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Thursday and Friday Report from Mississippi

Thursday
Today was only a half day. We left early in the morning so we could get more time in. Our mission today was to get the ceilings finished.


Because we are remodeling a trailer, we are running into many querks. The wall frames are no completely square and the door frames are exceptionally small. Before we put up drywall we have to pull out staples that were used to put up the original drywall. I found us all exceptionally weary today.

You DON'T want to make these two ladies angry!

Angel Pat With Her Halo

We worked until 1pm and then headed home to shower and get dolled up for a trip to New Orleans. Some people from the Chicago group joined us and off we went. We walked all over the city, checking out the many sights. It was a beautiful evening! We heard great music, ate good food and had many laughs.


We all are ready for tons of sleep...

Friday
This morning we were the first group up and out the door. We had so much we wanted to get done before we leave in the morning. Depression has set in with many of the Long Beach residents. It is hard to see an end in sight with all the repairs that need done. Our resident especially is lacking stability. She is anxious and ready for her trailer to be done. Many times she has stopped by while were working to just sit inside her house and think. She lights a cigerette and sobs as she tells us stories of what she has been through. I could not imgane losing everything I have.


Jan our resident has also struggled with getting her home rebuilt because her home was primarily damaged by a tornado that went through the trailer park during the hurricane. Because it was a tornado and not a hurricane, FEMA is not willing to help rebuild her home. They have provided her with a FEMA trailer. The trailer park which was once a family friendly neighborhood has now become a community of savengers, scrounging around for work and money. Many times we had people come up to us and ask us if we were hiring. Many businesses were destoyed and have left people jobless.


We finished the cathedral ceiling with sore shoulders and smiles. It was so nice to have finally finished the ceiling. From there we were able to get back to work on the walls.


We got a call this morning from the ship captain we met at the beginning of the week. He said he wanted to take us out on an excursion at 1:30. We were definitely not going to miss an oppertunity to go out on a huge fishing boat. The captain's wife even baked blackberry cobbler for Bryan's birthday. We headed out towards Cat Island. The captain explained that Cat Island runs paralell to the coast and nine miles out from land. He said the island protected the coast from what was orginally a 35 foot tidal wave. The wave killed all the trees along the island. The captain said he fears another hurricane because their protection is gone. The next island we went to was Ship's Island. On Ship Island is an old fort build during the war of 1812. It's called fort Massachests. Our captain new the island police and they unlocked the door of the fort so we could look around. It was amazing! The cannons were huge, the brick walls were beautiful! We were all in awe!


The captain got us back to the dock at 5:00 and we rushed back to our work site. We worked until dark. Most of the work we did tonight was to board up all the windows to prevent the neighborhood kids from throwing rocks through them. We now have a the trailer completey sided and 3/4 drywalled. All of this work has been done by members of Good Shepherd between the Spring Break Trip and this week. My prayer is that our church will have many other hands working on this house. Whose up for another trip?!?

Keep up with our latest mission trip -- visit http://www.goodshepherdmissions.blogspot.com/ and read all about the trip that begins Friday, December 9th.

Friday Evening -- From Susan

We had many more adventures today. We went to the site of the new orphanage Twilla is building and it is beautiful. It is out in the country, on a hill near the ocean, where breezes blow and large trees grow. The air is clean and their is a small river and a large space for a garden. The children will be so much happier and healthier there. The walls of the main building are up. As she gets money, the roof trusses will go on and a wall will be built around the compound, We did our last shopping tonight and are getting ready for our last meal at Hotel Mont Joli, our lovely home here. We all have many feelings and emotions about our trip, but all of us will be glad to see our families, our church and our homes again. See you in church Sunday!

Friday -- From Susan

I have a few extra minutes this morning and we wanted to write an email of thanksgiving to our families and our church family, and to all those who have been praying for us. You can't imagine how that has sustained us throughout the week. And also for all the money and goods that you have contributed to this trip. God has multiplied it all for good here in Haiti, many times over. He has surely blessed all your efforts.

Today we are going to see the new orphanage site, and then to the old orphanage. Some will be painting a room at the orphanage.

It will not be long before we see you!

Susan Jones

A note from Maynard -- I received an email from Wes Jones yesterday. He tells us that in one of his personal emails from Susan we are told that the mother and child from Tuesday's post -- Rolenska and Mama Martine -- are doing well.

