20Nov11
Eerie start to the day today.
I was sitting on the porch at HAF-Jacmel, where I have sat many times before, eating breakfast.
However, today it was just me. The 67 kids plus all the staff all moved out yesterday pending security improvements.
They were robbed on Friday night, so they are in a safer place for now.
I ended up here after I came down in the last shuttle van. It broke down on us.
We were able to get the kids moved out, but Cameron and I are still here.
Was a peaceful, but eerie night last night.
Spent today out at Dr. Ken’s place in Cayes-Jacmel with some new friends from Croix de Bouquets.
After they left, we ended up having church with Dave Byrd, Kyle Almgren, Nick Mangine, Sarah (? don’t know her last name), Dr. Ken, Cameron, Patrick, and another haitian whose name I can’t remember.
It was a great time of fellowship. Obviously, talk centered around robberies most of the night, but we also had some good discussions about many different aspects of life.
One was that we all need to “count the cost” and that for many, coming to haiti did not involve that as much as going to other places that are considered “more dangerous.”
I’m not saying we didn’t see this, but most of us laugh that the State Department has a travel warning permanently in place advising US Citizens against traveling to Haiti.
We see life as safe here, and in reality, it is not.
When I started coming longer term to Haiti, last January, I was thinking about it.
I made a list of who should get my guitars if I don’t make it home.
Yeah, it’s the important stuff. Really, it’s all I’ve got that anyone would want.
But Haiti has been so comfortable, many of us forget about the dangers, or let our guard down.
Now we have been reminded.
I’m sorry to tell Satan though, now that we are reminded, we are strengthened in our faith. Those that choose to continue have now counted the cost all over again.
We are here, ready for what my come, for the purpose of showing the love of Christ to all around.
Romans 8:31-38
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.â€[j]
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Take Courage.
Pray for us, but know that we are standign firm in the faith He has given us, through the love, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
In other news:
-I need information on the following:
–GED Math test requirements. I have a haitian here studying for his GED that has asked for help.
–PC-based programs to install in case a laptop gets stolen. Either for location tracking, or internet usage monitoring. Either would be helpful to the police.
—I already know the MAC equivalent.
-Kwegslist is progressing. It is now in a testing phase. I am pretty excited about it. 🙂
-I have ideas for a house, still need to talk about procuring land.
-I have ideas to test for inverter designs, improvements to solar panel systems, and other ideas.
-I am looking back into Tasers, guns, or other safety systems (paintball sentry gun?). I have no idea where this will lead, but I am investigating ideas.
–Just had an idea. Is there something like a pepper spray “Grenade” that we could rig up outside a locked door?
–We’ve got the issue of crooks coming in groups, so tasers seem less effective.
–Are tear gas canisters/launchers available, or only for police/military?
Ok, that’s about it for tonight…God Bless.
