Hello again,
We live in a whirlwind here. About the time we think we might be able to sit down and take a deep breath something else comes up. And yet, through it all, we have to keep our focus on the fact that GOD KNOWS what is going on and where we are.
Don has delivered most of the food that came on the first container, praise the Lord! And the Christmas Bags have finally been taken care of. Now we have to start praying about getting this second container released at a reasonable rate. The cost is staggering, and the Lord is the only one who can change that. A real need for prayer is the whole situation with customs here. Food and materials are becoming scarce. With nothing being released, many are suffering now. It won't be long and it will become a very critical situation.
We have another team here now. It's a medical team. They have gone quite a ways out to spend a few days doing a clinic. Praise God for good weather and safe roads for the trip. They will return here, today, and have a clinic at another church on Monday. So many needs in this country and we praise God for the people He has called to help out. The team has some of our "old" friends and some new ones, too. We are so happy when people return to serve again, but also when new people feel the call to come and help. It's great how the Lord works it all out.
The frustration of our son and daughter-in-law's adoption process is continuing. Please keep this in prayer. We realize they are not the only ones in this situation, but they are the ones close to our hearts and we want to see our new grandson come home before he gets any older. He was seven when they started and he is now ten. Pray that hearts and minds will be changed and that this, and other adoptions, will be facilitated quickly.
We are back to the "maybe tomorrow" point with the second container. This last week we were told that we could get the inspection done. So, each day we get ready to go down to the wharf and do it. Each day something new comes up and we are put off. It was supposed to happen again this morning, but now they say, Monday. If God is teaching us patience, we are VERY slow at learning. I keep thinking of the scripture where it says through trials we will be perfected.... I know we aren't perfect, but with all of this, we must be coming close!!! (No, I really know we aren't, it just feels that way!)
Our good friend, Roy, sent a devotional on being salt. It was so good! What good is salt that is left in the salt shaker, and what good is salt that has lost it's flavor? Neither is doing it's job. It's the same with us. Is our "salt" (the love of Jesus) left inside of us, or are we using it to "flavor" others? Or has it become useless, with no flavor left? Tip your shaker and start "flavoring" others, or replace the useless stuff and become "new in Christ". If we become stagnant in our zeal for Christ, we, as well as others, are missing out on the blessings the Lord has for us. Salt the earth with your love for the Lord. Let others see your "flavor". I remember a commercial, from a long time ago, that said, "reach out and touch someone". That's what, as Christians, we are to be doing. Wow... was that a sermon or what? Guess I'd better get the salt shaker moving!! And all thanks to Roy!!!
Okay, for now I have to get moving and back to work. I just wanted to come on and let you all know we are still here and working... if going in circles constitutes work!! But we are also still depending on the Lord and following His directions!
Blessings... and remember to shake up your salt shaker and get it working!!
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Friday, February 15, 2008
THE container, finally!!!
Greetings again...
This time it's with great joy and rejoicing. We are SO excited and pleased that the elusive container is now in our hands.
The following is just a few pictures of our day, yesterday, February 14th, Valentines day in Haiti! We had a team here at the time. It was MFI's president, Dick Snook, and his group. They didn't get to deliver any bags, like they had hoped, since it came the last day they were here, but they really got to experience "unloading a 40 foot container".
This is our moment of rejoicing. The container finally being pulled into our yard. It's quite a job to get a 40 foot semi into our yard with the sharp turn they have to make.
The driver was really good. We have had some deliver 20 foot containers that had to make 5 or 6 turns to get it right. This fellow made two swings and backed it up to right where we wanted it. He was GOOD. 
Everyone was amazed watching him drive. (He must have trained in the US!) It took just a few minutes for him to get it in the right place for us to get to work on it.
We had another missionary couple here at the time. Ray works at the airport with us and Bonnie watches Abbie for me. We had just gotten back from the airport when the container came, so they stayed to help out. What a blessing!! Bonnie was up on the container bagging socks and Ray helped haul boxes.
We had so much to unload. Well, consider it had 39,645 pounds of items!! You KNOW it was a lot of heavy work to get it done. The fellows (all 25 that we hired) did not complain once. And when it was all done, they had a meal of hotdogs, mac & cheese, chips and cokes. They were happy campers. These are almost all older boys from the orphanage. They work hard and really earn their pay!
