Alive and Kicking?

Yep, we are still alive and kicking!  Yep, I know it has been a very long time since I posted on our blog.  Yep, we still need and appreciate all the love and prayers extended for us.  

After being silent for so long, I am tempted to let those three sentences be this post and then start again next month.  However, since you are reading this, you do deserve more than the ultra-concise summation of the last few months.

Thank you!

First, I want to thank everyone who offered up prayers for the Hospital Staff and the Leadership Team during the staff compression and the changes to the pay periods.  For most of us, it would seem that a change to the timing of pay periods is an insignificant event as long as we receive our pay.  Unfortunately, we have found that most Haitian people distrust those in authority because of the corruption in the leaders of their country and the change caused much confusion and discontent.  While the Leadership team endured a few very tense days with the staff, the peace of God did seem to prevail in the end.  With a bit of compromise, we seem to have moved forward.  Thank you for praying during that time.

Thank you to those who have been praying for the ladies who work in our home.  I have not posted about their health issues, but many of you learned about them from talking with Rick or me.  Please continue to pray for Madam Elina and Madam Suzette.  I will write more about them later.

Thank you for reading our blog and understanding my silence during the last few months. I could blame it on poor Internet (which has been really slow) or the busyness of life in the field, but I'm not fond of excuses.  So, I will apologize again and thank you for continuing to support us.

Furlough

In March, our family took 3 weeks of furlough time.  We planned this trip home to coincide with the 50th wedding anniversary of Rick's parents.  Rick's sister, Lori, organized a wonderful catered dinner for Roger and LaVonne, their siblings and spouses, and their children and grandchildren.  It was a great evening!

The rest of the time was spent relaxing, catching up with family and friends and shopping. Here is an updated family photo that we had taken during this time.

Unfortunately, while we were in the USA, both of the ladies who work for us in our home had health problems.  

Madam Suzette, who cooks a noon meal for us three days per week, is expecting a baby and started pre-mature labor at 4 months gestation.  She was put on bed rest and has been in the OB ward at Hopital Lumiere since the first week of March.  Her baby is due at the end of July, so we continue to be prayerful for both of them.  She and her husband, Frantz, are expecting a little boy and they have a little girl who will be 4 years old in October. (she was born the same week as Selah so they enjoy playing together)

Madam Elina, who cleans for us three days per week, contracted abdominal TB and was a very ill lady.  Unfortunately, she did not come to the hospital until she was very ill.  Once she came up here and started medication, she responded well and was able to return to work after about 2 months.   Elina continues to take medication and seems to have fully regained her strength.  

With both ladies ill, it seemed like I was a bit overwhelmed with household work in addition to the helping at the school and other activities.  April and May were a bit frantic, but God gives the grace needed for each day!!

School News

Mara and Krae enjoyed attending school with the other missionary children.  The Geckos had another great year and I really enjoyed being able to help with K-2nd grade math and 4th - 8th grade writing.  

We had a History Fair this spring as the school's special project.  Each of the children prepared and presented a tabletop display, a written report and an oral presentation on a historical person or event.  The requirements of their projects were scaled to their individual grade levels.  All of the children did a wonderful job and we had a very enjoyable evening when they presented their projects.

Krae chose Abraham Lincoln for his historical person because (in his words) 

"He was a great man who helped all people to be free."

Mara chose Amelia Earhart because she was a girl from Kansas.  We were able to visit the Amelia Earhart Museum in Atchison, KS when we were home on furlough in March.

It is always exciting when we have a container arrive, but it was especially exciting for the Bonne Fin Missionary School children this last April when playground equipment arrived.  Several Sunday School groups from Apostolic Christian Churches took special collections and donated the funds for our school to purchase some playground equipment.  

Here is a picture of the crate being unloaded from the container:

Kids having Fun!!

The school year was capped off by another Talent School.  Desma managed to get most of the missionary family involved and we enjoyed an evening of songs, drama, comedy and a few other hidden talents.  Mara wrote a short skit for the night and included her little sister in the cast.  Selah was thrilled to be involved and did a great job with her part. Here's a picture of the skit:

And a photo of the Bonne Fin Gecko Family for the 2014-2015 School Year

Summer Fun

When the school year was finished, the kids and I headed back to the USA for some summer activities and fun.  Mara and Krae enjoyed an Art Workshop in Sabetha during the first week of June and all of us enjoyed participating in VBS at the Bern AC church during the second week.  Also during the first two weeks of June, we spent lots of time at the library doing summer reading activities.  

