Back from Haiti - With Project 7

My husband David Jurek and I had an incredible opportunity recently, which in true fashion he jumped all over and I dragged my heels till I could “process” it! We were invited down to the Children’s Village in Trou du Nord, Haiti with the non-profit organization New Reality International. NRI have joined hands with a Haitian organization called Centre Orphelinat Bon Samaritan de Trou du Nord (COBSAMAT). Their combined forces have created Project 7, a self-staining property for children that have been orphaned, abandoned, abused, at-risk, and ‘restavek’ (child slaves). To read more about the organization and Project 7, visit this link: http://www.newrealityinternational.org/#!project7/c1ha3.

If projects like this excite you, feel free to ask questions and/or donate towards the amazing life changing stuff happening for these kids. David has taken on the volunteer role of Development Director for NRI, so feel free to contact him (davidjurek@me.com) regarding the best way to donate (tax receipts available). The project is currently in its second phase and still needs lots of financial support until everything is completely self-sustaining. The village currently has 19 kids (18 and under) living on the beautiful 7 acres. They were very excited to move into their new home only a few shorts weeks ago!

"For nothing will be impossible with God.” - Luke 1:37

Here are just a few pictures from our visit :)


Thank you for sharing with us, David and Alicia.

Many OCC members should remember Joel coming to have Sabbath School last year.
Take a look at this blog post from August to remember what he told us about his work in Haiti.

Ken and Ruthie T. in Guatemala...

Ken and Ruthie are back in town.
They have been away to somewhere nice and warm.

Here are a few photos from their time away.

Doing bush dentistry in Guatemala in March 2014

Dr. T. helping someone feel better.

Mayan women in Guatemala. There are 21 distinct tribes of Mayan in Guatemala,
each with their distinct dialect and pattern of cloth in their skirts.

Ruthie helped at the school at Los Pinos, an orphanage in Guatemala.

Thank you very much for sharing these pictures with us!
It is very interesting to see a few things you do when you are away.

A Sabbath in Kaua'i, Hawaii - April 19th, 2014

If anyone visits another church, please share some of your stories and photos about that church and visit, if you do not mind.
It is so interesting to see other places and how they worship.

Here is a little peek into the time we spent in Hawai'i when we were not at OCC.

We drove past this place several times, and despite it being well-marked with signs, we did not notice it at as a church.

Around the fencing this beautiful church was sitting. We enjoyed the open sides of the sanctuary
that let in the lovely breeze. There were also many ceiling fans inside too.

A lovely bouquet a lady brought to share with everyone at church.
She said some flowers were from her garden and some she bought and added.

I always enjoy seeing stained-glass windows. This one was very pretty and yet it was not distracting.

I was trying to find and take a picture of a rainbow a day.
This day I found this one in church and then more when we drove up the canyon.

The children took delight at taking up the children's offering, just like they do at OCC.
They went through each row one after the other and people kept on dropping in money.

I am not sure how many pineapples these men cut up for our fellowship meal dessert, but it was very very tasty.

He is adding to the dish not taking some out!!
We enjoyed rice two ways, interesting and different greens cooked with sauce, vegetables, and casseroles and salads.

Nick and Stacy from Tyler's UCA class.

Just before the sermon part of the church service all the guests were invited to stand and tell who they were and where they were from and also what church they went too at home. This young man stood up and said he was from Hayden Lake, Idaho and was visiting his friend there on Kaua'i.

Since my friend lives in Hayden Lake and goes to church there, I went back to talk to him and ask if he knew Trudy. He said he had seen her a couple of times and then I asked his name. When he said he was Nick M... I was surprised. I asked if he knew Tyler Quiring. He said, "Oh, yes. I went to school with him." Then he asked me how I knew Tyler. I explained I was Tyler's mum. We both were shocked to meet each other way over here. He was visiting this young lady who told me she was also in Tyler's UCA graduating class. I remembered her a bit then too.

We had a very nice chat and it was so nice to see Nick (I remember praying for him a few years ago when he had his serious car accident driving home from WWC?) and Stacy, too. Nick had recently shaved his hair off for Locks of Love. What a great guy, eh?

While I had been outside at the break between SS and church Don told me someone came to speak to him. It was Pastor Peter Ford who used to Pastor in Oliver area. He was there with his wife Vicki. It was great to visit with him also. A number of other visitors were present and it was really nice to get to know them, too.

We enjoyed the beautiful colours of the flowers during the meal, too.

The Franks Family Mission Trip

Julie Franks sent in some pictures and commentary of her family's mission trip they took to Jamaica in December.

Welcome sign when we got there

The compound where we stayed

Bonnie showing the kitchen stove

A writing on a house wall...

The roads... were a little crazy, but it was very pretty

The bus we drove in while we were there. We had a church member drive the bus for us.

We walked partway to the church/school because of this from Hurricane Sandy

The outside view of the church/school

The church/school inside before the project. It was fairly dusty so Linda is with a bucket keeping the dust down.

Sweeping up all the mess over and over again.

We sanded and sanded

And then we painted...

...and painted...

...and painted...

...and painted and did some tile

In the mornings we did VBS

Singing, crafts and skits

Finished product

Church Sabbath Day!

Us at the falls having fun :)

Thanks, Julie, for sharing these great pictures of your trip!