Greetings and Merry Christmas to all our faithful sponsors and prayer warriors:
As I begin this newsletter I look back over the past year and realize that I haven’t updated you in a while. I guess I have tried to keep everyone up-to-date on Facebook, rather than the monthly newsletters. My apologies to those of you who are not on Facebook!
Recapping 2017; we had 14 teams traveling to EGO throughout the year helping with the new housing unit project, doing VBS, playing with children, repairing buildings, painting, etc. A big thank you to all who came and invested in the lives and hearts of all those here at EGO.
February and March brought us three new babies, all boys (Pavens, Roodens and Roodensly). They are already growing so fast, have four teeth and are crawling all over the place. We call them our roly-polies.
April was a month of wonderful surprise when we received 700 pounds of formula through a formula drive held in the Wisconsin/Illinois area. Thank you so very much to all who helped in this endeavor. The formula was used in less than five months, but saved EGO thousands of dollars. They have continued to send additional formula as it comes in, which is blessing upon blessing!
We had an unusually hot May and June with temperatures reaching into the 100’s during the day. This made it very interesting for work teams as they labored on the buildings; they drank lots of water from the wonderful water that flows out of the wells dug here at EGO. We also received our first baby girl (Lousana) in two years; she was very malnourished, but you wouldn’t know it now. She has grown and is being spoiled by one and all.
July brought a team willing to work with our school.They helped the Haitian teachers with a training class that was both fun and educational. Everyone had a good time and asked the team to return. That team was followed by another team willing to brave the summer heat, and many parts of EGO got a fresh coat of paint. See the photo of the newly painted gates as you enter EGO!
August found us in the US taking a much needed break and having our annual EGO US Board meeting; as well as attending Max’s graduation from flight school. During that time we were grateful for the Kucinski’s and Tim Bakken for filling in for us here at the orphanage. They did such a great job, we might take a longer vacation next year (just kidding guys).
September began the school year with 14 new 3-year olds beginning preschool. That meant many new uniforms and backpacks. Thank you to the group out of Iowa who did a backpack drive and sent in over 400 backpacks for our children and students of Mixey Peavey Institution.September also brought many threats of hurricanes, but we praised God each time they moved to the Northeast and we were spared. We also received a set of twins – one boy and one girl (Molensky & Molenska).
October began a season of illnesses throughout the orphanage and Haiti. We have been struggling this Fall with many new viruses and tropical diseases. We are so appreciative of the knowledge of many who have answered our questions and assisted in helping to make sure the children are taken care of medically. We also worked on the housing units with a team arriving at the end of the month to help us continue the dream.
In November, our Haitian leadership staff attended a Strategic Planning Seminar, learning how to implement new standards at EGO and set great goals for improvements. We are excited about what this will mean for the future of EGO. On November 15th, we received a set of triplets – two boys and one girl (Edwin, Edlin, and Edlene). They are extremely ill from a disease passed to them at birth, and one with pneumonia, so they were on IV antibiotics and struggling to survive. Ken also had the opportunity to travel back to the US to do some needed father-son bonding with Max, and to assist him as he moved from Michigan to Virginia to begin his career in Aviation.
December brought us a full-time RN. Welcome to the EGO family, Tim Bakken! Tim retired from Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and is now living with us here on the grounds of EGO. I think I am the most excited for the experience and knowledge that Tim brings to us in the medical field. Ken is most excited for a second pair of hands to help with all the maintenance. The flu is going around EGO now and, of course, we are all taking turns getting sick. Praise the Lord that it is only 24-48 hours for most, and we can get back on our feet quickly.
December is also the time we celebrate Christ’s birth, and explain to ourchildren here at EGO why we celebrate Christmas or JwayeNoèl. We are excited that a team is coming with Christmas gifts for the kids, and a boat-load of hands to help hold babies at just the right time.
As we end 2017, we reach out to you, our faithful friends, and ask that you prayerfully consider giving a donation toward the work we need to do in 2018. Specifically, we have a lot of legal work needed in Haiti and the US, which is costly and time consuming. We’re working to restructure EGO to help the next chapter of the ministry.You can make a huge impact with a year-end gift! We are so grateful for your continued prayers and support.
Blessings to you and your families, and a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Ken and MarlaDrowley