The bumps in the road...

I just sent out an email and thought I should update everyone on here also.  Lots of prayers needed.  I'm also including a picture or two for you all to see what is going on.

Here is the letter:
 

Greetings to all,

So much has gone on lately, but I will try to catch you all up on happenings here.  Well, not HERE, but in our lives.

After the New Year began, we were excited about the upcoming team from our home church.  Did the planning and tried it get things all done before they came.  THEN...

The morning the team was to arrive, I checked email before heading out to the airport.  There were two emails... one from our daughter Michelle and one from our son, Dale.  Michelle's husband had passed away at 1:00 AM that morning.  Well, we prayed first, and cried a while.  We felt her pain and knew we had to do something to help.  But with the team coming, it was a bit of a situation.  Needless to say, prayers again! 

As much as I wanted to be with Michelle, I also wanted to be with the team. The team started out great and was able to do so much...but they agreed that I needed to go to Michelle.  They arrived on Sunday, and I left on Tuesday.  My flight to be with Michelle was on Thursday.  Had a meeting at MFI on Wednesday to cover some needed items, then prepared to fly to Mobile. 
 

Had an interesting flight...almost missing my connection since I had to RUN the length of the Atlanta airport.  But I did make it and arrived here in good time. 

The arrangements for the memorial went along and we finished things quickly.  Then our son, Dale was to fly in.  His adventure was much more involved than mine, due to flight changes, snow delays and then FOG here in Mobile.  His plane was diverted to New Orleans and he ended up spending the night there.  Michelle and I had spent a few hours at the airport here waiting for him, and hoping he could make it.  But he did arrive on Friday morning and then in the afternoon, our son, Todd, his wife, our son, Tim and his wife arrived.  So we had most of the family here to be with Michelle.  There was no way our daughter Christine could get off of work to be here, but she was with us in spirit.

The memorial was really good.  I really like the pastor.  His message was great but also fun and he included very neatly the message of salvation.  Michelle didn't want sad memories shared, so Pastor Chris shared some great stories.  Met more of Wayne's family and their friends.  It was a good time.  We were all able to spend some good time with Michelle and had some good family times.  Sad reason for the gathering, but good to be together.  

Since everyone left, Michelle and I have had some good time together.  I stayed to help her through some of the hard things, but it's all taken care of.  Tomorrow (Friday), I fly back to Fort Pierce and then on Tuesday, into Haiti.

But this morning Don called with news that was a bit unsettling.  Yesterday, the Canadian embassy in Port au Prince (where Savanah's final paper is), was closed down.  They fired several people because of corruption.  (I honestly don't know yet what the whole story is and only have a small idea of what happened).  I immediately called Guerline (Savanah's new mama).  She didn't know of this either and is having the adoption agency there check things out.

So, at this point, I'm asking you to pray, for several things!  First, for Michelle and her boys as they are transitioning through without a husband and father.  Second, for the situation with Savanah's paper we need, no matter where it is or what is needed.  And lastly for my flights, both tomorrow and Tuesday, when I return to Haiti.  I know the next week or so is going to be really tough for Michelle, so ask for special prayers for her.  

We do have folks staying at the dorm now.  Pray for Don and Bud as they attempt to get our water back working.  OH, I didn't mention THAT problem.  Our water pump ended up with a major problem BEFORE I left.  Our team from our home church was on very restricted water since the pump didn't work well.  And at this point, it is still a problem.  Prayerfully they can put a new pump in tomorrow and get the water up and running again.  Just another prayer request going your way.

Through all of this, I know the Lord is here right beside us all the way.  I know He has His Hands on us and will be with us and keep us.  I really do not know what I'd do without His help and guidance and also peace.  The Lord promised to be with us through all of our struggles and He has certainly been doing that!!  I just keep leaning on Him in all things and in all ways.  

So, there is our catch-up and we are praying all things will continue to be guided and directed by Him.  In all things, Praise and Allow the Lord to lead.

So, now you know how to pray.   

Here are a couple of pictures of our family.... first one is me with four of our kids.  Next one is Dale, Tim, Amy, Todd, Debbie and Michelle.

 

 

 So, please pray and remember to keep the Lord Jesus at the front of all you do, and live your life for Him.   Blessings!!!

Christmas Blessings to all!

I realize it's still a week till Christmas but I have a feeling with the girls out of school now, I won't be able to get on and post again.  So, wanted to send our Christmas blessings out to all of you.  Praying your Christmas is blessed, but also that it is Christ centered.  

We are going to be sharing with the girls that Christmas is important, in the fact that the Lord sent His Son to earth.  But it's not just about the season, it's about the reason.  The reason He sent His Son was to die on that cross for me and for you.  He came to take OUR place, so we can spend eternity with Him.  That's the real reason to celebrate... that the Lord loved each one of us so much that He sent His Son to take our sins on His shoulders and to die in our place.  That is the most awesome Gift anyone can receive.  

Our girls had their school Christmas program yesterday.  They had it at a church about half way to Limbé (about 10 miles +-).  But from what everyone has said, it is a really fantastic church where it was held.  I ended up sick just before leaving, so didn't get to go. Don said it was a nice program and Savanah sang loud and clear.  And Abbie did very well, too.  They both really like to sing, so I have no doubts they did well.  

Before they left, I was able to get a few pictures of them.  Also got one of a reluctant Vero, too.

Abbie had a new outfit and Vero's aunt gave her new socks and shoes to wear.  

  

Abbie is getting tall, but wore shoes that were a bit much.  But she still looked great.

 Our girls just before they left for the program.

 I wanted to share with you that we are praising God that Savanah's passport IS finished.  The problem now is that we have to wait for the paper from Canada before Mom can come to get her.  And that office is closed until January 2nd.  So, keep the prayers coming, but we are now looking at the final days.

We have gotten word that there are demonstrations in Port au Prince but not sure what it's all about.  Just glad we are on the northern coast and don't have that problem.  Things are slowing coming around and getting cleaned up here, after our horrid rains and mud slides.  

On Thursday we were able to get the container at the airport straightened out and most of the smelly clothing out.  Had customs come out and look at the mess before we did it.  They gave permission for us to take the wet, awful smelling clothes out.  But they didn't want them there at the airport garbage.  Brought them home and decided to try and maybe wash them.  To our surprise, most of the things washed pretty well.  It was almost totally little children's clothing.  Some went to several different places and some going to two different people to help them set up a business selling things.  A very small start, but something.  Children's clothing is hard to find and expensive when you can find it.  So that awful mess has turned into a blessing for many.  The mission they were meant for refused to take them, thus... we found a way.  The Lord finds ways to take disaster and turn it into blessings.  

Well, for now, have to close and get to the girls.  So, from our house, here in very warm, humid Haiti, to yours.... A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
 

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!!