo therapy.  He has not been ill from this at all.  His third round will be with different drugs and we pray that his body responds well to those, as well.

 

Sirona Haiti (An outgrowth of Sirona Cares) has just brought another 9 solar units into Haiti.  These will be placed in rural areas of St. Marc, north of Port-au-Prince.  These units will bring electricity to hundreds of families that had none.

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Construction Photos