Update - Pressing Needs

We’ve heard from many that you feel helpless and wish you could do something about some of the areas that were hardest hit by the recent storms. We agree that it feels difficult to know how to help.

Today we were sent photos from the area of Cabaret that were incredibly horrible and graphic. I won't post them here but I will say that they are literally pulling dead babies and children out of muddy river beds and stacking the bodies in trucks. People have lost their children, their mothers, their brothers and friends. All because of some rain. It breaks our hearts.

For those concerned about the Zachary family and the Real Hope for Haiti mission and the people of the Cazale and the surrounding areas - please keep them in your prayers.

Many were swept away in the water and lost loved ones and homes and possessions. State Farm Insurance is not cutting checks in two weeks, two months or ever. These losses are huge. They will have long-lasting effects on these areas.

Licia is holding down the fort while her Dad and sister are away in Indiana but reports that things have been more than grim there. She needs tons of encouragement and strength that only God can give to get through these next days and weeks.

Tomorrow we’re renting a truck and filling it with what we can and praying for the best, we hope to meet some of her people and get the stuff across an area where the road has washed away. They need clean water. Pray that water and filters will get there tomorrow.

If you wish to support this family and their ministry efforts please don’t email them (they’re so busy) or me (we have limited access right now) - any information you might need about what they do in Cazale and their work can be found on their blogs.

Also you might consider contacting Jamie Ivey at jamie@aaronivey.com and she will give you multiple ways to donate money to the Real Hope for Haiti ministry. If a deduction is important to you, please know that RHFH is a registered 501C3 and you will be receipted for your gift. You can do it on line, or you can do it the old fashioned way. Jamie can provide you with testimonials and references if you need to hear more before you give.

Our testimonial:
Troy and I have watched this family and their work for three years and we can tell you that they give sacrificially to the area they serve and that they are “the real deal”. There is nothing easy about what they do. We believe that their ministry is an amazing and gritty and hard-core way of being the hands and feet of Jesus to a lost and hurting world. We leave after a few hours exhausted by what we’ve seen – they live it - Every. Single. Day. They humble us, they impress us ... they need us to return some love right now.

When given an offer to be picked up/helped out (by the US gov't) and taken out of the area - Licia refused … They are committed to the people they serve and the best way WE ALL can SERVE THEM is by prayers – prayers and more prayers along with generous financial gifts.

We hope you’ll get on board.

They are filtering muddy river water through towels for drinking -- they cannot get anywhere due to roads washing away – they are being brought bodies lost in the storm - and this is on top of caring for multiple sick people and 75+ children in a rescue center. The pressure of the need is crushing.

If every person reading sent what it would cost to go out to eat, or approximately $30 - not only would it free them up to make some decisions about how to help in their community, but it would encourage them and it would be confirmation for them that they are not alone. If 700 readers sent $30 – the ministry would have 21K to work with in the next few weeks. The greatest effect we could all have – would be to donate the money immediately. Not tomorrow, not when you think of it this weekend – right now. PLEASE do it today. It is rally time.

Thank you. Your money will directly help victims of the storms in Haiti. I promise you that.

Thursday has its own plans developing … But we’ve learned in Haiti – it is best to take it just one day at a time.

May God cover us all tomorrow and may His people in Cazale, Haiti feel loved and encouraged and may relief come to them all soon.

Amen.

N’ap pale avek ou demen – si bondye vle.

Relevant Article-
Miami Herald
(We live very near the airport and have seen a huge increase in helicopter traffic, hopefully those helicopters are getting where they are most needed.)

Update - The less serious

• Still no Internet installed at home, it seems small in light of what is going on in Haiti this week. We'll keep finding internet every few days as time allows.
• Troy got home from "Mich-i-Can, Ame-wica" (Noah) yesterday - we were all very happy about that. His trip went well.
• I got to participate in the Women's Program today ... It was humbling and overwhelming and pretty amazing. I don't have time to get into the specifics right now. Tuesdays are the day that the moms who have already had their babies come. We taught about breast feeding. I am hoping the photos of demonstrating latching on properly on a plastic bag filled with milk never show up on any internet site ever. ;)
• Jeronne will start literacy class on Monday. Please pray for her. Shame has a way of holding people down and back and we really hope she won't allow that in her life.
• Troy and I both have falled way behind in email coorespondance. We want to apologize and tell you that we will catch back up with you and answer your questions once we have Internet at our home ... our time is limited now and we've just not had time to get caught up. We are not ignoring you! Thanks for your patience.
• The bigger kids had Monday off of school, they returned today and had a great day. We're so thankful for this great option for them and that they're able to connect with other kids who "get" them. The car-pool ride is so crazy and fun, the way the kids bond with other MK's and really truly work as one big family is so cool to observe.

Photos:
Tipap and his not-so-secret admirer Phoebe ... Troy and his THRILLED (to have Daddy home) son ... Paige and her soccer buddies in the "front yard" tonight.

We love you - we miss you - we're thankful for you!

Sara Groves Quote

Sara on her Spiritual Buffalo...

"There is a scene in the movie Dances with Wolves where the Sioux are on a much anticipated buffalo hunt. As they come up over a hill, they are shocked to see a field full of buffalo carcasses. The tragedy of that moment is that where the Sioux use every piece of the buffalo—the bladder holds water, the bone makes a tool, the skin is a covering for a tent- whoever has done this has taken the best part of the buffalo for himself and has left everything else to waste. There is no way to make good use of all that is lying in this field.

