International Day of Persons with Disabilities, 3 December 2012

"

To bring attention to the needs of Disabled Haitians, the National Amputee Soccer Team played in front of a good crowd at the national stadium, and also was televised on National Television on Monday, Dec. 3rd.

To the add to the festivities, they marched down the main street and into the stadium with a banner in front of the teams: each from a different part of Port-au-Prince.

Ronald William,one of our AIS staff members, was asked to referee the game. There were lots of journalists there and the organizing committee was all dressed up.

USAID financed the match and even gave a cash prize to the winners. Of course the team we work with won!

So just remember we are all God's children, no matter who we are: Col. 3:11: "Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all and is in all."

Also remember we all have "disabilities" Some are physical, others are mental, and some are sinful habits. But that is why Christ came: Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Rich Recovers from Dengue Fever

Dengue Fever is a mosquito-borne virus that is also known as "Break-bone" fever because of the way it makes you feel. Your whole body is sore and this time around I had excruciating back pain that often kept me up at night, along with a fever.

There is no treatment for Dengue fever, which has 4 types. At this point I have had two of the four types and am not looking forward to experiencing the other two types! Usually when you get one type you have life-long immunity to that type.

Although there is a blood test for Dengue, it is not really worth the expense because there is no treatment. It was confirmed in me by my itchy palms, which is a symptom that appears at the end of the virus cycle.

Thanks to all who prayed for my recovery!

US Embassy vs. Amputee soccer team

A few weeks ago the soccer team of the US Embassy in Port-au-Prince played the Haitian national Amputee soccer team.

I took some friends who were visiting Haiti with Servants of Haiti and they really enjoyed watching the teams play.

December 3rd is international day of persons with Disabilities so the team will play a special game at the National Stadium.

Oh how we miss Ricky!

This writing on the back of a car we followed in Haiti says "What's up, Ricky?" Naturally we thought of our son, who is in Florida attending College.

We are looking forward to seeing him over Christmas!

Watch where you wipe your hands!

I got up in the middle of the night to go, as middle-aged men do so often. Imagine my surprise when I went to dry my hands!

Since these kinds of spiders eat cockroaches and other large bugs, I picked up the towel and shook him off outside!

Cereal Boxes are transformed!

We finally picked up the two barrels we shipped at the beginning of August in the city of Jacmel on November 9th.

The barrels were stuck in customs for many months and when they were released, they wanted me to go down to a very dangerous part of Port-au-Prince to pick them up, which I refused to do.

So they ended up in the city of Jacmel, about 2 1/2 hours away. I had to do a training there, so I was able to pick them up.

Inside the barrels were soccer equipment and the cereal boxes that children at Crossing Community Church had collected. Thank you so much for collecting boxes for Francoise, now you can see how God can use even the smallest act of kindness to help others in need!

Francoise was overjoyed when she saw the boxes and immediately started to cut them up and make them into beads. She had to rent a paper cutter for $10 US for the day, so we ordered one on-line for her with a Staples coupon, and will bring it back for her after we spend Christmas in Florida.

After she cuts the paper into strips, she rolls them, glues them and then put varnish on them until they are shiny.

Then she strings the beads and combines them with other beads to make beautiful necklaces, bracelets and earrings.

If you would like to order anything, please email us at rich.mears@crossworld.org