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!!!!