I was so convicted when I went to Africa that I am not using all of my spiritual buffalo. I have developed this one side of my personal relationship with God. I go to church, I have incredible worship, and I listen to incredible speakers. I have money to buy devotionals, and leisure time to do those devotionals. I have spent a lifetime grooming a personal faith in Christ, but have I been taking the best piece of the buffalo for myself?

There has been a joy in discovering the good use of my life. There is a reciprocal redemption that happens when we enter into stories of helping our neighbor—not just around the world, but in our own communities. When I came home from Africa, instead of feeling guilty for my life, I began to hear God in a very clear way say, ‘that thing carries water, that thing makes a tool, that is covering for a tent.’ There is a beauty to the good use of a life, and to the acknowledgment that everything you have and do has a Kingdom purpose."

Excerpt ... Something Worth Considering

Taken from Greg Boyd's blog and website ... (See his Sept 6th blog for full entry)

We live in a scary, painful world and people need hope. We feel helpless and long for a savior. It’s hard-wired into us. It’s what fuels religion and politics. In fact, after watching both national conventions the last two weeks, I’m beginning to think these are not two distinct things. Both conventions seemed a whole lot like religious revivals. With religious zeal, people were given hope and the promise of salvation. And just as in religion, the insiders who know the truth and really care rallied against those who are deceived and who merely claim to care. Devotees of the candidates and parties responded to sermons and music with passionate religious zeal bordering on worship — just as true believers of religions and political systems have done throughout history.

We do need hope and we do need a savior. Yet, when this natural longing for hope and salvation is directed toward anything or anyone other than God, the Bible calls it idolatry. Our hope is not to be placed in the eloquence of Obama or the heroism of McCain but in the loving self-sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary. We’re never to put “Country First” but are rather to “seek first the Kingdom of God.”

I encourage you to be a true believer, but not in the religion of politics, nor in America, nor in Obama or McCain, nor any political party nor (what is close to the same thing) any religion. Be a true believer in Jesus and the small mustard seed revolution he inaugurated into the world. Join with others in passionately living a Jesus-looking lifestyle, sacrificing your time and resources for others on a daily basis. Invest all your hope and confidence in the foolish weakness of the cross rather than in the wise power of Caesar’s empire.

This is where the true “last, best hope of the world” lies.

Another rainy day in Haiti ...

More Lydie and her weird teeth. (The last one is there, it is just late in appearing.)
Rain Update:

It rained and rained and rained last night. The thunder was amazing and non stop from 11pm until 4am. The kids all slept through it. My cell rang at 11pm and I figured Troy was calling ... Instead it was Tipap calling from the backyard (where there are two rooms and a bathroom that Tipap and Jeronne live in) and he said "You okay?" I told him I was fine and all the kids were sleeping through the thunder. He is very protective of us all.

Our plan today was to go to LaDigue and visit. Tipap and Jeronne and Paige are all worrying about the rain and damage there and wanted to surprise everyone with a visit. We got in the car and tried, but Route nef had more water on it than we felt safe driving through - About 1/4 mile into the high water I chickened out and we turned around. (Annie and Jeronne this morning.)Now we're at Visa Lodge (thus the Internet connection) trying to enjoy an outing since our plans to visit LaDigue are not going to happen. The road to the Maranatha Childrens' homes had poles down this morning. It had stopped for a while but is raining hard again now. We hope Troy can still come home tomorrow afternoon!

After my last post - where I tried to describe why it seems that living here, things feel amplified ... life happened and I have two other examples.

I was driving to grab lettuce and tomatoes at a nearby market ... When I headed back toward home I happened upon a disagreement and sat trapped in traffic with a front row seat. (see photo) The man on foot was yelling at the man in the van to move. I could tell he was quite angry but I sat trying to hold still and not draw attention.

I could not back up, go forward, go right or left. After about a minute of screaming the man pulled a gun out of his belt. My heart raced and I told Noah (the only one with me) to lie down. I watched for about another 90 seconds as the men argued. The guy in the van was totally unmoved by the gun being waved in his face ... crazy!!! I guess he was calling the other guy's bluff??? The guy with the gun turned and made eye contact with me. I was the closest car to him. Thoughts raced through my head wondering what might become of the heated situation. I prayed, told Noah to lie down and prayed some more. About two minutes into the exchange a cop walked up (and I snapped a photo while the gun guy was not looking) and told the man with the gun to get back in his car. The man did. That was it. Over. Everyone drove off on their merry way. Amplified. Everything is amplified. There is no rule against pulling a gun on someone???? TIH.

(God protects in ways we often take for granted. Thanks God!)

The other weird thing that happened ... I spoke with a reporter from the BBC. She wrote and asked if she could call me. She was asking questions about the weather here. I told her that I was not maybe the best one to ask since I am not doing relief work -- but simply that in this country a storm that would be bad in a developed nation ... is bad - times ten.

Between the lack of warning, the erosion and runoff, inadequate shelter/housing/roads/bridges, the lack of systems for rescue ... heavy rain is devastating.

