I'll try again

Well, no matter how many times I've tried to post our newsletter here, it simply won't load. So, guess if you want to read it, send me a note (HH5DAD@starband.net) and I'll send it via email.

Lots has happened this last week.  I was trying to put things in order, and simply thought, okay, just write it as you remember it and let it go at that.

Last week, Jane, Bud, Sammy, Savanah and I were getting ready to head to Port au Prince to see the lawyer there, and then make the trip to IBESR (Haitian Social Services, sort of).  Tuesday morning, Bud woke up to get this car ready for the trip... the radiator went out, or down, or whatever you want to call it... it was broken.  So, we got ready to take our Toyota.  Had to make a quick trip to Cap before leaving.  Made it to the psychologists office by 7 AM, picked up the documents needed there, then headed  back to pack and leave.  Roads were GREAT.  I don't think I've ever been on Haitian roads and gone that far without some major problems in the roads.  This was a surprise for us.  The kids traveled pretty well... although both soaked their car seats within the first 2 hours.  Our major hang up was in Port and their traffic.  But we made it safe and sound.  

I called Don to let him know we were at ORMISO (OMS's guest house).  He said are you sitting down?  After the second time, I said, did you have an accident?  Yes, he had.  He hit a motorcycle.  Not real clear on all that was involved though.  The police impounded the truck, took his license and the fellow he hit went to the hospital.  He was WAY the other side of Cap when it happened.  Belfort, one of our former puppeteers, was with him.  They had to come home on motos... (motorcycles).  Jane immediately called our lawyer in Cap and told him what happened.  He called Don immediately and started working on it.  Pastor Cebien, Belfort, Lilibet and Dado Dela Feunte came to be with Don that evening.  The knew he would need some support.  And praying with Christian friends helps tremendously.  Jane, Bud and I did our praying at the villa in Port.  The man was released from the hospital and had no broken bones or any major problems, PTL!

I'll try to keep this short, since the blogger is giving me issues today.  Our trip to the lawyer the next day went great.  (We need one in Cap and one in Port).  And then we went to IBESR and met with the people there.  Little did we know we would end up with the top man.  But he was nice, and tried to explain everything to us that we had not done.  Long story short... we have to start at step ONE, which we had not done (due to the fact we had no idea we had to do this).  From that point on, he said we could do what else needed doing... then he realized we had already DONE most of that.  So, now we need to complete more paperwork here, and both adoptive parents have to get theirs done there.  Then we can proceed with getting the adoptions approved by IBESR.  They seem willing to work with us and help where they can, since both of these are very different and difficult adoptions, and not really under the new laws.  So, please pray, pray, pray, for things to get done, and to work smoothly to completion.  

Now back to Don and his situation.  Belfort has been the "go for it" guy for us in all of this.  He sat with the judge on Monday, waiting for the other guy to show up, and to make a final declaration and settlement.  The guy never came.  The judge said, either Tuesday or Wednesday it would be settled.  So, here we are, still without a truck and Don  has no license yet.  Pray, pray, pray about this, too, please.

I drove to the airport today, which was fine.  But summer is HERE, big time.  It was SO hot out there.  It was either in the upper 80's or low 90's all day.  Not much breeze, unless you were behind a plane starting up.  

The neat thing is, we received a HUGE box.  I think I need to explain the reason for the box before I tell you about it.  Don has had one fellow through the years who he has hired many, many times.  He was a GREAT worker, never begged, simply looked for work to support his family.  And he was an honest, hard worker.  Well, two months ago, he was out at a site where they are chopping rocks out of the mountainside to sell.  As he was working, a huge bolder broke loose and came down on his leg.  They had to amputate it above the knee.  But he is alive.  Just not able to work, much less get anywhere.  While we were out last month, Don had asked MFI if they had any wheel chairs left.  (People donate so many things to them).  Nope, they had none.  But Dick said they had a P.E.T. there.  Personal Energy Transportation.  I don't know if I can put the picture here or not, but I'll try.
    
