Good news! As of 9 AM Sunday the roof for the orphanage is complete.

Tomorrow is the big day. The men are arriving at 4 AM to begin pouring the roof. Our team going to the site at 5 AM to assist in the pouring and finish working on the plumbing on the inside of the building. Things went well today with all the work on the roof finished except for laying the blocks on the roof as filler for the concrete.

Tonight we said farewell to our new friends from South Carolina, the electricians. They were great guys and we really enjoyed working with them this week even thought they are Rebs. Hopefully we will cross paths again, if God Willing.

We learned we have lost another aquaintance in Jeremie when we were told of the passing of our plumbing supplier, Walnes. He died 2 months ago of unknown causes. He was in his in his forties and has worked with us for several years. The picture above shows his shop.

This mornings trip started with a flat tire on one of the trucks and then required a stop at the local tire shop to get repaired. It is amazing with the road system here that we don't have more.

Watch tomorrow for photos of the roof pour and hopefully lots of progress.

Ok David, so I was a little optimistic about the plumbing being nearly finished. Today we spent most of the day knocking holes in the walls for the water lines. We did get the boy's bathroom finished and most of Alexandre and Sara bathroom finished. After lunch we had an emergency pump repair to make so we lost most of the afternoon to that project. Tomorrow the electicians will be finished with their part and then on Friday they head to PaP for some sightseeing. After that it's home to South Carolina.

They are still on schedule to start pouring the roof on Friday barring more rain. We have definitely had more rain than we usually have in March but it hasn't been bad.
Jennifer and Carla worked at the Clinic and got to assist with an eye surgery. The Doctor comes from PaP for one week every month to do surgeries. On Tuesday he reported doing 42 operations. Everyday the outside waiting is filled to capacity.
With a little luck we will be finished with the plumbing tomorrow and ready to assist with thee roof.

A few members of the teams went to the job site last night to see the men working the night shift. They have been working 2 shifts all week trying to get the roof ready to pour. Some of todays photos show that work. Bye for now. Please keep checking back.

The Internet is finally working! Everyone got to Haiti in fine shape and we have been hard at work on the project. We have had a little problem getting all of our luggage as usual, but today all but one of them finally came. The plywood and steel are about 75% complete and then they must form the edges of the roof before they pour. The plumbing and electical are nearly complete on the roof so the pouring can start soon.

We are not sure when the groups will come to start the roof, but some of the workers are saying Thursday. We aren't sure that will happen.

There is a big difference in heat between March when we usually come and this trip in August. All in all though it hasn't been too bad with a nice breeze when you are on the roof.

Hopefully the Internet will stay up so be sure to check back daily. See you all later.

The Hearts for Haiti team is making a second trip to Haiti this year to continue work on the orphanage at Gebeau. The team is leaving on Saturday August 1st and returning Wednesday August 12th. Please watch here for progress reports as they happen (and the Internet allows).

Well I guess its time to close out this blog.

They say the next trip begins on the plane trip home.
Well at the Port au Prince airport, plans were made to return in August.

The plan is that the form boards will be rented in mid or late July
The forms will be put into place and the steel reinforcing tied into place by the first of August.
Hearts for Haiti team will arrive about August 5 to put the plumbing in place. Another team will also arrive to do the electrical.

As soon as the plumbing and electrical is done, more teams will arrive and the "big pour will begin.

It is the plan to pour the entire roof, 6500 sq ft in one continuous pour around the clock for several days so as to not have any cold joints that might be susceptible to leaks.

The forms will remain in place for a month to allow the concrete to cure.

If you are interested in going to Haiti in August, please contact Dave at davesets@northknox.net.

Until August.........

Wednesday brought more rain so Thursday morning it was time to bail out the cistern that had about four feet of water in it.

If the afternoon is nice the team will go to the beach and more shopping.

Tuesday brought more rain so the crew went shopping at the Jeremie Wal-MArt. No pictures of it yet but they were rolling back the prices.

The medical team went to Roseaux which is on the beach past Gomier.

The Monday rain only stayed until about 9:00am so the construction crew was hard at work on the cistern. The Haitian crew finished the columns down the side of the porch on Saturday. It looks like the cistern will be fully dug and work on the footers will start Wednesday.


