Update Feb. 19th

All the children attending our schools are so happy. They are all so thankful for the opportunity to get an education.
Update on what has been happening over the last week. We had a team of Dr.'s visit from the States and opened day clinics in our Jacmel and Chabin schools. They had over 2100 visits from people in need for medical attention over a 4 day period. They also provided medicine to each that was in need. For this we are so great full. Thanks Danny for all your hard work in organizing this and interpreting for the Dr.'s.

Construction has started at our Port au Prince location. All things equal the foundation will be completed in 4 weeks.

We just got word the other day that we will be getting a medical clinic built at our Chabin location. This has been a vision of ours for some time but had no idea when it would be possible to have the funds for a project like this. We got word that a church from N.Korea had contacted the Minister of Culture in Haiti of whom I met on my last trip. They advised him they had the funds to build a medical clinic and asked him if he knew of a location this could be built. The Minister knew of our desire to build a clinic at our Chabin location so directed them to us. They will be sending a team of 50 people to construct the clinic in the middle of June. This will provide a much need facility for the people in the mountains to the north of Jacmel. They will also be building a residence for a Dr. and a nurse to live on location. They will also provide all the medicine and equipment we will need for the clinic and the salaries for the staff at the clinic including a Dr. and a nurse. I will have more information on this as time goes by along with pictures as construction starts. We are so thankful to God for opening doors for the precious people of Haiti.

We are in much need of raising more funds to keep the projects expanding in more regions of Haiti. No donation is too small. Call me if you have any questions. 403-502-5925
God bless you... Bob & Linda

Meetings in Feb./09

Please be advised that I will be at the following locations. If your in the area I would love to see you.
Feb. 21st, Saturday 7PM at the town hall in Killdeer, Sk...
..........................................................................Contact person .... Bob Rusk 306-472-5983

Feb. 22nd. Sunday 10:30 AM Rock Glen, Sk. .....
........................................................................Contact person ... Arnold Manske.. 306-267-4844

Feb. 22nd. Sunday.. 6PM Assiniboia, Sk. Full Gospel Church...
........................................................................Constact person... Pastor Terry... 306-642-4300

Feb. 23rd. Monday. 6PM. ABC Resturant, Medicine Hat, Ab. ... Must book tickets by Thursday the 19th for a head count for the cooks..
.......................................................................Contact person... Charlie Redpath.. 403-527-6980

Mar. 1st. Sunday. 10:30 AM Strathmore, Ab., Full Gospel Church..
.....................................................................Contact person .... Pastor Les ......403-901-0155

I have some openings down the road to speak at your church, club, business or gathering. Drop me a note to set up a date... lifelinehaiti@gmail.com

Where we are and where we are going!!!

We will be going back to Haiti on the 16th of Mar. and returning back to Canada on the 1st of Apr. If your interested in going on a short term mission trip to Haiti we have room on this trip. Contact me ASAP.

The government of Haiti have offered us some land in the north part of Haiti near the Dominican. We still have 16 locations we want to open before we start a school in this area but we will go to have a look at the location in March. They will transfer the land over to us. This is a huge breakthrough.

Where we are at the present time is that we have 22 schools in 16 locations with 3300 students. Some of our schools are used for three functions and sometimes four when missionary Dr. use them for medical clinics. For example our Chabin location has an elementary school, a high school, and an adult school. Our Jacmel school is an elementary school, an adult school and a bible school.

I am excited about some of the things that are starting to come together. For example we have been granted a certificate from the Haitian Government as a Public Recognition Organization which gives us special privileges for shipping things into the country. While we are waiting for the paper work to get done they have give us a permit to start as soon as we are ready.

If anyone reading this would like me to come and make a presentation to your business, school, church, family or foundation please drop me a note from my contact information.

"Thank you for making a difference" We are just getting started.

Schools added and a glimpse of costs in 2008.

