A Home for the Holidays

That’s exactly what our Christmas & New Year season meant…

Christmas Eve the power installation was miraculously completed and the lights finally came on in our house after 2 full months of waiting! It was just in time too, as our largest team yet, arrived at the guest house 3 days later. There would have been “no room in the inn” for us to stay any longer. So the move was imminent, but oh so much more joyful, knowing that we had electricity there! Electricity means lights, refrigeration, a couple of fans, communication, and running water – none of which are taken for granted in this country – we TRULY are grateful and completely undeserving of this gift!

The other surprise twist to our holidays, we are equally thrilled about. After feeling the rawness of waiting for a “home” to settle into here, we have gained heightened sensitivity to the need of children, everywhere we go...to have forever homes! While we have no plans to adopt in the process yet, we know that God has laid it on our hearts to do that again. In Haiti, the reality is that situations can arise quickly and sometimes mean gaining custody of kiddos, when you least expect it. One of the conversations we had recently was how we could be ready for that situation and how God would provide for the expense this time, as He so blatantly did with our four girls' adoptions, many years ago.

Experiencing His divine provision sustained us then…so we want it to be “crystal clear” again when the time comes.

Shortly after that discussion unfolded, with no answers other than “let’s pray about it”, we received a call. Rebecca was contacted and requested for a 5-day nursing contract in the U.S. over Christmas. They even offered to fly her round trip from Port au Prince. With all expenses covered and very generous pay offered, she accepted it with one goal in mind. It would be worth the sacrifice being away for the holidays if it meant that another child (or two?) might get to have a forever home someday too.

Again we rejoiced at His great provision and gift for the fatherless. Now, He has us on the edge of our seats as 2012 rolls in, wondering what adventures and plans are in store next!?

Please continue to pray for us to be faithful and to endeavor to seek Him first in everything we do this coming year. We are still feeling the effects of that semi-fragile state that occurs with having our “roots up” for so long this past year and have much to do as we are settling into our roles as well as our home at last!

As the holidays come to an end, we still marvel at the privilege of serving a God who lovingly “places the solitary in families and gives the desolate a home in which to dwell”. (Psalm 68:6 AMP)

Olivia, Emma, Tynan (w/Mignon), and Joseph getting the guesthouse ready for Christmas!