We're Off to Africa!

Follow Nancy Harbron & Jana Treadway on a NCCOC Global Missions trip to Africa!

11/11/11 DAY 1: Indianapolis airport, Newark, NJ, and on to Brussels, Belgium.

We made it to the airport in time for our flight this morning without incident! Thank you for your prayers!

After checking three large bags that contain "Little Dresses for Africa," shorts for little boys, meds, a ham for the Jenkins and other cargo, we took the long walk to our gate. Our excitement is high as we realize the plans we have been making for months are unfolding before us! Please keep us in your prayers and check our blog daily for updates.  Below you'll find a brief itinerary of our travel:

11/11/11 Depart for Kigali Rwanda to visit Dave & Jana Jenkins and Jana's West Africa mission team
11/16/11 Depart Kigali to Uganda for a short trip to Queen Elizabeth National Park to see the majesty of God from a new perspective.
11/19/11 Return to Kampala until December 3rd.
12/03/11 Return to Indianapolis.

While in Rwanda and Uganda, here is a short list of what we will be doing –

• Nancy will be teaching about God the Master Potter with her potter's wheel
• Jana will be teaching Women's healthcare classes
• We will also do several house visits, meet with the various churches, including new plants, learn about the goat and chicken projects and new school plans for orphans.
• Additionally, we will be working with the Kampala church leaders on future strategies for growth throughout their communities.

God bless all of you!
Nancy & Jana

Time flies!

Hello everyone!

Unbelievably, today is our last clinic day. We should be seeing the congregation from Sarte (pronounced 'sot'). This area is one of the poorest in Port au Prince and they, like the other congregations, will travel here to our site in Santos. Take a look at the picture of the family coming through the gate and you can see how challenging bringing people in can be.  A couple of the crowd control guys reflected how much they're reminded of the persistent widow in the Bible. To me, I think of "knock and the door will be opened to you."
Today, Wednesday, will be our last day for clinic. Thursday is scheduled to be our travel day.  Always I have mixed feelings about leaving. I look forward to seeing my family, but it is hard to leave the 'family' I have here.
Thank you for giving me an opportunity to share my experiences here with you.
Because of Christ,
Jeanne 

Good Morning!

Bernedin and Nathalie interpreting for the pharmacy.

Woodsy helping in the pharmacy.

Dr. Don from Ohio

We are just now letting the first 50 people in the gate. They first go to a waiting area where Dr. Richard from Ohio teaches about Christ.  Then they are registered to see the doctor and nurses, optometrist, then wrap up at the pharmacy. Our team is working very well together, looking after each other. We all feel blessed to be here! I'll try to send pictures of our interpreters; without whom we could not do what we do. They work very hard and long.
Saturday we saw about 500 paients and gave away a lot of 'mother/baby bags' containing cloth diapers with pins, washcloths, blanket, a couple of outfits and some baby wash/shampoos. These bags were collected by Linda Goldman, and Mary Bryson's Church's Senior Saints' Ladies collected the items to fill the bags. This is what I really enjoy about mission trips. Different people from different places working together to bless others. God is glorified! Please continue to keep these sweet people in prayer.
Have a blessed day!
Jeanne

Greetings from Haiti!

Today we had our first clinic. We saw about 375 patients. We turned away at least that many; but we have to stop so we can now have VBS and Gospel Meeting.  We have to finish by 6 pm so people can walk back home before it gets too dark.
It's been being lovely weather; hot of course, but not too much.
Hopefully, you get to see the pictures I took. We have seen some beautiful people. Now, for those who know me, the loveliest are the little ones!
One family we filled had six!
Well, I must go, the truck is here to collect us and chairs for the meeting tonight. If you've any questions or particular pictures you'd like to see, email me at jsevans@indy.rr.com
Because of Christ,
Jeanne

Hello Everyone from Haiti!

This is my third morning in Haiti. We are having a blessed trip. Last night we worshiped with the Santos church that meets by Roberta's home. About 250 folks were there and it was good to see many friends. Afterward, we got to view the school room that Roberta's boys built over the small guesthouse behind her home. It's a great space and the children are enjoying it separated from their living space. Then we went inside to see the changes they've been working on for the kitchen. It's much bigger now and has allowed them to install a large commercial stove. Pretty nice to have with 22 children wouldn't you say? I hope to get pics to share on Sunday.
Today the rest of the team should land about 4pm and we'll be a pretty full house. Except for the adult vitamins they're bringing with them, our medicine bins will be ready by the time they get here for our first day of clinic on Friday.
I realized I forgot to tell you about our trip home from the airport! First of all, they've improved the baggage area and the exit outside; which was such a blessing! Then, as we headed home, there were many signs of Haitians working. Rubble has been broken up in many areas and piled along the edge of the roads.  There were men working to scoop up garbage to be hauled away. Perhaps it sounds weird to be excited over such things, but here, these are signs of people living with hope! Another good thing was to see one of the larger grocery stores had been repaired and reopened about two weeks ago.
Thank you all for letting me share some of my experiences with you and especially thank you for your prayers!
Because of Christ,
Jeanne

First Day in Haiti

Hello everyone!
It's been a wonderful day! We arrived safe and sound yesterday.  About 16 of the children from the Sonlight Children's Home came to the Guest House for dinner last night. Enjoyed getting hugs from all!
Today Miss Mary and I got to work dividing meds into bags. We're enjoying our hosts, Jason and Rachel, as well as their 13 month old, Zeke.  A young man, Luke is here as well and has been very helpful carrying boxes, etc. around for me. He's also discovered he likes to help with dividing the meds.
Tonight, Don and Dave, who're in country from Healing Hands to teach good gardening techniques, came over for dinner. Last night was Haitian rice and beans; tonight was roast pork with roasted vegetables and potatoes. Rachel is a great cook!
The majority of the team will arrive on Thursday and we expect to hold clinics starting Friday.
Will write more probably. Take care.
- Jeanne Evans

Greetings to all from Baxter in Tegucigalpa

 John McDuff and I arrived Saturday afternoon on flights from Indianapolis. After picking us up at the airport, we talked for a while to Leopoldo at the Ciudad Mateo church. Later we headed up to Izopo where we stayed from Saturday evening through Monday afternoon.

Everyone sends their greetings. We were able to talk to several of the families. They are very anxious to see you all this summer. The teacher at the school is especially interested in helping out and working with our group.

We walked by the areas where the bus was stuck. All is dry  and the rocks that filled the washout where the bus slid to the side are still there. It is now a great road. There was no rain and lots of sun.

We are looking forward to three more good days visiting other ministries here. Also we will be meeting with several about the future of our ministry in Izopo. There is a sizeable group in Izopo very interested in getting past the problems and working to build the church back up.

I will write more later. The 5:00 supper hour at Baxter is calling and if I remember right we didn't get any lunch as we were coming down the mountain of Izopo at that time. Keep us all in your prayers.
-Phil Banta