One-armed driver

Agape left for Haiti this morning. Just talked to Patrick, he is driving the vehicle!! What? Yes, you read it correctly. They left for the village as soon as Agape arrived. At 9:00 pm they were still on the road, had about 40 minutes left of travel.

Rachel and I had a fun day. Sorted clothes that were donated for Haiti. We will send down in the next trip. Then out to lunch with Joan, the gal we stay with. That was so fun!! Should be a quiet weekend.

I think the phantom foot doesn't like the rain. I love it, not the pain, the rain!! I love listening to the pitter-patter of the rain.

A question for you and me..."If you knew tomorrow would be your last day, would you do what you are planning to do?"

Pray for Patrick and Agape in Haiti. Pray for health and safety.

Continue to pray for Suzan the 4 year old girl with cancer.

Pray for Kaye in Switzerland. Pray for encouragement as she is ministering there.

God bless you each one.

Blowing Bubbles

Beautiful day, nice chair in the back yard, birds singing, and a bottle of bubbles for Nate to blow away. So much fun to watch. Not to mention the fresh air is great for morale and healing.

Agape is feeling much better. His hopes are to join Patrick in Haiti tomorrow. Continue to pray.

Patrick is doing well in Haiti. He's waiting to go to the village until Agape arrives.

We received the call that Patrick's prosthesis will be here when we return from Sarasota. That will be exciting. Hoping it will be a perfect fit, so his "real" prosthesis will be ordered.

I Peter 5:10 "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you."

Is it the God of all grace that will make us perfect, stablish, strengthen and settle us? Or is it the suffering? I think through suffering the God of all grace does His perfect work in us.

God is so good. May His blessing be on you.

What a Day

Fever, sore muscles, congestion, and forgot his passport! At 6:30am, I received a call from Patrick, on his way to Haiti, but Agape was too sick to go plus he forgot his passport. So today he was off to the clinic, advise from a nurse, and a total body massage. Plus prayer all day!! We praise God that he sounds better this evening. We are praying for God's healing and leading, if he should still meet Patrick in Haiti the weekend.

Grace, Growth, and Glory...3 "g's" to remember in our walk with the Lord. Without grace there is no growth, and without growth there is no glory. Our glory will be in the presence of the Father. I'm trying to imagine what that will feel like to have the Father hold out His scepter to give me permission into His presence. But the greatest gift is that the scepter has already been held out to us...the cross!

Trying to call Patrick in Haiti, but seemingly no connection tonight. :((

Pray for Agape, for healing and strength.

Pray for Patrick and Curt in Haiti, for safety and health.

Pray for Susana, a 4 year old girl who has just been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Was very sick in Haiti, her missionary parents left Haiti in emergency.

May you grow in His Grace.

Men are gone

Patrick and Agape left today for Sarasota, then on to Haiti tomorrow morning. Please pray for Agape, he is not feeling well. Pray that God would heal him and keep him well during this trip.

Rachel and I will keep the "home fires" burning. No doctor appointments. Only waiting for Patrick's prosthesis, and for God's total healing for my leg "Peggy".

Acts 4:13 "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus."

I find this verse quite "controversial" in that the church leaders realized these men were unlearned, yet they marveled? Then realized they had been with Jesus!! What a testimony.

Am I more concerned with what education someone has rather than their relationship with Jesus. What do people see in me, my education level or Jesus? I just saw a commercial yesterday that was talking about today's schools and the need for teaching the very young computer knowledge so that "they will have excellence of life"? Really, that will do it? There are computers every where, and yet the quality of life isn't increasing, at least, not in the world standards.

Pray for Agape's health.

Pray for safety while Patrick and Agape are in Haiti. Pray for Rachel and I here at home.

Pray that we and you would be bold as we share Jesus with others.

May you have a good night and a wonderful Jesus filled day tomorrow.

We are back

Home from Cincinnati, packing for Haiti.

