WOW!!! It's Been a Long Time

Sorry that we have not done a good job of keeping you up to date on what is going on with us. I was a little shocked when I looked at the blog and saw the last date that we posted. There have been several posts started, but for one reason or another, they were never finished.

The first eight weeks of 2016 have been pretty busy ones for the entire RMI team. The first five weeks of the year were full of five teams back-to-back and all the preparations that go with that schedule, as well as, the start back to our school schedule after two weeks off over the holidays. It has been exciting to meet teams from across the United States as they come to visit with and minister to their sister churches in Haiti. Lee had the opportunity to go out with one of these teams (Calvary Fellowship from the Reading, PA area) and then worked with a second team (The Orchard from Chicago, Illinois) as they led a pastors and church leadership conference at RMI’s Zanglais Ministry Center. The week between those two teams, Lee also spent four days in Florida at the RMI office for meetings, as well as, attending the missions conference at MacGregor Baptist Church. In addition to the teams that Lee was out with, we met and worked alongside teams from Oregon, Nebraska, and Michigan. It is such a blessing to have the opportunity to meet and work alongside so many different people.

Following the five week stretch of teams, we had a two week break in which to catch up on some of those things that get left by the wayside when we are busy with teams. We also had the privilege to go to the Missionary Retreat at Kaliko Resort, just north of Port-au-Prince last weekend. It was extra special for us since we were able to spend some time with Barb and Friends, a puppet ministry that Lee first came to Haiti with about 26 years ago. It was great to reconnect with Kevin Walck who Lee met on that first trip so long ago and Cathy Klappert, a friend and neighbor from Greencastle, PA. Barb and Friends coordinated the children’s activities throughout the missionary retreat while the adults and older teens had sessions taught by Jayson Georges, who taught on Honor/Shame cultures and how scripture ministers to their hearts. We were truly blessed to have the opportunity to participate in this weekend of learning and relaxation with the missionary community of which we are a part here.

Last week, we prepared for another five-week stretch of teams. The first of these teams arrived Friday afternoon from Louisianna. Daniel was asked to help Greg Harvie and the Haitian staff with this team, since they needed another driver for the week. He will also be helping with some of the devotions. Daniel was excited to have this opportunity to minister alongside a team without the rest of the family, I believe. Greg and Daniel left Cite Lumiere Friday afternoon to meet the team at the Zanglais Ministry Center. The rest of the American staff, as well as, the Haitian staff spending the week with the team, loaded up on Saturday morning for the forty-five minute ride out to the ministry center for lunch and prayer with the team before they departed in the afternoon for the drive to their sister church, Petit Trou. We look forward to seeing them again on Thursday as they will be coming to Cite Lumiere for lunch at the Thompson home and a tour of the mission center. We enjoy these Thursday lunch times with the teams so that we can hear from them about their week of ministry.

Although we have already been here for almost seven months, everyday continues to be a learning adventure for us. We are constantly finding new critters and plants, as well as, learning new things about the culture in which we now live. That doesn’t even begin to touch on the language skills that we are learning, as well. On Friday afternoon, I (Tina), Nathan, and Isaac learned a valuable lesson during our weekly grocery shopping trip . . . make sure that all of your money is safely tucked away, before you leave the grocery store. You wouldn’t believe the scene that occurs when a coin worth about ten U.S. cents is dropped while six to eight needy young boys are surrounding you, begging for money as you put the groceries into the back of the vehicle. This past week, we also started dealing with our first rat . . . fortunately, it is outside the house and not inside!!! I had heard it outside our bedroom window several times during the night this week, but had not been able to convince the rest of the family that I wasn’t just hearing things. Then Friday night, when I was laying on our bed reading, I saw it run over the dog biscuit box that was sitting outside our window. Lee and Tobi went to see if I really saw what I had thought I did and sure enough, there was the little culprit. Although, the three of us tried to hunt the rat down, he is still on the run, but no longer has access to Tobi’s doggie treats:)

We apologize that there are no pictures this time, we have been having trouble getting them loaded to the blog. Hopefully, we can get that figured out soon and get some more pictures out to you.

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A week in the Life of the Nunemakers

This week was full of celebrating the arrival of the Christmas season, it seemed. We wrapped up the second marking period at Cite Lumiere Christian School and enjoyed the fruit of the hard work of the CLCS student body as they shared their Christmas program with friends and family on Thursday evening. We all participated in one way or another with the performance and or the behind the scenes portion of the evening.

