We are extremely grateful to be home, after an unexpected two month Sabbatical in the states to help Olivia with some health issues and transition her back to living in the U.S. for the next year or so. We returned to Port Au Prince, disoriented & trying to decide whether we were worn out or refreshed from our time in the states. So much of our life now is a mixture of thoughts, experiences and feelings.

While in the U.S. we did get to spend time with all of our busy kids, including Ana, who flew in and introduced Oliver to the rest of the family - so precious!! We also got to catch up with a few friends, Ted’s family and attend his sister’s very special 50^th Birthday bash! We also reveled in hot showers, In-N-Out Burger, fresh veggies & fruit (especially blueberries!!), smooth roadways & cheap gas (yes CHEAP, Americans, compared to prices here)…this particular list is rather long so I’ll just stop there.

We intentionally took a temporary break from blogging until our return & then had to postpone it a little longer when we arrived to no electricity (during our waking hours) the first two weeks, head/chest colds, fevers, a few bouts of Haitian “happiness” and an expanded family “zoo”.

Fast forward to the present and we are just now feeling back on our feet again. Life has become somewhat familiar & routine once more. We’ve reconnected with friends and ministry partners and are gearing up for interns & our summer schedule. Next week we start up formal Kreyol lessons in hopes to finally gain ground on communicating better with our Haitian friends.

I usually post this on our ministry team page, but I’ve been asked multiple times the past few days what we need prayer over, so I’ll add it here this once.

Praise God with us –

• Our home is back in “working order” – running water & regular electricity are really “awesome”!


• For some great new friends that moved to Haiti recently – Sue Spinney & Jessica Williamson


• We had three small, but fantastic, teams of friends & family here a week after our arrival.


• For the privilege of helping our WO guest house cook take her niece for cleft palate surgery this week with Smile Train. The family was so thankful to God for this opportunity!


• Events this week & God’s provision led us to find a good hospital nearby for medical care, if needed. This was a big relief for the RN in the family! We have new friends there now, too.


• Emma has completed a record 6 subjects in school since January, thanks to Natalie’s help & her own hard work. She is finally becoming an avid learner and really thriving in her lessons.


• We had an excellent time catching up, brainstorming & fellowshipping the past few days with a WO partner team from NorthRidge Church near Detroit, Michigan. It is so exciting to see how God is using them and the local church to strengthen faith, families & communities here.

• For continued protection & health in our daily lives & work


• As Tynan and Anna, an intern from our home in Poetry, TX, travel to Haiti this week.


• In lifting up the final preparations for Ron (Haiti program director) & Vanessa’s wedding on Saturday, and for His presence and blessings over their new home, life & ministry together.


• As we daily look to walk in and with Him and for continual guidance in the work He provides.


• Over our first set of interns and a busy summer schedule of partner visitation & follow up.


• While we start to unveil opportunities for sustainability projects & holistic preventative care. Specifically for Rebecca in developing plans for maternity care in each community & Ted as he identifies & develops assets in each family & community towards stability & self-provision.


• As we follow up on the many “free-time” ministries that we’ve been assisting in at Kanes Village, Diakonos Orphanage and our friend Pastor Emmanuel’s church & orphan home in Archaiae.


• For a divine measure of aptitude & memory as we begin active study of Kreyol and try to quickly get up to a functioning level of communication.


• That both the guest house and our home will both continue to be places of ministry respite and refreshment.


• For the WO guest house calendar to fill up now that we are back & provide additional stability to our orphan ministry programs throughout Port Au Prince.

Here are a few photo highlights of our time in the states w/ Liv:

…because, well…there is just nowhere on earth quite...like...Haiti!!

We are extremely grateful to be home, after an unexpected two month Sabbatical in the states to help Olivia with some health issues and transition her back to living in the U.S. for the next year or so. We returned to Port Au Prince, disoriented & trying to decide whether we were worn out or refreshed from our time in the states. So much of our life now is a mixture of thoughts, experiences and feelings.

