Huh?

"What do prisoners use to call each other? "... .........Cell phones.

The reason

Please forgive me for not adding to the blog as I had intended to. The reason is because for the past two weeks I have felt so bad. I have not felt like working on the blog or even answering my emails. As soon as I get to feeling better I will get busy taking care of things.

Renerlande's Birthday

Of all your children, there is one that holds a "special" place in your heart. It is hard to explain it without someone thinking you love one more than the other. Whatever it is this little girl is very special to me Poppa Bob loves her very much. When asked what she wanted for her birthday she saiid, "Corn Flakes and Milk." It hurts so much to see little Children like Renerlande have to go hungry for the things most Children take for granted.

Having trouble with you house?

Below is a telephone number sent to me by a friend in California for people who may not be able to make their house payments and may be in need of help. Call the number listed below for information. 1888-995-4673. You may also go to this website for help. 2009obamahomereliefplan.com.

Painting of the post listed below

I want to send a special "Thank You" to Janetta Mead of Madera, California for sending me a picture of painting she just completed. It painted it by looking at the little house I included in this blog that is listed below as Our Neighbor. This is remarkable and I am grateful that someone took the time to do it. She is going to send me the painting. Thanks again for being so thoughtful.

Our neighbor

Perhaps you wonder where we live and all that you know so far is that we are in the mountains. I though I would show you a picture of one of our neighbors. The little mud hut is made of branches woven together and then covered with a mixture of clay and mud. Once this dries they often paint them. The roof on this house is of corrugated tin. However most of them are covered with thatch which has to be replaced from time to time. It is a breeding place. for insects and other vermin. It is prone to mildew so therefore if they can afford it they use the tin. They wash their clothes by hand in a stream and then hang them over bushes or on a line if they have one. The goat you see in the foreground is probably the only earthly possession they have. They will breed them and when they are old enough they will eat them. Goat meat is one of the best meats on Haiti. It is juice but not fat and is delicious. I love it.

Spotlight

Jimmy Archange is one of my boys. My mind goes back to when he was a little boy who played around the office that I had in town while Lena his mother purchased food for the Orphanages. You see we purchased the food and then sacked it up and distributed it to some 32 different orphanages in the Port-au-Prince area. Lena could buy the food at a better price than I could so she was the purchase agent. Jimmy would stay with me while Lena was our working. Jimmy is the son of Lena and Acues Archange who were with me for many years. Then they had an opportunity to go to the states. There they raised Jimmy and the other kids in a section of town called "Little Haiti" in Miami, Florida. Jimmy was smart and had friends who were Cuban and it wasn't long until he was speaking Spanish Fluently. He already knew Creole and French and of course living in the States he learned English. In School he was awarded an academic scholarship. To make a long story short he went and graduated from West Point. Stationed in Germany he married a beautiful girl and they made their home wherever the Military wanted Jimmy. He is now serving a second term in Iraq after have been called back to teach at West Point. He is now either a Major or Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army as a cartographer. Am I proud? What do you think?

Stephanie leaves

It was a sad day for everyone here at "Royal Palm Children's Home" as Stephanie leaves to go back to Atlanta. Stephanie is such a sweet person that everyone loves her and is happy when she is here. She plans to return again in November and that will be a time we all shall look forward to.

Spotlight

Violine Georges Vinelon ... She has done more to help little Children in Haiti more than any person I have ever known. She is the Director of the Royal Palm Children's Home, Director of the Feeding Program who has already this past year fed 7,887 Children, She is head of the Women's Missionary group who help elderly ladies who have no Children to help them, She is a fabulous cook and is know for her special dishes everywhere. She is a dedicated First Lady of our Church, The First Pentecostal Church of Fond Doux, She is the mother of 4 and the grandmother of 6 and yet finds time each day to go to prayer for the people who help support us here in Haiti. She has worked with me for the past 36 years and we have never had a fuss or disagreement. She is an inspiration to all and the wife of Thomas Vinelon. I truly love Violine and will till the day I die.

Communications

One year ago this month hurricane Gustave roared through Haiti causing severe damage that only now a year later are some things being replaced. Here communications technicians from Haiti Satellite replace one of our antennas that was destroyed. Slowly but surely things are getting back to normal. The damage to our fruit trees will take a few years to replace but hopefully our banana trees will be producing in a few months.

Spotlight

Brenda Grant ... You will never find a more considerate, compassionate and dear friend. This beautiful lady is the wife of Rev. W.V. Grant of Dallas, Texas and is loved by all who know her. She never fails to encourage us and stand by us in Prayer when times get rough. I myself count it a great priviledge and honor to have Brenda as my friend and a friend of our work here in Haiti.