Mini Catch-Up

On my, what a lot of stuff to catch you up on! Here's a start:

Firstly, if the last thing you heard about us was from our last post (The Joys of International Travel) where I was stuck for three days in Miami on my way to Haiti, then rest assured, I did make it to Haiti eventually. The trip did not go as we had planned, but God was present and active - it was a good trip. More on that later.

Our team had some good conversations with people
as we went door-to-door in Kayemit and Kraze Zo. 

My team! These guys from Findlay E-Free Church in northern Ohio
were fantastic. Flexible, humble, willing to serve, honest, enthusiastic
 and God worked through them. It was a joy to serve alongside them. 

Secondly, with all our travels and times apart recently, our family is now enjoying being together, even on 8+ hour car trips to places like Iowa (for a weekend Missions conference where we were speakers). Last week was (American) Thanksgiving, a holiday we've come to appreciate. It's really not all about the food, unlike our first impressions, but at its heart is all about giving thanks (who'd have thought). Giving thanks to God. Which of course is a God-ordained ongoing attitude, not just a once-a-year thing. Still, it's good to get a day off to give thanks (and eat Roasted Ham with Pears & Cranberries, à la Martha Stewart).

Now, our Christmas tree is up. The Radio 4VEH fundraising appeal (with a Matching Gift Challenge) is written, mailed and launched online. At the moment, Storly's reading and recording through the Old Testament in Haitian Creole (to complete the whole Bible in audio format, in partnership with the Bible Society). He's currently in the book of Isaiah, fitting for this time of year considering what Isaiah says about the coming of the Messiah. Pray for Storly, would you, it's a huge job to record the Old Testament, but what a resource it's going to be when it's done, making the whole Bible available to people who can't read or have no Bible of their own.

He's also working on a new system (to replace the now outdated satellite system) to send the 4VEH signal from the radio station to other partner stations in Haiti, and to the US where our friends at WFRN in Elkhart, Indiana, put it online so Haitians can listen around the world via the streaming on our 4VEH website, via Apps like Tune-In and in a few countries by phone. He'll be traveling north early tomorrow to meet up with one of the WFRN guys, and then getting the new equipment sent into Haiti for a quick install. So many listeners in the States have been asking why can't they hear 4VEH online. With special programming coming up next week for Bible Week, and then the Christmas programs, we want listeners to be able to find 4VEH online again.

So for the rest of the month, we'll be home (in theory). Celebrating Esther's 7th birthday next weekend. Celebrating Advent and the birth of Jesus at Christmas.

Oh yeh!

The Joys of International Travel

Just so you know, there's a lot of truth and a hint of sarcasm in this post's title.

I'm on my way to Haiti, and was excited about the possibilities to get there in one day. The new American Airlines flight from Miami to Cap-Haitien, that started 1st Oct, means - in theory - that we can leave our house in Indiana, head to the airport, fly to Miami, hop, skip and jump (i.e. run) from one gate to another to catch a flight to Cap-Haitien, be picked up in Cap and driven to the OMS compound, door-to-door in about 8 hours. Storly did it a month ago. Sounds amazing!

But the 'one-day travel' thing? Not happening for me.

Yesterday, (Saturday), Storly drove me to Indianapolis airport (with the girls snuggled under blankets in the back seats because it was below freezing at 4 a.m.). After checking in and going through security, I met up with fellow OMS missionary Bill Evans, who was traveling with a team of 11 down to Miami, then Port-au-Prince, to work on the Homes for Haiti project (building homes for very poor families affected by the earthquake). We were expecting the announcement at the gate to say it's time to start boarding, but no. "The First Officer (deputy pilot) is unable to make the flight" ...you'll have to wait 5 hours for flight to Miami. Urgh! There's no way we would make our connections, me to the once-a-day flight to Cap; the other team to Port-au-Prince. So we got on the phone, re-booking flights, letting various people we were meeting up with in Miami, and various people meeting us at various destinations in Haiti, know the changes. And then, we enjoyed conversations over breakfast, and began a long wait.

We eventually made it to Miami, spent about 3 hours at various counters getting checked in for Sunday's flights, getting hotel rooms booked and meal vouchers assigned (at AA's expense as the delay was their fault), finding bags that the other team wanted to reclaim (I didn't want to pick my bag up, just left it for today's flight). Bill shared his bag of cherry licorice laces, and Vern and others got out bags of candy when I started searching for a snack machine selling chocolate. (Bill Evans is the man to travel with - he's cool as a cucumber, organizing and sorting out all the details, and he has supplies of sugary stuff when needed).