While in the U.S. we did get to spend time with all of our busy kids, including Ana, who flew in and introduced Oliver to the rest of the family - so precious!! We also got to catch up with a few friends, Ted’s family and attend his sister’s very special 50^th Birthday bash! We also reveled in hot showers, In-N-Out Burger, fresh veggies & fruit (especially blueberries!!), smooth roadways & cheap gas (yes CHEAP, Americans, compared to prices here)…this particular list is rather long so I’ll just stop there.

We intentionally took a temporary break from blogging until our return & then had to postpone it a little longer when we arrived to no electricity (during our waking hours) the first two weeks, head/chest colds, fevers, a few bouts of Haitian “happiness” and an expanded family “zoo”.

Fast forward to the present and we are just now feeling back on our feet again. Life has become somewhat familiar & routine once more. We’ve reconnected with friends and ministry partners and are gearing up for interns & our summer schedule. Next week we start up formal Kreyol lessons in hopes to finally gain ground on communicating better with our Haitian friends.

I usually post this on our ministry team page, but I’ve been asked multiple times the past few days what we need prayer over, so I’ll add it here this once.

Praise God with us –

• Our home is back in “working order” – running water & regular electricity are really “awesome”!


• For some great new friends that moved to Haiti recently – Sue Spinney & Jessica Williamson


• We had three small, but fantastic, teams of friends & family here a week after our arrival.


• For the privilege of helping our WO guest house cook take her niece for cleft palate surgery this week with Smile Train. The family was so thankful to God for this opportunity!


• Events this week & God’s provision led us to find a good hospital nearby for medical care, if needed. This was a big relief for the RN in the family! We have new friends there now, too.


• Emma has completed a record 6 subjects in school since January, thanks to Natalie’s help & her own hard work. She is finally becoming an avid learner and really thriving in her lessons.


• We had an excellent time catching up, brainstorming & fellowshipping the past few days with a WO partner team from NorthRidge Church near Detroit, Michigan. It is so exciting to see how God is using them and the local church to strengthen faith, families & communities here.

• For continued protection & health in our daily lives & work


• As Tynan and Anna, an intern from our home in Poetry, TX, travel to Haiti this week.


• In lifting up the final preparations for Ron (Haiti program director) & Vanessa’s wedding on Saturday, and for His presence and blessings over their new home, life & ministry together.


• As we daily look to walk in and with Him and for continual guidance in the work He provides.


• Over our first set of interns and a busy summer schedule of partner visitation & follow up.


• While we start to unveil opportunities for sustainability projects & holistic preventative care. Specifically for Rebecca in developing plans for maternity care in each community & Ted as he identifies & develops assets in each family & community towards stability & self-provision.


• As we follow up on the many “free-time” ministries that we’ve been assisting in at Kanes Village, Diakonos Orphanage and our friend Pastor Emmanuel’s church & orphan home in Archaiae.


• For a divine measure of aptitude & memory as we begin active study of Kreyol and try to quickly get up to a functioning level of communication.


• That both the guest house and our home will both continue to be places of ministry respite and refreshment.


• For the WO guest house calendar to fill up now that we are back & provide additional stability to our orphan ministry programs throughout Port Au Prince.

Here are a few photo highlights of our time in the states w/ Liv:

One of World Orphans American partner churches has a team that was down with us recently gathering final footage and is now putting the finishing touches on this project: a film sharing the inspiring story of one remarkable Haitian family! 

The head of the family & father of 10, just happens to also be the Pastor of their Haitian partner church for the Orphaned and Vulnerable Children program. It has been an awesome  privilege to watch how God uses the talents and resources of each partner, in the US and in Haiti, to do His work and to proclaim His faithfulness in ever creative ways...and to see the beautiful body of Christ in motion across the nations!

Read more and participate in some interactive pre-release fun here...

Haiti 10 is a true story about a family caught right in the middle of the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti in 2010. The documentary tells their story about how they helped their community recover. It shares...how faith, love and music helped pull a community together in the days following the horrific event. Music by: 5 time grammy award winner, Victor Wooten  Release Date: August 2012

I guess he heard I was coming & decided he wanted to greet me. I missed the delivery... but got to spend some extra precious time with little Oliver our first grandson and his amazing new parents!

