Christian Missionary Fellowship - Christian Missionary Fellowship - Gonaives, Haiti 2012

1-27-2012: We arrived safely in Port au Prince yesterday evening and then to Gonaives by 9pm. We are all safe, healthy, and work teams have already left for the day. The goal is to get the concrete poured for the flooring of John Raymond's church in Gonaives. Here at the house in Gonaives, a work team is working hard to dig up the electric line running to the house and repair/replace the wiring. Sainsurin and his wife Mary have graciously allowed the entire team to stay in their beautiful home during this trip and we are so thankful for their hospitality. That God is with us in this trip is proven over and over. We cannot stress enough how much your prayers and your support mean to us and continue to be needed.

1-28-2012: The work yesterday at the house was completed without complications. Beds were built, electricity was repaired both inside and outside the house, and rigging was made for the pouring of concrete today at John Raymond's church. We could not get concrete poured yesterday as we still had not received the rebar...which will be delivered at 9am this morning. Once that is received and we can get it set, we will pour the stage area. John Hendrix, our concrete construction foreman for John Raymond's church, was encouraged that the walls were erected on the church and gravel was waiting for us before we got there. The workers on the church hauled in wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow full of gravel to fill the stage area and the first 1/3 of the church in preparation for the pouring of the concrete today. We hope to complete the filling/grading of the church today and get the concrete poured for the stage and first 1/3 of John Raymond's church. At the church site for Charles Willfoget's church, the footers have been put in and the building is squared for the next phase of that project, the foundation and walls. All are tired but doing well. The sun burns quite a bit hotter than we are used to at home, so keeping everyone hydrated is a priority! We are all glad to be here and honored to be doing the Lord's work!

1-29-2012: Well, things did not go as smoothly at John Raymond's church yesterday as they did for Charles Willfoget's. 3 Haitians were hired at Charles' church to dig 21 deep holes for the pillars of the church, and it was completed in good time yesterday. At John Raymond's church, the supplies were delivered at 10am and, because the roofing material also came on the supply truck with the rebar and the concrete, we had to spend nearly 2 hours unloading the truck. Due to the late start, and working through the heat of the day, concrete pouring did not progress as hoped. The stage area was not quite finished at the end of the day and the rest of the flooring of the church must be completed soon. So we are going to try to make up time at that jobsite today by working to complete the stage area and then attempt as much of the flooring as we can. I just want so say that we are all here working extremely hard, some pushing themselves further than they should, but we are doing it to the best of our ability and for the glory of the Lord. Many of the women are mothering the men to make sure they take water and sunscreen breaks as well as rests, so that we all make it home to our families and friends in good health. As always, prayers are appreciated!!!

UPDATE: Our CMF group along with the five Haitians we hired for the mixing crew, prayed over the site of John Raymond's church before we started any work today. God is so good because we completed today's work and are preparing to attend evening church services at Sainsurin's church this evening. The work at the site went well and we completed the stage, set the grade and rebar for the front third of the church, shoveled gravel and sand, and mixed/poured concrete until that section was complete. We are now on schedule again - praise the Lord! Tomorrow's goal is to complete the second 1/3rd of the church floor. Tuesday we hope to finish the final 1/3rd of the flooring. Since work is going as scheduled on Charles Willfoget's church, they took today off and attended morning worship services at Sainsurin's church. Today was another hot day here in Haiti but we are keeping hydrated to the best of our ability. All are safe and doing well. Everyone is looking out for each other and are quite the family-away-from-family. I have many sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, mom's and dad's so everyone is being mothered, fathered, picked-on in caring way, and spoiled. It needs to be said that we are all being fed very well here. Carol and Fay have been spoiling us when we come in from working all day with large, hot meals. I know I speak for everyone when I say that we appreciate them so much for all of their hard work here at the house! I will update in the morning to let everyone know about this evening's church service.

1-30-2012: Another early rise today as there is much work to do! At Charles Willfoget's church, they will now dig the footer for the foundation of the church. At John Raymond's church, we will lay the second 1/3 of the church. One of the challenges that we face there is where to mix the concrete as we progress. So far, we've been mixing inside the church and it appears we will have to mix outside...but with the way the building is situated, there is very little room outside and we have to build planks to wheel the concrete up the steep incline into the church (as opposed to the wheelbarrows full of sand and gravel). God will make a way. We are a very resourceful group as well as hard-working. We will figure it out somehow! Part of the group will remain at the house today to begin cutting/bending rebar for the trusses which will have to be put up as soon as the floor is finished in John Raymond's church. There are also repairs to equipment/tools that need to be done as well.

