The rains, again

Well, guess I was wrong, again.  The rains have not stopped.  So, guess we could use a few prayers in that area here.  It's nice to see things so green again, though.

We had a really good service on Sunday.  It is SO good to be fed and to absorb God's word from those who study so hard.  And the fellowship is awesome, too.  God sure does supply what we need when we need it, doesn't He?

Don has hauled water out to the IDADEE orphanage several times now.  They are dependent on water from a small spring.  The wells they have had drilled simply are not working.  And this spring is not keeping up with their needs.  It takes a lot of water with the wash and preparing food for the kids and staff.  Keep that in prayer.

Savanah is doing great.  Almost totally over her "spots" now.  But the clinging to grandma is not easing up much.  Have to work on that one.  She really loves it when Abbie comes home from school and spends time with her.  And she does know the word no now.  When she reaches for glasses, we simply say no and she stops.  Then gets this really pathetic look, like "You can't really mean that, can you?"  And she likes to tease.  She likes to go to Vero, but will look at her, smile and then hide her face.  Then she peeks out to see if Vero is still looking.

Don hope to finally be able to go and help the fellow put up his Ham radio antenna this weekend, or the first part of next week.  We need the rains to stop so they can get it done.

I haven't put a note on MFI lately.  As always, they can use your prayers, too.  Doing mail, cargo and teams for over 800 missionaries is a huge job.  I'm not sure how they keep on top of it all, but they do.  We have some very hard working people there.  Not just the pilots and mechanics, but the office staff, too.  And you need to remember that even the president has to raise his own support, he's not paid.  It is a TRUE mission organization.  We are so blessed to have them service us here in Haiti, but also those in the Dominican Republic and the islands between here and Florida.  So, they can always use your prayers.

This is a short update, but things keep going on here.  Savanah, our little eating machine, keeps me busy and on the run.  And helping Abbie with homework is a joy as well.  She just keeps amazing us with her ability to absorb and retain what she learns.  The blessing there is that she really likes school, for which we are thankful, too.  She wants to keep learning more and more.  

I think I'll put a picture of our resident woodpecker here.  It's funny, because he is in the tree right by the house and the constant knocking gives me a headache.  I know the Lord has given him a rock hard head, to be able to pound so much, so constantly.  And yes, this picture is right side up... 

I pray your day is blessed in mighty ways and that you are following where the Lord wants you to go.  Years and years ago, when we first were saved, we sang a little song that has come to mind lately.  Wish I could find music for it, and all the words, in case I have them wrong.... but I'll close with what I remember, and hope you are holding onto Jesus Hand....

Here comes Jesus,
See Him walking on the water,
He'll life you up,
And He'll help you to stand.

Yes, here comes Jesus,
He's the master of the universe,
Here comes Jesus,
Let Him take your hand!!! 

49 and counting...

Nope, not my age, not by a long shot.  Today was our 49th wedding anniversary.  Yup, to the same man, all these years.  Nothing big happening today.  We took Vero and Savanah and went out to lunch... Abbie will be upset, but she was in school, and we needed to get back here for a meeting Vero had.  We were celebrating Vero's 41st birthday, along with our anniversary.  We had a good time.  I really like the picture of Savanah and Vero... the flash glanced off her head band and onto Vero's forehead.  

 

But let's backtrack to this last week.  Last Sunday morning, when Savanah woke up, I told Don we had terrible mosquitoes in the house, look at her face.  Well, then I realized it was her face, neck and a few on the body.  By that afternoon I came to the conclusion it was measles.  Yup, our little 6 month old cutie has measles.  Thankfully not a real bad case.  But the poor little tyke had no idea why she was itching so bad.  I immediately contacted some medical personnel here.  Got advice on what to do, what to look for and how to take care of her.  Then I contacted Grandma Bibiana (Yup, DOCTOR Bibiana).  She gave me the same advice I had gotten, but I wanted to make sure with her.  And she added, "she may not want to eat... or maybe she will."   She had held Savanah at the Easter sunrise service breakfast... and she was amazed how much the kiddo ate.  Well, she was right on the "or maybe she will".  Her appetite increased.  All she wanted to do was EAT...yes, with capitol letters.  But the up side to that was that she would sleep for 8 hours at night.  (But it was from 7:30 PM to 3:30 AM)  So, she was up and ready to go by 3:30 in the morning.  She spent time playing with toys in our bed for a while.

So, my week was spent trying to keep the little one contented.  Don's was busy doing a lot of things.  One of those was delivering some Christmas bags and t-shirts to a man's school in the area.  He has been teaching kids who cannot go to school for lack of funds.  He is doing basic reading, writing and math.  He also helps older people with the same things, since he does not want them cheated by some unsavory merchants.  And by others who would take advantage of them.  These kids in the school are in rough shape.  Some don't have parents, and live with whoever will take them in.  Sad situations like this are all over Haiti.  The t-shirts came from our home town.  The kids will wear them each Friday to school, since they have no uniforms, and this makes them feel important.  They were thrilled with the bags, and with the shirts.  We are so thankful Kito has taken it upon himself to help these kids (and adults) out.  His teachers are volunteers and we had helped him give them some money each month.  We are praying to be able to start doing that again, as the Lord provides.  He uses a school building once the official school there is finished. 

 

 

 

 Prayerfully the rains have come to an end for a while... just wait, soon we'll be concerned because of the dry weather.

Well, just wanted to do a quick update and let everyone know what's happening here.  Have a great Christ centered day.  And remember to praise the Lord for all He has done for you.  The Haitians rejoice, and they have nothing, but they are thankful for their salvation and that the Lord walks with them. 

A friend posted something on facebook and it's worth repeating... (Thanks Kim).  From Joyce Meyers... "Let God turn your MESS into MESSAGE!!"  Amen to that!

