“Wow” is the one word that best describes this past week. Wow!!!
Friends from Germany
Silke Baur and Janina Menze return to MOHI from Germany
What a joy to have Silke Baur and Janina Menze back in Haiti with us! Silke spent three months with us in 2010, as new nurse. She was a blessing to so many. She is back now as a much more experienced and confident nurse, working with a whole medical team. I have witnessed so many see her and watched the recognition settle in and the inevitable, “Silke?!!!”
Janina was here for about a month and helped to set up and organize the transitional housing project we did with Samaritan’s Purse. In the end, we erected close to 700 homes. Janina was there for the very first one! She also witnessed Maestro Odenet’s wedding and made lots of friends from the University of Akron and the World Race. She came back last year, requesting to be baptized by Pastor Lex.
We have many fond memories of working with both of these young women. We were so excited when it turned out that they’d be here at the same time, and just thrilled that they both flew into New York and shared a room overnight before heading to Haiti in the morning. Seems like someone orchestrated this song!
Team G3
Team G3 joined MOHI church leaders and new believers in a baptism service Saturday morning.
Our dear friend, Cheryl “Chel” Finn, has been coming to Haiti for many years. Since the earthquake, she has lead several teams to MOHI, each one bringing much needed medical knowledge and skills. This week, Team G3 has been helping immensely with data entry, teaching, consulting those not feeling well, counseling and performing wound care.
Sara, Lex, Kelsi, Lori, Renee
Lennie and Amy Engman have opened their home to us over the past 13 years. Their grandchildren, Kelsi and Sara Anderholm, and niece, Lori Paajanen, joined G3 this year, too. This is Kelsi’s second trip to MOHI. She is in her final semester of nursing school and has been a great addition to the team. Sara has done LOTS of data entry, assisted in music ministry. Lori spent three months with us previously, so she has been a great help with translating. Each one of them are here for too short of a time.
The Bus Arrives!
The bus is now in Grand-Goave!
Mission USA, an outreach of The Chapel (Akron, OH) shipped us a bus last month. We are so excited to now have it in our possession! It arrived in Grand-Goave Saturday night. It will stay parked and packed while we await the arrival of a small team coming from Ohio to unpack it. There’s some really great stuff in the bus, and we are so grateful that those who packed it will be here to make sure no little parts get misplaced. Thank you so much to all of you who had a part in this adventure. Looking forward to picking you all up at the airport – in STYLE!
Be Like Brit
We enjoyed greeting guests at BLB, like Congressman Jim McGovern
This weekend was extra, EXTRA special, as we rejoiced with the Gengel family and friends over the completion of the Be Like Brit orphanage. Lex agreed to take charge of security for the weekend event. No easy feat when you consider just the Americans flying in for the event numbered close to 70.
About 150 friends and relatives gathered for a somewhat solemn dedication ceremony on Saturday. Lex and I were caught totally off guard when Len and Cherylann called us forward to receive the Britney Gengel Shining Star Award. They shared their gratitude toward us for our contributions to the successful completion of the construction. Gama and Angela Parayson were also presented this award. We all felt very honored about this.
Lex greets former Haitian Minister of Health, Dr. Josette Bijou
The construction of this orphanage brought hundreds of jobs to Haitian families and businesses – a great boost for our community. We were pleased to have several Haitian government officials present: the former minister of health, Josette Bijou, Grand-Goave’s congressman Franck Laporte, Grand-Goave mayor Salam and director of the mayor’s office Pastor Wouillio Zamor. Congressman, Jim McGovern and Consulat General, Jay Smith represented the American government.
It was such a joy to see so many of our new friends, make some new ones and to hear Britney’s friends tell stories about her.
Alexis Edme singing “There Can Be Miracles” at the Be Like Brit orphanage dedication ceremony in Grand-Goave, Haiti
Our daughter, Alexis had the privilege of singing two songs in the ceremony, as requested by the Gengels. Here’s a short clip of the final song, “Oh Happy Day.” (See if you can find me dancing!)
Here are some links and pictures about the BLB dedication ceremony:
Len and Cherylann enjoying “Oh Happy Day”
Congressman Jim McGovern addresses family and friends at the Be Like Brit orphanage dedication ceremony.
At the airport with Congressman Jim McGovern (Worcester, MA)
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American Citizen Business
Jacqueline Smith, Renee and Lex Edme, Consul General Jay Smith
Consul General, Jay Smith, had requested a meeting with American citizens in the area in the afternoon, once the ceremony was over. A couple dozen Americans and Mr. Smith’s wife Jacqueline joined us at the MOHI mission compound by the ocean. It was a great opportunity to learn some things we didn’t know about the relationship between Haiti and the US. Mr. Smith answered many questions and participated in plenty of discussion about how we can work together to bring change to our community.