She said someone was going to call to put me on the air live. I instantly wished I had not taken her call --- too much pressure!! I would be tempted to say something British sounding, maybe give them a "oh bloody hell" or something...And what if I did not understand their accents and messed up!?!?!? But thankfully no one called ... or when they did call they got the French recording telling them that Digicel is less than a perfect cellular provider and to try back later. :) Phew!

Have a good Sunday.

Tara and the kids

Intersection (and You can kiss now)

Over the last many weeks Noah has taken to the idea that he can dictate when his Mom and Dad may kiss. It started as a game only, but has since turned into a habit of his.

This morning on the way to the airport Troy was telling me how much he would miss us and we were all wishing aloud that he could stay here with us … and from the back seat came, “You can kiss now!”

Troy made it out of PAP without much trouble. One day this week Hurricane Hanna cancelled flights, which means three days of playing catch-up at the airport, but he was on his plane and turning the phone off 15 minutes before the scheduled departure so at least one flight was on track today.

None of us are quite “at-home” or comfortable enough in our new house to be 110% ready for the timing of this trip, but we know that Troy has important things to share and that the conference will be a time of encouragement and rejuvenation for him as well as those he’ll meet. We were excited when they invited him. Sometimes the very things you're not feeling prepared or feeling able to do - are the things that God has planned for you! If you want information on a radio broadcast that is happening or the conference please contact Brenda at telltheworld5@gmail.com - it is taking place this weekend in the Grand Rapids, MI area.

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We’ve heard from our friends in LaDigue that the rainwater has caused a lot of trouble. For those of you who have visited the dam, they are reporting that the water is up to the thin green bridge that you walk across. That is an insane amount of water. We need about 20 days without any rain for things to dry up. As I type it is beginning to pour again. Sigh. Everyone here is soooo very tired of rain.

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I’ve been frustrated with myself for feeling a bit down and unsettled. I think I just expected to immediately feel at home in Port au Prince. But in thinking about it further I realize that I have never been a city girl – Troy and I lived in two outlying areas and I have never lived in an truly urban environment … it feels a little squashed to me … or cloistered or cementish (a new word) or something. Right now it feels like I am only trying to figure out how to get the kids to and from school and I’ve questioned my purpose if that is all I am doing here – I want to do something besides coordinate rides and schedules. On the bright side, Paige told me last night that she loves being at QCS and she would not trade it for anything. Apparently the two weeks I have allowed to feel totally at home is not enough time ... It’s that whole patience issue again.

We’re REALLY hoping to end the Internet disconnect soon! The provider is missing a key part. Like a dish - TIH. We’re realizing that without TV and Internet we have no idea what is happening in the world – an odd feeling – makes us wonder again how anybody lived far from loved ones decades ago when cell phones and email were not an option. Those people were nuts.

We have one bathroom that does not drain, making a lovely nesting spot for mosquitoes ... the washing maching runs through two cycles in a row if you don’t catch it after the first one and our new oven won’t light … but the rest of the household things seem to be falling into place now. Like the microwave - it works great!! :) The EDH (the sometimes city power) angle is a new one for us and we’re learning to jump out of bed at midnight to start a load of laundry. We already hear the rooster farm next door less – that is not to say that we don’t hear them at all – it is just to say that we’re beginning to notice it less. Noah told me today that the "nay-b0h-z have an ugly house" - upon clarification he thinks the chickens/roosters have an ugly house. :)

My friend Beth pointed out that doing life here is often heavy – or amplified in a sense.

It’s like life on steroids – there is always an edge and always one extra thing to consider. On one hand everything takes longer to accomplish; groceries or simple errands are often a three or four hour event. Going anywhere is complicated. While you feel like you do a lot of standing around waiting on things and people – you also feel like you rarely have down time. It is the only environment where you can get almost nothing tangible completed yet fall into bed exhausted from it. I know that will make no sense to anyone who has not had the privilege of visiting.

We heard from some missionaries that left after 20 years to retire in the States. They said they did not even realize how increased their daily stress level was until they were removed from this environment. All of this is not to complain – trust me – it is just to attempt to explain it a bit better.

One example that hit this week especially, sick kids cause much greater stress. If one of my kids is sick in the USA I never automatically wonder if they have a deadly disease (Malaria) or jump to wondering if not taking them to the doctor for another day (the wait and see approach) could result in serious consequence. Annie ran a fever on and off all week and it put me on edge wondering if there was something I should be doing that I was not - and if waiting and seeing was going to cause her unnecessary pain.

With Troy gone I feel extra nervous about accidents or car troubles. It is one thing to get a flat tire on the road in suburban Minneapolis where there are people everywhere who will call for help for you and the worst thing that might happen is you’ll wait 5 minutes for the police to show up. Here, it means trying to communicate in a language that I stink at while trying to use a cruddy cell phone system to call everyone I know to come help me and hoping no one hassles me while I stand in mud and try to locate someone that might be 30 to 40 minutes away. It causes me to pause when I leave the house with a couple of the little ones in tow, that’s for sure.

The people we live near and run into all have their own amazing stories to tell. A friend of the Heartline ministry stopped in to see Beth and John this week and had aged 20 years in just 6 or 8 months. I was told that she barely resembled her prior self. She is HIV positive. A lump rises in your throat as you see the devastation it has caused in her life. A man in our neighborhood has no eyes and is missing some fingers. He ran with the wrong crowd in previous years and has the scars to show for it. Both the variables and the consequences are just bigger here.

