Recognize this first little guy????

Here is a video about MFI's first 72 hrs of disaster response, mostly showing the MAF families leaving Haiti. Since then they have been coordinating with different groups to get supplies down and evacuate other families.

http://www.missionaryflights.org/field-reports/146-mfi-haiti-relief-the-first-72-hours-on-video

How to Help

Thanks so much to all who have called and written in the past few days. Our hearts are heavy for the people left to pick up the pieces after everything was shaken and so much was destroyed in moments last Tuesday.

A few easy places to help with earthquake relief in Haiti.....

MAF has established a satellite communications center at the Port-au-Prince airport, allowing relief agencies to effectively communicate with those in and outside of Haiti. The MAF hangar has become a logistics point for aid organizations bringing food, water, medicines, and other relief supplies into this devastated country. MAF relief flights transport teams of medical and relief workers to remote areas. You can donate toward the MAF Haiti Disaster and Recovery Fund and see on-location pictures at http://www.maf.org/news/earthquake-haiti-2010.

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Needed supplies can be ordered at this Amazon Store http://astore.amazon.com/olivknolparec-20 and sent to Nazarene Compassionate Ministries at the following address: Nazarene Compassionate Ministries “Church of the Nazarene – Haiti Earthquake Relief.” Obed Santiesteban 310 E. 5th St. Miami, FL 33010

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Mission Flights International (MFI) who brings our mail to us in Haiti each week is using their huge hangar as a clearinghouse for all of the donations that are being routed through them. For those in the Florida area (especially around Fort Pierce) check out MFI's supply list and where drop offs are located: http://www.missionaryflights.org

Medical Assistance--Community Coalition for Haiti

MAF Assists the Community Coalition for Haiti in Bringing Medical Care to the Injured

From Karen H. Carr, Director, Community Coalition for Haiti
Via John Woodberry
January 19, 2010

With the help of MAF, CCH's (Community Coalition for Haiti) trauma team and medical supplies are in Jacmel helping heal the injured, hurt and hopeless … MAF has been a constant source of hope for all of the relief organizations trying to get supplies and medical personnel into Haiti. For the Haitians who are suffering and those bringing help, hearing the MAF flights overhead gives us more reason to believe that things will recover here and that more help is on the way.

On the ground, gas is running low, but available. There are few medical supplies here except the ones we brought in by MAF. There are several medical teams here, but they are facing treating over 2,000 patients at the hospital and clinic. In the rural areas, thousands more need assistance. Aftershocks were felt this morning and at 3AM. People are still sleeping outside.

Without MAF, our ministry here to those in need in Jesus' name would not be possible. For the lives that have been saved, we owe MAF an eternal debt of gratitude. For those who will hear and see Jesus touching them through our medical volunteers and MAF's efforts, our appreciation on their behalf is infinite.

MAF Communication Team-Disaster Response

I will be posting more information about the earthquake and response to that. This is a little report from the MAF Communications Team in Haiti, written yesterday, January 19, 2010.
Todd is fine. He is working with four of the other MAF Haiti guys and then a couple others from Nampa Headquarters to coordinate flights into Haiti and then around the country to distribute relief supplies.

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Today, David Hoffman and I removed the GATR system from the World Concern building and brought it back to the airport. The World Concern folks still as yet do not have an infrastructure in place to keep the VSAT system inflated for the night. With the price of gas reaching $10 a gallon in the city and even that is watered down, they don't have the finances to keep the generator going. Each time the GATR system deflates, it must be reinflated and recalibrated which is up to an hour process.

But more importantly, there are more pressing needs of the VSAT system elsewhere. We positioned the system today in the midst of the Search and Rescue groups and are working with Instedd (www.instedd.org). Some of their information about what they are doing is on their webpage. But in a nutshell, they are receiving information in from the Haitians via SMS messages or literally by workers who are roaming the streets and typing in messages. These messages are then encoded onto electronic maps for the UN Disaster Assistance and Coordination (UNDAC) group who then sends out the necessary relief or
Search and Rescue (SAR) teams to the neighborhoods.

