Thankfulness

Hello Everyone and Happy November!

What a whirlwind of a summer!  We are all back together again in South Florida in our new home in Stuart.  Most of you know we moved rather quickly this summer to Stuart, FL.  The boys and I settled into Stuart, FL, and John went to Tennessee for 9 weeks (2 months) to work while I set up our home and looked for a teaching job.  It was a hard summer, but God was so good in taking care of us as he always does.  The transition wasn't and still isn't easy, but we have God with us and rest in the promise that he works ALL things out for our good!  I am teaching, the boys are in a public school, and John is just trying to work where he can.

John has been helping many different people from Tennessee to South Florida with their helicopters.  He has been doing odd jobs during this down season with Samaritan Air.  Hurricane season is winding down, and we hope to get the helicopter back to the country of Haiti soon.  We will keep you up to date as the organization shares with us their plans.

Meanwhile, we have a few organizations in Haiti that we have had the privilege to get to know and pray with.  We are excited about our future partnerships with these organizations in whatever way God sees fit.  We encourage you to take a look at what they do.  John and I love to support and work with the organizations that help train the nationals of Haiti and give them useful tools to help them change their lives for the better.  That usually always starts with WATER and FOOD.  Drilling wells, seeds, and knowledge of how to garden are essential to helping these people groups in the mountains of Haiti.  Next providing an education to the children in the area is life- changing.  If we can get them reading and writing they can grow up and go to a university and of course, they can read about their creator God who loves them in spite of how their country treats them.  It is a beautiful thing when the nationals ask us "Why?  Why are you doing this?"  Our response is because God changed our lives with his love.   They deserve to know that God's love can change their lives and how they view this world and the people in it.  It is amazing what $2000 can do in that country.  It builds a home with a place to garden...no, it does more than that.  It builds safety and security.  It builds ownership and a healthy self-pride.  It builds a community where the people realize they can provide for their families and help others around them.  They see that one small act of kindness from one person can change an entire village, and that in turn can change a mountainside.

One organization that we work closely with is New Life Children's Home and their work in Pastel. That is where we housed the helicopter all this year.  The other organization is Missions of Love, Haiti.  

http://www.newlife4kids.org
Www.missionsoflovehaiti.com 

http://www.newlife4kids.org/project_details.php?p=23 

We are truly thankful for our work so far and the people we have met.  We are also so very thankful for our faithful prayer partners and financial partners.  We could not do anything without you!!

Lots of Love,
The Kandel Family

A whirlwind of changes. :)

WOW! It's mid July!  Time is ticking away...tick, tick, ticking away.  Summer is in full swing and has included many changes. 

First, the Samaritan Air helicopter made it home in May just before hurricane season hit.  And hurricane season hit with avengeance this year.  Usually our first storm doesn't hit til late August, first of Sept, but it came just as we settled the helicopter back in the states.  Some of you will remember from facebook that we asked for prayers for John to make it back with the helicopter.  His week trip into Haiti at the end of April lasted for a couple extra weeks. :)  But, as usual, God was in it, and John was able to fly for a doctor that needed to make it out to the moutain regions.  John was so humbled and blessed as we flew around and walked around with this physician that had done so much to help individual families in the area.  It is always humbling to see professionals taking their financial blessings and investing them into other people's lives for over 30 years.  This physician not only met the medical needs of the the people in the area, he personally had houses built for a variety of families over the years. 

Once the helicopter made it back, we finished up school and started looking forward to Summer.  At the end of May we were thrown a curve ball that knocked our footing our from under us momentarily. :)  We were facing some big decisions.  A financial hiccup made us look at our circumstances and reevaluate life in Pahokee/Belle Glade.  We needed a more reasonable, cost-effective place to live.  We needed a public school education that would be free for our boys and academically acceptable.  We needed to stay relatively close to the Mission organization.  So within 2 weeks of the "hiccup" we decided to move to Stuart, FL.  So with one week left in June, we found a place to rent, packed our home again, and moved to a new location.  Now, that is pretty normal for us (except the 2 weeks part), but as if that wasn't enough of a change, John also took a job flying for the summer in TENNESSEE!  He moved us into our new home on a Tuesday, and he left on Friday for two months!  Part of the hiccup was his side job here in Florida.  As most of you know, we are not fully supported with Samaritan Air yet, so John must work in addition to serving with Samaritan Air.  He is a bi-vocational missionary currently. :)

So, now the boys and I are settling into life in Stuart, FL.  We LOVE it!  John is settling into a temporary home in TN for a 9 weeks.  The boys have been reigistered for public school here, and I am diligently searching and praying for a teaching job in this area.

Now, an update on Samaritan Air:  John is planning on returning to Haiti in September. He will be accompanying some pastors from a church here in Florida that are looking to begin a hangar project for us.  The project is tentatively scheduled for October.  We will keep the postings coming as we jump back into full swing in September.