The problem was, where to go with all the Christmas Bags when there is a team here? Well, you can see, looking in the door of the dorm, it went into the living room and dining room areas. A few paths were left to get to the bedrooms, but that's about all. Good thing it was the teams last night here... no place to sit or eat, except the bedrooms!!
God brought this to us in His time, not ours. Not it's our job to get these things sorted out and delivered. Don is right now on the road with some of the food. (The containers on our property have their share of the load, too!) We will start on the Christmas Bags tomorrow!!
So, please, keep praying. We have another container ready to be inspected, but need to get this one delivered quickly to make room.
Our love to everyone who has helped make this a reality, both through prayers and finances.
In His Grace...
Karen, for the whole group here.
This time it's with great joy and rejoicing. We are SO excited and pleased that the elusive container is now in our hands.
The following is just a few pictures of our day, yesterday, February 14th, Valentines day in Haiti! We had a team here at the time. It was MFI's president, Dick Snook, and his group. They didn't get to deliver any bags, like they had hoped, since it came the last day they were here, but they really got to experience "unloading a 40 foot container".
This is our moment of rejoicing. The container finally being pulled into our yard. It's quite a job to get a 40 foot semi into our yard with the sharp turn they have to make.
The driver was really good. We have had some deliver 20 foot containers that had to make 5 or 6 turns to get it right. This fellow made two swings and backed it up to right where we wanted it. He was GOOD. 
Everyone was amazed watching him drive. (He must have trained in the US!) It took just a few minutes for him to get it in the right place for us to get to work on it.
We had another missionary couple here at the time. Ray works at the airport with us and Bonnie watches Abbie for me. We had just gotten back from the airport when the container came, so they stayed to help out. What a blessing!! Bonnie was up on the container bagging socks and Ray helped haul boxes.
We had so much to unload. Well, consider it had 39,645 pounds of items!! You KNOW it was a lot of heavy work to get it done. The fellows (all 25 that we hired) did not complain once. And when it was all done, they had a meal of hotdogs, mac & cheese, chips and cokes. They were happy campers. These are almost all older boys from the orphanage. They work hard and really earn their pay!
The problem was, where to go with all the Christmas Bags when there is a team here? Well, you can see, looking in the door of the dorm, it went into the living room and dining room areas. A few paths were left to get to the bedrooms, but that's about all. Good thing it was the teams last night here... no place to sit or eat, except the bedrooms!!
God brought this to us in His time, not ours. Not it's our job to get these things sorted out and delivered. Don is right now on the road with some of the food. (The containers on our property have their share of the load, too!) We will start on the Christmas Bags tomorrow!!So, please, keep praying. We have another container ready to be inspected, but need to get this one delivered quickly to make room.
Our love to everyone who has helped make this a reality, both through prayers and finances.
In His Grace...
Karen, for the whole group here.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Pictures...
I promised pictures... so here they are!!
This one is of the team visiting an orphanage. Cheron Hardy is the gal who runs it and is doing a fantastic job!!
This one is Pastor Dave teaching at English church on Sunday.
This is where the nurses went to work with Dr. Gavin. Their first introduction to the clinic.
And then the inspection of "THE CONTAINER". Will we ever see it at our place?? We pray so.
This is our grandson , Michael, his dad , Dale, his two grandma's and one grandpa.
I hope you enjoyed the few pictures I was able to download. They are just a tiny bit of things the team did.
This one is of the team visiting an orphanage. Cheron Hardy is the gal who runs it and is doing a fantastic job!!
This one is Pastor Dave teaching at English church on Sunday.
This is where the nurses went to work with Dr. Gavin. Their first introduction to the clinic.
And then the inspection of "THE CONTAINER". Will we ever see it at our place?? We pray so.
This is our grandson , Michael, his dad , Dale, his two grandma's and one grandpa.
I hope you enjoyed the few pictures I was able to download. They are just a tiny bit of things the team did.
Friday, February 1, 2008
The container saga continues....
