January 30, 2013
Heading back to Haiti today for another 6 weeks. It was great seeing everyone during my visit home. Please keep praying for me and I will pray for you as well. Send messages when you think of me. I am encouraged when I get notes from friends back home. God's richest blessings to each of you!
02-07-2013 Good day in Haiti. One marriage proposal and one life given to The Lord.
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| NewDay team February 11-18, 2013 Francin's Wedding |
We had an awesome trip with NewDay Church - the first week we were in Haiti was incredible. We saw blind eyes healed, deaf ears opened, pains healed, limbs restored. Our medical clinics ministered to nearly 1,000 people. We were able to visit the local hospital, providing them with supplies and talking/praying with their paitients for hours. We were able to encourage and be encouraged by the local churches in Hinche, Haiti - we learned a lot from one another and grew many friendships. Thank you Jesus for the opportunity to bless and be blessed by so many new brothers and sisters! May your loving reign increase, on earth as it is in Heaven. 
:)
3-1-13 Mountains of Pay Pauri
Hot shower!! Host family heated water for me last night and I enjoyed my first hot shower in a month. It's cold here in the mountains of Haiti, but still not as cold as Minnesota.
My time here is flying by, and I will be back home in two weeks with lots of stories to share. I will be preaching on Sunday and showing the Jesus film Sunday night. As far as I know, the first time for the mountains. Another first in the mountains...We made bread in the oven my team built the last time we were here. It tasted wonderful-almost as good as my grandmother used to make. It was hard eating something other than rice and beans but sometimes i have to make sacrifices. :)
As I see the needs here in this country, it makes me appreciate even more the way The Lord has blessed me. I thank God for each one of you and I pray for you all often. I thank him for the little things, like the hummingbird gathering nectar in the tree next to me, water that appears with a turn of a faucet that didn't have to be transported for miles on top of someones head. For smooth roads, even if they have a few pot holes. I live in a world of want, not need. The Lord is showing me a new perspective. A life built around relationships and helping others even when you don't have enough to help yourself. A life of happiness that doesn't come from things! A life of serving Him who created all things, who loves all people and desires to be in relationship with each one of us. God is so good and so patient. May this God be the King in your life. The ruler over all areas and may you bless others as He has blessed you.
Love from Haiti!
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4-7-13 What a beautiful morning! Mary Anderson's commissioning, at New Day Church in New Prague, as a missionary to Haiti.
4-25-2013 Look out Haiti!! Ministry time will be much easier with this beast! I might look confident while parked, but it will take a lot of training and prayers to get me to drive here. I can only imagine the stares I would get. A blan (white) women driver??
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05-07-2013
In Port au Prince for a Recho Tibwa (rocket stove) conference. After chasing 2 chicks out of my hotel room, I stepped into my first western style bathroom since my arrival back to Haiti. Only to find the shower didn't work and the drain didn't drain. The toilet eventually flushed,which was a good thing! As my not so favorite saying goes 'that's Haitian culture'.
Excited for the conference to learn about new stove molds designs and to see what is working for other people building the stoves.
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| Katie Kasten visit. July 2013 |
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| My sweet little friends at the Orphanage |
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6-1-2013 Cleaning in the kitchen of my Haitian home! Can't wait to move in. Maybe another day or two. I must say that I am looking...Bon! Who's going to come and visit?
August 8, 2013 Hi all! Greetings from Haiti! So much has happened since I returned to Haiti in mid July and here is a little recap.
The photo is some of my kids at the orphanage that I visit frequently. They are so fun and always happy to see me!!
My friend Katie spent two weeks ministering with me in haiti. We had a wonderful time together and it was so nice having a female to talk to and understand American jokes and sayings. We ministered in the hospitals and Katie's heart broke for one 4 year old disabled and blind girl who lives in the hospital because no one wants her. She would break out into laughter when we would speak to her and touch her. I don't think anyone ever touches her or speaks to her. We prayed for healing for her physical needs and blindness and Katie was very disappointed that God didn't immediately heal her. I am still believing!!
