Events

It seems like the last two weeks have been filled with events.  While we are still working on getting settled into our new home, we have also been busy with many events.  I will summarize and give a few pictures along the way.

Miss Norma (Norma Luginbuhl) has hosted two afternoon teas for the little missionary girls.  For the last tea, they were to bring a doll and be prepared to tell a story about their doll.  The story could be a story that came with the doll, such as the American Girl doll stories or it could be a made up story.  Mara took her look alike American Girl doll, she and her doll wore matching aprons and she made up a story to tell about her doll.  The teas are much anticipated by the girls and we appreciate how Daryl and Norma have fallen into the role of grandparents and have special relationships with the children.  For the next tea, the girls are to come as a Bible character.  Mara plans to go as Ruth.

Rick and his parents arrived on Tuesday, September 24th.  Also traveling with them were Bob & Sue Beebe and Ron Palitto.  Bob is the Executive Director of the Hospital Lumiere Governance Board (HLGB) and has also served as the Interim Administrator.  Ron is the Chairman of the HLGB.

On Wednesday, September 25th there was a ceremony at the hospital to thank Bob for his service as the Interim Administrator and to install Rick as the new Administrator.  Several speeches were given.  Below are pictures of Rick and Paste Etheard speaking at the ceremony.

       

On Friday, September 27th, the children from the Bonne Fin Missionary Co-op School put on a musical play entitled Let it Shine.  It was quite a production complete with a stringed quartet (Cello, Viola, Violin and Piano), lights, a stage curtain, and props.  The kids did a great job.

 Jared, Beth & Bekah Klopfenstein on strings

The missionary kids on stage during the play

We enjoyed a wonderful BBQ before the play and had a bonfire for roasting marshmallows and pudgie pies after the play.  It was a very fun evening for all.

On Saturday, September 28th, we celebrated Krae's 7th birthday.  Yes, this was a week early, but he wanted to be able to have a party while Grandpa & Grandma were here. We had everyone up to our home and hosted our first gathering since moving into it.  Another fun evening with gifts, snacks, banana cake with two types of frosting (peanut butter and Nutella buttercream) and lots of fellowship!  

On Sunday, we were planning to have a combined English church day with our brethren from Les Cayes.  In fact, we were expecting a large group with several other missionaries joining us for our worship service.  Unfortunately, the sky opened up and we had a drenching rain.  It was a bit too risky for the group from Cayes to come up the mountain, so we had to cancel our combined service, but we still had a nice service and potluck for those living in Bonne Fin.

On Monday, Amber Pfister (she did the driving) and I took Roger and LaVonne down to Les Cayes to see a few of the sights.  There were rumors of possible manifestations so we avoided the downtown area, but still had a nice day visiting the Centre Lumiere Domestic Center (where the linens for the Pumpkin Soup sales are made), seeing the apartment where we lived for the our first 9 weeks in Haiti and eating lunch at the Hot Spot.  On Tuesday, Rick's folks traveled back to the US.  They left our home at 4 AM and reached their door about 1 AM so it was a very long day of travel for them.  We are thankful they were able to come and spend time with us and for safe travels!!

Now, its been another week already!  We are starting to feel more settled in our home although there will always be little things that need to be done.  I did hire a lady for house cleaning and she started today.  It went very well.  I showed her what I wanted done and she jumped right in and did a great job.  I am going to appreciate Madam Elina's help!!  She seems to be a very joyful person with an easy smile.  I was quite humbled several times; I had to demonstrate how to flip the switch to turn off the ceiling fans to clean them, how to turn on the water faucets and how to flush the toilets.  Madam Elina is a very intelligent lady, but she was a bit mystified by the bathroom and uncomfortable with cleaning it.  It is obvious that she does not have running water or electricity in her own home.  It would be very easy for me to fall into feeling guilty, but I try to remember that God sent us here to serve, not to feel guilty for the blessings he has given to us. Madam Elina also had a beautiful prayer for our home and family before our noon meal (Rick was gone today).  I was touched by her willingness to minister to our needs, even though we have been blessed with more material things.  What a joy to see the evidence of the Holy Spirit within the actions of another person!

I am reminded of an old campfire song that I learned as a child.  The words say:

We are one in the Spirit

We are one in the Lord

  (Repeat)

And we pray that all unity may one day be restored

And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by  our love

Yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if you have love one to another.                                      John 13:34, 35

Mountain Road

Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.  Psalm 39:4

This verse came to mind when I realized how fast the days are moving.  It has been a bit over two weeks since I posted; even though a lot of things have happened, it seems like I was just here typing away.  When I think about the measure of my days and realize that my mother died when she was about my age, I gain a fresh perspective to live each day as if it were my last.  As well, living in Haiti and seeing how difficult daily life can be, I gain a new appreciation for the life that God has given to me.  

I do want to thank everyone who offered up prayers for Rick and his parents while they were traveling.  All travel during the last few weeks went smoothly and the situation with bandits in Ti Goav (Petite Goave is the official French name) has settled down with an increased presence of UN forces and some Haitian Special Forces.  

I do want to tell everyone about how wonderful the mountain road up to Bonne Fin is right now.  Many of you have traveled here before and remember the treacherous conditions of the mountain road between Cavillion and Bonne Fin.  It is about 14 kilometers (8.5 miles) and took about 45 minutes to travel when we visited in September of last year.  When we came in June, workers were just starting to bring in dirt, gravel, a road grader and a roller.  The work started just outside Cavillion and continued up the road.  We have enjoyed seeing the progress as the huge (like across most of the road) potholes are filled in, the rain ruts are filled in and the road is widened and smoothed.  During the time that Rick was back in the states, the road crew was working just outside the gate to the hospital.   Rich Pfister had the idea to serve the workers a meal in appreciation for the work they are doing on the road.  The ladies put their heads together and had a meal for about 20 workers.  Since I was not very settled in our home yet, I didn't help with making the food, but Selah and I did go and help with set-up and serving.  Here are a couple of pictures:

        

The men seemed to appreciate the meal and there were many expressions of "Bondye Beni Ou" (God Bless You).  The meal consisted of Fried Chicken Legs, Rice & Beans with Bean Sauce, Cole Slaw, Fried Plantains and a bottle of Soda.  Yep - pretty typical for a meal in Haiti.

So, getting back to the condition of the road.  Those of you who know and remember the old, very bumpy road would be shocked.  It is still gravel and rocks, but it is much smoother and the huge potholes and ruts are gone.  Now, it takes about 20 minutes to get down to Cavillion.  The road has been a prayer request for many years and we continue to see God's hand working to improve conditions at Hopital Lumiere.  Of course, without maintenance, the road will be back to it's old condition after a few rainy seasons, but we are extremely thankful for the current condition of the road.  

Ministering Brother, Bob Beebe is here right now and in his sermon this evening, he quoted a verse from All the Way My Savior Leads that seems fitting to add to this post about the road as our winding path to Bonne Fin has been "cheered up".  The second verse says:

All the way my Saviour leads me, 

Cheers each winding path I tread;

Gives me grace for every trial, 

Feeds me with the living bread;

Tho' my weary steps may falter, 

And my soul a-thirst my be,

Gushing from the Rock before me,

Lo! a spring of joy I see.

I will post more about the past weeks tomorrow or Friday as this piece about the road turned out a bit longer than I had planned.