Celebrating Opening Day for PPM Community 3

Wow! It's hard to believe that this project is already completed and people are moving in.
God is truly to be praised!!

We just finished the dedication ceremony for this, our third transitional community. All of the beneficiaries were so grateful in prayer for their new shelters and start-up kits.

Each new resident received a set of cookware, a large plastic container for water, basic hygiene kit, and mosquito nets so they can start off on the right foot to keep themselves healthy and the community a clean and sanitary place to live. It's so cool - some folks have already started personalizing their homes (see little flower beds one mom and her children put in near their door).

I'm in a hurry to get things done today, so I'll let these photos speak for themselves. I'm off to Darbonne to check on progress at Community 4, then on to the city of Dufort to look into the possibility of land for a fifth community.

Seeking His Strength,
Roody

Joyous News: Marie Yolene

I have great news to share!

I received an update about little Marie Yolene, the two year old we helped after the earthquake. If you recall, her arm was severely burned in the quake and all that had been done for it was to wrap it in a towel. When I first saw her, her aunt was so distressed because little Marie was suffering (left). The doctor I took her to told her aunt that, without proper treatment, she would have probably died within a week or so of the horrible infection that had set into her arm.

After she saw the doctor and I helped Danita's people relocate her to their orphanage, I lost track of her. Brittany, one of the workers at Danita's, contacted me yesterday and provided an update on little Marie:

Marie Yolene, who we now call Marie Joy, is doing great! Actually, her aunt came to live and work with us a few months ago. She is also doing really great, living and working with all our children from Port-Au-Prince. The aunt is going to start going to school in the fall and continue working with us. Marie's arm has completely healed, as you can see, with only a couple scars left which will most likely heal soon. She has gained weight, is starting to talk, and has a HUGE personality. She's joyful and spunky :)

Thank you so much, Brittany, for letting us know how well Marie is doing! You made my day!

Joyful,

Roody

Transitional Shelters to Be Converted Into Permanent Homes

I am so happy today! Building the transitional communities is incredible and, thanks to our partners, is going smoothly. I finally had some time to turn my attention to the needs of some of the people who own their own property but lost their homes.

While we, sadly, lack the funds to distribute all 500 of the shelters we have been allotted for this purpose, with the 'go-ahead' to distribute four of them, I made arrangements to have three of them delivered to their intended sites today. The other one will be delivered by the middle of next week.

The first one was delivered to 64-year-old Andre Mathurin (left). He was so overjoyed - all he kept saying was "I pray for you, I pray for you!". Rebecca, he was so happy to talk with you on the phone. He says you are an angel from God and he prays for you every day. (Note: He also wanted me to remind you that he needs more of the protein supplement we send to him).

The second shelter will be dropped off to a group of elderly widows who live way off of the main road. If you recall, one of them came to me about three weeks after the quake and said they had received no aid at all. She took me to where their little hut had been and showed me where the five of them were living under sheets hung from a little tree. It was so pitiful and I have shared Rebecca's heart for sheltering them as we found we were able to do so.

The third shelter will be delivered to an elderly couple who lost their home. They can't even find the words to express how they feel.

The plan is to apply the technology I learned from Charly as we constructed Pastor Danley's house and convert these temporary shelters into permanent homes (right). The cost per home is only $495.00 (for plywood walls, protectant oil, and the materials to screen the windows). An added bonus is that I will be having our boys help with these conversions. This will add to their growing knowledge of construction skills.

These enhanced shelters should provide nice, little homes for these elderly folks for the remainder of their lives. I call that a really good investment!

Serving Him,

Roody

Darbonne Community Becomes a Reality

I visited the landowner today to have her sign the necessary land lease documents and to pay her. The project managers will beginning the layout process tonight - determining where the houses will go, where amenities such as the rest rooms and play areas will be located given the property boundaries and terrain.

My prayer is that actual construction can begin very quickly. We have had torrential rain for several nights and the people in Darbonne are suffering the effects of not being able to shelter themselves and their limited belongings from the rain. They are so excited and can't wait for the shelters to be ready to occupy.

I can readily locate other parcels of land, there are supplies available to construct literally thousands of these shelters -- we just lack the funds to continue building these communities. We must continue to pray for God's continued provision of the funds to lease the properties.

Expectantly,
Roody

The Waiting is Over for Darbonne

The waiting is over! God 's answer to our prayers for partners in this most worthy endeavor was to link us with our friends at CoAid, based in Colorado. Who but God could intricately link people from so many different places to work together for His purposes? Truly awe-inspiring!!

Thank you so much, Steve, for taking this need to your board and for impressing upon them the importance and urgency of this project. The construction of a transitional shelter community in Darbonne is happening none too soon for these poor people who have been almost completely without aid since the earthquake and living totally exposed to the elements for so long.

This parcel of land is going to create a wonderful home for so many people - plenty of shade trees and nice level terrain. I had already negotiated the contract with the landowner, so I will visit with her tomorrow to finalize things. The plan is for the planners to draw up the layout tomorrow as to where the homes, latrines, play area, etc. will be placed on the property and for the workers to begin construction shortly thereafter.


