New Year’s Eve December 31, 2008

How are you celebrating NYE?

Today I found a quote by Corrie ten Boon “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”
I really needed to read that going into a New Year. So true. When we look around the World and the news, it would be easy to have fear of the future. But we have a God that already knows the end of 2009!! YES!! He will lead us and take us in His path if we trust Him.

I believe every country has their way of celebrating NYE and Haiti does too. There are parties, church services, fireworks, etc. January 1 is Independence Day. That is when everyone eats Pumpkin soup all day. A custom that started back in the slavery days. This was their freedom!! Then on January 2 is family day. That is when everyone has a big goat dinner, etc. This year will be so different for so many families. They lost their goats and animals in the hurricane. Our cook told me today that the church she attends usually has a big meal after the midnight service, but this year there was no money to buy the food.

There is another famous custom here. People clean their house (like “spring cleaning” in the states). They don’t want to take the house dirt into the new year. They also take a bath shortly before midnight, so their bodies are clean too. Not a bad idea.

But they forget about their hearts. They carry “dirt” for generations. The hatred, unforgiveness, deceitfulness that goes on in villages is unbelievable. If only they would understand how much more important it would be to go into the new year with a clean heart.

How much “dirt” am I carrying into 2009??

Good bye 2008 December 28, 2008

Wow, the time has slipped away. I thought I was keeping up with this, and suddenly Christmas is past and the New Year approaching.
I have been thinking a lot this Christmas. I am so glad I don’t need to wait for December 25 to celebrate Jesus!! I really need Him every day!! And to be honest, as I look around at “how” Christmas is celebrated, I get a bit disgruntled. I think it seems so artificial. I’m not trying to be a scrooge…well maybe I am..
But we did do something really fun. Someone sent a generous gift to buy clothes and shoes for Hurricane victim children. So Patrick went to the marche and bought LOTS of used clothes. We organized them and put them in boxes. Now the vehicle is loaded totally with boxes. Patrick leaves for the village tomorrow. There are enough boxes for 5 different villages. How exciting is that!! Now that is Christmas!
Hope you had a great Christmas!

Mayette Trip December 15, 2008

 

Patrick is in Mayette again. So much going on…Sunday afternoon there was graduation for 15 Bible School students. He went with a man from the city to install windows in the clinic and upstairs cabin. Today there are meetings. And of course, there is always the masons working on the clinic. Praying that is completed by March 1, 2009. Oh, and did I mention, he picked up the deaf girls from boarding school on his way out. They are out for Christmas vacation. Sounds simple enough, except for there are always glitches. This time he waited for an hour on the girls to get down from the mountain to meet him. Well, that was ok, better than driving all the way up the mountain to the school.

 

This was all his plans, but I haven’t heard from him since Saturday. But know he is fine. Barb received 600 hygiene packs to be distributed next trip out. The next trip will also have a teachers’ seminar. Oh there is always something to do.

Following are some photos from the hurricane repairs. A couple of the road repairs, and a couple of the food distribution. 

                  

A Day in Haiti December 4, 2008

Many people have asked to describe a normal day in Haiti. First of all, “normal” is compared with what? Is a normal day, when you have many interruptions and by the end of the day, nothing on my list has been completed? Or is normal, having a list, no interruptions and accomplishing a few things?

I’m more acquainted with the first “normal”!! Today was one of those days. First, training someone from 9:00 am – 12:00 noon. But in that time, many phone calls, people at the gate needing something, etc. By noon, I had probably made 12 trips up and down the 15 steps, from office to first floor. Yea!! my daily exercise. No need for a gym. haha

Then, of course, at noon, when I go out to open the gate for a friend to leave, I find someone sweeping our “yard” (a process so normal here, but un-heard-of in the States). I didn’t know the man. He assured me Pastor Patrick told him to come work. This wasn’t true. Oh dear, now what…he finished the job and left. 

More phone calls, the mechanic is here, and needs me. The phone rings…our son needs to know how long to cook a turkey. 

The end of the day, training started (that was on my list) and maybe 12 letters translated. Yes, that is it!! Oh my, the day was sooooooooo normal. Actually I felt right at home with this type of schedule. 

So, if you had a day with many interruptions, and your list not completed, remember there are others on the same schedule!! Isn’t it great to feel normal??

And the best part is, God is right here with us, He doesn’t check out when things get a bit out of hand. He just knows, He isn’t giving us more than we can handle. 

Oh did I mention, Patrick is in the village having his own “normal” day. 

Hope your day was great.