Screen Doors, Retreat in the Clouds and Feeding the Hungry

Greetings from the compound of NVM in Haiti. This has been a terrific two weeks and we want to bring you up-to-date on three events.

Screen Doors

A wonderful group of 9 left Haiti a few days ago. They came to us from Living Waters Community Church in Fort Myers, Florida. The team was led by Eric Strom, one of their executive pastors. While they were here they built and installed screen doors on our team center dining hall. And now I think we will put up a sign that says, "Mosquitoes Stay Out!" They also put finishing touches on the other  housing units being built at NVM. We want to say thank you to them all.

Staff Retreat in the Clouds

This past Sunday afternoon and Monday Pastor Pierre brought in Dean Trune to conduct an off-sight retreat for the US staff. So Brandon, Katie, Aubree, Brooke, Cheryl, Jim, Dianne and Esperandieu left NVM with Dean on a 2-hour drive to the top of a mountain. You can ask us later about the last 3 miles of the drive. Let's just say we were on an extremely rough steep road and cliffs were involved! In any case, we ended up at an elevation of over 5000 feet and were truly up in the clouds. And the temperature drop of 15 degrees was a welcome relief.

It is great to report that our time with Dean was life-changing. He encouraged each of us to develop our spiritual root system by exercising spiritual disciplines. He challenged us to make our primary avocation developing a passion for God. All spiritual fruit will flow from there. It was a wonderful experience and very emotional for us all. Dean ended our time by speaking into our lives. The Holy Spirit was moving and tears were flowing. It was a great time together. You can read more about Dean's ministry at www.deantrune.com.

The view from the mountain top

Our home on the retreat

The gang

Dean facilitating

The child side of Cheryl & Dianne

The name of the retreat center

Feeding the Hungry

There is hunger in Haiti. And there are many in the small, nearby community of Chambrun who don't have enough to eat. So periodically Nehemiah Vision Chapel has a food distribution.  We conducted one this past Sunday before we left on our retreat. Here are the sights.

That's it for now. More soon. And thanks for your prayers. We can't do what we do without your prayers!

Serving on your behalf in Haiti,

Jim & Cheryl Warner

Not Your Average Sunday in Haiti!

Sunday in Haiti was different this week! Members of the church were asked to bring the fruit of their labor to church as a gift. As you see below people brought produce, chickens, ducks, goats and homemade charcoal. After the service the congregation moved under a big tent and all of the items brought were auctioned and sold. The proceeds were donated to the church. It was great fun. And in the process, Cheryl bought 3 mangos, a duck and a goat! Can you say good eating this week?

They brought produce

They brought birds

More produce 

They brought goats

And more produce

Then the service

Pastor Pierre the preacher

Pastor Pierre the auctioneer

Cheryl's goat 

Cheryl's duck

It really was a fun morning. And the church was blessed with a great donation. Some of us got a little carried away on our bidding!! But it is all about expanding God's kingdom!

Serving on your behalf in Haiti,
Jim & Cheryl Warner

News from the NVM Compound

Basket-Making Class

A couple of weeks ago we had a group of 30 high school students at NVM to run a soccer camp for kids in Chambrun.  They also had an interest in learning how to make baskets just like the ladies in Onaville. So Cheryl agreed to teach them. They all gave it a good try and there were even a few good (but small) baskets. However, they all left the experience with a tremendous respect for the skill and hard work put into the creation of the baskets by the ladies in Onaville. It is much harder than it looks. And they do it all by hand!

A New Community

We will soon have new neighbors! Just two miles from NVM a new community is being built. The Haitian government is funding the project. When completed there will be over 2500 homes with a population of over 30,000. And dig the color selection. Pray that NVM will make a tremendous impact for God's Kingdom in this new community. We will let you know the name of the community once it is selected.

Special Guests

Just this past week Shelly Elliott (on the right) returned to NVM for a visit. Shelly, her husband Aaron and their children were one of the two original families that came to minister at NVM long-term. They were here for one year. And on this trip, Shelly brought a special guest. Ann Stone is the Associate Pastor of GKC (Grace Kids Company) at Grace Community Church in Noblesville, Indiana. The kids ministry at Grace is considering a partnership with NVM to sponsor a nutrition program for children in the area. They will provide Plumpy'Nut which is a peanut butter packed with badly needed nutrients. Their plan is also to provide Creole Bibles for the kids. This is the kind of partnership we are praying that God will provide our ministry. Thanks Ann!

The Woman and the Goat

About three weeks ago NVM received a very special gift. Over the past two years Cheryl and Dianne Pierre have been ministering to women in the area. We have reported before that Cheryl has a program to teach local Haitian women how to create beaded jewelry and rope baskets to help them earn a living. Well, one of the ladies involved in the program has been blessed.  She recently gave Cheryl and Dianne a goat. This was her thank you for the impact the program has made on her life making it possible to provide for her family. And in the community of Chambrun, this is a gift of huge value. However, we are not going to give it a name because it is likely to end up on our dinner table in the near future!!!

That's it for now. We will keep you informed as we see God working!

Serving on your behalf in Haiti,
Jim & Cheryl Warner

New ESL class starting at NVM

We have been in Haiti almost two years and have made little progress learning Creole. Just recently our worship director Clersondy challenged me (Jim) to teach his worship team English. But he also challenged me to learn in Creole everything they are learning in English. I accepted the challenge. This morning we had the first of our weekly sessions and things went well. We started with basic greetings and farewells. Our sessions are on Saturday at 10 am. I appreciate your prayers.

Cheryl's work with the ladies in Chambrun and Onaville is going very well. She just received a large or for baskets and jewelry so her ladies will be busy.

We appreciate you all very much and acknowledge that we could not be here without your prayers and support. Thanks again.

Serving on your behalf in Haiti,
Jim & Cheryl

Easter in Haiti - 2013

Wonder what Easter in Haiti is like? Well, now you can see. Watch this short video we did to join the Easter festivities at Nehemiah Vision Ministries. It was a joy and blessing to be a part of this grand celebration. Jesus is risen!

Serving on your behalf in Haiti,
Jim & Cheryl Warner

The week after Easter in Haiti

Easter weekend was wonderful here at NVM. I will be posting a short video soon of the Easter morning service. Christ is risen! This is celebrated around the world!

CLERICE
Our "son" here in Haiti is Clerice. It is his birthday today. We are very proud of him and we wanted you to see his picture. He is in Bible school, is the logistics coordinator at NVM and heads the children's program at Nehemiah Vision Chapel. Join us in wishing him a happy birthday.

YOUTH TEAM
This week we have a group of great high school students at NVM from Zionsville, Indiana. They are building sports fields and playing soccer, basketball, volleyball and baseball with the kids from Chambrun. They are having a great week and making a tremendous impression on the Haitian kids. Tonight they wanted to learn how to make the baskets. These are the same baskets Cheryl is teaching the Haitian ladies to make in nearby communities.

KATIE'S PARENTS
The parents of Katie Hutchens are on the compound this week. Their names are Greg and Randy Goff. They are excited to see first hand what she and Brandon are doing in Haiti. We welcome them to the compound.

We also want you to know that very helpful organizational changes are happening at NVM. Be praying for us as we plan. It is very exciting and is setting the organization up for continued growth and expanded ministry. Please contact us if you are interested in finding out more about NVM or sending a team to ministry with us in Haiti.

Serving on your behalf in Haiti,
Jim & Cheryl Warner