HARD WORK AHEAD

Saturday marked the sixth day of work on reopening the Road to Frettas. The easy work if any work could be referred to as easy in this rugged mountain terrain and heat is now over. Several large rock outcropping need to be cut away to make the road passable for even one vehicle let alone two to pass through. The picture of the workers depicts the traditional method of manual labor in Haiti still in existence in most areas through out the country. A few basic tools quite possibly very similar to those used 300 years ago when the French plantation system existed are still in use today. Most mountain communities rely on the long handled hoe, the pick and the machete to work their fields, cut down trees, dig and maintain irrigation canals and much more. Enthusiasm still seems undiminished by the hard work that

still lays ahead in the days to come. We were honored by the presence of our district deputy to the 48th Legislature of the Republic of Haiti on Saturday. He came to inspect our work and thank us for our spirit of community involvement. We had requested his help in securing the use of a tractor and backhoe and like all good politicians in an election year he didn't come empty handed. Though he wouldn't be able to help us find a tractor he brought us two machetes, 6 shovels, 3 picks, 12 hoes and the promise to go with us on Tuesday to 3 humanitarian organizations to try and secure some help for the project. My hopes aren't too high that we will get any kind of assistance but possibly with the weight of his office behind us it's worth a try. In all likelihood and the mountain people know this better than anyone if they want something done there going to have to do it themselves. The government has it's hands full trying to take care of a deteriorating infrastructure and road system along the coastline and in the cities as it is. The mountain people remain as they have for generation after generation mostly cut off and isolated to a great extent from from the influences of the outside world. They are friendly, fun loving, independent and mostly self sufficient but most of all they are a hard working people.

PREACH THE GOSPEL AT ALL TIMES

On Monday the "Feet Across the Mountains" outreach of G.A.P. go and produce Ministries started work on the final section of the Road to Frettas (fret-ta). This is no easy undertaking in the rocky mountain terrain high above the Mountrouis River. Diesmy (Jasmin) my field coordinator and myself worked with the 100 plus people who volunteered to see this project get completed. The workers start at 7:00 in the morning and work to noon, I was surprised at the number of women who turned out to help on the road work. Our tools consist of pick axes, hoes, shovels, spades and sledge hammers. These tools are never fun to work with and even less so in the hot Haitian sun. You also need to be constantly aware that the road edge is a sheer drop off to the river down below. A slip of footing or balance and you might be finished and I'm not talking for the day. I have been busy with some other projects the last several days but Diesmy worked with the people on Tuesday and Wed. I'm looking forward to getting back there tomorrow morning to see how progress is going and hopefully cheer everyone up with my presence. On Monday I know my working along with the Haitians was a morale booster for the workers involved. I'm a firm believer in leading by example and that there is no better way to show how much you care than by working right along with those you want to help. I will close with a favorite saying of mine that hangs on the wall of my home here in Haiti. It is by Francis Assisi, "preach the gospel at all times. If necessary use words". In God's love , steve

THE ROAD TO FRETTAS

The village of Frettas (fret-ta) is 8 kilometers

(5 miles) up the Mountrouis River from my home on the coast of Haiti. I first visited this area back in 2003. As travel in mountain areas go river corridors often afford the easiest access through mountain ranges. That evidently was the case with the Road to Frettas. This village by comparison to other rural maountain villages here in in Haiti is a very well kept and beautiful place. There is a sense of pride around this village of 300 people along the Mountrouis River. A pride of community and a pride of history.

The most obvious thing you notice as you reach the village and gaze down on the community below is the huge church. The question immediately arises how and why did that get built here. The Baptist Church was built in 1933. Unlike any of the other mountain church I have visited it evokes pride of craftsmenship and materials. It's representative of an earlier European style of churches. It is very tall with a rather steep roof which is supported by brick buttresses on the outside walls. Between each buttress it is framed and pegged with timbers from Haiti's once magnificent forests. The majority of the walls are finished with mortared rocks. Another characteristic of pride is it sits in the middle of town along with the much newer school announcing to all who arrive this is a Christian community.

Through out history towns have sprung up and prospered because of their important location. Natural travel routes , access to markets, availability of water and natural resources for a few, Frettas fits all of these. Since it's very beginning the east bank of the Mountrouis River has offered enough land to locate a very good road to the villages up stream. On numerous occassions over the years I have even driven my 3.5 ton truck up the road. This past summer's three successive hurricanes and ensuing flooding have dramatically altered the river landscape.

What took nature thousands of years into a beautiful river canyon was forever altered over a 3 week period this last summer. Homes were swept away as were several sections of the road. Community efforts have resulted in some of the road being reopened to traffic but to the last two villages of Dauphine and Frettas. In this particular area the road will have to be cut high above the river with pick ax and hammer and chisel through the rocky mountain slope.