Here is a peek at the little guy...

Enjoyed being there for lots of "firsts"...

first day at home

first bath

first 4 hour stretch of sleep

first doctor visit

first "Skype baby" call

first train ride

first smiles

Most of us still can't believe that we're grandparents, parents, aunts and an uncle... now, but we're all thrilled to have this new member of the family & looking forward to watching him grow up!

Rebecca

I’ll quickly jump ahead here and say “NO” it wasn’t that the Giants won! I’m not much of a football buff or even a fan, but since I was born into a 12+ generation family of New Englanders, I’m pretty sure that’s where my loyalty should lie. No smile there tonight. 

These were the words that warmed me in the wee hours:

“Truly my mourning has turned into laughter!!!! God has turned the utmost saddest day of our lives into the happiest day of our lives...Ecclesiates 3:4 ‘A time to weep and a time to laugh, A time to mourn and a time to dance.’ Now it is our time to laugh and dance.” 

These were from my school mate and dear friend, Becky Manthai today as her daughter, Susie’s, now-fiance` called to ask for a mother’s blessing as he prepared his surprise marriage proposal.  Yes, Becky was the one to respond...something I know she would never have dreamed of 5 years and 1 day ago.  You see, today is also the 5 year anniversary of her husband, Stephen Manthai’s sudden death in their home. 

As I browsed the smattering of posts both by Becky and Susie this evening, I compared them to ones that I had read earlier in the day...memorial notes and a beautiful blog post by Susie sharing the story of God’s faithfulness to them these past 5-years. 

My precious friend is a widow, her 8 children are single parent “orphans”. They have hung on to God’s promises to care for both. Others have stepped up to follow God’s command throughout scripture...where even from the earliest days with the Israelites, he implored his people to:

“wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds
   out of my sight!
Stop doing wrong,
learn to do right!
Seek justice,
   encourage the oppressed.
Defend the cause of the fatherless,
   plead the case of the widow. (Isaiah 1:16-17)

While many families that I know have adopted children, taken missions trips, given resources for all various charities that provide orphan care and help for the impoverished and oppressed, such as widows, it doesn’t necessarily take stepping that far out of our daily lives to do such a thing. Becky isn’t from a third world country, yet she was left without an income source, the possibility of losing her home. In an instant she became a single parent with a household of grieving children and in need of everything from comfort to companionship and school tuition to food for the table. 

Just so you see how God uses others to provide in ways above and beyond what Becky could have “ever asked or imagined” look at the joy that she has been an example of, especially today. It rests firmly in His faithfulness to her family during their darkest moments. They are a family that will forever make BOTH of their “fathers” proud with their steadfastness in allowing the heavenly one to refine their hearts and lives with such a beautiful testimony.  

Susie wrote: 

“There was a knock on the door, I opened it, and there was a man on his knee with a ring. Stephen and I are engaged. (And I know Daddy is smiling from heaven.)” 

I think both of her “Daddy’s” are standing there overjoyed, the redeemed one and the Redeemer as they laugh together over the wiped tears and beaming faces of this family! 

Susie’s blog post earlier today explains how so many “believers and non-believers” have become God’s provision for them over the years...and how she knows God will continue to provide.

I ask that you stop and remember God’s call to his people and find some way...many ways...every way possible in your current situation to obey His command. He has sacrificed so much for you, an orphan, in order to bring you into His own family...won’t you be willing to do the same for others?

If you are a widow or an orphan reading here today...I encourage you to stand firm in His promises, call upon His name, and He will LISTEN!!

Rejoicing!

- Rebecca

The sun sets on the cross at St. Christopher in Titanyen where thousands of victims were buried in mass graves. Preparations were made for the two-year anniversary of the Jan. 12, 2010 earthquake as workers built stands and monuments in Titanyen, Haiti, on January 10, 2012. 

CARL JUSTE / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

It's here.

That day, 2 short years ago...when in moments, an earthquake changed the fabric of Haiti forever...and God began to reveal His plan for weaving this country, the people and especially the orphans…into the eternal tapestry of our lives as well.