 Blessings!!

Rains again

We are back to the spot of praying for the rains to stop.  A few towns have been flooded out, and everything is saturated totally.  Yup...we're thinking of an ark again.  Oh we know the world won't be flooded again, but I think Haiti is well on it's way.  And of course, with all the rains, come the heavy dampness, and cold.  Okay, for you all 70 isn't cold but here it's very cold.  People sleeping on dirt floors with water all around and no blankets... well, try and put yourself in their place.  We are even cold and we sure aren't living like that.  So, our prayers go on for the rains to stop.  Sure wish it would even out a bit... it's either soaked or too dry.  

Savanah is keeping us laughing.  She has a very definite way of letting us know what she wants.  And now she will eat anything you put near her (a warning to keep your fingers away!)  Vero felt a bit shocked when we were having supper and every time she put a fork into her mouth, Savanah would watch her very closely and then frown.  So, she got Vero's potatoes.  And she was a happy camper.  She also keeps us in stitches the way she wrinkles her nose.  We had tried and tried to get her to do it for the camera, but no way.  Then I figured out she would do it when I sang to her.  Okay, I don't have a great voice, but I didn't think it was THAT bad.  

 The ham radio operators here in Haiti have been working on setting up a net, for emergencies.  The head fellow has been in touch with powers that be in the US, so that if a quake or other disaster should happen, there will be immediate contact with the states.  Don is going to be helping a fellow in Cap set his system up and get it running.  Keep him in prayer with that.  And we need to get our system back up to par, too.  With the hurricane season coming up, that is another area where it would be a real benefit.

I was going to post a short note a while back, and totally forgot.  But it's something we had to share.  When Guerline and family came in, we were on our way back from the airport, and little 2 year old Ruby came out with a statement that had us all laughing.  Guerline was holding Savanah, and Ruby was on her daddy's lap.  She looked over at Savanah and said, "Mommie, she's a chocolate baby!!"  Ruby is bi-racial, but not dark, but her mommie is.  So, this statement just really hit us as funny.

Abbie is growing by leaps and bounds.  And she is doing so well in school.  We are so proud of her.  Her report card improved and we sure had to let her know.  We praise God she loves to read.  She'll take out her Bible story books and read them to Savanah.  And many of these are way beyond her grade level.  

Well, I'd better close for now.  Trying to get a newsletter ready to go out, and one thing or another keeps us humble.  We have 2 working printers.  One really good one and one cheap one.  Well, ran out of ink in the good one, and now the other one is about out.  I told our granddaughter (on facebook) that the dumb printers weren't working.  Then I realized... they are inanimate  objects... so guess where the fault lays?  But I did think I had enough ink... and I had even ordered some.  But of course, it didn't come yet.  So, once we get the ink, and I can figure out how to work another program on my computer, we'll get them printed and mailed.  This technology stuff keeps me humble for sure.  Glad I have kids I can send a note to and say, "HELP".  And they respond.

The little one is demanding some attention, so guess I'll close and hope your days are going a lot better than mine has today.  I have to keep reminding my self that God knows what is going on and HE is in charge, so I'll leave it all in His hands.  A lesson I have to keep learning over and over again.

Keep the Lord and His promises at the front of all you do.  And keep Him in your heart and mind at all times.  We'll see you here, there or in the air!!

We're still busy...

Sad to say Carolyn left, but her spirit remains.  Sure did enjoy our time with her.  And then last week, Savanah's new family arrived.  We had another great week.  Savanah is slow to adapt to others, but she sure took to daddy.  And of course to Ruby, her new sister.  Mama was a bit slower.  But she only cried when she was tired and wanted grandma to put her to bed.  

Then Sunday, she was dedicated at English Bible Fellowship.  It was a real blessing for us to be able to attend that.  Normally when we have had babies, those things transpire after we deliver them to their families.  But Guerline, Andy and Ruby wanted it done here.  And an added blessing was that her grandma, Bibiana was able to be here with her also.  She was here teaching some classes.  I wish I had a picture of all of them, but I'll have to ask them to send me one.  I did get a few photos, so will share them.  The first one is Andy, Ruby, Guerline, and Savanah.  The second one is with Pastor Prichard and Dana Adams.

 

 Pastor Prichard and Dana Adams did the dedication and also shared the testimony of Pirchard's awesome recovery from 2, yes, 2 aneurisms.  God has really been with this couple through some hard times.  What a joy to hear how HE worked in their lives, and  how His power was manifested through Prit's recovery.  

Then on Monday, following the dedication, I was invited to a women's lunch.  It was a sad time, though.  The gathering was to say a final farewell to two missionary women.  Pat Moore (along with her husband Clark) have retired from Haiti.  And Cheron Hardy has felt the Lord leading her to leave Haiti and minister to the Muslim's in some way.  As of yet, she is not sure just where, but we are praying with her as God directs.  Both of these gals will be greatly missed here in Haiti.  

While at the luncheon, Dana Adams took a photo of Savanah.  I tired to crop and re-size it, but couldn't.  So, here it is, as I received it.  

 Meanwhile, Don has been busy trying to keep things working here, and getting equipment picked up from a church that was worked on, and of course, spending two days a week at the airport with MFI.  Keep them in prayer, as they continue to serve Haiti, the Dominican and the Caribbean.  


Keep praying for Haiti, also.  It seems unrest is always "just around the corner" most of the time.  We are really praying that God will pour out His spirit and bring a great revival here, as well as in America.

While studying, Don came upon a verse that he shared some insights on.  It is in 1 Corinthians 15:  12 - 17.   Read this in light of the Easter season that is upon us.  Jesus Christ HAS risen from the dead, and that is where our hope is!!!  PTL!