Good evening all!

We first want to apologize that we didn't get the blog posted last night! Between getting settled with the new team members, a massive down pour, and our truck breaking down this afternoon, this is the first chance we've had to sit down and write.

Yesterday was a very exciting day here in Haiti! The whole team got to start working together on the wall. It was great to see the collaboration between the Trinity and Highview teams, and the Haitian workers.

We took yesterday afternoon off and visited pastor Gasmagne. It was amazing to see all of the great work that God is doing here. When the team first started building his home, there was nothing else on his property. But now, he has planted corn in his yard and has a lovely gazebo and walking paths. You can see all of the blessings that his family has received since moving into their home. 

This morning we got up and traveled to Hinche for church with pastor Giordani. It was great to hear all the blessings that God is doing in their church. There were over 700 people at church, and 2 of them accepted Christ. ‎Pastor Giordani let us know that they baptised over 50 people in the last year!

We then went and visited a church in Sapate. The church is held in the same school building that our team built in 2008 and 2009! It was great to visit the church and hear the work God is doing there. Aside from being a church on Sundays, it is also a school for 475 students, which is over a 100 more students than in 2009. 

On our way home this afternoon, we burnt out the clutch on our truck. We thank God that he was looking out for us, and there was a van passing by that was able to take us all back to our compound. There was 19 of us packed into this van, and while it was not all of our favorite way of travelling, we all made it back safe and sound!

We have attached 4 pictures for you all to enjoy! Two of them are from our day yesterday working and visiting with pastor Gasmagne, and two are from today visiting with pastor Giordani and the church in Sapate. ‎Thank you all for your prayers and support!

 

Day 2

We have had a great second day building. Everyone seemed to be working a little bit slower from the heat, but we still got lots done! 

We are awaiting the arrival of the Trinity Church team here this evening. They should get here around 7pm. We welcome all of the help that we can get! 

Tomorrow is going to be another exciting day here for us! We are working until 2pm, and then we will be visiting pastor Gismagne's house. In 2011, our team helped contribute to the construction of his home. 

We moved to a different part of the wall and started working on the footings. The wall is really coming along great, and we appreciate all of the prayers and support from our Highview family!

It's a Hot One!

 The team is working hard at the construction site! There is a high of 32 degrees today, so it is a scorcher!  

Everyone is filling up on water and gatorade to keep from becoming dehydrated. As you can see from the pictures, we have made great progress today! ‎The pictures show the start of the day, and the end of the day. 

We have been able to start building great relationships with the local workers. They are providing us with great building instruction, and its been a pleasure working alongside them!

The food here in Haiti has been delicious! I think Keith and Colin both wish we ate this food all the time!

Everyone so far has been having a great trip. Matt has been a little bit sick, but seems to be on the upswing this afternoon. We appreciate all of your prayers for health and safety for the whole team!

Great day of travel to LaJeune. 3 hours by bus, 20 minutes in a small Cessna over the mountains. Not everyone's favorite part of the day. You'll have to guess who loved it and who, not so much!! Toured the site where we'll be working. Lots of prep work has already been done over the last couple weeks, so we're good to go tomorrow morning building the wall, block by block. 2000 blocks are on the site just waiting for us!!! The picture shows us at the site with blocks on one side and the footings for the wall on the other. Temperature is a wonderful work temperature of 32 degrees! We have lots of water! The team thanks God for the privilege of serving Him and the people of Haiti.

LaJeune

Tomorrow morning we head to LaJeune. Leaving here about 7:00. 3 hour drive to the border of Haiti and then a 20 minute flight in a small plane over the mountains to Pijon. We'll be staying in LaJeune, about 20 minutes from Pijon but the work is actually in Pijon. So we'll be doing the short trips to and from the site each day. So looking forward to seeing our friends that we've come to know over the last 6 trips. We're all encouraged and ready to go. God is so good!!!!

WE'RE OFF!!!!

The Highview to Haiti team (Colin Chandler, Starr Lofonco, Matt Lofronco, Poppy Barrett, Brian Ogilvie & Keith Weatherall) is on its way to visit our friends in Haiti. This will be the 6^th adventure for various groups from Highview and associated friends. This year we’re starting to build a wall. A wall that will break down barriers, create a new school, and provide housing and safety for many of the marginalized seniors of Haiti. Lots of dirty work coming our way. We can’t wait!!!! As always we appreciate, covet, your prayers. We’ll try to keep you up-to-date as much as possible.”

Prep for the wall

As we are about to leave Canadian soil tomorrow April 29th to start our journey, an update from our contacts in Haiti:
The footings have been dug and started in Pignon, ready to have bricks assembled and placed for the block wall.