Unlike the Haitians we have not lost anything or anyone, but rather gained an additional “homeland” here on earth, filled with friends and lessons we never dreamed of. Most of all, we have been gifted with a little better perspective of what our heavenly world will be like. You see, the “new heaven and new earth” will be filled with the joy and beauty and love of countless Haitian brothers and sisters and we will worship together there, just as we are here and now.

As we enter this marked day of remembrance I have a picture in my mind that is due to our many experiences here over the last few months. You see we have learned that the Haitians have a HUGE faith and that they LOVE to worship!

So, I can imagine a very similar gathering in heaven today…of those that have gone on before. I can see them clearly, a huge and beautiful throng crowding around the presence of their Savior, blessing him with their heavenly voices and raising their perfect arms in love and praise. Rather than broken bodies and crushed lives, this year, I am able to envision thousands of the redeemed, standing before him and basking in His glory as their loved ones despite their mourning and grief rise up here to do the same.

From the first morning rays of the intense Haitian sunrise, people will gather in crowds throughout the city, at churches, and in their homes to celebrate the memory of their loved ones and to thank the Lord for sustaining them through these years of unimaginable tribulation. What is more incredible to me is that God has brought us here to stand with them on this very personal day. I pray that we can join in with the depth of praise and worship that is due him for the path that He set our feet on 2 years and for the grace, mercy and faithfulness that he has even shown us, who are so less deserving.

Haiti suffers still, but for most, today is a day to stop and cherish life and memories and blessings. No one can appreciate the importance of those things more than the Haitians can. Reminders surround them and the wisdom that comes from a first-hand experience of its fragility is marked on their souls.

I was reminded today of a short passage in CS Lewis’s “Screwtape Letters” where Satan’s well – versed helper, Screwtape himself writes to advise his nephew and demon protégé’, of various methods and pitfalls in gaining souls for their “Father Below”. He writes “And how disastrous for us is the continual remembrance of death which war (tragedy/disaster…) enforces. One of our best weapons, contented worldliness, is rendered useless…” Rather during such times, we are jolted into the fact that we cannot live forever, our hearts are turned toward the eternal perspective and finally, we are drawn back to our hope, our faith in God.

Americans received a rude but more subtle awakening with tragedy of 9/11, but this generation has never been rocked to the core in any comparison even near to the Haitians experience with the quake. The church in America has so much to learn from the testimony of the body of Christ in Haiti though; their faithfulness in many ways reminds me more of Job’s. He was not tested to strengthen his faith as much as he was to prove it. That is what I see here & it’s remarkable!  Faith is the cornerstone of my Haitian brothers and sisters lives, perfected in weakness, and their joy in the Lord is truly infectious!

Please stop and take a moment to pray with us for three things today.

1 - The people of Haiti…we always receive the same request from them - not for money or food or better houses or health - but “that they would grow closer to God in everything and be strong.”

2 – That the people of the U.S. and other self –sufficient countries would desire the same prayer as their first thought each day…and remember to pray less for themselves and more for others as they reach out and learn to sacrifice themselves, for the Haitians & for others who are suffering around the world.

3- Remember the orphans. Haiti remains strewn with an enormous population of fatherless since the quake, as well as those whose parents cannot afford to raise them. They are vulnerable and often alone.

May you each be blessed and be a blessing in some way today!

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!

http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=caaf2697932ad8c2d11cf44bb&id=c8578eabf7&e=9c70eb4ec4

There are no amusement parks in Haiti…but everyone living here experiences the constant rhythm of “up & down”, “on & off”, “open & closed”, “hurry & wait”...life is always in motion here, it never seems to stop. We learned a lot about paradox in our training at MTI this fall, but nothing prepared us for how complicated life in Haiti can feel. There are no easy answers here!

For example, yesterday, as our plan to go out shopping for household items developed - the questions were many:

Do we (street) shop for furniture ourselves?

What area of town would be best?

Is it reasonable to compare prices when everything is so spread out?

Do we just buy whatever we find that “works”?

