Chet’s Creek Update – December 2010
Chets Haiti Mission Update
Hello, Everyone. I figure I owe you an update. Please remember that I’m a man and an accountant and can rarely put two ws together. Here’s something short to wet your whistle until we get back and can tell all. I may get a chance to write again, but I’m not sure.
God could not have provided a better team. The heart and enthusiasm that this team has is absolutely fantastic. Brielle, Pamela, Gretchen, Darla, David, Joe, Jason, Lance, Chandler, Max and I are all doing well. We’re healthy and safe.
Some of you may have heard that there is rioting in the capital due to the election results. That supposedly is true. We aren’t seeing anything where we are. I met another missionary today who has been here for two months. He was supposed to fly out today, but American Airlines cancelled all flights. He was in the capital and in and around the airport and didn’t see much to speak of. Our flights back aren’t until Monday (12/13) so we should be in good shape.
I’ve reconnected with some friends from my 6/10 trip. Some are doing ‘well’ and some not so much as they’ve had cholera (now cured). I knew something was wrong right away when I saw Gabrielle as he was VERY thin, but smiling as always. There’s a cholera clinic down the road where folks know to go for treatment. I’ve seen a lot of U.N. presence this time compared to zero last time. I’m encouraged by improvements here. There is a new road between the capital and the orphanage and where there were only shacks made of whatever and tents in some of the villages before there are some wood / plywood homes mixed in.
Here’s what the team has been up to this time around. I’m leaving out a lot of specifics because I don’t have a lot of time.
Brielle as our P.A. has been very busy including almost delivering a baby girl shortly after we arrived. She sprinted to the rescue, but found her already born in a local home, in the dark and very premature. She brought it back to the orphanage to make sure she would get a good start. There was concern that the parents weren’t interested, but the mom is now bonding. Brielle is back and forth monitoring.
Joe is blowing the locals away with his tile-laying skills. The job is mmm… two-thirds done. It’s beautiful. Not only will it help to keep the kids clean and healthy for years to come, it’s so much brighter that it’s mood changing. As Austin (an American transplant) said… We’ve needed this for a long time and now we’re getting it done in just a few days! The orphanage has had other priorities, but with Joe in-house…
All / some of us have been involved in the following:
We assembled Christmas gifts for the 200 kids at the school, the 48 kids at the orphanage, and the 50 workers here at the combined facilities.
We cleaned the furniture that was pulled out to do the tile work. Buddy… Talk about your larvae.
We put an excel tool in place to help convert and compare the JBA Jacksonville to the JBA Haiti budgets.
Four of us went to a local home to see how they live and pray for them. I met Galio (17) in 6/10. He lives with his mom and 5 others in a tiny shack. He’s taught himself English and has been a great interpreter for us. He goes to school 8 A.M. to 2 P.M., translates for doctors at the cholera clinic from 7 P.M. to 7 A.M, and sleeps on the weekends. Haiti needs successful Haitians and I think this guy’s going to be one. His dad is out of the picture. His mom is sweet. She goes on mission for 4 or 5 days at a time. They pulled chairs out for us visit. It was a privilege being with them, talk about their lives, and to pray for that family. When we left momma had a box of salt and a big knife at the ready because she may get her hands on a pig any day to prepare for market. They’re all hard workers.
We played soccer with tons of orphanage and community kids in the school yard across the street.
We ground the rust off of 12 big, old pipes and primed them. They’ll be the columns to a mountain church that needs to be rebuilt. We’re hoping to get up there this week to start the work, but we’ll have to see how it goes. We won’t be able to drive all the way so we’re hoping for a donkey or two to help with the materials.
We hiked up the mountain with some of the orphans and local kids. It’s beautiful how they all want to be so close to us.
We have loved on the kids every spare minute which is why I haven’t written so far and why I might not be able to again. I know that I’m missing some things. I absolutely love it here and I think that the team feels the same. God’s work is good.
Love from Haiti.
Seth.
2 Responses 
Leave a Reply 
Seth (& Chets Team Haiti),
Thank you so much for sharing about your adventures so far. Between you and Lance I feel like I’m along for the ride. Loving the people and working right alongside you. Y’all take care of each other and bring home plenty of stories to share.
Love & Prayers!
Lori
OMG Seth… I loved to read about your experience over there… I am counting the days to go again in January!!! I hope one day, our teams get to spend some time together in Haiti! Please tell everyone I said Hi… and thanks so much for caring so much for the Haitians as I do!!!
I also love Haiti!!!
Guiga Vieira
peopleforhaiti.com