A Job Well Done

A team of 6 persons from 4 churches in Penn-Jersey spent 2 weeks (Sept. 5-20) in Haiti serving on the island of La Gonave.  Prior to our leaving home there were 2 projects of possible focus for our work --- repairs to the Wesleyan school at the church in Anse-a-Galets, and work on the new La Gonave Ministry Center to prepare it for the rapidly approaching dedication of the new hospital. Once again it was evident that God had assembled the right number of folks with the right complement of skills and had prepared our minds and hearts for this time of ministry. (I’m not sure the bodies were properly prepared for the tasks, but they remained mostly functional throughout our stay.)

Upon our arrival it quickly became obvious that our focus needed to be on getting the new Ministry Center ready for the celebration that would take place one week after our return home.  For the last 2 ½ years work teams from North America and the UK joined with local laborers to erect a ministry center that would accommodate 44 overnight guests, provide food service for them and provide meeting space. (By comparison the old guest house could accommodate 18 overnight guests.)

Remaining work included: spackling, caulking and painting (multiple coats) half of the sleeping rooms, hallway, outer corridor, an office and a public restroom; ceiling panels and battens in two public restrooms; missing battens in other rooms; screens to be made and installed on 24 windows; a doorway to be framed; several doors to be hung or trimmed to fit; towel bars and tissue holders to be installed; bathroom and entry door locksets to be installed; security locks to be installed on the 12 exterior gates.

We used: 50 gallons of paint, 5 gallons of primer, 2 buckets of lightweight spackling, 1 bucket of drywall joint compound, 96 tubes of caulk, 250 board feet of lumber, 7 sheets of 4x8 Masonite, 4 pounds of nails, 2 ½ rolls of insect screen, and 50 gallons of gas for the generator.  We are thankful for the churches and individuals that supported us for this trip by contributing $7500 for materials and supplies in additions to funding our travel and living expenses.  Their support enabled us to also provide funds for the purchase of 2 paint sprayers, 2 doors, 5 locksets, 3 grinding wheels, welding rods/wire, 10 ft. PVC for downspouts, 5 bags of cement plus sand for the laundromat area, 50 bags of cement plus sand for the 2690 sq. ft. of ceramic tile for 5 bedrooms, office, public bathrooms, hallway and outer corridor; and we covered the labor costs for the local tradesmen that were hired for the laundromat and ceramic tile work.  Funds were also provided for the purchase of guest house furnishings: 4 toilets for public restrooms, 2 sinks for public restrooms, 10 beds, 10 mattresses, 10 pillows, 10 fans, and 5 mirrors.

Although we did not have the opportunity to work at the Wesleyan school, we did purchase 2 buckets of white reflective roof coating and paid for local laborers to apply it.

In the second week of our trip we were joined by a team from central Pennsylvania led by Justin Charles of Lenape Solar.  Justin has spearheaded the effort to provide a solar system for the hospital and mission station that will eliminate the dependency on diesel fueled generators for electricity.  During their week and a half stay they installed all the mountings for the solar panels on the hospital roof, the inverters, the batteries, and the control systems.  Had the solar panels themselves not been held up in customs, the entire hospital / mission station complex (including the new Ministry Center) would have been running completely on solar power by the time they returned home.  Unfortunately, customs processing delayed the solar panels release for another week.  However, according to posts on FaceBook received today, the panels were released by customs on Wednesday and transported to La Gonave yesterday and today.  Justin had instructed the missionaries on solar panel installation so within a day or so the sun will be providing all the electricity for the La Gonave Wesleyan Hospital / Ministry Center complex!

The hospital dedication took place on September 28.  It was attended by more than 200 dignitaries and guests.  The new La Gonave Ministry Center provided overnight accommodation for 44 guests and served meals to 70 persons in the dining hall.

Words cannot adequately capture the significant beneficial impact that will be realized by the people of La Gonave because of the ministries that have been enhanced and enabled by these new buildings.  It was a blessing beyond description to have been part of this adventure.  To God be the glory!

Arrived at Home

Up at 6:15 am; on the road at 6:35 am; in the air from Port-au-Prince at 10:35 am; on the ground in Philadelphia at 5:25 pm; in the house at 6:40 pm.  The trip was relatively uneventful.  The arrivals area in the Port-au-Prince airport has been substantially renovated; it looks more like a typical airport - great sign of progress.

