Today was another awesome day down here in Haiti. Our day included work, swimming, games, and a motorcycle ride for Jason and myself. Our team completed the installation of the window screens at Kay Bo Rivye and finished painting at Eglise de Baptiste in Marfranc. After completing our work, we traveled to Jeremie to go to the beach. It was a lot of fun. The sun was out and the waves were big. While we were swimming, Steve went into Jeremie to complete some shopping for materials.

When we got back to the house, Jason and I decided to go for a walk to search for adventure. We found it quickly. Just outside Steve and Joline's house we found some kids playing a game similar to soccer, but with a tennis ball. I played a couple of rounds with them, but unfortunately I wasn't very good at it. Then we walked down to the river and a field along side of it. Once again, we had a lot of followers. I decided to have a race with them. We raced several times and I actually won a few of them. We picked up another game, when I saw a kids using a bamboo stick with a coat hanger tied to it to roll a pickle bucket lid. We just had to try it and it was a blast. To complete our adventure, Jason and I borrowed Vilex's scooter and rode through Marfranc. The people of Marfranc were very nice, but couldn't help laughing at two big Blancs riding a scooter.

Tonight, the ladies of the team are preparing for a visit to Kay Bo Rivye from the ladies of several churches in the area. This event is meant to be a day of encouragement and involving members of the community into our mission. We are all starting to realize, that our trip is coming to an end and we want to make the best of it. Tomorrow, promises to bring another day of bringing God's work to fruition.

God Bless,

Rick Clements

The morning started with a delicious scrambled egg breakfast that Steve prepared for the group, and after finishing we packed into the truck and headed into town for church. Before service started we were treated to a cup of Haitian coffee at Pastor Plaisir's home. The service lasted more than two hours, the first hour or so comprised of 12-14 songs that many members of the congregation shared with us, as they were anxious to sing for their guests. (Fran, I guess we'll have to cut you some slack!) :-)~ It was great to hear songs sung so beautifully in Creole! Once service was over, the team was served lunch with Pastor Plaisir in one of the freshly painted classrooms of the school.

Since the weather looked a little rough with dark clouds hanging over the mountains we decided to postpone the beach day until tomorrow. Instead we spent the afternoon cutting, sanding and staining the wood to complete the screens and front door for the front room of the house. After finishing, a few members of the team walked through the part of town surrounding the house to get some fresh bread for dinner. It was great to talk with the baker. He and his family invited us into their house and talked about the entire baking process at their home. Afterwards, the baker walked with us most of the way back to our house. It's great to build the relationships in mass as well as one soul at a time. Tom brought along his Polaroid and they were able to take pictures of some of the children along the way. We cooked dinner, had a relaxing evening at the house and are looking forward to starting early for another productive day.

Dave & Christine

Today, we hit the ground running to finish painting the school. Luckily the paint started to cover much better allowing things to move faster. We started working on the brown enamel also known as moron. Today I personally took some what of a different direction, I spent time bonding with the kids and teenagers. I spent hours talking to and getting to know them. I was able to help them remove beans from the pods, after they were dried. But, my favorite part was listening to the teens sing and putting them on video. After hanging out with the teens my Dad (Rick) had the great idea to let one of the teens to go with me through the town as photo journalists. Both a girl named Sophonie and I had cameras. We walked through the village sort of getting the behind the scenes tour of the city. She loved taking pictures of her friends family and the surroundings. It was simply amazing. I loved getting this hidden view of Haitian life; where I see it through the eyes of another teenager.

Later on after lunch, we orchestrated my Bags of Encouragement party. Boy was that an experience. We started of introducing myself and my Eagle Scout project. We organized the event into refreshments, bags of encouragement, music, dancing and wrapped it up with finger nail painting. When all of the residents got their bags they clung to the bags there was no separating them. I was surprised the people did not look through the bags but instead decided to save them for later. I thought that it was really neat that the residents started dancing on their one, when the music started. I was amazed by how appreciative the residents of Asile (an elderly residents home) were. While the majority of the team went to Asile, the rest of the team worked on putting in window screens on the Kay Bo Rivie. Tonight, our team prepared on American meal of steak and potatoes. Steve loved to eat a home cooked meal. We are also sitting around on the patio talking about the days events. We would like to thank the supporters of New Life for Haiti. When you visit Marfranc, it's very clear that we are putting into action God's work.

