HAPPY 2014!

Well, since its the beginning of a new year, and a time when many people start anew on goals, to-do lists, books to read etc., I guess we shall make an attempt a new thing by doing our family updates on a blog.  Due to the insistance from our 16 yr old techy... its "much easier to post/send and a better read."
 And tho the term blogging intimidates the "not-so-great" writer part of me, after my frustrations of writing whole emails, trying to add a few photos that would give a good overview of whats been happening in our lives lately then needing to edit them because the file was too big to send, then ending up losing whole messages.... long story short, as I said, we'll try this.  Who knows?  Maybe it'll be so easy and fun, it will actually get updated far more often:) than my emails got done.

Where to start?  How do I put the last 4 1/2 mo.'s into a summary of words to describe all that our lives now entail?  I'm not sure....  I guess the best way is simply to start....
  As most of you know, we're in a term of service in Haiti, serving under Haiti Relief Missions (HRM). Our compound includes, 2 staff houses, including guest quarters, a church, a school, a clinic, shop, and sewing center. Kevin serves as the current administrator, and his duties range anything from putting new ideas to use such as starting a garden w/ sm. plots for each class in the back of the compound, harvesting bamboo to experiement building w/ native resources,  hospital runs (sometimes a couple times a day)  hauling lifestock to market on Fri's, or keeping up with all the financial paperwork, and changing money for umpteenth time. I have responsibility to keep the guest rooms all in recieving order and everyone's stomach's filled:), and scrapes bandaged. How we ended up here is a story of itself I'll leave for another time. Its been a stretching experience to say the least, yet so many wonderful opportunities, along with so many other feelings and emotions.  In order to give you an overview of some of the daily feelings we deal with, I will list some we have felt here.
Overwhelming Gratitude... for all the blessings we've experienced at home, that we SO take for granted.  namely, simply a roof over our head that isn't rusted thru so many places that when you take shelter in it during the rain, you feel like you have to dodge the leaks.
   ....an available dr. when your child gets sick w/o having to wait till its so bad the infections break out in open sores over other parts of the body...
...such easy access to water, at the twist of the spigot, instead of walking down the road even 15 min. to try to carry enough at least for that day, then needing to do it again the next and the next as part of every days duties.  Not to mention if your family's property happens to be halfway up the mountain or at the top of a steep climb....w/ the closest pump at the bottom. How many gal. containers would you be able to carry on one trip in order not to have to go back and forth too many times?
Joy..... to have the opportunity to serve in this way,  to watch the children do their best to build relationships bridging the culture gap w/ kindness and a heart for the youth their age.   To be able to help those less fortunate, being available to make connections for them they otherwise couldn't make.  For the opportunity to provide a loving touch w/ the many requests for band-aids on the slightest lil' cuts, scrapes or bumps....(the kids LOVE colored band-aids, they come to the door all ages, but especially the ones from 4-9 maybe and ask.... Si vou ple, eske mwen kab gey panse? "Please can I have a band-aid"

One of the newest darlings in the village.... Markenzley  and  his happy big brother, Roobens

....when another new life is born healthy and loved, ready to cuddle and adore (Haitians have the cutest babies!)
....when you learn another new phrase to add to your vocabulary! Yay! when you can continue to broaden the conversations you're able to have w/ the villagers....I long for the day when I can share on a more personal level, to share about what Jesus has done for me...(a small start when I was actually brave enough to attempt w/ my broken, limited Creole to give a small testimony in church...while introducing mom when she was here, explaining that my dad passed away & Giving God praise for His grace & faithfulness thru many difficult times in our life.  It is the practice each Sunday for each visitor to "present" themselves or be introduced by friends or family... since we rotate between 3 churches...Mom got introduced 3 times:) Something all you that will visit can look forward to:).
Disappointment.... .....when being on the mission field doesn't make the effort to be "more closely connected" to God easier like the idealist in me would want it to.
.....when you see attitudes of ungratefulness after sharing and trying to meet the needs of someone far poorer than you...
....when after your heart of compassion gives in to a heartrending story of poverty, and you might give to meet a need, to find out the story was far from true and they really only knew how to put on a good act.
.....when I see the girls after giving themselves away, become moms way too early then their "boyfriends" leave them to fend for themselves and the child.
Sadness.....when those same mom's, desperate to have their children succeed, beg me to take their children (last wk it was 6 mo. old twins! and a 4 yr. old) to add to our family. And I wonder how a mom's heart can do that, simply give her children away.. not knowing if she'll ever see them again.
Irritation....when there are those who already have a nice job and make more money than their neighbors, but still beg for more....

