Over the years several attempts
were made by the local people to curb the erosion. But the cistern’s
location along a busy footpath, which also doubles as a school
playground, prohibited a lasting fix. Because of the importance
of the cistern to the community and the progressive community
spirit, the Haiti Fund agreed to purchase materials to secure
the cistern against further erosion and eventual collapse. A great
added benefit is creating a concrete area where the school children
can now play.
All week various community and church members would spend a few
hours or all day lugging supplies or mixing concrete by hand.
In order to redirect water flow away form the cistern, we poured
a nice concrete pad in front of the Siloe church building. The
pastor’s mother, who lives near the church, was in tears
as she exclaimed how beautiful the church was now. Actually, she
said it was a miracle.
An older lady’s tears over a serendipitous church beautification
effort were nothing compared to the tears of joy in heaven this
past week. Four of our third grade summer school students accepted
Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Over the last month they had studied
and listened and believed the Bible stories presented by their
teacher. When given the facts and the invitation, they joined
the ranks of the faithful. The teacher asked them to kneel down
on the brand new concrete pad while the rest of the class kneeled
down around them to pray.
We ask you to pray with us for these four young people. With
your help, they will attain all that God has imagined for them.
We ask you to pray for Debbee, Jason, and Nicholas. Debbee will
be teaching first grade at Quisqueya Christian School, her alma
mater. What a testimony to the missionary community. Several of
our old friends who have children in college came to me after
church on Sunday to say what an encouragement it was to see missionary
kids returning to mission work, especially in the country where
they grew up. Debbee and Jason will have many unique opportunities
to witness to an incredible cross section of society. Pray for
them to be a strong family and a powerful testimony. Also pray
for their adaptation and health.
Continue to pray for summer school/DVBS. God is doing great things.
And we pray you all realize the important part you play in all
of CODEP’s successes.
For those who might be interested in visiting CODEP in the future,
please contact Jim Pease (http://www.haitifundinc.org).
If you need information from the field, please write us directly.
And please, please, print hard copies of this note to share with
your friends and church families. Missions is one of the best-kept
secrets in many churches – share the Good News of what God
is doing.
In Christ’s service with you,
Rodney and Sharyn
The 2004 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.
136
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