It's Amazing

Yes, it is amazing....a lot of the last week or so has had some real ups and downs...and it's amazing we haven't lost our cool.  We now have over 30, more like 35 or more, beggars in our yard, ALL DAY LONG.   Yes, we have those who truly need help.  But the ones who stay and are a constant problem are the ones who are just here to see if their persistence will get them anything.  A couple of pastors, who stop for mail, or to visit, have said this is about as bad as it gets here in Haiti.  These are people without any consideration or any respect.  It is embarrassing to most of the Haitian community that these people are presenting such a bad witness for the people here.  But those who do need help, when told we have nothing for them now, leave.  They know Don will help if he can.  He has told some of them it is very, very hard to help when there are so many who just keep harassing him.  One fellow, who Don hires when we can, has come and tried to talk to these women.  They just laugh and pay no attention.  These are women with nice extensions in their hair, nice clothes, jewelry, and cell phones.  Okay, you can see this is a major prayer need for us.  And I know some are asking, "What about the gate, can't you close it?"  Several situations with that one, too.  First, to close it we would need a watchman.  Can't hire one until the former watchman's family leaves and we have a place for the new one to stay.  They are to be out soon, so pray with us on that.  But right now, the major issue with the gate is that the top hinge broke off.  Sounds simple, right?  Nope, nothing here is simple.  This gate (one side only) weighs over 700 pounds.  If the bottom hinge lets go (which it looks like it will), someone could be killed when it falls.  So Don had to get some help to brace it up and put some restraints on it until he can get the help to fix it.  He will have to redo all four hinges to make sure they are safe.  Another prayer request.  Okay, why hasn't he done it yet???  Between airport and container inspection, and delivery, he has not had a day to call his own.  Within the next week he hopes to be able to hire some guys to help him get this accomplished.  Yet another prayer request.  There sure are a lot of them, aren't there??

Okay, now on to some positive things that are happening.   I'll start with the container.  We thought we were set to inspect and pay over a week ago.  BUT....WE ARE IN HAITI!!!  Our broker (I'm sure when he sees our number on his phone he cringes), had to let  us know that Port au Prince lost all of our papers (they thought).  Well, we have a GREAT broker.  He had saved copies of everything for the last 3 or 4 years and took copies to the office here.  They sent those to Port... Within a day they called and said the permission was on the way the next day to get the container out.  We inspected last Friday.  And that went quickly.  They had hoped to get it out to us on Monday, but with the election, we didn't think they would.  Tuesday came and we got the call...they lost the papers again.  Another day lost...but we finally got the container delivered on Friday of this week.  Over half of the container was for other missions, so that was a blessing for us, too.  We didn't have to try and fit the things in our containers.  But you can believe that there were a lot of happy people once we did get the things unloaded.  The cost?  Well, it sure wasn't as high as some of them were.  So we feel God walked with us through all of this.  Much needed food and supplies came in to help the really poor families.  That is our main goal.  And scriptures.... oh what a blessing.  We have so many pastors come now to get the booklet of John and Romans, or tracts or new testaments.  It's a blessing to see so many going out evangelizing and using these tools to draw people to the Lord.  One elder from one of the churches drives a local bus, and he gives each person who gets on his bus a tract.  He said if they ride with him, they get God's word.  

And I've been working on things for the dedication of the new children's home.  I didn't realize how quickly that is coming up.  I will try to post some photos once that day is over.  It is such a blessing to so many.  And another area for prayer.  They now have 6, and possibly a 7th child.  Many needs and many blessings all wrapped in one.

Stan's wife, Gloria, has been here almost a month now.  She has been teaching at the EBAC orphanage.  I'm not sure who was happier with her being there, her or the kids.  But she did accomplish a lot in a short time.  Her daughter came with her for the first 9 days and that was a boost for her, too.  What a blessing she has been to those kids.


Then for the most amazing thing to happen in a long time.  Vero received a visa.  This is thanks to Dick at Missionary Flights.  She now works at the airport with us and does most of my work there.  Dick wrote and asked for them to permit her to come out to see how MFI works stateside. It's only a one month visa, but it's a step in the right direction.  And this also means that I get to take her out and be a part of her first experience with America.  We have been trying since 2000 to get a visa for her.  So, prayer works in many ways.  Now we hope she will be able to get another visa to be able to go out and share the vision of IDADEE (the children's home) with others.  The dedication of  IDADEE is April 10th and her and I leave on the 12th for one week.  I'm excited for her.  She is a bit apprehensive about it all.  She isn't real fond of flying, but I know once she flies with MFI, her fears will disappear.  

