13 Evergreen Road, Lebanon, PA 17042-7422
Phone: (717)273-4832, Fax: (717)273-0132
E-mail: midway_cob@verizon.net, Web site: www.midwaycob.net
Haiti Mission 2006
Haiti Weather
Daily Updates from Evelyn Dick and Jane Ilyes:
9:27 AM - Email from Jane Ilyes
Just wanted to let everyone know that the mission team arrived in Miami ahead of schedule. They had a good flight and it looks like their flight from Miami to Haiti is on time. I will e-mail you later this afternoon to let you know that they arrived.
Jane
3:53 PM - Email from Jane Ilyes
Hi everyone,
Looks like the team had a good trip to Haiti. From looking at the airlines it looks like they were delayed out of Miami about 45 minutes and arrived in Haiti 45 minutes late. Praise God for safe travel!!
Blessings,
Jane
4:16 PM - Email from Greg Benson to Jane Ilyes
We have arrived safely, all travel was great, the place we are staying at is wonderful. We have all the luxuries of home, and we just finished a meal of tomatoe soup and toasted cheese sandwhiches. We are ready to head out to the work site, to get an idea of the work we need to do.
Thats all for now. We'll email again soon.
8:05 PM - Email From Evelyn Dick to Jane Ilyes
Dear Jane,
My cousin Nora and I left the guest house at 7:20 and are now at my house. All the men are very tired and I wouldn't be surprised if they are all in bed by now.
We visited the church project after picking up the team at the airport and having some lunch, so they are informed of what they will be doing there. They are all very pleased with their accomodations and food at the guest house.
Apparently it is much better that when Charles was in Haiti before. Everyone is fine so you ladies rest easy tonight.
Your men are in good hands with the director of the guest house.
Blesings, Evelyn
10:50 AM - Email From Evelyn Dick to Jane Ilyes
Jane,
It's Wed. , AM almost 11:00. The men have all gone to the work site except for Carl Z. I asked him to come to my house to do some fixing of necessary things. Carl is a good repair man as you know. Nora and I picked him up this AM and brought him to my house. Later we will go back down with the rest of them.
Will try to get back to you this evening when Nora and I get to my house. We are running on generator right now to be able to write to you.
Later, Evelyn
7:31 PM - Email From Evelyn Dick to Jane Ilyes
Jane,
This was the first day of work for the men and certainly accomplished a lot. They laid blocks, some did sanding and painting. Others moved sand and blocks from the ground to the second floor. By this evening they all looked tired. It is much hotter here than PA, however, by the time they got back to the guest house and had a shower they all seemed refreshed and sat down to a hearty dinner of mashed potatoes, gravy, chicken, corn, salad and watermelon, o yes and french bread. So you see they are being well fed.
Charlie asked me to have you call Josh Kirkwood's, I think his family. He is just fine but I am guessing perhaps they don't have e mail. In fact all the guys are fime ...no need to worry about them.
By the way. Fred's head is red. (sunburn that is)
Blessings to you all, Evelyn
9:43 AM - Email From Evelyn Dick to Jane Ilyes
Jane and all the wives, moms, families, and girl friends (if any)
It's Thursday morning. We have not seen the team yet this morning but will later in the day. Haven't heard anything from them today yet so no news is good news. They are in very good hands with the director of the guest house. He (Greg) is top of everything. Charlie says their accomodations are far superior to his other experience in Haiti. He had these guys all ready to sleep on mats but they all have a nice soft bed and plenty of food they like.
To Kevin's family. Thank you for letting me know that Kevin is having a birthday today, a special 18th. So. I will get a cake for him and surprise him with it tonight at dinner.
The news around here is that we will have no electricity for at least until May. So, as long as the generator runs we can be in touch with you. If you don't hear thenyou know that my generator decided to rest a while.
Blessings to you all. Will be in touch tonight after we have seen the group.
Evelyn
8:06 PM - Email From Evelyn Dick to Jane Ilyes
Dear Jane and all, Another day has come and gone for the 15 men on the work team. Everyone is doing fine and working hard. They are all well , for which we thank the Lord, and happy in what they are doing.. They are certainly accomplishing a lot . By tomorrow they should have all the blocks laid for the second floor.
Here are some specific messages from some of them I am sure you will recognize who they are for.
To Andria , Emily & Sherri......Enjoy Camp
To Ellen and Kaitlyn.......Enjoy Crystal's and Grandma's house
Morgan........Dad is fine.
Consider the lillies of the field - Love, Jesus
To Kevin's parents.....I just want to say. He couldn't possibly forget this is his birthday. The men reminded him all day about it and the director of the guest house's wife made two cakes for his birthday, one yellow and one chocolate with candles and we all sang Happy Birthday.
Evelyn
9:47 AM - Email From Evelyn Dick to Jane Ilyes
Jane, Everything is fine here today. Just want you to know that I just had to shut my generator down because it was smoking teribly and sounding funny. A mechanic is coming to look at it later today I hope but if he can't fix it right away then that means when my batteries die I will not be able to email you.At least not twice daily. Maybe sometimes I can get to a friends house.
The joys of living in Haiti. So keep on prayting for us all and IU will try my best to be in touch sometimes.