Last night we all went to evening services at Sainsurin's church. It didn't take long to notice the difference between their worship services and the way most of us worship at home. First, they have more people on Sunday evening than we do on Sunday mornings. They sing for an hour and a half before they even preach... and oh the zeal that they have! Children danced while the offering was collected and after the service (which was difficult for us since we don't speak Creole so did not know what was being preached) we met some of the children of the church and took a group picture. Jeremy has a new friend name Olsen who came right up to him and latched onto him as if Jeremy were his new hero. It was the sweetest sight. The people here are so passionate in their faith, caring, and hard-working. I was reminded of a song that I love so much called, "It is Well With My Soul" and the Haitian people seem to embody the spirit of that song. Despite what life has given them or not given them, they turn to God in praise and thanksgiving. We all can come away with a few lessons from the people of Haiti.

1-31-2012: Yesterday went very well at all locations. Concrete was poured for the center section of John Raymond's church with rebar laid in preparation for laying the last of the concrete flooring today. At the house, a crew started work on building trusses while a few more beds were made for those still sleeping on the floor. Today a larger crew will stay at the house to work on the trusses. We have to have 34 built to begin putting up the roof on Thursday. At Charles Willfoget's church, the footer was dug but they could not begin laying the rock because the truck got stuck trying to get up to it, so they are planning to get the rock to the site today and put down rock for the footer and pillar columns. We got a treat yesterday from Sainsurin's wife, Mary. She cooked our evening meal for us - a Haitian meal. White rice, black bean sauce, and fried okra with chicken and tomatoes. It was very good. Mary also did laundry for us yesterday with help from one of her church members. She wouldn't let us touch the laundry because, since they wash everything by hand, she didn't think we could get them clean...and the soap Haitians use, which is straight lye, would eat the skin off of our hands. Even with a bad back, Mary joyfully scrubbed our laundry. Any of you at home who do laundry, imagine how much laundry 20 people had! Mary and Sainsurin have been so gracious and we appreciate them so much. That is why we decided to all take up a collection to buy them a washing machine. It is something that helps us and saves Mary's back at the same time. We haven't told her yet but can't wait to see the look on her face. We still need prayers from home for our trip and for the health and safety of every one of our group. Some people are beginning to wear down some as they have pushed so hard. We push ourselves through the aches and pains because we know that this is for God's glory. He is our strength.

2-01-2012: Yesterday was a great day! The floor at John Raymond's church was finished by 2pm and the crew came home in time to set most of the grade on the garage floor that we will be concreting for Sainsurin with the leftover concrete from the jobsite. We also plan to put a concrete grade at the end of the Sainsurin's road where it meets the main road as there is a sharp drop from the street to Sainsurin's road that tears up the vehicles coming in and out. Sainsurin does so much for us at much personal sacrifice and it is our pleasure to do a little something for him in return to show our gratitude. The washing machine that we bought for Mary was picked up yesterday and brought to the house. She tried not to show too much excitement over it but, as reality set in and we found a place to install it, you could see her excitement build. If you could have seen her hunched over the washtubs hand washing all of our clothes with her back in pain, you would know how good it feels for us to do this for her...and how good it must feel for her to know that she won't have to do that anymore! At Charles Willfoget's church, they built a road to get to the building site so that trucks no longer get stuck delivering material. The rock for the footer was then delivered. Today they will be able to lay the rock in place for the footer. Joe Luka and Norman Schipull will be interviewing some candidates today for a Haitian to take over as a job foreman/supervisor when they leave and carry out the building of the church. Please be in prayer that God will send us a trustworthy and Godly man that can continue the work that has been started there. Our plans here at the house today, besides the pouring of concrete in the garage and end of the road, will be to finish building those trusses and build a scaffolding to install the trusses and roof at John Raymond's church site. With more people here at the house, there will now be two teams working on the trusses so the work will go much faster. Our goal is to finish them so please pray that happens for us because we plan to start putting the trusses up tomorrow. We pray daily that everyone in our group continues their good health and has the stamina and strength to complete all of the work that needs to be done here in accordance with God's will. Our hearts are so willing but, sometimes, the flesh we have been blessed with isn't always as willing.