Please pray for safety for John as he is flying all summer and away from us.  Pray for the boys and myself as we are away from John.  Pray for the boys to transition into public school in Florida and for me a teaching job.  Continue to pray for our work with Haiti and Samaritan Air. There is much to be done in Haiti, but funding always holds us back [as it does everyone really :)]. Our personal support needs to be covered in prayer as we seek God's continued direction and His future partners with us.  WE are continually grateful for our faithful partners who pray and give to our ministry.  Thank you!!!  Together we are making a difference.

Blessings to all of you!  Happy Summer! 

Haiti.... for the weekend

It was 9:00 AM.  Our feet were walking the tarmac in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.  We were here, together, for the first time in 14 years.  The sounds of Carribbean music filled the jetway as we walked to customs.  The heat met us as we journeyed through the airport.  "Welcome Back," it seemed to say.  As we rounded the corner we were met by our drivers from the orphanage.  We were assisted quickly and hurried to what would be our "armor" against Haiti traffic.  :)  As we drove the city, I saw us in all the people.  People just like you and I who were just trying to "live".  But as many of you know, resources in a third world country make "living" more difficult as we define it.  Smiles and songs were everywhere.  Hurried workers and school age kids were making their ways around traffic and down alleys.  Many were already making the long trip to a water source or the trek to find some type of work for the day.  Life was happening.  It was hard, but resources were within and hour or two walking distance. 

A honk of the horn and the gate opened to "New Life Children's Home".  We entered what seemed to be an oasis in the midst of the hard, dirty city.  We were treated like royalty and escorted to our room.  We quickly dropped our bags, stretched our legs and visited our "baby"... the helicopter. :)  Next was a visit with the lady behind the orphanage.  What a great time of hearing her vision and where God could use us in partnership with them at the orphanage.  We left encouraged, excited, and thinking.  We met a few others around the orphanage.  Watched the kids come in from school and enjoyed the privilege of being at New Life.  We walked the grounds and noted many projects.  It was good to see work in action.

Now was the time to find out what we could do on our weekend in Haiti.  We cleaned up the helicopter.  John did some maintenance and prepared it for the trip the next day.  People far away from the city needed food.  The orphanage had the food, but no immediate means of getting this food to the mountains.  We had a helicopter....without fuel.  We calculated the trip!  We calculated the fuel costs!  We had just enough from our support check to buy the fuel for one trip out to the mountains and back.  YAY!  So we loaded up the helicopter.

We could take 400lb of food.  So that is what we did.  Then we took off.

Taking off.

Flying over the City of Port-au-Prince

Shorline of Pestel

Close up of Pestel as we head toward the mountains.

We saw a lot of the city, a lot of the ocean, and a lot of the shoreline.  The last two pictures were from an area called Pestel.  We flew up to the mountains right behind this village.  The area was Jean Beline.

We landed and unloaded the little bit of food we had. 

It wasn't enough. :(

We flew back.  It was an eye opener.  We couldn't take more because there was no more money.  I write that to our shame.  We have an obligation, an opportunity to get resources into a country, into the areas away from the city.  We need to share our work with more people.  There is a terrible feeling when you see a need but are restricted because of the lack of money to carry food and medicine to the areas. 

We spent the next day enjoying the orphanage and being loved on by those there.  We got to see the children, swing the children, allow some to help us in the goat pin where the helicopter stays.

We worshipped with them.  We praised our Lord with them.  We were connected as only our God could do.

We came home knowing that we must tell more people of our work with Samaritan Air.  We must offer others the opportunity to join with us and help us carry the load to the remote areas of Haiti.

Thank you to each and everyone of you who accompanied us on this trip and all our trips up to this point.  Your partnerships have allowed us to do what we have so far.  But we know we can do more.  Continue to pray for us to be faithful to share our work, to share the need of the dying people in Haiti who need food, who need basic medical supplies, who need Jesus to walk into their village and bring physical "life" to them so they may live and live well.

John flies back to Haiti next Friday, May 10 to return to the area we took food.  Some pastors want to see the area, see the people and try to help.

Pray for him and the Pastors.

Haiti....here we come

Welcome to Spring!  

Can't believe it is already April!  We have some exciting news as well as some prayer needs as we move forward this year with Samaritan Air.

First,  We (John and April) are flying to Haiti Friday, April 26th for a 4 day weekend in Haiti.  We will be looking over the land that Samaritan Air has been given as well as visiting and making contacts with another potential location.  Then John will be returning to Haiti 10 days later to fly another pastor around an area we will be working in.  John's trip in January/February was quite timely and helped fuel the flames of our heart for Haiti.

Now, for the prayer concerns.  Samaritan Air is ready for us to be "full-time".  The helicopter is there, sitting and waiting to be used.  We just need to get the pilot there more often. :)  What that means is we need to have more prayer and financial partners to join us in our work. So that brings me to our prayer request items. 

