|
 |
|
Land's January 2008
Newsletter
|
|
 We
finished off 2007 with a wonderful visit from our family.
The grandchildren adapted to Haiti like bees to a hive.
They loved the Haitians and were loved in return. Little
Molly found a new friend in our neighbor Joanna. They
developed a language all their own and never stopped
talking and playing. They were there when Rick was showered
with gifts on his 63rd birthday.
|
|
|
|
|
 We all returned to Indiana late on January 1st. After just
a few days, we were back on an airplane to attend the annual
Haiti Fund board meeting and to speak about CODEP to several
churches in the south.
CODEP ended the year with remarkable results. The over 700
peasant farmers planted 140 miles of hedgerows and over 900,000
trees in only one year! We ended our first full year with
Haiti Fund with lots of new friends and a better understanding
of the goals set forth by the  Haitians who make decisions
in CODEP. Oh, how we love to go to the monthly animator meetings
and listen to the men and women discuss their future. We
remind ourselves that we and Haiti Fund are merely the facilitators
to help them accomplish their dreams. We appreciate the fact
that we belong to a mission that is more concerned about
people than projects. Last year 17 families received
cisterns which will drastically change the quality of life
for the woman of the house. Other families earned CODEP-built
houses. Many, many more were able to put their children in
school, buy or rent ground, bury a loved one, or get married
because of their involvement with CODEP.
|
|
|
|
Our intern in the mountains, April Lesse, has been a true
blessing and has won the hearts of her new Haitian family.
She returned with us in January to begin another term walking
the mountains and gathering information that will help us
know the full impact of the CODEP project.
|
|
|
We have had opportunity to visit in some beautiful churches
in North Carolina and Florida that were full of warm and
caring people. We stayed in homes that received us like old
friends and made our stay on the road so enjoyable. The Haiti
Fund board has treated us well and has supported us completely.
God has richly blessed our first full year back in Haiti,
and for that we are so grateful.
|
|
|
|
We are back in Haiti now and ready and rested to begin another
year. We have 20 mission teams booked already, so a big part
of our time will be spent “breaking hearts for Haiti.” We
have fish to raise, meetings and training to do, gardens
to tend, and neighbors to minister to. Each day comes planned,
but usually ends up quite differently than expected.
That is what is so great about mission work. Unlike business
back home, God usually plans our day instead of us. We have
learned not to over-plan or over-schedule our time so that
we find ourselves “too busy” when God calls.
Our only goal is to someday hear the words “well done,
good and faithful servant.”
|
|
|
Peace and blessings to all, Rick and Kathy
|
|
|