I've dumped a lot of prayer requests on you.  But I know there are those prayer warriors out there who have kept us going for many years, so I wanted to share the good and the hard things with you all.  

I will close with sending our thanks and blessings to all of you who have stood with us these many years.  YOU are the reason we are here and we are so thankful for you!!  God bless, and have a super wonderful day!!!

Life goes on

It's a bright, sunny Thursday.  Sure do enjoy the sunshine.  Guess it's "catch-up" time again.  The funeral was a week ago.  We'll need some prayers with the situation following this whole thing.  Toto's "woman" may be causing us some problems.  But we know with the Lord behind us, things will work out.  So, please back us in prayer that HE will work things out in the right way.

With help, Don worked on the gate again.  Instead of the long, hard, almost impossible things he was facing, a much simpler and efficient way worked out to make the gates fit.  They did that, and now it's just getting the "things" welded for the locks.  It may take a bit of work, but it will get done.  At least there is light at the end of the tunnel.  

Been doing a bit of work on the display for the IDADEE dedication in April.  If you haven't checked on it lately, go to  www.IDADEEchildrenshome.blogspot.com   They now have three children.  The second one, Ephraim, seems to be a great asset to the whole thing.  He has drawn Emmanuella out and she is a happy, active child now.  And the new little girl, Ammonia (what a name for a  child), will work into the bubbly atmosphere that Ephraim has created.  Check out the invitation for the grand opening/dedication on the blog.  It's a blessing for sure.

Something I just have to share here are some photos of another orphanage.  Cheron Hardy receives Christmas Bags from us, along with food.  She gave me some of the photos and these kids are so precious.  She has gotten some of the hardest cases, but they all blossom under her care.  These two little ones are one of the main reasons we love working with the Christmas Bag project.  (Check that out at the link on the right).

 We do need some more prayers.  Got word that the container is ready for inspection.  We should be doing that on Friday.  Not sure when it will be delivered, since Sunday is the election.  Everyone here is gearing up for problems.  But we know the Lord can calm things down and smooth things out.  We don't get into politics, so the whole thing does not concern us (as elections go).  But with the embassy and the UN posting precautions, we have to take notice and take care.  Pray for this whole thing to go as the Lord directs, and not as man would have it.  This country needs some major positive influence and someone who will work for the people.

Our last prayer request is for the country of Japan.  The news there keeps getting worse and worse.  Since disaster seems to rule Haiti, we can empathize with those in Japan.  It's well over a year since our earthquake, and recovery seems so very slow.  We know the infrastructure in Japan is way above what we have, but they were hit with a stronger quake and then the tsunami.  We are praying that the solid infrastructure will be a help in rebuilding the country.  But now with the nuclear problem, it looks like prayer is the major need.

Do all of these situations make you think of what the Bible has said?  The whole world is experiencing some unheard of events and situations that just are not "normal", whatever "normal" is.  The time is short.  Jesus will be coming back soon.  No, we do not claim to know the date or time, but events are building toward that time at a very fast rate.  Are YOU ready for the Lord's return?  I pray you are and that you are trusting Him.  Jesus is the only way out of all this chaos and upheaval.  Put your faith and trust in Him and look for the return of our Savior!!!

Sad news

Many of you who have been on teams will know Toto, our watchman.  This afternoon at 3:00, he passed away.  He has been really sick for the last few months and he is now out of his misery.  Many will ask about his situation with the Lord.  We know he has heard many times of the plan of salvation.  We do not know if he had asked Jesus into his life or not. 

We have many situations because of his illness and subsequent death.  Please pray with us that God will walk with us through this whole thing.  

At this point in time we really don't know what the next step will be but we do know we will need a lot of prayers to resolve issues.

Pray also for this time in Haiti.  This Tuesday is Mardi Gras... or carnival as some call it.  It is a very difficult time here.  We will not be going anywhere until after Tuesday.  And then two weeks from today is election day.  Another time of prayer saturation needed.  These next two week could be very stressful here in this country.  But we know Someone who can overcome this whole thing.  He is the One we depend on and rely on to keep us in His care and protection.  