Over this past year we have moved to Florida and begun our journey/work with Samaritan  Air as well in the Western Communities of Palm Beach.  God immediately provided for our needs by supplying us renters for our home in Tennessee and John a job doing maintenance to help us transition and get moved here.  We have been living off his job and saving our support for trips into Haiti.  Our monthly support currently is at 10%.  That means we have another 90% to raise in order to be full-time with Samaritan Air.  This will enable us to be in Haiti regularly and not just every few months when we finally have the money.  At this point our work will include stateside work and in-country work as we build a more permanent facility in Haiti.

Raising prayer and financial partners is truly an opportunity for God to use like-minded people to join in our work assisting remote areas of Haiti with much needed aid and resources.   The best way to raise partners is to share our work and our stories.  So pray for us to have opportunities to share our work with more people and groups, pray for our financial partners to join us over these next few months, and pray that we will be still and quiet enough to see and hear the leading of our heavenly father as he moves us closer to HIS work.

Also, please pray for the upcoming trips:  safety for us flying to Haiti and in the country as well as safety and care for our boys while they are here, and we are in Haiti. 

Elijah- 6, JohnDavid - 9, Isaac - 13, and Joshua 11

Thank you to all who read our blogs and share them regularly.  Your prayers and financial support are greatly appreciated.  It humbles us to be on this journey with you.  We are looking forward to saving more lives both physically and spiritually as we work with Haiti in the future.

John and April Kandel
Missionaries with Samaritan Air

kandelandco@yahoo.com

www.thekandellightnews.blogspot.com
www.samair.org

 

Support Address: Samaritan Air, 3161 S. E. Chandelle Rd., Jupiter, FL  33478

Home Address:  2727 Bacom Point Rd, Pahokee, FL  33476

Latest Video to share

John and April Kandel
Missionaries with Samaritan Air

kandelandco@yahoo.com

www.thekandellightnews.blogspot.com
www.samair.org

 

Support Address: Samaritan Air, 3161 S. E. Chandelle Rd., Jupiter, FL  33478

Home Address:  2727 Bacom Point Rd, Pahokee, FL  33476

 

 

 

John's Journey- 2nd Week

John's 2nd week in Haiti (January 28-Feb 1)

I flew a Doctor and an Anesthesiologist to meet a team on the western peninsula in a town called Pestel.  The team had driven 11-12 hours to get there, while it only took us 1 hour.  We were the envy of the team.  Many asked if they could just hold onto the skids to avoid the drive back.  Needless to say, every seat possible was full on the return flight.

The Town of Pastel is just above the center of this picture on the water.

Upon arrival, we went straight to the hospital.  I got to help the doctor prepare a cast and apply it to a broken arm.  Once the team arrived we evaluated the area and the needs.  Then began our work for this trip.

                                    

Just so you know, those jugs of colored liquid were NOT for snow cones.  They were medicines. :)

The purpose of this team was threefold:  One was to hold medical clinics.  One was to construct and distribute water filter systems for each home in the village of Malchusean.  The third was to locate remote villages that New Life Orphanage has worked with and to find a suitable landing spot to regularly check on the medical needs of the villagers.  All three phases of the week were quite successful.




These are the water filters for the villagers.  The white 5-gallon buckets are the water filters.



 

These are the homes in the village receiving the filters.





This is the water source the villagers use that has tested positive for Cholera.

 I have to say the biggest challenge was finding a safe and suitable landing site at all the different locations, but the highlight was the hundreds of people I got to meet at the various locations we landed.

Malchusean



Pavion




Paypaey



Paypaey

Nickolo

John's Journey- Update

These are from John's emails.  Thought I would let him tell his story with pics.  He flew out this morning to a new area.  He arrives back in Port-Au-Prince (PAP) by Saturday.  Then we will make arrangements to bring him home! :)


On Monday the 21st and Wednesday the 23rd we went to a remote church south of Cap-Haitian which was turned into a clinic for those days. What is an hour drive and then an hour and a half hike on steep terrain was a 7 minute flight by helicopter. I had the pleasure of assisting my home church (Camano Chapel located on Camano Island, WA) with a medical team on the 21st and then a dental team the 23rd. The first day was full of excitement from locating a suitable landing zone, to flying a woman who needed immediate medical care at a hospital about 25 miles away, to two young boys who accepted Jesus and wanted to be baptized.

January 24-25:  Many gathered to say goodbye when we left. The following day(24th) I went to a small village "Pourrier" to see the work a local pastor (Volner Alexandre) is doing. He started 12years ago with nothing in a village isolated from vehicles because of a river on one side and steep mountains on the other. There is now a school with over a hundred children, a church and soon an orphanage. I was able to tell the children a little bit about helicopters and Samaritan Air.

 

January 25 - Volner and I then flew to his home town "Savanette" and landed literally in his backyard behind the house he grew up in. He wanted to show me some land he would like Samaritan Air to build on and use as a base of operations. They even took time to show me the new well with clean water they had recently completed. Very kind people.