What's happening in Haiti

EMI mobilized a two-man team to Haiti to install portable emergency water purification systems all over Haiti. Hurricanes Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike have all ravaged Haiti in the last few weeks. Widespread deforestation to make charcoal for cooking has destroyed the land's capacity to retain rainwater, so even small rains induce major mud flows that can move earth and rocks to devastating effect. The tropical storms and hurricanes of 2008 wiped out a lot of homes and blocked roads all over Haiti. The photos were taken in Gonaives. Flood waters were 11 feet high in some places and a 2-foot layer of mud still blankets the city a month after the disaster.

Water Missions International has shipped about 20 of their 10-gpm Living Water Treatment Systems (LWTS, http://www.watermissions.org/howwe_engineered_lwts.html ) to Haiti. Each system has the capacity to serve a community of 3,000 people.

Patrick is packed and ready to continue the work of disaster recovery.

Last day on Site

The team having a day of rest on a boat ride. You know who those two cool dudes are!!

















Team meetings

















More work























Ron, a local architect and dear brother to Bill & Tammy's ministry in Chiapas, discussing concrete mixing ratios (posted on cement bag) with eMi team.

The People

Jonathan is 5 years old and has more street smarts than most 10 year olds. He had been abandoned by one of the many Illegal Aliens traveling from Honduras or El Salvador on their way to the US. We have no way of knowing where he is from or what he has experienced but we do know that God chose to send him to us and we are overjoyed that the Lord would send him to us. Please pray for Jonathan, he has had a very hard 5 years of life. From: http://lostandfoundint.net/blog/

This shows a picture of the migrants that are trying to make their way to the US on the train right in front of Tammy & Bills. It is so sad...the trains are absolutely jammed on the roof with people, as well as on every ladder and between every car. It is so dangerous.

Christobal, the lead staff at the ranch where our team was developing a Master Plan for El Faro De Esparanza, helps Patrick by carrying survey instrument 1 km across the property at the end of the day. Cristobal and his crew of Miguel, Manuel, Luis (jr), and Luis (sr), provided amazing friendship and support to our team as we worked on the ground by cutting survey line with machete (bargachar!), digging soil and perc test holes, and carrying water for perc tests. They also provided Spanish lessons and much grace for us as we tried to convey our needs and they successfully obliged.

Coming home in 2 more sleeps

It's all about relationships. Look at the amazing bonds that blossomed in such a short time.

Clowning around?????






Pat, Brenden and Tom - the team leader












The team - Lost in the Jungle.

Tammy, Sam and Brenden at the orphanage

More pictures from Mexico

The eMi team and Bill and Tammy of El Alfarero

Creating new connections and extraordinary work for God.









The guest house on the site under construction.

Soil testing

Crossing a creek on the site

Brenden and some of the team