Rick joined us mid-June.  He and I were able to take Mara to see a musical at Starlight Theatre in KC as an early birthday present.  The show was almost rained out, but the clouds cleared and it stayed dry just in time!

During the third week in June, we traveled to Illinois and Indiana for HLGB meetings and shopping for items to load on a sea container.  We returned to Sabetha for a few days and then it was time to make the trip back to Haiti.  

Other activities we enjoyed included swimming in a pool a few times (when it wasn't raining), seeing friends and family, visiting the Omaha Zoo and eating at restaurants!  I am terrible at remembering to take pictures, but here are few of summer fun!

Selah at the Sunday School Picnic

Krae making a Lego Creation during Lego Time at the Library

(he absolutely loved this activity)

Checking out Sea Creatures in the Touch Tank at the Omaha Zoo Aquarium

The Aquarium was our favorite part of the Zoo, especially the Shark Tunnel, where we saw shark, sting rays and lots of other sea creatures swimming all around us. 

Selah on the carousel 

She said, "Mommy, I love this horse!  She is so beautiful!"

Making Summer Reading "more" interesting!

Hospital News

Once again, we want to thank everyone for the continued prayers.  After a rough start to the year, the hospital staff seems to have settled into the changes that were made. While there are still bumps in the road, overall, things are running smoother.

When we look at hard numbers, we see more positives.  The total number of admissions per month is up by 10 people over last year and the average length of stay is down by 1 day.  The clinic is busy with activity and awaits the final renovations.  Hopefully, these can be completed later this year.  The continuing renovations to the hospital are completed as funds and work teams are available for the projects.  

The past week the ward that was being shared by OB/GYN and Pediatric patients became quite overcrowded and prompted the opening of the Pediatric Ward.  The renovations on this ward were completed in 2014, but it was not opened as the space was not absolutely necessary and staffing adjustments would have to be made.   An opening ceremony and ribbon cutting was held and then the ped patients started moving in.  Here are a few pictures:

Our pediatrician, Dr. Guito, shares a few words as part of the ceremony.  Paste Etherard had a short message, song and prayer and Rick shared a few words as well. 

Cutting the Ribbon

Making the move down the hall to the new ward

This little guy's name is Clody. He was very happy to move to the new colorful space.  Clody was one of the first to move his things to the new ward.

Two rooms were opened with toddlers in one and older children in the other.  

The children were happy to move to an area with more space and fun murals on the walls. The older children all wanted their picture taken (I took prints down later). 

Enjoy the smiles!

Prayers

We would like to ask you to pray for some specific situations at Hopital Lumiere and in the Bonne Fin community.  Thank you for joining us in praying for God's direction and provision!!

Pray for Medical Missionaries to join us

We are starting to feel that this is a critical situation and we ask you to pray that God will move hearts and direct medical people from the USA to long term service at Hopital Lumiere.  

The Hartzler family will move back to Ohio in September.  Eric has served as the Patient Care Manager and we do not have a replacement for this position at this time.  As well, the Klopfenstein Family plans to move back to their home in Ohio next summer.  We will need someone to fill Dr. Lee's role as the Medical Director.   In addition to these roles, we would welcome other medical professionals too.  

We ask for your prayers and also ask that if you are a medical professional, you prayerfully consider if God is calling you.  In another instance, you may know someone that you feel God is directing you to talk with about mission service.  Pray for guidance for a call to mission service must come from God.  It is not a glamorous life, but it is filled with peace and joy in knowing that you are where God has called you to serve!  

Here is a link to the AC World Relief Website with more info on medical professionals needed:  http://www.acworldrelief.org/long-term-service-opportunitie/

Pray for Joslyn

Please pray for the this little guy named Joslyn.  He is HIV positive and has been abandoned by his family.  His mother is not willing to care for him and is not in the area. His grandmother would like to care for him, but is already caring for seven other grandchildren because one of her daughters has died.  Because Joslyn has special needs, his grandmother is not able to care for him as well as his seven cousins.  Options for his care are being explored, but he needs prayers for his health and for possible care givers.

It is not uncommon for children with health problems to be abandoned in Haiti or other countries were there is much poverty and not many medical options.  Life is hard in Haiti for those who are strong and healthy, but it is extremely difficult for those with disabilities of any kind.