Thursday, April 8, 2010
We have a lot of really great photos from the past two days to post, but this is a short video of late last night. SuAnne cornered a small Kangaroo Mouse in her room, and needed the men to come capture it.
Of course the power was out so everything is lighted by head-lamps, giving a kind of crazy look. I hope you can see the mouse if you look closely. He was just a little mouse, but he could really jump!
Enjoy.
Haiti - Day 7, Thursday
Yesterday was a slow blur for the guys... We had an exact plan for the orphanage, and the work to be done, all we needed was a saw blade, and a drill but... two hardware stores later in Cap Haitien - an complete adventure in itself, there was still no saw blade or drill bit... and 1/2 the day was gone... But we had a lot of cool relationship time with the Haitian mason & brick guys over at the orphanage. We don't know exactly what we were all saying, but we all did a lot of laughing, hand-bumping and I think making fun of one another, the way only carpenters can... at least I'm pretty sure they were making fun of me - that was A LOT of laughter!
On the other hand, the girls yesterday had a Banner Day... Something like 125 people were treated in 10 hours. They Rocked, people were medicated, treated and God was Glorified!
Today was a completely different story for the guys. another slow start as someone was going to drive all the way to the Dominican Republic for a saw blade, because apparently there are none in Haiti >> Pastor Henoc even called TWO professional carpenters to come bring tools and help,,, but neither had a blade for their circular saw!!?? Huh??
Finally at noon a guardian angel showed up with a saw blade, and the guys flew into over-drive, literally getting all of yesterdays work + todays works done all in the span of 6 hours! It was pretty incredible!
THE GIRLS say over 150 patients today!!!! WOW !!! They say that there are some awesome stories, but I haven't heard them yet, as we all got home at 7pm, had supper, and now everyone is showering to get pounds of sweat and road dust off...
Did I mention it was only 89 1/2 degrees today - cool by Haitian standards.... sweating your hair off by Wisconsin standards. At lunch SuAnne put her head under the shower spigot (cold water only) just to cool down!
Today was an incredible day. Each night we have a debrief / devotional which last sometimes 1 hour or more - these are really good times. We share all our stories for the day / God sightings / and God's word. Each night we are able to mention the almost Visible bubble of protection that God has placed over us for the duration of this journey. Thank you all for your prayers.
Before the power crashes, I will sign off, but I will try to upload some photos asap!
Mark
On the other hand, the girls yesterday had a Banner Day... Something like 125 people were treated in 10 hours. They Rocked, people were medicated, treated and God was Glorified!
Today was a completely different story for the guys. another slow start as someone was going to drive all the way to the Dominican Republic for a saw blade, because apparently there are none in Haiti >> Pastor Henoc even called TWO professional carpenters to come bring tools and help,,, but neither had a blade for their circular saw!!?? Huh??
Finally at noon a guardian angel showed up with a saw blade, and the guys flew into over-drive, literally getting all of yesterdays work + todays works done all in the span of 6 hours! It was pretty incredible!
THE GIRLS say over 150 patients today!!!! WOW !!! They say that there are some awesome stories, but I haven't heard them yet, as we all got home at 7pm, had supper, and now everyone is showering to get pounds of sweat and road dust off...
Did I mention it was only 89 1/2 degrees today - cool by Haitian standards.... sweating your hair off by Wisconsin standards. At lunch SuAnne put her head under the shower spigot (cold water only) just to cool down!
Today was an incredible day. Each night we have a debrief / devotional which last sometimes 1 hour or more - these are really good times. We share all our stories for the day / God sightings / and God's word. Each night we are able to mention the almost Visible bubble of protection that God has placed over us for the duration of this journey. Thank you all for your prayers.
Before the power crashes, I will sign off, but I will try to upload some photos asap!
Mark
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Haiti - 6
Well, 115 patients today and the clinic and 7 bunkbeds almost fully made and doors getting hung up at the new orphanage being built. Very productive!
Fatigue never feels so good as when all your efforts are to help those who have so little. Many sad stories of illnesses. One whole family suffering from malnutrition; lack of food and unhealthy water supply. Enough food and good water-something we take for granted back home.
