Life and it's challenges

We did have some rain last night, but not anything heavy.  Praise God it is letting up so the clean up, and healing can begin.  We found out this morning that the road to Cap was blocked Sunday morning.  They were fishing bodies of mostly children out of the river, and laying them on the road, we suppose to be identified.  No real idea of just how many have died.  But most of these had been little children who had fallen in the river and could not be rescued.  So, so sad.  

Our trip to the airport today was, well, interesting.  Still lots of mud around, but the traffic has returned to normal... in other words...chaos.  We really keep our prayer life active living in Haiti.  Especially on the roads.

We were pleased to see there were not a lot of problems at the airport from the rains, although there wasn't any work going on today.  It's looking so good.

And we got some good news this morning, too.  One of our missionary friends had gone stateside because she had been sick.  Praise God it is only bronchitis, not one of the two other major problems they had been told it might be.  God is good, hears our prayers and answers them.  Lots of prayers went out for her!!

We are also pleased that our granddaughter's husband returned safely from Afghanistan, yesterday.  Many prayers have gone up for both of them, and now we pray that the Lord will be with them as they readjust to life together again.

Another praise item.  Another missionary couple came to visit.  They have sort of taken in 3 children... a one year old boy, a three year old girl and her 7 year old sister.  The two girls are malnourished, the 3 year old pretty bad.  They live in an orphanage behind the missionaries. (About a mile and a half from us... a few hundred feet from where our son and daughter-in-law used to live).  They have taken them in until they can get them up to par, then will return them to the orphanage.  The little boy... who they are calling Peanut until they can find out his name... was left at a clinic.  Family of the mother brought him in.The mother has severe mental problems.  It's very evident she has not taken care of the child.  He is one year old, the same as our Savanah.  Look at the difference.  Once he is healthy again, the family (not the mother) want him back.  Not sure how long that will be.  Please pray for all of them.

 

 Keep praying, there is so much going on and so many prayers needed.  But we know God is listening to all our prayers and answering in His way and in His time.  Join with us, will you?  Till next time.... blessings beyond measure!!  

Blue, blue skies.. PTL

Awoke this morning to very wonderful blue skies.  Dark blue, with a few white fluffy clouds.  Praise God the rains are over.

We took a friend to town with us today.  We were totally amazed at how quickly the city workers are cleaning up the streets.  They have front end loaders and trucks everywhere, getting the garbage and mud up and out of town.  No idea where they are trucking it to, but it was overwhelming to see so much already done.  Things were almost back to normal, from the looks of things.  No idea where the people who lost homes and belongings are.  We did hear that the government had been trying to find places for them.  When we got to the waterfront, what we saw quite a ways out was brown water...all the mud and a lot of trash had washed out into the bay.  Sad, to see so much garbage and mud everywhere out there.  But we are so thankful the cleanup has been so quick.  

We went to a very small restaurant called Ti Bouk An.  Had cheeseburgers, french fries and coke.  We were sort of celebrating not only the wonderful cleanup of the city, but another milestone.  Twenty nine years ago today we officially moved to Haiti.  It's hard to believe it's been that long.  Anyway, Jenny, Savanah, Don and I had a bit of fun today.  

I was watching people while Don went into the automotive store.  Faces are so expressive, even when they try not to be.  It was sort of like seeing them say, "We can finally get on with life and get things done."  I can't explain that look, but you could "feel" it everywhere.  Yes, there was still mud in many places, and they had to step over it to get anywhere.  We live in a country that is in "disaster mode" most of the time.  Not always rains, hurricanes or earthquakes...simply LIVING.  People are resigned to living a life of poverty, illness and many times hopelessness.  Bringing them hope through God's word is the only way to overcome some of this.  So, please pray with us that God's word, and the message of salvation through Jesus Christ will reach out to many of those suffering...from the floods, yes, but from simply the life they are living.  

It is very obvious, even without them smiling, to see those who know the Lord.  They are not the stooped over, lost looking ones.  They have a ...  well, yes, it's almost a glow, or a radiance about them.  They are still poor, still wear old clothes, still have to do with almost nothing... but they are living for Christ, and you can see that.  

