Today is my birthday, Happy 59. How could that be? Fifty-nine–no way! But that is what the birth certificate says. The Lord said they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. I thank God that after three back surgeries, three hip surgeries, two elbow surgeries, one foot surgery, malaria and dengue fever, He still renews my strength to do His work. He is without a doubt The Miracle Worker.
This morning Simon and I had to do a little shopping before we went up to Z’Orange. Most people don’t realize how much preparation goes into getting a team into Haiti, taking care of all meals and transportation, lining up interpreters and making sure everything is working properly. I really don’t expect anyone to understand, unless they have been here with me and have seen how much time it takes. This is the reason I come in a week ahead of the teams. I used to come in three days ahead, and I found out really quick that was not enough time. Sometimes I have had three days of mechanic problems alone, but with the new Ford–thanks to all of you–I won’t be having those problems now. Today we started out buying groceries for the team. It would be great if you could just go to one store and purchase everything, but we had to go to three stores to find what we needed. We will have to go back on Saturday before the team comes in and buy fresh bread, ham, turkey and cheese and pick up three large coolers of ice.
After shopping, we met with Blanco to send him to buy three 55-gal. plastic drums that the Haitian pastors will use for showers. The price of these drums has gone from $18.75 to $43.75 each, since the earthquake. Simon and I then went on up to Z’Orange and started getting things ready for the team.
Our first task was to fill the 300-gal. cistern. We have to fill a 55-gal. drum with water, and then an electric pump pumps it up to the cistern on the roof. We have to fill the 55-gal. drum using 5-gal. buckets from the pump well. Just imagine–that took sixty 5-gal. buckets! Eventually, we will have an electric pump in the well. After the cistern was filled, I turned the water on and everything worked great–three showers, three toilets, and two sinks. Simon and I are going to try to install the third sink tomorrow. While Simon and some men were filling up the drum, I was installing some screens on the windows and cleaning up the kitchen for Ginette.
Then we met with Pastor Dorleon and got the list of food for the pastors, which Simon and I will get tomorrow at the market. We will also be buying 55 gallons of gas for the generators at $5 a gallon (makes our gas look cheap), and propane for the stove. Since I’m the only driver here, I’ll be driving Gabriel (military truck which we left in Z’Orange) down to PAP (so we can have it to carry the luggage up when the team comes), and then will have someone take me back up to Z’Orange to pick up the Ford. That will take at least half a day, but what is time when you’re working for the Lord!
I know I have said this before, but I want to thank everyone for your continued support of TEM. We have spent about six years in Z’Orange, and I can see God’s Spirit in that valley now–where before there was only darkness, where voodoo priests didn’t want us–and now, some are converted, and the others allow us to come into their villages and teach VBS, bring medical teams, and teach the Gospel to voodoo priests and priestesses. Now, the voodoo priests come to us, just to see how we are doing and asking when we will come and visit.
I believe that we are just at the beginning of a great work of our Lord. Let us not be weary of well doing: for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially those who are of the household of faith. Gal. 6:9
What an awesome opportunity our Lord is giving us!
