A very late update

 I have been going in circles trying to catch up on things here.  I finally did get an email out, so decided to simply post it here, to save time, and prayerfully be able to stay on line long enough to get it posted.  Have you ever, in daily life felt like you've been swimming up stream against a very strong current?  Yup, that is where I'm at right now.  But I have my hands on the Life Preserver Who can keep me afloat and going in the right direction!!!  I really do praise the Lord for being here for me all the time.  He is the best Life Preserver there is and I'm so glad I have Him in my life!!  I pray you have that Special One in your life, too!!

And now, here is the email I had sent out... please keep praying!

I really, really didn't realize it has been so long since I have been on.  It has been another one of those hard months, but I'm believing the Lord will continue to be beside us and walk with us through this valley.

I think what I need to do is start from today and then recap the month....as I know there have been many questions about how the storm effected us.  We did do a bit of "tying down" things here, but were not real concerned, since Erica had decreased to a tropical storm.  We were told winds could be up to 40 or 45 mph.  I don't think we had them that hard, except in maybe a few gusts.  But as for damage, we had none.  The storm went south of us and was centered more down near Port au Prince.  We needed the projected 2 to 3 inches of rain, but didn't get any. 

I did make the trip to Florida to be with my sister-in-law, Bev.  I stayed 2 weeks.  It was a very hard time.  When Dawn and Jeff went up to see Bob, they said he responded to them.  When Bev and I were here, there was almost no response. It was so discouraging.  Bev was only able to make the trip every other day.  It was hard for her to travel.  And she wore out so quickly.  Needless to say we all prayed together many times.  Bob has a medical directive and what his wishes are concerning this type of situation.  But unless you have been in this situation, you don't realize how very difficult this type of thing is.  Bob went up and down.  He was on a ventilator, had the brace on his neck.  (The bone in his neck is broken, but not completely through.  But with bone cancer, not sure if/or how long it will take to heal).  His legs were really bad, 50 plus stitches in one leg and 40 plus in the other one.  And he had scrapes and contusions all over.  I had been trying to keep in touch with family but then the internet went down at Bev's.  So really praised the Lord for the phone and being able to text (even though I sure don't like to). 

Bev and I marveled at how the Lord was there in so many, many instances for her.  A lot of the people she had to deal with (once Dawn had left for home and work) ended up being Christians.  I had postponed my return from a Tuesday flight, to Thursday, to get Bev to two doctor appointments.  I met the sheriff and detective who were on the case for the accident.  Both were so helpful and kind.  And the sheriff was a Christian.  Neat young man.... well, young in my eyes, anyway.  Then at the ambulance place, where we had to get some information, the gal there said they were praying for Bob, too.  And Bev's church family and the friends at their park (who hadn't gone north for the summer) have stepped in to help her out.  It was hard for me to come back to Haiti, but I am so thankful the Lord has placed others there for Bev. 

There is still a long, hard road ahead of them.  The family had finally decided to honor Bob's directive and remove the ventilator.  There was a meeting set up to discuss it with the doctor and social worker.  Bev walked into his ICU room and he was in his chair (where they put him every day).  His eyes were open and he had a pencil in his hand.  They questioned him and he would nod.  When asked if he wanted to be transferred to a hospital where they would help him breathe without he ventilator he nodded.  So, plans changed and possibly within a week he will be moved.  This will put more of a burden on Bev, since it's further away and the roads are not that good.  But it's a positive move, too.  Before I had left when we were praying, we had turned the whole situation over to the Lord for His will to be done, and we totally believe He is in charge now.  But please continue to pray for Bob and for Bev too, as this will be a rough road for both of them.

And then there is Savanah.  She was so glad to have me home again.  But each day I go to the airport, she asks if I will come home again.  And when I do she hugs and hugs me.  I guess she thinks I will leave every time I go there.  It's been difficult for her.  And now her adoption has been put on hold again.  The government here is trying to get the birth mother to keep her, which she won't do.  So, her adoptive mom (her biological aunt) asked us to put her in school here.  She will be going to the English school that Abbie attends.  Pray she does well and will enjoy it.

