Off to South Africa

I plan to head out in ministry this weekend (unless it gets called off).  I plan to go to Fond-des-Blancs and show films.  I plan to spend Sunday night in Port-au-Prince, and catch a flight to New York on Monday.  Tuesday a long flight to Johannesburg, and Wednesday a short hop over to Cape Town.  I plan to attend the OpenMRS Implementers Meetings to be held at the Monkey Valley Beach Nature Resort.  I plan to return to the office on September 14th exhausted and jet-lagged, and ready to put into practice that which I learned at the conference.  I was privileged to attend the past two years, and it was certainly time well spent.  I expect this year will be equally beneficial.

Beautiful Ministry at Dos Pilon

Last weekend I was privileged to minister at the top of a mountain in the Central Plateau.  It was a wonderful time of ministry and to experience the love of our brothers and sisters in Christ!  We gained 4 new sisters in Christ there!

View From The Top Of The Mountain

Unfortunately my portable media player fried.  I preached instead of showing additional films the first night.  Everyone seemed satisfied, although we were all a little bit dissapointed.  Andre came and brought a DVD player the next night so the show could go on.

When I came home, I ordered a replacement portable media player, and it's nearly to Virginia, where my brother will hand-carry it into Haiti for me soon.

Pakistan Flood vs. Haiti Floods/Earthquake

I'd like to compare my thoughts on the differences between the floods in Pakistan and the floods and earthquake in Haiti.  My heart goes out to those that are currently suffering in Pakistan as a result of the recent flooding; the same as my heart goes out to those who continue to suffer from the earthquake here in Haiti.  What first got me thinking was a news report where a Pakistani peasant was interviewed.  They said, "We have lost everything". 

In 2004, there was a major flood in Haiti.  There was a tremendous loss of life and property in the Gonaives area which is the capital of our department (state), and only a few hours away from where I live.  At that time, I had no friends really that I knew in Gonaives.  Gonaives was considered the "scary/dangerous" city that you have to go through on the way to the North of Haiti.  At that time Gonaives was known for their violence and trouble makers.  Just a few months earlier, there as a coup d'état (government overthrow) started by the rebels in Gonaives.  I wonder if this flood was not allowed/sent as punishment by God, or as a cleansing of the violence in the city.  Since this flood, Gonaives has no longer been the "hot-spot" that it was previously!  After this flood, I developed good friends in the cleanup effort, and have ministered regularly in Gonaives since then.

Gonaive Orphanage Kids Rescue During Flood

In 2008, there was another major flood, triggered by a series of three hurricanes.   Again, Gonaives was hit hardest.  This flood was a huge blow to the country.   We were completely cut-off from the rest of Haiti by bridges that were washed out or damaged at Montrouis, Mirebalais, and Ennery.  This made relief efforts much more difficult.  I was able to make several trips to Gonaives, even in the middle of the hurricanes, to assess the situation and provide a little bit of assistance.  I even got to be a part of a rescue mission for missionaries and an orphanage, driving through deep water to get supplies to them, and later to extract them.  Although the loss of life was less than the previous catastrophe just four years earlier, the damage was far worse. I have personal friends who told how God spared their lives though they lost all of their earthly possessions.  Jesus Christ has been their hope and strength to put their lives back together! 

Initial Tent City in Port-au-Prince with Tents Made of Sheets

On January 12, 2010, at nearly 5PM, there was a major earthquake that rocked the Port-au-Prince area. The loss of life and damage was enormous!  Even through the news did a fair job of reporting the situation they could not convey the actual situation.  Images were shown of damaged or destroyed buildings, and smashed cars, and people living under tents made out of bed sheets.  They could not convey the smell of rotting human flesh, telling of the lives that were lost under the collapsed buildings.  Even during this crisis, the people of Haiti have pulled together and drawn closer to Christ!  A national fast was called in place of the sinful festivities of the Kanaval holiday.  Evenings were filled with singing of praise and prayers to God. 

 Evangelistic Films in Front of National Palace During Carnival

On the six-month anniversary after the quake, news reporters again reported how bad the situation was and how little cleanup work was done, and how bad things were here.  One report clearly told the story of the Haitians hope being grounded in their God.  Jesus Christ has been their hope and strength to put their lives back together!

Although all Haitians lost family or friends in the earthquake, and many have lost all of their earthly possessions, they have not lost everything! They still have their faith in Christ which continues to daily carry them through the situation and into the unknown future.  Please continue to pray for Haiti to put their faith more and more in Christ as their Savior!