One of our last patients today was an older woman, so old that she and no one else-including her family-didn't know her age. After sitting for many hours to be seen she no longer had the strength to walk one step to get her back home. So! Randy and a Haitian man carried her through the church down the steps around the corner and disappeared down a path! They were followed by a group of Haitians; I don't know maybe they don't carry their elders around??
ok Well, Mark needs to get to bed so we're off for the night, Talk to you all tomorrow!
For the team - SuAnne
Fatigue never feels so good as when all your efforts are to help those who have so little. Many sad stories of illnesses. One whole family suffering from malnutrition; lack of food and unhealthy water supply. Enough food and good water-something we take for granted back home.
One of our last patients today was an older woman, so old that she and no one else-including her family-didn't know her age. After sitting for many hours to be seen she no longer had the strength to walk one step to get her back home. So! Randy and a Haitian man carried her through the church down the steps around the corner and disappeared down a path! They were followed by a group of Haitians; I don't know maybe they don't carry their elders around??
ok Well, Mark needs to get to bed so we're off for the night, Talk to you all tomorrow!
For the team - SuAnne
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
The pictures
Sorry, these pictures were suppose to be on the last post, but just as they were almost finished, the power went out again! Arrrgh!
here's a few for you... Some of Maria, Lori and SuAnne as soon as I get my hands on their cameras!
-m
Getting ready for a day of work
Mark's little helpers
Nathan (from Montana) framing doors with a helper.
Randy painting perfect circles on the ceiling around the light fixtures
Our three Haitian friends, who are now "door framers!"
here's a few for you... Some of Maria, Lori and SuAnne as soon as I get my hands on their cameras!
-m
Getting ready for a day of work
Mark's little helpers
Nathan (from Montana) framing doors with a helper.
Randy painting perfect circles on the ceiling around the light fixtures
Our three Haitian friends, who are now "door framers!"
Haiti - Day 5
Yesterday, Doc Maria, SuAnne, Lori, and their team of volunteer Haitians, and a few American Mission Kids saw and treated exactly 92 people - not bad for the first day..
Today, about 1 hour before the clinic started, there were already dozens of people waiting in line... they will have a BIG day today... Keep praying for strength & stamina for the girls, and a lot of healing for thepeople they are seeing. Some very serious, and some rather minor, but all need your prayers!
This morning the men went back to the orphange to get a grip on finishing it, so kids can begin to move in. We got all the remaining doors framed out before lunch - a huge task considering, there is still no power over there, and the only battery operated saw we have ran out after only 7-8 cuts due to a bad charge last night - the 120volt service yesterday was only delivering about 90 volts - stuff burns out pretty fast here.
Thank fully a couple of Haitian guys were working along side us, and one went home to get a framing hand-saw. he was a Wild-man with that saw, cutting 2x6 faster that I could have with the 18v Riobi saw! Soon his 2 cousins showed up, we all worked together, and next thing you know, they are doing all the work themselves... AWESOME... sharing, teaching, equipping, empowering... and they were high fiving and joking with us in Creole, having a great sense of accomplishment for the work they completed.
Now we are waiting for an electric say to cut down 6 panel doors to fit the random size openings that the masons left for us.
The Good News, is that there is a little electric power in the middle of the afternoon, so I can blog to you during this slow time.
Last night during our devotion, we read Gen 12: 1-4... Abraham was told to go by God, and he received many blessing from God.... We feel as if WE are receiving many blessing from God as well, because He love us, and because of your faithful prayers. We are being kept safe, we are eating well, with no 'strange' effects, we are getting much good work accomplished, and we are making many new Creole Haitian friends.
Enjoy these 1 -2 more photos (they take a reallyy long time to upload with the spotty (low speed) WIFI. :)
Today, about 1 hour before the clinic started, there were already dozens of people waiting in line... they will have a BIG day today... Keep praying for strength & stamina for the girls, and a lot of healing for thepeople they are seeing. Some very serious, and some rather minor, but all need your prayers!
