On the Road - Week #1

“Count Your Blessings”

Though we ARE officially without a “home” now, we haven’t yet been “homeless”! This first week on the road we have been blessed by so many of our brother’s and sister’s in Christ it has been amazing.

Sitting in the home of some good friends here in Lee, NH, I couldn’t help but notice a prominent sign above their fireplace. It is surrounded by frames holding the darling faces of their 4 boys… and it says: “Count Your Blessings”. That prompted a view of our first week on the road and all that it has held.

First, a huge concern was lifted off our shoulders as Calvary Chapel, Sawgrass offered to store our household goods bound for Haiti until we are ready to go... Through their organization, “Haiti’s Hope”, we also have the use of a P.O. Box for all of our mail to come into! Once we are in Haiti, they will hand deliver it each month – blessings #1-2

So far we have traveled 1,964 miles safely and our old Yukon is still holding up! – blessing #3

Ted’s cell phone was lost on day 2, but the restaurant called the last # and reached Stephen (Woodall), the friend we were visiting with. He was able to go back and pick it up for us! It will return to us by mail this week – blessing #4

The next day we found out that our friends at CCTI (Crisis Care Training International) had an enormous guest home available for our use. We had comfy beds and a wonderful time of fellowship with Phyllis Killborn, along with Richard, Dorothy, and Rosemary - her ministry team. Ted and I worked alongside them in Haiti last year providing children’s trauma counseling training – they were then and still remain mentors and true inspiration to us with their servant-like hearts. – blessing #4

While in the Carolina’s we also were invited for a delicious home-cooked meal by Chris, one of Tynan’s LETU schoolmates. MEATLOAF – everybody’s favorite! We had a great evening getting to know the Schultz family and hearing about their heart for missions. – blessing #5

On Saturday we arrived at Rick and Phyllis LeBranche’s home in Durham, NH. It was a REALLY cool place! Tynan calls it their “hobbit home” which is a compliment of the highest regard! We relished being surrounded by nature, the milder New England summer weather, enjoyed swimming, fishing & canoeing in the river, barbecuing with friends from Durham Evangelical Church, and sharing preparations for ministry. The LaBranches are moving to Ethiopia full time next year with WO, and their church partners with a WO Haitian church already. The twins were excited to make a new friend! Their youngest daughter, Kami, was also adopted and is going to be an MK in orphan care now, too!! – blessings 6 – 10

That leads us up to today, where we have just roused from a comfortable night’s sleep at our friend's home. We have been thoroughly blessed by their calm, sweet natures and their passion to live “radically” for God, however opportunity arises. We are looking forward to returning the favor when they come visiting us in Haiti one day, too! – blessings #11 -12

These are only the ones that we have quickly had time to count…there were SO MANY more leading up to this point in our ministry “journey”. We cherish them all, hard lessons included, as God uses them to get each one of us ready to minister for Him both here and now, and one day in Haiti.

Rhode Island is our next stop, where we anticipate a rare opportunity for making new memories with family and “old” friends. Pray for us also as we will be leading the Sunday service on 8/14 at Calvary Bible Church, a congregation that was planted by my grandfather over 50 years ago. They are my spiritual heritage and even invested in my nursing career many years ago…so we are excited to share where God is taking us next!