News up to Thursday 22nd February 2012

Prayer Requests

• Please join the congregation in their prayer for the funds to re-build their church. We found out today that our church was the first Protesent church in Grand Goave. It started 79 years ago in 1933.
• Safe travels as Brenda and Mike fly to the Florida for a week
• Lift up in prayer our SHG work
• Lift up in prayer Belmont University delegation as they prepare to come to Grand Goave on a fact finding trip.

What has been happening
It’s been a quiet and encouraging month for us.

We held a “Thank You” party for our construction team. They have done a superb job with the rebuilding of Siloë School and we give thanks to our Gracious God for his providence in providing for all the building cost and for allowing work to continue, each day, with no noteworthy injuries.

We look forward to recalling the workers back to rebuild Temple Baptiste church when the funds are donated, and come in, allowing us to break ground on the new building.

We enjoyed a visit from Dennis Sheirman and his team of Canadian volunteers from Canadian Baptist Ministries (CBM). They came to build rubble homes and enjoyed coming round Siloe School, after church to admire the school and to encourage us with our mission. It is good to be reminded of how much has been accomplished and to know we have the prayers of so many to encourage.

Blue! It's the tarp - SHG meeting at Cherident

We were invited to visit some of our Self Help Groups (SHGs) with our trainers Quettie and Micheline. The first visit was to the groups of our facilitator Ecclesiastes. He has formed 3 separate groups in the Cherident area of Grand Goâve, a long and steep ride from the town of Grand Goâve. So far up the mountain we drove through the clouds! We were pleased to be driven by our experienced driver Gesner as some of those hair pin bends were a little scary. We were met by a large party of men and women, as the 3 groups had met together for a chat with us. We also had some who came along just to see what was going on; that is very Haitian. It was an interesting meeting. We still need to emphasis that self help means just that helping oneself and doing collectively in a trusted group; that is the key to success. This group wanted to tell us all the things that they were needing, better roads, better schools, better medical care and so on and were not shy to let us know how hard their lives were.  Quettie was disappointed that they were not focused on working in their groups and keeping to the SHG guidelines, but saw signs of hope and we were pleased with the smiles and goodwill between everyone, once they had aired their grievances.

Cool mountain ride

The other group we visited was at Norgaisse, a short ride up the mountain. This was a group of 15 women. We could see this group growing in confidence and stability as they meet. After initially discussing if Thursday afternoon at 3pm was the best time to meet – a few members were late – and if 5 gourds was a good sum to be collecting each week (12.5c or 8p). Quettie was encouraged by their facilitator’s approach and the guidance to keep records, follow SHG guidelines and to be more disciplined. We were delighted to hear the song that they had composed and sang at each meeting, to encourage themselves and their care and interest in each other.

Group Name: Brave Woman (Fanm Vanyan)

We have had some heavy rain and this has encouraged us to work on our rain catchment projects. Unfortunately we have not been able to pick up another large water tank or two. The tanks we want are too big for our local “hardware store” to deliver and our Canter truck has not returned to us. It is frustrating to know the rain water could be harvested, we do hope to have a system in place, soon. The administrative building could really harvest some rain water for us judging by how much was left on the roof after just a night of rain. The Haitian idea of waiting until after a shower to find the best places to put the drains mean that once the drains were in place, we had a constant waterfall for over 2 hours from the roof! We think that there was about 1,500 gallons sitting up there!

Not very good for the roof!

We enjoyed social time with the Lott Carey/AABMC medical team, while they were here. It was good to welcome one of the team back. From the happy faces and comments they were all great ambassadors for Christ.

Social time and food - great combo

They are many other schools in GG and we were pleased to be able to give funds to one of them for a new coat of paint and some new school benches. What a difference a fresh coat of paint makes and we hope the benches will help the children concentrate on their studies. We are really grateful to those who entrust us with funds to help out in this way.

We are off to our home church for a week. We look forward to seeing old friends, revisiting familiar haunts and of course – hot showers!