2-2-2012: It is amazing how the Lord works in everything we do. We have been able to complete every project that we set out to accomplish for the day...and the construction projects that we did around Sainsurin's home yesterday while Scotty builds the trusses went very well. We finished concreting the floor of the garage, a step to get up onto Sainsurin's front porch (which was 2 ft above the ground and too difficult for Mary to use. The concrete grade at the end of the road was completed as well. Scotty, over the last 2 days, has worked so hard that he has half of the trusses completed in two days. Friday is the start date for putting trusses up at John Raymond's church and he will have them completed on time. So, while we wait for the trusses to be welded by Scotty, a group of us will be visiting the church site in Ennery that we plan to build next year. Ennery is in the mountains behind Gonaives. The rest of the group that stays at the house will visit the school next door. We will be celebrating our successes for the first week by having ice cream tonight! What a treat! At Charles Willfoget's church, rock is being put in place for the footer but it isn't done yet. Joe is very confident that things are moving along well there. Joe and Norman interviewed and hired a job foreman/supervisor for the site that they feel will be the best man for the job and are more at peace for when they have to leave that someone responsible and dependable will be here to ensure the work on the church progresses. Tomorrow, those who were only planning to stay for the first week will be leaving to go home while the group coming in for the second week will be arriving at the airport. Tomorrow morning will be my last update as I will be heading home. Nancy will take over the updates after I leave. Then I will be the one sitting at home reading her updates!

2-3-2012: Another hot and sunny day in Haiti, but a busy and successful one as well! A large group of us went up into the mountains to Ennery to view the church site for next year's project. A lot of work still needed to be done there before we can begin, such as leveling the 8 foot grade of the land, but John and Ed communicated what needed to be done to Sainsurin who translated to the Haitian work crew. I was amazed by how much work they had already completed, though! It was apparent to everyone that they had already worked very hard. At this point, we are not sure if the women will be able to work at the Ennery site next year as there is a dilemma of finding a place for all of us to stay in such a small town, but I have confidence that God will work it all out for us. Hebrews 11:1 is very appropriate here!!! The trip to Ennery, which I nicknamed "The Haitian Outback" was a very rough ride in the back of a Tap-Tap (a Haitian taxi that uses a small Toyota truck with a metal roof over the bed of the truck and two wooden benches) but the scenery in the mountains was very beautiful. As expected, the people of Ennery were much more laid-back and life moves at a slower pace. The mountains were a lush, green tropical paradise compared to the dry and dusty city of Gonaives. Back at Sainsurin's, Scotty and his crew were working hard and at break-neck speed on the trusses. By the end of the day, they had all but 5 of them done! Tomorrow morning, they will complete the last 5 and then the entire group will head over to John Raymond's church to begin the work of raising the trusses. Lloyd Dunn (our master carpenter) built the scaffolding yesterday and it was taken over to the worksite. The group is ready to get the next phase of the church building completed. As for Charles Willfoget's church, more footer rock was laid and they did six of the columns for the foundation (the four corners and two center ones). Joe Luka is staying another week to make sure all continues to go smoothly but Norman goes home today with myself, my husband John Hendrix, Jeremy Mignerey, Jim Tutt, and Brian Stout. I have mixed feelings about leaving. I am looking forward to the comforts of home and seeing my family and friends again, but I hate to leave before the work here is done and I'm going to miss my new family and friends here. I know I speak for everyone when I say that this trip has been a real blessing and I hope I can do it again next year. Knowing that we have had a part in the Lord's work and increasing his kingdom - what an honor!!! Nancy Mays will be taking over the updates from here. God bless and keep praying for our work!

2-4-2012: Well, another productive day here in Gonaives Haiti! Scottie finished the welding on the trusses and was more than relieved to do so. All trusses were moved to the job site, as well as other supplies to start the roof today. Scaffolding was built, more concrete was mixed and details were worked out so we could get a good start today. The Wilfoget church building continued with building pillar columns, only 5 left to go! Joe is hoping to finish those today. Next step is to finish the footer rock so they can start pouring concrete for the floor. Part of our group left yesterday and another group came, all arrived safely to their destinations. Thank you for your prayers and support, God bless you all!

2-5-2012: We started the day by going over to the John Ramon's church bldg. site. Just as we arrived the truck had a flat tire. Of course, we had no jack, so several men had to lift the truck to set it on a block to change the tire. I am always impressed with the resourcefulness of this group! The tire was changed and we were back on task. The excitement was building as the men were finishing the last touches on the 26 ft.scaffolling. They finished the boom and put extra screws and bracing to ensure safety on this project. Scottie and Mark were cutting off rebar and welding the angle iron in place on the top of the walls to set and weld the trusses to. A year in the making, Ed told me "she was on her maiden voyage, it would either work or it wouldn't." At last, everything was ready and they hooked up the first truss and started to crank the pulley. As the truss was being raised they had to turn it around to the back and before you knew it, the truss was in place! Everyone cheered to see this event, as Scottie and Mark welded it in. All of us could not stop smiling the whole day, thank you God! The rest of the day consisted of mixing and pouring concrete back at Sainsurin's church. We were all physically exhausted but layed our heads to rest with a feeling of accomplishment and with hope we would be able to finish the building next week.

