Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Container update

Just wanted to get a quick update on the container situation before I leave for the US tomorrow. We talked to our broker while Stan was here. He said the ship with our container on it is now scheduled IN to Haiti on the 23rd. That means they MAY clear it between Christmas and New Year's. Which then means we won't get it until January sometime. Pray with us that it will come in God's time and the price will be more reasonable than it has been. Again, the Christmas Bags won't be given out in time for Christmas. Such a disappointment. But they will be given when we get them. And the kids will be just as happy whenever they do arrive.

Our team left yesterday. They were great. We enjoyed our time with them. They didn't really get to do what they came for, delivering Christmas Bags, but they did a lot of other things and saw a lot of missions. They adjusted well to the changes and we were thankful for that.

We are going to have Christmas with Vero and Abbie tonight. It's been hard for Abbie to see presents under the tree and not be able to open them, so she will get to do that tonight. I'll try to get some photos, and prayerfully be able to post a few.

Everyone here is battling bad colds and coughs. We have decided maybe it's something in the house, but don't know. Guess we'll find out in time. Don is starting to clear up and Abbie sounds better, so maybe we are on the way to getting over this. It's been raining and cold (for us anyway), so maybe that had a lot to do with it.

I want to follow our daughter-in-laws lead and put a thankful list each time. We really DO have so much to be thankful for. God has brought us great teams. Through some very wonderful people God has supplied finances and food to distribute. We are very thankful that we have been able to help so many in need. We are especially thankful at this time of year to remember that the Lord loved us so much He sent His Son to stand in our place. We pray more and more people will come to the realization that God's sacrifice is our salvation. We praise and thank Him for His Love, Grace and for His Son!!!

May you be blessed beyond measure as you celebrate the most precious gift of all, JESUS!!

Friday, December 12, 2008

Closing in on Christmas

Hello again,
Sorry it's been a while since I have been on. We've been so busy. Add into that, putting up Christmas decorations. The day before Thanksgiving, Vero said, "in two days we can put up the tree and decorations, right?" I had told her we had to wait until after Thanksgiving. So, that is what we did. Not as many as I have done in the past, but things are still "Christmasy". Abbie walks around saying Merry Christmas to everyone. We don't have to deal with "political correctness" here. We can keep Christ in Christmas. And He is. Abbie has her own manger scene, and talks about how Mary and Joseph had to find somewhere to stay so baby Jesus would have a nice place to be born. This set is so neat, and she is so happy, thanks to Wendy and Joe Karabensh. They gave her the set last Christmas. But anyway, here are a couple of pictures of our decorations. Abbie loves to watch the tree and play with some of the Christmas decorations.
Aside from getting into the Christmas spirit, we have a team here. They came to distribute Christmas Bags for Haiti. The glitch there is that the container didn't come. So, they have been finding other things to do. But some bags were brought in by MFI, and they have gotten bags taken out to one orphanage and to one church. But they are seeing and doing a lot of things, too.

My exciting news is that after the team leaves on Tuesday, on Thursday I leave. Our daughter and her boys are getting to spend Christmas at Disney. And I am getting to go with them. "Every Child Has A Dream" foundation is sending Donny and his family there. Donny has Cerebral Palsy and was chosen for this trip. Another bonus to this is that I have to be there a few days before they arrive, so I am going to spend those couple of days with my brother and his wife. (A prayer request here is for Bob, my brother. He is heading into chemo treatment for colon cancer.) I won't be here for Christmas, but I will return on the 30, with a team, and will be here for New Year's, which is the biggest celebration in Haiti. They celebrate Christmas, New Year's and their Independence Day all together. So, we'll have a celebration then.

Don has been so excited about being able to help so many people. He is heading out this afternoon to deliver food to yet another area. Supplies are running low, but we are depending on the Lord to provide what is needed. The homes he has been working on are coming along great. The families are so happy. For those we have been able to help, this will be a time of rejoicing. Pray with us that the Lord will continue to help us bless many more. God has used so many wonderful people to bring these things to reality. We are so thankful for all the help and all the prayers, too.

For now, I am going to wish all of you a VERY BLESSED CHRISTMAS, and pray you are keeping Jesus at the center of all the celebrations. Remember, He IS the reason for the season.