Day 7 | Jerri Oney

This was a really fun day full of activities. The house dedication was just like I thought it would be – emotional and intimate and humbling. The family was so appreciative. We all sang together, Randy led the prayer and my husband (yes Shane) had the message and I thought he did an awesome job! I was very proud of him! We game the family many gifts, including a mattress to sleep on and quilts that Linda Oney and her friends made. Madison met the little girl she has decided to sponsor and of course she was adorable. We got a lot of nice souviners from the local merchants and had COLD drinks for lunch – how nice that was! Had a good time just hanging out at the Ark playground with our interpreters singing some songs together. We have really enjoyed them. Chase has already made plans to send them some protein and work out with them next time we come. Thank God everyone is feeling better. Bill continues to remind me that he has a “heart condition” when he wants to and denies when he doesn’t. He has also realized what will happen if he takes 2 heart pills – that his blood pressure and heart rate will drop and he will have to lay on the floor and put his feet up and drink caffeine (Mt. Dew) to maintain normal vital signs. Need I say that he is all for that!! LOL!! Seriously he has been more than great! It’s the end of an absolutely wonderful week. I am more than proud of my kids, all of the kids here for how hard they have worked and interacted with everyone. It’s been great to be here with Randy and Miranda and Jack Friend has been a blast. I am SO blessed. Praying we will all bring some of this place home with us.

Day 6 | Jerri Oney

Well there have been 13 kids added to the Kingdom as of today! That’s what it’s all about! They are so precious and fun to play with. It takes absolutely nothing to make them smile. Madison has really bonded with a little girl named Linda. She is a hoot! We came back home from the church in record speed because we were trying to beat the rain, but in the process we all got practically beat to death! Yes - we almost saw God today for real! (again). I am more bruised from the dump truck ride then anything else here. Thank you for praying for our sick ones - they all seem to be feeling better. Looking forward to dedicating the house tomorrow to that sweet family and meeting our adopted children, eating the mountain maid and going shopping. Sad it’s our last day here though. Praising God for this awesome opportunity once again. He is SO good!

Day 5 | Jerri Oney

We had a busy day – sifted lots of sand! And just when we thought we had it all sifted………they brought a whole truckload more!! We thought/hoped it would be pre-sifted, but it wasn’t. So there will be more sifting tomorrow. No one in this group should leave here with love handles…they should be all gone! Still playing doctor because lots of us are sick – think maybe we’re not using enough hand sanitizer. I can’t wait to just wash my hands with real soap and water. I got to hold the little 3 month old baby for a long time today. She was precious and her name is Carolyn. Her dad just handed her to me. We gave a soccer ball to Wesley and he was so happy! The house is almost finished. It has 2 rooms, 2 windows and 2 doors. We create so much chaos in our lives. We SO much need to simplify our lives as much as we can. We just simply overdo it. I pray God really works on my heart to soften it and humble it. Had a great time with our interpreter again; He is passionate about the Lord and his Bible. He learned a new word today – ‘SLOBBER”. He was so excited to learn a new word! It was a good day.

Day 4 | Jerri Oney

Well this was a different day. Church at 6:30. The Haitian people take their worship very seriously and that blessed my heart. They wear their best clothes - clean and pressed and pay close attention to everything. You see no whispering, talking or getting up to go to the bathroom. It was a little tough to sit through for 2 1/2 hours not understanding a thing but their worship was evident. That pastor’s prayer was longer than Marks sermons! I started out on the hike but rumor had it that Johnny was taking us on the death-trap hike that I heard horror stories about from last year so I declined before we got to the bottom of the hill. So…I watched everyone sleep all day but was able to help Mickey with his kidney stone pain, so I’m glad I was here. We had a good service this evening down by the park and it was fun watching the skyping with our church. We had a really good connection. It was a beautiful Lord’s day and looking forward to tomorrow. Played doctor a lot today - many sore muscles, bug bites and upper respiratory infections. Glad to be of service.

Day 3 | Jerri Oney

Well our group heard all about the “near death experience” from the other group yesterday and got to experience it for ourselves today! Ours wasn’t as bad because we didn’t have the rain and our driver didn’t get stuck - but our driver was a maniac!! Not really - I guess he was really a GOOD driver because he took that dump truck in places I wouldn’t have even called a road! And he took it in tight spots that I don’t think any of us breathed through. We were all white knuckled with cramped up hands after an hour and a half. I definitely prayed without ceasing and had quite an intimate relationship with Jesus when we were through. We got to play with the kids a lot today and there were a lot of them. Madison really has a heart for these kids and it blessed my heart to watch her interact with them. She read a book to them that she grew up listening to her Nanny read to her. It’s a special book to her. I wondered how Chase would do with the games but he dressed it! They were having a blast when I looked in on them. The kids were there all day with even more coming for VBS - we even had to turn some away which was really hard - especially for Shane. The VBS director, Darlene, did it though. She said we have to teach them that they had to be there on time and get a bracelet. If they missed it this week they could come next week. She said it was “tough love”. The sun was really hot today and I had a headband on - so . . . . I have a really awesome tan line. NOT! It was a great day and God is definitely working in all of us and through all of us. Church at 6:30 in the morning and then hopefully the hike if Johnny goes. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.

