Corn, Construction and Crafts

Well, Wednesday for the GAiN mission team in Haiti is coming to a close. And it was a beautiful and productive day.

In the morning the team conducted their final water filter distribution. It was done on the NVM compound for 25 families living in the nearby community of Chambrun. We had an enthusiastic group. We pray that these families will be blessed and that the clean water produced will keep their families healthy. Here are the sights.

Our final 25 filter recipients

Eual sharing his testimony

The team with our interpreters

I want to emphasize the spiritual significance of this outreach. At the distributions we not only talk about physical hygiene and the filters but we also talk about the importance of being clean on the inside. And we believe that internal cleansing can only be accomplished through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. So, the gospel message is shared at each event. Each person leaves with a gospel bead bracelet and a written description of the meaning of the beads. Pray with us that many of these people will be drawn to the Lord.

It is also important to us that we work with local churches and their pastors. We do this for a number of reasons. These men have spiritual authority over their communities, they are aware of those with the greatest needs and they can follow up when people come to Christ. They can also minister to people with other needs in their lives. When we discover these needs we pass them along.

After the distribution the team broke up into three groups.

CORN
A number of men headed over to the field to resume planting corn. This efforts this week will result in a bountiful harvest in the months ahead. It was hot work out in the sun and they were diligent. Way to go men!

Hot but important work

The team also decided to help NVM in another way. Some time ago the water well pump burned out in the best well on the compound. This team felt moved to raise the funds to purchase a new pump. It was brought out and installed today. What a blessing to NVM. It will make it possible to irrigate the field and will bring the best water to the compound for drinking. Thank you team!

The well needing the pump

The pump was already down the hole when I arrived!!

CONSTRUCTION
A group of the women volunteered for a construction project. We need cubby-hole cabinets in the women's dorm. Here they are, well armed and at the task! Way to go ladies!

Where's the wood?

CRAFTS
Three of the women spent the afternoon working with Cheryl in her workshop producing some craft projects for the Haitian women to work on. These activities are a delight to the women and are used as we minister to them spiritually. Thank you ladies!

Brenda designed the draw-string purse project

Well, I told you it was a productive day. Tomorrow we continue on the work projects and the team will visit Chambrun in the afternoon. I will check in with you then.

Serving on your behalf in Haiti,
Jim & Cheryl Warner

Sowing and Sewing

The GAiN mission team in Haiti had a busy Tuesday. It has been a full day.

In the morning we drove up the mountain to the north for 40 minutes to the small community of Fond Cheval. There the team conducted their third water filter distribution. 25 families received filters. This is especially important to these mountain dwellers because water is hard to come by.  Here are the sights.

In the afternoon the men and women split. The men were SOWING. NVM has a 10-ache field and we are planting corn. Part of the field is irrigated but most of it is not.  In the photos you see two of the men working on the irrigation system while the others are hard at work in the hot Haitian sun hoeing in preparation to plant corn. We are so grateful for their hard work.

The women worked with Cheryl on a special event for the Haitian women. They gathered 25 Haitian women for a SEWING BEE. Each of the ladies made a cute draw-string purse, they had a cake and drink and played musical chairs. These ladies love to play that game. It was a joyful and encouraging time.

Later in the afternoon the ladies joined Cheryl in her work space to learn how to make rolled beads for making jewelry. It was a great experience to help them understand what the Haitian ladies go through in making the jewelry.

Tomorrow we conduct our final water filter distribution and continue with our work projects. We will report back then.

Serving on your behalf in Haiti,
Jim & Cheryl Warner

A Successful Monday of Ministry in Haiti!!

The GAiN team just completed it's ministry for Monday. They conducted water filter distributions in churches at two local communities. And it was a great success! We distributed filters to 25 families at each site. And we gave them each two clean water buckets so they can share their clean water with another family.

Dirty water is the leading cause of sickness and death in developing countries. Chorea and Diarrhea are two of the most common illnesses. Both are found in Haiti. Chorea is the most dangerous but can be treated. Diarrhea is more common but more easily treated. Both of the illnesses are caused by drinking contaminated water. The filters we are distributing will remove all the germs and bacteria that cause these illnesses. They will make a huge difference to these families.  Here are the sites from the day.

Jim was the MC

Demonstrating filter use 

Sharing the Gospel 

Setting up at site #2 

Sharing about the importance of hand washing 

Advice for keeping food and water clean 

Recommending to keep flies off of food 

Advice for dealing with illness 

Filter training 

Emily giving her testimony

Thank you for your prayers, they make all the difference. And please continue to pray. Tomorrow we do our third distribution in community in the mountains near NVM. They are wonderful people and are in desperate need. And in the afternoon some of the ladies are helping Cheryl with a sewing class and the rest will be planting corn in the NVM farm! I'm sure you will want to check back to see that. Thanks so much for your support and prayers.

We will post every day to keep you up-to-date on what is happening here.

Serving on your behalf in Haiti,
Jim & Cheryl Warner

GAiN Team in Haiti Off to a Great Start

Yesterday, a great group of 18 people arrived in Haiti to serve alongside us at NVM. They come from Collin Creek Church in Dallas, LCBC in Lancaster and from a few other locations. We are thrilled to have them here.

This week the team will be distributing 100 water filters in poor communities in this area. Tomorrow we visit two of those communities. This morning they had the chance to worship at Nehemiah Vision Chapel. It was a great service. This afternoon the team assembled the filter systems and worked on our presentation. Each person receiving a filter will also receive some training on good hygiene, keeping food and water clean and how to use and maintain the filters. We will also be sharing the Gospel with them all and giving them a chance to receive Christ into their lives.

Please be in prayer for this team as they reach out in this way. Your prayers will make all the difference.  I will report in tomorrow after we return from our distributions.

Serving on your behalf in Haiti,
Jim & Cheryl Warner