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!!!!

A Rainy update

I know there are some of you out there who are not on our mailing list, so I wanted to send this update to you, too.  I have added a few photos that were not in the update, so you have a bit more then that.  

Please remember to keep praying...as in 1 Thess. 5: 16-18 

Blessings!!!

 

Greetings,

Very sad to say that the rains are continuing.  We had thought maybe this was over, but guess not.  Each day we have had some sunshine, though.  That is an improvement.  Don did manage to get a hole in the wall so we are not flooded here in our yard.  Another improvement.  But the situation all over this area is not good.  People are coming every day with stories that break our hearts.  Please pray for this whole situation the rains have caused.

An up side to this is that we had a family come for a visit.  The six of them were able to fill 100 buckets in less than 4 days.  And with this load of buckets, we had Vero help decide where to take them.  Her heart was touch by many of those older people and large families who have nothing.  This is where over 50 of those buckets went.  The rest of them will be going out to some of Don's people who are in dire straights, and also to some of those who are really suffering from these muddy flood waters around here.  We have a team coming from our home church in January and most of those buckets will be going out to the victims of these floods.  So please keep praying that the Lord will work in all of these situations.

The family team we had here was awesome.  Such a caring, loving family.  And their hearts were in the right place.  They were able to spend some time at the IDADEE orphanage and were able to help deliver those buckets that went out.  But other than that, they didn't get to do much else.  The rains have kept to a minimum where we can go and what we can do.  But we are really praising God for the help this group has done.  Abbie and Savanah were sorry to see them leave (along with us), because they made good friends.  It isn't everyone the girls draw that close to in such a short time, but they sure did this time.  We are praying blessings on this family as they continue to follow the Lord.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving meal with our group.  They left on Friday, and then Saturday we had our Thanksgiving meal for English Bible Fellowship.  We had a great time there, too.  Today is definitely a day of rest, then in the next couple of days the girls are anxiously waiting to start decorating for Christmas. 

We are at an impasse with Savanah's passport.  We found out yesterday from someone who has been talking with officials that Haiti doesn't have passport booklets, so they aren't being made at this time.  We have no idea how/when/what will happen now with all of this.  So that is a HUGE prayer request, that these booklets would arrive and things would progress quickly once they are here.  (THAT is a HUGE request...something being done in the government quickly)!!  Savanah had her heart set on being with Mommy, Daddy, Ruby, Lexi and Natalia by Christmas.  I just keep telling her we have to wait until that passport comes.  So, pray for her, for us, but definitely for that passport!!

I have included a picture of the family and the buckets they worked on.  Please pray that these buckets, with God's word in them, will touch lives and draw people to Him, through them.

For now, blessing to everyone and keep praying.   A little song we learned just after we turned our lives over is one that keeps coming to mind now....

Put your hands in the Hands of the Man who stilled the waters,

Put your hands in the Hand of the Man who calmed the sea,

Take a look at yourself and you will look at others differently,

So put your hands in the Hands of the Man from Galilee. 

I think this brings to my mind that by looking at ourselves, we need to change our lives to look more like Jesus, so others seeing us, will see HIM.

These are the extra photos I have put on.  The first one is of them filling zip lock bags ready for buckets. 

 

 This is a completed bucket and it's contents, some of the items they brought along.

 Ready to head out to deliver buckets... with Vero and Jovnel, our driver.

 The following are places they delivered and some of the people they helped.

 And then the IDADEE orphanage and playing with the kids there.

 Have a super great, God filled, Christ centered day!!!!

33 years of blessings

Well, we keep thinking the rains have stopped and then another cloud pops up and dumps a bit more....but torrential and constant rains have gone.  We are SO very thankful for that at least.  We hear more and more stories of destruction.  But we haven't heard a whole lot on how many people have perished.  Seems everyone has heard different numbers.  But the most we have heard was 30 and we have no idea if that was fact or supposition.  The physical destruction is pretty heavy though.  They are still cleaning streets to make them passable.  I guess on a straight, flat, paved road we may end up simply having to deal with elongated speed bumps for a LONG time.  Slows traffic down which in some ways is good, others, causing traffic jams.  I guess now, it's learning how to live with things the way they are and going on from there. 

