Who Am I?

Who am I?  Who am I that I should have my home rebuilt?  Thank you God, Thank you God, Thank you God.  These were the words of a widow Chantel Nichols as we started to build her a new home in place of the one that had been destroyed in the earthquake of Jan. 2010.  She and her 3 children along with various other family members had been living in a tent in the community outside of STEP for the past 2 and a half years suffering thru rainstorms and intense heat in a tent of sorts that you and I would never even take camping.  Her neighbors told us that when a big rain would come the floor was a river of water.  Every single day of construction she was so thankful, coming and going she would give all the workers a kiss on the cheek and say thank you. 

Chantel praising God each day we arrived to build her house

Her living situation before the house was built for her.

On this particular house project we were blessed to have a team from Glenwood Community Church help out in the construction.  They had originally planned to work in Merger but extenuating circumstances prevented that, so they joined a team of Haitians and built a house for Chantel instead.   

L to R: Back Row-Petr, John, Roland, Mario, Jean Robert, Michele, Jean Gardi, Stu, Bill

Front Row-Frito, Beton, Touslin, Emil

The work went so quickly, in only 5 days of work the house was done!  We had gone from the first block on top of the foundation to the last piece of tin on the roof.  The floor was poured, finish carpentry was done, TOUT FINI as they say in Kreyol.  Through great teamwork between the team and the Haitians along with a lot of hard work, Chantel’s house was finished.  

 A lot of steel goes into the houses we are building in case of another earthquake.  The community appreciates how strong the houses are.

Walls going up

Petr and Emil making some shade for Stu :) It was very hot while they were here.

 Having devotions with the workers, my favorite part of the day.

Roland and John

Emil and Mario working on the tin roof

Finished house

From start to finish it was such a blessing to see God working in the family, neighbors, the team in so many ways.  In the end we gave all glory to him in a official giving of the key service on Saturday before the team left.

 Giving the keys to Chantel

Yes a house was built for someone who desperately needed it, but it is also so much more than that.  Through the construction of these homes it is sharing Christ’s love with others in a living and practical way.  It is sharing with people that yes a need was met but our biggest need of paying the price for our sins has already been met through Jesus giving His life for us.  It is giving 12-15 guys work so they can provide for their families.   It is giving hope to people who had none before.  There are still houses to be built in the neighborhood around STEP.  Please join us in praying that through these community outreach programs God’s name would be exalted and people would become followers of Him in a personal way.