The lizard is laying low but our Indy lawyer says the lizard is considering a lawsuit for harassment at the workplace. PETA is naturally involved.

The team has purchased 300 pounds of rice for distribution this week.

The medical group stayed busy with innoculations and such.


Hopefully more pictures later today.

This post concerns a young man named "Goble". Goble, now 11 years old, joined our team last year by providing comic relief during breaks. In return for those efforts, he earned the nickname George, as in Gobel. This young man was full of energy and into EVERYTHING!

Monday March George showed up at the work site lethargic and limping on a badly infected foot. We took him to the clinic and got the wound (He said insect bite) cleaned up, got him some antibiotics and a tetanus shot. We fed him every day and he seemed better most of the week and worked with us carrying empty buckets. The second week Goble was again not his usual self but seemed OK.

Sunday, yesterday Goble showed up at the guesthouse complaining of pain up to his knee and his foot was visibly infected again and he was running a fever. The team is taking him to the hospital today and will doctor him daily until they leave on Saturday.

It turns out that Goble is an orphan living just across the street from the Gebeau Project. Alexander, the orphanage manager has agreed to look after Goble and see that he is fed until the new orphanage is complete and Goble can move in. There are currently no beds available for Goble as the children are already sleeping 2-3 to the bed.

On Saturday Alexander took Goble to the market to purchase food.


Please pray for Goble's recovery before the team leaves on Saturday. Without supervision and care Goble could be is serious condition.

Monday morning got a little squirrely. The lizard that Debi and Leroy had been harassing all week got even. He locked Debi in the bathroom. After calling 911 they got the door busted down so Debi could escape from that "FIVE FOOT MONSTER" that had been stalking her all last week.
If we don't get things calmed down the Haitian branch of PETA is going to be protesting outside the compound.


To make matters worse its raining and the team will have to go ton Plan E of F.

Saturday March 21 - The third team arrived safely and the second team returned home without incident.

Team Three spent weekend relaxing and resting after a hard day unpacking team bags but did not get to go to the beach because of rain.

Sunday it was off to church with Bob O preaching. After lunch it was a visit to the orphanage.

Just a reminder for those who are interested, donations in memory of Toma may be made to Hearts for Haiti 7718 North Scepter Road, Bicknell, Indiana 47512. After defraying the cost of the funeral, all donation will go to "Nothing But Nets" which supplies mosquito nets throughout the world to help prevent malaria.

Its Friday, March 20 and as usual the team has suddenly realized that if we have any more to do today is the day.

The medical team went to Gomier which has some beautiful beachfront lots for sale. The team saw a small mob for checkups, immunizations etc. Like the other villages, severe malnutrition is at the root of most problems. In a small way we took 100 lbs of rice and 50 lbs of beans to help. And as usual we turned away more people than we were able to feed.

The construction team poured seven of the columns for the porch and the cistern is down to eight feet. As this was the last day of the week we served extra squeeze cheese, summer sausage, and crakers for lunch. At the end of the day it was time to give away our clothes to our friends at the worksite. Returning barefoot to the Landcruiser, we made our way back to College John Wesley for some last minute souvenior shopping before going to the guesthouse to pack for home.

After supper the boys finished assembling the soccer goals and delivered them to the orphanage. How many engineers does it take to make a soccer goal? Too many that's for sure!

Tommorrow 5 team members leave for home, 4 are remaining for a second week and three new members will join for the final week.

In Memory of Gerson Thomas ("Toma")

The Hearts for Haiti Team would like to dedicate this post to our good friend and fellow worker Gerson Thomas ("Toma"), fifth from the right on the back row. Toma was not only a skilled mason but was outgoing, friendly and always trying to help his blanc brothers and sisters learn proper construction techniques. He was patient, kind and always had a smile on his face for his Christian brothers and sisters.

Toma was born March 3, 1976 and died March 13, 2009 and leaves behind a wife, three children and four younger brothers that he supported.

Toma's death is a grim reminder that malaria has resulted in more deaths over time than all other diseases combined. Malaria is still a significant disease in the world today.