And through all of this, there is that thought.... "there, but for the grace of God, go I".  God is God, no matter where you live, what your income, or what your style of living is.  The message, "When all you have is God, God is all you need!" keeps popping up.  When these people, rich, poor, sick, healthy, or whatever...when they have God, they have all they need.  Oh, if Americans could only grasp that message.  It's hard when living in a society that pushes "need and greed".... and we see that every time we go to the states.  All the advertisements are pushing.. YOU NEED THIS, YOU CAN'T DO WITHOUT THIS... and on and on.  If only they could grasp the fact that having Jesus Christ living in you REALLY is ALL YOU NEED!  The rest is existence, not need.

Lord, teach us to humble our selves and be the kind of servant You need to reach the lost.  Keep Your hands on our hearts and minds.  Keep our focus on what is really important.  Lord, thank You for what You have done for us.  Thank You for the work of Jesus Christ.  Thank You for His resurrection and life.  Thank You for giving us a way to spend eternity with You.  We praise You, we thank You, we lift You up on high.You really are way beyond awesome.  We love You.  Amen!

The sun is trying to break through

Well, we don't have an official count on those who didn't make it.  Everything is still in chaos in town.  No stores open, no gas stations open.  Can't go into town and check it out until something opens so we can get fuel to get home.  Life in Haiti is extremes... it's either way up or way down.  Right now, we are in the down cycle.  Please keep praying for the families who are suffering.  Those who have lost members, those who have lost their homes, those who have lost all their possessions.  

There is so much flooding.  We keep hearing of more and more places that are totally under water.  For those of you who know the areas.... Blu Isle, Petit Anse, and all the areas between us and town are under water.  People are on house tops trying to stay dry or at least safe (in the rains).

Praise God the sun has been trying to break through the clouds.  The rains have finally ceased (and we pray they don't start up again).  The sad part, aside from all the loss, is that the temperatures have dropped, a LOT.  Now for you northerners... the 60's is great.  Here, it's a real cause for concern.  It is rare for temps to go that low here.  People are COLD, chilled out and getting sick.  I do understand... Abbie was with us since yesterday... her, Savanah and I were all in long pants and sweaters.  And we slept under blankets and kept warm last night.  I would say a majority of people in the north here were simply COLD, with no place to lay down, much less sleep.  And nothing to keep them warm or even DRY.  We need to keep praying and help where and when we can.  

We have gotten a bit warmer with the rains stopping and the sun trying to break through.  We won't go anywhere tomorrow, but plan on making a trip to town on Monday.  We know they (the city) are working very hard to clean up the trash and garbage that washed down from the mountains.  They are trying to get town to a place where businesses can open, and people can move about.  Even in tragedy and chaos, life must go on.  Most people live day to day here.  So being unable to get to a "store" or market, means no food for that day, if they have the money to get it.  

There will be people wandering the streets now, looking for a place to stay, or for someone to help them.  We do ask you to pray for us, since many seem to find our yard, but pray for these homeless, helpless people.  

Thank you for being there for us through prayers and support.  We have so much to be thankful for.  God has kept His hands on us, and we are so thankful... .because.... "There, but for the grace of God, go I".  That could be us out there, but God's grace put us in a place to offer just a drop of help in this enormous situation.

We pray you are thanking God for where YOU are, too.  We all have problems, and situations where we wish we were somewhere else, but give some thought to how you would deal with it, if you were a Haitian and had just lost everything, some even families.  That's a hard road for them to be on... keep them in prayer as you praise God for His hand on your life!!

In His Hands and In His Care, we will continue on......

Urgent prayers needed

Prayers needed....

The rains have come, more than ever.  Last night, after the power went off, I sat and listened to the rains, at first softly falling and I remembered so much from years ago.  I used to love walking in the rain.  I could walk for hours and miles.  Sometimes sad and crying, for different reasons or for difficult decisions.  Sometimes just simply enjoying walking in the rain and feeling refreshed.  I've always enjoyed the rain.  

