First Haiti Trip, 3rd Update

August 31, 2004

Bonjour tout moun! (Hello everybody!)

Well, Deb and I just got finished killing a family of cockroaches that was living inside their bathroom sink. There’s nothing like brushing your teeth and seeing little antennae coming out of the sink overflow holes. So we sprayed some insecticide in there and out came about 5 cockroaches from the baby all they way up to big ol’ grandpa (and I do mean BIG). There may not be TV, but there is never a lack of excitement here.

The work here has been going great. We have been able to collect a lot of information. Last week we took some data that will help Bruce in deciding where to put a water reservoir and how far the water will be able to service. We also collected topographic information of a ravine for a possible dam location. This week has been spent surveying the existing water system that provides water to a number of towns. God has really been blessing us. The equipment we’ve been working with has been great, and we’ve been able to interpret all the data we’ve taken so far. The weather has also been good, hot but with an occasional breeze to cool things off.

I’ve been calling our work “extreme surveying.” We’ve been hiking up and down mountains, through rivers, and around herds of cattle and goats. We’ve been setting up in the middle of people’s yards and have been followed by dozens of kids who come out to watch the funny white people. As we hike across the wilderness, they gladly show us the best path to get to where we’re going. It has been awesome to interact with the people here, and I’ve been able to pick up some of the language. The scenery has been wonderful as well. There are mountains everywhere and the clouds here are amazing. The past couple nights we’ve worked right until sun down, so I’ve been able to enjoy some great sunsets from atop the mountains. God’s creativity was in full swing when He made this country!

I have three more days until I return to home, and there are a few things to pray for:

The weather would permit us to finish our work and that God would keep us safe as a hurricane passes north of Haiti.
Perseverance in these last days.
Wisdom for Bruce to know which projects and tasks to complete first.
More opportunities to build relationships with the people here.
Safe travel as I return home on Friday.
God to do His work through me in order to bring Himself glory and that I would be continually willing to submit to Him.

Thank you all so much for your support and prayers. I really appreciate the encouraging emails. I have also received all the financial support I needed, so praise God! Please continue to pray through these last couple days. I hope this email finds you all well. God bless.

In Him,

Ben