First Team in Haiti a Success!

Yesterday was a great day of progress. Tom and Wendy, the team’s facilitators, are a wonderful pair and Tom is wonderful at leading a team. The team has a wonderful spirit and a cheerful attitude about every inconvenience or slowness. They and the Haitian workers integrate very well. They seem to have kindred spirits. They even sing Christian songs while they work. They share their lunch with their fellow workers and are concerned about the welfare of everyone involved. At about 1:00 pm, the women on the team have been going to the church to do ministry with the children and help out with an after-school feeding program.

The house foundation is complete; the framing is starting, and the floor will be poured at the same time as framing takes place. All the members of the team have contributed in a marvelous way both in their labor, and in their labors of love and encouragement. One young man named Nick has been a real blessing as a worker and leader in construction. He is a very bright young man, who can outwork anyone! He really knows construction and construction management and he wants to stay here when the team leaves and help me with the completion of the construction project. I think he would be a great help.

The whole team is a Godsend. Since the arrived there have been breakthroughs in every area. Just about everything we pray for comes to fruition. I can feel the prayers of all the people who support this team, and it is fervent and effectual, causing wonderful things to happen.

Well Drilling Equipment & Medical Supplies Ship this week!

I am so excited! Thanks to all of you out there who share our cause...At the end of this week a well-drilling rig and support vehicle are scheduled to be shipped to Nicaragua along with BADLY needed medical equipment and supplies. The well drilling is an huge answer to prayer for clean water on this impoverished coast.

A little extra space in the shipping container has allowed us to ship wheelchairs for children and adults, along with important medical equipment for the clinic in Puerto Cabezas. The chairs we are sending are specially outfitted for the needs of the child AND made for the third world, so they are VERY sturdy, with big wheels to handle the uneven terrain.

Attached are a couple of photos of some of the kids you are helping. Here is a little information about them:

Spina Bifida with Hydrocephalus occurs at a much higher rate in this region than is typical elswhere and may be linked to heavy metals in the contaminated water supply. This 8 year old boy cannot walk or use his arms. There are many other children affected and caring for them is a huge burden on the mothers. Having a wheelchair specially fitted for their needs and for the terrain will change their lives.




Abel was born with a deformed right leg. He is healthy in every other way, and though he is an orphan, the whole village takes very good care of him. Abel longs to play with his friends. You are helping provide him with a lightweight sport wheelchair that will be sure to put a smile on his somber little face!

You are also making it possible for us to send 15-20 adult chairs. Lobster diving is a lucrative occupation for the young men in Puerto Cabezas. Unfortunately it is very dangerous and is killing and disabling these young men at an alarming rate. Here is an informative link about the problem: http://www.cdnn.info/news/safety/s080807.html. "There are as many as 800 debilatated or paralyzed scuba divers...suffered health complications related to decompression sickness" (the "bends")

You are helping so very many people. Thank you, on behalf of all the villagers who will have clean water, the mothers and families who struggle to care for handicapped loved ones, and the little boy who longs to run and play with friends. And from all of us at Forward Edge - your continued friendship means so much to us as we labor together to alleviate suffering and spread the Good News.

Bless you!
April Harris
Donor Relations