May 27, 2017 – Miss Ann took the time today to write an e-mail to many of us here at WMPC to give us a small glimpse into the lives of our extended family in Haiti. It was humbling to read because it brought into focus just how much the Lord has given us here in the States and how desperately our abundance must be shared in any way possible, whether we give directly by serving on a trip such as this one, or indirectly by supporting those on the trip and “holding down the fort” here at home. Thank you to Miss Ann for writing to us; and, Thank You Lord for all You give!
"Today the plan is to go by lumber company, buy boards to make raised beds, and one or more clothes lines. I'm very impressed with the orphanage and especially the children. They are alllllllll sweet, from 3 yr. To 21. They easily hug or kiss [your] cheek. They are gentle, never pushy, never loud. Smiling with inquisitive eyes! They had a meal at 4 yesterday. Over about 15 minutes, the kids gathered at their places without any adult supervision, and individual plates were set before them. They talked quietly with each other, no one touching the plate of food until every place was filled and the blessing said. No adult was overseeing any of it. An adult brought in the food but there was no dialogue, no need for reprimands or instructions. Only one adult ate with them and a young boy, probably 8 asked the blessing. There are 25 kids. AMAZING Sleeping fine. Ready to get up when it's time. The food here is fine. We eat breakfast and dinner here [at the villa]. They have cold drinks we can have any time - at a cost. A pack of cigarettes is $1.90 American, a Corona $2.50, 1 lb sliced ham $ 12.00, a gallon of gas $9. No stop lights. No lanes on streets, no pavement on many city streets. Walls around every property. So on Old Fairground Rd., [that] property with the walls in process is a version of life here. Everyone builds a wall around their property before building house. Thank all of you for your continued prayers for this trip. The efforts you've given toward the trip are appreciated and are being used to glorify God. The children know God. They have been saved from disastrous lives by Chetlain's efforts and devotion and all who have heard and answered Gods call to help. That's US at WMPC. We distribute the gift boxes tomorrow. Can't wait for that. Love to all, Ann"
May 29, 2017 – Another letter from Miss Ann:
"It's been a long day, started to write Tuesday in the subject line. We got back to guest house at 5:30. Left this a.m. At 8:30. Had sandwich lunch with supplies we bought at a store. We have plenty of ice and water. The only way I can compare to you is barning tobacco. Most of you will get that! The group built and installed a clothes line today. And worked on the raised beds. I do not do physical work. It feels strange to me to sit when the others are working but I know the heat and exertion would be intolerable. It's pretty bad sitting around in it. (we love Miss Ann's moral and logistical support of our Team and the children!) I check on them, get lunch ready and after lunch the kids are back from school so I'm in demand. Tomorrow will be the last full day at orphanage. Wed well work half a day and have a field trip to [the mountains]. Thurs we are taking kids to the beach in the a.m. Because rain is forecast in Afternoon. For lunch today the kids had a flat bowl of soup that looked like bean soup. In it were 3 long pieces of pastry with meat inside, like, a hot dog rolled up on a canned biscuit. They'd have nothing to drink, but each gets a glass of juice at end of meal. Nothing sweet. Here are our meals furnished by guest house. Breakfast: Coffee early, package of instant grits we can mix, Loaf bread, or something like French bread slices. They'll scramble egg if you ask. Had French Toast one day, pancakes two days; today, sausages chopped in little squares and a sauce. I ate none. They said like Red Hots. Always platter of fruit. Sunday had omelet to order. Dinners have been rice every night. Chicken two nights. Sunday red snapper. There is usually roasted veggies. Sometimes platter fruit and most nights a salad. I'm not eating any salad because I'm scare to trust it, but others are. No one sick. Always have bread and peanut butter. Their peanut butter has heat in it. I'm eating a lot of that. We've had ice cream for dessert one night about 1/4 cup. Little cake square with choc sauce one night, and last nights, beignet(New Orleans type fried dough). We can get cold drinks for extra cost. No AC in rooms except 6:30 pm--to 6:30 am we stay out of rooms until about 9:30. Dinner is late, then we have devotional wrap up of day. When we get into room we all pass out! Elisa[beth]'s cell alarm is Theme from Batman goes off at 6. We hop up and go again. These are our days. I am thankful I am here. Thank you all for prayers and support. Love, Ann"
