Family Fun!

In spite of all the stress and turmoil that comes along with living in Haiti, we are able to enjoy our kids and have some fun with them (with the help of a LOT of adult supervision). The first two pictures are everyone excited for an ice cream cone, and for most of the kids, it was the first time in their life having ice cream. We were actually able to find someone with a real ice cream making machine in HAITI! We all enjoyed the ice cream cones (even if they did melt before we could get it in our mouths) and even sharing the same cone. :)


And what better way to follow ice cream than roasting hot dogs and making smores?!

Smore's anyone? :)

Even the puppy (who Sabrina thinks is her puppy) had some fun riding the dump truck.

Beautiful!

This is Evencia Francois. She was born on July 24, 2008. Her mother left her when she was eight months old and died this past April. Her father is unknown. Evencia was bought by her grandmother. We had trouble getting her to eat and drink the first day she was here but the second day she is eating and drinking well. She cannot walk yet. She weighs about 11 lbs.

Our Land

The new land is ours! It's hard to believe we made the deal! Of course, we've only made the down payment and we have another $30,000 to go but the deal is made and it was a great deal. It's a big house on a large piece of land with lots of room to grow.

Now, I guess, its time to start building and working. After a quick walk through at the new house, and beginning to make a plan, the first thing to do will be build a security wall around the property. It already has a short wall but this will need to be extended up several feet to make our children safe. And then we'll need to work on adding the electrical and plumbing, do some tile work inside, and plaster and paint the ceilings and walls. Then build some kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, add windows and doors, get some appliances and build or buy some furniture AND THEN WE CAN MOVE IN THE CHILDREN. All this needs to be done by the first of August when our rent is due again on the current Adoption Home.

We're very excited to have our newest missionary, Audrey Ullery, back with us after a short break in the states. She's getting her program with our girls going again. That brings us to another need. There is no way we are going to be able to complete the babies new home AND build a girls home by the beginning of August. So pray for wisdom as we decide what to do with our 29 beautiful girls.

Moving down the road to our boys' home. Our older boys house is looking awesome. The boys and a group from near Moline, IL have been working all week building closets and desks, and painting, and making their dorm look like a real home. They've also spruced up the mission compound by adding some color and painting some doors, and railings. It looks great.

Shipment

Enjoy these pictures of our shipment of four crates of supplies arriving at our home in Port-de-Paix. Unfortunately, it was quite a rainy day.

Here come the rice and beans.

Look at all the rice and beans!!!

Our interns separating all the clothes.

Praise the Lord for diapers and wipes!!!!

Praise the Lord!

We will have the new land/house in our possession this week. We have paid half down and we're going to pay the other half on contract. The owner also has a depot (shed) full of cement, steel and building materials that we might need. He has offered to sell us what we need of those materials on credit in order to finish the house that is already started on the land. Now as much as this sounds good, we have not yet had to borrow to build anything. We have had to borrow occasionally for food, transportation, or payroll during the last thirteen years but we've always built only when we could raise the money. I truly prefer not to borrow, so pray with me for wisdom. We feel this is the right decision to get these children into a home where the ceilings are not falling in and they aren't so badly overcrowded.

Sabrina's adoption papers have been signed off and are ready for Keith and I to pick them up! We can go and apply for her visa to travel to the U.S.! We are over joyed that this wait is finally over and that our family may now be and travel together!!!!!!

Our Month of May... and more to come!

We attended the annual mission conference with Globe International in Pensacola, FL, and Pastor Andy was able to travel with us. The whole family was able to be together except Sabrina who is still in Haiti.


After the conference, Keith and I got to visit San Francisco for the first time in our lives. We were visiting a family who adopted a young girl from Haiti, Stephaine. This young lady has been through a lot in her life (we don't really want to go through it on our blog) and her parents have asked us to take her back to Haiti to train her to be a daughter.

Tiffany and Hermelin were able to come in to Haiti for the first time since they were married in July 2007! It was so wonderful having them here for a week! All of our family(minus our future daughter-in-love, Jessica) together for the first time in over two years!!!!!!!

Solange and her family! :)

April...

Here are a few looks from our month of April...
We had a group of students from Seagertown, PA, visit us. The first picture is Patrick (Keith's brother who brought the group in) and Micah (an EMT visiting) doing surgery on Willy's foot. He went swimming in the ocean with only his flip flops (I was in Port-au-Prince; otherwise, this would not have happened) and got bit by something posionous on the heel of his left foot. We had to cut the spot open, drain it, and leave it open for the rest of the fluid to drain. He was in a lot of pain! We did a lot of praying! We were hoping and praying that it would heal on its own. And it did! We wanted to thank everyone for their prayers that it was not worse than what we could handle here in this third world country!

This second one is baby Max and I loving on each other during a mission's prayer meeting held by the FVCS group of students of Seagertown, PA.