On Monday morning G.A.P go and produce Ministry in cooperation with the Haitian Organization for District 8 (OPD8) started working on completing this last link in the Road to Frettas. My next several blogs will keep you updated on our progress as well as the "Feet Across the Mountain "ministry outreach of G.A.P. Ministry that helps the mountain people of Haiti. In God's Love , Steve

DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS

This week we have been hosting a medical team of 16 men women and children from South Carolina, Missouri and Texas they arrived on Monday and will leave tomorrow morning. They have worked really hard this week with doing medical clinics here at Canaan three days and one day at Archaie. Today was one of those fun days that we promise our teams that come to Haiti. Fun days usually involve hiking in the mountains, traveling , swimming or a combination of the three. Ric and Wendy Bonnell for the second year in row have brought their three children to Haiti over Spring Break, they were the only family unit on the team. Today's plan was to hike to Piatre (Capiat) up in the mountains behind Canaan a very good hike from here. The younger 20-30 year olds in the group had decided to get up at 5:30 and make the hike. The Bonnell's had asked me last evening if I would go with them and their kids later in the morning after the kids got up had breakfast. We took my small 4x4 truck and drove to the first village where it was a 45 minute walk up to the springs and basin in the village. The teams I take up always love getting in the basin and refreshing themselves after the walk up to the village. The Bonnnell kids and Dan Langenberg visiting from Kanakuk Institute were no exception and we spent at least 40 minutes there before taking the less arduous walk back down to the truck. I'm always eager to hike into the mountains and spending time with these young Texan kids brought back memories of when my wife and I took our kids camping and hiking. Just as there is no better way to build a love for nature and the out of doors than to get children learning and enjoying nature early in life so it is with mission work. Start early and that love of learning about, respecting and helping other cultures will stay with them a lifetime. This week with the Bonnell's has been a great testament to what I have been telling lots of other parents consider doing a family mission trip, what a great way to honor God. In God's love, Steve from Canaan.

WHO SAYS DOCTORS DON'T MAKE HOUSE CALLS ?

When I was growing up back back in rural Indiana I can still remember one time when I was so sick that our family doctor came to our house to treat me. Though that was a quite a few years ago it is still a vivid impression of my childhood memory. Maybe it is because even back in my childhood it was no longer a practice for doctors to make housecalls anymore.
Canaan Clinic is very blessed to have a dedicated group of American doctors who still adhere to that timeless practice of coming to see the patient when they can't come to see you. Last evening our second medical team of 2009 arrived. We normally have one or two doctors coming every other month to see patients at our community clinic here in Haiti. This group has 8 medical people out of the 16 team members. We have 4 doctors, 2 nurses, 2 physician assistants and a nurse practitioner who still make house calls here to Canaan.
Doctor Tony Hlavacek who comes down here on a regular basis put together a great group of friends from within and outside of medicine this trip. Tony also brought along his mother Marcia, ( third trip) and one of her friends from Spingfield, Missouri. His med school friends Dr. Ric and Dr. Wendy Bonnell who also consistently come down and their 3 children Elizebeth, Will and Jack.
Though the Bonnell's live in Texas and I only see them here in Haiti and through e-mails and phone calls in the states it's always a real blessing to see and hear from them. That is one of the immediate rewards God grants me for my work here in Haiti over these last 10 years, is through all the friendships I have made. Hopefully in another day I will be remembering all the other team members names and who knows some of them may become a friendship blessing as well.
On another note for the medical teams to come here and be efficient and effective requires a lot of effort and planning before their arrival by Elsie Kornelsin and Bobbie Bender our in country medical people. Until our new clinic is finished it takes a lot of work to see multiple patients out of 2 small buildings . It also requires moving meds, equipment, chairs, water, generator and other things up and down the hill. It is good that God has blessed us with dedicated people here at Canaaan. In God's love, steve at GAP Ministry.

WE WILL LEAVE THE LIGHTS ON FOR YOU

The day before I leave for Haiti is always busy. Last minute things to buy , banking to do, business to finish, calls to make, finish up packing, it is usually a very stressful day. On top of all that Monday was my birthday which we had hoped to celebrate with an evening meal out before my wife's Church Leadership board meeting at 7:00 pm. I really wanted nothing more than to stay at home watching t.v. and relaxing in my recliner all evening. Instead I had promised a friend that I would come watch his first rehearsal for a concert he will be putting on in April to raise money for the Canaan Clinic. So rather than drive two vehicles to church I told my wife I would just wait around for her to get out of her meeting.
So as I was waiting in my wife's office reading a paper a young woman and small boy came in and asked if a pastor might be available. She then tearfully explained that she was traveling back to her home and her car was about to run out of gas and she didn't have any money to buy any. She had stopped to ask a police officer and several other for assistance but no one wanted to help. As she drove by she noticed the church lights were on and decided to take one more chance at finding some help. I told her there wasn't any pastors available but I would be Glad to help her out.
As a missionary in Haiti none of this is new to me people come to me all the time looking for help with their problems. They know if anyone will help it is those who work for and follow God's call. The early Christians depended on the Church . They looked out for and took care of each other and those in need. Should it be any different now or here in the U.S. than it was 2000 years ago or than it is in Haiti? Ten years ago I first went to Haiti to answer a call from God, I'm still there. My call was to be a shining light, to love the people and be generous with my love and transform the world by being a positive influence.
Today's churches and the people in them have the same calling and opportunities to be a light in a dark world, to love those shunned by others, to be generous and to transform the world. There use to be a T.V. add for a national chain of motels that said " we will leave the lights on for you " wouldn't that apply just as well for today's Churches ?
I've been in Haiti since last Tuesday and had been hoping to post this blog as soon as I arrived but I've been feeling a little under the weather so sorry it didn't happen till tonight.