Should we ask a Haitian friend to help out?

If we find something we’re interested in, do we ask the price?

Or do we park several hundred feet past, “out of sight”, and send our dark skinned friend back to ask?

What amount can we expect to “dicker” down to?

How will we know what is a “fair” Haitian price for an item?"

Our few appliances were relatively easy in comparison. They were purchased at a little chain of shops well marketed with their red signage all over town – Nino Cell. If you go to the downtown Port-au-Prince store, you will actually meet Santorino, better known as “Nino”, himself. He is a friendly guy, middle-eastern, speaks English and has the lowest prices on new appliances that we’ve found. The first time we went there to look at his selection, we ended up purchasing 4 fans. While Nino may have a more accessible way for us to acquire our household necessities here, it is still nothing like shopping and checkout at our local Target or Walmart in the states!

First, you examine the options available. This might mean rearranging half of the store to get to each of them and to look them over. Next, you choose what you would like to purchase and go to the counter to let them know. The attendant writes up a receipt. Take the receipt to the cashiers “window” and pay the total cost (bonus= no sales tax!). Before you leave the store with any hand carry items, you must wait for them to be brought from storage, watch while each are unwrapped, plugged in and examined to ensure that they work properly, since there are NO returns. Yes, this includes each & every fan, string of Christmas lights, or anything else electronic. Once everything is packaged back up again you are free to go. Unless the purchase is the slight bit “bulky”, as in the case of our 4 fans (never mind you that there were 4 of us to carry them out); at that point, an attendant will insist on carrying them to the car for you and putting them in. A tip is anticipated, of course (thus erasing your tax-free “bonus”…).

Yesterday was not as simple. We have furniture to purchase, on a budget, and the best place to get that, the only place in our price range, is on the streets! The mere thought of street shopping gave birth to the barrage of questions I listed earlier. With little choice, we opted to attempt it.

The first item that we decided to try buying, was a Haitian -style, rustic, handmade, wood & rattan love seat with 3 matching chairs. We began here, because it was something that our Haitian co-worker, Ron had checked for the “right price” on previously, since they are on a corner near his home. He was quoted “5500 gourdes, the equivalent of $137.50 American. We also decided to take Jn, another friend, with us to interpret &to help us get the “right price”. Once we arrived near the corner, scoped out a good place to pull over & parked safely on the roadside, the pressing decision was whether we sent him or went ourselves. Since neither of us had seen it close up, we decided to all go together, leaving Tynan to “watch” the car. We walked back to the corner, where the furniture had been sitting for the past couple of weeks. Jn asked “how much” for us & the builder replied $1800 Haitian dollars or 9000 gourdes; MUCH more than he had told Ron the week before! The initial disappointment began to set in, when he remained firm on the price, despite Jn’s calm attempt at bargaining him down to a fair one. After several moments of discussion and an explanation that we are not the “rich” Americans that he supposes us to be, on our ministry budget, we finally turn and walk away. Jn tries for a few more moments, then gives up and joins us at the car. We all climbed in, discouraged that our “idealistic” first attempt to both stay on budget and invest in the local economy, had failed.

In frustration, our discussion turned to what we should do next, and how we should go about purchasing anything from there on out, when a knock on the window interrupted. The artisan peered in through our dust laden window, as Jn rolled it down to interpret. He was there asking to negotiate, at last, and wondered if we would re-consider buying for the price of 4500 gourdes ($112.50 American) - half of his initial firm price & 1000 gourdes less than the offer we had made initially.  Instantly, we climbed back out and agreed! The set was loaded up Haitian style: on the roof, with seats folded down & ourselves packed in next to it. We left grateful for God’s provision and stunned with our success after all! The thought lingered though as we drove off:  “Why didn’t the seller agree to the original offer before we left?…he would have made an additional $25!”

There is still so much for us to learn here, and some situations in Haiti that even they don’t understand! Jn seemed as shocked as we were with the turn of events. But those are just a couple of stories from daily life here. The complication when it comes to families, children, poverty, and specifically orphans, runs even deeper. Pondering those, within the rhythm of Haiti, makes me very glad that we serve with the guidance and prompting of an omniscient and sovereign God, who has a perfect love and plan - both for them...and for us!