Since coming to Haiti, I have seen a different view of the rains.  Yes, the rain is needed, to fill cisterns and reservoirs.  To water gardens so food will grow.  To simply have water for washing clothes, taking baths and all the mundane daily things.  I didn't realize until coming here how much Americans take a simple thing like water for granted.  When we have no rains and droughts come... not only do gardens suffer, and rivers dry up.  Drinking water is scarce, bathing is very difficult if available at all. 

 

But when the rains DO come...in normal amounts, it is a blessing beyond measure.  You see clothing hanging on bushes or on the ground after being washed.  You see families (yes, FAMILIES) in the river taking baths.  You see people with push carts with 50 gallon drums on them, full of water, selling it to homes who have none.  And as a whole, life is good then. 
 

Then the overabundance of rain comes...and the tide turns.  People live in the equivalent of mud huts, with dirt floors.  Yes, some have cement walls, but so many, many have not.  Roofs, even on the cement homes, are tin, and mostly it's rusted and full of holes.  So, when this overabundance of rain comes... it's tragedy.  People sleeping on wet, mud floors, rains pouring in where they have holes in the roof, and sickness.  A majority of Haitians are malnourished, or at least very undernourished.  Their resistance is near zero to anything that comes along.  So, on these damp, cold floors, they get sick.  We have know where some slept on a wet floor, got sick and died in three days.  TRAGEDY!!  And this is not unheard of here.  Water supplies become contaminated.  Gardens are washed out.  The suffering is extreme.

Well, last night as the gentle rains started to increase and become heavier and heavier, my thoughts turned to the people.  First to those we know, who we KNOW were suffering.  Then to the area we live in...and we knew the amount of people at our door would increase for help.  Then to the larger area of this end of Haiti. So, the prayers started.  And the storm increased.  And grew worse and worse.  No, not a hurricane, not even a tropical storm, but a bad storm, none the less.

And I went to bed, and slept...........

Then this morning, we were planning a trip to town for supplies.  It was still raining and I told Don, the roads are going to be really bad.  We have a friend who was going to go with us.  And we were debating what to do.  We needed to get to town, for food and for fuel.  No stations around here have gas, so had to travel to town to get some.  

Our important, urgent trip came to an end with one phone call.  The rains had caused flooding all over our area and into town.  There were landslides, there is mass destruction.  People aren't hungry... they are dead... one family of 8, only the dad survived.  Another family the baby, another youngster and mom were found laying dead on the road, but the rest of the family has yet to be found.... 

My heart is so, so very heavy.  We keep calling friends to make sure they are okay.  Can't reach a few of them, so we are very concerned.  We sit here crying for the lost, for the ones left, who are hurting so much, for yet another devastation causing an already hurting country to go into mourning. 

So again, we ask for prayers... for the families of those who are gone, or not found yet - for the families who have lost everything from possessions (as little as they were) to their homes washed down the hillside - for those wandering, looking for someone to help them find family - for the people in authority who are overwhelmed with what to do for those who have loss of life in their families, have lost their property and livelihood.

Yes, the earthquake of 2½ years ago was really bad...but we are close to that situation here now.  Not as bad, but for this area it is of monumental proportions. 

So, please pray with us, not only for the people, the authority in charge and for the whole situation, but also for us.  We don't have the means to help a whole lot of people right now, but our hearts are torn for the situation we face with them.  We praise God we are safe and sound, with no damage at this point.  But people have already started filtering in here, not looking for a handout, but looking for help...of any kind, to get through this.  

We pray God will step in and help...not only physically, but spiritually, and emotionally.  The hurt is so huge right now, that only the Lord can calm fears and tears.  Pray with us for the Lord to send an extra amount of love and comfort to those lives have been torn apart.

As you can see, my outlook on rain has an added dimension now.  I still can see the wonder of the Lord in showers and yes, even in thunder and lightening.  But I can also see how the devil has used this to cause havoc and destruction.  

Lord, we come before you and ask that You step in and in Your love and grace, help those who are hurting and suffering.  Bring calm where there is chaos, bring healing where there is pain, and bring comfort where there is none.  And Lord, use us in this situation as you see fit.  Let us be Your hands to help where we can, in any way we can. Lord, we lean on You to be with us as we face an overwhelming situation here.  Please let Your love and glory shine even through this.  In Jesus Name...Amen.