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Thanks for reading about our odd little life in this odd little country. It amazes us that you do. While we have faced some discouragement and “down” times of late – we simultaneously feel very, very blessed to be here. We’re lucky to live life on steroids; we’re lucky to call Haiti home. We want to remain open to experience what God has planned for each of us as we seek to discern how and where to invest the bulk of our time, energy and resources. As we continue to find our groove in the big city, we both need and appreciate your prayers.

In the coming week we also plan to go get Pierre from Petit Bwa and get him into town to begin examining the possibility of a new leg. We’ll keep you posted as his story develops. Our certainty that we need to try to see why God has laid him so heavily on our hearts is related directly to this quote:

"Since you cannot do good to all, you are to pay special attention to those who, by the accidents of time, or place, or circumstances, are brought into closer connection with you."

-Augustine of Hippo

In our roles with Heartline Ministries, (John and Beth McHoul) Tara will be working with Beth, Sheila and Shelley in the Women’s Program that currently serves about 80 women. Among many other things, we’ll specifically be trying to develop a program for the teen moms --recognizing that their challenges and needs are different than the more mature single mom. Together T & T will work on getting the Heartline website updated and rolling out some new options for those of you who love and support this worthy ministry. Troy will be working the US side of adoptions and has already enjoyed learning from John on a trip downtown this week; there is no underestimating what a guy who has lived here 20 years knows. Troy is hoping to absorb some of that moxie and wisdom. (But hopefully not the accent or the John sense of fashion.) We thank God for bringing the McHouls into our lives in 2005.

As Troy prepared for his weekend missions conference we had an opportunity to review all of the “God sized” moments that have occurred since we first started down the path to Haiti in July of 2005.(Or even 2002 when we first located Haiti on a map.) It is easy to get distracted or discouraged and forget what God has done and is doing. We've been guilty of that I think.

We’ve met such amazing people both in Haiti and all over the world during our time here. Our lives have intersected in ways we would never trade. It was great to bring those things to mind again. We’re certain that God ordained many of the intersections of the last three years … some of those intersections resulted in miracles and answered prayers and some resulted in the beginning of life long friendships.

As we move forward we’re hyperaware that any intersection might just be - of the God variety.

This post from two years ago was a reminder for me today.

Still Trying,

tara for all of us

Kid Update

The grandmas and aunts in the bunch hate this no Internet thing ... they need a kid fix ... I tossed together a few random stories for you guys.

• In true Noah form, we already have walls with color crayon on them … not even two weeks into residing here. :( Bye-bye damage deposit. That Noah is one tough nut to crack … no matter how you look at it. He did say that he did it because he was angry with us for taking Hope and not him when we ran an errand. At least he can identify why he acts like a butt. Is it odd to be encouraged by that?
• Hope wanted to know what it means if something is Eppropriate. I said, “what do you mean?” She said, “Mrs. Ackerman told the boys that they were not being very Eppropriate today.” At first I thought it was new-fangled high-tech terminology --- but nope … just Hope being hard of hearing.
  
• Isaac asked Dad and I, “Does Jesus live even further than outer space away from here?” I punched Dad to indicate it was his question … and Dad said, “Well, Jesus lives in your heart Isaac.” The response was pure unbelief … “WHAT – ARE YOU SAYING THERE ARE TWO JESUS’????? I never heard that before!” After much explaining that did not meet Isaac’s approval, Isaac shrugged and said, “I just cannot believe there are two of Jesus Grandpa.” (Dad does not know the rule of answering Isaac questions. The rule is – be sure your answer will not create loop holes for confusion.) The answer should have been – “Jesus could be far or he could be close – depending on your perspective.”
  
• Paige finds ways to make a white shirt and navy bottom into a fashion statement each day. Reading the names of her classmates is like reading the members of NATO … talk about a diverse group! I don’t think her international school experience will ever be topped. The life-stories of her classmates are all so interesting.


• Phoebe is now going by the name “Madame Tipap.” From the moment she wakes until the moment she is asleep for the night she wanders around calling for Tipap. She is totally enamored with him and he never tires of saying “Phoebe” (in a shrill high mocking voice) right back to her every Tipap.


• Lydie B. has only three top teeth. It looks very hillbilly and very odd.


• Annie had a rough week but seems to be on the mend now.
  
• Peanut misses her wide open spaces for chasing chickens and goats. We’re working through the steps of the grief process with her. Right now we're working the denial step.


• Stateside kids: Britt (and Chris) started classes at Baylor last week and report that things are going well in Texas. They are full on wedding planning for their January nuptials and now have added a March Cap Hatian mission trip to their list of travels.

quickly...

we doubt the internet is coming to our house any time soon - the rain has been crazy at times - please pray for people here - homes are being damaged and lost - we're hoping ike (the next one after hannah) misses us - troy is supposed to travel tomorrow for the weekend in michigan ... stories, photos and real updates to come ...

stay dry-
tara

posting a few random photos from a remote location...

Moving the generator in ...

Annie and Lydie crawl racing ... Lydie kicks her butt every time. (Sorry Matt.)

The toothless wonderboy.

A fun place to ride bikes. At some point in the distant future we might put water in it and try that option out too. Experts in the crowd ... speak up. We have no clue.

Poor sad little Lydie - aka bug bait.