About 5 p.m., I left the team still waiting for their bags, and went ahead to the hotel for the night.

Went back to the airport this morning, straight through security, got to the gate for the flight to Cap, was happily enjoying people-watching: a real mélange of Haitians and non-Haitians, some of the non-Haitians obviously on their first trip in, some on their Nth trip. And the sounds of English-Creole-French all mixed in.

[Meanwhile, back home, Storly had an eventful night, with the police knocking on the door in the early hours, letting him know some people had thrown eggs on various cars in the neighborhood, including ours; and then he and the girls had taken longer than expected to get to church this morning, where Storly was one of three missionaries giving a mini-sermon in both services, because of cleaning up the egg-mess on the car, and the various challenges of two girls deciding what to wear to church.]

 And then the announcement. Again, expecting the "We're starting boarding". But, nope. This time, "the plane can't land in Cap-Haitien...bad weather...flight cancelled..." Urgh, again.

As I posted this info on Facebook, Steve Gross (Gross family are friends from Columbus, now OMS missionaries in Cap) and I chatted back and forth about the weather conditions there in Cap, and the message from Brett (OMS Haiti field director and know-er of all things) was that the low cloud ceiling makes it risky to land with the radar situation at the Cap-Haitien airport. Having bumped through clouds in tiny airplanes on flights from Port-au-Prince to Cap many times when I was commuting to Port for work, I have absolutely no desire to do that again.

Well, to spare you the details, I'm booked on tomorrow's flight (others were booked on Tuesday's...).

Still smiling...

A guy at the airport commented that my suitcase - hard case, bright yellow - has seen
a few miles. I didn't realize it was that obvious, but it definitely has. Bought it
in San Francisco about 15 years ago. It has traveled all over the globe with me
since then. And I can always spot it a mile off in those kinds of places where
someone may well run off with your suitcase. 

And back to the hotel for another night. I've already missed traveling in with my team, the guys from Findlay E-Free church. I've missed going to church with them this morning. And now, I'm going to miss the first day of our outreach. This is not going to plan.

But, sometimes, that's part of the joys of international travel. Of life, actually.

So, I am going to enjoy some downtime - much-needed, really. Some sleep. Some just-being. Some TV. And nowhere else to be for the rest of the day. Enjoy your Sunday, wherever you happen to be!

Trading Places

In less than 12 hours, at 4 a.m. the family will be driving me to the airport and I'll be getting on a plane to Miami, meeting up with five guys from Findlay E-Free Church in northern Ohio, then straight into Cap-Haitien, for a week focused on working alongside co-workers at Radio 4VEH, and local churches, in outreach, evangelism and giving out solar radios. 

So, this is going to be a really quick update, with some prayer requests if you'd remember us. 

• For my trip, that we'll see God working in us and through us to do the amazing things that He does in drawing people to Himself.

• Storly came back from Haiti 10 days ago. Now I'm off for a week. We think we've traded information (me to Storly on making packed lunches for girls every day, getting them to school on time etc; Storly to me on latest information at the radio station, which keys are for office, trading phones etc.). We may have missed some stuff. Would you pray for our family in our various ministry / family responsibilities? 

• The response to the Fall fundraising appeal for Radio 4VEH that we mailed out a month ago has been amazing. We're thanking God for providing exceedingly abundantly more....again. 

• Having some technical difficulties at the station, in various pieces of equipment, that are affecting broadcasting in different ways. Lots of problem-solving needed. 

And just to finish, last weekend, our only weekend all together for a few weeks, we did what is becoming an autumn tradition for us (and is one for every other family living in central Indiana). Yep, we went to Apple Works. Gorgeous weather, gorgeous day. Enjoy the Fall colours in these photos, and thanks for supporting us in all we do. 

Switched On

You know when you're working towards something, a project that demands much attention, effort, funds, negotiation? That requires you get down on your knees again and again (and again...) to seek God, His help, His direction, His way, His grace and patience, His answers to what seem like impossibilities? When you know there are so many things that could go wrong with this?

And then,...ah, yes. It's done. Accomplished. To God be all the glory!

