End of the work day.

A team of 8 persons from UB churches in Canada is in Haiti right now. Joan Sider, from New Hope church in Toronto, is sending back daily reports. Here is her report for Wednesday, February 1.

Joan Sider, New Hope Community Church, Toronto, Ontario

Before I tell of today’s work, let me mention the school associated with this Gonaives church. There are 5 classes of children ranging in age probably equivalent to our K-6 schools. The pastor’s wife is the director/principal and there are 3 female and 2 male teachers. I went into each classroom, took pictures, and greeted the children. They stood to their feet as I entered. They are dressed in their school uniforms and the female teachers have vests made of the same material as the girls. The older classes had scribblers and appeared to be doing a lot of work from the blackboard. There is a lot of rote teaching, and in the mornings when Audrey is doing the quilting with the ladies, it can be quite noisy. One of these 5 classes meets at the back of the church and we’re at the front.

It was very interesting to notice that the children taught by the ladies, had an extra long break because the principal and the female teachers wanted to quilt. So, as kids do, they were playing and not being too quiet about it. I was surprised when two of the teachers started into a second round of quilting–it was a lucky day for those children. The principal and one of the teachers each won a quilt in the draw. The others received sewing kits.

Now to start today. The owner of this hotel and the pastor drove us back and forth to our work sites–Audrey, to the old church and the men to the construction site. I floated between the two places.

At the construction site, the work began slowly–the men were looking for things to do. However, it wasn’t too long before each found a job–carrying blocks and mortar to the block layers. The remaining 6 courses were laid on the east wall first, leaving the window spaces open, and then the same was done for the west wall. Lots of trips were made by our men–back and forth, back and forth.

A load of blocks arrived–305 to be exact (Pastor told us the number). Watching the men form a chain and pass the blocks along to the final guy who piled them was something. They were out in the open sun and it was hot work. However, there were no complaints.

Boards to make the column forms were finally finished and two of the columns were prepared for the concrete to be poured from the top. These boards needed to be cut, so they used the new generator to power up the electric saw. This generator will be left in Gonaives when we leave.

When the forms were ready, some of our guys helped carry concrete from one end of the outside yard to the other to fill the columns. What a task! The sad thing is that one of the column’s boards did not contain the concrete as it should, and it had to be fixed so that the concrete would remain. This took quite a bit of time and was somewhat discouraging to the pastor. Hopefully tomorrow, when we return, we will find that all is well and the column is solid.

The men who do the mixing of the mortar and concrete are busy at this hard job without much of a break all day. No one complains. Water has to be carried from a place nearby, and keeping the two big barrels filled with water is quite the job, too. You don’t want to see them run out of water on the site or else the work has to stop, since water is a big part of mixing concrete/mortar.

The timing of everything being done is something to watch. No one is waiting around for another to complete the job he has.

Audrey had another great day. As usual, four quilts were done in the morning and three this afternoon. Today for the first time, she gave a brief devotional. Well, Audrey wrote the devotional in French and the pastor’s wife read it out to them. It was the story of Dorcas from the Bible. Michel had been asked to come translate Audrey’s French into Creole, but all the ladies knew French.

After the reading was finished, Michel said, “I want to ask some questions to see if the ladies were listening.” He asked, and some answered. It was obvious to me that some had not been listening too well. He asked if they had questions. Several did, so a good little discussion followed. They really seemed to enjoy this time.

154 women have quilted in the last 2 1/2 days. Not all are new–many participated over and over. But that is a lot of women to have around. They are extremely fast workers and Audrey is thrilled that so many quilts are getting done.

When the day’s work is over, all the equipment must be returned to the pastor’s house for safe keeping. Audrey doesn’t have to take her stuff far–just across the courtyard between the church and the house—but the guys have to travel a little further. Sometimes they’ll take a bin and walk the distance, but something like the generator has to be taken in one of the cars.

