Living in the mission field in Haiti does present a unique setting. While our daily stress levels can be high and we are learning how to live in a different culture, we have been able to find bits of time for retreat. The picture above was taken from the RMI Retreat Center that is a little over an hour drive from our home. We were able to spend some time there in April with other ACWR missionaries and an ACWR support team that visited us from the US. I will give Cindy Hitz credit for taking the above picture. She was active with her camera during the visit and we appreciate her willingness to share her talent!
In May, I had the opportunity to join a group of missionary women for a Ladies Retreat at the RMI Retreat Center. This was a wonderful weekend of rest, spiritual renewal and I returned home to my family feeling revived. Rick deserves special recognition for staying home with our children for 48 hours while I was gone. Here is a picture of the group of women that attended:
Also in May, we enjoyed having a medical work team and a construction work team. The medical team brought a couple of cousins from my Farney side of the family as well as a doctor and his wife from Kansas City that we know well. It is very special to us to have familiar faces and loved ones visit us in Haiti. This team also had a dentist and some hygienists who held a dental clinic at the hospital. I walked down to the clinic a few times during the week and was excited to see the hustle and bustle of activity.
The construction team came from Rockville, CT and brought many people that we have not met before so it was fun to make new acquaintances and connections. This team finished the renovations on the chapel and new admissions area.
In mid-May, we invited some a missionary family from Cayes to come up and a Sunday with us. We attended church together, enjoyed a quick lunch and then hiked to the hydro-electric plant. We got to know the Seel family when we lived in Cayes last summer; Mara and their daughter Caitlyn are the same age and have formed a special friendship. We had a great hike and a refreshing swim in some of the pools along the creek that flows in the rocks beneath the plant. A great way to renew and revive our physical bodies. The mom of the family, Alex, took some great pictures and I will share a few of them.
Mara jumping in the smaller pool and Krae climbing up to jump again.
A small waterfall into another small pool & the creek winding through the rocks
Daniel jumping into the larger pool. They used a rope to climb out. Rick and the girls standing just above the jumping off spot. He did not jump in with Selah on his back, thankfully!
Mara and Caitlyn relaxing in a little waterfall
Selah "swimming" in a shallow spot in the creek
Krae walking down the little waterfall
Overall, it was a very fun day of fellowship and fun with our good friends. God even provided a cooler day for us so the hike was not too hot!
As the end of May drew near, Mara and Krae were busy finishing up school work and preparing for the Bonne Fin Missionary School Talent Show. The children and Miss Desma came up with 15 acts with a little help from the older Klopfenstein children and a few of the other missionaries. It was a big night for the kids and they did put on an exciting show and shared many of their God-given talents. Unfortunately, I was running a camcorder (or trying to do so) and did not take any pictures to post on this blog.
On June 3rd, my Aunt, Kathleen Farney Miner went to be with the Lord after a battle with breast cancer. I was able to visit her back in February and was so thankful for that visit. Once again, God's timing is so perfect as I was back in states and was able to attend her funeral and be there to support my dear cousin April - Kathleen's only child. Aunt Kathy had planned most of the funeral service beforehand; it was very special and reflected her personality and love for others. All of her nieces were able to be there and it was a great to be together. (No nephews on the Farney side of the family)
Since we have been back in Kansas, we are enjoying some restful time and lots of play time. Mara and Krae enjoyed an Art Workshop and participating in VBS at the Bern Apostolic Christian Church. Krae is taking swimming lessons right now and with some warmer days, we enjoyed the Aquatic Center in Seneca. The kids are enjoying Summer Reading and some of the fun activities at the library. We especially enjoy the Wednesday Lunch in the Park when the library hosts guest speakers. For those who aren't familiar with Sabetha, the library sits on a full block and is surrounded by a park. This park has been a favorite of our family for years. We used to walk there from our home in Sabetha. Here are some fun pictures of the kids in the park:
We have a trip planned to Kiowa, KS to visit my family and friends there as well as a trip to Illinois for more visiting. Rick will attend an HLGB meeting in Illinois as well. In July, we will spend the first two weeks in the Sabetha area and then travel to Indiana to shop and deliver household supplies to the Bluffton Distribution Center, where the supplies will be loaded on a sea container and shipped & trucked to Bonne Fin. The last full week of July, we will attend a missionary orientation/retreat in Central Illinois before heading back to Kansas to say our final good-byes.
Our summer is going quickly already, but we are thankful for the chance to see loved ones and be in familiar surroundings. Hopefully, we will return to the field feeling rested, renewed and revived. As I think about our travels this summer and our coming and going from and back to Haiti, a special verse comes to mind and gives me comfort.
The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. Psalm 121:8
Wish we could have spent some time together last week in Haiti. Rick was a great host though and even made some delicious pizza for all of us to enjoy!
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