Spring UPDATE

Excerpted from a letter to one of our precious prayer partners - Faith Bible Church in Citrus Heights, CA

"This year has been quite an intense time. We can hardly believe at how fast it is flying by already. It is unfathomable that we are in June! Of course that is partially because it always feels like the summer months here, so we struggle to differentiate the seasons. 

I will just apologize right up front for not being able to get many updates out. I (Rebecca) am the main communicator and my free time has become very limited lately. I am just about to finish my 3rd term full time in the online portion of my masters midwifery program. It has been intense to say the least and taking up nearly all of my time! Ted has had so much happening with Operation Blessing too, it has been one concern or need after another that must be addressed all year. Thankfully God sustains us, because we often feel the need for strength far beyond our own.

Emma is here with us for a while to help out with the household and be an extra pair of hands with Syndie during the summer months. We are very thankful for that!

I have not had time or the internet strength to update the ministry page on our blog site regularly, so am just going to list those things that we are grateful for and in need of further prayer on in the coming months...

PRAISE - 

• Olivia had surgery on her foot his spring and it went very well, she has had a long but so far successful recovery.

• Syndie graduated from kindergarten last week! this is a huge event for her as it is the first time that she has been able to attend a full school year ever! She is now fluent in English as well and just generally full of joy and life.

• We are nearing the end of a year of trying to gather all of the necessary adoption paperwork and able to get moving forward on it at last.

• Rebecca was able to train another postnatal nurse in Hinche, Haiti this spring and we all attended the graduation of another class of Skilled Birth Attendants for Midwives for Haiti in March.

• We are expecting our second grandchild this fall - Tania is pregnant with a baby girl!

PRAYER -

• Continued strength for each of us with so many responsibilities and ongoing needs to be met.

• Spiritual refreshment & renewal as well as time for rest and Sabbath each week.

• Provision of the perfect clinical sites to line up for Rebecca for early next year. The ability to do part of her clinical practice here in Haiti. This requires finding a CNM who will travel down for an extended period of time. 

• Olivia to have continued healing and recovery with her foot, that pain will subside so she can get back to work.

• For Tania to have a healthy pregnancy and delivery in the fall. Also that despite being pregnant she will find and obtain the perfect summer job.

•  Ana will be traveling to the states in July-August with Oliver. Pray that we will all find a way to get to visit her in CA as well during her time there.

• Tynan and Emma as they continue to navigate what to do or study next.

• Two big ministry projects that are in the works - a midwifery school here in Port Au Prince and a computer programming outsourcing project. WE NEED resources AND leadership for these projects to move forward...and are just ready & waiting to get them off the ground.

• We ask for favor on our adoption paperwork and that the process will begin to speed up here in Haiti this next year.

• VERY IMPORTANT PRAYER PLEASE for Kervensly, the little boy that is still in Syndie's old orphanage. She calls him her "brother" and we continue to seek a way to gain custody so that he might be included in the adoption. Time is running OUT as we are going to "age out" (too old) in September and won't be able to go through the adoption process twice! He has severe medical needs that we feel will be life threatening in the O, but could easily be managed in a stable home. PRAY FOR OPEN DOORS!!!

• Always...we ask prayer for the people, the moms, the children of Haiti! pray for continual outpouring of truth and faith and love here among the Haitian christians. Pray for the needs of the oppressed to be met and for orphans to be prevented or well cared for by extended family. 

• PRAY for those in dire need, like in the mountainous South-east region of Haiti just now, where they have suffered a severe drought and had NO drinking water nearby for weeks now. Pray for the people to be sustained and for the coming trouble when they have no more food stores left and crops have been lost. Keep them calm and trusting in you, kind to their fellow man and faith-filled with your provision. Pray as Operation Blessing comes alongside to bring drinking water and assist with physical needs. Pray that they will be pointed to the real source of LIVING WATER through the ministry received.

• Pray for a mountain side ministry that is being acquired by OB in the coming months. Guidance on how to support the projects there and meet the needs in this remote area.

• Pray for the remote lake side villages Ted is working in - that are being supported with clean water, education and economic development - to grow and flourish with all that God has provided in answer to their prayers.

Again we thank you for always taking the time to lift us up. WE know that it is your prayer that often sustains us when we are in need of it the most - DAILY! Please let us know how we might pray for you as well."

MOST IMPORTANT NEEDS - 

 

• Leadership for a computer programming training project - to help get it up and running here.

• A CNM to precept Rebecca next year (needs to be identified & approved in the next few months)

• Resources to cover expenses for a new Skilled BIrth Attendant training school here in PAP.

• Volunteers to come work alongside us, help with household projects or "hold our arms up"!