Isaac was a shepherd in the celebration of the birth of Christ, along with the other three second grade students at CLCS. Daniel and Josiah helped with sound and lighting for the event.

Lee shared a brief Christmas message following the students' performance. Nathan was our family photographer for the evening and Tina helped out with the refreshments downstairs, after the service. It was a joy to celebrate with the CLCS family and missionary community.

Before going to the performance Thursday evening, Nathan and Isaac helped to decorate the igloo cupcakes that Isaac had chosen to make as a special treat for his class’s Christmas and reward-for-good-behavior party on Friday.

Since the second graders had achieved 20 “green days” for good behavior and good work during the first two marking periods, Friday was an all day game party for the second grade class. Normally, Isaac and I (Tina) only go to the school from 11:30-1pm, but on Friday we spent all day with the class so that Isaac could participate in their fun, games, and learning. Nathan didn’t think this was quite fair, but it was a lesson in the fact that life just isn’t always fair:)

In addition to a Christmas party, reward party, and birthday party all wrapped into one, Friday was also the day to say “we will see you later” (since we don’t like the term “goodbye” in these circumstances) to the second graders' lead teacher, Renee Leger, as she and her family leave this week for the states. Mrs. Leger will be tremendously missed, but we are also thanking the Lord for providing new teachers to step into that role in January. Please keep Renee and her family in prayer as they transition over the next few weeks and months, as well as the second graders and their new teachers as they make the necessary adjustments following the Christmas break.

This week, we also observed Tobi finding amusments in some of the more common things in life. It is amazing how much fun a fallen coconut branch can provide when he is tied during the day (in the picture above). Tobi also enjoyed playing with a centipede on our back porch (you can see the little centipede just above the corner of the chair in the lower left corner of the picture). It was quite entertaining for those of us who had the privilege of seeing it happening. We were disappointed that the video we tried to take did not turn out.

Lee also caught a couple of pictures of the beauty of nature in Haiti this week. Above is a butterfly that looks like its wings may have taken a little beating and below is a spider that he and the boys were fascinated to find one night on their way to lock the gate for the night.

Today (Sunday, December 20th) is Isaac’s 8th birthday and he enjoyed a down day at home, with the family, full of boxed mac and cheese, hotdogs and corn, nerf gun battles, chocolate cake with peanut butter icing and homemade ice cream, riding a new scooter, and fun chasing Tobi with his new remote controls. We also took a quick trip to Tet Simon to try to do some grass sledding on cardboard (which didn’t work too well), but Isaac had fun climbing a big tree.

Have a great week as you prepare for the celebration of the birth of our Savior!!! We appreciate all of the love and encouragement that we receive from so many of you in notes, emails, and packages.

This Week at a Glance

Last Sunday (12/07) started quietly at our house. First thing in the morning, Nathan was found on the front porch giving Tobi some much appreciated loving:)

But Sunday morning, also rewarded us with several tree limbs which were brought down in a rainstorm Saturday night. This gave the boys a good reason to get out the new machete that we bought and give it a good workout. Notice, Tobi was there for some moral support, as well.

Sunday afternoon, Lee, Daniel, Nathan, Isaac, and one of our teammates, Greg Harvie, went for a four wheeler adventure in one of the dry river beds close to our home. They had lots of fun and were overjoyed to come home with no repairs needing to be made to any of the vehicles.

Each morning, the RMI staff meets for devotions at 8am. I can’t remember which morning I took this shot, but Greg Harvie is leading our devotion on this particular morning. This half hour or so is always a highlight for me (Tina), because it is my brief opportunity to interact with the staff most days. Each morning I am in awe of what God is doing in and through this incredible staff of Haitian and American men and women coming together to serve our incredible God. One morning, I hope to get a video of our time of worship to share because it is always so beautiful, whether or not I am able to understand what is being sung:)

Also, this week, I finally remembered to have the boys help me to get a picture of this little hummingbird nest that we found in our citron tree on Thanksgiving morning. This one lone egg has been in the nest for the last couple of weeks and we haven’t seen any birds sitting on the nest, so I’m guessing that it won’t hatch, but it was fun to find it, anyway.