Please join me in prayer for the people of Pakistan, that the flood will allow them to meet this same Christ that has been the hope of Haiti in recent times of crisis.  Although many in Pakistan have lost all of their earthly possessions, pray that they would be able to say they still have Jesus!

Well Drill All Fixed Up

Well, today will be the final test of the well drill truck, as we attempt to take it to St Marc (and beyond) for an inspection for the renewal/transfer of insurance.  Thanks for your prayers!

The Old Ford Well Drill Truck

Well Rig Team Update

Sunday was an exciting day of worshiping with the people of Deschappelles.  This photo illustrates a crowd of people waiting anxiously for the sun to set low enough to see James' films Le Combat and True Security on the projector screen we set up.  The evening was perfect for drawing a large group of people in the make-shift outdoor theatre.  The evening was spent together watching films about Jesus and His teachings.  The space was full of eager excitement- many people even assembled in the streets. 

People Waiting to Start the Films

We estimated that 350 people were in attendance to hear the message.  During an intermission between the films, Joe gave a short sermon.  During this time, 20-30 people came to the front of the audience and committed their lives to Christ.  It was an electrifying!

Well Drill Repair

One of the objectives of our time here was to do significant work on a well drilling rig, which upon its restoration to the fine running machine it once was, will be used to provide fresh artesian water to people in Haitian refugee camps.  Joe, James, Michael, some nice folks from HAS, and I were able to get a lot accomplished.  In this photo, James is grinding a gear off of a shaft that is the beginning of the intricate system of gears that help to operate the rig.  Joe is providing support by keeping the gear assembly stationary.  In addition to the getting several gears changed or re-worked, were were able to get the brakes working properly.  Turn signals were also installed (Michael noted that they stand out because they're obviously new- and on a 1960's model truck).  We were able to make lots of progress on the rig this week.  With a few more hours of love and sweat, it should be working like a top!  

Well Drill Progress

The guys (Joe and team) continue to work on the well drill.  They have made several significant strides forward.  They have...

1.) Got the engine in the truck running
2.) Got the engine on the well drill running
3.) Replaced some gears and bushing on the well drill (the ones to raise the mast)
4.) Straightened a mast support arm
5.) Rebuilt the truck brake master cylinder
6.) Went to St Marc and bought brake lines, turn signals and filters
7.) HAS found the original paperwork for the well drill truck (Good news; it was marked as private, and perhaps we won't have to pay the initial tax from importing it.)
8.) Got a letter of sale from the Hospital Albert Schweitzer business office
9.) Got the key for the truck
10.) Swam in the pool

They are working on the following...
1.) Replacing the brake flex lines on the truck
2.) Starting to renew/transfer the truck paperwork (Joe went to St Marc this morning)
3.) Cleaning the diesel fuel filter and fresh diesel fuel to diagnose/solve why the engine cut off yesterday

This afternoon we plan to meet up with Pastor Rodrique to go to a church across the river to show films.  This is not Delonye, but another place.  We will go via Pointe Sonde.

Thanks for your continued prayers and encouragement.

Haitian Auto-Garage (Joe working on the brake master cylinder)

We arrived here in Haiti on Wednesday, July 21 and our adventure began in P-AU-P where we met one of Joe's buddies to take us to his jeep. After we finally got the jeep running we went into town and began shopping for needed supplies for the well drilling rig and some groceries for when we got to James' house. I got to experience how money is exchanged in Haiti by watching Joe find a guy on the street while we were in the back of a truck ridding through town. I'm not sure what happened but Joe was not pleased with what the first guy had to offer so he found another man that gave him more for his money. After we had our supplies we began our 4 hour trip through the country and over the mountain to Hospital Albert Schweitzer (HAS) and where James' home is close by. About half way up the mountain we noticed we had gotten a flat tire and had to pull off the road to put on the spare. While we were fixing it a near by family came out to inspect what our problem was and to try and help us. The people were very friendly and very helpful. Joe thought it would be funny to get me and Micah involved with the people so he told the oldest boy there, who knew a little English to arm wrestle me. Well he was fairly strong but not strong enough and I beat him, but after I had beaten him, his father wanted to challenge me. At first i was like "oh great, this should be fun" but I thought I would give it a shot and so I beat him too. After we had gotten to James' it was late so we just had dinner sat around for a bit then called it a night. On our 2nd day we got a tour of HAS and spoke with the director, Ian. Joe got some news that he wasn't planning on getting, but it was still good and so we worked on the rig most of the day, and once we had done what we could that day, we ended it like day 1 with a good dinner and some much needed rest.