Miraculously, two more people were pulled from the rubble today. However, even as I write this, the majority of SAR teams are packing it up tonight and heading back to their respective countries. In the morning, Dave and I will move the VSAT system over to the UNDAC area as they have an urgent need with their Map Action group. Hi resolution satellite images have been collected of the area that they need to download to help plan for the transition from rescue over to relief. We plan on being stationed in the UN compound for the next few days until their own systems can be flown in. We hope that at that time, we can then move back to the World Concern office to assist with the "internet cafe" for other NGOs.

Christmas Letter-2009

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Merry Christmas!

Joyeux Noel! Kontan Nwèl!

Wow!!! What a year of newness 2009 has been for our family!! I love new beginnings with all of the joys and challenges they bring. We thank God for His mercy and faithfulness each step of the way. Last year at this time we were out in the province learning Haitian language and culture. We met many wonderful friends and were able to experience village life first-hand. Part of me now misses the freedom the kids had to run all over the camp discovering creatures, the night sounds and sky full of stars, hot and fresh bread when we could get it, driving the little Rhino (about like a golf cart) to town, the boys playing soccer each afternoon, picking grapefruits right off the tree, living simply with about 5 totes worth of stuff in 3 rooms..... Lots of wonderful memories. Now I am thankful for things like a washing machine, a big cistern, floors and a bathroom that I feel like we can scrub clean, SCREENS!!!, a church home, wonderful neighbors, stores, and a car that runs!!! All of the challenges have served to make us appreciate our many blessings.

At the end of February, we returned to Port au Prince to begin city life. Since we were gone to language school for three months, we had left everything in boxes until we returned and were able to paint. With the help of my parents and sister Hannah we were able to complete the task and finally unpack!!! The kids finished out the school year at Quisqueya School, and Todd began work in MAF's hangar at Haiti's national airport. There he stays busy with inspections, parts ordering, and giving the airplanes the TLC they need. Whenever he is home, though, he has a very long list of projects to keep him out of trouble. :)

This summer our whole family visited the States, just at two separate times. The Church of the Nazarene's General Assembly (every 4 yrs.) was in Orlando this year, so the kids and I got to attend. We saw LOTS of family and friends there!! :) Just after we got back, Todd and Michael Broyles ferried a plane across the ocean where they rendezvoused with Frank Gibbs (retired MAF mechanic) in FL to do an engine change on

HH-PTL. Most of the American families with kids around here spent the summer in the States. We missed them but enjoyed the down time to make Haiti our home. Kyle and Megan spent most days in the water, playing together or with other neighbor kids. It was very healing and relaxing for them to wake up "at home" each morning. This fall they were ready to begin classes again, and I was more ready to get involved in the life of the school.

Kyle and Megan have been such little blessings and so much fun to interact with at each stage of their lives, but I feel like we somehow enjoy them more each day. Kyle is still a kind yet adventurous explorer who loves animals and all things related to the study of science. During this past year he has made marked progress in reading and several sports, especially swimming and soccer. Megan enjoys all of the creatures around our house, but she also loves girly things like princess dress-up, dancing, playing dolls, painting her nails and squealing with her friends. :) At the moment, Kyle and Megan have two pets: a turtle named Sunshine and a Beta fish named Fire Prince.

Todd and I practice our Creole every chance we get, so it is rewarding to look back and see how much we have learned this year. You can survive with English here, but our goal is to be able to speak in the “heart language.” I attend both an English and a Spanish Bible study most weeks. It is fun to meet with some ladies who have been following the Lord for a long time and others who are just beginning their journey with Him. We all have something to learn and something to teach. Speaking of learning, I will begin taking online Master's classes in the spring as I work toward becoming certified to teach Spanish. I took the GRE when I was back in the US for my sister Hannah's wedding last month. I got to meet her husband Willian and had a good visit with my family.

