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| Our home with a fresh coat of paint! I chose Haitian Red for the trim and the Haitian painters told me over and over that it is "Bel Koule" - A Beautiful Color. |
As the recent posts indicate, the week of work on our future home was quite successful. We could not have asked for a better team; God moved in hearts and provided the right people for the tasks at hand. It was a joy to see how the team jumped right in and worked together so well. While I am sure that each of us had moments of frustration, the team never let it show and the week was filled with productive work and joyful hearts. With all of the cement walls, we found it was rather enjoyable to sing in the home while we were working. Our American team members sang often and some of the Haitian workers sang as well. (Haitians do love to sing, especially praises to God!)
Here is a link to a video tour of the house that Rick filmed on Friday after the team finished the work for the week.
Rick and I both find reassurance in seeing how God worked to bring this team together. When we agreed to try and organize a work team for the week of May 3-11, we had doubts that we would be able to find anyone to go. We simply put out a request and then got out of the way and let God work in the hearts of man. The team was varied, yet very skilled in the areas needed for this project. Friday was a very emotional day for me as I realized how much had been done. The true beauty of the week was not in seeing what man had done, but seeing God work through these souls who had selflessly given their time, talents and resources.
While the team accomplished much, there is still work to be done in the home. Some of this work will be done by Haitian labor and by a few brothers from our churches that commit time to projects at HL each year. Some of the work will probably be done by us as well. The drawers and doors for the kitchen cabinets still need to be made as do the closet doors. Some plumbing and installation of bathroom fixtures will need to be completed. We are considering some options with the floor as well. Rick would love for a few people to come down in July and help him re-tile the showers and floors. A depot (wash house) will be constructed by a Haitian crew that is skilled with concrete building construction. We are very thankful that Bro. Daryl Luginbuhl is onsite and organizing all all of the renovations projects in addition to many other tasks.
During one of our evenings of fellowship, one of the missionaries talked about a recent conversation he had with some of the Haitian Christian men about Isaiah 55, specifically verse 12 that says, the mountains and hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. He talked about how this passage is so real for the Haitians.
On Sunday, one of our readings in church was Isaiah 55. As I am still struggling with a bit of fear and anxiety with our move, I took comfort and gained strength from verses 8-12.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
God's thoughts and ways are so much higher than mine and I know that word that is sent out by Him will accomplish what is pleasing to Him and will prosper in His will. I pray that we will be able to go out with JOY and be led forth with PEACE. As I think about all the sounds of nature and the sounds of Haitians living and singing on the mountain in Bonne Fin, I can almost hear the mountain singing and the trees clapping their hands in praise of our Lord!
Here are a few more pictures for those who don't want to sign in to Snapfish to view the video:
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| Kitchen Cabinets that were built by Wilfred, James & Jesse |
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| Dining Nook and Computer Nook looking out from Kitchen |
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| Living Room - still full of work team stuff |
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| Closets in Mara & Selah's Room - still need another coat of paint |
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