The three baby girls - dressed up in their new matching gear and refusing to cooperate with my photo taking plans. :( Boo!
Annie 9 months, Lydie 11 months, Phoebe 22 months

August, We Hardly Knew Ye

There are so many things to write about but not enough time to write. I am attempting to keep notes so that once we have internet at our house I will have months of material stored up. :) I also have many photos and videos ... it will come eventually. TIH - and when the guy says "sure, no problem" he really means - you won't have internet until year's end or so.

I warn you that this post will be scattered all over the place. I am tired and need to just go ahead and have a melt down ... so forgive me if this is raw.

We pulled out of LaDigue last Sunday late afternoon, many tears were shed. Paige, Jeronne and I cried the entire way down the dirt road out to Route Nat'l One. Dad wished he had chosen another vehicle to ride in. I still feel on the edge of tears as I write this. I miss what had become our "normal" and finding the new normal is going to take some time - I have never been a patient person, although Haiti has managed to make break much (some??) of my impatience. I just want to find our groove, feel at "home" and have it all figured out ... but wanting it does not make it so. :(

Tipap and Jeronne both seem very happy to have moved into town with us. They are helping with so much and have been a godsend to us during an insane time. We've taken time to discuss the future with them and they're both excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.

Tipap is so good with babies that he doubles as the back-up nanny when Jeronne and I each have a baby and there is a third demanding something. For whatever reason the kids seem more overwhelming to Troy and I right now ... a product of exhaustion and emotional upheaval I'm sure. Sometimes I just wonder why God ever thought we could handle so many kids. I don't feel very capable right now. Sigh.


Jeronne is so impressed with the house. She made me laugh when she said she needs to take photos to show the people in LaDigue because they will certainly think this house sits somewhere in New York. :) (New York is second only to Heaven in the mind of most Haitians.) Meanwhile I am bummed that the plumbing and electricity are spotty and the bugs and heat are nothing short of horrific! It is all about perspective I suppose. I need some of Jeronne's perspective right about now.

Troy and I and the kids are so thankful that Dad came down to help with the move. He built shelves for Troy in the "depot" and as it turns out kitchen cabinets here do not come with shelves, so he took care of that for me. He helped with a ton of things and we really needed him.

We put in some really long days, the poor man was forced into our goofy non-eating schedule and probably felt hungry half the time. One night he was walking into his room to sleep when Troy announced he wanted to take the ginormous green table apart and move it. Poor Dad ... Troy needs five hours of sleep, and is a slave driver - and I forget that most people like to eat meals. ;)

Dad finally got out on Thursday, but not without a crazy experience that left him both overwhelmed and disturbed. He had a new ticket reserved - and my friend Beth was also trying to get out on standby because her seat had been cancelled due to Gustav. They both reported never having been in such a scene before in their lives. Dad said for once he was glad to be a great big guy (not necessarily all height) and that he worried that people could get trampled.

Beth called and said that there were 2,000+ people and no one could move. No one would get in line, there was no order and everyone wanted on a plane. There were women crying and pushing and people yelling and upset ... mass chaos best describes the scene at the PAP airport on both Thursday and Friday. Beth finally got out on Friday late afternoon. After hearing the stories I've determined never to enter the airport the day after major cancellations, it sounded pretty awful.

We received a telephone call from our Pastor in MN with more news about Steve K. (from our home church- we had asked you to pray as Linda tried to get out of Haiti and home to MN to be at his side) He passed away Thursday. We know many of you prayed for Linda and Steve and their kids and we ask you to continue to do so. We're sad for the loss of a Dad, a husband, and a friend. . Steve never regained consciousness after his heart attack. Please pray for them in the coming days and weeks.

We paid a year of rent and met with the owner of our house on Friday. It all went well and he is letting us use his really nice bedroom furniture. At one point he said he wanted $1,700 U.S. for it - hahahhahaaaa. Then it was free.

Troy got a kick out of the discussion over our address. On the contract they needed to fill in an address (if you have been here - you know that it is all pretty arbitrary and pointless). The attorney present for the meeting said, "Well this is the first road into this neighborhood - so it is Road number one." Then he said, "Usually you just see what the numbers are on the houses around you and pick one different for your house." He left and went outside for a few minutes, came back and said, "it's vague." Then, after much discussion, it was decided. "Eleven". So -- if you're visiting Haiti just head to Road One house Eleven in the vicinity of Tabarre. We're waiting for you.

School is going well for the kids. We're trying to figure out a way for Hope to stay there, the noon end time is making things tricky for us. Isaac and Paige are both making friends and feeling a part of the community already. Noah does not seem too sad without Hope and Ike, he is suprisingly okay with being the oldest for a few hours a day. Phoebe, Lydie and Annie are all doing pretty well. As I said earlier, everyone seems needier and we feel less able to meet all needs right now -- but we're trying to take it five minutes at a time. Lydie is the target for all mosquitoes and looks like some sort of dot to dot game was placed on her chunky thighs. The poor little smooshy baby.

