The Harvest of Haiti

In keeping with our typical schedule on this trip, we began the day today working on various projects at the orphanage in Bon Repos.  We built and installed some shelves in the kitchen and dining room area, and then designed and installed a key organizer in Barbara’s office.  She has a lot of keys to track, given the fact that every building has to be locked and many also have padlocks as extra security.

In the late afternoon and early evening, we visited a couple more orphanages that were home to a total of 62 kids.  At each orphanage, we delivered and set up a water purifier and instructed the directors on their use.  We also sent another water purifier to an orphanage in Delmas, and another purifier to an orphanage in Port-au-Paix.

Tomorrow morning, we are both flying back to the United States.  We are looking forward to being with our families by tomorrow night.  During this trip, we were able to deliver 18 water purifiers, mostly to orphanages, with some also going to schools and churches.  We were also able to deliver a substantial amount of food and medicine.  Again, we want to thank everyone who is continuing to support or mission – to care for those less fortunate in Haiti.  We are already looking forward to returning to Haiti later this year (most likely in the July/August time frame) to conduct more medical clinics and to once again deliver water purifiers to those without access to clean water.

Pat and Andrew

Late in the day yesterday, following our last Blog post, we returned to the orphanage to which we had delivered a purifier on Monday.  Only this time, we brought 10 boxes and a duffel bag full of food, along with a 110 lbs. bag of bulga and some financial support.  The pastor and wife that run the orphanage and many of the kids were so overwhelmed that they just kept saying “Merci Jesus” (thank you Jesus).  Today, Barbara provided us with some clothes for the children, which we were able to deliver to them as well.  We are so thankful that we found this orphanage and have been able to bless them with such critical and timely support.  It is encounters like this that make this work such a blessing, and we hope that those of you who continue to make these trips possible find these reports to be a blesssing as well.  We couldn’t do any of this without your ongoing support, and it is definitely making a difference.

Today, we completed some remodeling projects at the orphanage in the morning and then we spent the afternoon distributing water purifiers.  We gave 4 to Bishop Capri in Petion-ville, for him to distribute to his churches in the highest-risk areas.  We also sent a purifier to our orphanage in Anse Rouge.  We delivered a purifier to an elementary school in Delmas, that is run by the church where Andrew ministered this past Sunday morning.  Finally, we met the director of another orphanage and another pastor who are in need of purifiers.  We hope to deliver purifiers to both of them later this week.

More to come tomorrow…

Yesterday, we were grounded at the orphanage in the morning due to violent riots in the streets.  So we spent the morning working on a variety of projects for Barbara.  Things stabilized in the early afternoon, and we were able to deliver two water purifiers, one of which went to an orphanage (40 kids) in desperate need.  We toured the orphanage with the pastor who was running it, and promised to return later this week with food and additional supplies.  We delivered a second purifier to a large family (18 people) living next to a community well.  They agreed to make the purifier available to the community to purify drinking water for the surrounding families.  Finally, we sent a 3rd purifier with a new friend of ours to an orphanage in Carrefour that is currently home to 44 children.  This morning we are once again working on projects at the orphanage with plans to continue distributing water purifiers this afternoon.  Each time we deliver a water purifier, the Haitians have been so grateful!  They recognize the fact that these simple pieces of equipment are potentially life-saving.  When they thank us, we continue to tell them that their gratitude truly belongs to God and to those who have provided the funding to make these purifiers available.  Again, we truly can’t express enough gratitude to each of you who have made donations to our cause.  Your investment is saving lives here in Haiti.  More to follow….

Sunday is a hard day to operate in Haiti, most things are closed and people attend Church all day. We did get one filter system deployed in Carrefour which is next to Port Au Prince to the south. The name of the orphanage is Orpheliant Vanez Enfants et Vivez Mieux. The building was destroyed in the quake and 40 children are living in tents on the cement slab. We found this place thru a young lady named Sara Sibbernsen a missionary from Nebraska. They had no clean water and no extry money to purchase bottled water. They were very thankful to get get it and we were happy to deliver. Monday will see more deployments, and we will taking a trip to Pastor Capre’s to deliver food and a filter. The Children have been fed for 6 months and are well. The rest of the days will be busy getting clean water to as many as possible. Late today we went to the mass grave site just 2 miles away and said a prayer for all who rest in peace there. Thank-you all for your support, your the reason many people will be able to drink clean water.

Pat

Andrew and I both arrived in Haiti yesterday and got settled in at the orphanage last night.  We started the day today working on various orphanage projects for Barbara Walker, and then we assembled 10 of the water-purification systems that we transported in, and prepared them for distribution.  Later, while out picking up some cement for the ongoing renovations at the orphanage, we were approached by another orphanage director.  Amazingly, he didn’t ask us for money or food.  He simply asked us if we had any clean water!!  We exchanged contact information, and we’ll be visiting his orphanage (40 kids) on Monday to set up one of the water-purification systems.  We delivered another system to a large, extended family living under one roof, and found two more distribution sites for early next week.  Another great day!  Thanks again to everyone who continues to make these blessings possible for our Haitian friends in need.

More to come….