Patrick and Agape are off to Haiti this week. Rachel and I will stay here and let me continue to heal.

It was a great weekend. God is so good. The pastor in Cincinnati handed us a paper Sunday before church, and said his friend wrote it and he thought we may enjoy it. Well, well. The verse at the top of the page was I Peter 4:12-14 "Beloved think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, some strange thing happened unto you; But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; ...but on your part He is glorified"

These are the verses I read about a week before the quake. The article was on Suffering. Patrick's message that morning was on suffering. Then when we entered the church, on the overhead was the verse from Lamentation 3:22 "His compassions fail not..." Again, a verse Patrick has used often in his messages. The last song the worship team sang was "God is Good"...not knowing that Patrick was singing God is so good" during the 18 hours in the rubble!!

Traveling made me very tired, even though I used wheel chairs in the airport, there was still some hopping on the walker to be done. I was surprised that flying really bothered me. Actually, I confess, I was a bit angry. Before the quake I loved traveling and airports. Even the airport floor was "moving" at one time. No not quake moving, but enough to feel it. Maybe a plane landing?? But now, I may opt to travel by car. But of course, this was my first real travel experience since the quake. I know I was in a plane from Haiti to Miami. But that time we were in "la-la land". :) I need to pray this one through.

We hope you all had a great weekend. We pray that God will bless you each one!!

Friends

We feel so thankful that God has given us friends. You are a wonderful family of friends. We do not take this lightly. This journey would have been more difficult without you, your prayers, encouragement, and financial support.

Even though, there are still many limitations, step by step I try to do more things, like pack a suitcase. Not a big one. :)) Takes double or maybe triple the time, but it is completed before flight time. And I'm exhausted. Of course, that may be due to increasing age. :(

Frustrations are rising as the haitian government is trying to stop food distribution and free health care. What more will it take to cause them to see the devastation the country is in and now it will get even worse. God help them!! How do we pray for this situation?

Psalm 82:3 "Defend weak people and orphans. Protect the rights of the oppressed and the poor."

Isaiah 10:2 "They deprive the poor of justice. They take away the rights of the needy among my people. They prey on widows and rob orphans."

There are so many verses in the Bible commanding us to care for the widows and orphans. But we also know that the ungodly do not understand the ways of God. Once again, we are the light in this dark world. Let's not hide our light, but shine as a beacon.

We will be gone the weekend, so will probably not blog until Monday. We pray you each have a wonderful weekend, filled with the joy of the Lord.

Haiti oh Haiti

I started reading the book of Isaiah today. Wow, the first few verses are an exact picture of our world today. Try verse 4 "Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil doers, children that are corrupters, they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward."

Quite a dark picture, and one we would rather not admit to. But the truth is, this is why we need to stand strong, be soldiers of the Cross.

We are the light and we need to let it shine into the darkness. Nate, our 2 year old grandson, has just learned the song "This little Light of mine". He loves for grandma to sing it. Yes, it is a message for us. Don't hide our light under a bushel!! We are God's Army and we need to fight the darkness together.

Pray for Haiti as hunger is on the rise, and the government has made the decision to stop food distribution and free health services. Oh haiti, oh haiti what will be next!!

Pray for healing to continue. I am off the shrinker sock again. I need to give the wound more healing time.

Pray for Rachel and Agape as they continue to help us when needed, which is a lot of time.

Pray for Pat, Rachel's husband, who is alone, but wants Rachel to wait another 6 weeks to move from here.

We love you and pray God will bless you!!

One-armed Chef

Now this was an experience...a one-armed chef and a one legged-cook working together in the kitchen. Guess what? The food was edible!! Our first meal we cooked without help. What a team!! I even cleaned the mess afterwords! I was exhausted. I'm almost ready to try for the one leg balancing act. That may be a good one to do with my sisters to see who can balance the best for the longest time.

This morning I received this as a part of devotional, and just wanted to share it with you. It really blessed me and spoke to my heart.

