Greetings All! We are enjoying getting updates of life back at our Illinois home (as Cy calls it) from our friends and family! Hope you all have a wonderful Easter weekend!
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
John 3:16
As each day goes by, we continue to feel more at home here. We are getting busier as we begin to take on some responsibilities here in addition to our language lessons. So far we are enjoying it!
While some things have begun to feel more normal and routine, there are definitely daily reminders that we live in the poor country of Haiti. Every day there is someone at our front gate wanting to sell produce or asking for help for this or that. The hospital campus sits IN the village of Bonne Fin, the campus has a fence and guarded gate. There are little Haitian shanty houses right next to the hospital. On our walks we see the women working outside washing clothes, the little kids running around, sometimes, partially dressed. The trash. The goats, pigs, sheep or cows tied to a bush along the road. When we left Illinois, shamefully, it seemed that we were giving up so much to move. Now that we are here, we feel we have so much. It's hard to describe feeling loss and abundance simultaneously.
We are beginning relationships with the people here through work or conversation at the gate or on the road. There are some good people and some difficult people, just like anywhere. We are really starting to love our lives here and the Haitian people. As I am typing this, there is a Haitian choir walking down the road by our house singing hymns heading to Good Friday services. These are some of the best moments on the mountain... a beautiful day and hearing the Haitian's sing to the Lord.
In this post, we will give you a little glimpse into our daily life here. It's nothing special, but we like it!
Cy and Henry spend so much time playing outside they sleep very well here!
Some evenings we spend time with the visiting teams.
Lucas made us a grill one day. We've used it a lot since! He is also making roof racks for some of the Toyotas we use.
Lane and Tuck usually spend the days after school playing with the other missionary kids. Rainy days are spent playing games and building forts for shelter. Sunny days it's water balloon fights!
Stick shift driving lessons! Narrow, winding and rocky roads, steep cliffs without guard rails, moto drivers, random animals and people walking around makes for quite the experience.
This was an exciting day! Our first mail through Agape!
A hike down to the hydro with Dad and some of the other missionary kids!
Lucas went to Port one day to take a team to the airport and brought back popsicles from one of the grocery stores there. This made the long trip worth it!!
More visitors for us!! The kids watching for Grandpa Terry and Grandma Debbie to arrive.
We took them to Rainbow Beach one day.
The kids had fun with them! We also took them to see the market in Cayes, a market behind the hospital and an outdoor bakery while they were here. Looking forward to having them again and any other people that want to come visit!!
A visit from Cass! I think she may have enjoyed it more than he did :)
Tucker's first Bonne Fin Missionary School report card. Good job Tuck!!
Wednesday evening Sunday School. This month it's our turn to host.
All the while we study, study, study!!
The Haitian kids come borrow balls for their games, I think we need more of these!! :)
We are gradually making Kay #4 our own. A little gets done each day.
Here the boys are enjoying the videos Grandma Steidinger sent of her reading books!!
We've missed some happenings back home. Makes us a little sad, but excited for furlough!
Raya has started working some, just in the Supply Depot for the hospital right now.
Henry wanted a haircut after seeing the other boys get one! He still doesn't have enough hair to make that necessary!
We would request your prayers specifically for our language learning and that in our relationships with the Haitian people (and fellow missionaries) the Lord could be glorified!
"This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."
Psalm 118:24
Until next time,
Lucas, Raya, Lane, Tuck, Cy and Henry.