Attached is a photo of a map that gives the best detail I have seen on any map in Haiti but could not find one to buy. This will help you get an idea where some of school locations are and where we are looking to expand. If you double click on the map it should expand so you can read the locations.
4 schools added... Our first addition is in Bainet which is 10 miles from Bas Frontal closer to the coast. Looking at the map you will see Jacmel on the south coast. If you go straight to the left of Jacmel and along the cost about an inch you will see Bainet. Our second school added is Baie Orange.. This is on the highway towards our Thiotte school.. This is where the their houses are made of straw. I have been in the region several times and the need is desperate there. Our third location is Anses a Pitres which is past our Thiotte location at the bottom right of the country as you look at the map right on the Dominican boarder. Our FOURTH addition is in City Soleil which is the most dangerous part of Haiti. This is a part of Port au Prince. I feel if we can give them hope for their future in this area with this hope for the future the violence will subside.
Just a glimpse of some of our costs for 2008. Thank you to each of you that have contributed and made a huge difference. All amounts are in Canadian funds.....
Food purchases .................................................$475,242.48
Propane...........................................................$ 4,608.60
Salaries to teachers, cooks, drivers, administration, etc.........$142,689.36
Construction costs................................................$261.525.46
Land purchases....................................................$ 41,789.25
Vehicle purchases..'Water truck, transport truck, motor bikes.....$ 60,807.51
Vehicle repairs and tires.........................................$ 13,538.61
Office supplies, computers, printers, and printing of material....$ 30,095.64
School books......................................................$ 33,500.28
School uniforms...................................................$ 24,770.00
Fuel diesel.......................................................$ 67,883.70

This is an example of just some of our operating costs for 2008. Thank you for making a difference..

JAN. MISSION TRIP RE-CAP.

Watch for my report on the wrap up of our last mission trip. I hope to have it posted before the end of the month with the name of the locations we will be expanding our schools. Our need is huge to keep meeting the need as we expand our vision to help the children of Haiti. If you have any questions please contact me via e-mail....

Meetings with Government Officials and other Charities

We had meetings with Government officials on our return home along with a charity they connected me with. The charity is Food For The Poor. They had expressed the effects of the global down turn and how they are having to cut back. They are in a position to help us with supplying hygiene packages for the children. They also have a supply of school supplies such as desks which will be a huge help for us. I will have further posting on this when it all comes together. The picture shows a warehouse with boxes of supplies like, soap, towels, tooth brushes/tooth paste and much more.

Stop at our Diquine school (Port au Prince)

These pictures of our children in Diquini which is a region of Port au Prince and of the land we have just purchased for the building of our new schools for this region.
We will be building to prepare for 400 children to attend this school.

Visit to our Leogane school

Wrapping up our last few days in Haiti has been a whirlwind but very encouraging. I will have more news later but it looks like we will be able to open up 4 more schools, helping an addition 500 children or more.

We stopped at our Leogane school on the way to PAP for our flight out on Monday. In this picture the children are being taught personal hygiene. The top picture of one of our preschool classes.

Home made wheel barrel

This little boy has a device made of two sticks and a wheel. We have seen them load their supplies on the sticks and push whatever they have collected to their home.

Children gleaning for food.

As we were walking the property yesterday there were a number of the children from the area walking with us. They were finding small sweet potatoes that were underground that were missed during the harvest. Here this little girl is pealing them to prepare for cooking. The people from the area use our land to plant gardens and then we do a crop share with them. Our portion goes to feed our children at the schools.

Property behind the Chabin school

We were able to negotiate a deal with the owner of the land behind our school. We were in great need of land this close to build a cafeteria and a larger kitchen for the school. We tried to purchase this two years ago but the owner was not interested in selling but on this trip in he approached me and offered us a good deal so we secured the purchase yesterday. In the picture you can see the land being surveyed. This is a great addition to our property at this location. There is a great need for a medical clinic in this region so with the purchase of additional property we will have the room to build a medical clinic one day as we have the funds.

