Wednesday, Day Six, 1 May

Wednesday (Day Six), 1 May

753a...

Good morning!!

And so begins our last full day here in Bohoc, for tomorrow morning we depart for PaP.

This morning began with a walk down to the river, followed by several cups of morning coffee, and then breakfast.  Soon we'll be heading out to do more work in the village.  Some of us will be working on a road-widening project while the rest of us will complete the cataloguing project we began three days ago.

Oh...gotta go.  Ramsey just walked by and said we're getting ready to do morning devotions.

See you in a bit!

1155a...

We all just got back from our morning work sessions.  Five of us finished the cataloguing project, while ten of us helped with a road widening project.  Regarding the cataloguing of children for sponsorships, I think that a total of 170 children were registered.  I can only image the fruit that will be born as all 170 children are quickly sponsored by families back in the U.S.  Please pray with me that all 170 will be fulfilled soon!!

I need to run as lunch is being served.

More later.

220p...

Most of us just woke up from our afternoon siestas, and now we're getting ready to head to the souvenir market.  The souvenir market is just for us, and it's comprised of between 40 and 50 women who come out to peddle things they've made or acquired.  As we try to do each time, we're all going to do our best to try to spread our purchases out among the women so that everyone gets at least some business.  After attending the  souvenir market, we're planning head back to The Wisdom Club.

4:59p...

We just got back from a wonderful time at The Wisdom Club.  We were all so impressed by the hunger (to learn) of the club members, and we've been especially impressed by the spirit, joy, and surrenderedness of Tyrondo, the adult mentor for the club.  I think some of our group is heading over across the street to play with some of the kids at Kris Sel Espwa, while some of us are taking some much needed down-time.  We're sad that this is our last day in Bohoc, but, as with everything, the ending of one journey is the beginning of another.

Thanks to all of you who've prayed for us throughout the week.  We're all so very grateful for your love and support of us, and we hope that someday you can come and be with us as we come back to visit with God's people again and again and again in this place.

2 May, 455a...

Last night was awesome!!

After dinner, we surprised by a visit from Kedum, a 35+ member choir from Maranatha Church right here in town.  Fabijean, who's the leader of the choir, said they've been singing together for a little over 32 years now.  Fabijean is such a warm, genuine soul; I remember Fabijean from previous trips.  Kedum was fabulous!!  What a blessing they were to all of us.  We had so much fun as we listened and clapped along to their singing.  They even sang a couple of songs that includes some English and one that included an African dialect.  Fabijean said, "We like to do this because we don't know yet what language will be spoken in Heaven, and we just want to make sure we're prepared." :o)

After the choir left, we circled-up and had our last meeting with the Bohoc Leadership Council (BLC).  Even though all of us were pretty tired by this point, what a special time this was for everyone, and what an honor it was just to be with these great men and women of God once again.  Provided below is a summary transcript of our last meeting...

Participants:

Jedlain Greffard, The 410 Bridge (410)

Adias, BLC¹

Jerome Greffard, BLC

Jasmin Jepseh, BLC

Madam Emma, BLC

Madam Jacques Maomi, BLC

Destruel, BLC

Pastor Isaacs, BLC

Dave, Team Haiti 2013/April

Shelly, Team

Denise, Team

Robert, Team

Tracy, Team

Amy Lynn, Team

Benjamin, Team

PBK, Team

Leslie, Team

Ramsay, Team

Myron, Team

Reah, Team

Joey, Team

Louise, Team

Tyler, Team

Note 1:  Six of the thirteen total council members were not present for this meeting.

Summary Transcript:

Adias...

The time has arrived to thank you for your presence here with us this week.

Thank you for leaving your country to come to Haiti.

We've been overjoyed to have you here to share this time with us.

Because of our many activities, not all of the BLC could be here.  But those of us who are here to talk with you.

When we met at the beginning of the week, we didn't have as much to share.  We do now!

Thank you for coming here to be with us.  We pray for God to give you a safe trip back home.

Jerome...

In the name of Haiti--greetings!

When Christopher Columbus found Haiti, he said, "This is a nice country."

I feel like a big man because I live in Haiti.  Haiti's a blessing for us...it's very dear to us.

Many spilled their blood so that we could be free.

We're so excited that you came to visit us again.

We have many beautiful people here in Haiti, but many who've not be able to go to school because of weak economics.

You came, and it was a blessing from God.

God loves us, and He must love you, too, because He allowed you to come and be with us!

Please remember us.

We thank your church, your families, and your friends for letting you come.

When you leave, please know that our people have a special place in their hearts for you.

The BLC loves you.

Even though I have 9 children, I feel really young because I get to work for the community.

I feel sad, though, because I am a widower.

Please keep me in your prayers so that I will be able to keep working for my community.

I know that some of you will come back because you know you have friends here.  And I believe, too, that God will send you back.