2-6-2012 Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty! What an honor and privelage it is to worship with the Gonaives Christian Church! When I think about the whole world worshipping on the first day of the week each week, I start to understand what an Awesome God we serve! We were all so proud of Hannum Taylor as he preached the message and Sainsurin translated. After church we ate some lunch and then headed over to the Jesus loves me orphanage. The children were so cute, and Prospier and his wife were so sweet to let us come and visit. We shared some candy, McDonald happy meal toys, and some handmade dolls with the children and they loved them. Big, big smiles! They sang some songs for us and we sang for them. The sweetest song was when they sang, "soon and very soon." Oh, it brought tears to my eyes it was so precious! After supper we went back to church for the evening service. Sitting beneath the roof of this building made me think of the current buildings we are working on. How many souls will be saved? Lives changed? Oh God, thank you for letting us be a part of your story in constructing these church buildings.

2-7-2012 In spite of all the two by fours to be cut and tin to be moved and stacked (twice) and all the working out of the kinks in the lift system, we still managed to have thirteen of seventeen trussses and perlings securely fastened to the top of the building yesterday! There were men hanging from trusses everywhere! With two welders going all day and many drills screwing in the perlings, this made things go much smoother as these items are not easily found in Gonaives. Carol, Mary and Faye have been keeping us well fed and things running very well here in the house. The mounds of laundry they do and all the sweeping, dusting and organizing is very much appreciated by all in the group. We are looking forward to finishing the trusses and starting the roof tin today.

Joe's crew managed to get 80 ft. of footer wall in with just 60 ft.more to go. Plans are to finish the wall today. They will start carrying big rock (by hand) today for the fill for the inside of the church floor. Concrete blocks will be ordered today to be delivered next week to build the walls. Master block layers have been hired and Joe feels confident they will progress as we will not be here next week. This crew of block layers are good friends from St. Marcs. Francilus Aime' and his two son's Cratcrit, and Ygens are welcomed guests here at Sainsurin's house, as well as very hard workers. We thank God for giving us all that we need to complete our jobs here in this city. Scottie, Donna and myself enjoyed an almost full moon from the roof top last night, "WOW" is all I can say! It was if we could reach out and touch the stars.We definately felt a touch from God as we prayed for our families and our CMF work project and team. All team members are healthy now, and filled with a renewed energy and ready to complete the church building. Please continue to pray for us, we love you all!

2-8-2012 Another great day at the job sites yesterday! All trusses are up and welded at the John Ramon's church building site! Wearing the welding jackets and welding over head with the sparks going down your inside shirt, is not a very pleasant experience in this extreme Haiti heat. So those that are welding are elated to have that part done! All the perlins are in place and 1/4 of the tin is connected to the roof! We are expecting to get the rest of the tin on today and plan a small CMF dedication including scripture and prayer for the church that will meet in the building that was built. We would like to ask all of you as well to join us and say a prayer today for this body of believers. We would also ask you speak a verse of scripture to encourage all who enter the doors of this church to know they are standing on the firm foundation of God's word.

2-9-2012 The church building was completed yesterday. The last piece of roof was put in place and screwed on at about 1:00p.m. What a feeling of accomplishment! Everyone was gathered to do the dedication and God's never changing Spirit filled that room as scriptures were read and prayers were like a sweet aroma rising up to the Lord. We took some pictures and visited with the Haitian people that had gathered to watch what we were doing. Then it was back to Sainsurin's to get the last bit of concrete mixed for the church entrance. We cannot thank God enough for getting us through these last two weeks and giving us the strength to do what had to be done. He really stretches us way beyond what we think we are capable of doing. As His Holy Spirit moves in us, we stand in awe of Him! To God be the glory, great things He hath done!

Over at the church building site of Charles Wilfolget, the fill is 99 percent done in the floor. The plans for today is to lay some rebar and prepare for the mixing of concrete. Today Joe will have to give clear instructions to the Haitian foreman for next weeks job activities and the week following to complete the walls and have them ready for the trusses and the roof in October. He will leave the funds with Sainsurin to pay the workers and order any additional materials. Please pray this man will understand these instructions as the language barrier and culture differences are great. Thank you all again for your support and prayers, we cannot do this without God's mighty hand in it.