We enjoy both our English and Creole churches each Sunday and are thankful for the sermons that our Nampa church posts on-line. More than just filling our week with church services and Bible studies, though, our desire is to grow closer to the Lord each day as we wrestle with how to best show Christ's love to those around us.

We are so thankful for the different churches and Sunday School classes and families who pray for us often and want to send a very special thank-you to all who have taken the time and effort to keep in contact this year whether via email, facebook, letters, care packages, chatting/Skype, or best of all a personal visit. :) Of course we are very aware that without the support of so many back home we would not be able to minister here, so another huge thank-you to all of you who have given to MAF on our behalf. God has been faithful, and we continue to seek Him for direction and guidance in the New Year.

Love from our home to yours.

The Edgertons

Happy New Year!!!

I have not written anything for a while, so I have some back pedaling to do, but I did want to mention some of the highlights from our Christmas break so far. Of course we LOVE the Christmas break, because it is great to have some time to spend as a family without all of the normal tugs of work and school. Kyle and Megan got three weeks off for their break, and Todd has taken 2 weeks, too. We have done projects around the house, taken time to play games and spend some time as a family; we went to the beach with our neighbors for a night; the kids had a sleepover with friends, and they have enjoyed lots of time playing with the neighbor kids.

We ordered a Christmas tree (fake, "prelit", low-maintenance, PERFECT!!!), and we put it up the day it arrived back in November. K&M were very excited about opening presents weeks before Christmas day (typical). But we decided to do things a little differently than normal this year since the kids are getting bigger. Usually we read Luke 1 & 2, have a short devotional and open presents on Christmas Eve night. However this year I went against my nature (wanting to open each package even before it is under the tree), and we actually waited on presents until Christmas morning.

Christmas Eve night we went up onto our roof and read the Christmas story. Kyle and Megan acted it out under the stars in the quiet night with only our flashlights. There was no rush or anticipation of the next thing. We were able to reflect and really focus on the reason we celebrate. When our heads hit the pillow that night we were thinking of all of the prophecies fulfilled, the Redeemer, the Messiah come to earth...for us. It was refreshing. I think we will do that again.

Todd has taken advantage of the vacation time to build racks for our solar panels so we can harness some of that free energy our sun produces instead of dealing with the headache of our local electric company which provides power 4-8 hrs per night, most of the time, and charges two arms and a leg. :) Yesterday (Dec. 31) he worked on that and I painted on our back walls. Crismen came and made the traditional Haitian pumpkin soup for us (basically a vegetable soup), soup joumou. Around 6 last night we went to some neighbors' house to play games and visit. About 20 of us played Outburst!! Fun!!

At 9 I went with Crismen to a New Years service at her church. I took a camera, but of course it was out of battery power when I wanted to video tape. They sure did rock the house with their singing!! Loved it. Besides the singing, people told things that God had done in their lives through out the year and we had a time of prayer. We finished right after midnight, so it was exciting to experience all of the sights and smells and sounds of the neighborhood in party mode as we walked home. :) I am SOOO thankful for our car for safety and convenience reasons, but we miss a lot when we are in our sterile bubble of glass and metal floating down the street.

When we got home, Todd had just put the kids in bed, so we all got to wish each other Happy New Year. We thank the Lord for all of the joys and challenges, the peace and the lessons learned in 2009. We anticipate that 2010 will have more twists in the road that we do not necessarily anticipate. But through everything, it is good to know that He can change sorrow to joy, curses to blessings....

$23.65

Normally we do not mention financial ministry support on this blog, mostly because that is not our focus. We have put that in the Lord's hands and know that He continually brings just the right people to partner with us. However, without that steady support we would not be able to continue working here in Haiti. The month we sent out our last printed newsletter our support had dropped significantly. However, I just looked at the report for September, and our support monies for last month exceeded the necessary level by $23.65!! That is thanks to several people who recently began supporting us on a monthly basis, one family who sent in an annual gift, and others who have increased what they have been giving. It is amazing to see how each gift-- great or small, monthly or one-time--works together to fulfill the final goal.
My heart is just overwhelmed with thanks at this moment....both to God and so many friends. Thank you!!