This "vehicle" used ARM energy to move it.  And this man's arms are strong enough, since he did such hard physical work.  Well, this "machine" came in today.  Don is going to assemble it and once we give it to him, we'll get some photos of HIM in it.  This is such a blessing.  You can check out their web site at:   http://petmntc.org/    This is an awesome group who are helping those in foreign countries who have physical problems and cannot walk.  REALLY a God send for our guy here.  

Well, I'd best close and pray I can post this.  I will keep you all updated as things progress here.  But please, in the mean time, keep praying.  We know, without a doubt, that the Lord is hearing and is answering prayers already.  Don't know how, but we are not concerned about that right now.  God is faithful and just and He'll do what needs to be done.  We only have to trust and obey... That song has taken on new meaning lately.  But we ARE TRUSTING and OBEYING. 

Thanks for your prayers and concern.  Our prayers go out for each and every one of you, too.  May the Lord Bless and Keep you!  

Our Newsletter Jan. thru March 2013

This year we are centering on PRAISING the Lord in all circumstances and in all ways.  Our human nature tends to be the “asking” type.  But in God’s word, one of the first things He says is Praise, so we are learning, even in difficult situations, to PRAISE HIM!  And to be thankful.  He is working for and in us all the time and we need to acknowledge that.  It’s a lesson in “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms”.

We’ve been blessed so much lately. Yes, we have had problems, and some MAJOR ones, but God has helped us through them.  For instance, our pump in the well went… and we had one here to replace it.  God had given Don the wisdom a few years back to have one on hand.  And parts needed for repairs… the little store right near the house has had just what Don needed, when he needed it… the list goes on and on. 

It’s been an interesting two months here.  I’m glad I’m back at least one day a week at the airport.  This has allowed me to see the major changes in both the country side and at the airport.  Wow...they are working non stop to get things in shape.  The airport has been long overdue for it’s changes.  But it’s amazing how much has been done in the last few months.  We have an excellent director there and we are really pleased he is moving things along so quickly.  We have always BEEN an “international” airport… now we are starting to LOOK like an International Airport.

Since the president declared Mardi Gras (Carnival) to be held in Cap Haitian this year, the city itself has undergone some major repairs and uplift.  But the biggest thing we have seen is the roads.  Oh my goodness, we can travel to town with only a few minor bumps now.  But they are redoing the main roads all over Haiti.  Does this mean we are on the way to a big improvement in the whole country?  We do not know, but we sure can pray for that.  Just know that I, personally, am TOTALLY enjoying the fact that we are  not jarred into major pain by traveling to the airport anymore.  Even the back road we take has been redone.  So, with everything else, I am praising God for our wonderful roads. 

We ask that you lift up MFI in prayer.  They have been growing by leaps and bounds the last couple of years.  There is a possibility that they may be making more flights than on just our two normal days a week.  But those extra flights would not require all missions to come, just the workers.  They would be cargo flights and there would be a container to store the cargo (at the airport) until our normal flight days.  This is a huge undertaking for MFI and for us.  But if God is directing it, He will also direct us in what to do and how to do it. 

We’ve had teams staying at the dorm pretty often.  Another mission has requested the use of the dorm for their teams.  It’s good that the dorm is not being “unused”.  And the added blessing is that we are not the ones responsible for these teams.  We do the set up for the teams, and the final clean up, but we have two gals who help, so there isn’t the work load we used to have with that. 

We have prayed about the fact that we don’t see a lot of “long term”, or “life” missionaries coming to Haiti lately.  Everyone commits to a year or two, but not many want to commit to total service.  Well, one of our friends daughters has come to be full time here.  She will be heading up the Awana program in Haiti.  Talk about someone with a heart for the Lord and His work… Jenny is a gem.  We know God will use her a lot.  Please keep her lifted up in prayer.  God is showing her in many ways that He is with her and guiding her.  We are very thankful for her heart for the people.