We also ministered in the streets and had opportunities to witness to unbelievers. Seeds were planted. The time went way too quickly and repairs on the truck I recently purchased keep us home for more days than planned. But this gave me an opportunity to witness to Katie and we did some informal soza, which Katie said was her favorite part of the trip.
We also had some trials as Katie's money was stolen along with my cell phone (that would be my third phone that was stolen) right from my house. We had 4 men helping with cooking and body guarding and Johnson fired all of them as they were the only ones with access to the house. Two of them he has re-hired as they were with him when the 'crime' happened. I never cease to be amazed at the dishonesty here. And these were people that we trusted.
I preached at a new church on Sunday. Met the pastor/lawyer/judge at the courthouse and he invited me to his church. God is opening new doors and I am thankful! Also met 15 year old twins that speak English and have been a welcome addition to my friends. They want to become priests and have lots of connections in town as their father is a lawyer. Even in Haiti it's about who you know!!
So, a few days ago, I went to jail! Now that I have your attention, I went to minister, not as a punishment. This was quite an adventure. First, we had to go to the courts and have a judge issue a letter of admittance. This took more than 2 hours, but we got it. The only question he asked me is what I was going to bring them. I guess you can't visit unless you bring them something. I was hoping to go weekly, so to bring 'something' for 300 people might be cost prohibitive for me. This time I brought 100 bars of soap thinking that would be enough. Well I was wrong and the guards were upset that I didn't bring enough for everyone. I had to promise that I would bring more next time.
It was an experience! The jail had a big open courtyard and then cells positioned around the courtyard. It sounds beautiful but it was anything but! The cell were different sizes and held anywhere from 11-40 men. The smallest cell that held 11 'timouns' (kids around 14-17 years) was maybe 10x10. It had one sleeping mat on the floor. One large food pot with flour-like paste residue stuck to the sides. A few personal items were stuffed in plastic sacks and hanging from nails in the wall. That was it! No beds, no toilets, no sheets, just body to body people.
The cells were made of cement and had no windows, the only light or air coming from the barred door. Two or three fortunate men were sitting on buckets ( I assumed their toilets) next to the barred door. This gave them fresh air to breath. I had to hold my breath more than a few times so I wouldn't gag. The cells were hot, smelly, overcrowded, and filled with hopelessness.
One cell 10x25 held 40 men. When they were standing, it was almost shoulder to shoulder. There is no way even a few of them could have laid down and slept. I was told the men didn't sleep in prison, and now I know why. They can't lay down!
There was no TVs, no exercise room, no privileges. They were thrilled to receive a little bar of soap!
I shared Jeremiah 29:11 with them. About Gods plan to prosper them and not to harm them, for hope and a future. I had to go to each cell individually to preach. And was warmly welcomed. I then prayed for each cell. It was a special time and you could feel the atmosphere change. I am excited to see what God will do as I continue to minister there. You can pray that finances would come in so I can continue to visit and bring food or soap for 300 people. The soap alone would cost $70 a visit.
So today, the stove project kicks off. My trainer has been hired by a local organization, MPP, to train 50 men to build stoves over the next month. This is a great business opportunity for him and he is hoping to build 50 stoves in the next 25 days. This is a big commitment! The piece that is missing is that the men being trained will have no way to make their own stoves or businesses unless they get a stove kit. We are researching how we can have kits manufactured here.
It is my understanding that the stoves will be given away by MPP to needy families. This might be counterproductive to our desire to start micro business but I think it is also a great way to promote the stoves and get them into use. I have asked my trainer to obtain permission for us to visit the homes of people receiving the stoves, so we can track usage and help trouble shoot problems.
Also, I had a surprise visitor yesterday. One of Johnson's friends stopped in with his American girlfriend, and asked to spend the night. This meant I got to spend a whole day visiting with a lady!! It was wonderful! God knew that is just what I needed.
