School starts

Greetings and praying your weather is a bit cooler than ours here in Haiti.  Yesterday at the airport was a scorcher.  But we managed to get through it okay.  We really are praying for some rain to quench the ground and help some of the surviving crops.

Today we got both our girls off to school.  Abbie is in 5th grade this year and Savanah is in kindergarten.  We were a bit concerned she would have a problem, but she did fine.  Both girls like school this year (yup, that is the first day comment from both).  So thought I'd share some pictures for you.

 

 

It's obvious which one is Abbie and which one is Savanah.  Abbie just got her new glasses yesterday.  We are praying this resolves her headache problems.  

As I was downloading the pictures, I had gone back and checked email.  I received the following letter from a friend here in Haiti (Belle).  Our world is in a sad shape when things like this happen.  But we can do as asked and pray, and pray strongly.  Here is that letter:

Date: Aug 26, 2015 11:14 AM

Subject: Joint Heirs Prayer Request from Dan and Marilyn Wilson

Missionaries who are in the areas that are being attacked by ISIS are asking to be showered in prayer. ISIS has taken over the town they are in today. He said ISIS is systematically going house to house to all the Christians and asking them ​to denounce Jesus.  He said so far not one child has. and so far all have consequently been killed.  But not the parents.  The UN has withdrawn and the missionaries are on their own.  They are determined to stick it out for the sake of the families even if it means their own deaths.  They are very afraid, have no idea how to even begin ministering to these families who have had seen their children martyred.  Yet he says he knows God has called them for some reason to be His voice and hands at this place at this time.  Even so, they are begging for prayers for courage to live out their vocation in such dire circumstances.  And like the children, accept martyrdom if they are called to do so. 

These brave parents instilled such a fervent faith in their children that they chose  martyrdom.  Please surround them in their loss with your prayers for hope and perseverance.  One missionary was able to talk to her brother briefly by phone.  She didn't say it, but I believe she believes it will be their last conversation.  Pray for her, too.  She said he just kept asking her to help him know what to do and do it.  She told him to tell the families we ARE praying for them and they are not alone or forgotten -- no matter what.  Please keep them all in your prayers. This came this morning...Just a few minutes ago I received the following text message on my phone from Sean Malone who leads Crisis Relief International (CRI).  We then spoke briefly on the phone and I assured him that we would share this urgent prayer need with all of our contacts.  "We lost the city of Queragosh (Qaraqosh). It fell to ISIS and they are beheading children systematically.  This is the city we have been smuggling food to.  ISIS has pushed back Peshmerga (Kurdish forces) and is within 10 minutes of where our CRI team is working.  Thousands more fled into the city of Erbil last night.  The UN evacuated its staff in Erbil. 

Our team is unmoved and will stay.  Prayer cover needed!" Please pray sincerely for the deliverance of the people of Northern Iraq from the terrible advancement of ISIS and its extreme Islamic goals for mass conversion or death for Christians across this region.  May I plead with you not to ignore this email.  Do not forward it before you have prayed through it.  Then send it to as many people as possible.  Send it to friends and Christians you may know.  Send it to your prayer group.  Send it to your pastor and phone him to pray on Sunday during the service - making a special time of prayer for this.  We need to stand in the gap for our fellow Christians.  Thank you for all your prayers !!!!

Dr. Becky Peters - Professor of Education

Director of Lutheran Teaching Programs, Colloquy, & Lutheran Placement

Concordia University - Irvine, California

   
We can praise God for being in a place where this isn't happening, but we can and should pray for these missionaries and for the Christian families who are going through this.  And pray for the Lord to intercede and remove this threat.

For now, keep your eyes focused on Jesus and keep praying, and praying, and praying.   

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.  

Urgent prayers needed

I had planned an update before we left the US, but so many things happened and here we are back in Haiti, and just now getting to the computer.

The last three weeks in the US went so fast, and we ended up not getting a lot done we had planned on.  But be that as it may, we did have a really wonderful and relaxing time.   

I will only highlight a few of the things here.  It was just all of a sudden busy and seeing folks we needed to see and getting things done that we could.  I guess the whole thing was, don't relax too much or you won't get things finished.  And that was it.  We are just so very thankful for the time we had relaxing, since we both needed it a lot this time.

