Hi Everyone,
We got back to Haiti and was hit, not with a hurricane, but with the most intense heat we've ever had. Day after day, temperatures are in the 90's with humidity high in the 80's. The heat index is reaching as high or higher than 133 degrees. I made the statement the other evening that I was glistening, not with the presence of God but with sweat! So, now the standard joke is, "I'm beginning to glisten." It does cool off about 4 AM and for that we praise the Lord.
El Shaddai is now in full swing with 73 students! We don't know where they came from but they've come. We grew by 20 children this year. You may or may not know that we acquired another house and decided to put the pre-school, kindergarten and first grade in it. With 29 kids and five teachers, the three room block house is filled, most of the children are pre-school. Cute as they can be!
It's an honor to be able to sow love into their little lives. Love being; instruction, correction and order. Few have that at home. Last year, there was a break down in nap time. This year, I insisted and after the first week the little ones go willingly to their nap after lunch. One little girl had orange hair from malnutrition and her skin color didn't look right. In one week, vitamins and daily food, has changed her hair and skin color. I'm always amazed at how quickly children change when they have nutrition. We could use chewable children's vitamins. If you can acquire them, it would be great. Our supply will only last another month.
With Carol Horrigan (from Iowa) and Nancy Hibbard from Wisconsin, we are meeting the needs of children who struggle in school. Carol has six children that either struggle with reading or math. One is ADD, the others just need one on one attention. Nancy, being bi-lingual, has the non-English speaking older boys who really weren't doing well last year. She has six students as well. With them carrying that load, the other classes are flowing nicely. Dan Joshu is coming back in a week or so for the high school kids.
The Carpenters are working hard at keeping the orphanage flowing smoothly. We are getting ready to take in two more boys, one four and one two years of age. Both are in diapers, so they are very needy. (They don't wear diapers now, they have no guidance or training but run naked all day and barely have enough to eat at anytime. The four year old looks two. Please pray with us as we begin preparing for them to come into the home. Three of the boys we started with are now in Haitian school. Peter is doing well, no pictures because we've not had the time to visit the home. The beauty of having a couple like Al and Bev is knowing they are doing a work for the Lord with excellence.
I just had a chat with a former student, who is now in New Jersey. As I read his comments, I had to thank God and I hope you see the importance of what we do. This young man came to us in early 2008. His mother sent him to an uncle in Haiti, because he wasn't doing his school work, was staying out late, no drugs but had been caught stealing. When we enrolled at ESLC, we thought he was a nice boy but he kept trying to beat our system of teaching and failed everything. Then he received Christ. A total change in attitude and work ethic. The second year he worked during school and after school and got to grade level. His mother agreed to take him back. We chatted via Facebook all summer and last night this is what he said: Thanks to El Shaddai, I am finding everything but chemistry easy. I'm beginning to feel like a "geek" because I answer so many questions in school. Sometimes, I decide to sit there and be quiet. He's active in church, even speaking to his peers on occasion!
You've heard us speak of Kesmy, the boy with no arms. He came from an extremely poor, voudou village, in the Artibonite Valley. He is now in college in Michigan. He loves the Lord and desires to be in ministry. His goal is to go to Moody Bible Institute.
These successes are what makes our mission worth while. So, as I struggle with four ornery boys in first grade (and one sweet girl), I keep my mind on the fact that one day, they too, will be iout of high school, serving the Lord with gladness and will be leaders in their generation for Christ.
Bible school starts on Saturday. We are very excited to welcome new and continuing students. We should have at least 100 this year. Carol Horrigan will teach Old Testament Survey to the whole school, Barbara Macleod will teach incoming students. I'll have second year students and Gary will teach third year students.
We also have an opportunity to open an International College of Excellence course and are in the process of planning just how to schedule it before we begin enrollment.
Please continue to pray for us. Our biggest need right now is another vehicle! Please look at the attached pictures. If we had $6000 dollars we could purchase a bus that would help us tremendously (but purchasing used vehicles is so tricky here because they are usually worn out, have hidden problems and cause a lot of headaches later). If we had 26K we could buy a sixteen passenger van. Right now, all our American staff and any teams coming in have to ride in the back our our truck, it's hot, dirty, and makes traveling very difficult.
Thank you all for reading this email. I'm beginning to glisten so I'll sign off and head to a cold shower.
In Him,
Pastor Gary and Carolyn
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