Property infront of our school in Chabin

We have been trying to negotiate a deal with Tee Tee, the owner of this land for the past three years. This is the only area close to the school that we could develop into a playground. We have a Foundation out of Calgary that will donate to us all the playground equipment we would ever need for this location. We would build a retaining wall to the front of this land so we can level out this piece. At the end Tee Tee gave us the land and it has been transferred over to the school as of yesterday. A piece of property this size would be worth approx. $1000. U.S. even in this location. For this we are greatful. We will take down the house on the property and recycle the cinder blocks.

Small World

While Charlie & Priscilla were traveling down to Haiti they met Ian & Alice Van Norman from Calgary on their flight. Charlie was telling them about the mission we were involved with in Haiti. Ian & Alice were wanting to meet with me while they were in Haiti so when I was in Port au Prince on the 20th I went for a visit with Ian & Alice and met Ken & Denise Wallis from D'Arcy, Sask. Ken & Denise are hosting teams coming into the mission they are helping out for the next couple of months. It was amazing how many people they knew that were friends of ours. What a small world.

Hike back down the mountain at Savanette a little easier!

The scenery was breathtaking along with the hike up some of the steep areas of the trail going up to the Savanette school. This picture is taken about half way down the trail from the school. You can see a river bottom in front of us and then at the top of the picture is the Caribbean. A walk taking time to enjoy the scenery is about 2 hrs. one way.

One of our cooks at our Savanette school

Preparing a hot meal each day over a wood fire is always a challenge. We are greatful for our cooks that work so hard to prepare the food for the children and clean up after.

Charlie & Priscilla with their sponsored child in Savanette

This is the second time that Charlie and Priscilla have made this challenging hike up to the Savanette school. It is so worth it when we see the children.
The joy expressed on their faces and the joy in their songs makes the trip so worth while.
I encourage other sponsors of children to plan a short term mission trip with me in the future.
Contact me if you are interested.

Making a Difference One Child at a time

This is a picture of a child and a mother we came across as we were hiking up to the Savanette school. This child was very sick and they did not have the money to get her treated at the clinic about a three hour walk from their home. It would cost $25.U.S. to have this child treated and to get the proper medicine. We are so great full that Joe as able to help with the funds to take a tap tap to the mission clinic where she will get the examination and medicine needed for no cost to them. It is with support like this that we are able to make a difference, one child at a time.

Dr. Tiffany and her husband Steve

It was such a blessing to have Dr. Tiffany Keenan and her husband Steve to come along with us. It turned out there was a child in need of medical help but the family did not have the money to take her in. It would have cost $25. U.S. to have her child examined by a Dr. at a clinic a three hour walk away along with the medication. She was able to help her by supplying the funds to get a tap tap to a mission clinic where she will be treated for free. We are looking at setting up some clinics in some of the regions we have our schools. This is such a huge need.

Savanette School Jan.22/09

It was a full day but a wonderful day hiking up to our Savanette school. Many of the children came part way down the mountain to meet us. They were singing all the way down and all the way back up.
Charlie, Priscilla, Bob, Pastor, Nel, Tiffany, Steve, Mike and Joe came with me.

Meeting with Government Ministers in Port au Prince Jan.20/09

The day was long but very fruitful from our meetings with Government officials in Port Au Prince. We have received favor from these men which will speed up our mission to reach and help as many of the poor as we can in Haiti in the shortest possible time.
Above is a photo of my self and my Director of Operations Pastor Wilbert Placide on the right with the Minister of Customs beside me and the Minister of Culture. We will be finalizing our paper work to bring in supplies in containers from Canada. They have given us permission to start even before our paper work is completed. I will be sending out a request for all to start collecting whatever you find that will be helpful for our work in Haiti. Hospital supplies as one day we will have a medical clinic, tools, welding equipment, re bar, cement, wheel barrels, shovels, picks, generators, inverters, solar panels, wind generators, cloths and much more. Also vehicles like a truck and a dirt bike that is road legal at least a 250cc. I can't think of anything that we don't need.
Please drop me a note if you have any questions or find ways you can help organize in your area. We will be collecting and storing up supplies in Medicine Hat till we have enough to fill a container. Together we can make a difference...