Visitors have landed

I'm looking forward to a few visitors this next week.  It consists of my brother Joe and his two helpers.  VMM Haiti PMG is buying a well drill from Hospital Albert Schweitzer (HAS).  Joe and crew are coming to recondition this old well drill.

I talked to Joe earlier today and they have arrived in Port-au-Prince, and got his Trooper running.  They plan to come out to my house tonight.

Films in Bombardopolis

I returned yesterday from a long weekend trip (starting Thursday) to the far North West of Haiti.

I got to see some beautiful sites.  This included the mountains and the sea.  And the nine people that gave their lives to Christ, and the two people that rededicated their lives.

It was a long and tiring drive.  Everything went well on the 8 hour drive (one way) of about 100 miles.  The old truck made the trip without hesitation!  It even drove down to La Platforme (where my brother Joe used to live).  This was the first time I ever drove there.  They have just built a new road, and I needed to try it out.  I am praying this will be the last long trip for the old Beast.

Please pray the new vehicle arrives as planned (probably early August), and the accessories also finish showing up about the same time.

Dubreuil Spring Capping Project

If you noticed my reply to email was slow the past couple weeks, let me simply say I was having fun with teams.  It truly was a blessing to have my dad and mom come for a visit to Haiti.  That was followed by a team from Fellowship Bible Church in Longview, TX. 

The first challenge of the trip was getting the materials on-site.  I decided to go up two days before the team so I could take it slow with a HEAVY load of pipe, and then go make sure all of the other materials and last minute details of preparation were already taken care of before the team's arrival.  Thursday was a national holiday so it make it convenient to take the extra time for these tasks.  The team arrived according to plan (a few hours later than expected) on Saturday.

Unloading the Pipe

The main goal of the Dubreuil team was to cap a spring and pipe the water down to the village.  This was a monster task that God saw through to completion ahead of schedule.  Monday was the first work day, and we got the old spring caps tied together (with provision for the new spring cap to connect), and water running down into the old cistern.

The remaining days included finishing the new spring cap, and connecting it into the system, running the pipe the rest of the way to the village, digging, more digging, and then some more digging to run the pipe.  We also got the old shower house and sinks and water fountains all working.  This included some major work to unplug the drains, and some of the old water supply pipes too.  You would be surprised what makes it into pipes to plug them up.

The secondary goal of the team was to have a marriage seminar, and VBS for the children, and to participate in revival services each evening.  It was a fun and busy time for all!

James Accepting his Appreciation Gift (a delicious pineapple)

Thanks for your prayers for that project.  Know that God was listening and answered without hesitation.

Out on the lake at Roche Mulatre

I had a marvelous time at Roche Mulatre this past weekend.  I drove to Peligre, and parked the truck.  Then we got in a little motor boat, and crossed the lake with the film equipment.  Then we loaded the film equipment into a dugout log.  The folks from the church paddled the log up the river fighting the current.  Those of us that could walk, hiked over the mountain to Roche Mulatre.  Because the rains are late coming this year, the lake was very low, and just a river at some places.

On Saturday morning I hiked over the mountain towards Las Calbase. It was a hot, grueling, sunny, scenic hike.  I went along with some friends to meet Brother Andre.  Because the lake was low, they had him hike in this way.  Normally he would have come up on a motor boat and/or log.

James on the Top of the Mountain With the Dry Lake in the Background

We showed films on Friday night, Saturday afternoon for the kids, and Saturday night.  On Saturday night after films I taught some of them how to play “Capture the Flag.”  It was fun, except the Haitian variety of the game involves throwing rocks.  Fortunately nobody was hurt!

On Sunday, when we left Roche Mulatre, I decided to attempt swimming/floating down the river rather than climbing over the mountain.  It was a daring venture.  The scary part was getting out into the river.  It required crawling through deep mud for about 30 feet.  I was afraid I was going to get stuck a couple times.  Fortunately I made it through to the river.  I was exhausted by then.  After that I floated and swam (when I had enough energy) down the river.  I must have gone a kilometer.  I couldn’t go ashore because of all the mud along the bank.  I went down far enough and there was eventually a rock sticking out in the water, and I was able to climb up it, and catch the foot trail the rest of the way.  Had I got in trouble, the dugout log was coming behind me, and I could maybe have caught a ride.

