No snow for Christmas!

Greetings!!

Yes, that's right, no snow for Christmas here.  That is probably one of the things I do miss.  Not that I miss the snow that much, but the beauty of it on a crisp, quiet evening right around Christmas.  So, we'll enjoy that through pictures from others, or pictures on the internet. 

Yesterday at English Bible Fellowship I told them that one of the things I remember quite clearly about our first few Christmas' in Haiti, was that on Christmas, Christ was remembered.  It wasn't gifts or decorations.  The churches worked hard on skits about Christmas and the real meaning behind it.  The main holiday in Haiti is January 1st.  That's not only New Year, it's Independence Day AND Christmas, all rolled into one.  But December 25th, is Christ centered...the way it should be.

I'm not on facebook often, but I had clicked on it this week and watched a video that brought tears to my eyes... then reading the comments, I knew I was not alone.  If you get a chance, go on the internet and find The Ball Brother's version of "It's About The Cross!"  That is probably the most touching Christmas song I have heard.  Really great.  And I shared the meaning in that song also at English Church yesterday.  Yes, it's important that Jesus came, but it really isn't because of the cradle, He came because of the Cross! 

Had an interesting and really filled week this last week.  Got to the airport on Tuesday for our flight... and was met with a statement..."Good, you made it for the mandatory meeting this morning"... and we were off in the airport bus for a safety protocol meeting.  Interesting and yes, informative.  Met some nice people and spent some time with old friends there.  But it was sort of intense.  And this week we have an accident simulation to go to there.  Should be interesting.

Also set a time to get the work done on our container at the airport.  We have to be there for a long time, clean it out, and dry it out. Being only open for 15 to 20 minutes twice a week has not been inductive to drying out.  Lots of work ahead of us there.

Found out that WHEN passport booklets get back into Haiti, it could be a LONG time to GET it.  With all the weather situations here in the last couple of months, lots and lots of people have lost all important documents, including passports...prayerfully we are up high on that list, but don't know for sure.  One of Savanah's teachers has been waiting for 6 months for her passport.  We've only been waiting 2½ or 3 months.  So, LOTS of prayers needed on that!!!

Bucket ministry update:  Only have a few left to get out, and they will go this week.  But a Haitian pastors wife came and encouraged us.  We prefer that people do not associate US with the buckets.  We want them to know the Lord is providing them.  And it pretty much works that way.  But the pastor's wife said she heard talk at church about how God had provided a bucket of food to a family who was in great need.  And how that family was thanking God, but also praying for the people He used to get that food to them.  Neat to hear the praises going to the Lord for His provisions!!!  Keep praying!

We will be gathering with 2 other missionary couples for a Christmas dinner the week before Christmas.  It's such a busy time in the churches that we knew having it ON Christmas day would be hard.  So we'll be celebrating a bit before.  Most missionaries leave and head out to be with family at this time.  Only a very small group remain.  But it's good to be together with them here.

I'd better close and get to work.  We have a lot going on this week... school program, planes, delivering buckets and trying to get computer work caught up.  That, for some reason, always takes a back seat!  So, keep the prayers coming and keep looking up... the Lord is coming soon.... look around at world events!! 

Blessings, and remember to KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS!!!!