Our grandson is improving, but we ask that you still keep him in prayer.  This will be a hard time for him in recovery.  And hard on the family, too.  He wants out of these retainers on his legs and he isn't half way through the time in them yet.  So, this 20 year old, with a child's mind is being more than anxious and doesn't really understand why he can't get out of them.  But on the other hand, he is still the happy, loveable, outspoken kiddo.  It's just the times in between he has problems.  So, please keep praying.

Just a few days before we left Wisconsin we were able to attend a picnic given for a couple who are missionaries.  We knew them, through our church, before we came to Haiti, and they became missionaries a bit after we did.  This was the first time we have seen them in almost 32 years.  And we were also able to see others there who we haven't seen in many, many years.  We were able to make some new friends there, too. So finally seeing Mark and Sonja and many others was a tremendous blessing for us.

Then the rush to get last minute things done and fly out for Florida was a race.  The few days we spent in Florida were a bit hectic, trying to get things accomplished there.

On Monday, the day before we flew, my brother Bob and his wife, Bev, planned to come and see us from central Florida.  The time came and went, and they didn't show.  I tried calling several times.  No answer.  That was so unusual because Bev is usually right on top of things.  We had our alarm set for 5 AM on Tuesday, to get to MFI and fly back.  At 3:00 AM, I got a text from my niece Dawn.  She said her mom and dad were in a very serious accident Monday afternoon.  Probably about the time they were to leave and come see us.  Bob is in a wheelchair, and was in the second section of the van.  Bev was driving.  Not sure exactly what happened (no report on that yet), but they were hit broadside on Bev's side of the van.  Bev was airlifted to Tampa (the nearest trauma center) because of head trauma.  Bob was sent to Lakeland.  Short summery on injuries....Bob's legs were pretty messed up and they did surgery in the emergency room, I believe.  He didn't have a seat belt on and was thrown around a lot I think.  They have him sedated pretty heavily because of pain and anxiety.  Bev had a head injury which they stitched up, and did several cat scans, and continue to watch her closely.  She has a broken collar bone, broken ribs and something else broken, I think.  And she has many, many bruises and sore spots.  Both are in ICU.  Seems Bob will be there for an extended time and not sure how long Bev will be there. 

Needless to say I am having a hard time being here in Haiti, with them both going through all of this.  But several circumstances are keeping me here, or I'd be there.  Their daughter Dawn is traveling back and forth between the two hospitals keeping things together.  Two of the grandkids are also trying to help out there.    So, my request is for prayers for: Bob and Bev, for healing, strength and peace, for Dawn for strength and wisdom in handling all things and for peace for her too, and then for peace for me, not being able to be there for them.  (This is REALLY hard for me.)

Then our next jolt came when we got back.  Savanah's birth mother had to go down to Haiti's social services (IBESR) for her interview, we thought.  We found out this morning that they didn't interview her, they put her in a class of some sort to encourage her to keep the baby (well,almost 4 year old).  AND, she has to go back in 3 to 6 months for another class.  I am SO, SO discouraged by all of this, I don't know what to do.  I am simply too old to handle this child anymore, although she is behaving better than before.  So, please, please pray there is a mixup and all of this is not true, but that there will be a finalization to the adoption soon.   

So, on that note, I'd better close out and get to work here.  I'm running on auto pilot right now, not able to keep my mind on things.  I know the Lord is in control, but there are times I think He is waiting too long to do things...guess I've been there before.  I know He knows what and where and when all things are to be, and I sure don't.  I just wish my timetable lined up more with His timetable.  So, keep praying.  And yes, we are praising right along with the prayers... things could be so much worse, it's that we need to keep our eyes on the fact that the Lord knows what is best.  So...finally, PRAISE, PRAYER and Keep your eyes on Jesus, as we are!!! 

 

A short update on our grandson

I knew many of you have been praying for our grandson, Donny.  I wanted give a quick update on the surgery and going home.

