Something to be Thankful For - Always!
Our Students
With Thanksgiving behind us - as a holiday, that is, since we give thanks continually! - we are full into Christmas mode here at the mission. Our preschool classes are singing Christmas songs and the elementary and high school classes are...well...preparing for exams. That doesn't keep them from enjoying a "color day" though. There's automatically celebration in the air when the students come all decked out in their "street" clothes instead of uniforms.
Medical Administrator
Angie spent the day with Gardith, the medical clinic administrator, as she graduated from college today. She was the top student in the first graduating class at the MOHI high school.
Gardith has been going to college on the weekends, while working during the week for years now. We are so proud of her and the hard work she has done to get to this day. Congratulations Gardith!
About That Water...
Relief efforts continue in Port Salut. We've done some roof work, and also continue giving out clean water, using MOHI's amazing system from Aquavast in Jacksonville. I often tell our visitors that we have better water coming out of our tap here in Haiti (at MOHI) than they have in the US.
This water filtration system was created by our friend John Armour. He had missionary friends who went through a terrible hurricane. Knowing that all the water would become contaminated, and being concerned for his friend's children, he began researching different filters and treatments. He credits the Lord with guiding him and giving him the wisdom to create this amazing system, which uses nano-technology and several steps of filtration. It's especially amazing because it filters the water as it's being pumped into the holding tank. That's an incredibly fast rate. When the water was tested at the federal government's lab in the U.S., they found the system had removed 100% of the contaminants. Yep! That's the kind of water God has blessed us with here and we are thankful to be able to share it with our neighbors in Port Salut.
Please click the logo above to continue the hurricane relief efforts in Port Salut. Whether you have $50 to give toward feeding the hungry or $3500 to build two houses for families without adequate shelter, know that your sacrifice will help ease someone else's suffering. And who knows how the Lord will touch those people's lives through the face to face ministry that takes place in giving your gift? Please help us to continue bringing hope and help where it is still so desperately needed.
Fund Raisers
Hats off to Greg, Olivia, and Grace Tangney! They raised over $3000 (enough to build almost 2 houses, thanks to the matching grant we just received!) by running in a 5K race in memory of their brother, Brian. Brian came to MOHI in 2015, serving with our medical ministry. He was a part of the G3 team from Central Massachusetts, which included staff and students from Quinsigamond Community College. Brian was deeply touched, as so many of us have been, by his interactions with the Haitian people and planned to return the following year. Unfortunately, his life was cut short in a tragic accident, but his family has continued pursuing his passion for helping the people of Haiti here at MOHI. If you would like to be a part of this fantastic fundraiser today, to honor Brian, please go ahead to their "Trot for Haiti" crowdrise page: https://www.crowdrise.com/trot-for…/fundraiser/gracetangney1
Please consider making your next a race a fundraiser, too. Just think of the lives that can be touched while you do what you enjoy doing.
Jobs
One of the biggest problems throughout Haiti is the lack of employment. In one of my favorite old musicals, the Sound of Music, Maria put it so aptly, "When the Lord closes a door, somewhere he opens a window." I think job creation came in through the window. We have been employing carpenters and laborers in Port Salut. Back here in Grand-Goave, the block factory has been going full steam ahead, so we've had extra jobs created there, as well.
Food
We are constantly feeding people here in Haiti. Usually it's rice and beans or soy. We also feed a lot of people spiritually. The clinic, the classroom, the outreaches into Port Salut and other areas are also a spiritual food distribution event. What better way to convey the love and care that Jesus has for us than by feeding someone who is hungry, right?
Today we were fed at the church service in Thozin. Pastor Mark Zimmerman from White Stone Church (Knoxville, TN) elaborated on Psalm 107. He pointed out four different types of people referred to in the psalm and how the Lord answered each category of person when they cried out to Him. And he encouraged us to tell others about what the Lord has brought us through and to give thanks.
I am particularly thankful each Sunday I'm in Thozin for my little friends. This is Nelthon, drinking water through a tiny hole and squeezing it into his mouth in a stream.
This was Christlove's selfie today...
I'm very thankful, too, for each one of you who have read this post. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. Thank you for your partnership in the ministry here in Haiti. Lex and I are praying for you, too. Have a great week!
