Ron continues to assist with the rebuilding of the Church in Nouvelle Terrain. It's been a long process, but we're so appreciative of your prayers in that regard since its destruction during Hurricane Matthew. Everything is such a slow process and it seems there's just one disaster after another. It feels--at times--that Haiti simply can't catch a break. We've been blessed to receive an incredible donation from Operation Blessings to assist with the rebuild in Nouvelle Terrain. They had some leftover funds from their hurricane relief efforts. Praise God! I love that ministries can work together and help one another! It's something we don't always--or even often--see (unfortunately).
Linda continues to assist with medical care (within Haiti as well as Guatemala and Ecuador) and provide mental health services in a dizzying range of ways (She's doing so many things she's spinning 'round and 'round). We had a small group travel out to Nouvelle Terrain (this is the very remote village where we assist in Haiti) and operate a mobile medical clinic. There, one of the American CNMs (certified nurse midwives) in the group has agreed to help provide training to the matrons (the men and women who help with the births in the villages). The organization of this training is still in the works (pray for guidance!). We are often pulled into various medical things from HIV testing and follow-up treatment to simply trying to figure out what is going on with individuals in order to get them the help they need. We had one man in the village who was suspected of having syphillis, but it turns out that wasn't accurate and nobody could figure out what was going on. Unfortunately, a sad part of what we do here sometimes involves seeing people who we try to help die from "unknown" causes ("unknown" here with the limited testing available to us, but in the USA the causes would be so much more easily diagnosed).
The processes of so many things are incredibly complicated and time-consuming. For example, we assist with transporting some of the babies (and their parents) to a malnutrition center where they get excellent care and they generally recover, BUT....then there are long term details involved with assisting that family in developing a long term plan to increase crop production or with the village regarding their strategy for feeding their children. Otherwise, the children will simply return to the malnutrition center in the same condition (or worse) many months later. The resources are simply not there for the many elements where we see needs. Storm upon storm washes away crops in the villages, creates mudslides, causes homelessness, which in turn contributes to starving and severely malnourished babies and children.
On the mental health end of things, Linda still has her office in Pétionville 2-3 days a week and is in her office in Tabarre also 2-3 days a week. This makes for a busy schedule especially when a few days ago it took 4 hours to get home from her office. The traffic this month has been horrific. There's been an increase in robberies and kidnapping (you know how it is, things like that), so not only does that add some stress in the commute, but also an increase in the need for mental health services since many people are suffering from trauma and anxiety that live and work on the field.
We so appreciate your continued prayers and patience with us. If you don't see us posting often, know that we're working hard, and we're praying daily for strength and direction in what God's doing here in Haiti. One amazing thing that the Lord has provided for the 4 and a half years that we've been living in Haiti is the clear calling of being here. It's been tough and we've been tired and stressed, sad and mad, but we've yet to feel that God doesn't want us here. We are confident that we're exactly where the Lord has placed us to be. He doesn't say it will be easy, but He does say He will not abandon us (praise the Lord!).
Thank you for your financial support as well. We have no idea how God's going to work out the funding of each and every day. We are so very low on funds that I don't even know how to address that. We are praying for an increase in our monthly support in order to bring down some of the stress of the unknown on a day-by-day basis. We were so on-fire while moving here and just trusting in the Lord that He'll provide. We believed (and still believe) that we need to walk in Faith and not by Sight. We are doing that, but it also doesn't mean the Lord could not outline some of the resources in advance as well (pretty please? haha...).
If you feel called to assist even with a very small monthly donation, please know that we will use those funds to the best of our ability to help those with the greatest need. One of the hardest parts about living here is seeing the needy everywhere yet knowing we can't help everyone. We are so blessed by having World Outreach Ministries to handle our home office. This has allowed us to spend more time actually serving versus working on administrative details. Tax deductible donations can be made either one time or on a monthly basis in these ways:
1. DONATE ONLINE!
https://www.worldoutreach.org/index.php/missionary-support-2
(Select our name from the list and follow the prompts)
2. MAIL CHECKS TO:
World Outreach Ministries, Inc.
P.O. Box B
Marietta, GA 30061
(designate for Ron & Linda Sheppard #546)
3. BILL PAY - via your online banking
World Outreach Ministries, Inc.
(designate for Ron & Linda Sheppard #546)
P.O. Box B
Marietta, GA 30061
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