We did enjoy our Christmas with our friends and with Abbie and Vero, too. It's been a whirlwind of activities here for so long it's hard to work it down to one letter or post. New Year's for us was rather dull. Don and Savanah went to bed early, and I sat up and read. Heard all the commotion outside at midnight though. They sure do love to celebrate something fun here. I even heard the New York countdown to the ball dropping via someone's TV or Radio here, not sure which.
Then on New Year's day, a friend brought us a pot of pumpkin soup...oh that was SOOOO good. I've been asked several times for the recipe for it, but have not been able to pin anyone down to a "real" recipe for it. Everyone makes it different, and we have had a LOT of pumpkin soups. We have been blessed to have had it every New Year's Day since we came, so that's 29 times. But then on special occasions we have also had it. And I don't think we've had it the same way more than once or twice. I'm not a fan of pumpkin (pie or otherwise), but I'm so glad no one told me what it was until I had it. I really do like it. So, this year we did have our pot of pumpkin soup on the stove all day, for anyone who came to visit. It's a neat tradition.
We have had some frustrating times....well, continue to have them from way back in November. But through the scripture, I've been able to get a handle on things and am finally able to simply "praise God in ALL situations". "This too shall pass" has become my mainstay. Plumbing, electrical, kiddos, and DOGS... I don't think I have shared that last one with you. When either city or radio station power goes off, Don has to go out to the pole (where our electric is hooked up) and change it from one to the other. Then he has to go to the dorm and do that same thing. Now, this has happened two times (and prayerfully not again). Don entered the dorm, left the door open a crack, went into the mens dorm and turned the switch. Came out, locked the dorm and came back here. The first time, it was well into the second day when one of our "beggars" came and told him there was a dog barking in the dorm. You got it, he locked him in, without knowing he was there. The dog did wet all over the floor, but thankfully only the floor, and only wet, nothing else. BUT in trying to get out, he tore down curtains and rods in both the bedroom, living room and dining room. And I mean TORE them down. Can't use the rods anymore, totally ruined, curtains ripped up pretty bad, too. Okay, so replaced them all. The second time it was only about 8 hours...but the dog did the same amount of damage, and left one "pile" on the floor. Again, nothing on furniture or bed, thankfully, but still a mess. And again, ruined the curtains in several windows. We keep the door to the women's side closed, so wind/dirt doesn't blow through the whole dorm, so that room was not touched at all. And surprisingly the kitchen and storage room was not touched. (maybe because there aren't any windows the dog could reach). But I think Don has figured out to CLOSE the main door when he goes in now. And since we've run out of curtains and rods, I do believe he will remember. I used curtains from the house to put up over there, so he sees the evidence each day. Just more of the fun times we have had here lately.
Savanah was sick and the poor kiddo didn't know what was wrong. She had a high fever, which we got down quickly to a low fever. Coughing, runny nose, and not eating. The last part is where we knew how sick she was. She LOVES to eat. All she wanted was for me to hold her and rock her. Day and night. She made it over that hurdle, the sick part anyway. Now she wants me to hold her or be with her all the time. We did take her to the airport one day with us, because a good friend was coming in that wanted to see her. She doesn't like crowds...and the Cap airport is always crowded. Got home from there and she slept a LONG time. But now more than ever wants me to be right with her. We are working on overcoming that too, now.
Been trying to get a lot of work done, but it's hard when I have to be in with the babe so much. I cram things into the times she naps. And those are growing shorter as she gets a little older.
Don's been trying to get a lot accomplished here too, but things just keep slowing us down. Each drawback we've had (water, septic, electric) not only means he has to repair them, but as is usual here, when one thing goes, something you need to fix it goes, too. And people are waiting for water, which has been one of our major problems here. But Praise God, Don is finally getting a handle on things and we are starting to level out some.
We have had some rains, but not heavy, thankfully. But our temps have dropped here a lot. I know 65 degrees isn't cold for most of you, but here it's like below zero is in Wisconsin. The damp and cold have been hard on everyone. Keep that in prayer. I don't even have anything warm to put on Savanah, and Abbie is with us for a week now, and she hasn't got anything warm either. So, we wrap up in blankets.
We did take a few hours one day and took Savanah and Abbie out to La Kay to eat. Abbie loves going there for cheeseburgers and fries. but MORE for ice cream. I took a picture there and then Abbie wanted to take one too, so we let her. All was fun until the waitress came and said, "Sorry, no ice cream." You would have thought Abbie's best friend had died, the way she looked. But we stopped at the food store on the way home and they had some ice cream, so she got a big cup full and shared it with Savanah.
We had a great service on Sunday. Pastor Saint Ange spoke and it was a very timely message for all of us. We praise God that we have some great preachers here who are willing to come and share with us. Our service has about 65% to 70% Haitians now, and it's great. They come to learn English, and talk with Americans, but they are hearing God's word every time. A few are Christians, but we have many who aren't. They just want to hear and practice English. God is using that a lot now. Keep that in prayer, too.
Okay, now on to work and the kiddo. I pray you all are having a blessed New Year and that the Lord is working in and through you to reach others for Him this year!! Blessings to all!!
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