Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Into the New Year

Greeetings,
I had sent out an email, and then it dawned on me, I hadn't posted on here in a LONG time.  I'm so sorry for that.  Please forgive me.  I am going to post that email I sent, but I am also going to put photos in it that didn't get into the email.  



Greetings and Happy New Year…
It seems I am always apologizing for taking so long to get a message out to everyone.  So, AGAIN, I have to say I’m sorry.  

Before Christmas, it was getting ready for a wedding for the fellow who heads up the IDADEE orphanage in many areas (he was married on December 23rd).  I wasn’t involved in the wedding preparations themselves, but in getting rings and some of the clothing for them.  Then Vero had a gal they had led to the Lord getting married, and I helped a bit on that wedding.  Helping with the dress and doing a very simple cake for them. (the funny thing was they were thrilled to have a "decorated cake".  It was just a few flowers...) 
Then came Christmas Eve service at English Church.  That I was pretty much in charge of.  We had a great meeting and it went very well, thanks to all who helped and participated, especially the congregation!!

And of course, Christmas.  We spend it with Vero and Abbie and simply enjoy a family tradition of reading the gospel story in Luke and opening presents.
The following week we had another missionary family over for a meal.  We have known Prit and Dana for almost the whole time we’ve been here.  They came with their two grown sons.  Such a joy and such a wonderful family!  We had a great time and really enjoyed their fellowship.  Prit and Dana and their boys, and "Our girls"....
 

Then I made a quick trip to Florida….I should say COLD Florida.  I don’t ever remember being in Florida when it was down in the upper 30’s and low 40’s.  I had originally gone to help Belle, my friend and prayer warrior, with some things, but also to get both my laptop and desk top computers working correctly again.  It was a good time of fellowship and work, too.  All though Belle had hoped to get some help putting in some shrubs and things…she really didn’t know that having ME do that would have caused a problem.  (Don doesn’t even give me plastic flower because they die….does that tell the story?)  

Returned to Haiti the day after our friend from West Palm came to stay for a week.  Carolyn had been in Haiti with a team doing their cooking, but wanted to stay an extra week and get to spend time not only with us, but with all her Haitian “family”, too.  Her heart is attached here as well as ours.  Here is the morning I flew back in...fog cleared as we were ready to depart.

Carolyn has gone back to Florida and we now have a team here.  Pam and Luke are precious people and always have great teams. This one is no exception.  We don’t have a lot to do with the team, since Pam and Luke have their own ministry and simply use the dorm for teams.  But it’s a blessing for us and some great fellowship, too.  

So, now that I have caught you up a bit… oh wait…not quite!!!  I didn’t mention Don… we can use some prayers.  Our Toyota quit running and he has been trying diligently to get it going.  And then our generator went down and he’s been working on that, too.  And trying to get about 10 other things accomplished in between.  But I think you get the picture of how it’s going for him.  Constantly trying to keep things running, and yet trying to serve the Haitian people as well.  

Vero is busy as usual with the IDADEE orphanage, her ministry out in the countryside and with working with MFI.  Abbie has been very diligent in her school work and has brought her grades up and we are so proud of her.  

And last, but definitely not least, is MFI and the airport work.  It is neat for us to be able to meet new people and to greet “old” (in other words, returning) people, too.  Have had some good times dealing with pilots, flight attendants and passengers.  And we always find some fun times with all the different workers at the airport.  I can honestly say, the majority of people we deal with at the airport fun friends.  

Vero got me a book for Christmas that I would greatly recommend to anyone who is studying prayer as we are.  It was written by the Kendrick brothers, who did the movie “War Room”.  I am really learning a lot and enjoying that book.  It’s called, “THE BATTLE PLAN FOR PRAYER”.  
Okay, Don is calling for a bit of help so, I need to close out and get to work.  Thank you for being a part of our ministry, in whatever way you can… in prayer, in service, or in help.  You who are on that end praying and supporting us are as much of a missionary as we are!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!  And BLESSINGS BEYOND MEASURE!!!

Well that was our email, (but they didn't get the pictures).... As I was looked for the pictures to include, I found a VERY old short video we took.  I thought you all might like a laugh, if I can get it to download.  This was Abbie (who is now 12) when she was 14 months old.  She had come into the computer room and when I didn't immediately respond to her, she took a paper out of trash and started reading it to me.  I told her go read to grandpa.  Then I heard grandpa say, go read to grandma.  So I went out in the living room, and this is what we got.
 I hope you enjoy it, if it does download.  
Again, BLESSINGS BEYOND MEASURE TO YOU!!