Thank you for your support through those prayers.  They mean a lot and God does hear them.  And we KNOW He answers prayers!!!

As we were reminded of again today in church... 2 Chron. 7: 14..."IF MY PEOPLE WILL HUMBLE THEMSELVES......"   That is our prayer for Haiti.

The Port Trip

Hello again,

We left the house at 5 AM and headed to the airport.  We were supposed to be at the airport at 6:15...they do not open the doors until 6:30...so we sat.  That was fine.  Paul Romeus, Belle's husband took us.  We really wanted to make sure we would be on the flight...and when they finally opened the doors...we were given the first boarding passes.  What a relief, to know we WERE on that flight.  Now I have to add a bit in here.  Almost 2 months ago, Belle broke her foot in a couple of places.  She is STILL in a cast.  It may have been hard on her, but it sure got us places quickly today.  Not sure if it's because we are older (that is Belle's opinion), or if people were just being extremely nice, but we had a GREAT flight down to Port.  Belle's friend in Port met us and had his friend take us to immigration, since he is somewhere in the government and has a bit of pull.  But Remy met us there, since he had all of Don's and my paperwork.  We got to the building just before 9.  (Took over an hour to drive through Port to get there).  We saw roads and alleys we had never seen before...shortcuts!!  RIGHT!!  Anyway...we got there and went to the front of the line and they let us right in.  There were hordes of people out there.  I think mostly getting Haitian passports.  We went right up the the room to get our permi de sejour (residency).  Poor Belle, it was up and down stairs the whole time.  

I could not believe how many people from Cap we met while in Port for a day.  The dentist who works with our dental team was in immigration.  He said he was "making my passport legal".  I think it expired and he was updating it.  But, anyway...we got to the room, they sat us down, looked at our paperwork and we filled out one sheet.  The gal who worked with us was super nice and so patient.  She really was a sweetheart.  

This one guy kept coming in to exchange a big bill for smaller money.  The second time, I asked him if that money was for me.  He laughed and said no.  The third time I said are you SURE it's not for me, and he giggled, and the woman helping us laughed.  The fourth time, I told him he was so rich that it MUST be for me.  He really laughed, and so did everyone in the room.  Then he leaned in and said, "Later, downstairs!"  We all got a kick out of him.  And it sure lightened the mood.  But once the papers were verified (about 15 minutes in that office), we headed up for fingerprints.  Took us to the head of the line and got us right in.  We were in and finished within an hour.  Belle needed a couple more papers, but she did get the fingerprints done, so she won't have to go back.  

We left there and had to cross the street.  Port au Prince is about ten times worse on vehicles than Cap, so those of you who have been here will have a small bit of understanding about how dangerous it was to have to cross the road.  Belle stepped to the edge of the road, to watch for a break, and traffic stopped and let us cross...just like that.  Praise God for her cast!!!   Remy took us back to the airport in less than half an hour...we took the main, straight roads.  So, we were back at the airport by 11 AM....and our flight was at 4 PM.  They did try to get us on an earlier one, but they were full.  So we spent an interesting 5 hours people watching.  And saw a LOT of people we knew there.  

I cannot believe how MANY people responded to our request for prayers for this short trip.  It's thanks to ALL OF YOU WHO PRAYED, that it went so well, and we have it all finished.  When the booklet is done, Remy will pick it up and bring it up to us.

So this is a HUGE THANK YOU for getting us through this situation!!  God IS awesome and He very definitely answers prayers!  Between you and God we had a good trip and have all the paperwork done!!  Thank you!

Prayer request

Tomorrow, Don and I, along with Belle Romeus, are flying to Port au Prince.  We will be doing the final step in getting our residency papers in order (fingerprinting).  We are to fly on the first flight out in the morning at 6:40 AM.  And we are scheduled to return tomorrow afternoon at 4:00 PM.  Please pray not only for the flights (for us to actually fly at the times set) but for the work to be accomplished quickly and without problems.  Pray for our safety and strength for the whole day. 

We appreciate your prayers and will post when we return!!

Jesus is willing and able to do all we ask, and we believe He wants us to accomplish this and be legal residents.