Building “Light on the Mountain”

 

God is good.. all the time! Amen.. Amen…

For those of you who have been checking this blog periodically and finding nothing fresh and new, I am sorry! :) Sometimes the inspiration to write just. does. not. come… For me, it takes a lot of effort and even prayer!

We, as a family, have been in Haiti for over two and a half years. Wow.. sounds like a long time.. but in actuality.. it has been a very short time.  God has TRULY been good to us.

Presently, we are still living in Leogane with the hope of moving to the mountains within the next 6 months. ha.. Lord only knows when! It seems like the weeks keep going as fast they come. There is never a lack of things for Don to do… from mowing and trimming the large yard here, to hauling building materials and supplies up the rugged mountain with Big Red. He has also been spending several days a week (if his schedule allows) in the mountain working at our “house”. 

If the Lord sees fit, this building will eventually be a shop/ storage building with upstairs guest quarters, but for now, it will be our first home in the mountains of Haiti.

Every once in a while, we pack up the whole family and spend a week or so .together. in the mountain while Don works. I love those times. Aside from the stress that comes with packing…

The mountain air is fresh and cool and the mosquitoes are not nearly as plentiful. I become so weary of the mosquitoes of Leogane!.. and the heat… ( however, I enjoy some things about living here too!)

I have definitely become more of a morning person since our move to Haiti. I love mornings. Mornings are the brand new beginnings of a day. And mornings are very rewarding on top of a mountain!

I was pleasantly surprised to turn around a see part of a rainbow, early one morning!

About a month ago, we spent almost two weeks in the mountain. Don hooked up the gas stove and the washer. I was most delighted! Sure beats cooking over a fire or a Coleman camp stove… and hand washing!

Presently, our water supply is rain water channeled from the roof into a big 600 gallon drum behind our house.  Works great as long as it rains… :)

Don built a plexi glass enclosure around the 55 gallon drum which holds the water supply for our showers a top the shower house. This helps to warm the water.. other wise we have frigid cold water coming out of the shower head!

Gravity flow is used  to replenish this barrel. Genius. Is this husband of mine! ;) From the water tank further up the hill, he ran a pipe under ground and then up the side of the shower house… which sure beats using a ladder and five gallon buckets to fill the barrel. …All we have to do is open up the valve…

A while back, we did have a well drilled, with very little success.. It is hard to find water in the mountain.  I think plans are to try again. So pray ... hard..

I love my open, airy kitchen:

If you have been “following” us at all, you will know that our mission is to minister to children here in Haiti. Our main work will be caring for little ones who have lost their birth mothers.

  Here are the three little sweethearts we are caring for now. William Claudsie, Karlee, and Sharina.

We have also “adopted” three neighborhood children…(in the mountain)  It is obvious that they come from a very poor family. They spend a lot of time at our house and love to help out…

Alongside, caring for these precious souls, Don has been hauling things up and down the mountain with Big Red, which helps supplement our income.

 

Thank you for your interest.. God bless you all as you serve Him!

Sincerely,

Mommy Karole :)

God Really Can Do Anything!!

 

 

This is a Lovely, Ripe, Red tomato harvested from a volunteer tomato plant growing out of a crack in the concrete! YES, God can do anything! He can make things grow, flourish, and bear fruit even when it looks nigh to impossible.

I actually picked eight tomatoes off that plant this morning! Amazing? Yes! Some of them were small… but still… wonderful.

Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing.

Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He that made us and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

ENTER INTO HIS GATES WITH THANKSGIVING, AND INTO HIS COURTS WITH PRAISE: BE THANKFUL UNTO HIM, AND BLESS HIS NAME.

For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.

 

How time flies…

Please accept my apologies for not updating this blog on a regular basis. I know it’s been almost 2 1/2 months… and 2 1/2 months is a long time not to be in touch….However, I certainly hope that you have not forgotten to pray for our family. Thanks to those of you who took the time to let us know that you have been praying. I most certainly believe in prayer and know that your prayers make a difference!

AND…Since the last blog,  I was able to ship ten bottles of vanilla to the states ;) Thanks for letting me “twist your arm”.. ;) And thanks to Carol Myer for her willingness to stuff them into her “check in” suit case after her visit with Little Miss Karlee Jo.

First and update on Big Red:

I haven’t been keeping track how many trips, but I know he has made many trips  up the mountain since the last time I wrote. His '”health” has been good aside from a few minor aches and pains! Don replaced several broken springs just recently..

Today in preparation for the “labou season” (mud season) Don had two new tires put on the front wheels of Big Red. Talk about expensive rubber shoes!! If Big Red wouldn’t have needed “shoes” , with that money I could have bought 20 new pair of $45.  shoes for myself. Actually.. come to think of it… I could have bought flip flops to last a life time! Oh well.. I am happy that Big Red has new tires because that “famous” mountain road gets awfully muddy some places and mud can be as dangerous as a foot of slippery ice and snow (at least that’s how it looks and feels to this lady!) and I do want him to make the trips safely!

Secondly.. an update on our shop/house:

The end of January we welcomed a team from South Dakota and Iowa. They came to help us with some concrete work, frame the second floor and put on the roof. Most of the team we had never met before…once again proving to us that God will provide!

 

I have not taken a recent picture of the building.. and since this picture the walls are “parged” (I don’t know if that is the correct spelling)

Don has been working at welding the metal bars that belong to the large openings on the right of the building. This job has proved to be a very time consuming job! But I am quite sure it will be a job well done.. :) knowing my husband! :) I will be happy to show you the picture of the finished product once it is installed! So keep watching!..

Oh yes, I want to inform you that we had some VERY SPECIAL visitors in March!!

