Francilia's Surprise

The dream team from Morrison Heights Baptist Church, Mississippi, (left to right, Charly Martin, me, Tim Rowan, Luke Rowan, and Harper Ferrell) was up and hard at it at 5:00am. We worked through the morning and just made our deadline for the arrival of Pastor Danley's fiancee, Francilia.

Francilia was so surprised and just kept saying the having this house is the answer to their prayers. They had placed their trust in the Lord as to where they were going to live. She blushed as she posed for photos and just kept grinning the whole time we were celebrating (at right with Pastor Danley).

The last few days have been truly awesome. Meeting Miriam here at the orphanage and working with these guys is something I will never forget. My sincere thanks to Miriam for her hospitality. Having decent meals, a great place to sleep, and a real shower for the time I've been here has been a bigger blessing than you know.

Learning how to take nice transitional shelters and turn them into permanent homes is something I will be able to share with our boys and reproduce in Leogane. It costs $495.00 to modify the standard transitional shelter kit into a permanent structure. I pray for partners to help us do this for some of our people, particularly the elderly ones. Doing this for them would give them a home where they could live out the rest of their days without fear of having to relocate or be homeless again.

Ever Grateful,
Roody

Pastor Danley's Home In Progress

Hi Everyone!

I have had the most terrific day!! But I have been helping to construct Pastor Danley's new house since 5:00am -- I am exhausted. We have to be up at 5:00am again tomorrow so we can have the house complete by 8:00am when his soon-to-be-bride will show up for church and we will surprise her with her new home.

Charly from Mississippi (pictured above in the truck) is 68 years old and will tell you that you have to get up a day ahead of him just to keep up. He's not joking. This man is a dynamo and genius of construction and design who has taken one of our transitional shelters and kicked it up a notch by modifying it into a permanent home with windows, a real door, termite protection for the wood and a rock-hard floor. The interior features shelving, a place to hang clothes, and even a queen-sized bed (fashioned from what ws originally designed as bunk beds for families with children - how ingenious is that?) I am learning at the feet of a master. The Danleys will be able to call this place home for a long time.

Our whole team worked on this place all day and into the night. I'm really tired so I'll let the pictures speak for themselves tonight. I can't wait to see Pastor Danley's and his fiancee's faces tomorrow when we unveil God's wedding gift!

Falling Into Blissful Sleep,

Roody

Building Pastor Danley's House

Working for the Lord is so hard at times, but sometimes He rewards us with great times of fellowship, learning and growth. Today was one of those great days for me.

I am still in Cazeau at the orphanage where Pastor Danley works. He does not get paid - only his meals and the ability to live on the orphanage property. If you read yesterday's entry you know that we had one of our transitional shelters delivered here to construct as a surprise for Pastor Danley and his soon-to-be-wife.

The orphanage staff invited me to join their discussion yesterday about modifying the construction techniques used in erecting these little temporary shelters so as to provide a permanent home for the Danleys. Their thoughts were to add a real window, a real door, and make plywood walls which will then be covered to make them waterproof.

I was really curious to see how they planned to do this because, if they are successful, we could copy their design for some of our folks who own their own property so they wouldn't have to come up with something else to live in a year from now. This would be especially great for our elderly folks such as Brother Mathurin -- if we build him a sturdy little house now, he will be able to live in it for the remainder of his life.

Today some of the orphanage staff, volunteers and I worked on erecting the frame. I'll keep you posted as to our progress.

Seeing Miracles,

Roody

Seeing Many Prayers Answered

Thought you'd like to see Carlos (at left) and Ronald (at right). They are both gainfully employed here in Leogane constructing the temporary houses in Promised Provision Community Two.

PPM Community One is complete and the inspectors gave it their final approval on Thursday. Residents began moving in today. I'll be sure to send you some photos.

MORE GOOD NEWS!! Yesterday we secured a year's lease on another parcel of land! Since this newest piece of land is already level and cleared, we should be able to begin construction there very soon. This five-acre plot will accomodate 54 temporary houses. Fifty-four additional families will have safer, more protective shelter once it is complete. A HUGE THANK YOU to all of you who responded to my radio interview with Dick Gordon on American Public Radio (http://www.thestory.com/). Your donations helped to push us over the top to being able to secure the lease on this property.

