Larry Autrey and Friend

My traveling partner Larry Autry stands outside the Port Au Prince Airport with a lady he met on the plane

Bob Bodenhamer

This is me standing between the airplane and the terminal.

Getting Luggage

It took two hours and it was hot and crowded - a nightmare.

Our Limousine

This is the truck belonging to OFCB Ministries for transportion.

Leaving the Airport

We are now on our way to Gonnaives home of Pastor Actionnel.

Highway 1 from Port Au Prince to Gonnaives

This was my first introduction to what lie ahead - 100 miles of a worn out road full of potholds.

Interstate Highway Haiti Style

Most of the pavement is gone from Hwy 1. It is full of potholds. The 100 mile trip takes 6 hours.

Housing

Many homes in Haiti are just shacks.

Cattle Crossing

There is "open range" in many areas along Hwy 1.

Public Transportation

This small pickup is typical for public transportation. They call these "Tap-Taps".

De-Forestation

Haiti is covered with large mountains. They have been stripped of all trees for the making of charcoal.

Entering the "not too bad" hotel

Larry and I were both delighted to see this hotel.

Hotel Lobby

We stopped about half way to Gonnaivest to spend the evening.

From the Hotel Balcony

You can see the Atlantic Ocean from the Hotel Balcony.

"Mr. Autry" at Rest

I believe Larry was delighted to take a "pit stop".

Harris Teeter

Most purchasing is done at outside markets.

Another Market by HWY 1

Larger trucks are also used as "Tap-Taps".

Dust Storm

Because of much of the pavement being worn off, much of Highway 1 is very dusty.

Highway 1 Repair

Only one small section of Highway 1 was under repair.

Rice Fields

This rice field is one of if not the most fertile areas of Haiti. Still, the island cannot feed itself.

Peanut Fields

Just past the rice fields, we find people working in the peanut fields which are semi-desert.

Pastor Actionnel Fleurisma's Street

Actionnel lives a short distance down this street on the left side of the road.

Actionnel's Home

There is a high security fence around his house. The truck is pulled in. There is little room to spare.

Bedroom

One of the bedrooms. The house is very well constructed of steel and concrete.

Entrance

The entrance to the house.

Actionnel's Office

Actionnel has his own office. He covers the computer to protect it from all the dust.

Yolande's Bedroom

This bedroom belongs to Actionnel's boss - his wife Yolande. :-)

Bathroom

There are few bathrooms in Gonnaives. Actionnel has one. The electricity for the well is spotty. Our church bought them a generator.

3 of Actionnel and Yolande's Children

Gabrielle, Valery Simon and Gilberte.

Stairwell to the rooftop

Stairway leading out to Actionnel's Rooftop

During the flood, Actionnel had 37 people in his home. Several slept on top of this roof.

View from the rooftop

The Living Room

China Cabinet

Oldest child Ruth preparing food

Ruth before the china cabinet

Adopted Child

Yolande's Sister

The Extended Family (& Friends) with Dr. Bob

All of these people live in Actionnel's home.

Another "family" view with Larry Autry

Gifts from Christ Fellowship Community Church

Larry and "Mr Cool" - Valery Simon

Loading the truck

Each week day Actionnel loads up the truck with teachers and takes them to Bayonnais to teach in the school - a rugged 17 mile drive.

We are loaded up and ready to go

The trip is very dusty. This old truck has seen better days. Hopefully soon a short bus will be available for them to make the daily trip.

Leaving Gonnaives heading for Bayonnais

The transportation for many in Haiti is no different than it was for our Lord - by donkey.

Maytag Clothes Dryer

Ladies wash their clothes in the local creeks and spread them out to dry on the creek banks.

Road to Bayonnais - Graveyard on the right.

Many are buried on top of the ground in these elaborate tombs.

Rough Traveling

The road to Bayonnais is very rough. A car would never make it. One needs a truck, short bus or motorcycle.

A typical house

This house with the thatched roof and dirt floor is typical of rural Haiti. Actionnel grew up in a house like this.

Coming Home from the Market

A Haitian "Walmart"

Here the local people meet at the "crossroads" to buy and sell food, clothing and other products.

The River - must be forded

Each day Actionnel drives trough this river on his way with the teachers to Bayonnais.

Driving through the river

Looking through the truck window downstream - when the river is up, school has to be canceled for they cannot ford the river.

Out the other side of the river

Actionnel is driving the truck up the bank on the other side. The good news is that Engineers Without Borders is in the process of building a bridge across this river.

Gates to the School

We are at the school and heading for the front gate.

Classes meeting "under the tree"

When we drove up into the compound, this class was meeting under this tree. This is a common practice.

At the Guest House

Here we are unloading our baggage at the "Helen Hunt" Guest House.

Guest House

Actionnel in front of the Guest House

Taking tests inside the new Church Building

Do you believe in miracles? You are looking at one. The school has grown from 100+ students in 1993 to the present (2005) 1300.

The "Old" Church with its dirt floor

This Pictures of the old church makes it look fairly well. But to see the old church and then to walk into the new 40' X 90' church one realizes how God has blessed

Students taking "National Exams"

Students taking "National Exams"

The students of OFCB Ministries have scored high on the national exams bringing a lot of attention from local people.

The "Generator"

Donated by Christ Fellowship Church in Gastonia NC and Rutherwood Baptist Church in Boone NC, this generator has opened up new doors for the school - computer training and 3rd shift adult classes.

A Typical Home near the school

The building on stilts is for storage. The small mud building is for cooking. The cook on dirt floors using charcoal as fuel.

Wash Day

Ladies above the school washing clothes in the stream

Home of Actionnel's Parents

This home has wooden floors which is a "step up" from the dirt floor home he lived in as a child.

Actionnel's Father

Actionnel's father tilling his garden. The garden was later washed away during the floods brought on by Hurricane Jeane.

Sister's Kitchen

This small mud building belongs to Actionnel's sister. It is beside her home. The "hut" is built of woven sticks then plastered with mud.

Sunday Morning Worship Service

Larry Autry and Pastor Actionnel

Bob Bodenhamer and Pastor Actionnel

I shall always cherish preaching at the Sunday morning worship with Actionnel translating. My message was from Isaiah 6:1-6. I closed with the thought "Never give up; never give up; never, never, never give up."