Sent by Roy Coy:

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. (Hebrews 13:2)

God’s people should have the spirit of their master. Identify with the outcasts and forgotten, and determine to wade chest deep into the morass of the hopeless and hurting. That’s what Jesus did, and he calls us to a similar task.

Be Blessed.

Rain, blessed rain and so needed. So beautiful. Everything will be greener and fresher.

The phantom pain is more intense because of the rain. So now do we concentrate on the pain, or on the rain? Complain or be thankful? Choices!!

I saw a note friend of mine mentioned her "favorite things". Really started me thinking. What are my "Favorite Things". Of course we immediately remember the song. I think as our lives change, so do our favorite things. So here is my list: Our family laughing together, grandchildren, hearing Nate say "gramma!", my husband snoring (means he is resting well), my extended family, somebody speaking creole, my mom, coffee chats with my sisters, my nieces, (Ok nephews, I love you too), friends, tea parties :)).

It is bedtime, So rest well and dream well. Remember Our God doesn't slumber or sleep. How special is that!! We can sleep because He doesn't. Be Blessed!

I'm trying

Today I am back on the shrinker sock, to form my muscles for the prosthesis. Although I am not totally healed the doctor says I can start back on the sock again. Another step forward!!

Clean house, clean clothes, a good game of SkipBo. Thanks Rachel!! You are the best maid!! Of course, the men took the afternoon off. :)) Excuse me, they did provide dinner tonight. Maybe they are chalking up "Brownie Points" since they are leaving us for 10 days, off to Haiti.

The song "Oh no, He'll never let go, through the storm ...He'll never let go of me", keeps ringing in my heart. Isn't it amazing how sometimes a song just plays over and over again in our hearts. "Thank you Lord for reminding me of your constant presence and holding me in your Hand."

Pray that "Peggy" will endure the shrinker sock.

Pray for our upcoming trip to Cincinnati this weekend.

Pray for Rachel and Agape as they continue to help us. Pray for Rachel's husband Pat, while Rach is here.

Pray for Kaye who is now ministering in Switzerland.

God bless each one of you

Reflections

I'm just thinking...what was the end of year 2009 like? Did I hope to make some changes in 2010? I can't remember. I do know that this year is only 4 months old, and so much has happened. So much!!

There have been changes I never dreamed of. Changes that will forever change our lives. Physical changes for one. Where will we live? How will we live? I think of the young boy in a hospital in Haiti that lost his whole family and cries out to God "Why am I alive? How am I supposed to live?" He, too, has one leg. But he has no one to help him. Oh God be close to him!!

But changes have gone deeper than physical. Heart changes. Determination! Sadness, yet joy. Suffering, yet rejoicing. Cast down, but not destroyed. So much to do, but not feeling the strength. Ahh, God's strength. Our desire is to always go to the source of Living Water and draw deep from the well. A new burden for those who do not yet know Jesus. So much work to be done.

We feel your prayers every day. We love your notes, emails, and phone calls.

God is Good. God is Right. His mercy endureth forever!

Pray for Patrick as he preaches tomorrow.

Rachel says my wound is healing quickly now. YEA!!

Worship the Lord in his beauty tomorrow.

Check it out

Someone sent the following website to me. It so blessed me. So for those of you who didn't find it on my FaceBook, please watch it. What a joy to see how some haitians are dealing with their suffering as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGPIi9Z-BBc

About the time we get "comfortable" with our situation (if that is even possible), we hear a story from Haiti that makes us so sad, reminding us that the problems are far from over and the country is a far cry from being restored! Having school in tents is not a good idea when the high temps are causing deaths inside the tents. Schools can only stay in session for 2 hours before the heat is unbearable.

"Lift up your eyes for the fields are white and ready for harvest." Please share Jesus with someone every day.

Pray the new Christians in Haiti. Pray for the upcoming revival service again in Mayette. They have 1 scheduled in May.

