Wednesday, July 25, 2012
It is hard to believe it is August already. Where did our time here at home go. Soon we will be packing for Haiti as well. Our new landlord in Haiti has shared with us some special things they have done to our little cottage. Bud and I have been looking at all we have and deciding if there are things we can buy that do not require electricity. Our new little cottage is very much like a Haitian home. Our water is heated by the sun and we will not have electricity except for a few hours a day. Today we found out we have a car to look at when we return to Haiti. It is an older vehicle but God has blessed me with a husband who can fix cars. Praise the Lord. We also plan to buy a motorcycle for around $1200. This will make it possible for Bud and I to go in two different directions as our ministries require.
Bud and I are being asked by several different people to get activly involved with the work they are doing in Haiti. There are so many needs but Bud and I want to seek God in what he would have us to do. It is so easy to get burned out in Haiti trying to help everyone.
Our time here at home with our grandchildren and children has been wonderful. For the first time in 3 years Bud and I have not had to travel a lot to raise support. We have actually had a chance to just forget about Haiti and rest.
In the next few weeks I will continue to work on materials for the English Program that I will be helping with for Radio 4 VEH. I would appreciate prayers for both this program and the radio station.
We have had great vistis with Kate from Haiti. She has been staying with us off and on this summer. She will be returning to Haiti in Aug.
Wadner is here in the states now. For those of you who do not know him, he and I work together in Haiti. He is one of my Haitian translators. Better yet he is a dear friend and has now married a great friend of mine from my home church.
Please allow me to share another praise with you. During our time at camp 14 children gave me the privilage of leading them to the Lord and one of my grandsons also prayed and committed his life to Jesus.
Bud and I take very seriously our responsiblities as grandparents. This is why it is important to us to have this time here at home with them in the summer when they are out of school. Next summer we will take another 3 months home. Part of that time we will return to Seneca Hills Bible Camp and work as resident missionaries and of course we will take some of our grandkids with us.
Our desire is to be in Haiti on Sept 11 but our mission board has informed us that our account does not have enough support in it or enough Faith Promises set up to show that we will have the income we need to return. In order to leave the beginning of Sept we need to have our account healthy by Aug 15. We ask that all of our supporters make this a matter of prayer. Please contact us if you are having problems transfering your support from OMS to World Outreach Ministries.
Thank you so much to all of you who have already given to us in prayer and support. God has blessed us with a wonderful team. Praise the Lord. Jane
Bud and I are so very excited to share with all of you that we are now affiliated with World Outreach Ministries. You can find us on their website at worldoutreach.org. Bud and I will continue to live in the Vaudreuil area. God has opened so many new doors for us and shown us how He would like us to continue to serve Him in Haiti. Not all paths are clear yet but our call to serve Him in Haiti is still very clear. I will continue to work with children in Haiti and teaching English as a second language. One of the new ways I will be teaching English is on the radio 4VEH using Christian music as a tool for teaching God's Word. Not all is clear on how I will be working with children other than it will include street ministries and involvment in a local churches children's programs. God has shown me new ways to work with children like story telling that I am hoping to develope with Haitians who will be working with me.
Bud will be helping Missionary Flights International two days a week unloading planes. He will also be helping other missionaries in the area with mechanical needs. Bud has also made himself available to continue to help OMS with their generators as well if needed.
Together we are planning on helping in different ways with a local orphange. As our roles there develop we will be updating you.
This move has opened two opportunities for us. One is to live more simply and with less overhead than we have had in the past. God through our supporters has so graciously provided the things we need but it has been a struggle to meet all the financial requirements of our past mission board. This move cuts our base budget in half.
Secondly this move changes our status from being employees of a mission board to a relationship where we have an affiliation with a mission board and accountability and more freedom to follow the dirction we feel God is leading us in.
We have been so blessed by our supporters who have followed us to our new mission home.
When all the changes have been made and we see that we have all the support we need to return to Haiti we will. Our goal is to arrive in Haiti on Sept 11, 2012. Please pray with us that our support will be at the level we need by Aug 1 so we can plan our return.
Presently Bud and I are working at Seneca Hill Christian Camp in Pennsylvania as guest missionaries teaching children about missions. We will return home on Saturday, but will come back to camp in July for another week of working with these kids. Our email address has not changed. We would love to hear from you.
Each month I will update our blog as to what we are doing and how God is working in our lives. We want to be better accountable to you our readers as to what God is doing through us in Haiti.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
A Blessing
Monday morning after men's bible study I was at our office touching base with everyone and lining up my week. Brett our Field Director happened to mention that our van would need to go to Port-au-Prince to get some paperwork corrected. The plan was to leave on the 25th and tentatively return on Wed. the 28th.