A real blessing for us is that a Pastor friend, Pastor Cebien, has agreed to be with us on Wednesday evenings for a time of prayer.  We can feel God working through this time.  And we have others coming to pray with us, too, and that is awesome.  One week he brought three other Haitian pastors. What a wonderful time of prayer and rejoicing.  And now we have some missionaries coming, too.  I have felt for a long time that we needed to start committing more and more time to prayer and praise, and this is an awesome start to that.  Being with other Christians, both American and Haitian, in dedicated prayer time is such a blessing and uplift. 

One of our friends (Jenny) had a team in and they wanted to spend one day doing buckets for us. We haven’t been able to do that for a while because of resources, but this will be such a help to so many.  This group was spending their “Senior Trip”, coming on the mission field and working for others.  They did a FANTASTIC job… filled 24 buckets in ONE morning.  They had to fill bottles with oil, bag bulgar and beans, clean buckets and lids, write on the rice packets (IN CREOLE) and THEN put it all, including tomato paste, spaghetti and tracts, in the buckets.    And then they got to deliver a few of them in the afternoon.  God used these kids to help a lot.  And they worked in several other places as well.  GREAT JOB GUYS!!

We are asking a LOT of prayers for Savanah’s adoption.  We thought we were at a standstill, but it seems, with a lot of prayer, God is opening doors.  We don’t know for sure how this will all go, but God knows and HE will make happen what He wants.  Please pray with us that mountains will be removed, and hearts touched.  We do serve an awesome God who is able.  A quick update here… God REALLY IS moving mountains for Savanah.  We have met with our case worker in UNICEF… wonderful Christian gal.  We met with our lawyer here in Cap… another wonderful Christian.  We are praying the paperwork in Canada will progress as quickly as the work here seems to be going.  God is not only opening doors, he is placing His people in those doorways.  Isn’t He AWESOME?

Along with Savanah’s adoption we are praying for little Sammy’s adoption.  He is in the care of our friends, Jane and Bud.  Actually, the reason we HAVE proceeded with Savanah’s adoption is because of Jane and the people she had dealt with here.  They have hit some glitches and can use a LOT of extra prayers, too.

Last weekend, Jane and Bud gave us a “surprise” 50th wedding anniversary party here in Haiti.  They had invited the mission community to be a part of this.  It was a wonderful day with a LOT of friends.  We even had 3 Haitian pastors come.  What a great time we had sharing our joy with them.  We went to a new hotel/restaurant and it was beautiful there.  And it was such a nice meal.  God has richly blessed us with good friends here in Haiti as well as in the United States.

We’ve been blessed by spending a bit of time with a gal who has been so important in 2 gals lives here, but also in helping the IDADEE orphanage.  We’ve known Kim for many years, but this has been her first trip to Haiti.  She met one of the gals she supports for the first time.  And was able to see her son, too.  So, like us, she is now a “grandparent” for a sweet Haitian child.

Please keep us in prayer.  We leave to go stateside in April.  Don is having cataract surgery.  He has worn bottle bottom glasses since 6 years old.  The doc said after surgery he MAY need reading glasses only.  Can you imagine that?  After over 60 years, he will not need glasses all the time. 

And we will also be blessed by being able to spend our 50 wedding anniversary with our family.  Spending time with family is SO important.  We know we’ll be in Wisconsin while it’s still COLD… maybe not for those living there, but for us it will be.  And we’ll be picking up our daughter in Mobile, AL and taking her with us, so it’s all three of us will be adjusting to the cold weather.  But we’ll do it, for sure.

Until next time, and probably from the US, we’ll send out blessings and encourage you to step out and share Jesus with someone in need!!

Frustration here

Not sure what blogger is up to, but I can't post my last entry.  It gets frustrating when these techie things don't work for me.  

Just so you all know,  prayers are needed for Don and the accident he had.  He is not injured, and the other man had minor injuries.  Now the wait is on for us to get the truck back from the police and also Don's drivers license.  

