Back to work in Haiti

Will arrived back in Haiti on June 18 after some time in Northern California and a week in South Dakota.  He's been very busy getting a huge list of things accomplished and he's seeing God's hand in the the details. 

The supplies/tools/equipment Will brought back to Haiti.

The temperatures have been hot, hot, hot! And it's humid, too. There have been hurricanes passing through and around the island.  But he says the violence has been kept to a minimum so he's been able to get the work done. All of the English-speaking workers are taking vacation and Will has been left primarily in charge.  There's been some loneliness to deal with but with so much to accomplish he's managed to stay mostly focused on the tasks at hand.  The alone time has afforded him with the luxury of time to himself.  Time for study and introspection.  Time to accomplish personal goals and the sorting out of ideas and thoughts that are hard to achieve when life is moving fast and furious.

His main work goals have been all about oxygen, remodeling and electrical systems and rewiring. 

He was able to get oxygen connections plumbed to patient rooms and in the ER so that individual oxygen tanks are no longer needed.  The oxygen compressor was being temperamental but Will was able to isolate the sensor, a co-worker twisted it a bit and it started working like a champ!

The sensitive sensor that needed adjusting.

After working perfectly for a few weeks, the oxygen compressor stopped working (again) which halted the manufacturing of oxygen throughout the hospital.  That's a BIG deal. Will didn't know what was wrong or how to fix it. He says he started to take things apart, read the manual, reach out to the manufacturing company, etc.  Finally another worker here found 2 fuses that he replaced and all is good! It's purring like a kitten!! It was definitely an answer to lots of prayer and hard work. 

The fuses that shut down oxygen production

The fan that wasn't running due to the faulty fuses causing the whole thing to overheat.

The renovation is in full swing!  

The 2nd floor is what's being remodeled.  The ER is on the bottom floor.

The vacuum and oxygen piping in the floor.

Getting everything to go in all the right places...

Part of the work crew on top of the new balcony cover.

Looking down the hallway you can see where the floor tile starts for the mostly completed rooms.

Will remains on top of it all. What a view!!

The electrical work for the remodel has been a challenge. Many of the outlets and lights weren't working. Will kept at it and got it sorted out. There is an electrician that has also helped for a few days and saved a lot of time and aggravation.  The result??

Let there be light!!

More light! (This one was absurdly complicated!)

And still more light!

Light and all the electrical boxes to work on.

Joseph, the electrician, in a room with light and a working fan!

There's still more to go and plenty of goals to accomplish, but Will says he's feeling good about the work.  He says that basically all the demo and prep is complete in the patient wing now.  The plumber has some bathrooms left to do and there's lots of painting to complete.  The tile goes in after the painting.  There are needed materials that will be coming on the 23rd that they are waiting on. But, he says, "Overall it is exciting as a lot has gotten done! Much has been overcome."

Most of the floor is filled back in on the main hallway. All conduits and pipes are set.
BIG MILESTONE!

This is a new portico.  Looking good!

A concrete base was poured to hold conduits and provide a base for a new wall they will be putting up.
Will says, "To me this being done was a huge stress reliever!"

Another room that was being revamped.
Three windows were joined into 2 and a bathroom was removed.

The whole team wanted to be part of pouring the wall base.

These pictures reflect just a small portion of the work that Will has been a part of.  God has equipped him with the management skills necessary to keep the work moving forward and goals being accomplished.

All hallway doors have been hung for the first 6 rooms. 
Also 4 of the 6 all have the necessary working outlets in and all lights and fans are working! 
One more room has all the wiring but still needs to have the lights and fan installed.  

He shared that,  "A couple weeks ago I caught myself having a full, be it simple, conversation with no English.  The grammar was totally wrong and there were many hand gestures, but I am able to communicate some, which is cool.  I'm thankful for that, too!"

"I am ok with the aspect of being the only English-speaking one here, finding my ways to cope and make the best of things!  I am also excited to be going back [to the USA] soon!

He flies back to the USA on July 30 and is planning to attend an ASI (Adventist-laymen's Services & Industries) Convention in Kansas City August 2-5. ASI is a membership-based organization of the Seventh-day Adventist laypeople who are enthusiastic about actively participating in the church's worldwide mission:  to spread the gospel of Christ to the world. This unique and diverse group of members ranges from business owners to individual professionals to supporting ministries.  Will is eager to network with others to seek out additional ways he can serve this year.  He feels confident that God will continue to lead him and bless his efforts. He says, "I'm so happy to be going back for a break but I really want to make some meaningful connections and have a little idea what September will look like."

"I'm so excited to have a chance for a real personal break.  I am planning to go camping in Nevada during August. I'm going without a date of when I have to come out...PARADISE!!   Personally, I feel I have more peace about what the future holds.  I'm worrying less about that."   

Until the end of the month he's staying focused on his work and accomplishing his goals in Haiti. He has found ways to cope with his loneliness and deepen his trust in God's plan for him.

Sitting on his roof listening to music. One of his coping mechanisms.

Please continue to pray for Will as his time in Haiti wraps up.  Pray for his continued safety and that he meets his goals before leaving.  Pray that God will lead him to his next area of service and that God will also lead him in the desert of Nevada to renew and revive him.  And let's not forget to thank God for the ways He's led Will this far and the blessings He's poured out on him! 

His rooftop view of both the mountain and the port.