From the American Heritage Dictionary
Our days on the mission field can be filled with a large range of jobs and there are many types of tools to assist in the work.
Recently we purchased a motorcycle to assist Cory in traveling around the island for his agricultural work. The first trip that he and Kris took was 57 miles in just over 4.5 hours. The fastest speed was about 20 miles per hour! There are no paved roads on LaGonave. The roughest part of the trip the Lord sent a young man on a motorcycle whose job is to deliver money to homes after it has been wired to LaGonave. He stayed with us through the bad area to make sure we would not need help. He said that �the rocks have teeth� In some areas the rocks that the roads are made of are turning black from the tires scraping on them. You appreciate the difficulties of transporting ill patients to the hospital or food/crops to market after a bone-jarring mountain ride on a bike or truck. With gas prices at $5.20 a gallon, the motorcycle is a much more economical way to visit mountain churches, schools and communities.
Cory has become a fan of E-bay and has purchased items for the mission, hospital and family that we would otherwise have to buy at much higher cost or wait until we could return to the States to purchase. This tool assists us in keeping costs down as we strive to be good stewards of the Lord�s money. Some of the items he has purchase in the past range from surgical scissors and boat motor parts, to printer ink, plant pots, and computers. In other words he is buying useful tools.
One of Cory�s E-bay buys was a wholesale case of mosquito zapping rackets. These have been popular with the missionaries as they can easily kill those pesky mosquitoes that enter the houses and can carry the risk of Malaria or Dengue fever. We even have one in the hospital�s operating room for the mosquitoes or flies that sometimes find their way into surgery.
Internet phone calls enable to us call family and make business calls at low cost over the computer more reliably and clearer than cell phones. Communications is the biggest use of computers on the field. We can get E-mails from around the world and respond the same day. Our postal service is slower. It brings letters and packages in from the States once a week and then the mail needs to be brought to LaGonave which may take an additional week. Responses can then take an additional couple weeks to return. The computer as a word processor is also very useful- even for making cards, photographs and charts.
Language is a tool needed for communications. Even though we have been in Haiti for close to eight years we continue to work on the Creole language. Kris and the kids have started to take weekly lessons. Sometimes it is difficult to share our faith using a second language, but we also have tracts in Creole to help share the gospel. The clinic�s video continues to draw small crowds of people to learn about the Lord as well as some health issues. We feel that the most effective witness is in the lives of Haitian Christians so we strive to encourage and enable the church members to reach their own people. The Lord is working here.
A seven-year-old boy was brought to the hospital by a worried mom. Watching him struggle to breath was painful. As the mom of a young boy, my heart ached for his mom as I talked to her about her son�s serious condition. As a doctor, my head hurt knowing our limited treatment and medications and the likelihood of his death. The next day he was worse and soon his right side was paralyzed. All we could do was to continue to pray. Then he started to improve-his breathing cleared and after several days he could talk and move his upper arm and leg a little. But he went home not being able to move any fingers on his right hand. I encouraged him to try to work with that hand while practicing writing with his left. A few weeks later he returned for a check up and was able to move his fingers! I don�t know why I am surprised at times when the Lord answers prayers but what a great feeling. All of us left the visit praising the Lord.
As part of our support team you are also an important tool. The Lord uses you to enable us to do the work before us, to provide prayer and financial support, to advise and teach, to laugh and cry with us. We know we are not alone and are grateful.
Serving in Haiti with your help,
Cory, Kris, Eli and Anna Thede
Please note our New mail service Address:
Cory & Kris Thede
Unit 2089-WES
3170 Airmans Drive
Ft. Pierce, FL 34946-9131
