Three women from The Sanctuary are on a missions trip to Haiti this week. Their team, which includes 14 people from Illinois and Virginia, will be sending an e-mail update each day on what is happening during the trip. A different member of the team writes the e-mail each day.

Tuesday (from Stacey at The Sanctuary)

Each morning we are leaving at 6:30 a.m. to get on the road to the Village of Hope. The temperatures have been incredibly high, and it’s very humid.  It has rained more in these last few days than I have ever seen here — bizarre!  It is amazing to look around at all the places that are familiar to some of us; and it’s equally amazing to witness the “tent cities” that spring up everywhere you go.  The Haitians are telling us that clean water is coming in and is “easier” to acquire if you are in one of these “cities”.

The classes at VOH are going well… mostly.  Everyone on our team is having a blast with the children.  I am doing art and anyone who knows me can assume how it’s going… anyway…  Patrick is getting tons of photographs of all the children and teachers to share.  After our two classes are done, we go right to lunch.  Mostly rice and beans — NO fish “parts” so far!    Of course it is delicious!  The little preschoolers get dismissed when we leave, and they shout at us when we go by them.  They are precious!

Today after teaching we got to venture out and shop at the metal workers’ shops, which are actually their homes.  We also went to a new shop that had beautiful art, so let’s see how we can get all these creations home.  Hey, someone needs to help their economy, right!?

When we returned to the compound we got to visit with Jan who is a friend of ours from the old Notre Maision.  She and Keith are doing well.  He has acquired a one level hotel with about 20 rooms in it to host conferences for Haitian Veterinarians.  Speaking of which, (Julie have a seat), Keith’s coworker, Kelly, and a student from Texas A&M named Kevin come over to check up on Hopie.  Keith and another Vet friend showed up later.  Everything is FINE, but boy what an adventure.  The two of them needed to remove what looked like a tumor from her private area.  They did the surgery in the back of the yard on the work table.  It started to pour down rain!  So some of us “assisted” by holding  four umbrellas and three lights so they could obviously continue and see what they were doing.  What a sight!

They removed the tumor and stitched up both her incisions.  We had to make a dog-head cone for her out of a plastic Cheetos container so she can’t get at her wounds.  She is resting and doing well, but that is a first for us!  Yes, we got tons of pictures!  Her pup, Peanut, hung out with her a little while and then took off to get into her usual mischief.

After that adventure we sat around the table sharing stories and ate dinner.  Then, Stephani and Liz led us in worship, and I got to lead devotions again.  James 5:13-16, 2 Tim 1:7, Phil 3:10-11, and Ps 29:3-4.  What gets in your way from diving deeper with Jesus?  What/who are you willing to give up in order to grow closer to Him?  Do you believe in the power of miracles?  Do you allow the Holy Spirit to lead you in all areas of your life?

Thank you for your support, prayers, and love.  We are so grateful for the opportunity to serve God and His children in this way!  He is mighty to save and we are so blessed to be able to shine His light.  IUE!

Peace, Joy, and Love,

Liz, Lennie, Lori, Patrick, Stephani, and Stacey