This morning the men went back to the orphange to get a grip on finishing it, so kids can begin to move in. We got all the remaining doors framed out before lunch - a huge task considering, there is still no power over there, and the only battery operated saw we have ran out after only 7-8 cuts due to a bad charge last night - the 120volt service yesterday was only delivering about 90 volts - stuff burns out pretty fast here.
Thank fully a couple of Haitian guys were working along side us, and one went home to get a framing hand-saw. he was a Wild-man with that saw, cutting 2x6 faster that I could have with the 18v Riobi saw! Soon his 2 cousins showed up, we all worked together, and next thing you know, they are doing all the work themselves... AWESOME... sharing, teaching, equipping, empowering... and they were high fiving and joking with us in Creole, having a great sense of accomplishment for the work they completed.
Now we are waiting for an electric say to cut down 6 panel doors to fit the random size openings that the masons left for us.
The Good News, is that there is a little electric power in the middle of the afternoon, so I can blog to you during this slow time.
Last night during our devotion, we read Gen 12: 1-4... Abraham was told to go by God, and he received many blessing from God.... We feel as if WE are receiving many blessing from God as well, because He love us, and because of your faithful prayers. We are being kept safe, we are eating well, with no 'strange' effects, we are getting much good work accomplished, and we are making many new Creole Haitian friends.
Enjoy these 1 -2 more photos (they take a reallyy long time to upload with the spotty (low speed) WIFI. :)
Monday, April 5, 2010
PHOTO TIME!
Saturday - Laundry day in Haiti
This river is used for everything - no exceptions
A few of the 200,000+ homeless people now living in Cap Haitien... it was literally a sea of people living on top of a layer of garbage and trash.
A few people blocking the main road, trying to get a little rice.
A nasty fitght breaking out right next to our bus - over a bag of rice.
Looks nice from up here, but it is a moving river of trash, with trash lined banks.
SAFE and sound - at Pastor Henoc's home 'complex', where his main house, with guest rooms are, a dorm style guest house, and the orphanage - with plenty of area to run & play! We are safely out of town here!
After Sunday morning Sunrise service! It was beautiful!
Amid all the destruction and terrible things - Gos still shines His beauty through - like this evening sun dipping down over the Haitian mountainside.
Redemption is available for all - even here in Haiti! Amen!
(more photos of hammers swinging, and medical stuff happening just as soon as there is time for uploading! - takes hours!) :-)
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Haiti - Day 3
happy Easter!
Wow it has been a crazy 3 days. From Minocqua to Dominican on day one - Great travel mercies for all, expecially Maria, who had two of the worlds largest carry on bags... and no one ever questioned her.. yet Lori, who had a standard carry on, was stopped and made to check her bag. Not a big deal, but pretty funny, because it was like God used Lori to distract the gate agent so Maria could slide on by :)
Day two consisted of "hurry up and wait" getting from our Domionican Hotel to the bus station, and the entire time on the bus. Dominican is a beautiful country. Once we crossed the border into Haiti, the whole world changed. Suddenly there was trash everywhere, littering the roads and ditches. The donkey just became the most popular means of travel, and heaps of burning trash on the roadside, or even on the road itself became common.
Once we pulled into Cap Haitien our jaws dropped as reality seemed to come to an end. There are an estimated 250,000 MORE people living on the streets here since january 2010 than there were before.... and it was already bad before.
We tried to take pictures, but they do not portray the mounds of trash and swarming seas of people. Arguments and fist fights over food, right at the distribution points, blocking traffic and our bus, right in the middle of the road.
I do not believe we were ever in any 'real' danger - God had us covered the entire time, and thankfully HE gave us all pretty good common sense to avoid any further situations like that.
Late Saturday, we arrived at Pastor Henoc's home, and property which houses a main house with guest room, a dorm-style bunkhouse and a very nice new (still under final construction ) orphanage. Plenty of room for the kids to run and play, and about 40 minutes from the bustle and danger of downtown Cap Haitien.
Unfortunately, the city of Cap, randomly decides when to distribute electricity to outlying areas. when we arrived, night was falling, and there were no lights on,, then city power came on, and then we switched to generator power until 10pm. There was no electric all night, and well into Easter Sunday. Generator power is reliable , but expensive for fuel... it's a catch 22.