Two of Don’s brothers and their sweet wives made the trip to Haiti  to see us and help us out! God Bless Them! :)

We did manage to make a trip up the mountain during their short stay. And they were able to work on the “house” a little.

 

Thirdly.. an update on our little ones:

Sharina is still a VERY sweet little munchkin! Her bottle is dearly loved and by the looks of things the milk is doing it’s job! It is hard to believe that this sweet little one is now 5 months old. She  rolls over very easily and is beginning to scoot around as well. I am happy to tell you that this little bundle of joy brings many happy moments into all of our lives.

 

Our “twins” William Claudsie and Karlee have celebrated their third birthdays since the last time I did a blog.  They both talk very well and can easily express their wants and desires! Like typical siblings, they squabble and pick one moment and the next they play together like best of friends.

Random bits in closing:

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One of the next projects on our list is painting. Anyone out there that would like to help? :)

Another thing on the list is purchasing and installing a wind turbine with the hope of generating a large percentage of our electricity.

We hope to move to the mountain by fall but God only knows. Projects seem to take so much more time in Haiti.. especially when you have to tote everything up the mountain.

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CAM is starting an agricultural program here in Haiti with Clint Bowers heading it up. Clint is planning to raise some potatoes and onions up in the mountains on *our land this year. Yesterday we were privileged to help plant a “ton” of onions.

Pray that God would bless this work…

God bless all His children all across the face of the earth!

Our lives for His glory~ Madam Don

* When I refer to “our land” I really consider it to be the Lord’s. We believe that our investment in Haiti is an eternal investment..This beautiful piece of land is dedicated to the Lord and His work. And in the future we wish it to be passed along to those who will use it to further the Lord’s kingdom…

God Can Do Anything….

 

A warm and sunny “Bon Jour”  (good day)  from Haiti!

I want to start this blog with a photo and I would like you to figure out what is wrong with it… before reading further!

Yes, it IS a tomato plant!

AND…

it is thriving where a person would least expect it to.

AND..

to you folks living up North.. it is January! :)

For those of you who know me well, know that I love gardening…I usually looked forward to spring with great anticipation and had gardening as a priority on my list of things to do.

Any experienced gardener ( I don’t consider myself a pro) knows that plants will not survive just anywhere. (really now??) Plants need certain conditions to thrive and be productive.

favorable soil…. sunlight…. moisture

Now.. since I have been in Haiti I have tried growing a few things but with little success. (except for some potted plants!) Once, I planted green beans and they actually sprouted and grew beautifully for a time. But much to my disappointment just as they were starting to produce beans .. they died… without warning. I also tried tomatoes with NOOO success… as well as red beets and sweet potatoes. :(

A month or so ago, I found this tomato plant volunteering within the walls of the compound we live in.

AMAZING!

I wondered if God is trying to tell us something…?? When God speaks we need to be quiet and listen. 

We can try to make things work..  our way… We can try to “make ends meet” .. our way.. We can try to build a mission…our way….

Perhaps God is saying that it is time to step back and watch what He CAN do..

If someone would have told me to plant a tomato seed in a crack of concrete.. I would have thought…

IMPOSSIBLE!

God can do the impossible!

Yes, God can use the “unlikely-est “ people in the “unlikely-est” places to do His work! Praise God! He will provide everything necessary to do His work… In His time.

Another absolutely amazing thing about this tomato plant is… we are in the middle of the dry period and haven’t had a good rain for a loong time. I was tempted to give this plucky plant some water but decided to LET GO AND LET GOD! .. and see what happens.

How in the world has this plant survived?

How CAN it survive?

If its’ tomatoes actually ripen I will be TRULY amazed!

 

I am choosing to believe that God is telling us that He will provide for our future.. just as He has  our past. Even when the way He directs looks impossible.

We serve an awesome God.

Our testimony is that God has provided in incredible ways even up until now.. and will continue to do so.

He will do the same for you if you only believe!

Keep up the faith and keep praying!

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Now for a little update:

Big Red was  seriously “sick” and had a time consuming operation this last month. Dr. M. Rudolph  and his assistant Dr. D. Weaver worked many hours to repair his aching stomach. :) We are happy to tell you that Big Red has made a wonderful recovery and is back in business. :)

If you care to;  Pray that he could remain “healthy” for he has a big work here in Haiti.

Our little “chocolate angel” is doing very well. She LOVES her bottle and her chubby legs, belly, and arms testify that I am telling you the truth!

Sharina is the sweetest, most contented baby I have cared for  so far.. (shhh.. don’t tell the rest of them that or they might feel bad!) I love to sit and rock her and bury my nose into her soft black curls. She smells so good! :) I love to gently pinch her fat cheeks and squish her chubby legs… If a child can actually be spoiled.. she is!.. no doubt.

I want to share a family picture with you all as well.. the sad thing is that Dylo is not on the picture… and since this picture was taken, Dale left for the states.

 

I have told my family that we resemble a twist ice cream cone… Chocolate and vanilla! I prefer that combination… :)

My piece of my heart broke off when Dale flew back to the states to live for a time. He is living with an Aunt and Uncle and their family. We are happy that he has the opportunity for a regular job.. obtain his driver’s license etc. God Bless you and be near you, son. 

Now you all might think that I am about to twist your arm or something…….. and maybe I will try it! ;)

If you are willing to commit yourselves to praying for our family, NOW and especially through the coming  month….. Leave a reply.. here or facebook…. The first ten people to do so (with in the United States or Haiti )  I will sent you a bottle of Haitian vanilla! LW.

Lots of love to you all!!

Thank you for visiting our blog and for showing an interest in our family!

~Mommy Karole