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The month of August slipped away into September without us
realizing it had gone. The weather remained hot and there were
many nice showers to replenish the thirsty ground. CODEP men
and women continued to prepare for the second planting which
would come later in the year. Nursery seedlings that had been
planted out to barren mountainsides were once again prepared
for new seedlings. And the work of reforestation continues.
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We hosted a group from New Bern, NC, First Presbyterian members
and our own HFI administrative assistant Bev Fawcett. They
enjoyed getting to see the project in the mountains and hiking
to some of the fish ponds. Some got the joy of installing a
cistern for a woman and her family not far away. The women
taught some of the local women to make a craft while First
Church’s own John McKinnon entertained the little children.
They also helped as Kathy gave a “donut” cooking
lesson up at APKF.
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Bill and Nick from Wood’s Hole, MA joined us again for
an intense week of fish experiments and education. We visited
fish ponds and water composts. We are all encouraged at the
progress made in feeding fish naturally without the aid of
imported fish food. The fish are growing exceptionally well
and can be seen munching away on the fresh green algae all
over the ponds. We had only one problem – that being
time related. The animators and groups responsible for keeping
the water composts filled were just too busy and sometimes
too far away to do a sufficient job. Without filled composts
there is less fish food in the pond. This wasn’t the
only problem, it turned out. For some time we did not know
exactly what to do with some of our oldest CODEP workers who
could no longer hike the mountains or dig trenches. Yet they
were the very ones who had put many years into laying the foundation
for the work we witness today. We had a meeting of these men
and women, such beautiful people, and offered them the job
of “fish feeders.” Their jobs would require them
to keep the water composts full in ponds near their homes.
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They were so relieved to once again have meaningful and fulfilling jobs, plus
they feel very essential to the fish program, and that they are! So far they
are performing well and the fish are growing even better! Every living thing
responds to a loving grandparent!
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The New Bern group included Board Member Winston Dixon,
who brought with him the famous “Jim and Larry treadle
pump” and gave an assembly lesson to two young men
and then went to see it in action in one of the mountain
gardens. Animators are now lining up to buy the new pump
to use in gardens and in houses. This will save numerous
hours carrying buckets of water atop heads!
Rick and Clement repaired water lines to nine of the ponds
at Madam Jean’s. These ponds are being drained so that
treated fish can be put in soon. Kathy is taking on the L’Acul
fish hatchery work, separating babies that are sexed and
saved for future restocking of ponds. Treated fish will grow
much bigger and faster if they do not overpopulate a pond
beyond its food source.
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Our intern, April Leese, has moved from the confines of L’Acul
and into Jean Claude’s upstairs apartment near Siloe
School. In six weeks she has learned the language well and
has been adopted by all the locals there. She loves the work
and the people and is learning a lot about the work of CODEP.
She will be asking many questions about how CODEP and the project
have affected the lives of families in the mountains.
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Pastor Dures is building onto his little secondary school
across from Siloe primary school. Each year he adds a class
so the older children do not have to travel to Léogâne.
Pray that he will be able to complete this project soon.
He has been selling his mountain coffee to visitors and we
are sure most of that goes right back into his schools.
This month brought good news and sad news; life and death.
Two of the beach children lost a parent each. It has been
a month of mourning. Still, we are excited about two new
babies that are expected by L’Acul employees. Luke, a night guard, will be expanding
his family when his wife gives birth in November. And, to everyone’s
surprise, Madam Gabriel (age 47!) is due around Christmas.
We are hoping their house is completed by then! Imagine one
room and 7 people, including a tiny baby!
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As for the Lands, we are fine and loving our work here. God
has given us good health and a heart for Haiti. Pray for our
safety always as we travel about. Also, pray for a young man
named Joubert who is showing great interest in the Lord. Pray
that we might lead him and his family to the saving grace of
our Lord Jesus. Keep Clement in your prayers too, as he will
be getting married soon and is becoming very focused on serving
God with his whole being. This is the reason we are here. We
believe also that this is the motivation that causes you to
remain an active partner with us. May you be equally blessed!
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Sincerely His, Rick and Kathy Land
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