Hello Everyone......

Okay, first of all I want to apologize for not writing much lately. I really don't even have a great, traumatic, dramatic or logical excuse......I think I was burned out and tired, hmmm....that doesn't even sound like a good reason, ha! I should have written at least something each week, I just couldn't get started. I have now had several people...ask if we are still alive....so thought...oops, gone too far, really need to do an update! It's not that I don't like doing them, I think I just did so many there for so long that it was nice to just not write anything! Then I realized it was kind of selfish, so here I am!

Actually it's nice to catch all of you up on what we are doing and what it going on. Right now I am listening to a group of people...at a house up the hill somewhere, sing church praise songs and then it gets quiet and they must be praying...then they sing some more. I have no idea how many people there are, but the house isn't that close....probably at least 2 blocks or more (city type blocks) away...and I can hear them very, very clearly! (and everyone knows I can't hear). So you can imagine how loud it is. It's great! Since the earthquake, we have been hearing a lot more prayer meetings in the evenings and our church has had more people each Sunday, and we are singing many more praise songs and people are rejoicing and so thankful for their lives. It always humbles me when I hear the praise and thanks for what God has done in their lives, especially when I know what their houses are like, what they have in their homes, how many children and people live in the 2 and 3 room homes and what they eat each day!

There is a man who has worked as a laborer on the house and the back wall and various other projects for us here. His name is Gaston and he goes to our church. He and his wife have 11 children, probably ages 18 down to 2. She goes to another church in Marfranc (which is pretty happens a lot). She is just a little bitty thing and I can't imagine having 11 children and I have no clue how she has managed to do so. We know they just don't have anything at all, and I am sure that they frequently go without much food. Several weeks ago, they both came to visit and Gaston very humbled asked to "borrow" $200 Haitian (about $25 US) so that he could buy food for his family. We said okay, and know that he has no means to pay it back, nor would we ever ask him to. I also brought out my box of children's clothes and we went through it together and they left with a pair of shoes and some clothes for the kids. After about 4 days, they came back to our house with a basket with fruit in it. I don't think they have a garden, I'm sure they bought the fruit, it just humbled me so much. They brought it as a thank you for what we had done for them. I sent them home with a sack of ble (cracked wheat).....I knew they could use it, so their basket wasn't empty going home. I'm going to go and visit their house, I'll take pictures and put them on an update or journal. Mme. Gaston came by last week with a couple of pieces of fruit again......it is always an amazing experience when we are blessed by helping others.

What is going on with us? ha! The cement continues to be given away. We are on our 4th list....those people have had pictures taken of their homes and then the number of sacks for each are given to Pastor on a list and the people come and get their cement. We now have given away 400 sacks...seems like a lot of cement to me! We talked to Pastor yesterday afternoon and he still has people asking for help, so we are going to buy another batch of cement. Not sure if it will be 50 or 100 sacks, but there is still a need, so we will keep on buying. Vilex has taken some pictures of houses that have been worked on...people are happy to have the help and know that people in the states are thinking about them and praying for them. The sacks of cement are just a wonderful example of the love and caring that all of you have done for them and they know it and appreciate it, so much.

We continue to help with some food, although this is much harder to do. Everyone is hungry, everyone, it is just in different degrees.....and because everyone needs food, it is almost impossible to give food away. We are giving it out a little at a time.....to those we can, quietly. Pastor said that less people are coming to his house, so it is back to a more normal amount of requests. We are able to find almost everything again in Jeremie. The boats are coming back, we can find frozen chicken again, eggs, rice and other things in large quantities. However......(isn't there always a however...) it costs so much more than it did. Some things like flour, sugar, rice have gone up about 1/4 more than the original price. Rice used to be $190 Haitian a large sack...it is now $270 for that same sack. I haven't priced other things, but I’m sure it has all gone up about the same. Mme. Asson (our cook) says that prices in the market in Marfranc are still very elevated...and some things are hard to find. What we are finding is that things are going to Port. Since there isn't enough food in Port, those that sold things in the market here....are taking their produce and items into Port where they can get a better price. This just means that we have less things here, or really what we have is just more expensive. Plus the price of produce goes up because the cost for everything else goes up and those that sell have to buy other goods, so their prices increase...supply and demand!

We don't anticipate prices to go down for quite a while...until things really settle and people start going back to Port and things start flowing well again! We are able to get valuable things like TP and coffee....Plus we had 2 visitors for 2 weeks. Pastor Fran (our director and friend) and John Frankel...a NLH friend from Ohio, came together to visit and see what had happened during the earthquake and to bring us wonderful gifts of FOOD and TP of course (soft, wonderful US TP), not funny! They brought wonderful, mouthwatering things like: cheese, chocolate, ham, bacon, lots of PB, and food to make their favorite dishes (like deep dish pizza...drool). They brought dog food for Bouki and some chewies....books for us to read, DVD's from Alex and friends, medicine for Steve's back (YEAH), and much more! They hiked to the mountain church that is the farthest away (Plaine Marie) and spent the night there, then hiked the next morning to Plik (which is a long hike). They were very tired, but had a great time. It was a fun 2 weeks, can't wait to see them again.