Megan's 7th birthday

Our little Megan turned 7 last Friday. :) Thursday night we had a little family celebration, and then on Saturday we had a little party for the kids in her class and a few other friends. This was really our first kid's birthday party here, so we had no idea who would show up or what to expect. It was very interesting... The invitations we sent stated that the party time was from 2PM-4:30PM. The American kids that came were on time or early. Notice this picture with only 4 kids around 2:45. :) Those from Latin or Haitian homes were at least 45 min. late, and the last kid left at 6:30!!! Apparently the "hora Chapina" (Guatemalan time--30 min. late) does not even apply here. :) Fortunately we had very loosely planned activities, so people just kind of jumped in and participated whenever they arrived. Love the flexibility of the Caribbean!!
After the cake/icecream and presents, the kids all went swimming. It was just amazing to see some kids just really struggle to get their faces wet when we first went to swim, but by the end of the afternoon they were splashing around like fish!! Water in any form is always good kid entertainment, and it was a nice time to casually meet the parents of some of the kids in Megan's class.
Megan enjoyed both celebrations, and now we anticipate more great times with our favorite girl in the coming year!!

Kreyol pale, Kreyol konprann....

This is a Creole proverb that literally means, "Speak Creole, understand Creole." Crisman says it to me when I pronounce a Creole word differently than she does, but she can still understand what I am saying. I may be totally off on this, but I think she is just saying, "You are speaking Creole, so I can understand you." (maybe using context clues)
My new word Sunday was "maringuen" which means mosquito. Sunday afternoon when we returned from church, there were mosquitos chasing us all over the living room. We moved from one place to another trying to get away from them, but there were too many! Finally I went in search of a "mosquito zapper," a device shaped like a tennis racket which gives mosquitos an electric zap with the push of a button.
Stores here are only open for a few hours on Sundays, so I raced up to Eagle Market, which is less than a mile away. They were still open but did not have what I was looking for, however the guy that helped me told me the word I need to use....raket. I headed on to the gas station we typically use because there are ALWAYS guys out there trying to sell you these things. There was only one helpful guy selling steering wheel covers. :) Back up Delmas (the main road we travel) on the way to Caribbean Market where we also shop, I found a little guy on the side of the road with all kinds of gadgets. Right in the middle of his wares was a raket!! It was the last one, so the plastic packaging was torn and dirty, and the zapper itself was a little bent. The machann (merchant) and his friend assured me most absolutely that could still kill the "moustik" (the word I had always used) or "maringwen." I repeated that new word over and over, asked him to repeat it. He inserted two batteries which he just happened to have there for testing purposes, and the light came on. That was promising, but I was still not certain that there would be current flowing from the handle to the racket part of the zapper. I ended up getting it, mostly so that I would not go home empty-handed, but also trusting that Todd could fix it if something was wrong.
Once back home, Todd opened the thing up and reattached a dangling wire, so it now works like a charm!!
I have not known the word "kill" in Creole until this morning. I have always worked around it using the words "fini" (finish) or "mouri" (dead/die). I was trying to tell Crismen that I was trying to kill another pesky bug. She told me the word for kill and then used the maringwen name for mosquito. That is when she used the proverb, "Kreyol pale, Kreyol konprann." Now I can clearly say that I killed the mosquito! ....I think. :) (M' te tiye maringwen an.) Love it!!

Cute Homework

School is now well underway for Kyle and Megan this year. It was wonderful for them to start this year with the classmates they met at the end of last year. I just started helping out in their classrooms last week, so I feel much more connected to what each of them is doing and learning. Megan's first grade teacher is Mrs. Jean-Charles, which Megan insists on pronouncing with a French accent. :) Kyle's teacher is Ms. Kuhnle, who is young and energetic and very encouraging.
My favorite part of home-schooling when we were in Pignon was reading the kids' creative writing. Some days it was like pulling teeth to get them to write, but the end result made the effort worthwhile. :)
I would like to share a couple of very short but cute things they have done recently.