So lots of excitement happening here. So please pray for success in stove project, for business development plans to fall into place. For the jail ministry-for open hearts and that they can receive the Lords love. And for increased finances to continue with ministry opportunities. For continued protection of myself, Johnson and anyone helping us. Johnson is under attack because he is helping an American, and is honestly fearful for his life. This is a real concern. In Haiti people don't like when other people have success and will do anything, including hiring someone to kill them, to stop it from happening. Johnson is adamant that I am safe, because they will attack him. But that doesn't give me much peace of mind as he is an integral partner to this mission. So this is a huge prayer request. We have hired a body guard to stay with us.
I am learning more about the culture every day and can carry on a simple conversation in kreol. People are starting to call me Mary instead of yelling 'blanc' (white) so that is a good thing. And if you were thinking that this sounds like fun or at least an adventure and want to come and visit me and experience it first hand, let me know. I have an extra bedroom for guests!
I hope you enjoyed this recap.
God bless you and please keep praying.
Love, Mary
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September 9, 2013 I sit on my front porch spending some precious time with my Jesus, preparing for the day ahead. Thanking him for safety and for loving me the way I am. Asking for a message for the prisoners today and experiencing His peace. I sit with a soft pillow behind my head, with my IPad plugged into electricity, with a cool welcoming breeze blowing across my body, before the heat and humidity of the day begins. I sit.
It is still dark and and the sun is just starting to brighten the sky into a beautiful medium blue hue. The trees making a dark silhouette against the sky, as if praising The Lord for creating them, reaching their branches in worship.
I sit and reflect and listen. It is quiet for Haiti. Too early for the shouts of children playing soccer on the road in front of my house. Too early for a heated game of marbles, played in the dirt. Too early for my neighbor to blare his radio so loudly that I can't have a thought of my own. I sit.
They do not. They are the women heading for the market. I hear them before I can see them. I hear their footsteps, walking quickly and with a purpose. I hear their shoes struggling to stay on their feet as they walk through the mud and the puddles left by the previous nights downpour. (A downpour that filled my home with 3" of water as it came pouring in through my electricity box.). I hear a few talking, but most walk quietly, determined. I hear a song, someone is singing her praises to The Lord. I hear clip, clop, clip, clop as the donkeys and mules and sometimes horses parade by carrying the wares to be sold. I hear an occasionally swish and thud as the freshly picked branch connects with the 4 legged cargo van to reminds the mule who is in charge. Then I hear, click, click, click, click, click as the donkey picks up the pace. I hear the squawks of many chickens, not enjoying their journey to their final destination. And the loudest of all, the squeals of a pig, declaring his objection to his upside down ride to the market, wishing he could have been the little piggy that stayed home.
The day is dawning, and I begin to see outlines of them walking. Tall and straight as they balance baskets, tubs and even their chair on top of their heads. Their eyes dart back and forth but their heads are fixed,allowing the perfectly balanced objects to stay afloat. Some hold hands of their small children, who are required to help mom for the day. Some are pushing wheelbarrows full of freshly picked mangoes, pineapple, potatoes, carrots, and many other vegetables that I can't identify. Their shoulders sagging under the weight of their job. Some walk unobstructed, allowing their mules to do the heavy work, holding only a switch in their hand. All are focued.
A few are carrying phones that are being used as flashlights, but most walk confidently in the dark, a feat that would be miraculous for me to do. A few carry umbrellas that will protect them from the blazing sun during the heat of the day.
I am told some of them have been walking since midnight, bringing their wares from miles away. Only to repeat the journey after a long hot day in the sun.
They are going to the market. To sell the organic grains and vegetables that they have raised. The only source of income most of them have. They will set up shop, laying a tarp down on the dirt road, and placing their finest selections in small piles, arranged in a way that looks appealing to the passerby. And then...they sit. Waiting for someone to buy their wares so they can buy food that can't raise for their family, so they can pay for their children's school, so they can buy clean water to drink. They sit.
And I sit. Enjoying the cool of the morning, thinking about making a cup of coffee, and reminded of how blessed I am. Even the spaghetti that has become my new breakfast food, is sounding wonderful. Time to go and cook food that I purchased from these women.
Thank you Lord, for the reminder of how blessed I am. And bless these women today. Amen!