The week before Fran arrived we also were able to receive some medicine that Steve and I both needed, via a private plane and pilot...that has been flying into Jeremie every week. We were able to have our friend Jana (in Idaho), get the prescriptions that we desperately needed and Steve's replacement glasses (replacing those Bouki chewed up) and mail them to the pilot and he brought them into Jeremie for us! What a huge blessing that was.

We really miss our family and friends that we were going to see when we were coming home in February, but we have tickets to go back home at the end of May....so are excited about the upcoming trip! We were sad to not be able to go home, but God has blessed us so much in having us stay here with our friends in Marfranc and be here during this time. We see new walls being built all over town, we see hope in their faces for what is being done to help them, we see more people coming to church and knowing the Lord and WE are blessed with the love from so many people.

We want to thank you all for your prayers and your help during this time. We are looking forward to a group at the end of April and another group at the end of May, just before we go home. The Child Sponsorship Program for our school in Marfranc is well under way....51 kids have been sponsored (out of 91), which is huge. We will be adding 15 new 1st graders next year, so anyone interested in sponsoring a child.....do it now, or wait until June to see the new "faces". It is a huge blessing to help a child go to school. You can see the information and the kids on the NLH website (NewLifeForHaiti.org). The team that is coming in April will be taking pictures of the kids in the program and the one in May will be putting doors on the school....lots of work to do!

I'm going to work on a newsletter to come out in the next week or so....with lots more details! We are working on getting a solar system so that we aren't so dependent on this fuel...that is so very expensive. We seem to be able to get fuel at this time, it is just expensive! A solar system would be a huge blessing and save sooo much money! We also want to get a solar compatible refrigerator so that we have a larger refrigerator to use...that is inexpensive! We are working on having enough money to do this and are very close. Things to look forward to!

Again thank you all for your love and your prayers and your support of what we are doing here...we appreciate all that you do for us and send you much love and prayers as well.

I'll try to do better at writing! We love you all.

Joline & Steve

PS: Bouki turned 1 year old on March 6th!!!! He has something wrong with his ears, and it's driving him and us nuts, so praying that it will be over soon!

Hi,

Not a lot to tell you tonight, but wanted to keep those of you updated that have been following Erlande's progress. I know I'd want to know, so think it is important!

Went to see Erlande today in the hospital. Actually, the ward wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. There were only 4 babies in the section she was in...the whole ward was kind of in 3 sections and there were probably a total of 12 children there. It was pretty clean and didn't even smell too bad (for a hospital here) and it was just hot, that's all. Pretty sticky and pretty warm at 9:00 AM!!!

Erlande smiled when she saw me, although she cried when I tried to hold her! She is definitely a mommies girl, and when she is sick she is even more so! I came to say HI, but to also bring more money because I knew she had more tests that had to be paid for. At hospitals in Haiti, you have to pay for all tests before they draw the blood or test the urine or whatever it is. So, she was waiting for me, to get a couple more tests run. Erlande had a fever that started at about 4:00 AM...when I saw her at 9:00 AM, she wasn't very warm, just a little, the medicine they gave her helped to keep the fever down.

When I talked to Darline tonight, she said that Erlande was very hungry and at quite a few times today and didn't throw up at all...so she was very happy. She said, she didn't have a fever all afternoon and they took the IV out of her arm. However, they gave her a shot of antibiotic...and she cried very, very hard! Ouch. Steve said, why didn't they just leave the IV shunt in and use it, instead of giving her a shot??? Hmm...don’t' know. Anyway, she will be in the hospital at least until tomorrow and maybe until Monday, just because the doctor didn't give her the results of the tests run today. She might find out tomorrow and if Erlande doesn't get hot tonight....then maybe she can come home tomorrow.

I'll let you know. I met a woman from Darline's church today, she has been staying with Darline at the hospital and watching Erlande when Darline needs to go out, or has been running errands and getting medicine for Darline. This is a good friend from her church, she has been a huge, huge blessing!

Darline said to tell everyone thank you for all of your prayers and to continue to pray for Erlande, that this illness will pass and also for strength for her, she hasn't been sleeping very well in the hospital. I noticed today that she had a sponge mattress rolled up next to her stuff, I know that they sleep on the floor next to the cribs at night. Not what we would be doing in the states, is it?

Thank you for your continued prayers for Darline and Erlande. God is touching her and healing her.....we know that His hand is on her and that she will be better soon. Please continue to pray for her complete and total healing and strength for Darline to take care of her!

We thank all of you for all you are doing for her.....thank you for loving the people here.

Blessings,

Joline & Steve

Hello everyone,

We really appreciate all of the prayers and e-mails that are coming to us in support of Erlande and Darline.

