Is it fun or frustration

Not sure if it's a grin or grimace...but this has been a week that seemed about 2 months long.  Now it's not ALL frustration, but why does it seem that one thing going wrong can outshine 20 things going right?  

We had a team here for a week.  Not for us, for another mission.  We met them and talked a couple of times.  So, let's back up here before they came.  (Now don't get me wrong, the team and the mission they were with were GREAT, THEY are not the problem).  But before they came, we realized we needed to get a new refrigerator for the dorm...the old one gave out.  The leader for the mission came ahead of time (coincidence?) and gave us the dorm rental.  That was the exact amount for the fridge.  But before that, Don said we needed to get a generator for the dorm use.  With our electric like it's been, we knew we had to have a source of power for them.  Ordered it, and it came in a few days before the team got here.  Don checked it out, was happy that it could handle everything.  Hooked it up to our place for two nights, to make sure there would be no problems.  Well, the night before the group got here, the new generator was leading oil on the garage floor...so we had no power for them.  Don had rewired a lot of the things in the dorm to be able to use the generator (time consuming).  But... oh well, we weren't sure what to do.  The generator we use would not handle the dorm.  We did have the 12 volt system so they had a little light, but just enough to keep them from running into things.  And Don had finished wiring up the fans in the dorm so there would be ceiling fans all night for them.  (ONE plus that was working).  Had to put a couple of our new batteries over there to handle it, but no problem.  With no generator, they had no water for showers.  There were 11 people on the team.  We had what little power we had to pump water, but it was never on when the group was here.  So, Don spent a day (when he didn't go to the airport because of the situation) fixing the chuck valve that would hold some of the water in reserve.  Got that done, and then the mission brought over a generator they borrowed from someone, so the team could shower and have power in the evenings.  

Two days before they left, our watchman came over and said the pressure switch on the pump was making funny noises.  Praise God it held until the team left today.  Don is now over there, trying to replace the pressure switch (praise God he had one here)!!  Well, things never go as planned, right?  As he was putting it on, three of the pipes connected to it broke!!  So, we are without water, with a ton of laundry from the dorm to do, and things here needing washing.  But again, praise God, Don knows what to do to fix it, although it will take him all day to do it.  

Savanah is doing great.  She is running all over the place, but for some reason has decided she needs to be RIGHT with me all the time.  If I'm at the sink doing dishes or fixing a meal, she backs up and sits on my feet.  I knew my going to the airport might cause some problems, but I figured she needed to have some time away from me.  She loves Vero, but was not a happy camper this week when I was at the airport.  So now we have to figure a way to get her used to being with others.  Her first birthday is in just a few days.  I'm hoping her presents come before then, but if not, we'll simply celebrate when they do get here.  Her new mommy sent her a present, and it came, so we are happy about that.  She really is a joy to have around.  Definitely God's blessing!

Don was hauling some sand for one of "our kids" for his new house.  He has to go to Gran Riveare to get it.  Since we had virtually no rain for so long, the rivers were pretty dry, and getting sand out of them very hard.  The place he used to get sand, PowWow (phonetically spelled), had no sand at all, so he had to make the trip to Gran Riveare.  No one goes there because the road is so very bad.  Don has been there before, and has felt drawn to the "family" who works the river there. It's grandparents, kids, grandkids and great-grandkids.  Don said most of the kids have very red hair (from malnutrition).  He always takes out candy for the kids.  This time he felt led to take out three buckets of food plus some soaps and shampoo a family from our home church sent down.  (They didn't open the buckets, just took them to their house).  He did take  candy for the kids, too.  On his next trip back out there, the grandma (probably in her 80's) grabbed his arm and hung on the whole time he was there.  She was SO thankful for the help.  He said even the guys who load the truck were extra pleasant to him.  The women work down at the river, sifting sand and gravel out into piles, so he didn't see them.  But the kids were so excited to see him, and the grandma (who oversees the kids while parents work) said the kids just knew when they saw the truck that Don would bring candy.  They are shy... take the candy and run off to play, but grandma told Don how they reacted.

Then on the way home... about half a mile from here, he had two flat tires.  Same side, rear... and had to drive home on those flats with a FULL load of sand.  Now we have to get two tires, to the tune of $200 US each.  But we're sure God will provide somehow. 

We put up a gate, to keep Savanah out of the bathroom and computer room, and in where the kitchen and living room are.  One day, grandpa forgot to close the gate, and she flew like she was shot out of a cannon, and ran down the hall.  By the time I got to her, she had a picture in her hand.  No idea where she got it, but it is an old photo of our kids.  All five of them in one place at one time!! Since only 2 live in the same town, and one more in the same state, it's hard to get together.  It was taken March 20, 1999.  I thought I'd share that with you all.  Our "baby" was 27 in that picture, and that was 12 1/2 years ago.  I can't believe she will be 41 this year.  But then, we'll be married 50 years in 6 months...wow... a long time with the same man, huh?  

We had a Haitian pastor (James) speak at English church last Sunday.  He was really good.  He shared on who was "silly" in the Bible.  He picked Matthew.  He said this man left everything... his money, his family, his friends to follow a stranger that simply said, "follow me".  He stood up, walked away from his money, and a very lucrative job.  He didn't go and check with his wife (if he had one) to get permission.  He lost his friends (most of them were friends because of his position), and simply followed Jesus. At the end, he said, "Sorry, Matthew was NOT silly.  He followed the Lord.  What are YOU willing to give up to do what the Lord asks of you?"  Probably 2/3's of the congregation were Haitian.  And they were impacted by his message, but so were the missionaries who were there.  Yes, we followed the Lord to be here in Haiti, but are we willing to follow His leading now that we are here?  James didn't ask us that, but we felt it.  I talked to others after service and most felt the impact as much as I did.  His message was good... it reached those who weren't following the Lord, but also reached those who are, but are not willing to keep going where God directs.  God used James to touch a lot of lives last Sunday and we are so thankful He keeps sending things to reach and teach us.  

I mentioned I had been to the airport again last Tuesday (my day to work there).  I was amazed at how fast things are moving there.  It's a bit of a challenge to get things done now, but it will be awesome when finished.  And at the rate they are going, it won't be long.  I can't remember seeing anything move this fast in Haiti before.

Time to go and get some work done while we have power.  Please remember to pray for Haiti, it's leaders, and especially the poor people of the country.  Also, please pray for the upcoming elections in the US.  And finally pray for us.  Being here right now is a challenge in so many ways.  Pray for the Lord's direction and guidance in all we do.  And remember also, to keep YOUR eyes on the author and finisher of our faith.  "Keep your hand in the hand of the Man who stilled the waters..."  I pray you are in that place where you can totally depend on the Lord!!