Finally, some creature stories.

This morning, while the teens cleaned out a cluttered garage, we had our first critter encounter. A blackberry sized tarantula crawled out of a pipe and hid in a pile of cement bags that we had to move. After a careful dismantling of the pile, we found it, and after playing with it, killed it. The adrenaline kept us on our toes, and we were paranoid for the rest of our cleaning.
Later, while moving rocks, we found four more, all bigger, over the span of an hour. Made for quite an interesting day of work.
James, for the Haiti team.
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Just another day of Haitian consistency

The entire team is very thankful for the prayers, please keep them up, we will most likely need them.
I know that reading vague blogs can be unsatisfying, but many stories so far have too much context to type on a blackberry.
We are all looking forward to church tomorrow, and as we sing, we'll miss Derek and the band but also thoroughly enjoy the passion surrounding us.
About half way through our trip and still going strong while looking forward to what the second half will bring.
Have a great sabbath,
James for the Haiti team.
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Cement again

Well, we might be doing different work than we intended, but regardless this trip has already taught us some very new things. We thought we'd be assembling houses, instead we are carrying cement. Good thing we had all that practice on our previous trips. The kids were a highlight of the day, helping and laughing and playing.
In general, a good time was had by all, along with farmer tans, fried salami, balloon animals and mild heat stroke.
And now, as I sit and listen to a violently funny game of euchre, I say goodnight to anyone reading back in Canada.
James for the Haiti team.
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Hi, we're alive.

I believe this is the first entry of the blog so far, it would've been sooner but it's been quite the process working through the technical problemsAnyway, our first day of work has gone well, even if it wasn't what we expected. The main thing Brian wanted to make known to canada was the fact that it's 43 degrees C on the work site. Hope to give more frequent updates in the future.

James for the Haiti crew.

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Homes for Haiti Building Materials!

What a wonderful sunny day we had last Saturday April 9^th for our Assembly Training of our Homes for Haiti. We discovered what muscles are needed for this project, and now we also know that we all need hats and sunscreen as we got a little burnt too. What fun to pick up a cordless drill and make a difference in teaching and assembling Homes for Haiti!

Now for a little update about the materials for the Homes:

The Container left Cobourg yesterday on its way to Port au Prince with the first 5 houses for the IDP's (Internally Displaced Persons) in La Jeune.  Please be praying for the process: as it travels to PauP, arrives in the port, passes through the customs process etc.  Pray that our paperwork is in order and approved.  Pray these houses right up to Hinche and on to La Jeune.  Pray that the roads stay reasonably dry between Hinche and La Jeune so that the big truck can maneuver over them.  Pray for all the little details to fall into place.  
Pray that all of this happens prior to May 8, 2011.
Marilyn

Prayer request: Homes for Haiti

"Prayer Update:

We want to bring to your attention, a specific prayer need for the Homes to Haiti project.

Please ask God to help in having the shipping containers that hold the homes we are to build, clear customs through the Red Cross of Haiti without delay. It will obviously be important that the homes be there when we are ready to build. Thank you to all for your prayers for the team, the project and the country of Haiti".

Haiti Team Training - Assembling the new homes

Wow, as usual, time is flying by and the date for our next adventure to Haiti is coming fast.  May 10 is now only six weeks away.  

Lots to do:

*          Immunizations,

*          Purchasing the tickets for Marilyn and our new team member Ian,

*          Our Haiti Build Day in Cobourg with build team leader Mark happening April 9^th and starting that deep thinking about what we can fit into our suitcases (Tools? French books? Clothes and shoes for the children? All of the above?…….)

 

We're very pleased to introduce Ian Pilon as our new team member. Ian was introduced to our project in Haiti through our own Poppy Barrett. He's passionate about joining the team and helping the people of Haiti. We're thrilled to have him join us.

On April 9^th Brian, Poppy, Marilyn and Ian will head to Cobourg to meet up with Building Team Leader Mark to join in a practice build with the actual materials we will be using in Haiti. The youth (Cameron, James and Andrea) will be at the "Turn on the Tap" charity event in Kitchener.  This will go a long way in helping us to understand our roles when we get to the sites near LeJeune.

By the way, we're now up to almost $14,000 in funds raised for the project. Thank you everyone!!!

Please keep the team and the people of Haiti in your prayers.