The Container

Thanks to all of your prayers, our container has finally been inspected. What a time we had though. It took 5 hours. We had a new inspector and he wanted to open and check EVERY box. Now, we are not opposed to them checking them, since we have nothing to hide...but for instance, our boxes of rice meals...come from the company and are in sealed boxes. I don't know how many he opened (quite a few though) before he finally said, well, okay I don't need to check anymore of those boxes. I have put two pictures here of some of the "fun". Our poor guys were melting in the heat. It was upper 90's outside, but inside those containers was a whole lot hotter. And this time, we were in a sort of blocked in area, so there was NO breeze to releve any of the heat. Then on top of all of that, it was simply check a box and put it in the second container...a LOT of the boxes, as you can see in the second photo, he had us stack outside, to check again. Now we need prayers concerning the cost of the container in customs. We hope to have the final amount by Tuesday, we'll see. Our broker said the head of customs is trying to help us and work with us, but this is Haiti, so no telling how long it will take.On a brighter note...today is the day our grandson heads home to the US with his mama. I know there will be some very happy tears all around. He has asked her each week, for a LONG time, "Will you come to get me this week?" And now it is a reality. Pray for them as they all have to readjust their lifestyle.

I have to include an "Abbie funny" here. She is always coming up with statements that set us to laughing. Well, yesterday while we were sitting at the docks...she said, "Tomorrow Grandpa is going to school." I looked at her and said, "He is? What is he going for?" She said, "He is going to study the Bible!" I responded, "Oh? And who is his teacher?" She gave me that, "GRANDMA" look and said, "The Holy Spirit!" She was so serious, so we tried not to laugh. But do you think she has been picking up on things said around here? One day she decided she wanted to talk to Him, so she asked grandpa if she could talk to Mr. Holy Spirit, too. This is daily quips from her. She is a treasure.

Well, time to get to work and get some things done. Have a wedding to organize, and container to plan for and all the normal working here. PLUS, today we get two new watch dogs from another missionary. She is moving into a smaller place and can't keep them. This, too, should be interesting...

From our house to yours, have a God blessed and wonderful day. Remember, Jesus walks with all of us and keeps His hands on us all the time!!

Lots of News

Wow, it's been 2 weeks since I was last on here... lots to catch up on. Since the last posting, we've had an exciting month. We had a team come in...a small one, but such a great one!! I don't think anyone can appreciate all the work even a small team can accomplish. They came with willing hearts and hands and were wonderful. Don has been working on our containers trying to rearrange things and get them ready for our container that is sitting at the docks right now. With money provided by one church and by the team, Don was able to purchase the items to fill some buckets. And the team did a fantastic job of doing that for us. Filling bottles with oil, bagging beans, and soap and corn meal... all of that is SO VERY time consuming for us. And they not only did that, plus extras, but filled the buckets and have them ready for delivery. What a huge job that would have been for us. We really praise God for people willing to give of their time and hands to make things work here. They were such an uplift for us. And we are so thankful they were willing to do whatever they could, and they sure did a lot. People are already benefiting from their hard work. And we PRAISE GOD for them.

While they were still here, Abbie got sick. Fever, throwing up, you know, the "flu symptoms". Well after a few days, Vero took her to the doc and had tests done. She did have a bad cold, but the main problem was a kidney or bladder infection. It took her over a week and a half to get to feeling good again. But right toward the end of her illness, I came down with something... who knows what, and am having a hard time kicking it. I'm much better, but just worn out right now.

Next the news on the container... well, we are in Haiti, and anything that can, will go wrong, right? We (mostly our broker) filed all our paperwork and got things moving...then they told us our Quitus (permission to bring containers into Haiti) had not been approved. The director of customs here is trying his best to help us out with this. Come to find out, it was a glitch in the computer work. It's a new system (the first they are using computers here) and the people running the computers had no idea what they were doing. So, we have to wait for the approval from Port au Prince. We should have it within the next day or two. Then we can have it inspected and THEN pay the fees and have it brought out here. In amongst all of that, one of the customs officials passed away, so offices were closed down for that. Never a dull moment here. So, pray with us that it will be cleared soon, like within a day or two. Also that the cost would be considerably less than before...we know prayer works, so we are asking for a lot of prayer cover on this one.