Praise the Lord for He is Good, for His mercy endureth forever!

Patrick and Agape are home again. They had good meetings in Miami. Their plane was almost an hour arriving. You can never guess why. The Miami airport closed down for a bit because President Obama was on the premises. The guys didn't see him, only the plane.

Bible study last night: Galatians 6. Verse 2—bear one another's burdens...verse 1 commands us to do so with a spirit of meekness. May we not be judgmental when we are helping those who are weak.

New challenges arise almost daily....things I used to do but now don't...like drink a lot of water when I know we are going to be on the road for a while. Rest areas take time to get in and out. Easier to stay in the car. haha. One day this will change again.

Praise the Lord the phantom pain has gotten considerably less painful for both of us.

Pray that Patrick's trial prosthesis will be completed soon. The appointment was cancelled for tomorrow because it isn't completed.

We pray you had a good day and blessed by the Lord.

Good news

Trip to the doctor. Good news. Healing well and soon on the shrinker sock to prepare for prosthesis. Still may take a month, but at least, we see head-ways.

I made an error in yesterday's blog. Patrick and Agape are in Miami not Haiti. Sorry for the error.

The truck is at the dock, and will be on its way to Haiti on Tuesday. Agape and Patrick are enjoying mounds of haitian food.

Have others seen Christ me today? Have others seen Christ in you? Let's remember we are His ambassador no matter where we are.

May God bless you richly.

cleaning house

Cleaning house, washing dishes and doing laundry....that's what I wish I could do about now. Isn't it strange when we are busy with daily chores we'd like a break. But when we are unable to do for ourselves we want our job back. I've tried washing dishes on 1 leg, doesn't last so long. I've been trying to design a way to clean house, and haven't quite mastered a plan yet.

So the best to do is not concentrate on what I can't do, but on the things I can do. And really, I have so much work on the computer I haven't been able to accomplish all that.

Patrick and Agape are doing well in Haiti. Meeting church leaders, getting the truck to the dock, and scouting the area.

Tomorrow is doctor day again for me. Believing for a good report.

"In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path." This verse kind of takes the "me" out of situations. My ways need to be His will, instead of me planning my path then asking for His blessing. If I let Him direct my paths, then it will be blessed!!

Pray for those in tent camps in haiti. So difficult now that the rains have started.

Pray for Patrick as he meets with pastors and church leaders in Miami.

Pray for Patrick's prosthesis to come in soon, and be a perfect fit.

May God bless each of you, and fill you with joy.

"Oh no"

Ok so now I will confess to you all...We went to Ft. Walton Beach for the weekend. When I was dressing for church Sunday morning, I reach for my shoe and guess what? I picked up the wrong shoe!! I only had one, but it was not the one I needed!! So I wore my tennis shoe to church, not bad, it just didn't quite match the dress. Go ahead and laugh. I did!!

It was a fun weekend, seeing old friends and making some new ones. We love seeing what God is doing in churches and in the lives of His children in many different places. That is amazing how God can keep His Hand on His children every where. I could hardly keep my hand on 2 children.

The rains have started in Haiti. In 30 minutes of a down pour, 6 inches of rain entered the tents camps. There was so much rain in the villages, that church was cancelled yesterday morning.

Patrick and Agape are on their way to Miami to drop the truck at the dock to be shipped to Haiti. Patrick has meetings planned with pastors/leaders in Haitian churches in Miami. We are praying for leaders to help with the work among the haitian communities there.

I was reading Psalm 137:4 a bit ago. The children of Israel sat down and wept, they hung their harps in the willow trees and wept for the destruction of Jerusalem and their captivity. Their captors asked them to sing one of the songs, but they said "How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?" Some days that is how we feel. Just to sit and weep over the destruction of Haiti. The "little" we can do there won't change a lot in the physical destruction of Haiti. So to preach and share God's word is the best gift we can give that has lasting effects. As Patrick told the people in Haiti, "The quake cannot change people. Only the Lord can do that."