Thursday's Report from Barb

I am writing the report for today because Susan had too much chocolate sauce on her cake tonight and had to go sleep it off!

Our God is an awesome God!

We made it to the mountains today! The thirty year old Swiss Army vehicle ( and I thought they only made knives) took us where no other vehicle should (although others were going). We went through mud holes that would have swallowed most compact cars! Thank God for answered prayers and to all of you for praying.

We arrived in Barone (sp?) and got out in the cleanest mountain air you could imagine. The lush vegetation and clear blue sky reminded me of paradise! We walked through the gate where the clinic was being held and saw the crowd of people who were awaiting our arrival. They began to applaud and that continued all the way up the path to the building. Talk about your humbling experience-tears are blurring my eyes as I write about it, so maybe I had too much chocolate sauce too!

The pastor thanked us and said they had heard Twilla had been sick, and they didn't know if she was coming. Can you imagine walking up a mountain or pushing yours or another's wheelchair for hours without knowing that help was coming? She told him she had been a little sick, but it was another example of spiritual warfare we must wage as the evil one tries to keep us from doing God's work. She spoke about how that is the same for all of us, no matter where we are, but we must keep up the battle and continue to do God's work wherever we are. I'm voting for her if she runs for anything!

Then the day began............Six hours and several hundred people later, we were told it was time to pack up for home. Storm clouds were gathering and if it started raining, we may not make it back down the mountain. And since we knew there was chocolate waiting, we got with the program!!!

Oh, and remember the short supply of our most used medicine? We ran out........just as the last patient was seen........was there ever any doubt?

Barb Kell

Wednesday -- From Barb Kell

Today's email comes from Barb Kell...

We have 3 more clinics left to do, but Twilla has surveyed our supplies and says we only have enough medicine for two more clinics. The floor of our room is still full and she has many drugs in her room, also. We brought so much, but the need is so much more! I think we will need a miracle such as the loaves and fishes to work the rest of the week.

The vehicle we prayed over was reported to be running last night.Praise the Lord for He is good always. I suppose we will "test" it today on a short trip before starting up the mountain tomorrow. Your prayers are needed. Specifically, pray thanking God for his wonderful promises, and that He continues to hold us together, body and machine.

Tuesday

Today was great! We spent most of it at the orphanage. We played with the smallest 3 children, until the school children came home. They started school today for the Fall semester. As each child came up the stairs to the balcony where we were sitting, they each kissed us on the cheek, even the older boys. They were so dignified and such gentlemen and very respectful to us.

They ate their dinner at 3:30 pm and then.......... they each received their new bookbags and school supplies. (Apparently, they didn't need them the first day of school.) Most of those were the ones sent by our church. The children were so excited! It was a huge fun event, full of smiles and laughter. After this our group played and hugged the children and everyone seemed to have a good time.

Let me explain about their meals. They eat two meals a day, breakfast in the morning and their second meal at 3:30 pm when they come home from school. They get a small snack at school. Twilla said that all Haitians eat only two meals a day and, indeed, that is common for many third world countries.

I guess the most important part of the day was the repair of an indoor toilet that had not functioned for years. The children have been using an outhouse. The hero-of-the-day award goes to Jan, who is Jane Carney's childhood friend from Haiti. She was brought to the orphanage early this morning to meet the plumber and an interpreter. She accomplished the fixing of the toilet quickly and there was enough money left over for Jan to go to the store and buy a second toilet. It was installed upstairs in a "bathroom" which had the basics of plumbing there, but had never had a toilet in it for lack of funds.

Our baby, Rolenska, is doing so well! She is now sucking formula and fluids from a bottle and has started to smile! The nurses were worried that she might react to the feedings with diarrhea because her system was so fragile. When she had a normal dirty diaper today, they all broke out clapping and exclaiming. Martine (the mama) and Rolenska are spending the night with us again at the hotel. I think Twilla feels that the baby will be well enough to go back home when we leave and Martine will come once a week to the orphanage to get formula and a baby check-up.

All-in-all, it was a great day. I could tell you more stories, but it is dinnertime and I'm hungry! Thank you for all your prayers.

Susan Jones