Have you experienced real thirst this summer? Your throat so dry and so parched you dreamed of a long, cool drink of water? That’s how everyday life is for so many Haitians… and their gardens too. During the past 15 or so years, most areas of Haiti have been undergoing “desertification,” becoming like a desert… dry, dusty, and without reliable rainfall. The massive deforestation all over Haiti is causing this change from a once lush tropical area to a dry, harsh area. It is hard to garden in those circumstances.
However, at our Agricultural Training Center (ATC), Wilner demonstrates and teaches sustainable methods of irrigating gardens and choosing certain drought-tolerant plants so families can have productive gardens, even in desert-like conditions. We stress the use of deep, heavy mulches to keep soil temperatures lower and preserve moisture in the ground and to better permit any rain that does fall to penetrate deeper into the soil, rather than running off the otherwise sunbaked soil. These irrigation methods, like using drip systems or setting recycled jugs into the earth near the plants and adding water to those, get the water specifically towards the roots. Some areas of Haiti that have available groundwater use a system of small canals and troughs to run water near their plants. However, this requires an abundance of running water and without the protection from heavy mulch, even the trough water will evaporate. These sustainable methods are all adapted from a course on gardening called “Gardening God’s Way.” It turns out that God is really the original sustainable gardener.
“For this thing is too heavy for thee; thou are not able to perform it thyself alone.” Exodus 18:18 — Sometimes, we take on a load that is too heavy for us to carry by ourselves. We think we are “Superman” and we think we can do it by ourselves. But, this is wrong. The Lord wants us to give Him our heavy load. I remember once when we were walking for miles in the heat of the sun in Haiti. We had to walk over mountains because our vehicles could not make it. We all had heavy loads to carry. I thought I was going to “fall beneath my heavy load.” All of a sudden, a Haitian Christian from our mountain church came behind me and grabbed my heavy load. He put it up on his shoulders and took off, running up the mountain! I can’t tell you how I felt, with that “heavy load gone!” Jesus said, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 — Give it all to Jesus!! Sherry
Thank you for reading Sherry’s 6:00 p.m. posts about the Love A Child children. She loves doing these posts because she loves the children. Bobby and Sherry will be in Africa from July 13th through July 25th. When they return to Haiti, they will resume the 6:00 p.m. post. Please check back then!
Hungry kids turn into happy kids when they are fed, and their little bellies are full. We have been feeding hundreds of beautiful children here in south Haiti thanks to your generosity. The need is great, but together, we are blessing so many!
Kim and I are here right now, but we will travel back to the Love A Child compound in Fond Parisien. The hunger will return, the feeding programs will carry on, and the need for your partnership is crucial. Thank you for your continued support. These children are grateful!
“When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks and in high places and in pits.” 1 Samuel 13:6 — This is what the army of the Israelites did when they faced their enemy… sin and disobedience had made them afraid. But look what little David did when he saw Goliath.
“And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.” 1 Samuel 17:48 — When you are facing an enemy (a neighbor, a sickness, anything), you cannot hide in the thickets and in the caves… but you must “run to meet your giant,” and face him! God is on your side and “He is a giant killer!!!” Have a great and victorious day! Sherry
Thank you for reading Sherry’s 6:00 p.m. posts about the Love A Child children. She loves doing these posts because she loves the children. Bobby and Sherry will be in Africa from July 13th through July 25th. When they return to Haiti, they will resume the 6:00 p.m. post. Please check back then!
Imagine what it was like when God brought all the animals to Adam to name them all!!! What a job! We are at the Kifaru House Conservancy in Africa. We landed today at 11:20 a.m. via a small plane and we went on a 4:00 p.m. safari tour… we saw many animals!!!
Here is the list of the animals we saw: a leopard, lion, jackals, buffalo, gazelles, waterbuck, black rhinos, white rhinos, warthogs, grey zebras, plain zebras, African elephants, monkeys, baboons, and giraffe (the giraffe was actually eating from the trees in front of our room!)
This place has an outside “shower” and we were warned by one of the workers, to be careful of the monkeys! They come in through the hole (window), while you are taking a shower! Ha! We love beautiful Africa but our hearts are in Haiti!
In the midst of the excitement of dedicating a new Gabion house here in South Haiti, we noticed a man braiding a new rope for his donkey. The cord was strong. It looked like something we would buy in the states. Though the process is tedious, the weave is tight and it is obvious this rope is going to do the trick when it is finished.
It is made from the separated fibers of a palm tree. The crazy thing is, each strand is actually pretty weak. With little effort, you can break one. But twisted and braided together, it will withstand even the strongest pull of a huge horse or donkey!
The Bible says we are like these fibers. When we partner together, we become an impressively strong “rope”. We can accomplish a great deal of work and are not easily broken! Love A Child needs you! We are powerful when we all are “braided” together.
If you are a partner intertwined with us, we thank you! Stay tight! If you have not yet joined us, we need you! Together we are stronger.
“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12
“Lord, Not the Dirty River… I’ll Find a Clean One.”
In 2 Kings 5:2-14 the story is told of Naaman, captain of the host of the King of Syria. He was a “mighty man” of valor, but he was a leper. One of the little servant girls, who took care of Naaman’s wife told her about a Prophet of God who could heal his leprosy. Naaman went to see Elisha, and Elisha sent a messenger to tell him to “dip seven times in the river Jordan,” and he would be healed! But, Naaman was full of pride and anger and he said, “Why can’t I dip seven times in a clean river?” He did not want to dip in the dirty Jordan, but someone convinced him to do it and on the seventh time down, he came up clean and healed!!! Sometimes, the Lord will tell us to do something that may not make sense; He is looking for complete obedience, but it might just be a “dip in the dirty river,” instead of a clean one…but do it! Your blessing is in obedience! Have a great day! Bobby & Sherry
Thank you for reading Sherry’s 6:00 p.m. posts about the Love A Child children. She loves doing these posts because she loves the children. Bobby and Sherry will be in Africa from July 13th through July 25th. When they return to Haiti, they will resume the 6:00 p.m. post. Please check back then!