Ten days ago, we got to that point. Here's what happened.

So, Storly's back in Haiti. Yeh, I know, he was just there (July/Aug/Sept), came home to Indiana for three weeks, knowing once the Towers crew gave him their estimated completion date, he'd head back down for a week or two to help turn the AM station back on, oversee the completion of the project, the crew getting all their equipment packed up into a container and to the port ready to be shipped back to their home base in the States.

840 AM switched back on 

Meanwhile, Storly was feeding me updates so I could post updates online, like this one.

On 8 October, after a short commissioning service giving the glory to God, and thanking so many people who've played a part in the restoration project, Storly went into the air-conditioned room at the AM transmission site, and pushed a button. And voila, more than two years of prayer, work, prayer, work, was...well, completed. 

Storly traveled in to Cap-Haitien with Tom King, head of Kintronic Labs, project manager
for this towers project. A friendly conversation when we met Tom at the NRB Convention
 turned into a partnership to restore the AM signal at Petite Anse. 

Some tweaking of the transmitter...

Yep, both new towers are still standing!

Tom and Jim work on fine-tuning the system for the best possible AM signal

The Transmission House looks great with a fresh lick of paint! 

The commissioning service included  a couple of hymns, testimonies from staff who have been working at 4VEH a long time, including at the Petite Anse site, speeches from OMS Haiti Director Brett Bundy (who shared some of 4VEH's history, and how having a vision and being obedient have been key), speeches from Jim from Towers for Jesus crew, Tom King of Kintronics and then Storly switched on the AM station. 

A crowd of 4VEH staff, OMS missionaries, visitors from Canada on a short-term
Resounding Hope trip from Galcom, representatives from the Towers for Jesus crew,
technicians, pastors, community leaders and friends of 4VEH all gathered for the commissioning service. 

Elima (4VEH programming director) leads the "Grande Prière" - main prayer. 

Brett (OMS Haiti Field director) shares lessons from 4VEH's history, of vision
and obedience. 

Storly checks the time before...

...pushing the button...

...and turning on 840 AM, sending the signal out hundreds of miles across northern Haiti
to an area where more than four million people live. 

Tom, Storly & Jim.

Friends enjoyed refreshments (ok, this one and the next is just for those of you who know and love
the Gross family - here Steve is enjoying a Tampico) 

(...and Melissa is enjoying a Coke...so glad they could be part of this!)

Bursting 

Of course, I missed all the in-the-flesh excitement, being thousands of miles away. When Storly called to confirm we were back on the air, I jumped up and down and shared the good news with the girls (still home on Fall Break...) and they were (moderately) excited. 

So, the next afternoon was the best bit, at least for me. I was listening to the live call-in show on 4VEH, the regular music show turned into a special show asking people listening to the newly restored 840 AM to call in. 

And I was bursting with joy to hear listeners bursting with joy that they can listen to 'their 4VEH' again. People calling from all over - Gonaives, Ouanaminthe, from Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic - saying how they suffered when 4VEH was off the air, saying thank you to all who contributed, saying thank you to all the technicians. 

"AM is clear. Now it's back, I feel like a champion with a medal! And I want to say thank you to all the technicians!"

"My heart's full of joy that 4VEH is back on AM!"

Ahh, sweet! So many people have helped get the work done, from teams helping rebuild the wall, praying for the work, donating, helping our family while we've been working on this (even now, I'm writing this because a sweet friend has had the girls for a bit this afternoon). Thank you, thank you!

Fundraising, Machines & Other Stuff

Fall Fundraising Appeal

While all the tower work's been progressing at Petite Anse (see previous post, New Towers Up), back at the ranch (read: home office), I've been working on a mailed and online fundraising appeal for Radio 4VEH broadcasting (which I do a few times a year, for Radio 4VEH broadcasting, or Resounding Hope radios, or special projects like the Towers project). It's a lot of work to think and pray through, to plan and create, to write and edit, to design and package, but it's all done, and I got my copy in the mail earlier this week. 

Donations are usually lower during the summer months, but costs of running the station don't change much from month to month, so we're facing a shortfall in funds right now. Would appreciate your prayers for a generous response as this appeal is in the hands of friends and supporters of the station in the US. 

More News about Machines...

