The heat continues...

Still hot and humid....
We are not supposed to get this heat/humidity until late August or early September. But it's here. Just another sign of how the weather is changing.
We've had a busy week. We had two days at the airport that were long for us. Keep MFI in your prayers. It's the little glitches that cost the big bucks with planes. And yet, they keep flying and serving so many. I believe they serve over 800 missionaries now and we all depend on them so much. Pray with us that God will keep His Hands on them and see them through the unexpected. They really are a life line for so many.
Aside from those two LONG days at the airport, we've been getting a lot accomplished. Most of you know Don. We are turning the Dove (the old truck) over to the new orphanage, IDADEE. He sold it to them for a lot less than others had offered. All he needed was to be able to get bigger tires for the Eagle, and put just a bit in an account for the unexpected. But, Don being Don, decided to do some "little" things to make sure it was in good order for them. (They will have a LOT to do on it, to use it for their purposes, but the price was something they figured in.) So, Don decided to change the oil, check the brakes, tighten bolts (and found some missing), and a whole lot of other things. One of our missionary friends, Ray, said, "Don, you just don't want to let go of the Dove, do you?" It's not that, really, but he wants to do the best for those who are getting it, and since they will use it for the Lord's work, he wants to do the best he can for them.
Don has so many people waiting for him to haul sand, gravel, and other things. And he has made some needed water deliveries lately. He has already given out the food he had on hand. So MANY needs, and they are all overwhelming. The prices keep rising, as I am sure they are all over the world. But they are so far out of sight here. In a year and a half, the price of rice alone has tripled. And people had a hard time getting it before. Our gas prices did not go up to $9 as it was supposed to, but it is over $7 (US) a gallon now. So your prices are looking good to us here. Diesel is lower than gas, but I'm not sure of the cost of that right now. Haiti was poor before, but it's in dire straights now. And yet, through it all, we have seen stronger Christians than we see in the US. These people really are living on the only hope they have, the Lord Jesus Christ. How would I, or you for that matter, react if we were in the same place as these people? One meal every three days, if that often. No money for doctors or hospitals. Watching your children cry from the pain of an empty stomach. And I keep thinking..."There, but for the Grace of God, go I". That statement has been around for a LONG time, but it's been brought to our front door, daily now. How can we NOT show God's love to them, with a bit of food?
I know I'm rambling on and on, but the situation here has gotten so much worse for the people. My heart breaks for them. We don't have a lot, but in comparison to them, we are rich.
The other statement that comes to mind is the Indian saying, "Walk a mile in my shoes, then make your decisions." I simply do not know if I COULD walk a mile in the shoes of these humble people. The whole situation is so overwhelming from our point of view, and we are not living their lives.
On to some brighter things... Abbie, of course, is one of them. Where this child gets her energy, I don't know. She is three going on thirty. She will start school on Monday. She goes from 8 to 1. Keep her teacher in your prayers. Kathy and Alice, our missionary friends across the road, normally don't accept children until they are 5. Abbie went there while we were in the states. I guess she was helping teach English. And Kathy and Alice said they would let her start. Since they are stateside for November and December and part of January, they have school through the summer. Abbie will definitely keep things interesting.
We had a great time for the 4th of July. Had some friends over. Ray and Bonnie and their kids are a blessing for us. And of course, Kathy and Alice are. And Belle is an added blessing. We had Abbie's pool up and we had the grill going. And just the fellowship was super great. We had enough food to have another day on Sunday. So, we celebrated the 4th, twice. Special friends and special days make for a wonderful time.
Keep our son and daughter-in-law in your prayers, also. The adoption process (and lack of movement on it) has become such a heart breaking thing for them. Pray that the Lord will open hearts and put that paperwork through.
Well, have to close and get some things done here. It's supper time, and for some reason, it just doesn't make itself.
Keep your eyes on Jesus, and keep us and this whole country in prayer. Till next time, or till the Lord comes... keep smiling and sharing Jesus!!!