We come back to the hotel for lunch each day. When we arrived back at the hotel at day’s end today, cokes and other soft drinks along with sugar cane was waiting for us to enjoy. After showering and cleaning up, we had supper—salad, many items from which to choose, and then spaghetti with shrimp. The sauce on the shrimp was quite spicy.

Following our meal we sat around the patio and the snack box was brought out, along with some more sugar cane. It isn’t that we needed anything more to eat, but something sweet seemed to finish off the meal.

The men were very tired today–this physical labor is not something they are used to doing–but again, no complaints are heard. This is so amazing.

You can choose from these locations and dates.

March 2-3, 2012
Monroe UB church
205 South Adams Street
Monroe, Ind. 46772

March 9-10, 2012
HomeFront UB church
6265 8th Avenue
Grandville, Mich. 49418

June 8-9, 2012
Criders UB church
2380 Loudon Road
Chambersburg, Pa. 17202

The cost is $50 per person (or $45 if you bring 5 persons from your church). Ministers can earn 1 CEU for attending.

For more information, including lodging options, and to register, go to the UBGlobal.org site.

• Dr. Luke Fetters will be promoted from associate professor to professor of ministry and missions.
• Dr. Thomas Bergler will be promoted from associate professor to professor of ministry and missions.
• Diana Shenefield will be promoted from instructor to assistant professor of nursing.

Top: the entire team together (with Joan behind the camera). Bottom right: the guest house. Bottom left: Joan Sider and Pastor Wedemarc, a professional engineer.

A team of 8 persons from UB churches in Canada is in Haiti right now. Joan Sider, from New Hope church in Toronto, is sending back daily reports. Here is her report for Wednesday, February 1.

Our day began early–and nothing like a cold water shower to get you up and at it. The shower was good, but it is still a shock when that first cold water hits. I’m not complaining, just giving you the facts.

Everyone slept well, enjoying the coolness of our rooms with the AC. Speaking of temperature–January/February is the best time to come. It is mid-80s, but here in Gonaives, at this time of year there is a good breeze. It would be very hot on the construction site, if there were no breeze.

We had a good breakfast–scrambled egg and cheese sandwiches, coffee and juice. It was filling and delicious. Haiti-style egg McMuffin, I guess. We ate out on the patio and enjoyed the breeze indicating another good day weather-wise.

Another great day with lots accomplished. I spent the morning with Audrey and the quilting ladies. There were 7 in the first group and the remaining 3 groups had 12. One of the women knew how to use the sewing machine and so worked away at binding the quilts, won by one of the women each time–their names go in a hat and one is drawn. All the other women were given a sewing kit. The women enjoy the bright coloured material used in these kits. They were actually arguing over the kits this morning trying to get the brightest material ones.

There is a young man, Michel, who has been a great help to Audrey. He helps organize the ladies since he speaks English very well. It is a blessing to see a young man keen to serve the Lord by helping this way. I saw him actually doing a few ties on the quilt. We are expecially thankful to God for providing him. This leaves Michel to be with the men on the construction site.

We had a break for lunch and came back to the hotel. We had sandwiches and french fries. What a treat. The hotel manager, Fennel, is a very gracious host and bends over backwards to serve us. He also helps transport 1/2 of the group to the work sites.

I spent the afternoon at the church. It is so amazing to see language, which so often can be a barrier, being broken down with gestures, smiles, and other body language. It is sometimes like a game of charades. Bonding and relationships are developing between the Haitian workers and our men.

Today, there were 4 expert block layers, so our men supplied the mortar and blocks. They were able to complete 6 courses on all sides of the church. Preparation for the columns were started and the electric hand saw came in handy once some electricity was available. Hand sawing the boards here is hard work. The wood is so solid.

Pastor Richard and I had good opportunities to chat and discuss future plans in the various areas where we have churches. I also get to speak to several of the young men while they take short breaks. John, a young chap about 18 or so, wanted me to adopt him. I guess you know what my answer was–but I hope I did it gently.