A really bright note here, Savanah's grandma Bibiana is here for a night.  I had to laugh last night.  It was dark, we were on our generator watching a movie.  It was over about 8:30.  Savanah said, "It's NOT bedtime yet, right?"  We said, "Well, it's really close."  The no's and not yet started up.  I finally told her, "Do you know, the sooner you go to sleep, the sooner Grandma Bibiana will be here?"  She looked at me, told grandpa to turn off the generator and told me to go to bed, NOW!  That was the easiest and quickest bed time we have ever had.  And today she has been so thrilled to have her grandma here.  It's been awesome.  Too bad it's only for the one night.  She then leaves to go do some teaching. 

And no passport or word on it, yet.  Just praying and waiting on it.

Today is "the" day... it's our 33rd anniversary of being here in Haiti.  We had been here before that on teams, but we actually moved here on November 12, 1983.  I look around and think, wow, doesn't seem that long at all.  Then I think, well, our baby who was 11 when we got here, now has 3 sons over 21 years old.  Yup, it's been a while.  We brought our 5 children with us, and now we have 14 grand kids and 7 great grand kids. 

There is so much here to celebrate, and yet so much here to pray for and about, too.  We have been working with some awesome Haitian people.  We have ended up with a whole lot of "kids" here who call me mom.  And they do seem like our kids.  Watching these kids grow and become God inspired young adults has been one of the blessings.  And some of the pastors that we work with are really neat and God fearing men.  God HAS blessed us in these years here.  Oh there have been trials, for sure... the night of one of the overthrows when thieves came to burn us out, but God intervened...the hi-jacking...the tough times of no gas and road blocks....they have all been there.  But those are the minor times, not times that took away the joy or peace the Lord gave.  We have always felt the peace of the Lord with us and surrounding us through it all.  And God has brought some totally awesome people into our lives through the people here and those that were on teams.  We do serve a fantastic, wonderful, loving God. 

We pray you are clinging to that same loving God.  That you are holding on to Him in both the great and not so great times.  That that same God is with you on a daily basis, His presence felt and known in all you do.  AND that those who look at you exclaim that the joy of the Lord is shinning in your life. 

Till next time, blessings beyond measure!!!

Update and RAINS...and RAINS....

Hello from rain drenched northern Haiti!!

First, before the rain situation, I wanted to include an update on Savanah and the on going adoption.  Vero and Savanah did go to Port and did all the paperwork for the passport... the only word they were given on WHEN it will come, was, we'll call you.  So, AGAIN we are in the waiting mode.  I keep thinking back to when we had first talked to the lawyer (I think Savanah was only a few months old)... and he said, "this adoption will be quick since it's a family adoption."  With her biological aunt adopting her, it SHOULD have been.  Now she is 5 years and a couple of weeks old... hummm.. so this is quick?  As you can tell we need some prayers.  This waiting is so hard.  She keeps saying, "now mommy's coming and I can go home to Canana...?"  She doesn't put the D in Canada, it's another N.  When she was getting ready to go on the plane to Port au Prince, she asked if she was going to Canada then.  This kiddo wants to be with her family.  So you can see why prayers are needed, a LOT!

Tomorrow I may try to get some photos of the area here.  The rains have been horrid here in the north.  For the past week we have had a LOT of rain.  Mostly heavy but have also had some "gully washers" too.  There are so many, many homes flooded out, but also those that were washed away in the flooding.  And there have been lives lost, too.  It's a hard, hard time here in Haiti.  The roads are bad.  Last week we had been so happy to see they finally picked up the garbage on the roads... now all of the garbage from the mountain have washed down and it is even worse than before.  Back roads are about impassable.  And the airport is flooded.  The runway and tarmac are fine, but the rest is under water.  The MFI container is flooded out.  We have no idea about the boxes in it.  There are boxes for 20 different mission in there.  But the water is so high that security won't let us get near the container.  It's a safety situation right now. I've spent the morning trying to figure out how to deal with this.  Yes, we could pray the water didn't get into the container, but that doesn't see realistic. But we are still praying... we serve an awesome and willing God who can do things we simply can't believe.  So, that is where we are at... standing back and letting God deal with things till HE sees fit to let us continue with it.  So, pray with us for all of the above.

We were gearing up with buckets and now it seems we may have more needs than we had first thought.  But the Lord knows all about that too, so we will be working toward getting the buckets going and getting things organized to that end.  We have a family coming in, in 9 days who will be helping us with this and we praise God for that help. 

We've given you a lot to pray about, but we also want to add some praises, too.  We are thankful for the safe trip Vero and Savanah had to Port, even thought we aren't seeing the results yet.  We know God does.  We are praising God for the team at the dorm right now.  It's a medical team and they have seen so many people.  We praise God for simply being with us through all the situations we face on a daily basis here.  I just can't imagine doing it without Him at the helm.  Our electric has become very sporadic...but we praise him for our generator.  No, we don't have electricity as often as we did have, but we do have it enough to get some things done.  And we simply praise Him for all He does for us on a daily basis and how He cares for us even when we fail Him.  

