Greetings,
A bit of frustration going on.... I wrote a LONG post and went to publish it, and it was gone. Somewhere out there in cyberspace is my post. If you find it hang on to it. (You can tell I am not very computer literate, right?)
A lot has been accomplished by our boys, but Gregory couldn't see it. So we sat down and I wrote down everything they had done in the almost 2 weeks they were here. I ended up with 2 pages... so YES, they did accomplish a LOT. Their focus was to be the garage, helping dad/grandpa getting it cleaned up and straightened up. Well, a lot did get accomplished out there, but there were a whole LOT of things that got done all over the house and compound, too!! We are so pleased with all of it!!
On Wednesday, we were blessed to have a good friend (Patrick) who is the head of security at the airport come for supper. He considers Dale his brother and they have a good time together. Dale made the meal (turkey and mashed potatoes) and it turned out super great. While here, Patrick talked Dale into coming to the airport with me the next day and "working". (He actually wanted to share his work with Dale, I think.) But Dale went along and he did work, unloading the plane. And he spent time with Patrick. Then the pilot asked Dale if he wanted to fly to Pignon with them since they were returning here. He had a great time with that!!
Then came today, and Gregory and Dale leaving on American Airlines. We weren't real thrilled to take them to the airport, but we did. And we had a very interesting time there, too. While the boys waiting in line (a LONG line) to check in, Don and I moved to the other end of the area to get out of the way. Someone said, "Miss Karen?" I looked up and recognized the face, but couldn't remember who it was. She smiled and said, "Choute?" Well, I laughed and said, "Bang Bang!!" She had to laugh then. Choute was one of the children at the EBAC orphanage YEARS and YEARS ago. When our friends and missionaries were here (Ed and Mary Brentham), Pastor Ed had given Choute a ride to Port several times. He had a hard time remembering her name, so instead of calling her "shoot", he called her Bang Bang. We had a good time talking to her. She was leaving to attend her dad's funeral, so it was a sad time for her.
Then we moved over and sat on the luggage rollers with one of our police friends. I asked him if he was going to celebrate Carnival (Mardi Gras). He said, "NO!! I don't like that." So we talked some more. And he started singing "I'll fly away". I joined in and we had a good time. I think Don would have liked to move away, but he didn't. Some of those around us glanced over and smiled, others laughed, but that was fine.
And THEN, a fellow walked over and said, "You don't remember me, do you?" I recognized the face, but like I said, I have a hard time with names. He said, "I'm Willie. I came and stayed at your place with Dick Snook YEARS ago." We had a great time talking with him and then met his son. They were here with a team and were just heading out. He mentioned, just before heading back to the line, one of my life verses... 1 Thess. 5: 16-18. "Pray without ceasing and In All things give thanks..." (shortened version)... What a neat person and great reminder.
After the boys were finished, we said our good byes and headed out. We wanted to get home before any of the celebrations started. While walking out, someone called my name. Since we know almost everyone there, and we were in a hurry, I almost didn't answer. But it sounded like an American, so I turned around. And there was former missionary, Sharon Hardy. What a joy to see her again. We were able to spend a few minutes catching up with her. I told her I remembered her folks and they come to mind off and on. They had come to visit her while she was in Haiti. Her dad is a great preacher (loved listening to him), and her mom was a quiet, calm, sweet woman, who glowed with the love of the Lord. And Sharon inherited both their qualities. She is as wonderful as her folks.
So on our day of sadness at seeing our boys leave, the Lord brought some great joy into our lives, too. HE knew we needed to be uplifted and He did a great job of it! We really do serve an AMAZING AND AWESOME God who walks before, beside and behind us and lifts us up!!!
It is Mardi Gras time, so we'll be spending the next few days at home like many of our Haitian Christian friends are doing. We'll be spending more quality time with the Lord.
Now it's on to a time of quiet with the Lord, here in my "War Room". Savanah is with Vero, at church for Abbie's choir practice, so I can catch up and spend some real quality time with my Lord. I pray that your war room at your place is a great place with the Lord too. Remember, reach out to Him, love Him, serve Him, in whatever way He directs. But also PRAISE HIM and THANK HIM for who and what He is. HE IS AWESOME!!!
Blessings.
I decided to take a few minutes and update all the work being done here. Some interesting things, too. As I mentioned in the last post, they came to help clean out the garage. Well, that is not all they have done... You'll see from the next few pictures that They have done a whole lot more already and it's only been a week!!
These first two pictures are something that took a while. We have wanted to get our water system hooked up to a 12 volt pump, so we'd have water all the time, even when the main generator was off. But as with many things, it just never happened. Well, Dale and Gregory got it piped in and it is now working. What a relief.
And something Abbie was looking forward to... Dale coming and helping her with math. She's a good student, but math is a hard subject for her. Last time here, Dale helped her a lot with math, and this time, again, he helped her through a difficult time with things. She sure is happy when he comes!!!
On Saturday AND Sunday, Dale was kept busy teaching and preaching. Saturday with Enoch (our piano player for English church). He heads up a choir, and does Bible teaching with them on Saturday's. Dale spent 2½ hours with the group of about 60. Enoch told me Sunday that they all want him to come back and teach some more. We've heard that from another church where he didn't go this time. They asked if they could know ahead of time, next time, so he can teach at their church. Then Sunday morning he taught at Pastor Codo's church. His message was something that Pastor Codo said HE needed, and then a lot of people came up after church and said it spoke to their hearts, too.
