transitioning back

We just had 12 days in freezing cold Pennsylvania. Not something we were prepared for, the temperatures that is. Imagine jumping right from August to January. Wow, I think we forgot how cold winter in PA is. We also forgot how nice warm, clean water to wash in can be. We also forgot how nice it is to drive on smooth roads, with lines, and turning lanes. Some nice amenities to our trip. Some others were our parents keeping up their Christmas trees for us so we could celebrate together, great time with some missed friends, and a ton of support within our church and community. We were blown away by the support shown to AWAKENHAITI and us with our gathering on the 16th. God is truly working both here in Haiti and in many lives in the US. We can't express to you how awesome it is for us to see this vision becoming reality. After two years of seeking God's plan and vision for this awesome ministry HE has ALLOWED us to take part in, we are now seeing it all unfold before us. We are so thankful for family and friends who have walked with us this far, who have supported us in a variety of ways, and have done a ton of work to get this ministry off the ground. Now we continue to seek God's plan, wisdom, direction, and provision as we move forward into our first year of AWAKENHAITI in Haiti!
Transitioning into a different culture no matter what it is, is difficult. We obviously experienced it moving here, but we also experienced it going back to PA. We now find ourselves struggling to get into the swing of things here. It takes a few days. We know we are where we are supposed to be, no one ever said it would be easy. We are hopeful though that our paperwork which will allow us to be here longer than the 3 months our passports allow will come through in February so we don't have to keep uprooting ourselves. As much as we would like to see our family and friends, the back and forth is difficult.
Since getting back, we again see how God has brought Jacques into our lives and ministry. I have mentioned him before, but we are so blessed to have him working with us here. He has helped us learn language, culture, and he has done a ton of work; painting, cleaning, laying pavers, chopping tree trunks, building furniture, and much more. We are thankful that the help goes both ways. Jacques was without work when we arrived in October and he is so willing to work, he just couldn't get the opportunity. He has so much drive to do well and provide for himself, but without opportunity, which is so common here, it is hard to make it. Jacques still lives in a tent, one year later. He owns land and has used every penny he can to begin to build a house, but it may take him several years before he can afford to pay for the house to be finished. In Haiti, there are no mortgages. No banks to loan money. How many Americans would be in his situation without help from a bank? Just to get started? This just doesn't sit right with me or with Jeff. This man who has done so much for our family and ministry still lives in a tent. Just something God has layed on both of our hearts. I know when God weighs things on our hearts and we begin to REALLY pray for specific things, HE WILL provide! Please join us in prayer for Jacques.
Vivianne is another blessing to us. I wrote about her a few weeks ago. Come to find out she is expecting a baby, which is in one sense exciting, in another, I wonder how she will do it. How she will get enough protein and iron aside from vitamins to keep herself and the baby healthy. How she and her husband will pay the doctor and hospital bills, and more food for the family. Especially if she can't work. Upon our return here, we found out she had been to the doctor and he found no heartbeat so he ordered a sonogram. We are still waiting to hear if things are ok. Please pray for Vivianne too. I know God has a plan for her too.
Life is just hard here. Hard for so many people. The needs are so great. My prayer is that we can find ways of helping those HE brings in our path. That's why we are here.

thank you for praying for our friends!
~Deb