We had a 4 course dinner tonight. Soup, salad, main dish–chicken, goat, rice and conch–then ending with dessert–yes, dessert–a fruit cup.

The team have decided that Gonaives is the place to do ministry. We feel so blessed to be able to stay here. Something that makes me enjoy it is that there are three cats–but I’m not making friends with them really, just observing them and missing my own.

The team were able to relax this evening while Pastor Wedemarc (finally, the correct spelling–straight from the man himself) and Pastor Richard and I went to visit a nearby church–long enough to meet the pastor and see part of the congregation who came for Bible study. I believe there may be some interest in this church becoming part of the Haitian UB family. The pastor will meet with Pastor Richard for further discussion on Friday.

Our debriefing time took place out on the patio and each contributed how they saw God today. As our faces differ, so did our experiences. We know God is with us and we are rejoicing in this another opportunity to fellowship with our Haitian friends–people we have known for such a short time, and yet feel like we’ve been friends for a long time.

The evening ended with the snack box finally getting brought out. It wasn’t that we needed more food!

The Canadian work team in Haiti.

Joan Sider, New Hope Community Church, Toronto, Ontario

A team of eight persons from Canada is currently in Haiti, the latest of a long string of work groups from Ontario over the years. Joan Sider, a member of many of those teams, sent back this report about their first full day in the country, Tuesday, January 31.

Our day began very early. Pastor Oliam Richard wanted us away by 6 am, so breakfast was at 5:30.

Packing up the van took some time–we had 10 bins, 1 generator, and all our personal belongings, plus 11 people to fit into a 15-passenger van. The roof was loaded as you can imagine–and the items were held down with rope and a tarp tied over it all. I can’t begin to imagine the weight we carried.

What a privilege for us to have Michel along on this trip north. He is our interpreter, a very good one at that, but also a brother in the Lord. We were thrilled to learn that Michel has a job in the field of his interest. He is on probation for a three-month period I believe and if successful. will have the job permanently.

Our trip to Gonaives was interesting–the road north is indeed a great improvement over the last number of years. We were slowed in traffic in towns, as would be expected. People are everywhere holding markets.

One sad thing was, a man carrying some wood was hit by a car. Fortunately, people dragged him off to the side of the road so he wouldn’t be hit by other traffic. He appeared to have at least a broken leg. Hopefully the Doctors Without Borders vehicle that we saw had someone who could help him.

We were fortunate at one point on the drive to have missed hitting a cow crossing the road. The cow sped up and just made it off the road in time. It would have been a bad thing for us if it hadn’t.

We saw many rice fields in varying stages of growth. They have high quality rice grown in Haiti. Most of it is exported, since it is too expensive for Haitians to buy and use. About 90% of Haiti’s rice is imported from the US.

Arriving in Gonaives, we went to the church site to figure out what our schedule would be. Then we headed for the recommended hotel “L’Eternal Est Mon Secours Hotel” run by a Christian couple known to Pastor Weed Maarce (I’ve seen this name spelled 3 ways, so don’t know which is correct). It is a lovely place–and we are so glad we’ll be here for the 4 nights. The couple are bending over backwards to serve us and make our stay a good one. We had a lovely supper tonight and will have our first breakfast at 7:15 tomorrow morning.

Driving back and forth from the hotel to the church site, we nearly hit a dog one time and a pig another. The animals roam all over–goats, chickens, as well. The drivers don’t seem to slow down at all, so if they can’t manage to get out of the way, game over. No, I haven’t seen much road kill, so they must be successful.

We had sandwiches for lunch at the hotel after getting settled into our rooms. Then it was off to the church work site. Block laying is the stage they’re at, so our guys jumped in right away and began carrying cement and blocks as well as laying blocks on top of the first row which was already in place. The building is about 80-by-40 feet. Unfortunately, after getting several more layers in place, it was discovered that the first row of block was not level. It was tilting inwards. Our guys were very glad they hadn’t laid the first course of blocks. It meant that much of what some of them had laid, needed to be torn out. Once all was made right, they were able to manage laying 4 more rows–6 had been the goal for the day.

