Dear Friends,

We have been in Haiti for 3 weeks, and what experiences we have had. Some of you have already heard that we traveled over the mountains – praying – to our destination Dessalines. We moved into our apartment without running water, without much electricity, but a whole lot of love!

The Ennises discovered a rat in their apartment. One night, we were sitting on the porch staring at a magnificent black velvet sky studded with zillions of diamonds. Oh how magnificent! And with the mountains too!  Gregg went in to get something and hollered that the rat was in the house.  We all ran to the door. I jumped up on the freezer on the porch. Gregg was chasing the unwanted houseguest, and Gail sprinted into the bedroom to get away. She slammed the door – and caught the rat right in the middle with the door!! It was a BIG rat. So we have a picture of Gail holding the rat by the tail using a pair of pliers. We have labeled her the Queen of the Rat Slayers.

We are almost finished with making our apartments livable. There are some things I wish we would have brought, but oh well. We are preparing the way to begin our work at the hospital.

By the way, Jean Castel, the director who came to the States for a hip replacement, is doing wonderfully. Not only is he walking very well, but he learned a lot from the Tipton Hospital in Indiana and is putting those things in place as he can.

Speaking of the hospital, the other day they were doing a Caesarian when the generator went off. Castel and the members of the surgical team whipped out their cell phones, turned their lights on, and held them so the surgeon could finish the operation. Now that is ingenuity!

Some of you may remember the little girl that tore at my heart when her mother beat her with a leather strap. Well, we discovered that the little girl is what is termed a “restavek.” This is a child whose parents give him or her to another adult to raise for them so they can be fed. Instead the children usually become the slaves of that person. And this little girl is a slave. She is 3 years old and can be seen working everyday, doing laundry, washing dishes, anything. One day, we went to the window, and she was standing just inside the doorway of the witch doctor’s house where she lives. She was scared stiff. We watched as the woman bent over a patch of bushes busily tearing off a big switch. She tore off some of the leaves. I said, “Oh, Jack, she is going to beat her.” She angrily went in the house, threw the little girl on the ground, and began to beat her all over, yelling and cursing at her. The little girl was screaming; Jack yelled and was ready to go downstairs to get her off her. I grabbed his arm and said, “We must pray.” We did. Suddenly, another woman went in the door, grabbed the woman and pulled her off “Fanya.” Another woman went and put her arm around Fanya and led her away from the woman. This is very unusual for others to step in during this kind of situation. We believe it was Jesus stepping in. Do you know what Fanya does as she works? She sings at the top of her lungs. (We think of our little Annie every time we hear her.) Please pray for these people. We could probably “buy” the little girl off the woman, but we believe the woman needs to be changed as well. We are trying to befriend them and share Jesus with them.

There is such a spirit of anger here. Almost daily a fight erupts down our street … sometimes with rocks thrown, sticks coming down on heads, and, always, the dramatic, loud yelling. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will take over this place and the spirit of anger will be gone.

Saturday, we saw the witch doctor’s son beating a poor little “bourik,” donkey. The donkey had a huge sore spot that went to the bone, and the son was beating him on that place. Finally, he tied the donkey across from our house. And the poor beast could barely move. He stood in the hot, hot sun for hours, his mouth drooling. He could not eat and there was no water to drink. He had many open wounds on him. We began to pray that the donkey would die and be out of his misery. It could hardly stand. Well, the next morning it was gone. That night, they had killed it. Many people here do not realize the gift God has given them in their animals. Please pray that we can share with them that the wonderful God we serve gave us these gifts, and we must learn to take care of them.

Well, you know that Jeanne always likes to be first at getting things.  Last Wednesday, I started to get a fever. For 6 days, I ran one, was extremely tired and guess what! I had dengue fever. This is caused by a mosquito and there are 5 strains of it. I got the least harmful, thank the Lord. Gregg has had that kind and the “Break Bone” kind. I don’t want that one. Dr. Savann came immediately, siren blaring up the alley. He came in, wagging his finger at me and talking rapidly in Creole, “You have too much to do to be sick.” He brought the lab technician who promptly took some blood. I was clear; the doctor brought medicine; and today I am only tired! Praise God! But, we have decided to have a mosquito inspection to make sure no more carry that stuff!! It can really wear on the emotions.

There was a voodoo service one night down just a little ways from us. I was so ready to go down and yell at the drummers to get another beat and at the man to get another note!! What got me through was Jack taking care of me and listening to the amazing hymns of the church! Please continue to pray for your missionaries’ health!

The Peaveys have an orphanage here. What a wonderful oasis! They have a clinic; a beautiful little church newly built. They raise their food and animals. They teach the girls to cook and bake; they teach the boys mechanical things and farming. There is a school for the younger children.  It is truly wonderful. They said they don’t always have successes, but they do have some wonderful ones! This place is especially dear to my heart because that is where I was called to Haiti. AND Doris can adjust our backs! Please pray for them in all they do.

President Preval did come the day we said he would. Well, at least Gail and I think he did. We were pretty close, but the guards were around him so much that all we saw were the guards! They say that they brought all of his food and drink because they were afraid somebody would poison him.  There were security police, body guards, UN peacekeepers. What an interesting day! Before he came, there was a dramatic presentation that came down the street. Some people were marching chained together and were being “beaten” by whips. Someone else was carrying a huge cross. It was a representation of the beginning of the republic. It was very sobering.  Please pray for President Preval and the leaders of this wonderful country.

Well, that is all for now. Thank you for your prayers and your support.

For His kingdom to fully come to Haiti and the world, Jeanne for Jack and self