Mid November heading toward Thanksgiving

I just looked at the date... Nov. 12th.   It is 31 years ago today that we moved to Haiti.  Time flies when you're having fun, doesn't it?  And when you are following the Lord's leading!  It's been 31 years of learning and failing and getting up and redoing things.  And also making new friends and expanding the family.  At this point in time, we have 5 birth children, 14 grandkids (one a Haitian by birth, but American by love), 7 great grandkids (all of the above are US based).  Then there is our family here... well let's see, 11 grandkids (Haitian and adopted), maybe 14 kids we claim, and a LOT more who are simply friends.  

A while back I was looking through photos from time past.  I found one of our 5 kids taken 15 1/2 years ago when they were all together.  Wow, what a difference, yet they still look the same.  

I just received some photos from a group that was here at our place in June (while we were in the states).  The reason it was so long for me to get them is that I had a whole box of mail when we got back, then I got sick, and just the last week or so have I gotten to completely go through the mail.  I had wanted to put a whole string of photos on here to show you what some of the teams do while here.  I'll see if they will download.  It would be a "travel with a team" type thing.  This team was a wonderful example of what teams accomplish while here.   

 Above is the MFI hanger, where you get on the plane to make the trip to Haiti.

 

Okay, this is a REAL mango.  See the size?

 

First impressions of the roads are pretty good now.  Then they had to go where the clinics were and on the "normal" roads.

 Check out the "cane" this fellow had.  And look at his face...then look at his face after he was given a GREAT gift...The Lord put many smiles on faces with this team.

 Praying with the patients is a blessing for both the team and the patients. 

 REALLY?  Medicine for free?  Love the smile!!

 Some of the means of transportation are a bit ... well... "rugged".  Below are the fearless team leaders and GREAT people.

I loved this one... they "body spelled" H-A-I-T-I.  
 
The last couple of weeks here have been really hard and devastating.  We have had an overabundance of rain again.  One of "our kids" came today.  She lives in one of the heavily affected areas.  She said she left her house and walked in water to the top of her thighs. During the worst of the storms, she and her family slept on their roof in a tent.  We had thought the worst was over, but had another really heavy storm yesterday afternoon and evening.  There are now a lot of homeless people.  And so many have lost everything.  Please keep them all in prayer.  A lot of lives were lost and families are suffering from that loss too.  All schools in the area were closed all last week.  Not only because of people not being able to get there, but as a show of support for them.  Many schools gathered food and cleaning items to help those in need.  

I have started working with another group of young people (young to me, you understand).  They are former orphans who are reaching out to an area where there is no schooling for kids.  And they want to eventually set up a training center to help the older ones out.  They came to me for advice on different things.  And I'm helping them set up a pamphlet and letter to describe their ministry.  They are a great group of young adults.  

Don has been hauling food out to a lot of people. With the flooding, there are so many needs, and food is one of the top ones.  He's also hauled water to some areas.  Yes, we have LOTS of water but nothing they can drink.  So that is a priority now, too.

We were blessed last week with having MFI overnight for two nights.  The first night was because they took so long in the Dominican to get fuel.  It was raining and they would not put fuel into the plane till it stopped.  So they got here to Haiti late.  The second night was because they had a mechanical problem.  We felt bad for them, but happy for us.  Before the turbines, when we only had radial aircraft, we'd have pilots overnight maybe once every 6 to 8 weeks while they repaired planes.  We've missed getting to know and spend quality time with them.  We had some fun times with Ray and Ben.  Their trouble, our blessing.

We can still use a LOT of prayers for the adoption.  Not sure just where we are at this point, but know we need our prayer warriors to stand with us and pray the adoption goes through soon.  God can and will work miracles and we are believing He will work in this area.  Pray with us!!

We had a great service Sunday.  The Haitian pastor shared about the end times and how although no one knows the exact day or month, the Lord said we would know the season.  Mark 13: 5-8 was the main text he used.  Then he ended with verses 32 through 37.  The summery of it all is to be prepared, be vigilant, do not be deceived, and WATCH.  So that is where we are, trying to absorb all God has for us, so we are prepared.  And we are to be vigilant and not let false teachings get into our thinking. And we are to make sure we are not deceived (using God's word and direction to made sure).  And lastly, in verse 37, Jesus says, "What I say to you, I say to everyone; 'Watch'!"   I pray we are all doing that... drawing closer to the Lord and using his word and guidance to keep our eyes focused on Him and follow where HE leads.

Well, it's time to close out and get ready for generator off and get to bed.  As we usually do, we pray you are in that place where God can richly bless you and keep you.  We pray your walk with the Lord is as awesome as our Lord.  The little ditty we learned when we were first saved is so true... "when you walk with the Lord, you don't get bored."   God sure does keep us on our toes, and blesses us in areas we never expected.  Blessing to you and your family!!!  Hang onto the hand of the Lord and He'll get you through whatever you are facing!!