Before I head home where we hope to have Internet in the next decade, a few random bullet-points:

• IF YOU WANT TO BUY TROY'S BOOK -- THERE IS A PROMOTIONAL COUPON AVAILABLE -- PURCHASE BEFORE WEDNESDAY and enter coupon code brookbrides during checkout to receive 10% off. Link to Blurb site is found on the left column of this blog. All proceeds help us pay bills and feed kids - which in turn makes it possible for us to work/serve here. Thanks!!!!!!
• Troy leaves for the missions conference in Michigan later this week. I am fighting off my tantrum ... we'll see how that goes.
• Our house has some serious accoustic issues and noise is amplified and reverberates off the cement walls, floors, ceiling ... what we really need is a few more crying babies. aaaagh.
• Port is 8 degrees hotter than LaDigue ... coping skills at bedtime have not been so great. I wish I were referring to our children, but I am not.
• Only *we* could possibly locate and rent the only house in a neighborhood that is DIRECTLY next door to an enourmous rooster/chicken farm --- oh, we have the video proof for you - 4am brings an entirely new set of challenges --- we never visited the house at that time and had no idea that our neighbors on one side were birds ... good times, good times.
• Thank you for participating in the "It is so hot" contest. September is traditionally *the* hottest month of the year in Haiti. Off we go!
• The winner needs to come to Road One, House Eleven, Haiti - to claim their Ipod Shuffle ... or we can also mail it to you if you prefer - please email us your address and allow six weeks for delivery. (BestBuy jerked us around on a return and Apple tried to make it right by giving us the Shuffle - we're passing it along to you.) 
• The winner is : GWENN MANGINE !!!!!!!!!

As John Ackerman told us recently:
'Hangeth In There'
He's so spiritual. ;)

Gustav, Moving and other Joys

I made my way to the Heartline office to use Internet for a minute.

Just a quick note to let you know we're doing fine. There has been rain for about 36+ hours straight, but no wind in Port au Prince. The roads are a disaster, school was canceled for two days and we're just kind of in awe of the mess it is making -- but we're safe. We have had no access to internet/news so we don't know what you've been hearing. We're more than a little removed from all world news. Tara's Dad's flight out of here was cancelled two days in a row so the airport should be interesting come Thursday!

All of our property and children are finally moved to the new house. There is A LOT to do still but we're hanging in there. We totally overestimated what can happen in one day in this country, I guess we are slow learners. :( Eventually it will come together.

EDH (electricity not created by a generator - but offered by the city) has been on a ton in the last day, which is great! We had piles of laundry to catch up on from the move.

The Internet guy probably won't come until storm waters recede and driving is easier. Lack of infrastructure makes even rain turn a city into a gigantic mess. We're blessed to have a solid place to get out of the rain. We're thinking of the millions who don't.

The mosquitoes in Port are about 100 times worse - poor Lydia seems to be the favorite victim. She is covered head to toe. :( With all the new standing water we may only be seeing the best case scenario so far ... blech.

One Isaac story before I go back home ... The other day we were driving. I was crabby (hot tired and just sick of moving) and as usual there were multiple buses screaming past us on our side of the road making it dangerous for all drivers. I had to get off the road onto the shoulder and I was so ticked off I said to myself under my breath "I hate this country". (I don't at all - but I DO hate the driving rules/lack thereof.)

Isaac overheard my angry comment and in his ever-so-cheery and wise way - said, "Well Mom, *this* is where God has us!" (Read: DEAL WITH IT MOTHER!)

We hope we'll be back soon. Contest for Ipod will end Saturday. Drawing on Sunday for the winner.

Thoughts as we go ...

A week ago today we met the family above. We had been walking through the village of PetitBwa praying for people who wanted prayer. Each time we would walk into their yard and they would tell us what specific things they wanted us to pray about. In Haiti everyone prays at once out loud. It is actually kind of a cool thing. We had gone to a handful of houses and I was taking it all in as we went. When we got to this house I could not stop the tears.

I am always amazed at what brings tears (because plenty of things could - but don't). As Madame Pierre shared her requests I was totally humbled by her smile, her demeanor, her joy. When she shared that she had six kids ... Then laughed and said, "Ooops, I mean SEVEN" ... I instantly felt connected to her. (Keeping it straight is not easy at times.) Her oldest boy travels on foot 90 minutes one way to school and she wanted prayer for his safety. She also prayed that her husband would come back into a role as a father and husband and come back to his faith because he has recently pulled away. (You see him seated behind them in the photo.) She then prayed for the health of her children and for a growing faith and closer relationship with the Lord.

The tears would not stop as I thought about the tiny mud floor house she lived in with her kids. She did not pray for a nicer place to live, an escape from poverty, or anything material. I felt very small in that moment. After we prayed the rest of the group went on to the next house and I stayed to speak with Madame Pierre. We compared the ages of our kids and laughed about how easy it is to forget how many there are when they come so fast. I have thought of her so many times this week. I am grateful to have met her and to have learned what is truly important from her.Troy and Rony have built a solid relationship in the past years. When Pastor Rony comes to mind we'll be praying for his strength, discernment and wisdom. He has a heart of gold and many people come to him for help. We're so glad to be just an hour away so we can remain in contact with him and many others in LaDigue.
There was also another man named Pierre that we met. His mother is overwhelmed with caring for him, he is mourning the loss of his leg. In July he was in an auto accident that resulted in the amputation of his left leg. Troy and I both hope to be able to get him to Healing Hands very soon to find out if there might be a way to have him fitted for a prosthetic leg. As soon as we are settled into our new place, Pierre is on the top of our priority list - we pray that there might be a way to lessen his suffering and the burden for his mother.
In a few minutes we will pack up the computer and try to get the last load of stuff into the trucks and moved into town. I think we'll all cry when we leave here today. Paige has been down all weekend, change is hard.