On a personal note, I have to share how happy I am that we were instrumental in providing one of our little temp houses to Pastor Danley of New Life Orphanage. He has been working very hard since the earthquake and, as a result, has paid little attention to his own needs. He will be getting married in August and has no place to house his new wife. Working together with our missions partners, we were able to secure delivery of one of our little temp houses to Pastor Danley's location in Cazeau, Haiti. We are working today to construct it as a surprise for him and his bride.

Rejoicing in Answered Prayer,

Roody

Light at the End of the Tunnel

Busy day today!! Picked up Sandra's motorcycle AND put finishing touches on negotiations to secure another land lease for the construction of another small temporary shelter community. This five-acre parcel of land lies directly adjacent to our first village and will house 54 additional families. We are so blessed to have been given this opportunity!

To add to my joy today, I found out that my wife is planning to come here for a visit. I miss her so much and my spirits are soaring at the thought of seeing her in the next few weeks!! Those of you who know my story know that I came here in February 2008 planning to stay for about two weeks and have ended up being stuck here all of this time. I know God has used me to accomplish a lot for Him during this time, and I have been happy to serve Him, but I still miss my family and my life in the states. A visit from my wife will be a breath of fresh air to me -- there is light at the end of this tunnel.

Rejoicing in His Mercies,

Roody

Sandra's Officially in Business

The motorcycle we purchased for Sandra FINALLY arrived in-country! I met her and her driver, Junior Marcelus, at the dealership to pick it up today. She is so happy! I told her she is quite possibly the youngest business owner in Leogane.

This incredible gift will generate income for her while also serving as her transportation to and from school each day. We no longer have to pay for her transportation - she will actually be earning money while she is in school each day. How great is that?

Her driver, Junior, (pictured here with Sandra and the motorcycle) is eager to start working. He will rent the cycle from Sandra each day, take her to and from school and then use it to earn a living in the city during the hours she is in school. I've taught her how to allocate the proceeds so that she can tithe, save, and use her profits to save toward a replacement (the average life-span of a motorcycle in Haiti is roughly three years). The remainder of her funds will help her family, including two of our other girls, her cousins Louna and Emmanuella.

If she sticks to the guidelines I provided for managing her little business, and nothing disasterous happens to the bike, she may be able to own several motorcycles within the next five-to-six years and have a thriving, on-going business.

I have been privileged over the past few years to see Sandra grow into the fine young woman she is today. I know she will do her very best to ensure the success of her new business.

Praying for Sandra's Happiness and Success,

Roody

A Visit With Fabi

I had a pleasant surprise today -- Fabi came around for dinner and to go to church this evening. I have not seen much of her since the Christian Girls' Home was destroyed.

Even wearing a men's baseball cap (photo above), she looks pretty good. But by the way she shoveled in huge portions of food at dinner this evening, I can tell she is not eating well. As you can see, despite her dismal circumstances, her ever-present smile has not waned. We don't call her "Fabi Fabulous" for nothing!!

When I asked her about her present situation, she said she had not had any food to eat for two days. She also said she "has many problem". Other than a shortage of food, she is really fearful that she will not be able to take her official school exam that permits her to pass to the next grade because she doesn't have any money to pay the required costs. Since school is really all the kids here have in their lives, the possibility of not being able to progress and attend next year is devastating to them.

Education here is more than just learning - being able to attend school is an indication of status. Without it, one is relegated to the lowest status within society and has no real hope for the future aside from carrying water, cleaning, and acting as servant to someone else.

Thanks, Rebecca, for speaking with her on the phone this evening. Your humor and calming, motherly influence worked its magic because she was much happier when she got off of the phone. She loves and misses you very much. As you requested, she and I will pray for Promised Provision's ability to pay for her and our other girls to take their official exams.

Feeling Fatherly,

Roody