Matter of fact, the power is twitching right now - so I need to go - I will update EasterDay as soon as I can !
go to Mark jensen's face book page for 100's of photos!
for the team!
We are all well and safe! - Happy Easter!!
Wow it has been a crazy 3 days. From Minocqua to Dominican on day one - Great travel mercies for all, expecially Maria, who had two of the worlds largest carry on bags... and no one ever questioned her.. yet Lori, who had a standard carry on, was stopped and made to check her bag. Not a big deal, but pretty funny, because it was like God used Lori to distract the gate agent so Maria could slide on by :)
Day two consisted of "hurry up and wait" getting from our Domionican Hotel to the bus station, and the entire time on the bus. Dominican is a beautiful country. Once we crossed the border into Haiti, the whole world changed. Suddenly there was trash everywhere, littering the roads and ditches. The donkey just became the most popular means of travel, and heaps of burning trash on the roadside, or even on the road itself became common.
Once we pulled into Cap Haitien our jaws dropped as reality seemed to come to an end. There are an estimated 250,000 MORE people living on the streets here since january 2010 than there were before.... and it was already bad before.
We tried to take pictures, but they do not portray the mounds of trash and swarming seas of people. Arguments and fist fights over food, right at the distribution points, blocking traffic and our bus, right in the middle of the road.
I do not believe we were ever in any 'real' danger - God had us covered the entire time, and thankfully HE gave us all pretty good common sense to avoid any further situations like that.
Late Saturday, we arrived at Pastor Henoc's home, and property which houses a main house with guest room, a dorm-style bunkhouse and a very nice new (still under final construction ) orphanage. Plenty of room for the kids to run and play, and about 40 minutes from the bustle and danger of downtown Cap Haitien.
Unfortunately, the city of Cap, randomly decides when to distribute electricity to outlying areas. when we arrived, night was falling, and there were no lights on,, then city power came on, and then we switched to generator power until 10pm. There was no electric all night, and well into Easter Sunday. Generator power is reliable , but expensive for fuel... it's a catch 22.
Matter of fact, the power is twitching right now - so I need to go - I will update EasterDay as soon as I can !
go to Mark jensen's face book page for 100's of photos!
for the team!
We are all well and safe! - Happy Easter!!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
HAITI - One Day before departure
Prayer warriors, prayer team, supporters and all interested folks... I praise God every time I think about you!~ You have raised up a foreign field mission team in record time, in response to the tragedy in Haiti, and God's call upon your hearts!.
We thank you!
Please follow our mission journey here. We have been praying for many weeks that God does not simply 'bless' our ministry plans, but instead, that He may show us HIS ministry plans, and that we may join HIS work in Haiti! There is much work to do there,, but we are looking for the work that satisfies His goals.. to bring Praise and Glory to His name and to Expand His Kingdom!
Hopefully we will be doing that by meeting the tragic physical needs of people right where they are. Through ministering medicine and building beds for children we hope to Glorify God and bring people to a knowledge of His saving Grace.
BOOKMARK this page to find us easily for the next 10 days. And check os out on face book, on Mark Jensen's page, where many many photos will hopefully be posted!~
Bless you all for your continued support as we travel to the spiritually Dark island of Haiti.
For the team...
We thank you!
Please follow our mission journey here. We have been praying for many weeks that God does not simply 'bless' our ministry plans, but instead, that He may show us HIS ministry plans, and that we may join HIS work in Haiti! There is much work to do there,, but we are looking for the work that satisfies His goals.. to bring Praise and Glory to His name and to Expand His Kingdom!
Hopefully we will be doing that by meeting the tragic physical needs of people right where they are. Through ministering medicine and building beds for children we hope to Glorify God and bring people to a knowledge of His saving Grace.
BOOKMARK this page to find us easily for the next 10 days. And check os out on face book, on Mark Jensen's page, where many many photos will hopefully be posted!~
Bless you all for your continued support as we travel to the spiritually Dark island of Haiti.
For the team...
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