Last Chance to Give in 2013!

Dear Ministry Partners,

We hope you had a wonderful Christmas celebration with your family and church family.  We have had a great 2013 and we are excited for this New Year and the amazing things God has prepared for you and us. 
 

Students coming to Christ
Stacy, a new believer

We are excited to write to you and ask you for a final year end gift that will help provide for our 2014 goals and needs to continue the following ministries.

Equipping new believers
Figaro and family
 

We will be part of expanding Heart of God International’s outreach during 2014 targeting gospel hostile and unreached areas while continuing to see lives changed for eternity and equipping others in Haiti through pastor trainings, gospel preaching, Bible studies, El Shaddai Learning Center, English classes, hospitality house, Haitian artisan shop, and our expanding KOFAEL women’s ministry. 




KOFAEL
Keeping Families Together
Elourde with her children
 

We will use whatever God leads you to give to help us love others and touch lives for eternity. Thank you for praying for us and considering including the Ream Team and/or KOFAEL in your year end giving. We look forward to connecting with many of you face to face in 2014! Please let us know how we can pray for and partner with you too.

Last Chance to Give in 2013!

Please take a moment to give a cheerful, generous, tax deductable gift right now by visiting our websites.

Ream Team website: www.reamteaminternational.org

KOFAEL website: www.kofael.org



Opportunities for Artisans
Bartelmy, an artisan we support

Great is His Faithfulness,

Eric and Elisabeth Ream

Heart of God International Missionaries

www.reamteaminternational.org
Eric: ericream@heartofGodinternational.org
Elisabeth: eeream@heartofGodinternational.org

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

                                Lamentations 3:22-23

 

Good News of Great Joy

Merry Christmas!

 



The Ream Team
December 2013



And the angel said to them,

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people."

Luke 2:10

 

 

There have been many times this past year when we have had to remember to "fear not". God has been our faithful Savior and friend. He has sent many to come alongside us to serve us and help us serve Him better in sharing the good news of the Savior whose birth we celebrate. It is with great joy that we join Him in spreading this news in Haiti. Thank you for partnering with us in bringing the good news to Haiti. We hope to be able to share with many of you face to face what He has done in the coming new year!

 

 

From our family to yours...

 

Elita Marguerite age 14

 

Elita switched from everyone calling her "Marguerite" this past year when we moved to St. Marc in January and she began a new school. It took a little while for her brothers and sisters to make the switch but everyone is officially calling her "Elita" now. She moved up to the high school building this year (where Eric works) and is enjoying new friendships. She reminds us daily that she is not a baby anymore though we tell her she will always be our baby no matter how old she gets! Elita studies very hard every day and often right up until bedtime. She is a cheerful help translating for teams and often us parents when we need it (especially on hard to interpret phone calls). She is always quick to volunteer help in the kitchen if vegetables need to be washed and cut, but not usually for dirty dishes. She is pickiest eater but we let her get away with it because she is also our healthiest eater.  Her favorite activity when she gets a chance is watching memorizing movies and then quoting them for days to come. But this year she has learned to LOVE reading and occasionally chooses reading a good book over a movie! She is learning how to deal with peer pressure and speaking up for what she believes is right. We are so proud of her!

Interview with Elita Marguerite...
What are you praying for?
"I am praying for others to hear and understand the gospel."
What prayer request do you have?
"I would like to ask for prayer that my sister will receive her visa soon."
What is your favorite subject in school?
"My favorite subject in school is Social Studies and I like English a lot too."
What are you most excited about getting to do when we visit America?
"Seeing my family again."
What are your top favorite things about living in Haiti?
"Finding and collecting seashells at the beach, eating mangos, and riding bikes with my brothers, sister and other kids on the street."




Esmée age 12

Esmée has grown up so much this year! It is hard to believe she weighed only 38 lbs and wore a children's size 5 when we first met her. She was the same height as Ethan when we moved to Haiti but he had her beat by 10 lbs. Now she has surpassed her brother in height and weight and is almost caught up to her older sister! Esmée is a joy to be around and delights herself in helping others. She is tenderhearted and the peacemaker in our home. If there was such a thing as a quiet person in our household, it would be her. Esmée has surpassed our wildest expectations both socially and academically. Two years ago she barely knew her ABC's and we taught her how to write her name. She now wins awards at school for things like completing more books in one semester than everyone is expected to finish in an entire year and making the highest grades in all subjects in her entire elementary school. And yet, she rarely brings home any homework. Her favorite leisure activity is listening to music and dancing. Pretty much everyone wants to be Esmée's friend. If you want to make friends with her fast just bring her some beef jerky.

Interview with Esmée...
What are you praying for?
"I am praying for my visa approval and also for the son of the lady in our church and his friends who were hurt and the families of those who were killed in Afganistan,"
What prayer request do you have?
"I would like others to pray for the children that do not have any parents who are sitting in orphanages and having a bad day."
What is your favorite subject in school?
"My favorite subject in school is Social Studies."
What are you most excited about getting to do when we visit America?
I am so excited to ride on an airplane and then go shopping with my Ta, MeMa, Aunt Emee, and Kelly (Hiney). I am also super excited to do all kinds of fun things with my family.
What are your top favorite things about living in Haiti?
 My favorite things are helping others that don't have anything and playing with Evangeline.