The first week of school went as well as it could with the limited sleep we all operated on ... But Paige had a great third and fourth day and says she likes it there. The first two days were rough, Junior High is often a time for learning to deal with mean people. That seems not to have changed since Troy and I were 8th graders. :( It will be an adjustment time for all of us for a time.

We won't have Internet until mid to late week at the new location. Thanks so much for all of your prayers, thoughts and kindness. You're an encouragement to us - You truly are!

~Tara

Argh. Bullet Point Purge

I need to purge this information and then get back to packing ...

• Our kids were late to school on day two. :( What winners we are! Driving this far through that traffic is not the best way to start your day. Patience required.
  
• MN Team departed without drama - in the air to MSP already ... only one hour delay out of PAP - To continue along and to support the Kohnen Family through this difficult time, you can go to their site at: www.caringbridge.org/visit/stevekohnen I know they appreciate your prayers.
• New house not ready. "It will be ready August 15" - actually means - "It won't even be ready August 20" The owner informed us it was "not his fault". We questioned that logic (silly Americans) and he said it was the workers he hired - it is their fault. TIH
• There were some tense moments trying to negotiate how to move forward.
  
• Spontaneous and involuntary crying happened ONLY 4 times today. 1. When house was not ready and I could feel Troy's disappointment. (Not that I was not disappointed, just that I was more sad to see him so defeated.) 2. At lunch talking over the sadness of leaving people we love out here. 3. Over finding out I had majorly screwed something up. 4. Upon picking up Paige and seeing that she looked sad and cranky.
• (Thank you Shelley for your help!)
  
• We bought two desks. It was a smooth transaction. Customer service was superb. That was the highlight of the day. They even gave the wrong price then when they gave the higher price and we stood there trying to decide if we still wanted them, they said "Because it was our mistake we will give it to you for the lower price." We just about fell over dead. That just.does.not.happen.here.
• Troy was supposed to photograph the Gray Family. We set it up, it is on our calendar, I even spoke with Gail Gray at length yesterday and KNEW we had an appointment to meet them and take their family photos at 4pm. Phone rang at 4:30 and I burst into tears when I saw it was Gail and realized the stupid mistake. I never thought of it once today. Troy did not have his camera. They got dozens of children (or what seems like a dozen) ready for photos and sat in the heat waiting for us. Lovely. I feel like a total dweeb. We'll try to screw our heads back on and actually show up and try it again on Friday.
  
• We attempted to set up for delivery of appliances for tomorrow. We'll just see how that translates into reality. TIH.
• Knowing there are some Q. Christian School folks reading, I'll word this carefully so as not to offend anyone ... none is intended ... but Paige says (and I agree) it is very alternate universe there ... she said she had to get used to being the "rich" girl in her little village setting -- now she is the "poor MK" in a school with many very wealthy students. We decided the subculture of the school is like some sort of vortex of socioeconomic oddity- both bizarre and intriguing ... and that we will all have an amazingly entertaining year watching and learning about that subculture.
• Isaac really likes school so far. He just wonders if he is cut out for waking up every day at a certain time. It feels a bit rigid and restrictive to him.
• Hope goes for half days. We decided we need to wait until Monday for her to go back, the noon pick-up think won't work with moving from 90 minutes the opposite direction.
  
• The work left to do on the house is going to need to be done as we move in - requiring extra patience for people who have fried brains and are communicating poorly. Good times good times.
• While at the house today, Noah asked "When are we gonna be done?" 784 times in one hour. Then he informed me he wants to live at the "green gate house fo-evah". (Lifeline) On the way home he and Isaac had a deep conversation about the UN. I was highly entertained as they pontificated about the soldiers and the ramifications on the political process. ;) No. Not really. But they did have a lot to say about the tanks, the guns, and the soldiers. I had no idea they knew what the UN was.
  
• My Dad gets here tomorrow, I am guaranteed to melt down at the sight of him walking out of the airport.
• I miss Lydie and Phoebe and Annie like crazy, I feel like I have not had five minutes to connect with any of them in the last week. Jeronne is doing great as their stand-in Mom, I could not be more pleased with the way she cares for them. Tonight when I finally got home at 7pm Lydia was content to sit on Jeronne and did not do her happy dance that she usually does when she sees me. :( Waaaaahhh. Sad.
  
• Troy and I talked on our drive through Port today and realized that one person we met up in Petit Bwa on Sunday was heavy on both of our hearts. We're looking into finding help for his situation. It was cool to realize we were both thinking the same thing and feeling compelled to enter into his situation. Pray for Pierre. We'll share more later.
• There will either be a major cry-fest or a major fight --- we feel it coming on. If we fight, it will totally stink. Crying is much preferred to fighting.
• We have a real sense that we are on the cusp of some really exciting and fun and challenging ministry stuff ... it feels good to be moving toward that.
  
• I hate that I am a person who uses terms like "ministry stuff".
  
• We feel loved and supported by you. Thank you for that! We'll see what sort of Internet access we have in the coming days - until then ... entertain yourself with this contest ...

