Well... we've finally LANDED!! It was a long drawn out process and we were exhausted heading into it. You can only imagine how exhausted we are now. I can't even imagine. My bones just ache. I'll spare you all the dirty details. Basically, our flight out 5:30 AM Wednesdsay morning was cancelled and they couldn't get us here - even via another airline - before dark in PortAuPrince. So, we stayed the night in Miami and landed in PAP 9:09 AM Thursday morning... just 22 hours late and with not much sleep. Just count yourself fortunate you didn't have to witness any of the reality of the two of us carting back and forth and forth and back 7 checked bags, 2 carryons and 2 backpacks plus the two free little fleece blankets and pillows we got from the plane! The Lord was very gracious and provided for us at every turn anything we needed - especially extra energy when we didn't have it within ourselves.
We finally arrived to our apartment yesterday after noon. We stopped at the store and picked up some important things like toilet paper and bleach. We stopped at the Baptist Haiti Mission because our driver had an errand to run and we took advantage of that and bought a fresh baked twist and pull dinner bread. YUM!! We caught a glimpse of Trey and Chelsea just as they were leaving Haiti to serve at Crossings Cedarmore. Then we stopped at our old apartment and picked up the propane tank so we can cook. By the time we made it home Chris had to be back down at a meeting with Pastor Eschelet and I unpacked what I could. As Chris was coming back in the door from meeting with the pastor his phone rings and it's Pierre (one of our translators) and he's wanting to pick up his phone that we brought in from
Casey & Krista North. How in the world did Pierre know we had just walked in from this whirlwind trip? He must've had a tracking chip on us... lol! He said he was "at the gate - come let me in." We looked and saw no one. He was at our old apartment. So, he hopped in the truck and came on up to our new one. We enjoyed a few hours catching up with him and I felt so bad all I could offer him was a juice box or water. He was very happy with the kiddie juice box.
He left and then Chris grabbed a short nap before Mark Dearing picked us up in his very own automobile! SO COOL they have their own auto now. He brought us to his house because it's too far to walk now and we had an assortment of goodies for he and his family... we packed it all into a suitcase. That wouldn't have been fun on a tap-tap. They cooked us some wonderful dinner: corn pudding, green bean casserole and hamburgers from the grill. We shared laughter, tears and a half a game of Phase 10 as we caught up. The girls were playing rescue 911 with our moto helmets and laughter rang through the house as they hung up all their clothes to put on and timed themselves to see how long it took them. So imagintive and so brilliant they are! And it was fun to watch. Chester, their dog, looked great and seemed to remember us. He just sat and layed his head on Chris' knee. He's so precious!
We came home just after 8 and the kids ran up and all through the apartment checking out every nook and cranny fascinated with the spiral staircase that leads upstairs to our bedroom. They can't wait to spend the night and we can't either. That would be such a wonderful way that we could bless their parents - give them a good old fashioned "date night"! I can't count the times that Linda Bowden blessed us in this way over the years! Pray with us that this comes true soon.
The first night in the new apartment we slept better than we thought we would. At 4:30 someone on the property got in a truck and left and it woke us both up because it's just right outside our window and the gate was stuck. They couldn't get OUT. So, the dogs were barking and barking. But other than that it was very peaceful. We did just about "freeze". I know that for most of you that's a crazy thing to imagine, but we are up in the mountains of Haiti where it's not hot like at sea level. And I know many of you are enduring 1 degree temps. So, just for the sake of the blog, so I remember some day that it was COLD our first night I'm including this detail.
I remember having dreams last night of heat coming out of a vent we found and us learning to "ride" the spiral staircase down instead of walking it. LOL! We were the epitomy of exhaustion.
At our old apartment we had an over abundance of pillows. Here at this apartment we have a drought! It's kinda funny in a way. The kitchen table chairs are "okay". But, we don't have a couch either. So, there's literally NO where even semi-comfortable to sit. But, I look out my window and feel guitly for even thinking we deserve somewhere comfortable to sit. Many, many of our neighbors don't even have anything but a concrete slab to sit on and I'm more than certain they are the extremely blessed ones. Our view from our front porch. We no longer live on a paved road, but just off of one.
