Visitors from St. Philips Episcopal Church in NC came for the first week of June. We had a great time visiting CODEP projects and interacting with local neighbors. The four young college students (and a Dad) played some mean soccer games and even won a few! They thought the soccer fields were a hoot, with uneven boundaries, rocks, and tree roots to watch out for. The carpenters made screens and doors and helped us a lot around L’Acul. Little Rubenson got some one on one education and TLC from Anne, the one lady who was part of the team.

They enjoyed getting to know our local pastor, Gabriel (another crazy Episcopalian!).

In an effort to energize the CODEP animators and groups and to get a better handle on all the work that is being done in the project, animators were re-assigned groups. This has enabled some of the younger people to show their leadership abilities and has taken a load off those who were over-worked. We are blessed to have these fine women and men as role models for the other 650-plus workers in the CODEP project throughout the mountains.

Consistent with this, and in order to show our appreciation to the five groups who exemplified the most progress last year, L’Acul hosted the 2nd Annual “Reward Day at L’Acul.” This event rewards the families and communities in CODEP who best exemplify the spirit of what CODEP is all about. Visitors from Trinity PC in Satellite Beach, FL came back to help us with the day. They brought cake and T shirts and lots of enthusiasm. We shared the day with 150 CODEP men and women playing games, swimming, eating and dancing to a great band named “Cool Cash” (translated)! Everyone left saying it was their best party ever.

Trinity also helped with Vacation Bible School for three days. (It WAS a whirlwind week!) They shared skills in music, games, and crafts. We spent time with all the kids during mealtime and sports. The theme was the “10 Commandments.” Now all the beach kids have a much better understanding of God’s commandments from the Old Testament. Our Haitian teachers all did a wonderful job and no one found the language barrier too difficult to handle. A lot of seeds for God were planted into the hearts of these young children.

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Rick has spent time with Clement in the mountains distributing bags and bags of fertilizer and is overseeing work at Epiphany school. Kathy continues to work with mothers, kids, and fishermen along the beach.

God finds various venues to use us as we endeavor to spread the Word in all we do. As for us personally, we have enjoyed working in our respective jobs. We are so grateful for those who make it possible for us to be here at this moment in time. We will be enjoying the month of July at home in Indiana, helping grandkids with 4-H projects and going to reunions. We look forward to a time of rest and fellowship with family and friends, which is really the only thing we feel we sacrifice by being in Haiti.

Until August,

Peace to all,

Rick and Kathy