A Earthquake, A HURRICANE and now CHOLRA. We are in despert need of support. We need to purchase 2 Vortex Voygers. These units are the only water purifying system that will kill Cholra. We need them for the orphanage in Anse Rouge and the Pastors home in Port Au Prince. Cholra is everywhere. We send dollars to by bottled water until we arrive in Feb. Please if you read this and can help hit the donate button on the web site main page for address.  THANK-YOU    PAT

Cholera has taken hold in Haiti. Considering the populations in tent cities and those that live in the remote areas of the country it will be impossible to treat all that get infected. Our mission trip coming up in Jan.2011 will have a two fold purpose. 1 to provide clean Water for as many as we can afford. 2 to treat as many men, women and most of all the children who are infected with Cholera. Our battlefield will be Camp Canann. We are seeking donations which will allow us to buy more I.V. fulids and a antibiotic called Doxycycline in combination this will cure Cholera. Our vision for this trip is to treat 500 plus people, about what we anticipate we have supplies for at this time. We would like to double that number so I hope those who read this will be kind enough to donate.

Delivery of potable water to Camp Canann will save thousands of people. Those who contract Cholera will have the proper treatment. Again the Haitians can’t take much more, but when help arrives in areas where no aid agencies go,you begin to see people with a smile on their face instead of the Deer in the headlight’s stare.

Please feel free to call me with any questions at 810-531-9374.    Pat

IT NEVER GETS A BREAK. EARTHQUAKES, HURRICANES, MUDSLIDES AND MORE SICKNESS THAN ONE CAN COMPREHEND. THE CHILDREN GET THE WORST OF IT. PLEASE PRAY FOR AN END TO THE SUFFERING. IF YOU READ THIS PLEASE CONSIDER A DONATION. ANDREW AND I WILL HAVE OUR HANDS FULL IN 2011. FROM FIRST GLANCE OUR ORPHANAGE IN ANSE ROUGE TOOK A DIRECT HIT FROM TOMAS. THE BUILDING IS LESS THAN 100 FEET FROM THE SHORE LINE, AND BEING REMOTE AS IT IS I RATHER DOUBT THERE WAS MUCH WARNING OTHER THEN PASTOR JOHN LOOKING AT THE SKY, FEELING THE WIND AND THE RAIN. PLEASE PRAY OUR KIDS ARE SAFE. THE FOOD PURCHASED IN AUGUST IS SAFE IN A CONCRETE BOX THAT IS WATER PROOF. OUR OTHER CONCERN IS BARBARA WALKER ALTHOUGH INLAND BY 1 MILE OR SO IT RAINS THERE LIKE CRAZY. I REMEMBER IN 2008 WHEN HURRICANE IKE SWEP THRU. PRAY THE PUMP KEEPS RUNNING. ANDREW AND I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN CAMP CANNAN, HOME TO 25,000. IT IS A SEA OF BLUE TARPS STARTING ON LEVEL GROUND AND GOING UP THE MOUNTAIN. THE HURRICANE WINDS AND RAIN WILL TEAR IT APART BUT MOST WON’T LEAVE CAUSE THERE IS NO PLACE TO GO. OUR EFFORTS A SIDE FROM THE FOLKS WE HAVE ALWAYS CARED FOR WILL BE DIRECTED IN THE MASSIVE TENT CITY. WE NEED YOUR HELP.

ON ANOTHER NOTE BY YEARS END WE WILL HAVE COMPLETE A FINANCIL STATEMENT, SO ALL CAN SEE HOW YOUR DONATIONS WERE SPENT. WE ARE THRILLED TO DEATH TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS. THANK-YOU TO OUR ACCOUANT MARY JO FERGERSON WHO DOES SUCH A GREAT JOB FOR US.

KEEP PRAYING                            PAT

Sorry it took so long to complete the Blog. The last 2 days we had thunderstorms which knocks out the Internet. The truck broke down and Kyle and his Dad were able to fix the leaf springs on the Rt. rear. They did a great job. Medicine was delivered to Cannan #3 and extra food was purchased for the 20 kids next to Barbs Village. This was a very good 16 days in Haiti. The heat was our only enemy. Most days the heat index was 110 so you always had a bottle of water in your hand. We were able to touch so many on this trip. Looking over what we were able to do from just after the quake until we left April 13th was amazing. Your kind donations bought tons of food, re-built 2 homes, feed our children in Anse Rouge for 6 months, assisted Barbara Walker our very dear Friend in the re-building effort of her orphanage. We were also able to purchase much needed medicine thru Port Huron Hospital at a reduced cost. Because of you many many Haitians young and old are alive today because of a simple dose of antibiotics to cure an infection caused by the earthquake and food for so many very hungry people. Thanks to my friend Joe Hurston Camp Cannan had the first pure drinking water with the deployment of the Vortex Voyager. My Friend and partner Andrew got sick on the flight Home but has recovered and is ready to return. This was the last trip for 2010. Now starts the planning for 2011. It will start with a big trip in Jan. Like always we need donations to continue our work. Please remember The Harvest of Haiti when considering a charity to donate to. Thank-you for all you have done for the Haitian People, you made a difference in the lives of hundreds upon hundreds of men, women and children.

                                               Thank-you Again,

                                                Pat and Andrew