I’m looking forward to the arrival of some very special folks coming.  My mom and dad are scheduled to arrive here this Friday.  I’m really looking forward to their time here.  It’s been a long time since they have been to Haiti!  My brother Joe and some other friends will be along, but will go their separate directions shortly thereafter.

Thanks again for your continued prayers!  God is listening!

More Woman's Conference and Team Pictures

James trying to make a sewing machine work. 
What did those girls do to it this time!?

Setting up to show films

A special thanks to MariLu for the pictures.

Team Updates

I've occupied my time recently with two teams; a big, long one and a little, short one.  The big, long team was made up of six women from Canada.  They came to present a woman's conference for the Oasis of Faith Christian Church and the Artibonite/Plato Central VMM churches.  There were nearly 100 women present at the conference, including some ladies from the local area.  The meetings were held in Deschapelles at the La Foi Apostolik church.  The craft/skill portion of the conference this year was sewing.  They split the group into two and simultaneously taught one group how to do embroidery and the other group was taught how to sew using hand-crank sewing machines. 

 Mme Alberoi Learning How To Sew

The foreign ladies camped out at my house.  They even decorated my house, including special ornaments; like sweaty bras hung to dry.  I joked with the Haitian pastors that I would give them the easy job, of hosting the 100 Haitian ladies, and I would do the hard job of hosting the 6 foreigners.  It was a challenging and fun time at the bachelor pad.

James Having Lunch With The Woman's Team

The second and shorter, smaller team was made up of Mike and Linwood from Virginia.  They came to visit with me this past weekend.  The hospital provided transportation out to HAS and back to Port-au-Prince again, taking an additional responsibility off of my hands.  They arrived on Friday evening, and left this morning.  On Saturday they helped me weld my winch bracket back in place that had broken while getting unstuck during the ladies team after a big truck ran me into the ditch.  While I was welding the bracket back in place, I accidentally struck the radiator with the back of the welding torch, where the plastic insulation was broken off.  This burn a whole in the radiator and the water leaked out.  We soldered it the best we could, and then put a JB Weld blow-out patch over the hole.  It held together for going to show films that night, and will hopefully last many more miles too.  On Sunday we went to the local church, rested and went swimming in the hospital pool.  In my opinion it's still a little too cold for swimming, but they thought it was perfect temperature!


Thanks for your continued prayers!  Know that God is listening!

New Vehicle Fundraising Video

We are forging on in the new vehicle fund-raising process. Kerry from Fellowship Bible Church has done a great job in producing a fund-raising video. Check it out!

New Vehicle Promotional Video by Kerry

You can make a donation to the new vehicle in either of the following ways...

1. VMM Online - Go to http://giving.mennoniteusa.org/organization/detail/1810, put "Haiti PMG vehicle fund" in the comment box.
2. Mail a Check to Virginia Mennonite Missions - Make check payable to "Virginia Mennonite Missions" and put “Haiti PMG vehicle fund” in the memo line. Mail to...
   Virginia Mennonite Missions
   901 Parkwood Drive
   Harrisonburg, VA 22802
3. Mail a Check to Fellowship Bible Church - Make check payable to "Fellowship Bible Church" and put “Haiti truck project” in the memo line, or on an attached note. Drop it in the offering plate at FBC or mail to...
   Fellowship Bible Church
   4600 McCann Road
   P.O. Box 9340
   Longview, TX 75608

Standard Long Wheel Base Land Cruiser without Customizations

Upcoming Events to Pray For

Here is my current schedule of activities you can pray for...

Upcoming Events	StartDate	EndDate
Films - Maissade	3/19/2010	3/22/2010
Films - Salas	3/26/2010	3/29/2010
Films - Awo Dodard	3/31/2010	3/31/2010
Films - Payen	4/1/2010	4/1/2010
Oasis of Faith Womans Conference	4/7/2010	4/14/2010
Films - Cite de Fwi - Desjardins	4/15/2010	4/16/2010
Films - Preval	4/17/2010	4/17/2010
Films - Cite de Fwi - Desjardins	4/30/2010	5/1/2010
Films - Beke	5/1/2010	5/1/2010
Films - Kay Charles	5/6/2010	5/7/2010
Films - Roche Mulatre	5/7/2010	5/10/2010
Films - Pon Koupon	5/15/2010	5/15/2010
Films - Ter Blanche	5/22/2010	5/22/2010
Films - Liancourt	5/31/2010	5/31/2010
FBC Mission Trip (Tentative dates)	6/4/2010	6/13/2010
Films - Dos Pilon	8/27/2010	8/30/2010
Films - Fond-des-Blancs	9/3/2010	9/6/2010
Films - Deslandes	10/29/2010	11/1/2010
Films - PAP (Oasis of Faith)	11/25/2010	11/29/2010