We were at the hospital by 7:10 on Monday morning.  They took him in for pre op at about 7:45.  Surgery didn't start until just before 10.  It was to be 4 hours long.  But about 3 hours or so into it, the anesthesiologist came in and said it would be at least another hour.  He got out of surgery a while after 4 then into recovery. After a couple of hours in recovery we were finally able to go in and see him.  They did more intensive surgery than originally planned.  Two things were a blessing though.  They put in an epidural for the pain management, and they did not put casts on, they put immobilizers on instead.  What a help that is.  The weight difference is considerable.  

After a couple of issues, we were able to bring him home yesterday (Thursday).  Needless to say he has pain.  But it has been controllable.  His mom and brother, Chris, are his total care givers, and doing an excellent job.  We just ask that you continue to keep him, and his family in prayer, as the healing continues.  And pray for the Lord to be a strong part of this young mans future.

Christine made his room an Olaf (from the movie Frozen) room.  He had posters all over and his blanket was an Olaf blanket, then I got him an Olaf speaking stuffed animal.  His dad had also gotten the same one for him, unknown to me.  So, he now has Olaf and Olafie, and he loves them both.

 He loved his Olafs.  And slept with both of them.

  Then Donny was ready to come home!

 He is happy to be home now.  It's not easy but it's good. 

 It wasn't just the humans who were happy to have Donny home.  His dog Beau missed him a lot too, and was really happy to have his master home!!

 So, again, please keep the whole family in prayer.  This will be a long process of healing and therapy.  

  Thank you for your prayers and concern.  We know with the Lord's help all things will work out for the best for him.

An added blessing for us, while at the hospital was a surprise visit.  The hospital chaplain came in while we were in the family room.  After talking to Christine, he came in to see us.  It was a friend from way before we went to Haiti, from our home church.  He is now the chaplain at the hospital there.  What a great joy to see him again.  And to also know he is praying for and caring for the spiritual needs of those there.  It had been years (actually haven't seen him since we left for Haiti) and renewing friendships is wonderful!

As always, I am amazed what an AWESOME God we serve.  Isn't He always what we need and always there for us when we need Him?  We pray you are at that place where the Lord is guiding and directing you in ways you are awed at!!

Bucket for Haiti

I'm posting an email I just sent out, but adding some photos to go with it.  Enjoy!
I have had some issues with this program, and there are lots of spaces where there should not be, but praise the Lord, I CAN post!!
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Well, we have celebrated the 4th of July with some of the family.  Looking at America and the whole world for that matter, how long will real independence last?  I think we are not headed into the end times slowly, but we are on a greased slide going into it.

We have had a good time with family though.  And we have been able to spend time with friends, too.  God has been good, as always, and we have enjoyed our time of rest and relaxation.  Time is coming to an end soon, and we will be headed back to Haiti this month.


I thought I'd share some information with you from this last week.  We had a couple (Kevin and Maria) give us over 300 buckets for the bucket ministry in Haiti.  With our daughter and grandson's help, we got them all washed and ready to go.  Another good friend (Andy) has offered to get them to Indiana, where they will be put on a container and taken to Haiti for us.  Once there, we will pray for the items to fill them and get them to families who desperately need them.  We are SO VERY thankful for help with that ministry.

The first two photos are from where the buckets were originally taken, waiting for us to decide what to do with them.  Our good friend, Mike, let us use the basement of his office to store them.  Then our granddaugter (in-law) helped us get them up out of the basement and into our son's trailer to get to our daughter's house. Those after are us washing and cleaning them.

 

 

 

I would also like to ask for some special prayers.  Our grandson Donny, who has Cerebal Palsy, will be heading in for his 15th operation on his legs.  They will operate on both legs and he will be in full leg casts for 8 weeks, then have 3 weeks of intensive therapy.  In his 20 years, he has never been able to walk on his own.  But the surgeon is optimistic that he will be able to walk (although limited) on his own.  The surgery is tomorrow morning and will be rather intensive, so we ask that you pray for that, but also that it will have a very positive outcome.

Here is Donny, enjoying the outside. 

 And Donny, with Uncle Dale, enjoying a trip to Sandhill, a nature refuge, on an open house day.

Thank you for praying for both of these items.  As always, we covet your prayers, as they are what keep us ministering in Haiti.  Remember to keep your eyes posted on the Lord Jesus Christ.