Day 2 | Jerri Oney

Well I used muscles today I know I forgot I had! I’ll REALLY know they’re there in the morning! It was a good day though and VERY productive. It was very humbling to see this young family living out of a tent on the side of a corn field. This mother was taking care of a 7 year old, a 4 year old and a 3 month old AND cook - all in a pup tent on the side of a cornfield!! We think we’ve got it rough??? I got to take some pictures of the 7 year old boy and he was so excited to have his picture taken. He couldn’t wait to look at himself in the camera. He even helped shovel sand for us at the end of the day - his name was Wesley. The father was so appreciative and said that he prayed to God for help and that we were the answer to his prayers. We had a great time with the translator Robertson. (I’m sure his dad’s name was Robert because they often name their sons the same name with “son” at the end) We got to start the day with a small service with the local Haitian people singing hymns with them and watching them sing praises just in another language but all to the same God. It was so awesome to be a part of that. These people are so proud and so happy. Oh how we need to take lessons from their pleasant simplicity. It was a good day.

Day 1 | Jerri Oney

Okay - end of day #1! Feeling kind of numb but tomorrow will be a new day. The flight went quick - the stop half way in the Bahamas is a nice breakup. Didn’t get airsick!! Yea!! The 2 hour trip up the 11 mile mountain was once again fascinating, pitiful, amazing, sad, long, hot and never without something to look at. It’s amazing you can see the worst of the worst in poverty and occasionally see a mercedes drive by. We always feel fortunate to not be in an accident as the traffic is out of control!! It was so good to see Roger at the airport - he’s just like your family doctor when you’re sick. Mary Lou was in the kitchen again when we got here and it smelled divine! I’m worried about the coffee situation in the morning, but I think we found a pot that will work early since we don’t have electricity till 8:00 - too late for my first cup!! Headed out to begin building a house in the morning - looking forward to getting started. Have some new faces here to get to know this week. Blessed my family is here with me.

Day 14 | Jerri

It is raining so hard right now on this big tin roof that we cannot hear each other. It is awesome! We had to take a break in our bible study last night and tonight because we couldn’t hear. Today was fun. We watched the ladies make jewelry out of cereal boxes, ate at the restaurant, met the kids we sponsored (except ours) and went shopping/bartering with the local merchants. That was an experience. My kids were better than I was. We had drinks for lunch with ice in them. We had homemade vanilla ice cream with fresh mangos for dessert this evening. The food has been great. We played with the kids on the playground today –some of them actually had to be taught how to play but it didn’t take long. The dedication service was great and the final banner was put on the top. I pray we are all changed. I pray we will always think twice before we complain or whine or think we have to have 3 of everything or the newest or the best or shoes to match every outfit. We are blessed and we are spoiled and I hope and pray forever changed. These people here are proud and they are clean and they are happy – despite all their challenges. We need to take lessons and be humbled. It has been a wonderful experience – one we will never forget.

Day 13 | Jerri

“And if our God is for us then who could ever stop us…” That song truly fits what He just accomplished through this group. We finished it today! It was so awesome watching those last signs go up, the sand raked out and the kids come running! We couldn’t hold them off any longer. Oh how I wish the first group could be here to experience it with us! What a feeling – and I can’t imagine how good it felt for Lloyd and Bill to see the whole thing come together like it did. They have worked so hard. We also got to experience the market today in the back of a dumptruck. I felt like Andrew Zimmerman on the travel channel – except I didn’t eat the stuff!!! There was raw fish and raw chicken and that is just what I recognized. We bought fruit and it was wonderful. We got to barter with them and use Haitian money. Later found out they start walking from their houses at 2:00am and carry their produce on their heads. It takes them 4-5 hours to get there and then they walk back home. Cindy – I tried to carry a pot of flowers on my head. You would have loved it. I got a picture for you. And mom – I forgot something for you to tell Jesse. On our hike Sunday there were 2 dead taranchilas on the trail!!! Big ones!!! I got a picture of it too. Tomorrow is our last day already. It went so fast. We’ve met a lot of wonderful people here. I’ve been very proud of Chase and Madison – they have worked SO hard! We/Madison adopted a child and hope to get to meet her tomorrow.

