UP A TREE. A while back, Nicolas was begging for us to build a treehouse in the backyard. I kept putting him off and telling him, "When Art gets here in February we'll do it." Well, Nicolas remembered! Art led the way and something close to a tree house was built. It is defintely a work in progress. Nicolas pitched in and found that driving a 4" nail through a rough two-by-four into a tree wasn't as easy as it looked! Thanks a million to Art and Seth for making it happen. Now, I just have to build the ladder!



Art and Nicolas driving nails in the new treehouse. Nicolas drove that one all the way!


Nicolas and best buddies Jason and Brandon tryout the new tree house.

SPECIAL THANKS. Next Tuesday (Feb. 25th) we have to say goodbye (again) to Seth and Dorothy Walters. Are faithful volunteers who have been coming to Haiti for almost eight years. This time around we got twice as much work done since Art Gier joined them for a few weeks. Seth and Art were part of a team that finished building the church at Anse-A-Pitre. This was the church that Linda and a group from mexico started last Fall. After the team left, Art stayed with the Walters and worked on several BIG projects including running about 300 feet of pipe from a hillside cistern to our new dorm. Lately he has spent a lot of time on the Kosters roof, rewiring their 220 power grid. What a job that has been. We are grateful for folks like Art, Seth and Dorothy who could be spending all their time taking an easy retirement, but instead choose to lend us a BIG hand down here in Haiti!



Art (left) and Seth (right) have been working hard on Jim Koster's roof.

THE GRADES ARE IN. Those of you who have been following this rambling newsletter know that since last summer, we have been opening extension centers all over Haiti. We are developing these centers to allow folks (usually older men with families) to finish their ministerial training without having to uproot and move to Port-au-Prince for three years. This morning I arrived at my office and Sylvain Charles, one of our grads and now professor at the a center, handed me a grade report, our very first! Eleven students completed the first course (Spiritual Formation), and I'm happy to report that they all passed! This group was made up of ten men and one woman. Charles is already working with the group on the next cours, Introduction to the Old Testament. Good stuff!

NEW SEMESTER OPENS. With all the troubles going on these days, I have to admit I worried that some of our students might not be able to make it back for second semester. Thankfully and by the Grace of God all have checked in are in class. Several answers to prayers were celebrated during the break, including Yanick's husband. Yanick is our first female student in decades, and her husband had his thyroid removed. The doctors say he came through the survery well, and they are pleased with his recovery.

Please continue to pray for our students. Inflation is spiriling out of control. The gourde (Haitian money) lost over 10% of its value this last month. The labor troubles in South America are driving up gas prices here. Overall the economic situation is bleak, and our students and their families are feeling the pinch.

NEW ADDITION. With a newfound problem with rats in our gallery, Linda decided we needed to try another cat (our last one didn't work out so well). The VanDams (Missionaries with the Christian Reformed Church) had several kittens to give away and we had our pick. The kids thought this one was perfect because she had blue eyes like the rest of us. Playful and cute (with some really sharp teeth), the biggest adjustment was picking a name. Becca and Linda chose "Callie" (Calico Cat), Nicolas chose "Tiger" and Scott preferred "Peanut." Needless to say the women won.


The new kitten spent the evening on Tammy's shoulder!