Here we are... now 2 months into the wait for the Christmas container. Do I seem frustrated? You bet I am. It is everyday that we sit here, wondering what we can accomplish, when we have to wait to see if they will call and say come right now and get the container. This whole last week, AGAIN, it's been "maybe today". Then later in the afternoon, it's "they say tomorrow morning we'll get the papers." Each and every day it's been like this for two months. "Lord, please show me what you are trying to teach me and help me learn it quickly!" I really, really am trying to turn this all over to the Lord, but it's SO DIFFICULT when you have to sit daily and wait for someone who is just trying to show his power over the whole country.
Well, enough about such items. We have praises to share, too. We finally had a team from our home church come to work and visit. They did a pastors conference, and some work in a clinic, and they visited several other missions, to see what is happening here. It was a great team and we were so blessed by them being here with us. An added blessing was our son and grandson on the trip. Two years ago, Dale came with his oldest son. This year, his middle son came along. Both times Dale taught pastors at a conference. His heart for the people shows through each time. The funny part is that both times, two years ago, and this year, half way through his teaching, he switched from English to Creole, without knowing it. The translator was great!! He simply switched from Creole to English. When the laughing started, Dale paused to see what was wrong. It was a fun time and a learning time for everyone. The team left on Tuesday and our son and grandson were able to stay until Thursday. What a joy for us to be able to spend some quality time with them.
Each team that has come down, came with the hopes of helping unload the container. I guess they were able to see some of our waiting time... and frustrations... when you can't control things or make them happen when you want them to. The sad part is, most of them had things they needed to use on their trip, in the container. But the Lord was there each and every time and showed them HE was able to supply and they needed to depend on Him, not themselves. It really was awesome to see how the Lord helped each team "made do" with what they could find.
In another week and a half we have a team coming down to help distribute some of the Christmas bags... which are STILL on the container. What will happen if it's not here? Who knows... well, GOD knows, and He'll be there helping them see what HE wants them to see. There was a phrase we learned a long time ago and it's so "in our face" right now. It is, "When you walk with the Lord, you don't get bored!!" He sure is keeping us on our toes.
Abbie is growing and talking more and more. She is 2 1/2 and going on 15. Wish I had a just a small portion of her energy. She is really keeping us young, not age wise, but activity wise. And her stories keep us in stitches. She has a very active mind.
I'll try to post some pictures soon of things from the last couple of weeks. Till then, keep praying and let the Lord shine in your life!!
Karen
Well, enough about such items. We have praises to share, too. We finally had a team from our home church come to work and visit. They did a pastors conference, and some work in a clinic, and they visited several other missions, to see what is happening here. It was a great team and we were so blessed by them being here with us. An added blessing was our son and grandson on the trip. Two years ago, Dale came with his oldest son. This year, his middle son came along. Both times Dale taught pastors at a conference. His heart for the people shows through each time. The funny part is that both times, two years ago, and this year, half way through his teaching, he switched from English to Creole, without knowing it. The translator was great!! He simply switched from Creole to English. When the laughing started, Dale paused to see what was wrong. It was a fun time and a learning time for everyone. The team left on Tuesday and our son and grandson were able to stay until Thursday. What a joy for us to be able to spend some quality time with them.
Each team that has come down, came with the hopes of helping unload the container. I guess they were able to see some of our waiting time... and frustrations... when you can't control things or make them happen when you want them to. The sad part is, most of them had things they needed to use on their trip, in the container. But the Lord was there each and every time and showed them HE was able to supply and they needed to depend on Him, not themselves. It really was awesome to see how the Lord helped each team "made do" with what they could find.
In another week and a half we have a team coming down to help distribute some of the Christmas bags... which are STILL on the container. What will happen if it's not here? Who knows... well, GOD knows, and He'll be there helping them see what HE wants them to see. There was a phrase we learned a long time ago and it's so "in our face" right now. It is, "When you walk with the Lord, you don't get bored!!" He sure is keeping us on our toes.
Abbie is growing and talking more and more. She is 2 1/2 and going on 15. Wish I had a just a small portion of her energy. She is really keeping us young, not age wise, but activity wise. And her stories keep us in stitches. She has a very active mind.
I'll try to post some pictures soon of things from the last couple of weeks. Till then, keep praying and let the Lord shine in your life!!
Karen
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