And now the BEST and most exciting news.... TODAY, August 25th, our new grandson was granted his visa to go home with mom and dad!!!!!!! They pick it up tomorrow and head out on Saturday for the states. It is FINALLY a completed thing. What a reason for celebration and excitement. Now we need to pray for the whole family. This will be quite a time of adjustment for everyone. And I'm sure they will need a lot of prayer along the way.

Pray for the coming wedding here of one of our kids (Betty). She'll be married at the radio station, next door, (They have a huge auditorium up stairs) on Sept. 25th. We are deep into the preparations for that event now. So much to do. With the other weddings there was always someone like Carolyn, who came down and did a lot of the work for us. This time it's all on my shoulders and I'm praying for the strength to get everything accomplished before the date.

I hope I will do much better with keeping you up to date from here on out. Keep us and everyone here in prayer. And praise God with us for all He has done and IS DOING here.
Keep your eyes on Him, and let Him guide and direct you! God Bless!!!

August Encouragement

Greetings to all,

Well, what a month already. No teams yet, but it seems the running never stops. At least a lot has been accomplished in the last few weeks. Don has delivered what food was left, and delivered water to many. It was so needed. He had to purchase a new tank for the water. The roads he travels on are so bad, and it wore the tank out, from the bouncing. He had it pretty well secured, but all things wear out in this country. (And much quicker than in the US).

We are now waiting on our next container. The ship has docked, and they are supposed to take the containers off today. We are praying this will happen. And our broker has started the paperwork already, so prayerfully it will be quicker. We'll pray and wait on the Lord on this one. Pray with us for a speedy release, and for a lower cost.

Being Tuesday, we should be at the airport, but being August, things slow down at MFI. There were no passengers and not enough cargo to warrant a flight, so we have a day off. Well, from the airport anyway. Getting a lot of needed work done here with this free day. We have a small team coming on Thursday, and we are looking forward to that. Good friends, and a new face or two. Lots planned and we hope to get it all done in the short 5 days they are here.

God has really blessed us with some great speakers at English Bible Fellowship lately. We have been absorbing some great teachings. On Sunday, we had a Haitian pastor friend come and speak. Pastor Saint Ange did a wonderful job and brought out some great truths in God's word. He spoke on ENCOURAGEMENT. He chose Barnabas as his "topic". I didn't realize just how much of an encourager he was. He went through a lot of scripture on how Barnabas encouraged so many. From selling his land to help everyone, to taking an immature believer and helping him along on his path of faith, to using his own faith, along with works, to direct believers, to giving a man a second chance and following through with him. It was great. And he calls US to be encourager's, too. Our daily life should encourage others, if it's a pat on the back for someone, or help in a material way, or to stand by someone and show them the correct path to take. There are so many, many ways we, as Christians, can share our faith through encouragement. His message spoke to me in many ways, and I am so thankful we were blessed by the message. There was another missionary there, and before the service she had said how discouraged she has been this week. We talked for a while before church started. Well, after church, we looked at each other and laughed. God knew ahead of time exactly what we both needed and HE supplied those needs. Isn't God awesome? Wow, all we need to do is depend on Him and rely on His word...our encouragement comes from the Lord, doesn't it? And at just the right time.

Okay, on to prayer and praises... I have to praise God for the chiropractor he sent down with another mission. The last two Sundays he has worked on me after church. What a blessing he has been. And in that same area, please pray for this body of mine to come into line and stop it's problems. Not one major thing, just many little pains and problems.

We praise God that we have had such good teachings at English Bible Fellowship. And that it has been just what many of us needed, just when we needed it.

Continue to pray for MFI and all their work and services for so many. They are a great organization and can use your prayers constantly. They do so much for so many...and we also praise God for their ministry at the AirVenture Show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. We know many heard the message of salvation through that time.

Continue to pray for our son, his wife and their adoption process. We are praying that this week all the paperwork will get into Homeland Security and process through to immigration quickly. It is WAY PAST TIME for their son to be home with them.

Pray for Stan and Gloria as they continue to work so hard to further the Gospel here in Haiti. They do so much in so many areas and we are SOOO thankful for their dedication.

Pray for the container and all involved in it. Pray for Haiti and it's officials, that the Lord would reach down His hand and touch hearts for Him in a mighty way.

Pray for America and all that it is going through right now. We need the Lord there in a mighty way as well.

