… is that he’s always taking me into trouble.It all started with the rain – all day yesterday and all last night. Heavy rains. Enough rain to send up a small forest of mushrooms outside our house overnight. Enough to cancel school for the day.  Our kids were so excited to have a “Haitian snow day” off from classes.  Melissa and I went with our principal, Angie, to intercept any parents and students who did not get the text message in time.  Many of our teachers and students had called in to say they could not pass flooded streets to…

It’s been a week filled with blessings.  But it didn’t start out that way.  Last weekend, while playing with some of the other missionary kids, Hannah collided with a friend and toppled, breaking her fall with her left hand.  At first we thought the main injury was a thorn she put through the pad of her hand, just below her middle finger.  A day later, her hand was still swollen and she could not bend her fingers.  The pain was getting worse instead of better.  We’re so blessed to have a fantastic doctor right here on the mission grounds, so…

It’s been a week filled with blessings.  But it didn’t start out that way.  Last weekend, while playing with some of the other missionary kids, Hannah collided with a friend and toppled, breaking her fall with her left hand.  At first we thought the main injury was a thorn she put through the pad of her hand, just below her middle finger.  A day later, her hand was still swollen and she could not bend her fingers.  The pain was getting worse instead of better.  We’re so blessed to have a fantastic doctor right here on the mission grounds, so…

Some of my posts get rather long-winded and this one was in danger of falling into the same trap.  But then I realized what I had to share was a simple truth about GOD’S poetry in this amazing country of Haiti and I would best state it simply: When I first came here (four years ago this month) and again when Melissa and I brought the kids in 2011 and yet again when we moved our family here over a year ago, I could not help but notice (and gag a bit) at the smells of burning trash and open…

I got taken back to the basics this week.  And I still have a lot to learn.Wednesday was a great day.  After school, all the OMS folks loaded up in several vehicles and headed out to Petit Anse, just on the other side of the airport, where our dear friend Pastor Storly Michel was presiding over a dedication ceremony marking the end of a huge two year process.  Petit Anse is where the transmitting towers of Radio 4VEH stand and Storly is the station manager.  Just a few months ago, the two towers were rusting away and the radio staff…

Samuel turned 11 yesterday.  Somehow, each fall Melissa and I get busy with the start of a new school year and his October 4th birthday sneaks up on us unawares.  But THIS YEAR we had some gifts sent in via Amazon days in advance, so we were pretty proud of ourselves.  AND both grandmas sent packages through the mail, arriving the day before. We also did our research on food requests and birthday activities ahead of time.  We were so glad his big day fell on a Saturday this year, giving us plenty of time to celebrate.Samuel’s first celebration request…

Just wanted to post a few pics from the last couple of weeks to show that life went on, even as some of us were under the weather.  (By the way, thanks for the many prayers – I was able to complete a full day back at school last Friday and I’m feeling good heading into this new week!) We got a package in the mail last week from our dear friends, the Bradburns.  The box was packed with autumn-themed goodies and decorations for the house.  This is so helpful since everything around us tends to scream Perpetual Summer and we…

It was a rough week for about half our household – Melissa and I and our littlest one.  I’ve been fighting a sinus infection (again!) and an all night rain moved it down into my lungs last Sunday night.  By 1:00 am on Monday morning, my breathing was so labored it woke me up – and then kept me awake until it was time to push the family out the door to school.  I taught throughout the day on Monday, but you’d have to ask my students if any of it made sense.  By Monday night, Sarah was running a…

After a few last restful, beautiful Indiana mornings… And some crazy busy days for Melissa (packing hundreds of pounds of school supplies and personal items) and me (working to ready our old house – and yard – for new renters)… We loaded up two vans – our old red van with boxes and suitcases and a rental with kids and snacks – and headed towards Florida. We had put two grand into our personal vehicle to make sure it was roadworthy. The plan was to park it in Florida so that it wouldn’t block Grandma Trudy’s driveway for another nine…

Have you ever been in a setting where fellow believers ask for prayer requests and you rack your brain and then come to the conclusion “Life is good and smooth … I’ve got nothing”? Praise God for those times! That’s not where we are right now. Now, no doubt about it: we have had an incredible summer – visiting many wonderful congregations, meeting new people, renewing friendships, and catching up with family.  We’ve been the recipients of so much generosity and hospitality and thoughtfulness.  There have been side trips to the zoo, an amusement park and Gettysburg.  There has been…