The Contest:
To enter you simply need to make a "It is so hot that _____" or "It is so hot you could ___" statement. It does not have to be funny or even unique. The winner will be drawn from a hat. All entries will be eligible. The only other requirement is to share one random thing about yourself. We're thinking lurkers could maybe even delurk. One entry per person. Not sure when the contest will close, but not for at least a few days.

Prize:
Brand New IPod Shuffle - valued at $49.99

My non-entry entry: (True) It is so hot that my deodorant curdles in my armpits.

Out-
tara (for all of us)

Thinking ...

As we move our things from LaDigue to town, recognizing our incredible blessings, these thoughts swirl in our minds.

Rich Christians In An Age of Hunger
by Ron Sider
Excerpt from Chapter one “A Billion Hungry Neighbors”

To help us imagine what poverty means, a prominent economist itemized the "luxuries" we would have to abandon if we were to adopt the lifestyle of our 1.3 billion neighbors who live in desperate poverty.

We begin by invading the house of our imaginary American family to strip it of its furniture. Everything goes: beds, chairs, tables, television set, lamps. We will leave the family with a few old blankets, a kitchen table, a wooden chair. Along with the bureaus go the clothes. Each member of the family may keep in his “wardrobe” his oldest suit or dress, a shirt or blouse. We will permit a pair of shoes for the head of the family, but none for the wife or children.

We move to the kitchen. The appliances have already been taken out, so we turn to the cupboards…The box of matches may stay, a small bag of flour, some sugar and salt. A few moldy potatoes, already in the garbage can, must be hastily rescued, for they will provide much of tonight’s meal. We will leave a handful of onions, and a dish of dried beans. All the rest we take away: the meat, the fresh vegetables, the canned goods, the crackers, the candy.

Now we have stripped the house: the bathroom has been dismantled, the running water shut off, the electric wires taken out. Next we take away the house. The family can move into the toolshed…

Communications must go next. No more newspapers, magazines, books-not that they are missed, since we must take away our families literacy as well. Instead, in our shantytown we will allow one radio…

Now Government services must go. No more postman, no more fireman. There is a school, but it is three miles away and consists of two classrooms…There are, of course, no hospitals or doctors nearby. The nearest clinic is ten miles away and is tended by a midwife. It can be reached by bicycle, which is unlikely…

Finally, money. We will allow our family a cash hoard of five dollars. This will prevent our breadwinner from experiencing the tragedy of an Iranian peasant who went blind because he could not raise the $3.94 which he mistakenly thought he needed to receive admission to a hospital where he could have been cured.”

First Day '08-'09 School Year

The campus of QCS - beautiful green in the middle of a concrete city. :)

The ride home ... Exhaustion sets in.
Paige, Isaac and Hope all had a successful first day. Back up-and-at it by 5:30 tomorrow morning. I spent the day with them in Port -- Troy worked with the team on some projects then everyone headed to the beach.

Tomorrow after our team is dropped and on their way North, we'll sign our lease - hand over a giant payment and start moving in! We're excited and nervous and a little bit exhausted. It should be an interesting few days.

Marcy A - Thank you for getting Hope's uniforms down here -- they work perfectly!!! You are now assigned personal shopper for our family from this day forward. Good work!

Thank you to all who are praying for Steve and Linda K. and family - as soon as I know more about the medical details I will let you know. He is an excavator and had a heart attack on his machine - then a 2 X 4 hit him in the head - the concerns are many medically speaking. He is currently in a coma. Their kids range in age from 23 to 13 --- thank you for covering all of them in prayer.

Good News

We went to bed with only a plan to show up at the airport and beg for mercy this morning. A reader in MN (Thank you Ginger - Thank you God!) was up late and kept searching for seats. She said she came up with nothing over and over -- then she found one! The coolest part is that Linda is booked on Britt's flights. She will go to DFW with Britt and then make a connection to head to MSP. Thank you for praying, our prayers for a seat were answered. Please keep praying for good weather, on-time flights and easy connections.

~Tara

Below are a few of the photos from yesterday that would not load last night. We are off to school and the airport soon!

Bullet Point Update

• Please pray that we can get Linda out of here tomorrow. All the airlines tell us, no seats available, we need a miracle. Mike will stay in Haiti and leave on Wednesday with the rest of the team as originally planned.
  
• Tomorrow is the first day of school for Paige, Isaac and Hope. Until next week we live 100+ minutes from school ... prayers for logistics, excellent planning, good traffic on Delmas (hahahaha) and endurance are appreciated.
• We begin moving Wednesday and hope to be able to sleep there by Friday night, Saturday at the latest.
  
• Tara's Dad comes in on Thursday to help.
  
• Late this afternoon six people were baptized, including Troy and Britt. It was very cool to see.
  
• Britt heads back to Texas tomorrow at 11am. :(
  
• We'll try to update all situations in 24 hours.
• I have photos, but I guess they won't load tonight. :(
  
• Must sleep now.
  

Please Pray

Linda and her son Mike are here on our current team.  We have just received word that Linda's husband Steve had a massive heart attack while at work today and desperately needs  prayers.  

We are trying to get tickets out of here and we need prayer for Linda and Mike to be able to get home to Minnesota to be with their husband and Dad  --- please pray for this family and for God to intervene -  for seats to open up and miraculous healing in Steve's body to begin even now.

Thank You.

(Linda is the second lady from the left in the pink shirt. They also have three other children in Minnesota - pray for Anna and Stephanie and Tom.)

Photos