This caught my attention, Jane & I have been trying to get our Haitian drivers licenses completed for the past 2+ years. Our paperwork had been started here in Cap-Haitian but due to the earthquake & other problems, everything was at a standstill.
While seven of us had flown to Port-au-Prince for the day in November 2010 working on our Permis-De-Sejour (Visas), after completing early, we went over to the drivers license center to see if we could get ones there quicker. There we found long lines but were helped by a man that said he could get the process started. They made copies of our current state side licenses and took our information. A month later we found that we would need to return to "Port" for photos and completion.
It all seems easy enough except when you figure $200 US dollars each to fly down for the day along with meals, guide & taxi, it can become very expensive. But now I find that our van is making the trip, that would shave off $400 right away, but 3 days lodging & meals at the OMS Villa Ormiso is still an expense along with a driver/guide.
We spent the week getting things in order here including any required paperwork & official numbers that we might need to finish. Kate Zlotnicki was making phone calls with a former English student now police officer in Port getting everything ready for us on that end. Jane's "Port" paper work had been lost so it was being started from scratch long distance.
We figured that with no glitches and if the van paperwork is completed that we would be making the 7+ hour trip back North on Wed. arriving late afternoon, none too soon as our daughters Gretchen and Marcia are flying in at 9:00AM on Friday.
If things didn't come together the plan was to hitch a ride with a friend or fly back.
On Wednesday evening we heard that the Cap-Haitian license center was once again processing some applications, but it seemed that you needed to know someone that knows someone that knows someone to get in line. Our Haitian paperwork person for the mission had been running a couple of days getting everything on this end in order for us for the trip.
On Friday morning at 11:00 while in a meeting we received a message, "come quickly to the licensing office for your photos" the previous paperwork had been found. We rushed right in and were able to complete our licenses.
What a relief, we now would not need to make the trip to Port, we could stay and continue to get things accomplished here, be ready for the arrival of our daughters and save some much needed support dollars.
We continue to marvel as to how God meets our needs here. We also know how our supporters sacrificially give and how each dollar needs to be guarded and used to its fullest to bring glory to God.
Bud
This caught my attention, Jane & I have been trying to get our Haitian drivers licenses completed for the past 2+ years. Our paperwork had been started here in Cap-Haitian but due to the earthquake & other problems, everything was at a standstill.
While seven of us had flown to Port-au-Prince for the day in November 2010 working on our Permis-De-Sejour (Visas), after completing early, we went over to the drivers license center to see if we could get ones there quicker. There we found long lines but were helped by a man that said he could get the process started. They made copies of our current state side licenses and took our information. A month later we found that we would need to return to "Port" for photos and completion.
It all seems easy enough except when you figure $200 US dollars each to fly down for the day along with meals, guide & taxi, it can become very expensive. But now I find that our van is making the trip, that would shave off $400 right away, but 3 days lodging & meals at the OMS Villa Ormiso is still an expense along with a driver/guide.
We spent the week getting things in order here including any required paperwork & official numbers that we might need to finish. Kate Zlotnicki was making phone calls with a former English student now police officer in Port getting everything ready for us on that end. Jane's "Port" paper work had been lost so it was being started from scratch long distance.
We figured that with no glitches and if the van paperwork is completed that we would be making the 7+ hour trip back North on Wed. arriving late afternoon, none too soon as our daughters Gretchen and Marcia are flying in at 9:00AM on Friday.
If things didn't come together the plan was to hitch a ride with a friend or fly back.
On Wednesday evening we heard that the Cap-Haitian license center was once again processing some applications, but it seemed that you needed to know someone that knows someone that knows someone to get in line. Our Haitian paperwork person for the mission had been running a couple of days getting everything on this end in order for us for the trip.
On Friday morning at 11:00 while in a meeting we received a message, "come quickly to the licensing office for your photos" the previous paperwork had been found. We rushed right in and were able to complete our licenses.
What a relief, we now would not need to make the trip to Port, we could stay and continue to get things accomplished here, be ready for the arrival of our daughters and save some much needed support dollars.
We continue to marvel as to how God meets our needs here. We also know how our supporters sacrificially give and how each dollar needs to be guarded and used to its fullest to bring glory to God.
Bud
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Two Months Have passed and so much has Changed
One of the joys we share on this field right now is having new people here to share the load. Bud, Cindy, Carol and Rick have joined our team and soon Cammie and Sam will be here as well. With all the new faces it has made it possible for our field to do so much more in Haiti. I hear all the time of new visions in all areas of our work. The seminary has plans to grow and better their ways of training pastors and Cowman School has plans to add a high school this next year.
