AT 2:00 a.m. our team will be heading to JFK for an early morning flight to Port au Prince.  It will be 92 degrees there tomorrow--quite a change to what we are accustomed to at this time of year.  So many folks have donated supplies for this trip.  Thank you again.  Our first stop is the Orphanage for Unfortunate Children followed by The Orphanage of Good Will.  On Monday we will be heading to Laschohobas and Rantlamouaie.  As usual we are taking duffles full of supplies and there is still a pile of things sitting on my garage floor that  needs to fit it somewhere!  I am very blessed to be traveling with this wonderful team:  Heidi Brewer-teacher, Michele Brobston-teacher, Theresa Hayes-teacher, Dr. Maribeth Wallingford-vet. 

Each day more and more supplies are arriving for our projects.  Thank you to everyone.  Please keep them coming as a team will be heading to Zimbabwe in June and we have a cargo container heading to Haiti this summer.  You are the best!  Thank you for your generosity.

The UN announced on January 16th that 2012 was the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All.  Our solar projects are a great example of how organizations can help the UN reach their goal.  Board member Tim Schmehl, will be installing his 5th solar array in March in the village of Corosse, Haiti.  Fondly nicknamed "the light of hope" these solar projects bring great changes to the schools, churches and the communi
 

Our 5 person team is getting very excited about our trip to Haiti.  We have much to accmplish there which will make the days fly by.  As much as we look forward to getting there we look forward to coming home and sharing our stories and photos with you so that our projects will keep progressing with your help.  We need you!  Don't hesitate to write or give us a call.  Thanks!

Saturday night was "Heartburn for Haiti".  What a great chili cook-off.  There were 14 different kinds of chili to sample and each one had a very cool name; "Gas Mask" Chili, "Howlin' Chili", "Cowboy" Chili, "Oh Deer" Chili and so many more unique names.  Richard Tollner did a fantastic job as the DJ and Christian Children's Book Author Erin Nelson was on hand for a book signing.  Way to go t. John's!

http://esw.union.rpi.edu/newsletters/ESW-RPI-2011F.pdf     Click her to read the progress report on their work in Haiti!

The students were thrilled to see their photo and story on the front page of the RPI newspaper. We are so proud of them!  It is an absolute pleasure working them--each one brings great talent to the project.  The student are working on alternative housing for the orphans in Haiti.  Check out the story at http://poly.rpi.edu/. 

A message from Zimbabwe:
"We are under a serious typhoid threat. Over 1000 people have been
affected in  Harare. Thank God that there is a certain level of preparedness to
treat the  affected on the part of health institutions. It is all a problem of
lack of  clean water. We are still using the water filter you sent for drinking
  purposes."

Wow!  The energy at the Publik House was fantastic.  From 9-11:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 28th we rocked the place with wonderful music from the Radio Junkies and a fabulous silent auction.  Erin Nelson, a children's book author from Mass. was present for a booksigning.  Pizza and other appetizers were donated by the Publik House.  Thank you to Jeannette for making this such a wonderful event for us.  Thank you to the February 2012 mission team for all the hard work you did to make this happen; Michaele Brobston, Heidi Brewer, Theresa Hayes and Maribeth Wallingford.

I've known Jane Morrison from Mechanicville for many years now.  She has always been a wonderful friend of our organization.  Jane has been creating the most beautiful paintings from the photos we bring back from our mission trips to Haiti and Zimbabwe.  The YMCA in Clifton Park will feature Jane's artwork in their "love" artshow.  Please stop in to see her paintings and check out the Y while you are there!