The guest house however, has been OPEN for visitors since June 2010! While Ted with several trips back and forth, and our Haitian co-worker Ron have pieced together much of its care and oversight, God has been the one faithful to sustain it.  He placed several very special people to work here & to be His instruments for that purpose.

First is Rosalee – She is our head cook and housekeeper, the anchor in a storm when teams are here. Rosalee was a cook for the well-known, five story, Hotel Montana before the earthquake demolished it. She survived and God led her to us several months later. In need of a job & a Christian woman, she agreed to come on board, though we know it was for much less than she made before. We learned recently that the Hotel is rebuilding, and called to offer her a job again. While she could go back and probably do much better financially there, she says that there is more to a job than money. She feels a sense of love & family here that is worth far more! We are SO grateful for Rosalee…in ways far beyond the outstanding meals that she is quickly becoming famous for here.

Next, Rosalyn – The smiling assistant cook and housekeeper that Rosalee brought in to help. Rosalyn is a joy and delight with her quiet ways and we love to hear her chuckle as any praise or humor meets her ears. Rosalee is hardworking and always ready to take on a challenge. She blesses us with her insight and knowledge, yet has an open heart to learn and Rosalee has taught her much this past year. We could NOT keep this place afloat without either of them!!

Joseph – A large, shy, bright-faced young man of 19 that serves as our house maintenance and security guy. Joseph was on his own at 17 when he came to live at the guest house & take on this position. It has given him an opportunity to finish high school now and to have a “chance” in life. He was an orphan, but has a place to belong now, and we all love him like “family”.  At 19 he is blossoming – if you can say that about a 6 ft tall Haitian guy – and we are all blessed by his honesty, loyalty, protection, and good humor.

Jn Robert – Jn (pronounced like Zhaan) is not actually “on staff” here at the guest house, but has been a regular driver for our teams over the past year. He is a friend and supporter for the work that World Orphans does here, and is always willing to lend an extra hand however he can. He has been studying English very hard & hopes to help as an “official” interpreter for our teams one day soon! Meanwhile he is always happy to explain life in Haiti and the language, to learn about EVERYTHING in the world outside Haiti, and to interpret whatever he can. We LOVE his companionship and heart for the orphans of Haiti!

Last, but not at all least is Ron – Our co-worker, Director of the OVC program, interpreter, cultural guide, businessman, philanthropist, and amazing FRIEND! Ron is a force to be reckoned with. He cheerfully and wisely shepherds the growing relationships between our partner churches. For a young man he is beyond his years in godly advice, having a life open to God’s calling, and in putting his faith into action. Ron works for the Lord before he works for WO, and it shows in everything that he does. I’m not even sure if we have learned yet all of the ways that he serves the orphans and the needy of his beloved country, but can confidently tell you that it goes far beyond his work with us. He has an endlessly ENORMOUS and generous heart! Ron not only visits the Haitian pastors regularly to see how their programs are going, but organizes each of the teams while here. On top of that, he kept everything at the guest house going this whole past year! We cannot thank God enough for the blessing he is in our lives and the joy we have serving with him…and soon, Vanessa, his future “wife”!!

It crossed our minds that there was so much to be thankful for this past year from our journey ending in this new home to the way that each of these individuals has served the Lord in their work this past year, that the only way to celebrate our “holiday” this year was to acknowledge both! So, as a last minute idea, we gathered the women together and asked if they would help us by cooking together on the weekend - a thanksgiving “feast”.  It ended up being a fantastic and abundant blend of American and Haitian cuisine! Each of the staff brought their family members; we fellowshipped and laughed together all day as we worked and into the evening as we enjoyed the meal. Ted gave a “speech” specifically thanking each of the above individuals for their work on behalf of the Lord and the orphans, and we shared from scripture:  Matthew 25:40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” …to remind each one of us that everything we do is not only for the orphan, which is a great cause, but actually for Him and Him alone.