The end of September...

It seems I am always saying I'm sorry for taking so long to post....but here I am again, doing it.  Since I last posted things have been a bit hectic.  Let's see if I can remember all that's been going on.  

I can tell you I've been spending more time in prayer.  For our family (one son out of a job and looking frantically, one grandson in the same boat, another son with some health issues)  Well, all five of our kids and their kids have had some heavy prayer needs in the last month or so and we've been kept busy praying for them.  And one of our good friends here has had a major problem.  They live in a two story house, and part of the roof is wood.  They woke up Sunday morning and their wiring (all outside the house) was on fire.  Paul, along with some others, decided they had to put the fire out.  He got up on the metal railing of the second floor, with an aluminum mop handle and tried to separate the wires. Yes, he got hit, HARD.  But the Lord was with him.  He fell onto the porch, not off of it, and hit the rebar on the window with his elbow.  Some major burns and bad spots, but he is doing fine now.  Note, this man is over 70 years old.  He needs prayer, but also a lot of praising that the Lord kept him safe from a certain fall and even from electrocution.

It seems every mission that is honestly serving the Lord is having some major issues right now.  The up side to this is that we know satan is running scared and doing his worst to stop us.  But I read the end of the book... I KNOW WHO WINS!!!  

I am really praising the Lord for our prayer groups.  On Wednesday nights it's just a handful of friends who are praying.  On Saturday morning, it's starting to grow and we are praising God for that.  I have been recording all the prayer requests, and when God answers a prayer, I go back and highlight it.  I've done it on the computer and print it out for all our prayer warriors.  It's so exciting to see so many yellow markings on the papers and see how God is stepping in and answering our prayers.  It's exciting, also to be a part of groups who are lifting up so many needs and seeing answers.  OUR GOD IS SO AWESOME!!!!

I've been under the weather for a bit, but am bouncing back.  Savanah and Don have the nasty colds going around.  But they, too, are starting to clear up.  

Schools in Haiti are starting in October.  The amount of people coming for help has increased so much.  Costs have risen here and people simply can't afford to send their kids now.  Talking with some of the schools, the enrollment is way down., but in half.   Sad to say there may be some drastic changes coming for the schools here.  

I'd like to list some praises here and ask you to praise God with us for His hand on situations here and all over.

•  Praise God for keeping Paul safe and not having worse injuries in his fall and electrical contact.
• Praise God that our granddaughter is doing so much better with her pregnancy, and that the twins will continue to grow and be healthy, also with her health.
• Praise God for our grandson and his witness while in basic training.  Guide and direct him in all he does.
• Praise God for our son, although without a job, he is touching lives through his witness to others and in his faith in knowing God will take care of him and his family until he can find work.
• Praise God for all the yellow highlights on our prayer list, as God continues to work and answer prayers. 
• Praise God for our faithful supporters and prayer warriors who have kept us going here in Haiti.
• Praise God for one supporter who sent a large amount and enabled us to help more and more people.... BLESS THEM MIGHTILY LORD!

I think a prayer list is what I will put here now.  Please keep all of it in your prayers.  Like we have shared before, the needs seem to be increasing so much.  I think the economy all over the world is effecting us here now.  

• Pray for both the Haitian government and the US government.  Pray for the leaders of both countries to have open hearts for the Lord and to allow Him to guide and direct them.  I know that's a HUGE request, but our God is bigger than any problem or situation we come upon.
• Pray for families here in Haiti.  First for them to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, then for the Lord to supply the basic needs they have to survive.
• Pray for the pastors...those who are preaching and teaching the true Gospel.  Not just here in Haiti, but all over the world.  
• Pray that through the pastors, God's word will seep into and become a part of many, many lives.
• Pray for MFI (Missionary Flights) as they keep growing to serve more and more missions.  Pray for guidance and finances for each and every staff member, but also for the operational costs of the mission.
• Pray for our children.  God knows the needs and where they need the help.  All we need to do is lift them up and God can go from there.
• Pray for our spiritual walk here.  That the Lord will guide and direct all we do and in every aspect of our ministry.
• Pray for the Lord to provide the finances He wants us to have to help those in need here.
• Pray for Savanah's adoption to move more quickly.
• Pray for our health and well being.