Pray also for Savanah's adoption.  We did go to Port au Prince.  Had a good trip on surprisingly good roads.  Found out what we need to do now, and are working on it.  But we also know God is in charge of ALL things and we are depending on Him for guidance and firm direction on what to do and when to do it.

Thanks for your prayers... we will try to post again REAL soon.

Prayers needed

Before I share our prayer needs, I need to fill you in a bit on what's happening here.  This adoption has progressed so quickly it has me in a spin.  But I wanted to share a couple of special pictures with you.  I have shared that Jane and Bud have little Sammy.  But I've not shared any photos of him.  So thought I'd do that.  This is Sammy doing what Sammy does best...laughing.  And then Savanah gave him a kiss (they are both kissing cousins, I guess).  Then Sammy kissed her, and the pause in the camera, it didn't take until she had pulled away.

This last picture is Sammy last November when Bud and Jane got him.  He was 10 months old and weighed 8 pounds.  Now you can see why I call him "Chunky Charlie"... he is about 17 pounds now and doing fantastic.  He's a cutie.  And Savanah loves him.  She treats him like her little guy.

Now, on to our prayer request.  This is what I had sent in an email earlier today.
 
I'm not sure where to start... my head and mind are spinning a mile a minute.  I have shared about this adoption and how all of a sudden, things are happening.  It is just over a week since the real moving on it has begun.  And yet, wow, things are really moving.  We have accomplished in this week what would have taken us months or even a year or two to do on our own. This is very definitely the Lord's moving things.  Not only are doors opening, but God has placed Christian people in the doorway to help us and walk us through things.  I really praise God that He had put Jane and Bud in our lives, and little Sammy, too.  THEY are the reason we have been able to do this.  Jane has asked those she is dealing with to consider Savanah's papers, too.  And it's working.

Okay, today we got word that a woman, pretty high up in this process wants to see Jane and Sammy and Savanah and I, down in Port.  We have our meeting Monday morning with Savanah's mom at the psychologists.  Pray for that meeting.  And then PLEASE pray as on Wednesday Jane, I and the babies will be driving to Port for this meeting.  Pray for safe travel, pray the kids will not have problems with the trip. Pray that the meeting goes according to the Lord's will.  And please, pray for things to get accomplished that need to be done. 

Every time I think about how long it took our grandson to get home to his new parents, I am amazed at how quickly some of this is getting done.  ESPECIALLY with the new laws here.  I know that both of these adoptions are exceptions, since it is private (no orphanage involved) and that the adoptive parents are Haitian.  (In our case, one of the parents).  And also, with our case, it is a family adoption.  But it still amazes me how things are moving. 

So, please, pray, and ask others to pray that the Lord will go before us, go with us and surround us with His love and care for the whole trip.  I am not afraid to go, that is not the case.  I really don't have any concerns, except that the children may have problems.  I have total confidence that the Lord is orchestrating all of it.  But I would appreciate the prayer backing of all of our friends and family. 

Thank you and God bless.  He is a mighty God who can do mighty things.  And we praise Him for all He is doing. 

I'll update as possible.  Not sure if I'll have internet access while in Port.  But I'll try. 

A clarifying update

Well, you all probably thought I had gone a little crazy, huh?  I was trying to get so much done in a short time, I simply forgot to post some things in the blog.  Several of you have sort of "reminded" me to be a bit more specific.  THANK YOU!! 

I looked at the blog and i can't believe so many things were messed up... the font...how did it change?  No idea.  And although I had mentioned in our emails, I didn't post on the blog that the "surprise" party was for us, for our 50th wedding anniversary.  (It isn't till next month, but we will be stateside, so our good friends planned ahead and set it up as a surprise).  We really do work with some wonderful, thoughtful people.