May 30, 2017 – Another letter from Miss Ann:
Long busy day. Was a bit cooler when we woke and windy all day. Lots of pictures on FB. I went to purchase beans and rice with Chedlin, educational. This afternoon, we bagged them, $1000 worth to give to the poor people outside the walls. We'll deliver to them tomorrow. Some of the little kids outside the gates came this afternoon and lay down looking under the gates, saying, "You! You! You!" So Kathy said let's give them treat. Now it's 5pm and we're all very tired but not energizer Kathy. Glad she wanted to do it. [Kathy] got surprised with celebration of the 11 year relationship with the orphanage. Sweet sweet! SHE IS TIRELESS. AND POSITIVE AND UPBEAT. AMAZING! Tomorrow we'll deliver the bags to families outside gates of orphanage. We visited school this a.m. Last year the school was a drawing on the table. This year 5-classes were all posting pictures on FB. Check them out and start saving your money for your trip. It is worth it! More later. Love to all
May 31, 2017 –
"Today we're leaving guest house at 7:15 for our last morning at orphanage. Got a lot done. The pictures [Kathy] puts on FB show it all. She covers it all. This is a great team! Every one pulls a load. It's very wonderful to me and I'm thankful to be here. No one complains....MAY MAKE A STATEMENT BUT NOT A WHINE, EVEN OUR BABY GIRL LIS. She's a trooper! NOW I CAN HARDLY WAIT TO GET HOME BUT....I'm thinking about how this trip may---can---change my perspective and my habits. I'll let that be a surprise. We'll be giving out the bags of rice beans, corn, and oil today, door to door in the community. Those pitiful little kids. One came to door of compound yesterday naked and the three little boys who hang with me laughed and laughed and laughed. Chedlin says a Voodoo led group. This afternoon well do field trip to APPARENT PROJECT. place where local homemade souvenirs are sold. Don't worry my family. I won't go wild buying for y'all. Tomorrow take the kids to the beach! All so good to do. We can do these things because of the support of others. The team pays their way. YOU. HELP PAY FOR THE ORPHANS - A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE, Love Ann PS: Here's more. There's a doctor with a group here who spends his life in mission. I just asked him how he compared Haiti and Africa. He said [they are] exactly the same. Same kind of structures, etc. He said Kenya was different because it's been Westernized more. Time for breakfast. Saw watermelon and cheese, bread, oatmeal! Love, Ann"
June 3, 2017 – Miss Ann wrote another letter summing up her experience:
"What a blessing to wake up in this beautiful cool quiet setting! HOME! I'm on Haiti time. Woke at 5:30. Got up at 6:30. My animals are so happy. I'm so happy! Really I'm a bit in awe...... Look what our team's life has been like for the past 9 days. Thousands miles traveled. Shock to the eyes and consciousness of how life could possibly be lived day to day the way we saw it in Haiti. Deprivation in terms of creature comforts we consider normal for ourselves. Also a big REALIZATION that the previous 3 sentences do not define our concept of our mission trip. Those beautiful people! Those precious smiling loving boys, girls, men and women we spent our time with have made a difference in our consciousness, in our souls! I'm not being overly dramatic! MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! God bless all of you for helping make the trip possible, in all the different ways you contributed. Those who sent boxes would have really enjoyed seeing the recipients wearing and using contents. The beach trip made possible by your purchase of Barbecue plates! PRICELESS. Thank you. Plan to go next year. Start saving. Pray! Pray for them, for us all, for our church, For our hearts and understanding of life here and other places in the world. For our hearts to be touched with the same things that touched the heart of Jesus. I thank you. I thank God for our safe return. AND Y'ALL, I THANK GOD FOR KATHY WOJO. I've never met another one just like her. Oh yes, let's thank God for Pastor Ed, whose easy strong kind and gentle presence grounded our entire trip. Blessings to all in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen"