Joyeux Noël 2016

Christmas Blessings from Gressier, Haiti!

Wow....we stand in awe at what the Lord has done in 2016!  In many ways, it has been a complete blur...but constant and unwavering through all of it has been God's goodness, presence and provision.   We have grown deeper in our faith and understanding of Him this year as our lives have taken a new path--and we couldn't wait to share it with you!  {warning:  many words below.  God has been just so good and we just can't edit it!}

January-September:  waiting, praying, crying, rejoicing...REPEAT over and over again.  The decision had been made to do what God had asked us to do, and it was settled:  at the end of the summer, we were leaving for Haiti.  However, many of the practical and logistical details were taking some time to fall into place.  You know, things like--where are we going to live in Haiti?  How long is it going to take to sell our house in Arkansas?  Will Jeremy have a job?  How are we going to get water and electricity?  What about school for the kids?  Will the dogs be able to come with us?  What vehicle will we have in Haiti?   We knew that God wasn't up there scratching His head trying to figure all of this out...but we would be liars if we said we didn't lose some sleep over these questions.  God was keeping us right where we needed to be:  close to Him and completely dependent on His plan.  In the end, every single piece fell into place and only God can receive the glory for it.  

We put the FOR SALE sign in the yard at our home in Arkansas in early April.  At the same time, after 18 wonderful and successful years with Procter & Gamble, Jeremy notified them of his intent to leave the company to pursue full time ministry.  September 1 would be his last day in the office and we planned to leave Arkansas that same day.  By mid-July, we still had not received an offer on the house, and we still didn't know where we were going to live in Haiti. We were starting to sweat it a little bit.  Well....let me just tell you what the Lord did!  On July 22, within 24 hours' time, we finalized our living arrangements in Haiti AND received an offer on the house!  And guess what day the buyer wanted to close on our Arkansas house??  August 31--the day before we planned to leave!  That could only be the Lord. 

As far as our living arrangements in Haiti....we had evaluated multiple options, including several rent houses.  However, none of these options gave us the deep peace that we were seeking.  We began to feel the Lord nudging us towards the possibility of building a 2nd floor apartment at JoyHouse, which has felt "like home" to us for several years.  We adore and trust the staff, and desire to continue working with their thriving ministry.  After discussing with JoyHouse leadership, praying and fasting over it, we joyfully received the permission to build on the roof of JoyHouse.  At last, we knew where we were supposed to be.   Construction began in late July, and the whole project was an absolute miracle and gift from the Lord.  Local labor finished the exterior walls from concrete block, as well as the tin roof and electrical wiring.   Then, to our astonishment, ten of our talented friends from both our church in Arkansas as well as our previous church in Cincinnati traveled to Haiti with just a couple weeks' notice to finish the entire interior of the apartment in just four days.  Only God.  Only God.  In less than six weeks, our apartment was complete.

And then began the packing and the purging.  We made the decision to sell most everything in the house and buy the bare necessities once we got to Haiti.  Thankfully, Jeremy's mom gave us permission to store some of our most precious keepsakes in her basement!  We whittled down what we could take with us on the airplane, packed it all in plastic footlockers, and donated the rest.  

At last, with many tears, we said goodbye to our home, our church, and our beloved friends in Arkansas.   Let me just tell you...it was DIFFICULT to leave such a tremendous support system.    They love us so well.   We made several stops to visit family on our voyage towards Haiti, and cried some more.  They also love us so well.  We loaded up the van/uhaul combo with six kids, three dogs, three adults, sixteen plastic footlockers, and sixteen carry on bags....and made our way towards Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where we would fly out on September 8.   We were thankful Grandmaw could make the journey with us and was willing to drive the Beehn mobile back to her house, where it now lives.  

September 8:  Haiti day.  Jeremy took an early flight with our big dog Max, while all the kids and I plus our little dog Randy took a later flight that same day.   I'm so thankful that the American Airlines people had mercy on me when I pulled up in our huge van pulling a huge trailer, unloaded six kids, a dog, and 28 bags in the pouring rain.  We sailed through check in and security, and the only way I can describe it is that God's hand absolutely carried us.  Not one hitch, not one complication.  I was keenly aware that the Lord had GONE BEFORE US.  He is so good!!  An added bonus: The kids were FABULOUS and had great attitudes about this adventure.  

We landed in Haiti and retrieved our baggage without any problems--and that's another miracle!  We all loaded up in a red truck, and headed west towards Gressier.  Jeremy and I have taken this voyage many times over the past 4 1/2 years, but this was the first time for our two littlest girls.  I loved looking at Haiti again for the first time through Leah and Elena's eyes as we drove to JoyHouse that day.  I fell in love with the country all over again.  

It took us quite a few weeks to get settled into our new island life.  Many of the expected challenges were easily overcome, but there were a few things that we didn't anticipate....like a category 4 hurricane within the first month of living here.  By God's grace, Gressier did not sustain major damage like our neighbors to our west.  