My work here also has expanded. I no longer work with the sponsorship end of Starfish Kids. I now work more with special programs for the children. One program we are looking at is an academic challenge for our schools. This program will set up competitions between our schools at 3 levels. This is still in the works. We will have to raise money to cover the expenses of awards and materials for this competition. Other expenses will be to house 60 students who will attend our version of nationals here at the OMS compound. We will be looking for people who would like to get behind this program in the near future. We still do what we used to call "Jesus Parties" but now refer to them as school evangelism parties. These are parties where we show flannel graph Bible Stories and share the Gospel with the kids at school. We love to give out wordless bracelets to the kids which through colored beads tells the gospel story. We end our party giving our bags that people have raised money for full of school supplies and toiletries.
I continue to try to help our Pastors in the Starfish Kids Program as much as possible. They have so many challenges within their schools. I'm also trying to find time to spend with kids who are not in school including a group of children in the Plain du Nord area. I go there and sit with about 70 kids and read them Bible stories.
On Fridays I have a group of about 22 teens who come over from the Catholic school to practice English with me. I told them I would only do it if we could do it by reading God's word in English and have a discussion about what we read. They love to come and I love to spend time with them. I continue to teach English 4 times a week to adults and share the Gospel with them. I presently have 60 students in my level one and 55 in my level 2.
These past 2 months we have had lots of teams visiting us here. We have had the privilege of taking them out to distribute radios and share the Gospel door to door. I plan to share some of those stories with you in a future blog.
This past month in my spare time I am helping with the reorganization of our clinic. Dr Rodney has new visions and plans for the clinic but before we move ahead we need to do a lot of reorganization and do things to make the clinic run more effective. It is always good to look for ways to do things better and raise the bar for ourselves and improve how we serve first our Lord and then the Haitian people. It is great to see the changes.
Bud has been very busy too. He now has two other missionaries who help share in the maintenance work. Bud handles most of the mechanical work. He continues to meet with several Haitian men three times a week for Bible Study. He was sharing how exciting it is to watch them grow from week to week. His work never seems to end but God is faithful and keeps on showing his power and He provides all that we need each day.
Praise God for all His blessings. Please continue to pray for our needs and my health as I continue to have some digestion problems. Please pray for Bud's needs for parts and for wisdom in some of the vehicle problems we have been having. Please pray for our financial support as well, God has given us all we need for the next 8 months but we are still waiting to see what He has planned for the months after that.
My work here also has expanded. I no longer work with the sponsorship end of Starfish Kids. I now work more with special programs for the children. One program we are looking at is an academic challenge for our schools. This program will set up competitions between our schools at 3 levels. This is still in the works. We will have to raise money to cover the expenses of awards and materials for this competition. Other expenses will be to house 60 students who will attend our version of nationals here at the OMS compound. We will be looking for people who would like to get behind this program in the near future. We still do what we used to call "Jesus Parties" but now refer to them as school evangelism parties. These are parties where we show flannel graph Bible Stories and share the Gospel with the kids at school. We love to give out wordless bracelets to the kids which through colored beads tells the gospel story. We end our party giving our bags that people have raised money for full of school supplies and toiletries.
I continue to try to help our Pastors in the Starfish Kids Program as much as possible. They have so many challenges within their schools. I'm also trying to find time to spend with kids who are not in school including a group of children in the Plain du Nord area. I go there and sit with about 70 kids and read them Bible stories.
On Fridays I have a group of about 22 teens who come over from the Catholic school to practice English with me. I told them I would only do it if we could do it by reading God's word in English and have a discussion about what we read. They love to come and I love to spend time with them. I continue to teach English 4 times a week to adults and share the Gospel with them. I presently have 60 students in my level one and 55 in my level 2.
These past 2 months we have had lots of teams visiting us here. We have had the privilege of taking them out to distribute radios and share the Gospel door to door. I plan to share some of those stories with you in a future blog.
This past month in my spare time I am helping with the reorganization of our clinic. Dr Rodney has new visions and plans for the clinic but before we move ahead we need to do a lot of reorganization and do things to make the clinic run more effective. It is always good to look for ways to do things better and raise the bar for ourselves and improve how we serve first our Lord and then the Haitian people. It is great to see the changes.
Bud has been very busy too. He now has two other missionaries who help share in the maintenance work. Bud handles most of the mechanical work. He continues to meet with several Haitian men three times a week for Bible Study. He was sharing how exciting it is to watch them grow from week to week. His work never seems to end but God is faithful and keeps on showing his power and He provides all that we need each day.