Evelyn
9:23 PM - Email From Evelyn Dick to Jane Ilyes
Dear Jane, I just returned from the guest house where we had a typical Haitian dinner, goat, fried bananas,fried sweet potatoes and acra, (a malanga root) and mangoe for dessert.
Everyone is fine. The men are working hard and experiencing some of the culture and poverty of Haiti. You may find they have changed somewhat by the time they get home. We stayed again tonight for devotions on the roof top. ; a very nice cool place to be.
6:54 PM - Email From Evelyn Dick to Jane Ilyes
Dear Jane and All,
It's 6:45 here in Haiti and the truck just left my house. I invited them to have supper at my house tonight. Some of you are alread aware of this because some of the men either e mailed or called you. I believe they thought that was better than eating. Actually, they enjoyed their time here, I am sure.
They worked today until about noon and then after lunch went sightseeing up the mountain.
Tomorrow, of course, is church at the church they have been working on. Charlie is preaching. I will be glad to hear a sermon in English again since I have not heard one in English since I arrived here this time. Pastor Joel will interpret.
After lunch I think they plan to do some more sight seeing.
I know you will be praying for them all tomorrow in church.
Evelyn
7:13 PM - Email From Evelyn Dick to Jane Ilyes
Dear Jane and all, It's Sunday evening and my cousin and I just returned to our house.
Our day and that of the men begaon with church service at Vine Church at 9:15. The church was nearly filled to capacity. Pastor Charlie preached an excellent message after which Pastor Joel gave an altar call. There were either 4 or 5 who made committments. At this point I don't know whether it was for salvation or rededication. Hopefully I will learn that sometime soon. (The service lasted for nearly 3 hours)
Pastor Joel and the congregation expressed their appreciation to all the team for the great job they have been doing at the church. It was very obvious that they truly are appreciative of their work and Charlie's message. At the close of his message the congregation applauded and that is not something they do every Sunday.
After a lunch of scalloped potatoes with ham, green beans, salad , french bread and cookies at the guest house we all travelled out into the country on the back of the big truck over very rough roads to do some sightseeing. About 4 hours later we returned to the guest house for Sunday evening meal of various kinds of pizza, salad and cookies. All of us are very tired but again it has been a good day.
We praise the Lord that everyone is well.
Blessings to you all, Evelyn
8:15 PM - Email From Evelyn Dick to Jane Ilyes
Hello Jane, It's a bit later tonight until I get to email. We have just had a nice rain shower and sometimes satellites don't want to work well in rainy oir cloudy weather.
The men spent another day at the work site. Today some were painting again and others were pouring the posts for the second floor. I brought Car Z. to my house again today to work on my generator. It seems he has founbd the problem and it looks as if I don't have to buy a new generator afterall. For that I am very grateful.
The only message I was asked to give tonight is: "We will see you Wednesday night!!!
Sounds as if they might be getting ready to get back home.
Evelyn
No emails received Tuesday, March 14th.
10:58 AM - Email From Evelyn Dick to Jane Ilyes
Dear Jane and all you ladies waiting for your husbands and sons to return form Haiti,
Since I did not e mail you last night I will bring you up to date on yesterday. Pastor Joel and his wife served at noontime.a delicious lunch to the team at the church. There was rice, beef and gravy, lasagne, French Bread and a beautifully decorated cake which said "Thank You". They brought in round tables , white table clothes and decorated the tables with a flower centerpiece. we truly ate in style.
Last evening we (Nora and I ) stayed for they devotions and wrap-up. Each of the men shared briefly some of the things that impressed them during this past week. It was very interesting to hear how God has met them here.
At one point they all gathered around me and prayed for me that God will enabvle me to carry on the ministry. This was the highlight of the week for me.
Now it is Wednesday morning and my cousin Nora and I just got back home from telling them all goodbye. We went to the airport to see them off and went as far as we were allowed to go with them. The CSI Director went on with them to the waiting area. As I write this they should be boarding the plane if it is on time.
I do believe they all had a good week and may come back having changed somewhat after experiencing Haiti. They certainly made a great contribution to Vine Ministry and Vine Church with all the hard work they did. They accomplished much not only in their labor of love but also in relationships with the Haitian people.
I know you will welcome the home with great anticipation. Thank you for sharing some of your family with Nora and me and Vine Ministry. I know that some of you shared your offerings with them to make it possible for them to come. Our thanks to you also.
God's blessings on you all at Midway Church of the Brethren.
Evelyn
11:11 AM - Email from Jane Ilyes
According to American Airlines the flight has left Haiti and is enroute to Miami. I’ll let you know when they arrive in Miami.
Jane
1:13 PM - Email from Jane Ilyes
Hi everyone,
I just wanted to let you know that Charlie just called from the plane in Miami. They just landed and are getting ready to go through immigration and customs. So far it looks like they’re on time, but that could change. They’re hoping to get back to church around 8:30.
Jane
3:37 PM - Email from Jane Ilyes
Hi everyone,
The flight from Miami has left on time and they are scheduled to reach Philadelphia at 6:23. It will be great to have them all home!
Blessings,
Jane
Haiti Mission Trip Report given Sunday March 19th, 9:00am-9:50am in the Sanctuary.