Ebenezer Glenn Orphanage

November 2012

PRAISE BE TO GOD from whom all blessings flow. First of all, we are so grateful to our Lord and Savior for supplying all our needs—spiritual, physical and financial. Just as He said in the beginning, He would NEVER LEAVE NOR FORSAKE US, always sending the answer at the last moment to prove that it is God Almighty that is our Provider! Psalm 50:15 says “Call upon me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you and you will honor me.” This we have done. HE IS FAITHFUL!!

It has been a while since our return to Haiti the end of July. Yet with so many things going on, it seems only yesterday.

Elizabeth McCormick (nurse from Iowa) has been such a joy, has picked up Creole quickly, and while Talante is on her maternity leave (this being her 3^rd girl!), Elizabeth has been taking care of the clinic PLUS all the scrapes, suturing, and giving out meds at the orphanage! Then, she has this green thumb…planting everything she can get her hands on, including Meringa trees. With proper care, cooked or dried, it is full of vitamins and, when given to malnourished children, makes a drastic difference. She had one of the boys help her milk the goats and now every morning the children have milk to drink. Duckenson, just returning from Agricultural school, was a big help to her also.

Ken and Marla Drowley, from Michigan, and their 2 children, Samantha and Max, came the middle of August to work alongside of us. Yes, there have been some adjustments, but God is faithful. We are truly blessed. They have certainly been an inspiration to us with their willingness to work and help lift the load here at the Mission.

Ken considered raising chickens, so went about cleaning and repairing the old cages that Dad had made years ago. Ruben remembers that when he was 10 years of age, it was his job to feed, water the chickens and clean out the hen house, up until he left to attend school in Port-au-Prince. Friends of Ken sent aid from the States to purchase them, and they are already laying enough eggs that the children can eat them twice a week! The tractor parts are here and he is installing them now, along with all the other projects he has going on.

By the way, after two years, it looks like our cow is going to freshen soon. We’re hoping it will be a heifer—praying and believing!

There have been many changes in Social Affairs (IBERS) with the influence of UNICEF. Ruben went to pay our fees for another year and they refused until we fulfilled all the new requirements—lots of paperwork. Marla, in all her expertise and long hours of work, helped Ruben. They made our reports, looking through many pictures over the last couple of years of all the outings EGO has had for the children, birthdays, special occasions, etc. Ruben was up most of the night translating everything into French, then leaving on the early bus to present them to Social Affairs. The container came the same day, full of Manna Packs and Solar Cookers. This is such a tremendous help, not only in feeding the children here, but also those that are hungry outside the orphanage. (Thanks, Lowell Yoder.) We will show our staff how to use the cookers and they will all receive one for Christmas. We are blessed!

In September, Rachelle was married to a man named Immanuel. They had planned for an October wedding, but decided to move it up, as school would be starting then. They are very happy and he is certainly a help-mate for her. Well, not only is he a great husband, but a great help to us also and interprets for the Mission. (pictures in previous Oct. 12 post)

The school started well, but many could not pay and were sent home, much to Rachelle’s disappointment. When they leave, they seldom return. Since we are already at a deficit in paying the teachers, this presents more difficulties! Ours is the only school in the area that had 100% pass the government testing at years end, thanks to the excellent teaching staff. This will help the children complete their education sooner and be better prepared to function as an adult, contributing to society. Please pray with us that the school will flourish and children will continue passing and graduating on time.

On October 31^st, Ruben and Tchweebee had a baby boy, Mitch D Ruben Lee Alphonse, 6.5 lbs—he is going to be a big boy! We are grandma and grandpa again.

Chris and Beth Cooley came in with a team in early November, including Pastor Alex and Marcie. They held special meetings in the Tabernacle and worked especially with the youth. The whole team was such a blessing. They built the stone foundation for the girls’ bathhouse, poured the cement floor and put in all the plumbing. Also the hole for the septic tank was dug—another recommendation from Social Affairs. The bathrooms for the boys’ and baby dorms have yet to be built. The security place also needs finishing. The first of the year a team from Michigan will come to finish installing the roof on the last wing of the school. Praise God for all the help! Many projects yet to go—He is Faithful!