This week was also the Annual Assembly of MEBSH (The Baptist Ministry that RMI works alongside). The Annual Assembly brings all of the MEBSH church pastors and leadership together for a few days of meetings. This particular picture was taken on Thursday evening as RMI’s Haitian Director, Benjamin Altema shared the heart a passion of RMI with those present for the evening.

And I close with this picture of a little corner of our living room with just a few of the special Christmas decorations that we brought with us, reminding us of special people at home, whom we love and miss as we move into the Christmas season. We are excited to have the opportunity to spend Christmas in Haiti this year with new friends, but that does not mean that we have forgotten all of the family and friends that are celebrating back in the States. Thank you to each of you who have played a role in making sure that we were here this year. We are so grateful for what God is doing in and through us.

Just Another Saturday

This morning while we were doing the grocery shopping in town, we received the news that there was a container on its way to the RMI depot that needed to be unloaded this afternoon. So, in a few short hours, the RMI team gathered at the depot to await the container and prepare for the work ahead.

Most of the RMI staff had arrived by the time that the container did and there was plenty of work for everyone once we started unloading. (Does anyone notice something special about the orange Haiti shirt in the pic below on the right? Check in with me if you think you do!!)

The challenge was figuring out where it would all be stored until the time that it is needed for the teams coming to distribute it.

The container was extremely hot and dusty. . .

There were plenty of heavy items to be moved . . .

But it is a great privilege to serve alongside these guys . . . whether it is hot and dusty, or not.

Look at those smiles, even after all of the hard work:)

Our First Thanksgiving in Haiti

We may be in Haiti, but that is no reason to miss out on a great Thanksgiving meal with brothers and sisters in Christ. Every year, the missionary community of Cite Lumiere comes together to celebrate American Thanksgiving. Normally, our field directors, Rob and Becky Thompson host the event at their home, but this year, they are with family in New Jersey to celebrate, so we offered to have the event at our home.

At 1:30pm on Thanksgiving Day, 110 American, German, South African, Haitian, and Canadian missionaries started arriving at our home with their arms loaded with turkeys, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casseroles, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and all the other fixings to make a delicious Thanksgiving meal.

Besides great food and fellowship, there were testimonies of thanksgiving for God’s provision over the past year, and even the past week, as God provided abundantly, when humanly, the tasks seemed to be too big; of healing for those who have been sick, and God’s provision as we strive to serve him here in Haiti.

We are so thankful for the community of believers that God has placed in our lives here. It is a blessing to work alongside brothers and sisters from around the world to minister to the hearts and lives of the Haitian people. We have so very much to be thankful for this year.

*I have to brag a little bit on the second grade class that I work with at CLCS. The Thanksgiving banner at the top of this blogpost was made by them and their language arts teacher for our Thanksgiving Celebration. Didn’t they do a tremendous job?!?!?!

Trip to Tet Lakil

What a great Saturday afternoon! On November 14, some of the American RMI team took a day trip to Tet Lakil (head of the Lakil River). We had an hour and a half drive and forty-five minute hike to this beautiful spot where the river emerges from the mouth of a cave. The water is crystal clear and quite cool.

The scenery was beautiful! At some spots, we said it was almost like looking down into a Pennsylvania river bed, with the exception of the tropical plants that were evident everywhere. Once we arrived at the cave, we took some time for lunch and then most of us went for a swim and some more adventure.

The older boys had to try their hands at climbing the roots hanging from the rock face and take a jump or swing into the cool water. Isaac was content to sit with Mr. Joel on this rock rather than try to swim against the current.

There were also several places to climb the rock face for a jump or dive into the water. There was plenty of fun for all of us.

When we arrived back at the Thompson’s (our field director’s) home, this was the scene that greeted us. They have had an ongoing wall project at their home and about a half hour before our arrival, this dump truck arrived to deliver some stone for the project. Little did anyone know, there was a gray water tank under the driveway that this dump truck happened to find with it’s back tire.

Although the scene was not a pleasant one to find upon our return, we all realized that it could have been much worse than what it was. The back of the truck was a mere three inches from the corner of their house. Within moments, the missionary community came together to pull the truck out and begin cleaning up. There were a lot of hours put in to fix the problem at hand over the following week, or so. Now, several weeks later, a group of dedicated workers have repaired the hole and when all of the concrete is dry, this scene will all be a memory.