GREEN!

Throughout the Old Testament God often used water and green as a picture of His blessing and drought and desolation as a picture of what happens when He withdraws that blessing. Take this passage from Isaiah 44 for example...

“But now listen, Jacob, my servant, Israel, whom I have chosen.
This is what the LORD says—he who made you,
who formed you in the womb, and who will help you:
Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant, Jeshurun,whom I have chosen.

For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.
They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams.
Some will say, ‘I belong to the LORD’; others will call themselves by the name of Jacob;
still others will write on their hand, ‘The LORD’s,’ and will take the name Israel.

...in comparison to this passage regarding the Babylon in Jeremiah 50:

A drought on her waters! They will dry up.

For it is a land of idols, idols that will go mad with terror.

“So desert creatures and hyenas will live there, and there the owl will dwell.

It will never again be inhabited or lived in from generation to generation

In an area like the Plateau trees cause passerby to stop and ask, "What is going on here?" It forces people of the Plateau to compare what Satan has offered them for generations with the beauty and life that Jesus Christ can bring.

Over the last two months we have had more rain than I have ever seen here and the result is breathtaking. Does this mean there will never be a drought here again? Probably not. But one can hardly walk away from the striking beauty of God's creation that they see here, especially in stark contrast to the desolation that has been Satan's signature on this area for so long, without marveling at the grandeur of God.

I know I have posted some of these old pictures before but it is always amazing to me to look back at the way things were not too long ago in comparison to today.

2005

2008

Manis in front of the trees today.

When Manis graduated from high school his dream was to become an agronomist. But he could not even afford to pay the bus fare to get him to where the entrance exam was to be taken - let alone pay for university. Several years later Manis dedicated his life to God's service and now God has given him the joy doing the agronomist type work he had always wanted to do.

2006

2008

Today

2005

Today

2007

Today

2008

Today

2008

Today

2008

Today

Other pictures from today:
I had trouble getting some of these pictures because it was drizzling off and on!
What a great problem to have!

Key Limes

Acerola Cherries

The rains this summer have allowed hundreds of saplings to take root so that when drought comes they will be able to withstand it. May we so root ourselves in Christ that no matter what life brings our way we may stand firm in Him. And may the fruit that we bear draw others to Him.

They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.
Jeremiah 17:8

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness,

goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Galatians 5:22-23a

The Dunk Family

I realized I never did get a picture up of the Dunk family that was here for a month this summer! They were a great help in getting lots of little projects done and Bruce was able to help us with a BIG project... the school foundation. I got a quick picture before they left here to go to Port-au-Prince...

Mission Accomplished!

Four different projects have been completed in the last week...

Putting in the footers where the classroom dividing walls will be

FINISHED!!! After a lot of very hard work in the very hot sun the foundation and footer project is complete!

The team from Emmanuel got all the doors put in the church.

While doing the Obert family's house a piece of roofing cut Russ' leg pretty deep.

Thankfully mom was here and knew what to do. He had to keep it up for a while but he had lots of company to keep him from getting too bored :)

The next day mom let him do some work that didn't require too much walking, climbing, or other exertion. After that there was no keeping him down.

Allen worked with some of the guys here on putting the trusses together. It was such a joy to watch him interact and joke around with them. Unfortunately he got a sinus infection toward the end of his time and felt pretty awful for the last few days. Despite the intense heat this summer (it was hotter than I have ever experienced here) the team really kept good attitudes and persevered. Thank you Mark, Russ, Allan, Daniel and Mikhayla!!!

Dad setting up the forms for a ferro-cement cistern for Wilda.

Gilbert, who had helped Dad, Nathan and Glenn build the cistern for the wind pump, did most of the work on the cistern himself. He now understands the process well enough that he can build them on his own and therefore has an opportunity for added income for his family.

Dad preaching on Sunday

Mikhayla taught English to a group of children in the mornings. Unfortunately I never got a picture of her teaching but here she is at church :)

Getting ready to put the trusses up on the last house. This house will be used as a sewing and cooking school for young women.

James, Wisnik, Gilbert and Lucson taking a break on the roof of the last house.

Two of the houses that were covered in the last two weeks. The team left Gilbert to do the gable ends which he just finished yesterday!