We are in the down mode...only a few days left and our son leaves...what a sad thing for us. He has accomplished SO much while here already. I think we have worn him out and he is ready for a break and ready to go back and get a REAL job, where they don't work him into exhaustion. Actually he keeps saying he doesn't think he has done so much, but oh yes, he sure has. Even though some were little to him, they were huge to us. We just keep praising God that he was here and helped, but not only that, the time we were able to spend with him was precious to us. (Oh I know, guys don't want to use that word, but they sure are precious times for us.)
Today is Don's birthday, but we celebrated yesterday, sort of. At our age, you sort of leave those things behind. I had a meeting in the morning with the airport officials and heads of other airlines here. So, Vero and I went in for that and then met the fellows and Abbie after the meeting to have lunch and ice cream to celebrate. Dale worked all morning until time to leave to meet us, and I think he was sort of reluctant to "leave work" to go play, even for a couple of hours.
To those of you from our home town, Dale has already taken over a thousand pictures, so ask him to share a "few" with you. After lunch yesterday, Don took the guys out to the IDADEE orphanage for a visit. Vero was excited for them to see it again. Notice the kids climbing all over Dale? He had them hanging on him the whole time out there. (He's the white faced dude in the first picture!)
I am only sharing a few photos here with you, but there are MANY, MANY more!!!
Here is Jim, putting strings on our tags for Missionary Flights baggage. It's time consuming and our guys end up doing it as they put the tags on. They will be more than pleased to have that done already.
Dale finally figured out his time was running out and he wouldn't get the tile laid on Vero's house. So we hired a man to do it for us. This is happening today. Dale and Don are both happy with his work and it should be finished before the guys leave!! YEAH!!
Dale came in with the new converter for the dorm. (Thanks to Chuck O'Connor and TCR). They have it hooked up and it is working great!! Teams will sure be pleased it is up and running again!
Dale caught Savanah is one of her good moods. She was feeding her baby and wanted a picture of the baby eating!
Dale was able to put up the tiles we have in the kitchen at Vero's house. We ran out of the ceiling tiles or he would have had that project done, too.
Last Sunday Dale share at Pastor Codo's church in the morning and then at English Bible Fellowship (EBF) in the afternoon. We had more positive comments on his message at EBF then I have heard in a long time. It was a very timely message for all of us. He will be doing the final one in both services tomorrow. Everyone is looking forward to it. Pastor Codo sure loves to have him come and teach, too!!
So there you have a short "catch-up" on what's happened this week. We will be sad when Tuesday comes around, though. It's been such a blessing to so many having Dale here. His knowledge of the language and his love of the people shines in all he does. And believe me, they all soak it up, including us!! So we'll ask you all to pray for us as he goes back. A gap will be there for sure. The good news is our oldest son is trying to make plans to come down right after summer. The Lord knows what we need and when we need it, right? HE is always on time, even if we think He is late, or wrong, HE knows what we need, when we need it, and how to get it to us!!! God is always faithful and always THERE for us. And yes, again, HE IS AWESOME!!!!!
I have to apologize yet again for this being so late. I have been helping other groups with their blogs and now have a horrible time getting into mine. I guess this computer doesn't like me to have more than one blog on it, who knows. But then again, this is me, the computer illiterate trying to do it, so that may explain it all.
I was simply going to post the email I had sent out, but decided I'd like to post some photos and share a bit more here. If you have not gotten my latest (late) email, let me know and I'll forward it to you.
We have been really busy and happy to be that way. But it does create some other problems, like getting on here and sharing what's going on. So, we'll start with the here and now and work backward. Sounds a bit crazy, huh? But I want to make sure I can share it all.
First and foremost our son, Dale has come for a visit. Nope, not a visit, he came to work with/for his dad. And he sure has been doing that in the short time he has been here. He brought along another friend and a lot is being accomplished. I'll share some photos and let you in on the progress.
The first couple of days were getting the ceiling fan up in Vero's bedroom, and some of the tile with it, then cutting tile for the counter top in the kitchen. Thanks to a good friend who had the saw to make things work a bit easier.
Vero wasn't feeling well, but she sure was happy to see so much being accomplished in the house.
Then the work began on getting the electric from the pole in the driveway to the dorm. That way the dorm will have power when city is on, and so will Vero's house. This was a job Don thought may take 2 or 3 days, and Dale got the major part of it done in one day with the help of a couple of Haitian workers. They dug the trench, but the wire through PVC pipe, put sand in the bottom of the trench, put the pipe then filled the trench back in. Don and I were able to help a little, but the major work was done by Dale and the two Haitians. Jim has been Dale's go-fer and doing a lot of pick up work for him.
Getting the wire through the pipe wasn't easy, but they worked on it.
Unbelievable how quickly these guys worked (or is that showing age on my part?).
Getting the wires connected to existing wire was Dale's project, we just watched.
I know you can't see it in these pictures, but a lot of the work that was done, was done in the rain. The guys told Dale to go wait on the porch at the dorm, but he stayed right in there with them, rain and all.
Then on to the final leg of outside work on this project. In the next day or two it will all be up and working, with the connections to boxes finished. The fellows were muddy and wet, but proud of their work in a timely manner.
We've been so blessed by the amount of work that has already been done! These are things Don would have had a hard time getting done, while trying to keep other things going.
I ended up leading at English church last Sunday, because of Mardi Gras. Our leaders were all off with Christian groups, to give them the alternative to this wild celebration. We had a couple staying with us for 5 days who are going to be working with Missionary Flights in Florida. They wanted to see what Haiti was like. We didn't get to take them many places, but they saw some of Haiti. And I had asked Dan if he would share at English church, since we didn't have a speaker. It ended up being Dan, his wife, Heather, and I (the only white people) and three rows of Haitians. We had an awesome time. The Lord just opened up hearts and we had a great time praising God for His goodness and care. Having the young men share and be a real part of the service was awesome. God was moving and we were rejoicing.
We were blessed again with Savanah's soon to be grandma in Canada come for a visit. Dr. Bibiana is such a blessing to us and always so uplifting. And Savanah just clung to her this time. We had been talking about Savanah's family waiting for her to come. So when Grandma Bibi came, Savanah thought she was bringing her sisters, Ruby and Lexi with her. She was a bit disappointed, but seeing and hugging Grandma Bibi was so much fun for her. Keep praying for the completion of the adoption, and that the Lord will bring it about VERY soon!!
I will ask that you keep praying that the Lord will reach out and touch some of the women and men who are always at our door. Some of the needs are so desperate and beyond what we can help. But we do what we can. Some of those coming are simply nasty and think all Americans are rich and just won't give out money. Those are the ones we are fervently praying for the Lord to touch. They aren't Christian and they only see money in foreigners. Pray with us that the Lord will reach out and touch hearts and minds of those who come here.
Well, better close out and get ready for English church. Dale will be sharing for the next two Sundays and I'll be leading. Please keep it all in prayer. And remember, the Lord is there for you, just as He is for us, so just reach out and hold on to Him!!
Blessings beyond measure!!!!