Thank you for being there for us and for praying for us... it really, really is what keeps us going here on the mission field!!  Have a super, God blessed, God directed and God inspired day!!!

Problems, but blessings abound!

Greetings from Haiti!

Well, as the whole world knows, Haiti has some major problems right now.  The hurricane did real damage to most of the south west part of Haiti.  Now to top that devastation off, they are getting rains.  Please, please keep those people in prayer.  We do know of many organizations who are doing a lot down there, but it's going to take a long time to get that whole area livable and workable again.  Missionary Flights, who we work with, have been taking plane loads of supplies down to Port au Prince and through organizations like Mission Aviation Fellowship and Samaritans Purse, and other organizations, these supplies are being taken into the worst areas.  So keep these people in prayer, also as they work to bring relief.  Check out   www.missionaryflights.org to see what they have done.  The first page says, "As of Sunday, Oct. 16th, we've flown over 25,000 lbs. of relief supplies to the Bahamas.  Through trusted mission networks, 90,000 lbs. of food and water, 50 large tarps and enough tin roofing for 65 small homes to Haiti."  So please pray for those many islands in the Bahamas who were also severely damaged.

And then there are the elections in both Haiti and in the US.  They both need the concentrated prayers of the Christian community.  Only the Lord can direct the outcome to what He feels is best.

And now the blessings.... first and foremost... Vero and Savanah will be flying to Port au Prince on Monday.  They have an 8:00 AM appointment on Tuesday with the lawyer to go and get Savanah's passport going.  Evidently the other two offices where they needed signatures are finished.  Now we just wait on the passport and the Canadian visa.  This is not just a small step forward this is a HUGE LEAP and we are almost to the finish line.  Pray with us that they will process the passport in an unbelievably short time.

And our other praise item.  After mentioning that we are gearing up on the food bucket ministry again...due to the hurricane and to the fact that prices have risen so high here for food, we have been blessed beyond measure.  The Lord has used some of His faithful to send donations to get things moving.  The increase in people asking for help, and knowing that many of those in south western Haiti will be seeking shelter from relatives in the north, has also set us in motion to start filling buckets.  Please keep this part of our ministry in prayer.  For guidance, wisdom and strength to get these done.

Savanah just celebrated her 5th birthday.   She is a definite fan of Doc McStuffins, after our daughter sent her a DVD and doll of Doc McStuffins for Christmas.  Well, her birthday was an extension of that.  And with the help of a good friend and her husband at MFI, Savanah got yet another of the Doc's toys.  She has a puppy carrier with the puppy in it, and the doctor equipment.  Her reaction was, "Ok, now I can be a doctor like Grandma Bibiana!"  Grandma Bibiana was here to see her just a couple of weeks ago.  

Time to close out and get moving.  When the girls return from school, it becomes a VERY active household here.  We are praying you are reaching out to others and sharing the Love and Grace of our Lord with them.  Time is short and we need to let others know that the Lord is there for them.  

Blessings and love in His Name and by His Grace!!
 

A bit of news...

I just sent out an email and wanted to share it with those of you who do not get those emails.  But it is a praise and wanted to let everyone know what is going on.

 

Greetings to all,

Well, we have just a little bit of news to share.  Dr. Bibiana and 3 more had stayed here with us for 1 night a week and a half ago.  Then when returning to the Dominican they stayed last night also. 

I'm not sure if you all know who Dr. Bibiana is.... she is the adoptive mom of Guerline, Savanah's adoptive mom!! Confused yet?  Bibiana and her husband Sandy lived in Haiti for quite a few years and had adopted 3 Haitian sisters.  Guerline grew up, got married and is now adopting the daughter (Savanah) of her sister here, who had not been adopted.  Now that I've confused you all, I'll go on with our news.

Yesterday afternoon after Bibiana and friends arrived, she came over and smiling said "Did you get the news?"  I just said no.  Her husband called her, since Guerline called him.  They got word that the adoption has been totally approved now and everything is on it's way to get the passport.  Well, I came in, got on the internet and there was a note from Guerline.  Here is what she wrote:

Hello, a bit of news. So as you know Magdala (birth mom - Karen's input) had already signed the court papers. The lawyer informed the agency that he is working on Savanah's passport now. I asked how long might it be from now. She said, a month to 2 months.
Keep on praying; it's getting closer.

