Good morning from Ouanaminthe!
Here is my "needs" list today:
1. We have a full four year tuition scholarship available for one of our students to attend Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia, Kentucky. www.lindsey.edu

We need someone, or a church, or a company, or a foundation to step up and cover the room & board, medical insurance, books, travel, U.S. Visa and living expenses for the student, for four years. The expected total cost for the first year is: $15,260.00 (which includes the one-time set-up costs of dorm room and clothing, U.S. Visa, and Travel to get the U.S. Visa). Year two through four is expected to be: $12,000 each year. PLEASE contact me as soon as possible for more information. We do not want to lose this generous scholarship offer for one of our students.

2. If you or anyone you know is a Rotarian in the Northeast Ohio area, and the meetings are conducted on a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, Hugues Bastien (in-coming Rotary president in Ouanaminthe) will be in Northeast Ohio April 9, 10 and 11, and would like to speak at Rotary meetings. Please contact me if you are able to accommodate this request.

Thank you so much for your consideration and dedication to me, and to us!

Here's Evelyne last year when we presented her with her Lindsey Wilson T-shirt! Look at that smile!!

A beautiful "winter" day in Ouanaminthe

It is just glorious today! Very low humidity, perfectly blue sky and sun, sun, sun. Here's our forecast:

(click on the link)

http://www.weather.com/weather/today/Ouanaminthe+HAXX4733:1:HA

I'm especially hoping the "rain" in the forecast is true, as we have had only a few drops since I've returned and according to Met Pas, we hadn't had any since I had left Ouanaminthe for the states. I told him, when we felt the few drops last week, that I brought it with me. But then when it only lasted a few minutes, I decided I wasn't going to take any more credit for bringing rain! Please pray for rain though, all our crops and citrus need the nourishment.

Here's a photo of the citrus groves at the Farm:

I am currently in the throws of college applications, securing financial sponsors for U.S. Visas and travel, and ancillary college expenses. If you are led, we surely would love for you to partner with us to get students to the states. Please contact me.

Also, I am VERY actively in the "fund-raising mode for 2014". If you would like to partner with me or renew your commitment to me, please click on the "Partners" tab at the top of the blog. Just to note, there is a 3% credit card fee which is passed onto me by the church if you use credit card to donate online, therefore if you want me to receive the amount you intend, you will need to add 3% to the donation amount. Thank you so much for your partnership!

ALL for Him,
Marylee

A day trip to the D.R. today...

Just returned from Santiago; drove my niece, Emily and a short term missionary, Carol Groves, to the airport today and then did supply shopping. Over an hour to enter the D.R. - Customs agents didn't like my D.R. auto insurance paperwork. Then thankfully the flight was scheduled one hour later than the gals thought. We discovered this AFTER we hustled and I actually had to emphasize to the guards and agents that there was a plane to catch. The guards didn't care. I must say though, one of the guards pleased me as he took it upon himself to run up the street to where I purchased the insurance last Spring and get the correct card completed and then had it laminated!!! AND didn't ask for any money - just handed it to me and walked away! That was the best surprise…besides the flight actually being an hour later than we originally thought.
After dropping off the gals (which was emotional saying farewell to Emily, my niece, who I think of as a daughter) I proceeded to make the first supply stop. The shop was closed for their two hour lunch. All the businesses were closed in a two block radius. I can't help but think Americans would be less stressed if they had such a custom.
Spent over an hour at Ochoa (the equivalent of Lowe's) trying to exchange something. Upon finishing all my errands (yes, Hannah and Mom I do errands even here!!) I drove as quick as possible to make it to the border before it closed and was happy that I ended up having enough time to stop at the Monte Cristi market for real cheese - extra sharp cheddar! I love cheese and I haven't yet found it in Ouanaminthe; I've only found Laughing Cow which isn't real cheese in case you didn't know! As I drove across this beautiful island I couldn't stop thinking how beautiful it is and how blessed I am to be here. One thing I learned from Emily this week, among many things I learned from her, is to be grateful and thankful for how beautiful the earth is. She said more than once: when looking at the clouds or looking at the mountains or the sunrise or the moon, "The earth is so beautiful". Thank you Emily for helping me to stop and realize that from now on. 
I couldn't get back across to Haiti without paying a guard "a little something" so he could buy a coca cola. am just Glad to be on this side of the border. I wonder if I will ever return from the D.R. and not feel "glad to be home". I hope not because they may mean I'm taking it for granted.



We have a full group here this week doing construction (re-plumbing the girls bathroom, re-tiling, putting in new toilets and sinks) so we eat with them every night they've been here and hearing about the progress they've made is very encouraging. There are Haitian men working alongside them - Haitians learning new skills! Yeah!
As well, there is an architect on this team who has been having a class to teach students what architecture is and what an architect does. The class made amazing replicas of the U-Tech (Vo-tech) building. I'm excited to hear the students mental horizons are expanding.
It's time to head to dinner. Farewell for now.

back in haiti!

I have returned to Haiti! 
After three days of travel and many changes with the airlines (cancelled flights, delayed flights, etc) I am in Haiti, along with my niece, Emily. We are just glad to be on the ground safely, and yes, the sun and warm help our souls! Thank you Lord, for getting us here [when we were supposed to get here!].
More later - lots to catch up on at the school today.
Love to all!