This morning we both woke up and had breakfast bars thanks to Mike & Heather DiEnno who made us a sweet goodie bag before we left. How sweet it was to catch up with some of our dearest friends while we were in. If we missed you and you want to catch us in April, let us know. We'll make a date NOW.
Today I (Jen) went to Godet Center to check on the kids and staff while Chris stayed home working and then headed down to pick up his moto. The kids are wonderful. They were telling me stories of Christmas and the gifts that they received. They were showing me all their "boo-boos" and playing with their puppy. I'm surprised he's still around and healthy. I was able to give them all pictures that they took with Erin before she left. She printed them out and then wrote an individual note on each one. They LOVED them and all of them really took it to heart what she said. She made them all laugh and most of them held it to their chest and hugged it.
I was also able to deliver brand new dress shoes for them. They each tried them on, clicked their feet together and were so proud of their shiny shoes for church! They told me that they don't wear socks because they don't have any. So, I'm going to have to check with Erin on that. We have white athletic socks to pass out to them, but no dress socks. Jean Fiderse and Jolike's feet have grown enough that they got spiffy shiny cool two textured gown men shoes. They loved them. Each child thanked me for their shoes and I let them know that it was because of their sponsors, Erin and Heart of God Haiti that they were able to get them.
I also gave the four ladies hand-me-down clothes that I don't need anymore. Had enough running shoes to give them each a pair from Genny Dixon. They were so excited. I learned that Madame Jacqueline has size 11 feet... all the shoes from Genny were either 8 or 8.5... so, I'm going to have to work on getting a few other sizes. Madame Delcarme made the 8.5 silver sparkly ones fit! They are a little snug, but she was super proud of them. I wondered if she'd give them to her daughter, Lovely who is about 16.
It was hilarious as I gave away my all grey (with a tiny bit of purple) "leisure suit" (fancy sweatsuit probably owned by Tami Carpenter or Karly Singleton over 5 years ago). Madame Monique and Madame Janine grabbed it at the same time. They pulled back and forth laughing and Madame Monique won the battle. She was so proud of it and I believe she'll look great in it and it'll help to keep her warm.
It was SO hard being in Godet withOUT Brynna Kate. She was such a hard worker and helped me to balance all that needed to get done. The kids and staff missed her but are so proud that she's in TN in college. Jean Fiderse has convinced himself she's coming in March sometimes. It's the first I heard of it. But, let us know if you're coming Brynna!! We'll need you to bring a blanket! Enough of Brynna for now unless you want my tears to burst through...
Well, folks, what you've all been waiting to hear - I cooked dinner with lights on tonight and we have a little light on now! Can you believe it? An inverter system that works! At least today... day 2. :D Let's keep praying. It's sure been nice to not be a slave to EDH. We haven't taken showers yet. It's so cold! I'm afraid to take a shower without drying off in the sunlight. My hair will take forever. Chris has it easy. Here's pics of dinner tonight thanks to Lisa Stargle for her huge bag of goodies she gave us to bring. Spinach Basil Garlic Noodles, green beans and cream of mushroom soup - COOKING IN THE LIGHT!!! Can you believe it? I was SO excited!
Here's Chris before we sat down and thanked God for His many, many blessings and the privilege to serve Him in a foreign land through a door to hope. He's in his office right now catching up on paperwork. We have a team coming with a door to hope on Wednesday. So, we have lots of work to get done. We'll keep you updated and it'll be shorter next time. I just haven't had the time or energy over the break to let you know how we are. Let me just sum it up in two words now how we are: beyond blessed. What about you? Seriously, let us know. We need to hear from you. It encourages our hearts and makes us feel like time is still passing by even though it feels like it's standing still.