Day 12 | Jerri

Boy is this little fantasy land taking shape now! The manicuring has begun. Today I raked and raked – rocks and wood and leaves. Darlene and I planted plants around the playground in the flower beds. We’re trying to figure out how we can throw a few in our suitcase to bring home – they are overflowing here! The swings are up and there is a great big rainbow painted on the front of the ark. The crowds are getting larger everyday. The weather was beautiful again and God kept us safe. Looking forward to going to the market tomorrow – will see some local cuisine. Mom – tell Jesse they have a big python here in the zoo and Shane is the only one willing to handle it so they can clean the cage. He is hiding under the astroturf in his cage and just molted. So we might do that tomorrow. That would definitely be Jesse’s job if he was here! Maybe someday. ☺

Day 11 | Jerri

Shane and I have decided the only thing left working on our body is our fingers. After church this morning we had a grilled cheese brunch and went on the Sunday afternoon hike of our lives! Oh My Goodness!!! Jon you were right – glad I went! (easy to say now). So many times I said “nope – I’m not doing that”…..and then I did. We literally went down one side of the mountain and up the other side and back – repelling and climbing slippery rocks up the side of the water falls. Got a lot of good pictures (or no one would have believed us.) My kids were troopers even though Madison will whine now for a month. They actually went up a 4th waterfall. I took too long to decide so decided to hang back with a few others. Not into the EXTREME stuff. Cindy – you would have LOVED it!! I was SO proud of Emmerson; he was awesome! The Haitians just walked circles around us with stuff on top of their heads at that!! It’s definitely been a day to remember forever. So glad I got to experience it with my family. God is good!!

Day 10 | Jerri

What a productive day! Things are really taking shape. I can’t believe we are constructing this whole playground – even down to weaving the rope ladders. The kids are very patiently chomping at the bits to get in there. The best part is in Shawn Hunter’s blog though – that’s what it’s all about and praise God for her obedience. I love it here and realize daily how stupid and wasteful we are in America. We just ruin things and make everything so complicated. I’m amazed at how the kids love it here too – I truly think they craze simplicity even though they may not realize it. Life need not be so complicated.

Day 9 | Jerri

I mean what an awesome playground! Lloyd did a magnificent job designing it. If I were a kid again it would be like a dream. It was so neat watching everyone work together and watching my kids and my husband and father in law. It’s so cool being here together. Cindy – I keep wanting to say “Olah” here but it is “Bonjour”!!! You would lurv it!!! We had devotions this morning and the Haitian pastor and another man stood up and just started singing at the top of their lungs – they did a great job too! Just took a make-shift shower out of a bucket with a paper cup. But – I am clean and the water was warm and we’re getting ready to eat and it smells “delish”!! No kidney stone movement – I’m sure it’s lodged tight and that’s fine with me. Got to tour the hospital today too. Boy . . . . not at all what I’m used to. They say we can hear the mothers in labor over here at night. Things are going great and I’m blessed to be here.

Day 8 | Jerri

Whew! It’s been a full day! Nice getting together with everyone – made a last minute trip to walmart to take Emerson to get long pants this morning. We were in and out in record time. He even told the cashiere to keep the receipt AND the change! Nice flight but boy what a bus trip! Up the mountain through streets of pot holes and dirt roads and total devastation everywhere. Houses are nothing but tarps tied together with animals running in and out. I don’t feel like we can even begin to put a dent in the need, but I guess the largest of jobs have to start somewhere –simple acts of kindness. So, off we go on the journey! In the words of Lane Jack, let’s go make God happy!

Friday | Jerri Oney

Last day. We were so humbled yesterday when we went to a little boy's house. He came to the clinic the day before to get his eyes checked and he was literally almost blind. The family was very poor even by Hondurian standards and could not afford $40.00 for his glasses. Our group leader, Butch, arranged for him to get a real Opthalmologic exam and the glasses ended up costing $200.00 (at cost) because he had such needs. The ministry is going to buy them for him. We went to visit his family after clinic yesterday. He has 2 sisters and a brand new baby brother. The floor was uneven dirt and the house had 2 rooms. The kitchen was outside covered by a tarp and they have no water at all. They walk 5 blocks just to use someone else's bathroom and 7 blocks to wash clothes. We took them food yesterday. We such a great group - we work together so well and have had so much fun together. It is SO rewarding getting to be the hands and feet of Jesus and help these poor people. They wait all day long in the sun and are just SO appreciative. I will miss everyone we have grown close to this week. Off we go to see another 300+ today communicating with our very broken "Spanglish". It hilarious what comes out sometimes! Thank you for your prayers. God us good! Jerri

Day 3 | Jerri Oney

We saw 264 patients today in about 7 hours! They came by the family - not one at a time. We practiced medicine like it's supposed to be-without fear of law suits and very little paper work. The people were so humble and appreciative and the children were just beautiful. Mark and Eric were medicine machines! Cindy had her "first spanish conversation" and she "understood both words!!!" She was trying to say thank you and said you're welcome instead! Oh - and ask her how well fiber one bars work - better yet ask her how 2 of them work!! We had a whale of a bus ride to the village where our clinic was - up the mountain @ 20mph and down @ 80 mph. It was a faith builder for sure. It was a good and productive day and the best part - 58 people accepted Christ as their savior - wow - praise the Lord for His awesome work!

At Camp | Jerri Oney

Today has been extremely smooth for an out of country trip. The flights were on time and uneventful. No rude people. We didn't have to pay for our extra baggage. We got upgraded to first class for no reason (first time for me!) We got through customs without incident. God has blessed us with safety and laughter today.