And our meeting with the case worker and the lawyer concerning the adoption went so well.  They both reviewed what papers we had, and let us know what else we would need, which helps a lot.  The other neat thing is that our case worker and our lawyer are sister and brother.  And both Christians, and both so very nice.  We are working on getting what we need, but we were told that once we get all things together (including all the paperwork needed from Canada from her adoptive parents) things should progress very quickly.  This because it is a family adoption.  Guerline (adoptive mom) is the biological aunt of Savanah.  The baby's birth mom is Guerline's sister.  

We did find out we needed to have a psychological evaluation done on Savanah.  My first response???  How in the world can they do that with a 16 month old child?  It sounds like it isn't real involved.  They simply want to check more for emotional "scars" than anything else.  For instance, is the child responding to normal stimulus, is there unusual fear of people/things, that sort of thing.  The fun thing is, we have an appointment to see the doctor on Wednesday at 6 AM in town... have to leave here by 5:30 to get there.  This should be fun!  But we also found out today that 99% of the paperwork for Haiti has to be done here in Cap Haitian.  What a blessing that is for us.  I rather dreaded making several trips to Port with her.  The final paperwork will be done in Port.  

I don't know if you understand that this whole thing has been God led, God blessed and in God's timing.  God is keeping His arms around Savanah in this adoption.  There is no way we could have accomplish any of this in a timely way if the Lord were not in charge of it all.  

My focus on PRAISE and PRAYER has been showing up in so many ways lately.  God is really present in our lives in so many ways.  It's exciting to think what HE has in store next for us.  

We serve an AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME GOD, who is keeping His hands on our lives in so many ways!!!   

Till next time, may God's blessings be that evident in your lives as well as in ours!! 

What a day

 We were ready to go the party. 
 
Today started out on a down side.   I went in at 6:30 AM to take a shower, and got dribbles out of the shower head.  We had a team here (they were leaving today), but the generator was running, so we thought there SHOULD be water.  Wasn't any.  Don went over to see what the problem was.  The knife switch, to change from city power to generator was BROKEN.  It was on city, which we have VERY seldom, and we could not change it to generator.  So, no power to the well house, so no water.  Team did leave a hour or so later, then Don had to get to work and try to fix the problem.  Praise God he was able to do that before we had to get ready for our "surprise" party. 

And the party, well, it was SO nice.  The food was really great.  Everyone had given their order for food before hand.  So we all had just what we wanted.  And the hotel/restaurant gave us two cakes, free of charge.  The pineapple upside down cake was FANTASTIC! 

We were able to spend a bit of time with everyone.  We were amazed by everyone who came to celebrate with us.  Got some beautiful and some cute cards that we'll treasure.  But it was the time with those there that was special.  Had three Haitian pastors there, and that was a blessing.  We really do work and associate with some really neat people.  

These are just some of our friends who were there.  Don was a bit busy, so didn't get a lot of pictures.  Note the table settings... it was SO beautiful.  This is a new hotel/restaurant.  It has a huge wonderful pool, nice rooms, a restaurant, and special rooms for gatherings like ours.  The food was great, but the company was extra special. 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are the cakes... but note the plates... I really like the square ones.  The pineapple cake in on the left...it was SO good!!

I'm still in awe over yesterday's happenings with the adoption process.  We know we could not do it, but the Lord sure has been working overtime on it.  God is simply AWESOME, isn't He? 

This was short, but wanted to share out blessings with you all.  Continue to pray that God smooths the path for the adoption and that it will progress quickly.  Since our grandson's adoption took well over 4 years, this progress is a bit overwhelming.  Although the wait was long for our son and his wife, I think they are very happy to have their son home with them and he is doing so well.  No matter the wait, the child is well worth it!

Thank you all for your support and prayers.  We need them constantly.  Not sure why satan is zeroing in on us, but we have Someone on our side who is much stronger and more faithful, and we read the end of the book, and WE WIN!!  Satan is defeated and God is the victor!!!  AMEN!  He walks with us daily and keeps us in His care!

Have a great, God centered, God inspired day!!