Just a word about Pastor John. He came as a baby and grew up here and graduated from seminary. He is now 26. We are really blessed to have him working alongside of Pastor Milo. While John was still in Port au Prince after the earthquake, he walked all over the city preaching the Word, and hundreds came to know Jesus as Savior. “He was born to serve.” Every morning except Sundays, at 4:00 am, he has a prayer meeting in the Tabernacle, every word under the power of the Holy Spirit. We listen from our home, so we can bear witness to the presence of the Spirit, as many times we have received a word or a song from the Lord through him, and it is so inspiring to us. Everyone who attends and many of those who stop by, going to the spring to wash clothes or to their gardens to work, are also encouraged and receive strength. We are Blessed!

December 2012-- Please forgive the delay in sending out the above. There have been a couple of changes/additions to report in the days since!

The tractor is up and running. Thanks to Ken. The garden is plowed and planted and now he is fixing up the sprinkler system. Praise the Lord!

We received word from Ruben that IBERS has accepted the new documents that Marla and Ruben worked so hard on.

Ruth’s wedding date has been changed to Dec. 21^st. Her husband-to-be was unable to leave France in time for the earlier planned date.

The end of November, Don became ill with a high temp and chills, his body shaking for an hour. Having lived in Haiti a long time, we recognized the symptoms could be malaria (and that makes whatever other illness you may have much worse!) so gave him Chloroquine and other meds to bring his temp down. Elizabeth (our private nurse!) and I diagnosed it as pneumonia while still in Haiti. She gave him IV’s and ran to the hospital to buy meds. The second night she volunteered to come stay all night and help with him. We finally decided to call MFI to see if they still had the ambulance airplane they had flown me out on a few years ago when I had the ruptured appendix. While talking to Dick Snook, the president of Missionary Flights Int’l, he informed us that it was broken down but if we could wait until Tuesday, we could drive to Cap Haitian and he would have oxygen on board for Don. So Sunday night, we began to pack. Marla and Sam prepared us a “goodies” lunch for the plane. We asked Jacquelin if he would be able to drive us there and bring the car back. He could and we were thankful, as the roads in some places were almost impassable. Elizabeth wasn’t going to let her patient go without her! What a help and encouragement, giving meds and IVs and even insisting on staying all night in Cap Haitian when her plans were to return the same day. She is a gem and we all just love her. Thanks, Elizabeth, for being so kind. When we arrived in Cap Haitian, Dick Snook had called ahead and arranged for a doctor to meet us and we were able to get Don on oxygen right away. Thank God for wonderful friends!

Now, days after writing the above, I have excellent news. Don was discharged from the hospital, weak but looking and feeling better. The initial consult in the ER, after blood work, x-rays and MRI, was for congestive heart failure with possible secondary pneumonia, but “then there’s God!” The final diagnosis was that there was no congestive heart failure, but “community-acquired” pneumonia. He’s still coughing but can breathe better and is on the mend. We all know it was a miracle. Thank you for all of your prayers and concerns. We love you so much. God has truly blessed us with some wonderful praying family and friends. God Bless all of you.

We miss Haiti and our children along with all of those there that we love, but for now, God has us where He wants us and we will be content, bathing in His Presence and seeking His Face.

Have a Blessed Christmas with Jesus.

Don and Doris Peavey.

Editor’s Note—If you know someone who receives a printed newsletter or may not be on our mailing list at all, please send us their email address. This would help save on printing and postage costs, as well as giving more people the opportunity to hear about EGO. Please send your requests by email to ego2haiti@gmail.com. (Note that this is a new email address). If you are able to help with any of the projects mentioned, or the school expenses, donations may be sent to our home-office at 1726 Gun Club Rd, Caro MI 48723, and phone contact number is 616-550-3469. Thank you!