Hey guys! So I’ll give you all an update of what I’ve been doing since our trip to Cap Haitien. I spent a few days helping with an orphanage we are partnering with just about a mile up the road from the Haitian Queen.  With no machinary, we had to level the ground and dig the footers the old fashion way.  Thankfully, I was only on this project about 2 days because it is HARD work!  The orphanage is called Shepherd's House and will also be a future school.  Here are some before and after photos of the land. 

I've also been doing work and overseeing some of the volunteers with continuous projects here at the Haitian Queen.  The 2nd floor of our home was destroyed in the earthquake so a lot of work has been put into completely re-doing it.  A few of the projects involved securing the tin roof, fastening the solar panels, hanging wire mesh on the exterior walls for added support, constructing forms to pour the concrete floor, framing out doors amongst the concrete walls, and fastening the conduit as well as the electrical outlets and switch boxes to the walls.  The 2nd floor will act as the living quarters for staff in the years to come Lord willing. 

For the past 4 days we have been constructing what they call, "transitional shelters" in a village just a couple minute drive down the road.  One of our staff members made a connection with Samaritan's Purse where they are giving us basically as many transitional shelters as we can construct up to a 1,000.  Samaritan's Purse has a staging ground near our home where they are mass producing these 12'x12' shelters.  They come somewhat pre-fabricated with 4 walls, tin to construct the roof, platforms to construct beds and shelves, a gutter with a rain barrel, and a tarp for the sides of the walls.  These shelters are designed to last approximately 3-5 years until the families are able to get back into their homes.  And, they are definitely an upgrade to their current conditions.  However, I wouldn't be surprised if they become more like 20 year housing options with the present conditions.  The families have to go through an applicaion process and also have to clear a "level" spot of land for the shelter.  Along with the help of the Haitians in the community, we have put up about 12 of these homes thus far. 

The whole process has been one of the highlights of my trip.  It has been so fun going into the same village everyday and as we pull up hear a bunch of the little kids calling out "Jon" with their Creole accents.  I look forward to seeing their beautiful smiles each day and made a bunch of little friends.  I'm really gonna miss these little guys when I leave.  Daily they have been teaching me a little Creole as we point to different things and they say it in Creole and I say it in English:)  These little girls are 2 of my favorites!

I love her, she was always trying to hold my hand whenever I was down on the ground.

As we finish a house, we have the family sign the application, and then we pray with them and for them with the help of our interpreter.  This has been a neat process as I pray that you too will pray for these families that they will know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and will be a blessing to one another and their community.  It also has been a humbling experience as one of these families I prayed with will have 8 people living in this 12'x12' "home" which is smaller than my bedroom in Pennsylvania.  Makes you count your blessings.