My name is Megan E. Edgerton
I like to play Barbs (Barbies).
I like to eat cheas and rice (cheese and rice).



Name: Kyle Edgerton
Age: 8
Favorite things to do: swim, play x-box, play outside, exercise, play with my sister and talk
When I write a book about my life, the first scene will be being an MK in Guatemala.
Someone who has inspired me is Mr. McMann (PE teacher/coach who is going to start a soccer program on Mondays after school) because I like to exercise.
When I recognize someone I know, I say hi and talk. If they are my relative I hug them.
A very important custom in my family is before I go to bed my mom and dad pray with us.
It is important because We pray so we can talk to God.

Engines, Turtles & the End of Summer Fun

Since we are now mostly settled in, there are not so many "firsts" to report. We still have them, but they are much more gradual and do not make such an impression.

God has recently provided several opportunities both to share our material possessions and our faith with others. We are so blessed. Thanks to all those who pray for wisdom for us on a daily basis. It is STILL needed.

A major part of the month of August centered around Todd's trip to Florida to change out the engine on HH-PTL. Michael Broyles who serves with us here in Haiti and Frank Gibbs, a former MAFer who is very experienced at this sort of thing, along with Todd formed the crew that inspected, repaired and changed the engine. An engine change sounds quick and easy, and indeed it can be, but while they were in the engine compartment, they took advantage of the accessibility of parts that are normally hidden to review and repair items that would have cost thousands of dollars to replace. MFI, the group that houses our FL address, shops for us when necessary and delivers our mail each week, housed Todd, Michael and Frank, allowed them to use their hangar, and some of the staff even had them to dinner!! I LOVE seeing groups work together and assist each other for the common good. Thanks to Skype, the kids and I were able to talk to Todd most nights. We were so happy to get him back last Monday, though. Since his return he has been fixing things like crazy!!...both things that broke during his absence and house repairs that have been needed for years.

I was able to really enjoy Kyle and Megan this summer, making it one of the very best ever. Most of the kids' missionary/expat friends were gone during June, July and August, so I got to spend a lot of time reading adventure books with them and reviewing their skills for school, swimming, laughing, getting "cool" haircuts, doing little projects around the house and going places with them. They played more with the kids here in the neighborhood and, of course, learned some more Creole words. We still cannot just rattle off long sentences, but it is fun to hear our vocabulary expanding.

We continue to enjoy our church in the mountains (Marlique Church), and this Sunday I understood most of the message!!! The songs seem to be easier to understand (even those in French), and with more practice we will soon be rattling away. What a beautiful process it is to learn a new language....one word at a time that becomes easier to recall and let slip off your tongue each time you use it.

A happy addition to our family has been a couple of turtles named Sunshine and Rhino. Our frogs were not eating their food once they left tadpole stage, so we released the skinny things into the wild. A few days later my friend Mairelis asked us to watch her turtles while their family went home to the Dominican Republic for a week. Kyle and Megan did such a good job caring for them each day. When she returned she brought two baby turtles for our kids. :) We have made a chart, so each day one kid changes the water and the other one feeds the turtles. Yesterday afternoon Megan and her friends spent a couple hours in our front dirt area playing with them and making habitats for them.

The summer flew by, and I now have two kids in school all day. They love their teachers and their classes so far. Kyle exits school with a smile each afternoon, and Megan is growing up to be quite the thoughtful, cheerful young lady. What precious little blessings. Please continue to pray that they would influence others for good and that they would be good learners, both of academic and life lessons. We are all anticipating the doors God will open for us to both learn and teach and the new things in store for us in the days ahead.

See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.
Isaiah 43:19