StephenByxbe.com

Beautiful beautiful beautiful… today was great! The sky is so clear during the day! I slept well again last night… cant say too much about everyone else, but I was gone. Woke up nice and early ready for breakfast. The ability to have cold milk and cereal makes everything 100x better. Coffee and Cereal… it makes life go on.

After breakfast, Nathan wasnt feeling well so he took a nap (this was a well deserved, mid-morning nap) he had be up for 3 hours already. I joined in on the nap time for a little while, but then got up and took care of some business with Bill Glass and Linda Bates over email (I was also on facebook- I was multitasking, so dont think I was slacking ) After lunch we were able to take our first walk around town. We were accompanied by our translator, Byambison, and Leon’s Daughter, Naedege. We walked through Blanchard to the market and looked around. We then walked to Cite Soleil, which is about 2 miles away. We went to the market in Cite Soleil and picked up some grapefruits, carrots and some crackers. The markets were very busy and VERY dirty. There were flies all over the place. I told you before that Cite Soleil was built on a trash dump – well today we experienced that. There was a drainage ditch that runs through town that smelled awful. This is right by the market where you buy all of your food. Nastiness.. I dont know if that is a word, but I just used it.

On the positive side – the walk was great. We were able to get out and move around for once and see the town. We also got the see the houses up close. They are so small.. it makes me really appreciate my home in the US. Lots of homes dont even have all the walls or a roof. Some just have a sheet strung up and they just sit under it on the ground. It is very sad. However, it is fun to walk around because we stand out “just a little.” All the kids like to wave at us and the all scream out “Ay you… Ay you” and most of the time they ask for things like money and chocolate. Im not sure why they ask for chocolate – seeing how hot it is it would just be mush. We dont like to respond to the kids that say “Ay you” because it is very rude… we try to get them to greet people with “Bonjou or Bonswa” so we can talk back with them. maybe one day it will work..

Today was a very relaxed day. We made it to Cite Soleil and visited the Med Team. We scouted out some work that needed to be taken care of and talked with Pastor Profaite. We also ran to the store and got Haitian Coffee for the team.

Not much else to say about today other than God created a beautiful world. Even in the midst of chaos and destruction – it is beautiful down here. The mountains frame in every view and it is simply gorgeous.

Great news.. the current running water got fixed today so we can have a real shower now and flush the toilet!!!!

After my shower I realized I got some good sun today.. so my tan is on the way and like the title of the blog! Sunshine it is….. forever!

God is great… and I pray that He will continue to draw me closer to Him everyday and realize my purpose for being down here.

Keep me and Nathan in your prayers,

Always with love.

Stephen

It is truly amazing what is happening. I believe through mine and nathan’s blogs you will probably catch all excitement and other emotions. We both tend to leave out some things and not others but collectively we cover a lot.

Today – to me – was great. This blog will probably end up being a little long so bare with me.

Let me first give my setting of where I am typing my blog. I am sitting on the roof of the tallest building in Blanchard, staring at the mountains in the distance. I can see lights all up the mountain however the is no power around me for miles. I can hear military vehicles working on one of the many bases, people singing, talking, and the rustle of palm leaves. This is simple amazing. God has a wonderful way of making you feel and know that you are where He wants you to be.

People have constantly asked me if I knew for sure that I was supposed to go to Haiti… and sitting here tonight – seeing all of the stars in the sky – I know, for sure, that I am where I am supposed to be. I thank God for consistently pulling me closer and closer so that I would pick up on His will for me. God is Great!
Anyways, on with today. Today started out great. I woke up early to go try to talk with the cooks… failed attempt once again. I tried to ask for a thermas of hott water. However, it came across as “Yes, hott water is used to make coffee.” I did not want to say “No” because then I felt that we would not receive the coffee.. O well… no hot water. Good news though -  I finally communicated that they should not peel any fruit or foods that have a shell or need to be peeled. Just a cleanliness thing.. so that was great. But now that I think of it, they didn’t give us anymore eggs! I am working on my creole.. but as you can tell it is slow progress.
After breakfast we shipped the Med team off and we got to work. Nathan worked on a Promo video for HOM and Pastor Leon and I began screening in the women’s dorm. It is very hot working inside down here as air flow is limited, but outside today was beautiful. Clear open skies, no humidity and a bright shining sun! It was amazing.. we wanted to go to the beach – but we didnt so dont worry

Throughout the day we worked with our translator (Byambison) learning new phrases and finishing the screens. Nathan also finished the video which looks amazing. (check his blog out – harvestforhaiti.com for our latest Video Blog) We finally got the screens finished after lunch and we were able to clean up and start on some work in the men’s dorm. Our main focus has been on the women’s since we have a large group of women coming soon.

Around 4:30 the med team arrived back at the compound. They had gone around downtown port au prince and saw a lot of the destruction. They also had a pretty intense day at the clinic seeing over 150 patients each day. So when they got back to the compound you could see it on their faces. I could not be doing what they are doing – treating people who live in such poverty, that don’t need medicine as much as they need food. It is heartbreaking.  They have a debriefing each day to discuss what happened and go over some of the tough cases – which is important. It is amazing to see the work that they are doing and how much it is appreciated by the community.

We also met with Pastor Leon today and discuss some important issues about large teams coming down – so now we have everything under control!!! It will be amazing to see how everything works out over the next year. God is doing to some great things.

Tonight when everyone got back, we insisted on showers and relaxation. We got everyone on the roof to enjoy the view of the mountains and sit in the breeze. For a moment on the roof you can almost escape. You cannot see any destruction and all the noise is almost drowned out by the wind and the palm trees. Life is so simple here… and I love it.

Nathan and I are having a blast. Bill told us that we would be having a lot of rice and beans – and we are – but WE LOVE IT!!! the food is great and once again the people are amazing. There is so much to learn, I am glad I have at least a year to absorb all of it.

I hope everyone reading this is enjoying it. Hopefully you can connect with what is going on down here in Haiti. Sorry for how long this blog is but I want to give you as much info as I can. I really look forward to seeing some of you when you come on mission trips down to Haiti and stay at what we now call the “Blanchard Resort!”

Progress report on the bathrooms: they should be finished by the beginning of next week!! I cant wait!

Progress report on the power: I think we have it figured out.. it has been running backwards so tomorrow we will straighten it out. Generator should run at night not during the day!! Solar during the day not at night.

Great things are to come. Keep praying.. and remember the people of Haiti.

If you feel led to contribute towards this trip please contact me: stephen@stephenbyxbe.com

Shout out for the day: Everyone who gave us Tuna (Melanie, Laura, Lauren hopefully I am not forgetting anyone) … It is GREAT.. please send more!

Mom – Dad… send gatorade.. and tuna…

Thank you for your consistent support and love… We can definitely feel it here!

Always with Love,
Stephen

O yeah.. i spoke too soon on the power.. 10:45 – just lost it… looks like the blog will go up in the morning.