It was an extremely productive and beneficial trip; I'll try (again) to post a recap in a few days.

Thanks for all your interest, support, and prayers.

Headed Home

First my apologies for not getting a post out last night.  Yesterday my fuel tank hit empty; thankfully it was just for the one day, and I was the only one affected so the work continued.

Yesterday was a long work day, but the results were well worth it.  Our goal was to make all the rooms on the north side of the guest house functional.  All the windows have screens on them.  All the rooms, bathrooms and hallways have been caulked and painted;  towel bars and toilet paper holders have been hung.   All the doors have been trimmed to size and hung, and locksets have been installed.  All the mounting brackets for the exterior gate locks have been welded to the gates. The local tradesmen will most likely have all the tile laid by the time we get home.

About 8:30 this morning we left the Wesleyan dock on La Gonave for the journey back across the St. Marc channel.  While not quite as calm as the trip over, this trip was among the smoothest we've had.  It's good to slow down, take a nap, do some snorkeling, catch some rays (there are plenty to be had), and repack for the trip home.

A few more photos have been posted.

One More Work Day

We have only one more work day before we begin our trek homeward.  Today was another very productive day. More screens made and installed; of course more painting; progress on the security locks for the exterior gates.  It has been a very good trip.

A Good Day at Work

I've been told by a team member who ought to know that the caulking is all done; that's good because we also have used up all the caulk available.  Painting continues - will it ever end? Quite a few frames were made for window screens.

The tile workers are making good progress, and the solar installation team arrived today and went straight to work.

Check out the pictures on FaceBook.

Worship, Rest, and Relaxation

This morning we joined the resident missionaries for an English language worship service followed by the noon meal and a time of visiting. This afternoon a few of the folks went swimming (this time with the snorkling gear).  Others watched portions of the Chargers vs. Eagles football game -- how's that for primitive life in Haiti!

Tomorrow it's back to work full speed ahead.  We have 3 work days left; there is still plenty to keep us busy.  Pray with us for a strong finish.

Time to Recharge

It has been an intense, full and focused week.  But even the hardiest of bodies need to be recharged once in a while.

This morning after breakfast we headed up the mountain to Fontina, the site of our work last September; the trip wasn't any quicker than it was last year.  Some parts of the road had sections of concrete tire tracks poured so the ride there was quite smooth (as long as the truck stayed on the concrete pads - it did).  However, other portions of the road had been eroded by water flow and were in worse shape than last year.  Nevertheless, we had a good visit.  Many of the folks recognized us and were happy to see us.  The church building is still not being used for services.  Compassion has funded the construction of a new school building adjacent to the church.  That work is complete and ready for use in the school year to begin in October.  Folks were clearing the rubble from the demolition of one of the old buildings that had been used for school.

This afternoon we rested; for a couple hours the entire team had taken a nap.  It was needed.

Floor tile for the guest house was delivered yesterday, and today the tile bos and his helpers were busy with the installation.  Also, delivery of the components for the hospital solar system began arriving at the mission station.

More Work

Work continues with full engagnement.  More than half of our time is behind us.  The progress is noticable.  We have expended all the excess energy that we might have brought with us, but each morning we're ready to go at it again.  We are however thankful for the weekend.  Check out the photos on FaceBook.

Market Day

We worked just for a few hours this morning --- more painting and more door installations.  Just before noon we walked through town to the market --- nothing like Acme or Super Fresh.  All kinds of wares spread out on  tables or laid on cloths on the ground.  We chose not to buy here.  Some of us went to the sandbar for snorkling, but without masks and breathing tubes it's difficult to see under water.  So they settled for  some treadding water and sun bathing.  Some took a stroll through the saline - the flat land next to the water where folks who have no other place to live make whatever shelter they can.  Even in these circumstances folks greet us with a smile, and the little children come near to get a closer look at us blancs.

Work Day Four

Progress continues.  It's  more of the same --- caulking, painting, mounting doors.  The temperature is not cooling down (we didn't expect it to).

We had a very good visit with Dan Irvine as he shared some of the work that remains to be done and the various opportunities for ministry teams.