June newsletter

Greetings,                                                                                                             June 2013

We are at mid June and looking and planning to get home in the next month.  It’s so hard to wait on things.  But waiting we are.  Don has been back to his original doctor and he is very pleased with the way healing is progressing on both the laser and the cataract surgeries.  So we are just waiting to get glasses and then can head home. 

This has been an exceptional time for us.  To have this wonderful home to stay in has been such a God send.  One or another of our kids is with us almost daily.  And our son from the other side of the state has made many trips to spend time here.  And we have gotten to spend time with some special friends as well.  What a joy this has been. 

We haven’t been thrilled with the delays, but God has used it to draw us closer to both family and friends.  Guess neither of us have learned patience very well.  We know there is so much to do and be done in Haiti.  But we also know God knows all of that and is working it out.

We are also thrilled that our grandson, Peter, will be traveling back to Haiti with us for a short visit. He has been there once before, several years ago.  This will be an experience for him, being without dad and finding out what and where the Lord is directing him.  We know firsthand how God can use a time like this to speak to you.  It is how He worked in our own lives.  To be away from distractions like phones, and busyness with daily life, gives you time to simply “listen” to the Lord.  

We have gotten some emails from Haiti asking when we’ll be home.  We do know God has used us in many ways.  Even ways we didn’t realize.  Our being here has brought out that even those we didn’t expect are asking us to return quickly.

Don knows that there are many who are waiting for him to return.  Things we take for granted here, like water, food, medicines, etc., are very hard to come by in some areas.  Those who Don delivers water to are in very hard situations right now.  And those who have no other recourse for help, are hurting.  One man in a wheel chair, a blind woman and her children, another man who has lost a leg and is still recovering… these are a few of those who have taken a piece of Don’s heart to help.  And those in our area have let Don know that he is the only one who helps some of those who have no way to survive. It really is heart pain when we can’t be there to assist some of them.  

Both of us miss Savanah, Abbie and Vero.  They are our “children”, and we want to be there for them, too.  We praise God for them and for the way Vero has stepped in to help us with so much in our absence.  We are praying God will richly bless her in a way that will astound her.  

Karen is looking forward to returning to care for Savanah and help get her adoption moving again.  And she is trusting God to show her how to accomplish the new roads He is opening up for her in ministry.  Please keep in prayer that the Lord will guide and direct her in the intercessory prayer ministry He has encouraged her to start.  God has given her direction to start it as soon as she returns to Haiti.

So, for now we’d like to post a “Praise and Prayer” list for you.

•   Praise God for our time with family and friends
•   Praise Him for how things worked out for our 50^th Anniversary party and all those who attended. (even in a snow storm).
•   Praise Him for how well the surgeries have gone and how quickly Don is healing.
•  Praise Him for the skilled surgeons and the way technology has advanced.
•   Praise Him for the teachings we have received, both at our home church and via television programs.
•  
•   Pray for God’s guidance in preparing to return to Haiti.
•   Pray for our children as we leave here, and will miss them.
•  Pray that Peter will have a great trip and that the Lord will speak to him and give him insight into his future.
•   Pray for Vero and the girls, that God will keep them safe and from harm.
•  Pray for the people of Haiti, especially the Christians, that God will use them to open doors of understanding for the unsaved.
•   Pray for direction and wisdom in Karen’s ministry in Intercessory Prayer.

Now we want to thank the Lord for being with us while we have been stateside.  He really has been with us in so many areas. 

 

We are praying that you will find that peace that passes all understanding in your relationship with the Lord.  He is SO AWESOME!  May you walk in the wonder of His love for all of us.  And may you serve Him where He sends you, and share His love and grace with those you meet. 

Short note again

Wow, it's been a while since I posted.  Sorry about that.  We have been really busy and it's been good.  We have gotten to visit with some great friends and to spend quality time with our children.  Add into that, the appointments we needed and our time was pretty full.  

First and foremost was Don's return to his original eye doctor for a check up.  Not our final time there, but a good one, just the same.  He was SO pleased with the progress on Don's healing.  And everything has lined up perfectly.  So, next week he goes in for his appointment for glasses.  Then it's a week or so to get them.  THEN we head home.  We sure do miss our family in Haiti.  And once we return, we'll miss our family here, BIG TIME.  But God knows all of that and He is with us through it all.

I will post our newsletter that went out yesterday in a separate blog.  

I wanted to put in here some of the clips Don has picked up from all the teachings he has gotten on the internet.  Here is that list:

• It's better to do it God's way the first time.  Jonah had two options, either go to Niniva or be invited to dinner...
• Don't follow a parked car, you will go no where (speaking church related)
• Our life is made up of what we believe
• It's better to have little knowledge with the light then it is to have a lot of knowledge without the light.
• Don't worry about tomorrow, God's already there.

