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!!!