Around 3, Audrey, Michel and I headed over to the old church to set up the quilting frames for the first session of quilt tying. Thanks to James Jackson’s great construction of stands, we were able to set up the quilt in record time. James had a great design and they worked well.

At 4:00, 6 ladies came over a period of 30 minutes or so. It was a good start and since we weren’t really ready until 4:15, they were finished in record time by 5:30. That was the leaving time for us to get back to the hotel, have supper–and then get back to church for a service.

We thoroughly enjoyed our time at the church with them. Four different musical groups sang and Pastor Richard gave a brief message. The people were enthusiastic in their worship as we have come to expect. I brought greetings and introduced the team. Just as amen was said, the lights went out and it was DAAAAARRRRKKKKKK! Flashlights were on within seconds–obviously, this wasn’t a first experience of this kind of happening.

Arriving back to the hotel, we spent a few minutes debriefing, sharing with each other God moments from the day. It was interesting to hear the various things mentioned.

The team is jelling and working together well. We are sensing God’s using us to bless, but we are being blessed so much more by our Haitian brothers and sisters.

Matt McKeown (right), associate pastor of First UB church in Holly Hill, Fla., does a lot of song-writing. He does full-blown church musicals, individual songs…and jingles. The NFL has used his stuff in the past.

Last fall, the city of Palm Coast, just up the beach from him, commissioned Matt to write a song for them–sort of a city theme song, which they could use in various types of promotions. The song uses “Find Your Florida” as a city slogan. It went public today.

Watch the video above. It includes the song. You can also read an online article titled “Palm Coast Goes Musical with Video Marketing Effort.”

According to the student newspaper, the Huntingtonian, the cuts affect 14 staff positions–$250,000 in faculty cuts, and $350,000 in cuts to administrative staff. Other cutbacks don’t involve personnel. All personnel changes will take effect in May 2012, at the end of the academic year.

Cassie Screeton

Nick Kight, Huntington University Class of 2012

Cassie Screeton sat at her computer looking for companies seeking applicants. It had been a tedious process, and graduation was drawing near.

After spending a few hours perusing various websites, Screeton found a not-for-profit organization seeking a graduate intern to assist in donor relations. Three days after her interview, she was offered the position. For the course of the 2011 year, Screeton was all football, all the time.

In her position, Screeton, a 2011 economics and finance graduate with a minor in public relations, assists in overseeing 125 donor relationships who pledged to invest money in the 2012 Super Bowl Host Committee in Indianapolis. So far, Screeton has helped to plan and organize a large donor breakfast, has worked with different committees of volunteers, and has written the weekly donor update newsletter.

“My résumé listed my experience interning with the Huntington County Community Foundation,” she said. “I previously worked with donors for them, and the committee saw that, and I think I just happened to be who they needed.”

I’ve completed all of my tests, including CAT scans, PET scans, biopsy, chest Xray, blood work, etc.

Diagnosis: Grade 1 Follicular Lymphoma, at Stage 3. Grade 1 means it is a non-aggressive, slow-growing cancer, which is very treatable but not curable. Stage 3 indicates that it is in several places–groin, along the spinal column, and under each arm.

I will have surgery tomorrow [January 31] to put in a port in my chest through which chemo will be given.

Treatment: I’ll begin chemo on February 7. Regiment will be three days and then off for about a month; back for another three days, month off, etc. This should last about 5-6 months. The oncologist is confident that the cancer will be eradicated through this chemo.

By the way, this seems to be exactly the same kind of cancer with which Paul Hirschy has been battling for the past 11 years. I’ve spoken to Paul a couple of times via email and phone.

All is well with me and I feel great–just not looking forward very much to a chemically changed body due to chemotherapy!

You can write to Kyle at: Kyle W. McQuillen, 299 Casa Grande, Edgewater, FL 32141. Or .