Earlier in the year, in another example of God's abundant provision, we had been able to purchase the perfect vehicle for what we would need in Haiti--a 4 wheel drive, 8 passenger, AIR CONDITIONED Toyota Sequoia.  We shipped it from Florida to Port au Prince on a cargo ship, which was a fairly easy process.  Getting it out of customs was an entirely different story.  It took six weeks, 10 trips to Port au Prince, and 50% of the car's value to get it out--and when we finally had jumped through all the hoops and bribed paid all the people, IT WOULDN'T START!  Thankfully,  a talented mechanic friend helped us get it running and it only caught on fire once (true story, but all is good now).  The same day we got the car out of customs, our generator blew an actual gaping hole in the side and was dead forever.  Thankfully, Jeremy had become quite familiar with the hardware stores in the area and we were able to purchase a new generator within a couple weeks.  Gressier does receive some city power, about 6-8 hours a day, and we are all very thankful when it comes on because we try to run our generator as little as possible--conserving fuel and extending the life of this major investment.

Okay, there's also the critters.  Mosquitoes, tarantulas, and mice.  I'll just leave that right there.

Despite these things that are very different from life in America, the kids have really transitioned well.  Each of them have grieved and processed this major change in their own ways, of course, but it has been a great opportunity for them to exercise their faith and trust in the Lord.  All six of them share one bedroom, and while that can have its challenges, I really think they have felt safer and closer to each other because of it.  Everyone has adjusted fairly well to our new school arrangements.  Jared (10th grade) and Julie (8th grade) are enrolled in an online virtual academy, and have both managed to keep up very well despite unreliable internet.  [Jeremy recently became everyone's hero when he was finally able to get high speed fiber optic internet to the house!]  Lizzy (6th grade), Sam (5th grade), Leah (3rd grade), and Elena (2nd grade) get to have mom as their teacher in a traditional homeschool curriculum.   Everyone is excelling and mom is loving it, too.  Slowly but surely, we are all learning the language.  Jared and Julie are helping teach an English class to the youth group at the church, and in return, they are gaining valuable practice in Creole as well.  Sam has been using his passion for sports to show love to the kids in our community.  Every day, he is shooting hoops with kids on the basketball court or kicking around the soccer ball.   This Christmas, Jared and Julie will be playing their trumpet and saxophone in a Christmas program, while Lizzy, Leah and Elena have helped choreograph a dance for their group of young ladies.  They are all finding their own ways of serving here, and it makes my heart so happy.

One major question in this whole process has been related to Jeremy's job.  Every avenue for staying with P&G was exhausted, and so we knew this simply wasn't God's will.  But again, God has provided in even better ways than we could have imagined.   For about 2 years, Jeremy had been volunteering his time with an organization called One Egg as they were writing a grant proposal to build a commercial chicken farm in Haiti.  One Egg operates in several countries around the world and supplies an egg per day to impoverished and undernourished children in schools, orphanages, and clinics.  Their next venture was in Haiti, where the demand for eggs is much greater than the supply.  With his background and expertise in finance, he was able to complete the financial plan for the grant, as well as help make some connections on the ground in Haiti.  Earlier this year, the grant was approved by Tyson, and land where the farm was to be built was secured--just about 10 minutes from our home!  The timing of all this, coupled with the location and proximity to our home, made it abundantly clear that God intended Jeremy to continue his work through the completion of the project.  Jeremy is now acting as the project manager for the construction of the farm.   Ground breaking began on Thanksgiving day, and construction is on schedule to be completed by mid-March.  Ultimately, the farm will house over 10,000 chickens, employ 10+ Haitian workers, and supply eggs to thousands of kids who need reliable source of protein.  I never thought I would be married to a chicken farmer, but I'm loving it!  And so very thankful!

The other major opportunity we have been given is to begin a more structured children's ministry at the church.  Over 100 kids attend children's church each week, and we are teaching them chronologically through the book of Genesis.  We love to see these children growing in their knowledge and understanding of the Lord!  On the radar for 2017 is an exciting opportunity to introduce the Awana curriculum into our children's ministry--as well as training leaders and beginning Awana clubs in 25 other local churches!  Once we are in a good groove with the Awana program, we plan to organize a nursery for the babies in the church.  Leah and Lizzy have already signed up to be our first volunteers!

Finally, and candidly, the Lord has been challenging my heart to be ever more diligent in sharing the Gospel.  Through some recent family struggles and heartaches, eternity feels near and salvation is urgent.  God is continually putting in my path people who need medical care, and while I don't always know the diagnosis or have the right medicine, I do recognize it as an opportunity to pray for that person and share God's love with them.  He is the ultimate Healer, and our only source of hope.  At this time, I'm seeking the Lord's direction in beginning a more consistent and intentional mobile medical ministry, with the real mission being the sharing of the Gospel to hurting people.  (A side note:  I'm still not ready to drive in Haiti.  If you've been here, you understand.  I'm also not quite adventurous enough to ride a motorcycle.  This presents a challenge with starting a "mobile" ministry.  Jeremy came up with a perfect solution after visiting a remote city that is not accessible by most vehicles, and most people get around on donkeys.  Who wants to see this aging white girl riding a donkey to visit patients??!!  Ha!)

What we have learned:  God always writes the story better than we ever could.  He is so good.  Thank you to all those who have prayed for us, given time and funding to Leve Kanpe, supported us with encouraging words, and loved us even on rough days.  We pray God's greatest blessings on you as you follow Him into your own adventure.

Much love, 

Jeremy & Katie Beehn

Jared (16), Julie (14), Lizzy (12), Sam (11), Leah (9), and Elena (7)

Max and Randy

www.levekanpe.com