 
For now, until next time... keep your eyes on Jesus and remember to thank Him daily for all He does for you.  There are things He is doing that you don't even know about.  He keeps His eyes on you, now you need to keep your eyes on HIM!!  Blessings and thanks to all of you!!!!

As things move along

Hello again,

Well, I thought I'd do a quick overview of what is happening here.  And post some more pictures, too.  Life is never dull, that's a given in Haiti. 

Abbie is growing so quickly.  She is 8 (but acts like a teenager).  She started 3rd grade this week.  She likes school, but is so into having so many friends now that she is not the only girl in her class.  

 She also adores her mama.  And she wants to be just like her.  She wants to be an evangelist, just like mom, and maybe even a pastor.  We'll see what the future years hold for her.  Vero is doing good.  She IS an evangelist and has a heart for people to know her Jesus as she knows Him.  She also works at the airport with us with MFI.  Such a huge help for me.  We share Tuesday's at the airport now, and she has Thursday's without me there.  She does a GREAT job. 

 We are working on getting our "little house" (used to be our depot)... in order and cleaned up for her and Abbie to have their own place.  They are both excited about it, so we are working hard to make it happen soon.

Had our first meeting for prayers of intercession.  Group was small for the first meeting, but others have expressed interest and it will grow as the Lord leads it.  The books I mentioned before ("Intercessory Prayer" by Dutch Sheets, and "Rekindling Passion for Prayer...The Lost Art of Praying Together" by James Banks) are the ones we are using as a guide for our group.  We have some awesome praying friends here.  This is Don, with Ray and Bonnie, Belle, and Jane and Bud.  God is opening doors for His work to be done here.  Oh, those are two of Ray and Bonnie's "kids" sitting on the floor.

 And of course, there is Savanah.  When she sees a camera, she is true Haitian.  She stops smiling and simply looks at the camera.  You have to catch her unaware to get a smile.  Keep praying for the new law to be passed here soon, so the work on her adoption can get moving again.  Her grandma Bibiana came to see her yesterday.  We were so happy she talked to her (well, in HER language anyway), and sat with her and even kissed and hugged her.  We keep photos around so she will know her family when she is finally able to go home to them.

 I had a neat item from facebook I wanted to paste here, but it won't go in.  So, I'll simply have to quote it:

It's from Max Lucado....

FAITH is not the belief that God will do what you WANT.   It is the belief that God will do what is RIGHT!!! 

That is such an important message in those two lines.  As I shared in English church on the example Jesus gave us using the Lord's Prayer, this also emphasizes it.  We pray, "Thy Kingdom come Thy will be done"... that is not saying "give me what I want".  It's saying "give me what YOU see I need".    The Lord's Prayer was not something to use as a rote prayer.  It's an example of how we are to come before the Lord in our prayers.  And the Lord is concerned about our Spiritual life, not just our physical life.  He wants our spirit to prosper, even before our physical needs.  That is why when you travel to countries like Haiti, or Africa or other improvised places, you see those in GREAT need of food and livelihood, with smiles on their faces.  God is at work in their lives, through their faith.  We see it often here in Haiti.  People who have many, many physical needs smile and say, God is in control and He is blessing us.  The question is, can those who have plenty, like food and a home, say that in America?  It's a total HEART condition.  What is YOUR greatest need?  Mine is to draw closer and closer to the Lord in all ways.  When we do that, HE will help meet the other needs we have.  But even in hard times, and in hard circumstances, God is there to meet us... in the way He sees we need most.

So, from a hot and humid country, we send our best wishes and our sincere prayers to those who have needs.  Yes, for jobs, for food, for housing, but most importantly for a closer and deeper walk with the Lord who supplies all of our needs.  Yes, we have needs, but the Lord knows of them, and we can rejoice that He is in control and will answer and provide in His way and in His time.  

So, rejoice with us that the Lord is in control of our lives.  That He is the author and finisher of our faith.  That He has His loving and caring arms around us each and every minute of each and every day.  Until next time.... blessings beyond measure to everyone... may your walk with the Lord increase daily.