 He watches many different teachers and gleans something from each of them.

We FINALLY have some warm weather...didn't think we would get any at all before we leave here, but it's wonderful.  God answered that prayer, for sure.

We want to stress that the Lord has been with us through all things in our time here in the US.  He has blessed us through family and friends and through churches.  We truly do serve an AWESOME GOD who knows what we need and when we need it.  I pray you are able to smile and cling the the Lord the same way we do.  He is our strength and shield in all areas of our life and we praise Him daily for what He has done, is doing and will do in and through us.  

Blessings.... 
 
 

Praise and Prayers...

Hello again,

Well, we are still in COLD, rainy Wisconsin.  Seems like it will never really warm up.  But it probably will warm up once we leave here.  Down in the low 40's at night and doesn't reach much into the 60's very often during the day.  

And we were watching the horrid weather in Oklahoma last week.  It seems there is destruction all over... and all over the world.  Are we closing in on the end time?  I think that may be happening in the not too distant future.

Our time here will slowing down and ending soon.  I had my teeth taken care of (and a crown put on), and that was finished yesterday.  Praise the Lord for our home church helping with that whole situation.  And then there is Don's eyes... wow.  This has been an experience, for sure.  We were scheduled to have the surgery in Marshfield in May.  Well, Don did have his eyes examined there, and had some major problems taken care of (explained in previous posts).  Then the surgeries were moved to July... and the story went on and on.  With the help of a friend, we were able to contact the surgeon near our area here.  So... final on that one... Don had his surgeries last week... yes, both in one week.  This guy was great.  For those of you who know Don, know he has had very thick heavy glasses for YEARS.  And technically was blind without them.  Well, we left the hospital after the first surgery (on Tuesday) and he started ready license plate numbers to me, without glasses.  And then after his appointment on Thursday, for the second surgery, he was really happy.  He was reading things I couldn't see, from quite far away.  He will still probably need glasses since he has double vision, but that is not a problem.  He will need reading glasses now, too, and that is fine.  We are still overwhelmed with the surgeries.  He sees the surgeon one more time this week, then it's back to his eye doctor for a check up and then the next week for his final appointment for glasses.  We are still on the plan to leave here the end of the first week of July.

But we have also been blessed by our family and friends in the area here.  It's been an awesome and refreshing time for us.  And we have been here for some birthdays, graduations and some other special times. 

One grandson in Alabama, Nathan, graduated with honors this year.  So proud of him and his accomplishments.  Way to go Nate!!!

Next was another grandson, Daniel.  He received scholarships for his academic excellence, too.  GREAT job Danny!!

And then another grandson, Mike, mapped out his future and joined the National Guard.  We are so proud of him, too.  It was a hard decision, but everyone is behind him on it now.  (Harder for girlfriends, too!  But Sarah is a trooper to stand behind him).  

 

And our final praise... our grandson Peter will be returning to Haiti with us, for a few weeks.  We are so excited about this, but more excited about his desire to be involved in missions, wherever the Lord would have him to go.  

We've been able to spend some quality time not only visiting, but praying with our kids and asking the Lord to be with them in the many problems and situations they are facing.  We know God will hear and answer, in the way He wants them to go.

It seems the Lord may be opening another door (or 2) for me, Karen, in Haiti.  I'll get into that in the next blog, but am a bit in awe how He has put things in my path for this. 

So, now we feel our "roller coaster" ride may be over and we can start on working toward heading home soon.  Lots to do and many decisions to make, but also time to regroup and get things rolling toward home.  It will be hard to leave everyone here again, like always, but we know we are doing what the Lord has asked.  And we miss our "family" in Haiti, too.  Get to talk to them once in a while, but it's not the same as holding the little ones and sitting and praying with the adults.  

Lots of prayer requests to insert here.  

• Pray for the healing of Don's eyes to progress as it should and that there will be no problems.
• Pray for finances to be there for the bills that come with these surgeries.
• Pray for our children, all 5 of them, and the situations they are all in.  Each family has it's hurdles to overcome and we ask that you keep them uplifted with us.
• Pray for our preparations to return to Haiti.  That things needed will be gotten and the trips will go without problems.
• Pray for Peter's trip to Haiti and that the Lord will give him direction with his life decisions.
• Pray for our government, here in the US, that God will put His hands on those in power and guide and direct them.  Pray for the Lord to be a REAL force in decisions being made here.
• Pray for Haiti, it's government, it's leaders, pastors and the people.
• And we are praying for the Lord to start a world wide revival, to draw people to Him.  And that many will have their eyes opened to God's leading.  Praying for those who know Jesus as their personal Savior, that the Lord will be with them in all situations, and that their witness in handling things will lead others to Jesus Christ.

So, for now, Praise God for all He has done, all He IS doing, and all He WILL do in the future.  Blessings, and keep your eyes on Him in all things.