Demier Trip

Dear Friends,                                                                                                                         

 

This month has been busy and is still very busy as we wind down our New Life Bible School year and prepare to go to the states. Yet, it has been a very rewarding month for us.

On May 1st we had our annual alumni reunion where 80 former students were present. Of those present, 46 are presently pastoring, and 14 others are elders in their churches. We prayed, worshiped, study God's Word and ate together. We also put some strategies in place of how we can better work together in the future. 

 

Also, this month Margaret and I went to one of our country churches. It took 1 hour 45 minute to drive and a 2 1/2 hour to walk one way. New Life Church of Demier, is way in the mountains at the source of a river. It had been 10 years since Margaret had been there because of the grueling walk over steep and rocky trails. Going in we crossed (forded) a river 13 times. Another reason it had been so long since Margaret visited this church is because every time she went the horse threw her off whenever she neared the end of her ride. It is for this reason that Margaret followed a 4 month exercise program to prepare herself to walk the whole way. It had been 2 years since I visited this church and the first time I walked the whole way. 

 

Of course the people were excited about our coming and treated us like royalty when we arrived. We found the church thriving and a great group of people. We are so proud of the work that Pastor Neslon Espere is doing in this remote area.

Yet, we were very saddened to see that the church parsonage that we have been renting is in total disrepair and the owners are wanting to tear it down. It is termite infested and the roof leaks like a sieve. Every time it rains, the pastor gets wet. There is no other place to rent in this village, so we need to build a church parsonage for the pastor and his family. We have a place on the church property where we can build one. We have calculated the cost to build a one room house will be $4500 if it is built by a work team. It would be considerably less than this if it was not for the transportation cost to get the material into the village. We have to pay people to bring all the material to the village on their heads or on mules.

 

Pray and ask God if he would have you give towards this small church parsonage. Also, we are asking for some church to send a team to build this home. It can be built in 2 days with four skilled workers. The concrete base (slab) will have been poured and all materials will be on sight when group arrives. The 2 days does not include the 2 days of travel to get into and out of the village.

Progress on Construction Work

As we think back about the group that came last month from the "House of Praise for all People" in Delaware and others who joined them from New York, we rejoice in their great accomplishment. They taught 11 students for 3 days on introductory principles in business, concrete mixing/pouring, concrete forming, making steel cages, and welding. Then they took the students out to the work site for hands on experience in each of these areas. Seven students together with 12 team members were able to form and pour to columns & 3 beams in five days which was quite a feat.

Also, we rejoice in the fact that the local church which we have been rebuilding since the earthquake gave more than half of the money for this project. If it wasn't for their contribution together with the team's contribution, this work would not have been done.

Our New Life Mission Croix des Mission church is one step closer in getting a balcony. We still don't have all the trusses and roof on the church but for various reasons we need to finish the balcony first. We are now in the stages of planning a November team to continue working on the balcony for the church. We can't move forward on the roof until this is done. We are asking each of our supporting churches to send at least one person down on this team. Contact us if you are wanting to do this and we will give you more information.

 

We rejoice in the fact that we recently have been able to purchase some land behind our present location for expansion of the ministry. We have been praying in this property for over 18 years. This is a great victory and blessing. We also rejoice in the fact that God enabled us to buy a new photocopier to replace the old one that died on us.

We are beginning to wind down the school year and gearing up for the New Life Bible College graduation on May 30th. We should have around 15 men and women who will graduate this year.

Also, we are looking forward to coming to the States this summer. Our 2 month visitation/vacation schedule is almost complete and we've purchased our tickets for June 2nd. We are looking forward to seeing family and friends.

Please be praying for:

1) Our students as they haven't all finished paying their school bills.

2) Our students as they will be taking their final exams from May 16th to 23rd.

3) Finances as we have fallen short on some of our ministry expenses.

4) Margaret and I as we have much to do before leaving for the States.