Clean Up

Haiti Arise has received a couple of containers from Canada/US by ship.  They have a variety of items on them from clothes to furnishings to medical supplies and equipment.
This particular container had a lot of medical supplies on it, so our nurse had a couple of our team people help her clean it out and sort it.  There were many items useful for our clinic (which is now up and running three days / week).  Other items that we would not use here and extras were taken to our local hospital where they were most appreciative.


We are also starting to collect linens and clothing for the Children's Village which will be opening in 2014. They are kept safely in the container.

Our Own Market

Haiti Arise is blessed with lots of donations of clothing, shoes and some household items.  They are distributed regularly and every few months, we hold a market where the excess can be taken.  We invited the Haiti Arise staff on Saturday morning to 'shop' at the market.  We ask for a small amount (25 goudes or .60 US) per item and the proceeds to go the church fund.  The church fund is to help people who have unexpected needs come up - such as needing medical attention or paying for a funeral of a loved one.

Baptism Service

We had a baptism service yesterday at our water front property.  We met at the church to sing and have testimonies from the people who were getting baptized and then we walked to the ocean.  We sang songs and hymns all the way there and back.
Thirty-five Haitians and 4 Canadians were baptized....What an amazing experience.  Wade helped teach the baptism class with Marc.  He assisted with the baptisms -- a definite highlight for him.

Our friend Jhony

Walking to the property

 

Ladies Afternoon at the Beach

On Monday afternoon, the ladies from The Link Team (Medicine Hat), hosted an afternoon out for the church ladies at the Haiti Arise water front property.
We met at the church and walked to the beach together. Most of us went for a swim and played some games.  The men cooked a delicious supper for us and brought it to us and even served it. 
After supper, one of the ladies brought a devotional and we sang and prayed together.  What a great time...........

We had a relay race - running with a tub of mangoes on our heads.  The Haitian women won this 'hands down'.

Good Friday

For Good Friday, there was a program put on by the Sunday School.  This means most of the church, as young and old attend Sunday School and particiapted in the program.  It was 4 hours long, but was the best Good Friday service we have been to. 
It started with worship and singing.  Then several people sang songs on their own followed by a skit of the Easter story and one other skit.
Some of the girls did a dance and there was a Grand March style show with the teens. 
Everyone had such a great time. 
The highlight was the Bible quizzing that all ages participated in as a celebration of what they learned in Sunday School.  It is truly amazing how much of the Bible these people memorize.  They take memorization very seriously.
Along with the quizzing, was the giving of the gifts that people from North America had purchased from the Haiti Arise gift catalogue as gifts over the Christmas season.  There were goats, chickens, school supplies, tools, rice, food packs, baby packs, soccer balls,etc.



A very happy young girl with a new bike

Our family exchanged goats and food for Christmas gifts from the catalogue - here are some of the recipients of them. It was amazing to be here for this!

Short Hair!

It is starting to heat up here as April is right around the corner.  It is much more comfortable to have short hair and a cooler head so today was 'haircut day'.

We're Back

We arrived back in Haiti on Monday with two teams.  It was a long and busy week in Saskatchewan, but was nice to see our boys.

The Link Team from Medicine Hat

The Cornerstone Team from Saskatoon