Donations in memory of Toma may be made to Hearts for Haiti 7718 North Scepter Road, Bicknell, Indiana 47512. After defraying the cost of the funeral, all donation will go to "Nothing But Nets" which supplies mosquito nets throughout the world to help prevent malaria.

We fondly remember Toma and are assured that he rests peacefully with Christ our Savior and we look forward to being re-united with him one day in the very presence of Jesus Christ.

Thursday we were all back at Gebeau.

The medical team vaccinated 80 children.

The construction team is almost finished with the porch floor. The forms for the columns are beginning to go up and we should pour four of the columns tomorrow.

It started to rain so we knocked off early which allowed David, Debi, and several of the workers to attend the funeral for Toma.

After supper we bagged beans and rice for tomorrow's delivery and built a soccer (futbol) goal for the orphanage.

Tuesday was more of the same.

Wednesday was a different kind of day.

Dr. Bill, Velma, Carla and David accompanied the Mobile Medical Clinic to Despange. The road to Despange is simply spectacular. It makes the road to Chiraque look like a Sunday School picnic. As the crow might fly it is eleven miles and took about 3 that's right three hours.



The medical team saw 40 patients and David evaluated repairs to the Despagne guesthouse. The plan for the future is to have teams stay at the Despange guesthouse and work on projects in the Despange area.

Meanwhile Pi-David, Leroy,and Bob Metz went to school at College John Wesley. Couchenour said it was just like Clark. The kids stood at attention when he walked into the room. In one class the teacher was late for school and the class was quietly studying their lessons without a teacher present. Head Master Couchenour was also impressed with the 54:1 student:teacher ratio.

The construction crew continued work on the porch and the cistern.

Monday it was off to work we go.
Dr. Bill, Carla, and Velma went to the clinic to deliver the meds we brought and to get aquainted with the new local doctors. The Gebeau clinic currently has two full time physicians, one full time dentist and a part time opthamolgist who comes from Port au Prince one week a month.

The construction team continued building the porch and it was more beton (concrete) and more iron (reinforcing rod).

Ted and Darren learned a new skill by tying reinforcing rod, (don't worry Kaleb, Evit says you are still his best student).


David Couchenour, was promptly named Pi-David (small David) not to be confused with Dave Draeger, Gwo-David (BIG David). Pi-David quickly showed us his skills at making friends with all the children (timoun) and by carrying his share of dirt and concrete. Look out Charlotte he may break your record.

Meanwhile Levec Charles and Charles Nisage continue digging the cistern.

Sorry the blog is late. We have had difficulty getting online.

Sunday we went to church.


then to the beach



and then to the orphanage to play with the kids.
David Coucenhour seemed to meet new friends easily.

The orphanage always provides an afternoon of fun. Ted and Darren appear to be having a good time.

Team One returned today with only one small problem. Kaleb had to fly by himself on the Miami to Chicago leg. Being the experienced traveler that he is, he did just fine.

Team Two arrived with only some of their luggage and only some of their members. Ted and Darren got delayed in JFK and had to spend the night in Port au Prince. The team was missing three bags from Ft Lauderdale to Port au Prince and 17 bags from Port au Prince to Jeremie.
After a long day all went to bed for a good night's sleep.
The team is sad to report that Toma died on Saturday. Toma was our mason foreman and was a good friend for several years and a hard worker. He had been battling malaria and has now gone on to greater glory in Christ. Toma was a single dad with four children. We have no details yet on the status of the kids. Keep them all in your prayers.

Last work day!

~As always the week went by too quickly. It seems we just got here and now we must go. We did have a great week and were able to get a lot accomplished. We have the porch completely dug out and have cement in the footers for the columns. The cistern that will be under the porch has been started and when complete will be 4 meters deep. Most of the steel for the columns has been tied, with some of it already in place. Gayle led Devotions for us at lunch today with Peter, a worker from the area, reading the Bible verses in Kreyol.
~At the end of the workday we made a trip to a new beach for a swim. It was on the road that goes past the Jeremie airport near the small village of BonBon. After the beach we went to the orphanage to say our farewells and get and give many hugs from the kids. ~We now turn the mission over to the rest of our team and hope they have as great a time as we did. Everyone would like to thank those who supported us with prayers and money throughout the past year. May God bless each of you and God bless Ayiti.