Okay, so Bibiana asked if I had the lawyer's phone number...I gave it to her.  She called and talked to a gal first.  Very pleasant person.  After explaining who she was and that she was going back to Canada today but would like to take some good news to Guerline, the gal gave her the cell phone number of the lawyer.  She called him.  He said the passport papers had to go to immigration and then two other offices, then Savanah can go home.  BUT....and this is the GREAT news... Savanah's new OFFICIAL name is now Savanah Ivan.  That is her adoptive family's name.  So I have written and asked the school here to change her paperwork to the new last name so that when she goes to Canada she will have proper papers there for school. 

So please continue to pray for this last process to go quicker than expected so she can get into her new school in Canada soon.  We ARE seeing some faint light at the end of this 5 year long tunnel now.  Praise the Lord!!

Thank you for your prayers for this long overdue adoption.  We know God is working on it and will do whatever needs to be done to complete it.

Summer is over, Fall returns

Welcome to fall....

As anyone who has been to Haiti knows, we don't REALLY have a lot of change in seasons.  I think we have 3 seasons, Hot, HOTTER, A Bit Cooler.  And we do not have a very definite rainy season anymore... just sort of off and on.  But we DO have hurricane season and we praise the Lord we have not HAD a hurricane here.  We have had rains from storms, but we needed the rain when it came.  

We are pretty much back into normal since we've been back.  Don is cleaning out the water tank to deliver water.  Once we get a new tank this one will be used for a septic system for Vero's house.  But until that time, he is delivering water with it.  And we are working on getting some food out to the outer regions now, too.  

Before I get into that I wanted to share just a few pictures with you.  First of course, are our girls.... Savanah is getting so tall... and skinny.  She doesn't like to eat...at least good food.  But she relents when we tell her that she can't grow up and be strong unless she gets some food in her.  She is all legs and loves anything like gymnastics.  Abbie has done a great job of teaching her.

 Abbie had a concert.  She played piano and danced.  She loves being involved in anything musical and also loves gymnastics.  The girls do well together but like sisters, they like to squabble, too.

 Our friend, Bud, (a former missionary) came down to work with the school they still help.  He also spent time helping Don with several things.  He is always a HUGE help to us.  And then Savanah decided he needed some work by a beautician.  She did grandpa's hair, too, but Bud's was the most involved.  (He was such a good sport.)

Another missionary couple, David and Ginger, are in the midst of switching the focus of their ministry.  They are staying at our dorm for a bit until they came make some firm decisions.  Thankfully David is an electrician and when a problem erupted with our electric, he went up on the poll to do some work for Don.  I was glad Don had help with that one. 

   

 David and Ginger are working with a feeding program and have made friends with a fellow who is in charge of distributing food to needy areas and to programs who help the poor.  They told him about our bucket ministry and he is giving us a trial on it.  He had been taken advantage of and found some of the food he gave out on the market.  Needless to say he is a bit cautious now when helping.  And that is fine with us.  We do not give out enough to one person or family that they would sell any of it.  I'm sure he will find that out and prayerfully help us with some things.  

David and Ginger's ministry is similar to ours, the ministry of helps.  They are willing to work with different organizations and help where needed.  They also have a heart of children who need help.  

School starts this week and we have signed Savanah up again.  Although we had heard that the adoption was finished, we have heard nothing from the lawyer.  He had told the birth mother it was finished now.  And another person heard him say that.  But nothing has come our way, nor to the adoptive mom on the subject.  So, we still need prayers for that.  Savanah talks constantly about "going home to her house in Canada".  And being with her mommy, daddy and sisters.  

Now that things have calmed down in our house, as far as getting things back to "normal", whatever that is, I am back to helping those who come to me for things.  The heat here right now has gotten to so many.  But I think we are heading into a "bit cooler time".  Which means the low 80's, which would be normal.  

I found something on the internet today written by Susie Larson.  I'd like to share that in closing.....
 "May you find a moment of peace and quiet tonight to thank God for all that is right in your world.  May you have the presence of mind to release your cares and worries to Him.  May you have the gritty faith to grab a firmer grip on His promises to you.  And may you wake up in the morning knowing that you've gained ground even during your sleeping hours because God is always moving on your behalf.  As you entrust your whole self to Him today, He'll get you where you need to go tomorrow.  Sleep well tonight."

We pray you are walking with the Lord and holding on to His Hand in all you do!