Good Samaritan August Birthdays

Birthday celebrations are a sweet time of bringing the girls and boys together once a month.  It's been a big part of the process of forming the family bond for Good Samaritan.  It's a combination of church service songs, talent show, gift giving, and  snacks and soda!

This month, we celebrated just before Tropical Storm Isaac!

Love presenting Kylie with her gift.  Happy 10th birthday Kylie!

Yviolane presenting Nadia with her gift.  Happy 12th Birthday Nadia!

Deb presenting Gamaelle's gift to her.  Happy 13th birthday Gamaelle!

Isaac

Thank you to many who were praying for our staff and friends in Haiti over the weekend with Tropical Storm Isaac passing by Haiti.  We were without internet for 5 days so we are just now getting good enough internet connection to fill you all in.

The children in both Good Samaritan homes are all doing great!  The boys home needed repair on a section of the roof and the rack holding the batteries that give their house power when there is no city power needed to be replaced.  At the girls home, the 500 gallon water tank blew from the roof into the yard.  No other issues.  No injuries.  Praise God!

Driving into Canaan, you wouldn't know a tropical storm even blew through.  Some families that were still living in tents moved into the church building for a few days, but now are either back at their own property or are with other friends/family.  A few tin pieces were out of place.  You wouldn't know a tropical storm blew through.  Looking around the homes, it is evident God protected these people!  Praise God!

The AWAKENHAITI staff are all great!  absolutely no problems at the guest house as far as damage.  City power has been off since Friday which means the generator has been getting a work out and we will be using more diesel for a while.  Thankfully it is running well and doing it's job.  Actually, it also means that a few of us have been sharing the responsibility of waking during the night to run it...we feel kind of like parents of a newborn.  Today (Wednesday) is the first day of having internet so we are able to start keeping up with emails, updates and other work.  We're blessed to have a home we're so secure in.  Praise God!

Thank you again for all your prayers and support!  God's provision and protection over many was evident!

August 2012 Team Trip

     Team August arrived just one week after Team July departed.   Team August came to Haiti primarily to help frame and roof the larger section of the medical & dental facility.  They blessed us with their hard work and the encouragement they brought to the Bethanie of Canaan Community.  As the walls went up, lives were changed.  Haitians were employed.  Children were held and loved.  A community in need of health care saw hope.  Americans began to see broken people through God's eyes.  The way He would see them.  This awareness is carried back to The United States so that this team can continue the work they did in Haiti in reaching out to others.  Going back with the desire to reach out to those in need; co-workers, neighbors, community members.  This is one of the goals of AWAKENHAITI; to transform lives both in Haiti and in North America.
     In addition to working on the building, a few team members served in the medical clinic held approximately 2-4 times per month.  This was a huge blessing for team members to witness the clinic in action and to see the need for a permanent building and for regular care to be offered in the Bethanie Community.
     There were three team members who were in Haiti last August to help frame and roof the church & school building.  It was special to have them back one year later to attend Sunday morning service at Bethanie Church of Canaan as we challenged the church to join us in praying for the ministry in Canaan, for the medical care coming, and for necessary resources to be provided.
THANK YOU Team August!

A few additional pictures of clinic:

Kim (new AH staff) and Gesner helping Deb run  pharmacy

Joanne and Junior running check in and triage

Brooke had the toughest job of the day...holding babies while moms saw Vanessa

   

Advancing on the Medical & Dental Facility

Team July did an awesome job getting the smaller section of the medical & dental building framed up.  This group of rookie builders (made up primarily teens entering their senior year of high school and their leaders) worked in groups to frame walls, put on a roof, and get a good bit of siding up.  The Haitian crew (made up of Haitians and Americans living in Haiti) have continued the work through this week.  The smaller section of the center will house the pharmacy, an office, storage space, and a conference/education room.
The framing of the larger portion of the facility will begin next week with the August team combined with the Haitian crew.  This area will have a check-in area, triage, 3 medical exam rooms, 2 dental rooms, and a lab.   We are so excited to see this part of the building go up!

Please be in prayer for this week of work coming up.  Pray for good health for the team as they work in the Caribbean temperatures and intense sun.  Please pray for safety on the job site.  Please pray for God to transform people as they serve!