Please pray for safety in travel, the old truck to keep running, safety and continued function of film equipment, and especially, for God to accomplish his work as I attempt to do my part!

Thanks for your prayers!

Seth Hodge leaves early

Seth Ryan Hodge, 17, of Love, went to be with his Lord and Savior, with who he had a personal relationship, on Saturday, March 6, 2010, as a result of an automobile accident.

Seth and his dad (Mark) were planning to come help me out in Haiti this summer, thus, the family has suggested, in lieu of flowers, that memorial contributions be made to the Haiti Relief Fund, c/o Mountain View Mennonite Church, P.O. Box 208, Lyndhurst, VA 22952. These funds will be used towards the replacement vehicle.

See the complete obituary at the News Virginian.

New 2010 Land Cruiser HZJ78L-RJMRS Ordered

I placed the down payment on the new Land Cruiser last Saturday. The new vehicle will cost $65,000 including all customizations, taxes and fees. We figure we're about half-way there on our fund-raising.  Although I've given the down payment, that doesn't mean I'm driving it yet.  What that does mean is that Toyota is building it and shipping it to Haiti.  It should be here and ready for me by August.  We have until August to raise the additional funds to complete the purchase.

The Old Truck Hauling a Medical Team

We are seeking gifts of any size to make this purchase.  You can make a donation in either of the following ways...

1. VMM Online - Go to http://giving.mennoniteusa.org/organization/detail/1810, put "Haiti PMG vehicle fund" in the comment box.
2. Mail a Check to Virginia Mennonite Missions - Make check payable to "Virginia Mennonite Missions" and put “Haiti PMG vehicle fund” in the memo line. Mail to...
             Virginia Mennonite Missions
             901 Parkwood Drive
             Harrisonburg, VA  22802
3. Mail a Check to Fellowship Bible Church - Make check payable to "Fellowship Bible Church" and put “Haiti truck project” in the memo line, or on an attached note. Drop it in the offering plate at FBC or mail to...
             Fellowship Bible Church
             4600 McCann Road
             P.O. Box 9340
             Longview, TX 75608

Standard Long Wheel Base Land Cruiser without Customizations

 I appreciate the way you lift me and my ministry up in prayer.

Haiti Eyes - by Karen Treacy (Member of Medical Team # 1)

    Haiti is eyes.  Red eyes from the smoke and dust that hangs in the air.  Worried eyes that swivel constantly to check on their remaining family.  Weary eyes of people trying to sleep on the concrete pavement, on streets where there is neither quiet nor rest.  Eyes yellow from disease, eyes that don’t focus, needing glasses they will never have.

    Haiti is hands.  Shy children’s hands reaching to touch my white skin and strange hair.  Hands swinging sledge hammers, salvaging expensive rebar out of chunks of rubble.  Hands reaching to beg as we pause briefly before entering the maelstrom of traffic.  Hands sorting through debris, collecting small broken items, clinging to the delusion that they can piece their world back together, frozen and unable to think beyond the moment.

    Haiti is broken.  Broken buildings, roofs draped like a shroud over unimaginable fragments, concealing the sights but not the smells.  Floors collapsed like a stack of pancakes, roofs tilted at impossible angles.  Gateways standing incongruously in the middle of their walls, Jericho walls, lying flat and broken.  Hoods of broken cars nose out of their concrete cocoons, tires already stripped and everything, everywhere the gray of powdered lime, cement breaking down to its elements.  Broken neighborhoods, where not one house is left undamaged, not one family left intact.

    Haiti is cacophony.  Half a dozen vehicles trying to drive side by side on a two lane road, peppered with horns, sirens, and shouts.  Destruction on an immense scale, a visual barrage, yet each demolished structure is a family’s personal disaster.  Haiti is a mob of people crowding around a clinic table, shouting to be seen.  Haiti is military at road intersections, each in a different uniform.  Haiti is tap-taps, bus-cabs painted in brilliant colors, each one unique, all crowded to the roof lines.  Tent cities, acres of sheets and tarps, a kaleidoscope of materials, but all small, crowded, inadequate.

