We returned from our trip to the states rested and ready to go again. It was a good thing, because we have entertained guests since the day of our return. Our good friend, Craig Peoples, returned with us as he has done now for several years. He is such a great help to us and loves serving with us wherever we are in Haiti. April was with us too, but high-tailed it back up to her mountain home as soon as possible. We think she missed all of her Haitian family!

We started treating little fish again, making them little males to be sent up to the many CODEP ponds in the mountains. This is so they won’t become overpopulated. We will be restocking sometime after Easter. Many Haitians will enjoy fresh fish for their Easter dinner! Nick returned with his friend, Reanna, and did more tweaking of the fish project, including a seminar with several animators. We checked our ponds here at L’Acul and found many large tilapia. We are impressed at the way the white and black ones are growing on the new compost feeding system.

Pete and Lu Gerard from Christ Our King Presbyterian Church in Bel Air, Maryland brought many new visitors on their team. It is always gratifying to show people around the project, for it is one to be proud of. The mountainsides are ever changing. We can only imagine what it will look like in another 10 years. But the real change will be for the children of our CODEP workers. They will grow up with more food, better health, and a hope for a better life because of the value of the forests and the change of lifestyle in the mountains.

Board Member Lars Bergstrom and several people, including Episcopal clergy came next and hiked around the mountains and helped install 2 more cisterns to families in CODEP. Rev. Jennifer Haddox brought a team of students from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and two from her own church in Titusville, PA. They installed 2 more cisterns far into the mountains. We thank all of these people for their hard work and passionate servant-hood. Without exception, visitors leave saying that they came to serve, but soon realized that they were the receivers. All helped with the beach kids and left their marks in all of their little hearts.

Rick and one group passed through the remote area of Citronye where the Building Goodness Foundation had recently built an earned house for a needy and deserving family. They insisted that the entire group walk in one end and out the other and see their beautiful new home. It was so obvious they were proud of their new home. CODEP is so much more than just a tree-planting mission. It is building hope in the mountains.

Larry and Jane Shives from Crestwood Presbyterian Church in Midlothian, VA have spent the entire month and into March with us, helping in so many ways! Kathy was called home to be at her Mother’s side for a week, but Jane was there to oversee the kitchen and housekeeping. Jane also helped Larry power wash and refinish the entire deckwork on the second floor at L’Acul. They helped host four mission teams and went away knowing a lot about Haiti Fund, CODEP, L’Acul, and Haiti and even a bit of Kreyole! Many thanks for their sweet spirits and hard work!!

Many people are in need locally with food and gas prices at an all-time high. The beach fund has helped feed, clothe, and find housing to several families. We have been blessed with free eggs from Fish Ministries to be used for children and the needy. We have been furnishing boiled eggs to the Epiphany preschool each week and also to many mal-nourished children and elderly near our home. God provides so abundantly! Thanks to Haiti Fund for funding the beach ministry.

Finally, we have loaned the “Jim and Larry” treadle pump to a neighbor farmer who has a vegetable garden. He is sold! It cuts his watering time down to a fraction of the time it took before the pump. There are many waiting to get the first ones off the production line, whenever that will be. Plenty of great opportunities – not enough hours in a day!

Once again time flies by fast. Our commitment here is half over already. There are so many people we want to serve. Our lives are so full and blessed. We wish every couple could enjoy life as we do. Thank you all for the support you offer to us, to HFI, and to Haiti. Remember, your prayer commitment to our work. We want this work to be His, according to His will and not ours. Pray that God might receive all the glory.

Sincerely His, Rick and Kathy