 

Ethan age 9

 Ethan often hears the words, "You are such a Price" more than once a day. He definitely takes after his "Ba", the distinguished Dr. Randall Price (Elisabeth's dad) in brains but unfortunately also in feet and fumble as is evidenced by his many scrapes and scabs. Ethan has stepped out of his comfort zone a great deal this past year and we are so proud of him. He and his little brother are the only kids lacking a lot of color at their school and Ethan has taken quite a bit of name calling in stride. He makes friends easily but says that he only needs one really good friend. His best friends are his sisters and brother. He is picking up Kreyol (Haitian Creole) easily now and can interpret conversations on the street surprising us many times with how much he actually understands. Ethan is also taking French at school which is a high school course. He completed all of his Word Building books through the 7th grade and therefore had an extra class to fill. We decided to give him a challenge. Although there have been a few tears, so far he has maintained a passing grade and is competing with Elita who is taking the class with him. Ethan loves his Haitian mutt dogs Daly and Brownie (aka Houdini) and is completely smitten with 15 month old Evangeline who lives with us. His siblings tease him that he loves her so much that he might marry her when he grows up. He loves to dance with his sisters and play DS with his brother. If anyone is up for a walk to the beach and a dip in the ocean it is Ethan. He can show you all the good snorkeling spots and finds the best shells underwater. Sometimes we have to remind ourselves that he is only 9. Other times we can't believe our firstborn son is getting so big!

Interview with Ethan...
What are you praying for?
"I'm praying for all people to come to know God"
What prayer request do you have?
"My prayer request is that we will have electricity all the time soon."
What is your favorite subject in school?
"My favorite subject in school is definitely Science."
What are you most excited about getting to do when we visit America?
"I am most excited to see all my family and friends I haven't seen in a long time."
What are your top favorite things about living in Haiti?
"Snorkeling, fried plantain, fried akra, and mom letting me eat hot dogs which she almost never did when we lived in the states."



Evan Dan age 7

 

Evan Daniel Ream is without a doubt the most spoiled member of the family. He melts his daddy (whom he takes after) with one tiny freckle face look. The others don't think it is fair. But they know Evan has their back. Evan is a sweetheart who can be mistaken for a sucker because he is such a giver (except his horrid hording of video games). Evan is also a fearless swimmer, climber, and fighter. Once this year when his family, friends and dogs were in harms way he instantly leaped into action and defended us all with a pod sword he swiped from a tree that mimicked a machete. Allegedly he broke the ribs and fingers of a grown man with that same pod. When it was suggested that his actions were inappropriate and much too dangerous for a little child his response was, "I wished it was a real sword!" Haiti has nothing on this kid. Evan will talk to anyone anywhere anytime and tell them just about anything. He has lots of friends at school and is a favorite with the teachers. He is often found at school volunteering his recess helping the 1st grade students during their math hour. He is still our pickiest eater and doesn't see much reason to learn Kreyol when he has so many translators and plenty of friends around. Evan is the first to volunteer to pray at the dinner table and always prays for those who do not know about the One true God, that someone would go and tell them and that they will come to know Him.

Interview with Evan...
What are you praying for?
"I'm praying for my cousin Kyle so that the doctors can help him be able to use his hands and arms better and he can learn how to use them all over again after his surgery."
What prayer request do you have?
"I want my sister Esmée to have a great time when she visits the United States for the first time."
What is your favorite subject in school?
"Well, it was Math until I worked too far ahead and it got harder...so now I like Science better."
What are you most excited about getting to do when we visit America?
"I am most excited to see my family."
What are your top favorite things about living in Haiti?
"My favorite thing about Haiti is just having fun with my friends and I'm happy to spend time with my family."

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

Luke 2:11

 Good News of Great Joy from Haiti,
The Ream Family

 

How We Ride...NOW

This is how we used to ride! (click link to see)

 

http://www.reamteaminternational.org/2013/03/how-we-ride.html

 

But now...

 

A week before Christmas

We were praying A LOT

For paperwork and money to come through

And that complications would not.

 

Hoping and wishing

And holding our breath

After 27 months begging and borrowing,

Motos and tap-taps and risking our death

 

Many friends came together

And blessed us so much

With encouraging gifts

And our hearts are forever touched

 

A month before Christmas

Searching and stressed

An unexpected gift came

That doubled our blessed!

 

So a week before Christmas

After tap-tap a many

This is how we ride now

And it is blessing us plenty!

A HUGE thank you to all those who have donated and prayed to bless us with our long awaited new ride...

A

2010

Diesel

Automatic

4WD

Air conditioned

Ford Everest

with a one year warranty!

This was taken at the dealership before negotiations and final decision were made.
Eric is in the background with owner of dealership negotiating.
Elita is posing in front of the kids favorite pick.
This is the kids favorite because it has air conditioners all the way back.



Our new ride arriving in our driveway Wednesday December 18th!



Our new ride with our fam plus 3 packed in on our first trip Friday December 20th!
We plan to add a large metal luggage rack on the top so we and teams we pick up from the airport aren't so squished in the future. There are seatbelts for 7 but of course this is Haiti so a few more will always fit in just fine.



A special thank you to Karyn Bass for her heart to head up this fundraiser for us, to Cheryl McMullen family for the blessing of a better vehicle than we ever expected, to Jan Ross, David and Julie Young from Heart of God for all your help with donations, transfers, and paperwork AND...

to everyone else who made this possible!