Then Sunday afternoon he spoke at English church. I heard from a lot of people on that message as well. It was so well received and so many commented on it. They asked when he'd be back to teach again.
After church we took Carolyn (our friend from West Palm Beach) back out to the IDADEE orphanage where she has spent a couple weeks cooking for a team. She came and played piano for English church and Enoch sure loved having her, giving him a break. She is awesome. So, Dale had to get some photos from up at Joshua house where she is staying on the IDADEE compound. That picture is of a bay where Christopher Columbus originally was supposed to land in Haiti... but felt it wasn't protected enough and moved further east. Great photo though.
And on Saturday before we dropped Dale off at Enoch's, we took the girls for ice cream. Savanah had a hard time getting it all down before it melted...this really does not show the whole mess she ended up being.
And Gregory and Savanah were able to sit and watch the "pool" (as Savanah calls the ocean). They were watching the boats come in.
Today the guys went to the tourist market and then came back and worked on Vero's house and got the trim up on her doors. They took more pics but I didn't get them downloaded. They have been working like busy bees and we sure have appreciated all they have accomplished. Many, many things that had been put on the "back burner" here for a long time.
And I have been able to get a lot of catch up work done since Savanah has decided they needed her help. They have done great with patience with her!!
Tomorrow it's back to the airport for me and back to work here for the guys.
Through all the messages this weekend, the Lord has worked in many hearts. Getting our focus back on God's Word and on what He wants from each of us. He is to be #1 in our lives, with all else coming after that. Dale's message at English church was on 1 John. Getting our lives in sync with the Lord, so others see HIM in us and search for that.
Praying that the Lord is working in YOUR hearts as well as in ours and that He is the center and focus of your life and the ministry He has called YOU to!!! Blessings, and be in touch soon.
Greetings again from Haiti, the land of "you never know what to expect"....
If you've been on a team, or lived here, or have heard some of our stories, you know the truth. You can make plans and hope things go the way you intended. Then reality hits... things NEVER seem to go as planned. Over the years we have learned to live with the reality of "you can make plans, but be sure they will not work out the way you planned".
After returning from the states, I am slowly finding out just how much two of the team from our home church accomplished. Our son, Dale and our grandson, Gregory, had made plans to come for a 2 week visit. Of course, Mom/Grandma had her "to do" list about ready. Talking about the list with them when they got here, Dad/Grandpa said, "Oh, Garth and Karen did that for me." (From our home team). Wow, I am amazed what all they DID accomplish for Don. MY list was cut very short thanks to them. But as things never fail, forget the list, no matter who writes it up. (Except the Lord, of course!!)
The first night here, power went off, as usual.... Don went to start the generator, and came out and held up the pull cord. "Guess we don't have power tonight." Dale and Gregory said, "No problem, we'll fix it." And they did, in the dark with flashlights. GREAT start to their trip.
Now the main thing they were going to do was help clean out and straighten out the garage... well, ended up working on the batteries in the dorm first. Had to replace and hook up different ones.
Then Don was figuring what all parts he'd need from the store to get the plumbing in at Vero's addition. Praise the Lord Dale knows Creole and can run to get parts.
Got the trench dug to get the pipes put in...
On Dale's trip to the store, he saw a motorcycle with 5 people on it and had to get a picture. Amazing more people aren't killed the way they do these things. Not safe at all!!
Finally into the garage and sorting and stacking...and they found a rat...well, the bones of it anyway! I told Vero we had a dinosaur in our garage!
On Valentine's day I wanted things to be special for them, so came home from the airport and got it all ready... and yes, Dale helped me with the meal, since I had been at the airport.
While I was in the states, Don was able to help so many people, thanks to a family from Oregon. What a blessing...he was able to put all those he had previously helped in school back into school. Several will now be able to complete their schooling. And he was able to help a lot of others with so many needs. God really blessed us with this wonderful family who had come to visit and saw the needs. They are also the reason we have been able to get Vero's house going again, and prayerfully soon to be completed.
Our home church team was a blessing in many ways. Not only the two who provided the buckets for families, (and did so much around our place) but the team who went and did a conference for Pastor Codo here. And they were able to see other things as well. I know the kids at IDADEE really enjoyed their visit and teaching. It was such a diversified team, covering so many areas.
Don just called me outside and said, picture time... so have to include a picture of Belfort, one of our kids, who is now a plumber, getting the plumbing in for Vero's new bathroom.
Well, there you have a wrap up on what's happening in our life right now. Add into it all working at the airport and you will see we are keeping busy. No more word on Savanah's paper being finished at this point, but still praying for that. Every day she talks about going home to mommy and daddy and her sisters in Canada. She has no concept of what is holding that up.
There is probably a lot of I have left out on what's happening, but as I remember, I'll include it in my next entry. For now, please keep the prayers coming, they really, really are what keeps us on the field and doing what the Lord has called us to do.
We have had some really good teachings both in church and on internet on following where, how and what the Lord is calling you to do. And that is for ALL OF US. God calls each of us into a specific area for a specific purpose. Do you know where your area and purpose are? We are slowly realizing that God's directions are where we are to follow, not mans. We really do serve an AWESOME GOD!!!!!