With all that is going on, I'm still behind on the "catch-up" things I need to do here.  So pray for me, also, that I will be able to accomplish things in a timely manner and get this work done.  Don is still fighting this pulled muscle in his stomach.  The doc in the US said it will take many months to heal and Don is very discouraged by it all.  He is so limited, but continues to do things he probably shouldn't do.  He wants to get back to "full time" in his part of the ministry.  But the pain limits him.  Pray for his healing and for him to have the wisdom to deal with it all.  He IS working on things, but doesn't feel he is doing enough. 

I think I'd better close out and get this sent.  We have had internet problems yet again, so have to get things done while we can on here.  And remember, along with us, that God is there in ALL situations and He will guide and keep us where we are to be.  Keep your eyes focused on Jesus!!!!

Keep praying, please

I've just sent out another email, but wanted to post it here, with a few photos, too.  So, keep praying, okay?
************************************************
It seems we still are in need of prayer, for our family and for us.  So, I wanted to get a quick note out to let you all know what is going on.

I had asked you to keep our grandson, Donny in prayer.  Well, he needs more then we knew last week.  Our daughter (Christine) is now able to take the immobilizers off and bathe him.  Well, this weekend was the first time she could do that.  She found a huge sore, quite long, and deep.  There was flesh on the immobilizer, so it came from rubbing.  She is treating it and caring for it.  But prayers would be appreciated for not only his healing from the surgery, but from this added problem.

Then I had asked for prayer for my brother Bob and his wife, Bev.  I praise God Bev is doing better.  She is in a rehab hospital now and may be heading home even as I write this.  But she still needs prayer for healing and peace.  Bob is still in ICU.  I'm not real sure just where he is at, but with all of his physical problems before the accident, I have a feeling they are adding to his very slow response to recovery now.  Please keep him in prayer.  Pray for strength, healing and peace for Bob.  Also keep Dawn, our niece, in prayer, for strength and wisdom.  She has been a real blessing, I know, for the family. 

And now I am asking for prayer for me.  Missionary Flights has found a place for me to fly out on Thursday so I can be with Bob, Bev and Dawn.  It's hard to wait so long, but I am praising God I CAN get out to go and help where needed and to be with them.  I had checked into American Airlines, and a one way from Haiti to Miami was almost $500 (for an hour and a half flight).  I KNEW that was not wise use of God's money at all.  And I also knew if the Lord wanted to me to go, HE would find a way.  So, I am praying, but also praising God for MFI.  Now I need to ask for prayer for Don as he stays here and tries to keep things going.  We weren't quite back to "normal" yet from our trip, so this week will be rushing and hurrying to get things done.

In the praise department, I have to add some REAL blessings.  A few days before we left here to go stateside, our refrigerator quit.  Vero had to use the dorm fridge while we were gone.  God used a wonderful friend (the day before we left Wisconsin) to supply the funds for a new fridge.  We praise God we found a simple one (we don't need all the extra stuff) on sale.  So, we have it here and customs took pity on us and kept the cost for import very low.  God was really in all of that!!!!  AND, another blessing beyond measure... we had been having real problems with our generator(s).  Had 3 that just wouldn't keep going.  Again, God blessed us just before we left Wisconsin through another great friend.  We were able to get a generator the same as another missionary has had for many years, ON SALE, yet again.  And customs gave us a good price when we brought it in.  The Lord walked before us in both of those situations and we praise HIM totally for it.  And we are so thankful for the wonderful friends who listened to the voice of the Lord!!!!  

Here are a few of "catch-up" pictures.
Here is Savanah...she is growing up so fast!!! (Vero put the frog shirt on her).  There is a story behind the "frog" thing.  Vero does NOT like frogs.  So, our daughter and son keep sending her frog things....all sorts of things they find in stores.  She has gotten so she can simply laugh with them all, as long as they aren't REAL!! 

 

 And here is one the things our daughter found for Vero.  Frog earrings.  She even wore them to the airport the day she got them!!

 Not sure if you can see them, but Abbie got a pair of LOVE earrings and she has worn them.  They look so good on her.

 Here is Vero next to our new refrigerator.  She was happy we got it, too. 

 And Don with our generator.  This little box gives us a LOT of energy.  It's so much better than the ones we had before.  And yes, as with the refrigerator, it IS being used!!!!

Well, on that note, I'll close and again ask for your prayers for all of the above.  Blessings beyond measure to all of you!  Remember to keep your eyes on Jesus and keep hanging on to His Hand.