We had a wonderful donation the first day I sent the note out, from a church in Michigan....THANK YOU. So we are well covered for the expenses for Erlande at this time. I only mention that because several of you have asked and we appreciate your support. I will sure let you all know if there is more need, right now, we are fine.

Please continue to pray for Erlande and Darline. I talked to Darline this afternoon and she said that she is waiting for the doctor to give her a more comprehensive report on Monday. She said that the doctor said Erlande had an infection in her stomach, not sure what that is and needed to keep getting shots of antibiotics. She hasn't had a fever since yesterday morning early and is eating and not getting sick. I'm sure Erlande wants to go home, but sound like a couple more nights in the hospital for her. Darline did say that she is anemic, but that they didn't tell her much else! SO....I'm trying not to jump to any conclusions about that statement and just waiting for Monday.

Keep them in prayer that Darline will have some peace and not be anxious for the report on Monday and that they can both get some rest and that Erlande's fever will not return and they will come home on Monday.

I won't be writing tomorrow night, unless there is additional news.

We pray you will all have a great Palm Sunday.....thank you again for all of your prayers.

Blessings,

Joline & Steve

Hi Everyone,

Know I haven't written for a few days, but nothing much has changed with Erlande, so didn't write. I talked to Darline this morning and she thinks they will come home maybe tomorrow. I don't understand the Haitian system at this hospital. She hasn't had a temperature for a week...is eating and asking to eat...not throwing up and no diarrhea......but they still keep her. She is getting antibiotic shots of some sort and Darline keeps waiting for the doctor to come with a final exam to release her. My phone ran our of time today, so I didn't get a chance to talk to her a lot and tonight our cell tower is out, so no phone!!! Great huh? I'm not worried about her, just can't figure out why in the world she is still in the hospital. Darline's adopted son, came by this morning and got some more formula and also money for Darline, he was going into Jeremie to see her. Hopefully my phone will be working in the morning and I'll have good news that she is coming home. Darline isn't sure why she isn't being released. Please keep praying that she will be coming home soon and that all is well!

We all really appreciate your prayers and support for Erlande. Wish I could tell you more specifics.

Didn't get a chance to tell you that Steve made a bonsai run to Cayes yesterday and today. We have containers that we can put items on and have them shipped to Cayes (which is on the Southern side of this peninsula). Cayes is about 62 miles across the mountains ranges (about 5 of them) south of here and it takes Steve about 6 plus hours to drive those 62 miles. Yep, you got it, an average of about 10 mph...however, there are stretches where he goes faster......and....much, much slower. Most of the road is rock, none of it is paved, at best it is packed dirt, but that is very, very little of it. It scares me to death and I've been on it 3 times. It is a 1 lane road with 2 way traffic, and there are very few turnouts to wait in as you go over all of these mountain ranges. You can see why I choose not to go on these trips. Steve always goes over on 1 day and comes back the next, it wears him out! He leaves here at 4:00 AM.....so that he can get there early enough to do some shopping and load the truck and get rested to leave at 4:00 AM the next day to come home! I'm always glad to see him come in the gate....it's a long, hard trip! No flat tires this trip and the truck didn't have any problems, so it was a great trip. Picked up a generator/welder unit and a small inverter for the house. Also 4 bins of wonderful things, that we haven't started to unload yet. This stuff was donated by LifeSpring Community Church (Fran's church) and it looks like it has tons and tons of fun things in it and wonderful food. These bins really feel like Christmas because they actually have 2 Christmas trees in them, with all the trimmings!!! Yep. Zurita's heard that we didn't have a Christmas tree here and gave us their old tree because they got a new one a year ago. Then Brian was at a store and saw an 8 ft. tree marked down to $5.00!!! Seriously!!! It was a floor model and was totally decorated, he asked the sales person how much the decorations were and they said it included the decorations. He made them check and it was confirmed....then when he went to pay for it, the cashier said it had a percentage off. I can't remember how much it was, but Brian tried to pay the full $5.00 because it was such a small amount, they wouldn't let him, so he paid under $3, for a tree and all the trimmings......amazing!!!! So we will give one away and have a tree for the house, it is very exciting and so much fun. Their daughter, Amy had fun shopping for decorations for their old tree...so we are good to go! Truly a Christmas in April!

Only other news is that on Sat. night, Steve was trying to get Bouki to go somewhere he didn't want to go.....and he hit his little toe on the door of our bedroom.....yep...ouch! And broke it and probably dislocated it. When he stopped writhing on the floor, his little toe was at a 45 degree angle from his other toe...yeah, not good and it wasn't springing back! We put ice on it immediately and he said between ice packs, he pulled on it and then we taped it to his other toes. It is turning beautiful purple colors and is still pretty swollen, since he crammed it into his tennis shoes and drove for 2 days. It is his clutch foot...so you can imagine how much use it got! So keep him and his toe in your prayers too....that the swelling goes down and it stays where it belongs.....Thank you!

We send you all much love, thanks for praying for all of us and loving us!!! Blessings to you all,

Joline & Steve