This month we are busy preparing for a team, hosted by J.R.'s parents, that is made up from people from Gowanda and Franklinville, NY as well as Columbus, GA.  They will be here April 16-23.  Since we won't be going to the Dessalines hospital, their project will be repairing and fixing up the mission house at Mapou where we used to live, which sustained some damage in the flood.  They will also be making some benches for the Mapou FM church, which was mostly destroyed in the flood.  As the new church building is being reconstructed, the people have been sitting on cement blocks for worship.  So, we're glad the team will be able to help in that way.  Please pray for strength and wisdom for us as we make preparations, for traveling safety for the team, for extra grace for the team as living conditions will be a bit Spartan especially for the first couple days, and that the house water pump and generator can be repaired before the team arrives.

On April 29 there will be a special meeting for the directors of Haitian Free Methodist elementary schools.  Gail Ennis will be sharing about administrative details concerning the child sponsorship program, and the teacher trainers and I will lay out the plans for the teacher training program for the coming year.  The next phase includes the local supervisors taking on a bigger role in training the new teachers at their schools.  Please pray for clear communication with the directors and for safety for them as they travel to the meeting.  Also, please pray for the teacher trainers and I as we meet tomorrow (the 8th) to plan for the meeting.

J.R. has spent quite a bit of time lately on working on a full proposal for a solar cooking project.  Paul Munsen of Sun Ovens International and J.R. wrote and submitted the proposal to the World Bank, and it has survived through the first cut.  The project is to launch three commerical bakeries using solar ovens rather than wood-burning ovens.  J.R. is now preparing for a presentation that will need to be made in person at World Bank headquarters in Washington, DC next month.  Please pray that God's will is done concerning this exciting project.  It has the potential to create jobs and protect the environment.

In between our regular work and team preparations we've been communicating with churches to schedule speaking engagements for our upcoming home assignment.  Please pray that we will carve out the needed time this coming month to properly prepare our presentations, as we are scheduled to speak at a 4-day camp a week after our arrival in the States.  Pray that we would discern the things that God would have us share and that we would get all the photos and souvenirs we need in a timely manner.

Also, please pray for the political situation in Haiti.  Clashes have continued between former military members and supporters of deposed President Aristide and the Haitian police.  The United Nations forces still have a large presence here and are trying to help keep the peace while the interim government prepares for national elections this fall.  Please pray for safety in travel for us and our pastors and co-workers as violent incidents can happen without warning.  Please pray that the election preparations can go forward unimpeded, and that leaders will be elected who put the national concerns before their own.

Here is a summary of our prayer items:
1)  Praise for health and safety
2)  Praise for the successful goat training session and refreshing family vacation
3)  Prayer for the team coming April 16-23
4)  Prayer for the directors' meeting on April 29
5)  Prayer for the solar cooking proposal
6)  Prayer for home assignment preparations
7)  Prayer for Haiti's political situation 

Thanks again for your faithfulness to us.

In Jesus,
Becky (and J.R. and Marissa) Crouse