Urgent prayers needed

I had planned an update before we left the US, but so many things happened and here we are back in Haiti, and just now getting to the computer.

The last three weeks in the US went so fast, and we ended up not getting a lot done we had planned on.  But be that as it may, we did have a really wonderful and relaxing time.   

I will only highlight a few of the things here.  It was just all of a sudden busy and seeing folks we needed to see and getting things done that we could.  I guess the whole thing was, don't relax too much or you won't get things finished.  And that was it.  We are just so very thankful for the time we had relaxing, since we both needed it a lot this time.

Our grandson is improving, but we ask that you still keep him in prayer.  This will be a hard time for him in recovery.  And hard on the family, too.  He wants out of these retainers on his legs and he isn't half way through the time in them yet.  So, this 20 year old, with a child's mind is being more than anxious and doesn't really understand why he can't get out of them.  But on the other hand, he is still the happy, loveable, outspoken kiddo.  It's just the times in between he has problems.  So, please keep praying.

Just a few days before we left Wisconsin we were able to attend a picnic given for a couple who are missionaries.  We knew them, through our church, before we came to Haiti, and they became missionaries a bit after we did.  This was the first time we have seen them in almost 32 years.  And we were also able to see others there who we haven't seen in many, many years.  We were able to make some new friends there, too. So finally seeing Mark and Sonja and many others was a tremendous blessing for us.

Then the rush to get last minute things done and fly out for Florida was a race.  The few days we spent in Florida were a bit hectic, trying to get things accomplished there.

On Monday, the day before we flew, my brother Bob and his wife, Bev, planned to come and see us from central Florida.  The time came and went, and they didn't show.  I tried calling several times.  No answer.  That was so unusual because Bev is usually right on top of things.  We had our alarm set for 5 AM on Tuesday, to get to MFI and fly back.  At 3:00 AM, I got a text from my niece Dawn.  She said her mom and dad were in a very serious accident Monday afternoon.  Probably about the time they were to leave and come see us.  Bob is in a wheelchair, and was in the second section of the van.  Bev was driving.  Not sure exactly what happened (no report on that yet), but they were hit broadside on Bev's side of the van.  Bev was airlifted to Tampa (the nearest trauma center) because of head trauma.  Bob was sent to Lakeland.  Short summery on injuries....Bob's legs were pretty messed up and they did surgery in the emergency room, I believe.  He didn't have a seat belt on and was thrown around a lot I think.  They have him sedated pretty heavily because of pain and anxiety.  Bev had a head injury which they stitched up, and did several cat scans, and continue to watch her closely.  She has a broken collar bone, broken ribs and something else broken, I think.  And she has many, many bruises and sore spots.  Both are in ICU.  Seems Bob will be there for an extended time and not sure how long Bev will be there. 

Needless to say I am having a hard time being here in Haiti, with them both going through all of this.  But several circumstances are keeping me here, or I'd be there.  Their daughter Dawn is traveling back and forth between the two hospitals keeping things together.  Two of the grandkids are also trying to help out there.    So, my request is for prayers for: Bob and Bev, for healing, strength and peace, for Dawn for strength and wisdom in handling all things and for peace for her too, and then for peace for me, not being able to be there for them.  (This is REALLY hard for me.)

Then our next jolt came when we got back.  Savanah's birth mother had to go down to Haiti's social services (IBESR) for her interview, we thought.  We found out this morning that they didn't interview her, they put her in a class of some sort to encourage her to keep the baby (well,almost 4 year old).  AND, she has to go back in 3 to 6 months for another class.  I am SO, SO discouraged by all of this, I don't know what to do.  I am simply too old to handle this child anymore, although she is behaving better than before.  So, please, please pray there is a mixup and all of this is not true, but that there will be a finalization to the adoption soon.   

So, on that note, I'd better close out and get to work here.  I'm running on auto pilot right now, not able to keep my mind on things.  I know the Lord is in control, but there are times I think He is waiting too long to do things...guess I've been there before.  I know He knows what and where and when all things are to be, and I sure don't.  I just wish my timetable lined up more with His timetable.  So, keep praying.  And yes, we are praising right along with the prayers... things could be so much worse, it's that we need to keep our eyes on the fact that the Lord knows what is best.  So...finally, PRAISE, PRAYER and Keep your eyes on Jesus, as we are!!! 

 

A short update on our grandson

I knew many of you have been praying for our grandson, Donny.  I wanted give a quick update on the surgery and going home.