May God in his everlasting love be with you, and may He bless you, your family and your husband or wife...or, if you don't have a husband or wife, may he bless your girlfriend or a boyfriend.  And may He one day give you children, too.

Jepseh...

I was sad that I couldn't meet with you on that first day you were here.  But I was glad that I got to meet some of you at the soccer game on Sunday.

My name is Jepseh, and I am the secretary of the BLC.

We have joy in our hearts because you came to work together with us.  I'm happy, but sad at the very same time, because you're leaving us tomorrow.

We've all talked about how hard you've all worked.  And how hard young Benjamin worked on this his first trip to Haiti.  In him we saw the messages of your affection for us.

Thank you all for taking pictures of all our children and for widening the road.

Thank you for doing the home visits and for praying for our people.

Many of our people are asking when you will do more visits.  They love it when you honor them with your presence and prayers.  They will never forget you.

We cannot stop thanking you.

We hope those who are here for their first time will return to the states and share with their friends about their experiences so that more will come visit us next time.

Please tell them we don't want their money, only their friendship.

May God bless you all...for leaving your country, your families, and your jobs to come help us in our community.  Our thanks, too, are to Pastor Benji and your church.

We're looking forward to meeting again in January.

Adias...

If any of you have anything you'd like to share, please do so now.

Joey...

I really enjoyed the variety of activities we got to do this week.  I always enjoy the road widening and the comradeship.  I was disappointed, though, that we didn't get to spend a day with a Haitian family.  I was really looking forward to that.

I love Haiti!!

Bondye bene ou!!

Denise...

Thank you--ESPECIALLY, to the adults--who interacted with Tyler throughout the week.  I know that he's got a lot of energy, and everyone loved on him like he was their own child.  That was really special to me.  Thank you!

Louise...

I want you to know how much I appreciated being able to register your children for the sponsorship program.  I'm looking forward to newhope (and myself personally) supporting many of them.

Also, if I'm given another opportunity to come back to Bohoc, I'd like to spend more time at Madam Elmarie's home with her and the elders of your community.  I want more time loving and sharing with them.  Our time with them on this trip was too short!

Leslie...

I'd like to say thank you for opening my heart.

This was my very first time doing mission work.

What a beautiful people and a beautiful land for God to bring me to for me to begin my life of missionary work.

Since I've been here, I've seen happiness, sadness, hard work, and community like never before.

God spoke to me earlier when I was out at the road widening site.  This is what He said, "These are my people who build fences to open up community."  In my country, most people build fences to separate and close off community.

I must bring all of this back to my community and teach them that there is no separation in God.

And I thank you!

Amy Lynn...

It was such a blessing to be invited into people's homes to pray with them.

It was such a blessing, too, for us to be able to play with the children.

Thank you to all those who hosted us, to the women who cooked for us, to Jedlain, and to al the translators who worked with us throughout the week.  Everyone treated us so well.

Tracy...

I want to say thank you.

I missed all of you at the road widening [Jedlain:  Not me, because I was with you at the children registrations!]

As some of you may know, this was my second trip to Haiti.

Haiti is forever in my heart.

On this trip, I especially loved The Wisdom Club.

Pastor Chevenau talked about how much discipleship has been lacking in Haiti and how Haiti needs more hope.

At newhope, we have small groups that meet throughout our community in addition to church on Sundays.  I would love to be a part of more small groups here in Bohoc like The Wisdom Club.

Ramsay...

I'm very proud personally of how much the BLC has done here in the last three years.

You all are unsung heroes...unappreciated heroes.

See you in January!

Madam Emma...

We've been very happy to have you in our community.

May God protect you as you travel back home tomorrow.

We hope to see you again soon.

Madam Jacques Maomi...

I am a member of the LC and the leader of the Kris Sel Espwa Children's Group.

I felt so sorry that I could not be there with you and the kids on that first day.  I'm happy, though, because I love your presence in the community.

As I know that you are moms, dads, brothers, and/or sisters to others, please forgive my kids if any of them were mischievous.  [Ramsay:  They were all very well-behaved.]

Adias...

Finally....thank you!

We are very happy when we have teams come and give us feedback.

We wish that when you come back that the team will be bigger.  We'd like there to be at least 30 people on the next trip! [Dave:  Me, too!!]

I want to tell you that your home visits made everyone so very happy.  We do them after church ourselves.  We will make sure to keep them a part of your time here with us on every trip.

If no one else has anything to add, let's stand and pray.

PBK...

I have something to say...

I just want to thank you for the great translator we had--JEDLAIN!!

And so ended our last meeting with the BLC.

631a...

As we're getting ready to eat breakfast and because we have a very busy morning and day ahead of us, this will be my last post of the trip.

Again, I wish to write how thankful I am to all of you for praying for us and for keeping up with us while we were in-country here in Bohoc.  May God bless you richly.

In Him, and on behalf of Team Haiti 2013/April,

Dave

Haiti Unlocked

Bohoc, Haiti

2 May 2013