Category: News (Page 51 of 100)

Hi friends…

Fortunately for Haiti, the hurricanes did not affect them very much, but we are sure everyone is aware of those places it did and they surely need our prayers as well as help. Although some of the islands are not deforested as much as Haiti, they are still mountainous and with the amount of rain they had there is only one place for it to go. Seeing the pictures we have sent of Haiti’s mountains, imagine fifteen inches of rain coming down the side of those mountains.

This month we are sending pictures of two of the kids in “our” system. One, Mya, we are sure you have seen before.  Mya is one of a set of twins born in March fourteen years ago. She was brought to us after her mother had died and was about 6 weeks old, along with her sister who was very sick. We sent them to a nearby hospital for testing and although Mya was in good health, her sister died. The woman taking care of them, pictured with her, asked if we could help take care of the baby. With the help of a youth group, she has grown into the healthy young woman you see in the first picture.

The second is Kimberly. Her mother, Sherline, is one of our teachers in Bayelle (Beaubrun’s school). Kimberly is in the third grade and has been in our school there for over three years. As you can see, Kimberly is a healthy little girl full of hopes for the future — much like any child here. The exception for both children is that they are in programs that not only provide them an education, but also meals and vitamins to help them grow into healthy adults who will want to do something for their country. Both girls say they want to be doctors because they can see what we see: people who need help and no other place to turn but missions operating near them.

We show you these children because they are just two of those who you help each month and just two of the many your giving goes to help with the schools and nutrition programs.

Thank you for all you do to help our friends in Haiti and for your prayers.

Steve and Terry

Hi everyone,

This month we are continuing with the problem of soil erosion in Haiti and the effects it has on the country and people.

There are four photos; the first shows the effects on a bare mountain side and the second the same mountains, but showing the houses just below them. It just takes a glance to see the areas where water comes down the mountain sides and ends up in or on the houses, pretty much washing everything in its path away.

People ask the question, “Why do they rebuild in the same area if they know what is going to happen?”. In Haiti, it isn’t as easy to move as it is here and generally they don’t have the money to move. It may be the only spot of land they own and no one will buy it from them.

The third photo is of the river we mentioned during or after the hurricane last year when the water was almost over a bridge. You can see that bridge in the distance. Where people are walking was a road with houses before the hurricane. Now all of them are gone.

The fourth shows the results of when the water hits a dry river or creek bed Notice the stained water well out into the bay just west of Port Au Prince. It’s now the “rainy season” in Haiti.

It is a never-ending problem for the country and people who live there. The solution? We are working on that, at least in the areas we work.

These pictures were taken by Steve flying into Haiti, while visiting one of the schools near the bridge. School begins in Haiti September 4. While there, Steve delivered school supplies, vitamins and medicines to two of the schools. The school supplies were donated by a “still involved” school teacher in St. Charles MO.

Terry has her three-month check-up at the bone marrow clinic in St. Louis September 7, so please keep that in your prayers as well as the people in Texas. They certainly have flooding problems of their own.

Thank you for all you do for our friends in Haiti, your prayers and your giving.

Steve and Terry