Lots of stuff can go wrong at a radio station. In June, the AM transmitter - the engine that sends the radio signal to the towers for broadcasting - broke down. Big concern. Especially as we were making progress with the new towers. Even with new towers, a broken transmitter means no signal going anywhere. Thankfully, after some hard work - troubleshooting, taking apart, replacing pieces, putting back together - by technicians Jerry, Jonathan, Danny and visiting AM technician from HCJB, Tim, the transmitter is now fixed! Phew, and PTL!

It's fixed...and turned off. 

What?!?!

Yep, turned off so that the crew working on the new towers don't get fried (important point...) Hopefully within the next few (2-3 maybe!) weeks, the transmitter will be turned back on and the new towers will send the radio signal for hundreds of miles across all of northern Haiti, where about four million people live. That's what Storly's going back to Haiti for. 

Other stuff

While we were at the station, Hannah was practicing her skills as a reporter.
(From July)

...while Esther took photo of me and Storly hard at work (in his office at the station).
It's not all happy, happy, happy all the time, just in case you're wondering... :)

Our recent conversations...made possible by internet and Skype. (As I'm writing this,
Storly is within my reach in our office at home, and he's on Skype now with Witny at the station).
Being able to communicate like this makes a big difference. 

And a couple of Esther to finish up, as Ariel for ballet recital at the end of last school year. 

Playful one to end with. 

P. S. 

In this thing called the blogosphere, we've reached more than 5000 pageviews, meaning some people are reading what we post. Whether you check here often, or it's your first visit, thanks for reading! We hope you get a glimpse of what God is doing in Haiti, in Indiana, and other places too, and will want to join in with Him somewhere and somehow.

It's a gorgeous afternoon here, blue sky, sunshine - wishing you a wonderful weekend where you are!

New Towers Up - Woo-hoo!

We're all together again...Storly's been back with us a couple of weeks - and we're happy!

...And he's just booked his trip back to Haiti for about 2 weeks' time. Just for a short trip this time. 

New Towers Up - Exciting!

If you've been getting updates from us here on our blog, email, Facebook, have read anything about Radio 4VEH or have talked to us in the last year or so, you probably know about the Towers project: to replace two 40-plus-years-old, crumbling AM radio towers (270 foot and 200 foot tall), all the ground wires (that are as long as the towers are high and dug into the ground) and tuning system at Radio 4VEH's AM transmission site at Petite Anse. This site is a powerhouse for the Gospel in Haiti, for getting life-saving information, farming and health advice, and a friendly voice to people. When the work's completed, the AM signal will reach all across northern Haiti again, to an area where four million people live.

We've reached a milestone in this project - both new towers at Petite Anse are up (just a few more weeks until it's all finished and we can turn 840 AM back on). 

And I'm so jealous! Storly got a ride to the top of the first tower before he left; and our colleague Witny got a ride to the top of the second tower, enjoying the two flags attached at the top as a testimony to the partnership of God's people to restore 4VEH's AM signal and proclaim Christ across Haiti.

Here's some photos:

Beginning of August: Storly with part of Towers for Jesus crew.

Jim, leader of Towers for Jesus, starts off all the work on the towers with prayer. 

First tower comes down - safely. Phew!

Crash!

Jim, the leader of the crew, just celebrated his 71st birthday. He's put up many radio
towers all over the world, so that good news can reach people through radio. 

Storly's all strapped in, ready to be hoisted up to the top of the first new tower. 

Storly (with Tower Bob).

"Tower Bob" takes a pic of Storly as Storly takes a pic of him.

Storly's legs, quite a long way off the ground:)

Jim instructs Storly on controlling the winch (and whoever is hoisted to the top of tower). 

Two flags - American and Haitian - were attached to the final piece of tower
before it was put in place. People living in the area, who have gathered on rooftops
to watch this project progress, broke out in cheers and singing when
the final piece was in place, and flags were flying. 

View of the Petite Anse area and bay of Cap-Haitien, from the tower. 

Witny, our Operations Director, at the top of the 2nd tower. A proud wonderful moment!
(And a great picture - thanks Towers for Jesus team!)

Witny contemplating the view from the tower. 

Towers for Jesus team and local workers at tower base.

Glad to see Storly's learned a few tricks with that camera (that I kindly lent him :)

Thanks for your prayers, support and encouragement for this project. It's a big deal, and we're excited to be nearing completion!