March 12 - 2 months since the most frightening few seconds of our lives.
When we stop to think about what has happened since that time it is truly a testimony to God's sustaining grace and mercy which is NEW every morning - GREAT IS HIS FAITHFULNESS!
We can see changes in the city when we are out - some places are being cleared by huge machinery and other places the change is a bit slower as it is being done by hand but clean up is taking place. Food distributions continue to take place. We've seen some people move back into their houses when they were determined to be safe. Pray with us for those who do not have a home to return to. The solutions are not easily come by. One young man had a backpack on his back and I knew he wasn't going to school because there are no schools functioning. Here he had all his earthly possessions in that little backpack. Wow, this is repeated many times over.
One couple who came to the campus shortly after the wife delivered their child by C-section. Her incision opened and they were able to get shelter and medical care in a tent on campus. Today the husband came to tell David they were moving off and to thank him for all the help they had been given.
Many times its our actions that speak so much louder than our words. It is something we pray for all the time here as weariness and fatigue can get the best of us all. Please pray for patience and strength to meet each day's needs.
We learned of two woman doctors with "Doctors Without Borders" who were kidnapped and held for a week. They were released but we do not have details. This is the first we have heard about this kind of problem since the quake. Maybe it has happened more and I just have not heard about it. Many escaped prison during the quake and the police have been trying to find them again but obviously many are still out there.
Many of you know Bruce and Cindy have been developing a "coffee project" to help support the sending of Haitian missionaries. Last week they had 300 lbs of roasted coffee beans delivered to their home. I helped Cindy finish bagging the last 100 lbs yesterday into 1 lb bags to sell. They have a team of 5 here who leave tomorrow and will take some out in their suitcases. I love the smell of coffee beans but trust me it got to be a bit much after awhile. Cindy said she could smell coffee in her sleep! I know I could smell it as I walked up to their front door!
Well, we are finally taking a break. We have the tickets made and are counting the days now. I leave first on March 31st and Jeff is coming to Phila to get me. David will be traveling to Verrettes to teach 4 hours of eschatology for 5 days straight to the 4th year seminary students. Other profs will be doing the same to enable the 4th year class to graduate in June. He will join me in PA on April 13th. Bruce and Cindy are leaving on April 3 and going to visit family in Missouri. David and I return to Haiti on May 13th. We will be able to get away for some R & R in a lovely home in the north central mountains of PA from April 20 to May 10. We will be away from internet during that time but available by phone. More later on that.
My left jaw decided to make me aware of it this week and I'm having to favor a soft diet for a while - too bad ice cream is not available but someone did give us some canned applesauce and other canned fruits so maybe I'll make us smoothies for supper! I have not had trouble for many years and so this came as a surprise except that stress contributes to the problem and there has been just a little bit of that in our lives recently!!!!!!
Please pray for all the details that need to be done before we leave - financial reports, finishing up of projects and covering things while we are gone.
God is at work in this tiny part of the world. Thanks so much for your prayers and encouragement in so many ways.
Love to all,
Phyllis
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