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 Bon swa from Tampa, The Missionary Ventures missions conference has wrapped up and I am getting ready to head back to GA for a couple of weeks and then back to Haiti. I've been in touch with Manno and the Happy House and with the exception of PAP, kidnapping, not having electricity, etc, things aren't too bad in Ti Goave. The schools are coming back from Christmas and New Year's vacation. I am anxious to get back. Real quick I'll mention that I just posted a new web page with pictures from Haiti. Hopefully it will give faces to a few of the names and places I have written about. The Honduras pictures are still up too. You can just click on the "Honduras 2005" at the top of the page. The page does not allow me much commentary thus there is little info under the pics, but they are all labeled this time. Also if anyone has any pictures or places that they would like to see, e-mail me and let me know. Meanwhile, the state of Haiti as a country is not good. Kidnappings there have now surpassed Columbia to become number one in the Western hemisphere. The elections have been postponed again. The Brazilian general that was in charge of the UN forces in Haiti died Saturday of an apparent suicide. According to reports, there were roughly 400 people kidnapped during the month of December. Most were Haitian, some were American and Canadian. Some were missionaries. Some were people that I know. Most were released for ransom. This is turning into a lucrative business in Haiti, mainly in the capital, PAP. It is a bit of a puzzle why this has been so hard to stop. The large percentage of hostages are taken to Cite Soleil. I will be asking everyone within the sound of this e-mail, and beyond, to be praying for haiti and for us to have a safe trip in and out of PAP. They have been targeting folks coming from the airport, which hasn't been many lately, and getting them in the streets. Here is a quote from a Canadian UN buddy of mine there in PAP: "PaP is not safe - route nationale #1 is EXTREMELY dangerous for all including local Haitians -definately not a good time to bring anyone here." I just throw that in with the hope that it will inspire folks to pray. It's bad now, but it was worse in 2004. Most of the trouble now is in PAP so if we can run the gauntlet out of PAP, we should be okay. Just the same, it is not good luck that I am counting on, it is the Hand of my Lord/Shepherd that I am trusting in. The same ONE that has preserved and protected us over the last 10 years in Haiti. Lord willing, I'll be heading down Feb 2. Gonna wrap it up for the moment. While in the States I would like to take advantage of high speed internet and post pictures and communicate more since all of that will become hard or impossible while in Haiti. Thank you again to those of you praying and supporting and helping make the work there possible. There are a few thousand kids that would like to say thank you as well. I'll try to get all of their pictures posted eventually :0) Take care and Bon Dieu beni nou! fre Ed |