February Updates

Hi everyone

Just want to share a couple of developing items:

Agriculture/Nutrition:   waiting for a final report from Heifer Intl about their site visit to Pestel.  The emails I've received from different people seem very positive!!

Water:   lots developing in this area.  A key component of our next trip (in early March) will be to scout out water sources and start to develop a strategy to provide clean, safe water to different areas of Pestel.  I've connected up with another group that has similar interests for Pestel.   This is likely to develop along a series of potential solutions (as opposed to a single solution).  

Health:  thanks to all the volunteers who are inputting data!!!  We're going to get more data soon.  We're also going to try having the workers collect data on cell phones in March.  That could eliminate the need to do data entry, and expedite our ability to analyze the data.  

We'll be running the Vitamin A/Albendazole campaign in March/April.  Then in late May I'll return to train them on some new material, including an Anemia Campaign to be piloted on the island.  If anyone is interested in helping with the May trip just let me know.  

Administration:   we're in prayer at this point about discerning issues related to administration of this effort.  I'll keep you informed.   In the meantime I'm VERY grateful to learn that two friends will be helping me by off-loading some of the administrative work!  

Finally, consider how these two very different scriptures might connect together [thanks to Paul Nisly for this]:

From Isaiah 58

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:

to loose the chains of injustice

and untie the cords of the yoke,

to set the oppressed free

and break every yoke?

7Is it not to share your food with the hungry

and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—

when you see the naked, to clothe him,

and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

8Then your light will break forth like the dawn,

and your healing will quickly appear;

then your righteousness^a will go before you,

and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

9Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;

you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

"If you do away with the yoke of oppression,

with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

10and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry

and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,

then your light will rise in the darkness,

and your night will become like the noonday.

11The LORD will guide you always;

he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land

and will strengthen your frame.

You will be like a well-watered garden,

like a spring whose waters never fail.

12Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins

and will raise up the age-old foundations;

you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,

Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

AND Psalm 127

Unless the LORD builds the house,

its builders labor in vain.

Unless the LORD watches over the city,

the watchmen stand guard in vain.

2In vain you rise early

and stay up late,

toiling for food to eat—

for he grants sleep to^a those he loves.

  

  

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Haiti Blog
http://haitimedical.blogspot.com/