Thanks to all of you who have shared your blessings for the needs in Haiti. Someone said to us this weekend, "we just aren't able to do very much". God looks on the heart for a willing giver, and that is what counts. In God's eyes a cup of water to a thirsty soul has a reward.

We pray for you and thank God for you.

Pray for safety as Agape and Patrick travel to and from Miami. Pray for the meetings in Miami.

Pray for the new believers in Haiti.

Pray for Barb for complete healing.

Disquieted Soul

Psalm 42:4-5 "These things I remember, and pour out my soul within me, How I went with the throng, and led them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, a multitude keeping holyday. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him For the help of his countenance."

These verses were on my heart this morning, thinking how often we are just like David. He was celebrating a holy day with a multitude of people. He led them to the House of God. They had a praise service. And what happened right after that? His soul was sad and troubled.

OH our enemy is so busy to keep our hearts troubled. Yes, even after many miracles and seeing God's hand in our lives. Even then, they enemy tries to creep in and take away our joy! If he can steal our joy, then our strength in the Lord starts to wane. But our hope is in God. We can have His face shine on ours. Our battle is not in the flesh. We are warriors and soldiers in the Lord's army.

Rachel is my nurse-maid, dressing my wound every day. She says it is healing nicely. Took a few tries for her to do without wanting to pass out. Although she has been a CNA for several years, she says it is so different when it is "mom" she is working on.

Patrick enjoyed "running" in the rest area today with his grandson. We are visiting Ft. Walton Beach this weekend (Calvary Chapel Emerald Coast).

Patrick and I were talking about when it will be possible for me to visit Haiti. I thought August, so I can go with the surgery team. He disagrees with me. He is certain it won't be possible for me to be healed, prepared for the prosthesis and stable walking with it. That was enough to put the challenge on the race track...I'm finding ways to exercise my "Peggy Eileen", so that I am ready to "run" when my prosthesis time is here. Do you sense of "wanting to prove my husband wrong"? Oh no!! It will be fun trying anyway.

Have a wonderful weekend

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Mac Truck morning

Have you ever had a mac truck morning? You know, feeling like you've been hit and trying to find your senses. That's funny, like having a wall fall on me. That's what I feel like this morning. Feelings...ahh, we can be so distorted in our thinking by feelings.

Feelings, then imaginations...all of which are usually false. Like feeling someone doesn't like you, or someone meant to do you harm...or that your husband meant to make you angry, or your neighbor is purposely ignoring you. Most of the time these feelings have no truth. It is satan's way of starting anger, hatred, etc.

Even the phantom pain feeling, yes, it is pain but the foot isn't even there. How can that be? How can something that isn't even a part of my body anymore keep me awake at night?

So this feeling takes me to Lamentations 3:21-23 "This I recall in my mind, therefore I have hope. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning, great is they faithfulness.

So did I really get hit by a mac truck? Of course not, false feelings, just a way to describe how I feel.

The bottom line is Great is His Faithfulness, His compassions fail not, and are new every morning!! I'm so glad I don't need to count on my feelings or that wonderful cup of coffee to get me through the day!!

Today Lord, help me to trust you more...yes, even more than coffee to get me through the day.

Getting dressed

I'm thinking Colossians 3 this morning.

I am commanded to get undressed: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of my mouth, lies.

I am commanded to get dressed: merciful, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering, patience with others, forgiveness and then tie it all together with love.

That is a lot of "dressing". Lord, help me look into the mirror of your Word and get dressed properly for the day. Help me be more concerned of my heart than my face. My heart condition will show on my face.

This is a quiet day, no appointments. A good time to catch up with "office work", writing, etc. Today I want to "run" or walk with 2 feet. Today I want to do laundry, wash dishes, cook, clean. Today I am want to be thankful for 1 leg and good health. Today I am thankful that my incision is healing and soon I will be on the process of a prosthesis.

