Boyer 112k9

A few pics from Boyer

Tiburon 102k9

A few pics from Tiburon with my Crossroad UMC team

 

What goes around comes around.

I am almost certain I saw a Haitian man with the equivalent of a mullet.  The braid hanging out of the back of his baseball cap was my first clue.

I also saw a man carrying a boom box.

I have also seen several guys with mohawks. 

Times, they are a changing folks….

Next up, leg warmers and hypercolor tshirts!

Top Ten List

Ten things noteworthy things about the current status of my life
in Haiti:

*GO*

10.  I’m wearing a sweater, b/c its chilly, in Haiti.

9.    My head comes to a slight point on top, making it difficult to fulfill my dream of carrying things on my head, in Haiti.

8.   I used to refuse to eat leftovers but now I eat them almost every single day, in Haiti.

7.  For the first three months I lived here, I had fresh tomatoes 
straight out of the garden pretty much  
     every single day.  For the last two months, its been avocado,   
     straight from the tree in the yard, pretty much every single day. 
     I guess that's one of the benefits of having someone else 
    responsible for growing things in your garden, in Haiti.

6.  I have been waking up with out an alarm clock almost everyday
     for the last few weeks at 6:48am.  Strange things such as
     this happen in these parts.  This gives credence to the
     statement, only…in Haiti. 

5.  I have been sharing my space with mice.  I found evidence that
     they had eaten some of my crackers;  and they had a party in my 
     closet.  So I set a trap and caught one. Suzanne set out another 
     trap, and we caught another.  And she caught one in her room as
     well.  Another trap is set for tonight.  This is the most disgusting 
     thing that has happened to me (SO FAR), in Haiti.

4.  I officially have internet access at my house.  This will help me
     stay in touch with friends and family.  It will also make it easier
    for you to keep in touch with me, in Haiti. 

3.  On November 21, I leave for the town of Picot to spend two
     weeks living with a Pastor and his family.  This is to immerse 
     myself in Creole.  I hope to come away from the experience well
     versed in the language.  This will help me immensely, in Haiti.

2.  Jesus might be coming soon.  Because signs an wonders abound.  
     I have found a supplier of Diet Coke, in Haiti.

1.  I waited five long months for my four wheeler to arrive.  It was
     finally released from customs and was transported to Cayes on
     Saturday.  Now, if the keys were only here, in Haiti.

Its been a month.

It was four weeks ago today that the tragic accident happened here on the mission center.  Time goes by so quickly these days.  The Reinhardt family is doing well; as well as can be expected.  The funeral for Gabriel was held three weeks ago.  Sarah and Tim have both made huge strides in their physical healing and the family is hoping to return to Haiti in the next few weeks to continue the healing process.

Wednesday night after the accident we had a memorial service for Gabriel during our regular Wednesday night service.  It was a really sweet time and many families shared memories, scriptures, and songs.  Although we may never understand the reasons for the accident on this side of forever, it was a helpful step in the healing process for those of us here.

That Thursday, Beth and Suzanne and I were having lunch as usual.  We had just finished eating and were still sitting at the table talking when we saw three individuals approach our door.  None of us were expecting anyone and no one called out for us to come so we just continued with our conversation.  As we talked, we heard their voices outside and when we stopped to listen, we realized that they were praying and singing.  They were visiting each of the missionaries houses, praying and singing over us that God would comfort us and bring us joy and peace in the midst of our sorrow.  In a culture that asks so much of us, with numerous strangers approaching our doors daily asking for money or food or work, it was special that they were just here to give back to us. 

For the service on Wednesday everyone was asked to be prepared to share a memory or encouragement for the family because we would be taping the service to share with them.  Here is what I jotted down:

In the life of everyone on this earth from the beginning of time until the end of the ages, there has been and will always be times of darkness.  In the middle of the night we bleed and pray and beg for a glimpse of morning.  We strain our necks upward searching and hoping the night will end and morning will appear.  For some, that darkness is eternal but for those of us hidden in Christ, those of us who choose to believe in the mystery of the “good news of Jesus and the message of the Gospel”, the morning will come.  Though the night will be long, the morning will come. 

Please continue to keep the Reinhardt family in your prayers as they continue to look for the morning.  Pray also for the missionaries here on the center, that God would show us how we can shine light into their darkness as they heal.