The last one are the three youngest ones still living in our home. Thomas still needs a family to adopt him. From left to right- Chelda, Max, and Thomas.

We just keep growing! :)

Here is our newest addition! Her name is Chelda Agenord. She was born on December 8, 2008. (Just a day older than Thomas). Both her mother and father are dead. She has three brothers in our boy's home (pictured below) while there are five other siblings living outside with her oldest brother (21 yrs.old).

James - 5 years old

Osias - 12 years old

Sevens - 8 years old

A New Home

Dear Family,
I wish you could all come visit us. I want you to see our mission so you can have a better mental picture of what is going on here. After 12 years, the mission is simply busting at the seams. As many of you know we recently completed an addition to In The Father's Hand Children's Home at our original piece of land, to make room for our group of boys, now numbering almost 50. A few years ago we rented a house for all the babies that Father kept bringing to us who needed a home while they waited for adoption. Then Father started sending us girls who were being abused or abandoned by their families. Overcrowding was already an issue when the landlord told us he was selling the house we were renting. Shortly thereafter several areas of the ceilings fell and we had to move the 18 babies into the house that Cindy and I are renting between the two properties. We have left the toddlers and girls in the creche home pending an answer to our housing issue. It was obvious that it was time to do something to provide a permanent home for Grace Children Adoption Home and to begin our separate girls home for the children in our care. Adding to the urgency to move the babies into another home that is safe for them is Cindy's hearing. By no means is Cindy being selfish, but she needs her home back to prevent further hearing loss. The hearing doctor told her she is damaging her hearing aid with the constant noise. As we have searched over the months, we have found several options and possibilities, but no fair price. On Saturday April 4th, Solange, our national director of the adoption home, took Cindy and I to see a large piece of land with an unfinished home. It's within a short walk of our other facilities. We really believe this could be the house that God has for our children, fair price and all. The house is not a large home but is built so that finishing it and adding on what would be needed would be easy. The one thing we really like about this property is that there is a big yard. There is enough space in the back to build another house for the girls and enough yard in the front to have a playground for the children to play in. We feel that this is the home. But this is an opportunity we could miss without your help. Another buyer is interested in the property and the seller will not hold the house for us. We believe we are to finish the existing house on that land and then build the new home for the girls'home. To buy the land with the unfinished home is $60,000. To finish the existing home will be approximately $25,000. Unfortunately, we don't have the luxury of time. We must produce at least $60,000 right away to purchase this property. Another consideration is our need to move the children out of the current creche house before our lease is up in August. The landlord insists he wants to sell it but even if he would let us rent it again it would cost us another $6000 to rent it for another year; $6000 that could be used to purchase our own property. Cindy and I are asking you, even in this time of econmic difficulties, to give once again. There is a peace about this home. We believe this is the property God wants us to have. This area of the community is developing so fast that land is very hard to find. That this particular place became available now is something we consider a "God thing." This will be a place where we can house the babies and toddlers and start the girls' home (which we desperately need), another place where we can continue to show the value of family to this country of Haiti. Your family here needs your help. We have been offered a matching grant of $15,000 to help kick this fund raising effort off. If we can QUICKLY bring in $15,000, the matching grant will put us at $30,000, which will bring us half-way to the goal of $60,000. We NEED YOU TO GIVE FROM THE BLESSINGS FATHER HAS GIVEN YOU. Please consider how much you are blessed. PRAY!!! ASK FATHER WHAT YOU SHOULD GIVE. There is an old saying, "You can't out-give God," and it is absolutely true. As a pastor once said, (I paraphrase), "I have good news and bad news. The good news is God has given us all the money we needed for the new furnaces. The bad news is most of it is still in your pocket book." Here is an opportunity to show your faith in His provision for your family as you give sacrificially to help those even more in need. You can donate on-line at www.gme.org. Designate your gift for "new building." Or you can make your check payable to: Lashbrook Family Ministries, and mail to: Globe International, P.O. Box 3040, Pensacola, FL 32516-3040.
If you have any thoughts, or ideas, or are interested in bringing in a building team, don't hesitate to call or send me an email. And remember, it's all "In the Father's Hands!"
(Front view of the home.)

Engagement

We have some exciting news that we would like to share with you. Our son Daniel is now engaged to Jessica Fager who moved here last May to work with us as an intern. We could not be more happy for the two of them as they are beginning to make plans for their future together. They will be getting married sometime this fall and continuing in their ministry from there. We ask that you join us in praying for them as they make plans and continue to walk in Father's obedience for their lives.

Our New Kids

This is our new baby boy that came to us on March 2nd. His name is Max. His mother died with an infection after giving birth to him. His birthday is October 14, 2008. His father brought him along with all the papers we needed. He is four months old and eigh 11lbs. He looks healthly.