Praise God for all His blessings. Please continue to pray for our needs and my health as I continue to have some digestion problems. Please pray for Bud's needs for parts and for wisdom in some of the vehicle problems we have been having. Please pray for our financial support as well, God has given us all we need for the next 8 months but we are still waiting to see what He has planned for the months after that.
Friday, January 06, 2012
Hi Everyone
Tuesday January 3
Jane & I are flying slowly over the Atlantic on our trip from Ft. Pierce, FL to Cap-Haitian on our return. While we fly peacefully along I am listening to soft music and reflecting on our time away. The immensity of it all brings tears to my eyes, How God would allow us to be involved in something so much bigger than ourselves, how so blessed we are to have such a wonderful and understanding family. We think of how God has called so many of you to give of yourselves in so many ways so that we may go. You continue to lift us up with your prayers and gifts of support.
Jane & I have had a wonderful time “out” seeing family, friends and traveling and sharing with supporters as to what God is doing in Haiti. It was a good time of refreshment and relaxation along with doctor visits, tests and Jane’s recent surgery.
We are anxious to get back to our jobs in Haiti, to pick up where we left off and to hold “Down the Fort” while Bud & Cindy Lenker head back to headquarters for a month of training.
Yesterday when we dropped off our luggage at Missionary Flights International they mentioned that Brett Bundy had stopped by earlier in the morning to do the same. Brett is our Field Director in Haiti and he and his family had been on home assignment since April and are returning on Thursday. With a few phone calls we were able to find where they were staying, we hadn’t seen their kids since April and wanted to surprise them as we are kind of their stand-in grandparents & they are our stand-in grandchildren while in Haiti. It was a great reunion with lots of hugs and squeals when we knocked on their door.
I often think while in Haiti that I get wrapped up in our work that I lose sight of the big picture. I think back to the saying “when you are up to your neck in alligators it’s difficult to remember that your objective was to drain the swamp”. So often I forget that God is in control and when I get sidetracked with emergencies or outcomes don’t meet my expectations I feel defeated not realizing that this is part of His plan of growing me.
It will be good getting back but know that we will be hitting the ground running, buying groceries & unpacking. I’m sure that there will be a steady line of Haitian well-wishers stopping by to greet us, happy for our return, Lunia will have the house spotless, Mono will have the yard manicured and so many more not to mention.
Well we are back and unpacked and ready for Wednesday. Thank-You for all of your love & prayers.
Bud
Jane & I are flying slowly over the Atlantic on our trip from Ft. Pierce, FL to Cap-Haitian on our return. While we fly peacefully along I am listening to soft music and reflecting on our time away. The immensity of it all brings tears to my eyes, How God would allow us to be involved in something so much bigger than ourselves, how so blessed we are to have such a wonderful and understanding family. We think of how God has called so many of you to give of yourselves in so many ways so that we may go. You continue to lift us up with your prayers and gifts of support.
Jane & I have had a wonderful time “out” seeing family, friends and traveling and sharing with supporters as to what God is doing in Haiti. It was a good time of refreshment and relaxation along with doctor visits, tests and Jane’s recent surgery.
We are anxious to get back to our jobs in Haiti, to pick up where we left off and to hold “Down the Fort” while Bud & Cindy Lenker head back to headquarters for a month of training.
Yesterday when we dropped off our luggage at Missionary Flights International they mentioned that Brett Bundy had stopped by earlier in the morning to do the same. Brett is our Field Director in Haiti and he and his family had been on home assignment since April and are returning on Thursday. With a few phone calls we were able to find where they were staying, we hadn’t seen their kids since April and wanted to surprise them as we are kind of their stand-in grandparents & they are our stand-in grandchildren while in Haiti. It was a great reunion with lots of hugs and squeals when we knocked on their door.
I often think while in Haiti that I get wrapped up in our work that I lose sight of the big picture. I think back to the saying “when you are up to your neck in alligators it’s difficult to remember that your objective was to drain the swamp”. So often I forget that God is in control and when I get sidetracked with emergencies or outcomes don’t meet my expectations I feel defeated not realizing that this is part of His plan of growing me.
It will be good getting back but know that we will be hitting the ground running, buying groceries & unpacking. I’m sure that there will be a steady line of Haitian well-wishers stopping by to greet us, happy for our return, Lunia will have the house spotless, Mono will have the yard manicured and so many more not to mention.
Well we are back and unpacked and ready for Wednesday. Thank-You for all of your love & prayers.
Bud
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