Haiti Relief

Blessings, in the form of cardboard boxes, have been circulating, weekly, through our house.  With the help of the ministry ‘Faith in Action’ aid has been given to hundreds.  Items such as peanut butter, canned goods, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, washcloths, blankets, baby formula, deodorant, floss, clothes, shoes, and toys have been reaching the hands of victims since shortly after the earthquake.  We know it’s not a small job to organize, purchase, box, label and send, week after week.  To Faith in Action, (Ricot’s foster parents mission) we say thanks!!

Under the coconut trees, behind our house, beneath a tent, around a table sit two eager men.  Patrick and Ednar, the first two to join our weekly bible study, can not get enough theology talk with Ricot.  It is a blessing to see the excitement they have to learn and the joy it brings Ricot to be a part of it.  Please pray as the study continues to develop.

Fourteen children, one teacher and a yard make up a preschool a few houses down from ours.  With our arrival the students sang us a welcome song and were happy to have us visit their school.  We watched as they told us the days of the week and the months of the year.  We played games with them and handed out backpacks filled with supplies.  It’s encouraging seeing how much the teacher loves children and is happy to be doing what she’s doing.

The country has had a problem with fuel.  Since the 14^th the gas stations have rarely to none been giving gas, diesel nor propane, for reasons we can’t say for sure.  So, we have been cautious about how much we drive and how long we have the (propane) stove on.  We received electricity yesterday for the first time in 5 days, which, as usual, is not here full time.   Running the generator is not something we do often so living with the musical symphony of mosquitoes around our heads and candlelight have been our evenings.  The excitement in the neighbourhood is uplifting when they turn on the power!!  People cheer and yell, it really is a good feeling!!

Next week, with a team of six men from Vernon, we will work with the orphanage we have been helping since the earthquake.  They will build a shelter for the 80 plus kids, and workers who have been sleeping in tents and under tarps for 3 months.  If that’s not tough, it started raining and flooding their yards, the kids have been getting wet and spending some nights awake.  We are eager to get these buildings up and running.

Being in this country comes with its share of troubles and setbacks, but it also comes with major blessings and joy.  Seeing people live in community, and ready to help loved ones opening up their home with no question is an amazing testimony of unconditional love.  Preneze (no photo available) is a lady who is always there to help out people in need.  She has opened her house to many relatives over the years, adopted a child who needed help, she goes to the hospital with family and is the one people call when in trouble.  I praise God for her! Please pray that God continues to help and guide her and that more can learn to love like she does

I want to thank you for being there for us!  God Bless!

The Leon’s.