Friday, December 24, 2010

Dec 24,2010

Another suddenly in our lives. Thursday morning at 2:30 am Judy's brother called to tell us that their mother had a heart attack and wasn't expected to live through the day. We immediately started putting things in order, packing and calling the airlines to find out how quick we could make it to KY. We said our goodbyes to all our staff and headed toward the PAP airport around 7am. We flew to Fort Lauderdale....PTL! there were 3 seats left on the plane. As we cleared customs and immigration there we received another phone call that she had experienced another heart attack. We switched airlines....Ft Lauderdale to Tampa, Tampa to Nashville. As we landed in Tampa we received word that she had taken her final flight to be with her Heavenly Father...Sad that we didn't get to see her one more time but rejoiciing that she was no longer in pain.
Our week before had been calm as the political factions decided to wait until after Christmas to do their manifesting. The mission team from New Work Fellowship in Hopkinsville, Ky voted to come on down any way knowing that they might spend Christmas in Haiti. Great group. They worked pouring well pump bases, repairing and installing pumps, cleaning out containers on the property, ministering in the Burn Clinic and packing over 500 back packs and sacks for Christmas. What fun to see the faces of the children as they received these backpacks filled with hygiene items, toys and candy.
David Jr. and Betsy arrived on Dec 15th. We had meetings with Samaritan's Purse leadership to map out the direction for both ministries in the coming year. It was great to have them there for a few days not knowing that only 4 days after they left we would be returning to KY.
Please pray for our entire family....the ones we left behind in Haiti and the ones here as we say our last goodbyes to my Mom.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Tuesday Dec 14, 2010

The airport has been closed since last Wednesday. Prayerfully it will open today. Eileen Brenize has been here with us for a week and flies out today....God willing. She continues to oversee a program called "Hope for Tomorrow" that she and Dave started when they lived in Haiti. It is a wonderful outreach with Flannelgraph.
Much of the country was shutdown Wed, Thurs. and Fri of last week. People began to move out and get supplies on Saturday. Some of our staff went to the grocery and stood in line to check out for and hour and fifteen minutes. By days end the shelves were empty....just like announcing a snowstorm in the US.
Saturday Franklin Graham, his daughter, Sarah Palin and family and Greta VanSusteran and husband all arrived on the GO compound. They immediately took vehicles and headed north to see the cholera clinic and pass out Christmas boxes at an orphanage. On Sunday morning they arrived back on compound for breakfast and a service with all the ex-pats on the property. Had at least a 100 or more in the service.
Monday we were told that more manifestations would occur in town but the Lord sent RAIN...it is rare to have rain in Dec. Praise the Lord traffic was able to move again and David and I were able to go into the bank. It is amazing how we take for granted things like shopping until it isn't possible.
Today American Airlines is flying again. David and Eileen are on their way to the airport. Going in a couple of hours early. We know there is a tremendous backlog of people who want to get out but people who are ticketed for today get first chance.
I know it is COLD where most of you live but this morning it was 73 degrees on our galleria. BURR...that is cold for here especially with the dampness from the rains yesterday. Everyone has on long sleeves this morning.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Thursday Dec 9, 2010

Monday the team gave out food to the "old people" before going over to paint the last permanent home in the village. David and I took Mark to the airport before going to pick up supplies for the next couple of weeks. Tuesday the team was able to get to airport to fly back to WI and David spent the next several hours looking for parts needed to hook up a new fuel tanker that we purchased a couple of weeks ago. We have to have more fuel storage on the property and a tanker seemed the easiest way to do this. The results for the presidential elections were announced Tuesday evening late. Most of the people were not happy with the results so since Tuesday evening very few vehicles have moved in the country. Lots of manifestations, burning tires, burning vehilces and road blocks in the most of the country. We are fine where we are and can move about 5 or 6 miles north and south if needed but NO public transportation is moving. Five of our staff can't get to work as they live in closer to town. The president announced last night that there had been an error in the count but don't know what that will mean to the people or the difference it will make. This is the second day of total shutdown for the country. Pray that rational minds will prevail and soon people can get back to work, the stores can open, the banks can open, schools can open and the airport can function again. No one is moving in or out of the country. PTL! our team was able to leave on Tuesday. We hear that over 700 people are stuck in Miami because AA can't fly in here.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Sunday Dec. 5, 2010

Tuesday our team arrived from Wisconsin. The plane was 1 1/2 hrs late so it was a pitch black dark when they arrived at the compound. Wednesday and a half of a day on Thursday they bagged over 400 "family" bags of clothes to give out. God willing we will give most of these out on Monday afternoon in Grand Chemin. Thursday afternoon and Friday they painted two of the permanent houses inside and out that we have built in TiTanyen. Saturday was their day out and they visited an orphanage about 50 miles up the road. On Thursday a gentleman from Tampa arrived to spend a few days here so he has joined their team. One man on the team and his 17 year old son have done a lot of mechanic work. Always a blessing.
Today David preached at Shekina Church... had 4 people saved. Tonight he preached at Second Baptist in town and 10 people accepted Jesus as their personal savior. PTL! This is why we are here. ...to share the Gospel.