We were at the hospital by 7:10 on Monday morning.  They took him in for pre op at about 7:45.  Surgery didn't start until just before 10.  It was to be 4 hours long.  But about 3 hours or so into it, the anesthesiologist came in and said it would be at least another hour.  He got out of surgery a while after 4 then into recovery. After a couple of hours in recovery we were finally able to go in and see him.  They did more intensive surgery than originally planned.  Two things were a blessing though.  They put in an epidural for the pain management, and they did not put casts on, they put immobilizers on instead.  What a help that is.  The weight difference is considerable.  

After a couple of issues, we were able to bring him home yesterday (Thursday).  Needless to say he has pain.  But it has been controllable.  His mom and brother, Chris, are his total care givers, and doing an excellent job.  We just ask that you continue to keep him, and his family in prayer, as the healing continues.  And pray for the Lord to be a strong part of this young mans future.

Christine made his room an Olaf (from the movie Frozen) room.  He had posters all over and his blanket was an Olaf blanket, then I got him an Olaf speaking stuffed animal.  His dad had also gotten the same one for him, unknown to me.  So, he now has Olaf and Olafie, and he loves them both.

 He loved his Olafs.  And slept with both of them.

  Then Donny was ready to come home!

 He is happy to be home now.  It's not easy but it's good. 

 It wasn't just the humans who were happy to have Donny home.  His dog Beau missed him a lot too, and was really happy to have his master home!!

 So, again, please keep the whole family in prayer.  This will be a long process of healing and therapy.  

  Thank you for your prayers and concern.  We know with the Lord's help all things will work out for the best for him.

An added blessing for us, while at the hospital was a surprise visit.  The hospital chaplain came in while we were in the family room.  After talking to Christine, he came in to see us.  It was a friend from way before we went to Haiti, from our home church.  He is now the chaplain at the hospital there.  What a great joy to see him again.  And to also know he is praying for and caring for the spiritual needs of those there.  It had been years (actually haven't seen him since we left for Haiti) and renewing friendships is wonderful!

As always, I am amazed what an AWESOME God we serve.  Isn't He always what we need and always there for us when we need Him?  We pray you are at that place where the Lord is guiding and directing you in ways you are awed at!!

Bucket for Haiti

I'm posting an email I just sent out, but adding some photos to go with it.  Enjoy!
I have had some issues with this program, and there are lots of spaces where there should not be, but praise the Lord, I CAN post!!
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 Well, we have celebrated the 4th of July with some of the family.  Looking at America and the whole world for that matter, how long will real independence last?  I think we are not headed into the end times slowly, but we are on a greased slide going into it.

We have had a good time with family though.  And we have been able to spend time with friends, too.  God has been good, as always, and we have enjoyed our time of rest and relaxation.  Time is coming to an end soon, and we will be headed back to Haiti this month.


I thought I'd share some information with you from this last week.  We had a couple (Kevin and Maria) give us over 300 buckets for the bucket ministry in Haiti.  With our daughter and grandson's help, we got them all washed and ready to go.  Another good friend (Andy) has offered to get them to Indiana, where they will be put on a container and taken to Haiti for us.  Once there, we will pray for the items to fill them and get them to families who desperately need them.  We are SO VERY thankful for help with that ministry.

The first two photos are from where the buckets were originally taken, waiting for us to decide what to do with them.  Our good friend, Mike, let us use the basement of his office to store them.  Then our granddaugter (in-law) helped us get them up out of the basement and into our son's trailer to get to our daughter's house. Those after are us washing and cleaning them.

 

 

 

I would also like to ask for some special prayers.  Our grandson Donny, who has Cerebal Palsy, will be heading in for his 15th operation on his legs.  They will operate on both legs and he will be in full leg casts for 8 weeks, then have 3 weeks of intensive therapy.  In his 20 years, he has never been able to walk on his own.  But the surgeon is optimistic that he will be able to walk (although limited) on his own.  The surgery is tomorrow morning and will be rather intensive, so we ask that you pray for that, but also that it will have a very positive outcome.

Here is Donny, enjoying the outside. 

 And Donny, with Uncle Dale, enjoying a trip to Sandhill, a nature refuge, on an open house day.

Thank you for praying for both of these items.  As always, we covet your prayers, as they are what keep us ministering in Haiti.  Remember to keep your eyes posted on the Lord Jesus Christ.