In the last week, we've taken three young ladies into our home. Edna (15), Servina (10), and Sergeline (9). The two younger ones came to us with the typical story of Haiti- the mother is dead and the father can not take care of them. We also believe the father is dying of a disease so we took these two in. Edna, however, is a different story. At 15 years old, Edna comes to us with the knowledge that she will never be adopted, yet she will become our daughter here in Haiti. But this is also another sad, typical story of why we, in the past, have not gotten a lot of girls. After both of Edna's parents died, she had become basically a slave both physically and sexually and came to the Creche weeping to Solange for help. Of course, my belief right now is for us to be Jesus to her and to live His word out of Mark 9 where Jesus is talking to the disciples and leaders and orders them to "Bring him to me." So we brought Edna here where she will be free of the abuse and slavery and she will be free to become the daughter that she deserves to be!

(Servina and Sergeline)

(Edna)

Our kids are growing!

Baby Thomas! Beautiful and healthy!

Marc, loving those bandana! :)

Our beautiful young ladies living in our adoption home with the other girls are growing up! We are in need of bras and training bras for young ladies in our home. If you would like to help, please let us know!

Check this out! See what Keith can do with lumber from the crates that we use to ship supplies over to haiti. Keith made Solange a beautiful table.

Creche Crisis

We have talked about the need of a new Crèche home. We now find ourselves in a situation today that brings our previous need for a new home to whole new urgency. As we were preparing for church yesterday morning we had a phone call from Solange, the director of the crèche. She told us that the ceiling on the second floor porch, in the babies' area, had fallen down. The babies were at home getting dressed for church but none were on the porch at that time. Cindy, Vance and I went over to look at the situation. About a six foot diameter section of the ceiling fell on the porch where our babies always play. As I was checking out the damage and poking on the other ceilings I found that two of the other rooms, in which the babies sleep, could fall at anytime. So the only option we had was to move the 12 babies into our home with the 4 we are already taking care of, and do it without delay. We had to move all of our family's belongings into our bedroom and into the storage room to make space for them. So what was once our living room is now the baby's bedroom and the sitting room is now their play area. Now we have 18 children and 8 adults living in our 3 bedroom home. Along with this we have 7 day staff and 3 night staff that will be in and out of our home. We do not know what the Father's plan is. We hear about the economy in America, with our ears, but we know in our heart and in our spirit that God's economy, Father's kingdom, has not fallen. For twelve years he has provided for us here. We do not know how Father is going to provide at this time. We do know, however, that we are able, by His hand, to feed over 700 meals per weekday (400 on weekends), and pay 62 staff members per month, while taking care of a family of 97 every day; everything from schooling and health needs to clothing and food. We constantly sit in amazement at the goodness of Father's promises for those who obey Him. We do not know where the hundreds of thousands of dollars needed for our children will come from, but we do know that it is out there, already prepared for us by the Father. You may not be able to financially give at this moment, but we do not have one supporter that is not able to get down on their knees and go before the Father in prayer. God is not taken by surprise nor is He ever late in providing what His children need, we just know that our family includes you, your love, your prayers, and your support.

An Addition and Update

Donaldson Cadet, born July 27, 2008, came to the creche on Jan. 24th. His mother died eleven days prior to his coming. He is healthly though. His father just did not want him to die. He has 3 siblings. The father said that the mother was cooking a meal for them and then, all of a sudden, feeling weak, went to lay down and died. In haiti, we cannot tell you the cause of death. This boy sure is a double fingers sucker. We are thinking about changing his name to Anthony. He does not have a birth certificate yet.

Here is a picture of Marc. You see that he has put on ten pounds in two weeks. Praise the Lord!

Here is a picture of Thomas. He is doing so well!

A New Boy

We have a new boy; his name is Estephea Pierrevil. He was dropped off by his mother at a market downtown with a badly burnt hand and arm. Pastor Andy went downtown and saw him there. He brought him to us and then went looking for relative and found the mother. She says that he was born September 2, 2007, but we find it hard to believe that he is that young according to as many teeths he has. He eats, walks and play very well. He was so dirty; oh my, was he dirty. We had to give him a bath, and you wouldn't believe how much dirt came off of him. They say he is the youngest of 3 (one brother and one sister older) and that his father is unknown. He is so cute (as they all are) and loves Daniel. The last photo is his arm after cleanup. Alot of his skin peeled away.

Christmas in Haiti

Christmas was so successful in Haiti! Santa came to see the good children in Haiti. A group from Kansas brought enough gifts for each of our children to have three gifts apiece and also to help fill a toybox for each of the homes. Toyboxes were built by Nolan and John. It is exciting to see toyboxs full of toys. It was exciting to see smiles on these children's faces. I cannot express the smiles.
the boys home

the Creche

the group

See how much Marc has grown in 25 days...