Hi friends,

First I want to apologize for not doing a journal entry for so many weeks. Feel like I've fallen off the wagon and need to get back on, but not enough time or energy to do it!

Mid-June we had a group come to visit...and ever since then it has go, go, go. We have had 1 week in between the groups and are gearing up for our last one that arrives tomorrow morning!

I had full intentions of writing my journal to all of you in between the groups, but just didn't have the time or the energy to do it, sorry!

Just wanted you to know why I haven't been writing and to be ready for when every one leaves, I'll be writing a few long journals to try to tell you all about what has been going on.

God has been doing some amazing things these last few weeks, the weeks have been full of glorious works! Can't wait to tell you all about it.

Bouki is getting soooo big. I'm almost afraid to look at my last journal entry to see how small he was! He is growing bigger and bigger each day. I'll include one of the latest pictures of him, as a sneak preview of how cute he is!!!!

I love you all much and know that you are all praying for us as we work with the teams that are visiting! Keep praying for good health and energy for this next week. There is also a Youth Camp going on at the same time...so lots of activities!

Much love,

Ke Bon Dieu beni ou,

Joline

Dear friends!

Time to get this online so that you know all of the great things that are going on here in Marfranc. I think I'm kind of overwhelmed because there is so much going on or has gone on that I don't know where to even begin! I should probably start back about a month ago.....at least catch you up with all the happenings!

In June, we had a team of 7 people come from LifeSpring Community Church, with Pastor Fran as the leader. The major part of the trip was to get information for the new Child Sponsorship program that we will begin in September. We had applications for 80 children and the team included a great photographer, Tama Press. The team helped process the applications and Tama took some great pictures for each of the kids. Turned out we ended up with 94 children...so we will have more than enough to go around. These kids are all going to the Marfranc Baptist Church school that we have been building for 2 years. We are very excited about this program and pray that everyone will want to adopt a child to sponsor. Fran and John also worked on a few things around the house, which was great! Got all of our ceiling fans up...and they have been a huge blessing in the heat that we have been having! We are so grateful for everything that got done while they were here. Of course they had a great time playing with Bouki as well.....he seems so little when I look at those pictures now! Not sure I can even begin to pick him up!!! Too long and too heavy.

Then in July we had 2 teams. The first team arrived July 1 and had 9 members. Their job for the weak was to paint the inside of the church in Moron. Moron is only about 6 miles away, but probably takes over 1/2 hour to get there. The road is pretty bumpy and full of holes (as those who rode in the back of the truck, will testify). We had a great week with this group and got a ton accomplished. We drove to Moron 3 days to paint and then again on Sunday to celebrate church with them. Many friendships were made and will continue, I'm sure. The wonderful thing about having teams visit are the friendships that are developed. We had a chance to walk through the market at Marfranc and at Moron, this team had a lot of great experiences. They also got some things done here at the house....all of which were appreciated! Seems like the week went really fast, there was a lot of laughing and fun had by this group! They are from Sullivan, Indiana and Pastor Eddie Hammond was their leader (and Pastor). We had a chance to go to Asile (old folks home) and spend some time there, it is always an emotional visit! I'm sure we will see many of them back again!

Our last group was from Mattoon, Illinois, led by Pastor Brian Miller. They came to scope out a couple of the mountain churches to see if there was one that they feel called to support in the village to village program that NLH is wanting to start. Pastor Plaisir is the district Pastor for 6 churches, 4 of which are in the mountains and harder to get to. Brian and group of 3 others, wanted to see 2 of the villages in the mountains. We walked to Chameau (about 1 1/2 hours) on Friday...then Brian got sick and was unable to walk to Plik with us on Sunday to worship with the church there. We had a great time at both churches and there is so much work to be done at both of them, I know that God will lead Brian's church to help one of them. The walk to Plik was hard...and it was very hot. Because it takes about 45 min. in the truck to get to the drop off point, Steve stayed in the truck and read, while we went to Plik. Steve's knees are not real good and it's too hard for him to come back up the mountain, so he just waited for us. It was a great visit...but we were all totally pooped! The couple that came with Brian also wanted to spend some time with Erlande, the little girl whose mother died a few months ago. They have been supplying the money to buy the milk and cereal for Erlande and have become very attached to her. They brought wonderful presents with them and spent several times with her and Darline.....Jill even got to give Erlande a bath, which was wonderful! We will see where God leads them in this event! Jeff, the last person in the group, enjoyed helping Steve with several projects. He is an electrician, so he was able to finish up the wiring on several things for us, including my washing machine! It is great to have people come that can help Steve finish up some stuff! Jill helped me organize some things as well....OH, plus there was youth camp while they were here!!!

So much going on. Jill got donations of fingernail painting stuff and Randy got some donations for costume jewelry and we had a great afternoon with the young women at camp...painting fingernails and giving away gifts! It was fun.

I think I'll close for this time. I want to tell you more about Youth camp...but I'll do that next week! There is a big celebration tomorrow (Sun, the 26th) for Pastor Plaisir, his birthday was on the 23rd, so guess we are having a big birthday party for him! He turned 62.

Please pray for Steve and I as we are both not feeling really good. The Haitian's say it's the heat...it's been in the mid-90's all week, with high humidity! But, we both have the flu or ate something wrong...not sure which! We are both really tired and our stomach's are bad! Please pray that we will get over this quickly....and regain our strength to keep on working!

I love you all so much.......I pray that you have a great week in the Lord! Enjoy your families, friends, and loved ones and May God continue to bless you!

Ke Bondye beni ou!

Joline