    Haiti is wounds.  Infected, gangrenous wounds, signaling the death of a limb.  Wounded earth, where dry avalanches slip down a desiccated hillside to a parched river bed.  Even the tombs are gashed open and gaping, not to give up their dead but to receive more and more.  Cuts and gouges, healing on the outside, raw and bleeding within.

    Haiti is eyes.  Frustrated eyes, when I cannot understand their Creole nor they my English.  Grateful eyes when we finally communicate and can offer help.  Bright peeping eyes of children, ducking and giggling when they spy me watching them.  Friendly eyes when we greet them in bungled Creole, averted eyes on the ones who have lost hope along with the world they knew.

 

A Haitian Child at the Delmas 40B Tent City

Dr Hatter's Medical Team and Joe Depart

The final medical team that was here to assist after the earthquake crisis is waiting for their delayed flight at the Port-au-Prince airport.  They have packed up left over supplies for storage for the next medical team.  It sounds like they all had a really good time.

After several weeks, Joe (my brother) is also departing Haiti.  It was a lot of fun working together here!  I look forward to his future return; for short or long term.

I plan to go to Port-au-Prince tomorrow to finish packing up the team house and pick up my film equipment and truck.  I plan to return to my normal rural film showing schedule. I'm anxious to see if folks will be extra open to the Gospel in the countryside like they were in the city.

James Safely Home

I've safely returned home after a long and tiring trip to Texas.  I had a wonderful time, and was able to give folks there a real glimpse of what it's like here in Haiti.  I left my truck with the medical team, and hope to go pick it up this weekend.

The current medical team (Dr Hatter's) is doing OK.  Joe was feeling sick today, and slept most of the day.  He was up and at the airport to meet me when I arrived though!

Revival Generation Outpouring TV Interview

Did you miss my interview on the The Revival Generation Outpouring Television Show last night? If you did, or if you want to watch it again, you can watch it online at...
mms://media14.cqservers.com/bradradio/rgo/rgo_02-20-10_web.wmv

I'm also on the front page of Brad Huddleston's site...
http://www.bradhuddleston.com

The missions conference at Fellowship Bible Church continues to go well and to be a time of encouragement, refreshing and growth.

Medical team update-Very productive days

We have had two days of clinic now, and just figured out how to update the blog (James isn't here to babysit us). We saw 135 patients yesterday, and 131 today. About 5-10% are earthquake related conditions, with the rest being "business as usual". In the spirit of Christ, we have been able to minister to body and spirit.
We are all healthy, and getting along well. Except for insect bites, there have been no maladies on the team. And, we saw American Airlines flying out today! Virginia Mennonite Missions switched so that we could fly out of Port Au Prince next week, so it was a welcome sound and sight to see and hear that jet taking off!
We are all very blessed to be in service here to God's people, the Haitians. We look forward to the work days ahead. Thank you for your prayers!

James on the AZT Television Network

Coming up This Weekend on The Revival Generation Outpouring:
James Arbaugh, Missionary to Haiti

We've all seen the devastation of the recent earth earthquake in Haiti. This weekend we'll have a first hand update from Haiti when Missionary James Arbaugh joins Brad Huddleston on The Revival Generation Outpouring Television show. The show airs on the AZT Network Saturday at 8:00 pm and is repeated Sunday at 11:00 pm. The show is also available here at www.bradhuddleston.com 24/7 so be sure to visit us this weekend if you're unable to catch this episode on television.

http://www.bradhuddleston.com/2010/02/watch-missionary-james-this-weekend/

James has arrived early in Longview

After a grueling trip across the Dominican Republic by bus, and some early flights I have safely arrived in Longview, Texas, about 5 hours ahead of schedule.  I'm looking forward to an exciting time of ministry at the Fellowship Bible Church World Outreach Weekend.

James to Santo Domingo

I´m safely to Santo Domingo. I´ve checked into the Hotel Don Bien Eme. (They took the sign down so my spelling might be off.) I´ve got a nice private room with my own toilet and water spigot. Pretty nice for 250 pesos. I´ve got a taxi driver scheduled for tomorrow morning at 5AM to take me to the airport for $20 US.