Aubrey loves "borrowing" her friend Colleen's school uniform to look just like the Haitians

Utter helplessness.... when the needs seem to far outweigh what can be accomplished during our term here.
But so often Heartbreaking.....when I hear children simply say they have no Papa, or they're not sure who their papa is, or if they know, that he doesn't want them, or that they are living with their grandma/uncle etc. because their parents weren't able to support another mouth to feed or werent committed to staying together as a family....or many times they are sent off to a distant relative in order to be able to go to school. I wonder what their lil heart feels like when it goes to sleep at night.  Don't they long for a close family connection?

 Doesn't the 7 yr old lil' girl next door (living w/ her 40 yr. half bro.) ever wish to come running in the door and just say Mom, I'm home! or have her mom hold her when she scrapes her knee and its bleeding, or read her a story before she goes to bed?  Are they simply content to have life as it is because this is just what life has been like for them and generations before them? Its not very unsual to hear them say they aren't sure when their birthday is or even how old they are, tho usually they'd make something up before saying I don't know. 
   To sum it all up... there's so much neediness around us, we are so blessed, I feel selfish just living our routine life. Yet, most people here in Labalein are happy people, and I love the enthusiasm with which they worship on Sundays and in services in between.  They LOVE when we come visit them and are very quick to offer a chair whenever you come. 

  We have made lots of new friends, some closer than others... and the children are busy keeping up w/ all of them besides getting school work done every day. Some love to hang out here at our house and others love to come to the twice weekly "play times", Wed. & Sat. afternoon's from 3-6.  Between these afternoons, the twice weekly eve services at the church 5 ft from our house, and 375 students in school every day from 8 - 1, our compound is rarely quiet and the space around our house rarely unoccupied. Which has been a challenge when one is looking for some alone time. Depending on your personality it can really grate on your nerves at times. Kevin says he never realized how private a person he was till living here. At times when he struggles with finding time to be rejuvenated and recharged you might find him locked into the guest room downstairs where noone knows where he is.
 
  Thank you all for your prayers and the many wonderful letters, cards, photos, & treats over the holidays. We missed home like crazy but the stuff sent sure helped ease the pain:). They made our day or more like Month!
 

Two men that get things accomplished!!:) Was great having Sam and Steve and Marilyn here for a long wkend.

 

Karissa's 14th birthday!!  We invited a missionary family from 2 hours away to come....they had alot of fun playing games etc. w/ other kids their ages.

 

Then Grandpa's came and we had so much fun finding stuff to decorate for Christmas! Along with all the candy and treats the kids loved...

 

We had a Christmas party for all Haitian the staff working here, we have aprox 35 teachers, 3 in the clinic, and 5 guys around the yard and shop.  We tried to be both Haitian and American so everyone for sure has something they like....Rice n Beans w/ chicken, banans and red beet salad, with christmas cut-outs, carmel corn and punch.  Was great having my mother-in-law here to help.

Then Mom came!!! Joy, Joy....with lots of cards and letters!!!More Joy!

 All the treats from friends and family were definitely a highlight!

Christmas morning dawned bright and sunny skies, like usual....which is wonderful most times, but seemed very "un-Christmasy.  But inside we did our best to make it seem more Holidayish.

 All we needed was family and friends to fill the table...Along w/ the Gospel message of the Savior's birth, thats really all we need to make Christmas complete....tho in heart we so missed the ones we would normally spend the day with.

It was great having Rachel's sister, Kendra, Aunt & Uncle Phil and Norma and their family & Mom join us as staff here for Christmas  dinner.  We had a wonderful meal thanks to the donated treats of good meat and Lettuce! for a good salad:).

 Passing out school bundles to all the students for a Christmas gift....

Having Mom and Kendra (Rachel's sister) be able to stay for 3 weeks was a wonderful blessing!We got lots of corners cleaned and sewed and lots of bread and cookies baked. If only they would've lasted longer.:)
These pics were taken on top of a mountain close by the cell pho tower.

   
A few ways you can pray for us specifically: 
............that we could daily be a shining light to the community here
...........for us to have wisdom to know how to best help those that truly need aid
........for us to have patience with those looking for regular handout, or ungrateful recipients of the aid we have to offer.
.........for those that are not interested in church to find and desire salvation and a new life in Christ.
.......for strength to accomplish daily duties, that we would not grow weary in well-doing.