Relishing this miracle,
Roody

Praises for A New Partnership

We have been praying for some time now for God to bring the partners we need in order to do the work He has set before us. Those prayers have been answered -- CoAid, based in Colorado, has offered to come along side us and provide the funds needed to begin construction of the community we had planned for Darbonne.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, CoAID, for joining forces with us to provide safe, protective homes for so many people.

Praising Him Above All,
Roody

Being Still

"Be Still and Know That I Am God".

One of the toughest commands given to us tells us to sit and virtually do nothing. How ironic is that?

Since we negotiated for the use of land for the construction of PPM 4 in Darbonne, a city otherwise devoid of relief efforts (photos of current living conditions here), we have reached out to a network partner for funding to proceed with this much-needed community of transitional shelters. As is a requirement of good stewardship, their board of directors is having to meet to discuss the viability and urgency of the community and pray for guidance. I honor that.

Still -- the waiting is difficult. I have filled the past few days with searching out a few friends in Port-au-Prince and other areas surrounding Leogane in an attempt to offer encouragement and to catch up on each others' lives since the earthquake. It has been good to find that most of our partners, although wearied and significantly worse for the wear, are still alive and still pressing on in their work for the Lord. Rebecca always says that missionary work is not for sissies and she is so right! But even after all they have been through, with few exceptions, our friends are still looking at the half-full parts of their glasses and looking to the future of Haiti with hope.

I am praying for an affirmative reply from God and from our network friends concerning the funds to begin construction on PPM 4 very soon.

Prayerfully Still,

Roody

DIRE Need in Darbonne

We’ve got the opportunity to secure a great parcel of land for the construction of another community of 175 more transitional shelters (at left). It has trees for shade and has already been assessed as meeting the criteria for this construction. All that remains is to pay the landowner the agreed price.

Our other communities are such successes! The majority of the beneficiaries of these homes are single mothers, elderly and handicapped people. Each community has water and sanitation facilities on site, security and designated play areas for the children. Many of the beneficiaries have said that, in addition to having a sound roof over their heads and being protected from the elements, they are also thrilled to be away from the filth and rampant crime of the tent cities.

While we were able to come up with the contracted amounts for the three previous properties in Leogane, those expenditures have pretty much wiped out our financial resources.

Darbonne is is DIRE need. I am pretty accustomed to seeing horrifying living conditions, and poverty-driven illness and even death, but I surveyed this area last week and what I witnessed there brought me to tears. Children are sick - fevers, pink eye, sores, etc. People are unable to find a dry place to escape the torrential rain, standing water makes it impossible for some people to even sit down or sleep under their tarps because their tarps are disintegrating under months of direct sunlight and heat.

As far as I can tell, virtually NO ONE is providing any sort of aid in Darbonne. Unfortunately, this seems to be the case in areas where there is no media coverage. As one cameraman told us, “No one goes where there is not a camera to record what they are doing”. We, at Promised Provision, understand the value of media coverage but we value the fact that God is watching much more.

I am praying we can find someone to help us secure the lease on this land so we can help these people out of the inhumane conditions in which they are currently struggling to survive.

With a Heavy Heart,

Roody

Water Plant Forges Ahead

Well, it was too good to be true. Our water plant has been in operation for a little over two weeks now without a hitch. The government visited us today to inform us that we require a business license to operate it. We were unaware that this was necessary since we are a non-profit organization, but nonetheless...it cost us $250.00 for the permit for one year. Thanks, Rebecca, for sending the money so quickly. Michelle and Miss Fernande didn't even miss a beat in their water production.

Three of our girls: Fabi, Sophonie and MeriCiane are required to take the government's official end-of-year exam in order to see if they pass to the next level in school. Again, thanks for the funds, Rebecca. I am making sure they and their parents sign their annual statements agreeing to do their very best in school to uphold their parts in good stewardship of PPM funds. I keep them ever mindful that hardworking people care about them enough to share their blessings with them. Each of them sends their love to those who so lovingly support their education. I'll send you photos of them in their new uniforms once the seamstress completes them.

Tomorrow I will swing by PPM 3 to see how near completion the workers are. They just began putting on the tarps today (pictured here). It is always exciting to see residents' relief when they realize that they really have a place to live that is safe and out of the rain. I'm looking for available land to hold another community in the nearby city of Darbonne. Please join me in prayer for this - no one seems to be doing much of anything in Darbonne.

Speaking of rain, I am still sitting here in soggy clothes, so I'll close now.

Looking Forward to Tomorrow's Blessings,

Roody

Residents Occupy New Homes in PPM 2

I traveled back to Leogane today for the dedication ceremony at PPM 2, our second transitional housing community. It houses 101 families (PPM 1 housed 172 families who gratefully moved in about a week ago).

Samaritan's Purse personnel and camera crew were there and we joined with the residents in praying Psalm 23 and dedicating the property to the Lord. I spoke single moms as they were inspecting their new homes. They are thrilled to finally be out of the rain and away from the filth and violence of the tent city she and her children have been living in since the earthquake.

Even the latrines are classy and even have real American toilet seats - they are a real treat here in Haiti.

I will take a look at the progress taking place at PPM 3 tomorrow. We just acquired the use of the land for it last Thursday and it is almost complete. Wow! The guys putting up the houses are really getting fast at it.

Bursting with Praise,

Roody

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