And we pray for YOU, that God will walk with you and show you how to be an encourager to so many in need.

"I will give thanks to the Lord because of His righteousness, and will sing praise in the name of the Lord Most High." Psalm 7: 17

Three in one day

Wow, I think I'm on a roll. Actually, after doing my blog, then Don's, I downloaded some photos I had taken yesterday. And of course, some were of Abbie. So, just wanted to share a couple with you all. I know a lot of you have been here and have watched her grow. She really is growing by leaps and bounds all the time.

We were just ready to leave for church when I took these. Our friends, Ray and Bonnie, come when they can, ahead of time, so the kids can play for a while. Richardo is the first one they took into their orphanage, and now they want to adopt him. He and Abbie have spent a lot of time together since they were very small. Richardo is about a year older than she is. Not positive of his age since he had been abandoned. He was in poor health, but has recovered wonderfully. Well about a year ago, he and Abbie decided they were going to get married. We finally told them, okay, but not for 18 years. They both said, okay, tomorrow. Well, they walk to church, hand in hand, and spend a lot of time together. So, it's natural that we get photos of the two of them, together. Abbie is a photo hound. If she sees a camera, she wants her picture taken. And Richardo is pretty much the same way. So, we are sharing their photos with you. Enjoy, and keep trusting the Lord, He is faithful!!!

From Don

When I worked at the foundry, I'd take my lunch and sit out by the railroad tracks and read the Bible. One day, I heard a voice in my spirit. "Take it as a letter". It became alive in my spirit, to take God's word as a personal letter to us. VERY PERSONALLY from God.

I'm sorry, but I have a problem with those courses of "Through the Bible in one year." Why would you want to, except to say you did it? You don't read the Bible like you would a novel or one of those paperback books. Or even just because you feel it is something a Christian should do.

God is so patient with us. Be patient with His Word. When you read His word, read it slow and stop once in a while and let the Holy Spirit minister to you about what you just read.

Sometimes when I meditate on a word or verse, I get so worked up in the spirit I want to shout to the world what I just learned. God's word will always confirm, in at least two places, what the Spirit says. If it doesn't, then question it.

As always, walk with the Lord, and stay in His word.

Another week

Well, we have gone another HOT, HUMID week here. Actually the temps are the same, and the humidity is right up there, but I guess we are getting used to it. It doesn't seem quite as bad has it has before.

Ten of our MFI guys spent a week at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, at the AirVenture air show. The biggest air show in the US. It was great that they were asked to be there for the first "mission focused" airshow. What a great time to witness for the Lord, and to show how the MFI DC-3's are serving. (And the staff as well as the planes.) Our son and grandsons were able to be there and met with the MFI guys...sure wish we could have been there, too. Check out the MFI web site and learn more about it.

But, while most of the staff were at the airshow, a skeleton crew held down the fort and brought our mail and cargo to Haiti. We are so thankful for all of the MFI staff who so tirelessly serve us and many others here in Haiti and the Caribbean. We'd be lost without them.

Don spent quite a bit of the week taking water to many people. They were so happy, since they had not had this blessing since the last of April. I just can't imagine the choice of either walking miles with the water, or drinking unsafe water...we are so blessed and don't even realize it.

Yesterday's service was great. Pastor Hudson Hess gave the message. He shared many of his experiences while serving over 40 years in Haiti. We were blessed by it and by his humble spirit. He talked about trees, and how many are mentioned in the Bible. And how the seed planted will sustain life for many, for years to come, if it is not cut down. Yes, Hudson was responsible for planting thousands, maybe even millions of trees while he was here. But what was more important, he planted seeds of faith in so many, many Haitians. And those seeds are growing and bringing forth new fruit daily. He and his wife Lucy have been such a blessing to so many for so long. We will miss both of them a whole lot when they leave next week. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers. It's hard to leave a place where your life has been rooted. We know he will continue to minister wherever he is, but it will not be the same.

Keep praying for the paperwork for our grandson. They are headed, prayerfully this week, into Homeland Security, and then into the visa process. Still need a lot of prayer to get him home to his family.

I was reminded of the song, "Keep your hand in the hand of the Man who stills the water..." I really like that song, but it's meaning is so powerful. We NEED to keep our hand in the Hand of Jesus, and keep hanging on. So, let's hold on together!!!!