Today I am thankful for friends, for family and most of all for Jesus.

I don't want to waste Today...we are not promised tomorrow.

Celebrate Jesus today

Good news again

Patrick had a call from one of the pastors. He said last night was the last night of revival service, but we pray the revival doesn't stop there. There was a total of 25 saved in the 8 days. The conference center holds at least 500 people. It was full and there were more people standing outside than sitting inside. People came from many mountain areas for the service!!

Today I had another eye exam for a macular hole, expecting to plan a surgery date. Instead I was told "This is very unusual, but your eye is better than before. These conditions don't usually heal themselves, but it seems to be healing. We will not schedule surgery yet. Wait another 6-8 weeks." Thank you, Lord!!

It is amazing that almost 3 months after the quake, we still have so many reminders of that tragedy. One of those reminders are the tent camps in many many areas of Haiti. Those living in the tents have a daily reminder of what once was, and is no more. They live in disease infested conditions, with poor sanitation and drinking water. We pray for them. The school students who have no where to go to attend school, and will lose this year's schooling. Some schools are open with classes being held under tents.

So many people have helped, and so many organizations have sent aid into the country. We are thankful for that. Yet the situation seems so "hopeless". Lift up our eyes for the fields are ripe and ready for harvest.

Pray for those in tent camps. Pray for the new believers. Pray they would stand strong in the Lord. Pray for new Gospel workers to help in the work of the Lord. Patrick is meeting with some leaders already.

Sleep well, God does not slumber nor sleep.

Revival in Mayette

We received the good news that 13 people gave their lives to the Lord in the revival service last night. This is a total of 25 since Sunday night, the first night of revival services. Tomorrow evening is the last service, but we pray not the end of revival.

So I am sitting here reflecting...revival...we often think of it as a service, but it is so much more. It is a reviving of our hearts. Today I need a reviving. Don't you ever wonder why we can't stay on top of things? I do. Why is "me" so prevalent in my heart. The "me" shifts, but soon it is there again knocking on the door wanting residence and control.in full. We certainly are needy creatures. Yet God puts His Gospel into our hands to share with others.

I need Thee Every Hour, every minute, every second.

Thank you Jesus, for your death for me. For your resurrection for me. If I were the only sinner on earth You would still have gone to the cross for me. What Love!! Thank You Jesus!!

Healing is happening, and we are thankful. There are amputees in Haiti who have already been blessed with a prosthesis. What a blessing!! We praise God for those organizations who are working with the amputees.

Have a Wonderful Easter weekend.

God Bless each of you

Good Friday

Philippians 2:7-8 "But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

I've been thinking of that verse this morning. We are so busy making sure we have a good reputation...Jesus was about His Father's business, and being a servant. He was found in the fashion of man...we should be found in the fashion of Jesus. He was already God, and had to change to become as one of us. But we, on the other hand, are man and need to be changed in the likeness of Jesus.

Servanthood...not such an easy position. Meaning we give up all rights to "my wants and desires". Paul was a bond servant to Jesus Christ. That was a life commitment. We are bound to Christ, being like Him. Being obedient "even to death of the cross". Is our commitment to obedience to wherever God takes us? Or do we put limits on God?? Think about it. Have I set a limit to God, and what He is allowed to do in my life? I pray not.

Patrick was "casted" for his prosthesis yesterday. Meaning, the made a form. In 2 weeks he will be fitted to see if the measurement is correct. If so, then the "real" prosthesis will be made.

Barb's "leg" is healing. Patience it is. Doesn't God know I'd like to be ready for a prosthesis and keep up with Patrick in the healing process?? Of course, He does. For some reason, He allowed this bit of detour. He is still Good and Right. He makes no mistakes.

We are missing our friend Kaye, who was with us for 2 1/2 months after the quake. We miss her laughter, her joy, her advice and help. Pray for her as she serves another one who also needs her kindness and compassion.