Melissa and I are still processing Friday’s events. Not to mention, Caleb. I’m not the kind to view a freak accident as simply a random event to put behind us as quickly as possible. I tend to look for some meaning. Some lesson.About 4:45 late Friday afternoon, Caleb (14) grabbed a bag of trash to carry to the burn pile down the path behind our house. Melissa warned him to be careful because there was a large, broken mason jar in the bottom of the bag. Halfway to the burn pile, Caleb jumped over a mud puddle and the bag swung…

I almost didn’t go along. When we left at 6:00 am for church, I was fighting a bad head cold after a restless night of sleep. By the time we returned home around 4:00 pm, I was hoarse, exhausted and feverish. I only went to spend a little more time with the team of dear friends visiting from Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, and enjoy one last adventure with them before they returned to the States.But I got so much more out of it. To paraphrase the Apostle Paul, though physically I was wasting away, inwardly the day renewed me.Our destination…

[This post was meant to roll earlier this week, but weak internet connections prevented it. Hopefully, there is value in giving thought to fasting, even if the Ash Wednesday starting line has already passed!]Mardi Gras (aka Kanaval, aka Fat Tuesday, aka, Carnival) is celebrated in Haiti with a fervency that (I would imagine) rivals that of New Orleans. I took the opportunity last Friday afternoon to speak to my adult English class about the big day. The students told me about the parades and bands and drinking and raucous celebrations. But when I asked them if they knew why it’s…

Melissa has requested that I use this space to get the word out about Cowman School’s staffing needs. And I’m happy to oblige since there are exciting things going on at Cowman these days. Simply put: We need help! Cowman continues to grow. Six years ago there were 23 students. Today, 137. There is definitely a growing market for Christ-centered learning in the English language here in the northern part of Haiti. Currently we offer classes for 3-year-olds through 9th grade and we are adding the high school grades one year at a time. God willing, our own Caleb will be…

This past weekend we celebrated our little Princess who is now an unbelievably BIG 9-year-old.I really don’t know what to write about the affair because the “time flies” angle has been done to death. I am now at the age when at least once a day one of my contemporaries will Facebook post A. Where does the time go?B. They grow up so fast!C. I can’t believe how big s/he has gotten!or the like.It’s all so bittersweet. We have a digital picture frame on the shelf in our living room and the pictures get a little more dated each day –…

Many thanks to Phil and Connie Dicks and the rest of the November Grundy Center UMC team for financing this year’s Christmas party – it was our third year and, in many ways, the best yet! (Every year we learn a bit more about what in the world we are doing!)This time we had a bit of trouble nailing down a location for the party – an inexpensive place with bathrooms and running water and plenty of space to run and play. I’m not sure why we never thought of it before, but Melissa suggested Cowman School in the 11th…

A few months ago we called a family meeting and asked the kids to make a choice – the usual presents under the Christmas tree or a few days in the Dominican Republic with friends from Emmaus Seminary. We couldn’t do both and it wasn’t just gifts from their mom and dad that would be missing if we chose the DR; we’d also be talking to the Grandmas about just giving money towards the trip. The kids didn’t hesitate or waver: We were going on a trip.Melissa and I figured it was a win/win. We could certainly use a little…

December has been a brilliantly fun and exhausting month, but before I tell you all the good, I have to gripe briefly … about our internet. I feel bad for lumping all December into one (or maybe two or three) posts, but I can honestly say I would update this blog more often if our internet service would give even a smidgen of cooperation every once in a while. I spent a good chunk of the last two days – off and on (just like our connection) – trying to get the following pictures to upload to this page. By the…