God Bless Us All,

Jason Clements

Overnight, it rained from about 2am until 6am. Steve went back to Jeremie with David and they were able to pick up the rest of the remaining luggage. They also picked up 2 chatado tanks, which are water tanks that are installed on the roof to provide water to the entire house. Joe and Steve worked on one of the generators and installed a new carburetor and gas line. It's now working well.

While David and Steve ran for supplies, the rest of the team painted the secondary school at Eglise Baptiste de Marfranc. We applied two coats of paint on the school before lunch and walked back to the house after painting. We passed along the road on the way back to the house and traveled through the cemetery by St. Theresa. The caskets are not buried, but placed in mausoleums are just left above the ground. The bodies are not placed in the ground because of Vodoo beliefs and the ground is so moist that the caskets would rot quickly. Most of the graves are overgrown as you can see in the pictures. After lunch, we returned to the secondary school and put a few more coats of paint on it. The paint we are using is 99.999% water, but we are steadfast and are pushing to make it look great. Looks like there will be another day painting the school. Having added the additional coats of paint, we returned for dinner. Dinner was another great Haitian feast.

Tonight, we helped prepare for tomorrow by helping Jason pack over (60) overflowing "Bags of Encouragement" for the elderly residents at Asile de Marfranc. Jason was very thankful for the help of the team on his Boy Scout Eagle project. We will be visiting Asile tomorrow and planning a party with them. The team is taking in the scenes and building relationships with the Haitian people. Well, take care and we'll have another update from team tomorrow.

Laurie and Collette

The team has made it to Marfranc safely and all are well. We had the pleasure of staying with Patrick and Vivian in Port Au Prince last night. You can tell that God is supporting their efforts and giving them his blessing along the way. Patrick and Vivian were very helpful and were great hosts for the team. After getting well rested last night, the team made the trip to Jeremie. Steve was waiting for us at the airport and we arrived without incident. Unfortunately, most of us didn't receive any of our luggage. Hopefully, we'll get it soon. After settling in at the house, we reviewed the house orientation and started some work.

Today, the mission was to install permanent screen frames for 8 windows and the main door of the house. We learned that mosquito bites can be reduced by completing our work ASAP. We're all very motivated to stop donating blood to the insects of Haiti. We completed the framing today and will get the screens in hopefully tomorrow. While the boys were working on the frames, the ladies worked on sorting some of the tubs and vesting Asile (The Elderly Home). Judy looked at a man who had swollen tonsils and helped answer questions about his condition. The ladies also met a Haitian man that was 108 years old. Our team also prayed for a lady at the home who was sick and not eating.

Well its dinner time. Gotta go.

Rick Clements

Quick update,

They made it to Jeremie safe and sound, but with NO LUGGAGE...I mean NO LUGGAGE, not even their carry ons.....they said the carry ons got put on.....but they took them off! I think one person has theirs, not sure who that person is!

Steve is sooo mad, they are stopping at the office in Jeremie on their way back.

And guess what?

It's raining out here! Plus Steve said the truck is running rough.

So please PRAY!!!! if you have a small group, have them pray!!!!!!

Pray that the truck runs to get them here.

Pray that their luggage comes this afternoon and that Tortug in Jeremie will bring out the luggage to Marfranc so that we don't have to make another trip to Jeremie

And that it stops raining so that everyone in the back of the truck doesn't get too wet!

Will let you know what happens later tonight!

Joline

Our phones finally are working again and at about 5:30 we called the guesthouse to make sure they had arrived. They are great....and ready to come out here tomorrow.

Joline