feels like home

We made it, crisis free! We left Columbus, Ohio at 5:45 Tuesday morning, and pulled up to our house in Cap-Haitien, Haiti at 2:34 pm. It was a long day, but wow, has the Lord met us right where we are.

In all honestly, we were not as excited to be coming back as we had thought we would be. We were very ready to see good friends, but weren't at all ready to give up what has been so wonderful about being in the States...being with family, eating out, being encouraged by friends, sleeping in a nice bug-free bed in the air conditioning. But the moment our plane touched down in Haiti, and we looked out the window at this completely different world, we both immediately felt strangely at home and felt true joy at being back.

Of course that doesn't mean the last 24 hours have been easy. We came home to a very buggy house, with no power, no propane (meaning no warm water), a completely dead printer/scanner, no food, and, of course, a LOT of heat and humidity. However, the Lord's been speaking peace to both our hearts, that though it IS difficult being here, He has called us to this, and that there is, therefore, no better place.

And we truly feel that way.

Haiti is in more crisis than it was when we left, with one friend today telling us that life is worse for Haitians right now than it has been for more than 14 years. Food, gas, and supply prices have MORE than doubled just since we LEFT, and they were very high when we left. Our clinic has been empty of patients, because people can't afford to eat AND have medical care. Despair and hunger seem to be rampant, and we have been banned from town today due to more protests. September means school is starting again, a month that was already very hard on the Haitian people as they seek to come up with cost of supplies, uniforms and tuition. This year, it's a dreaded time, as people are so desperate that many don't even have a prayer to send their children to school.

This has all been so difficult to return to...it is HEARTBREAKING to see God's people suffering like this. And at the same time, it has further confirmed that this is where the Lord has us, for such a time as this. We can help...yes, with some food and some funding, but more, we carry the Bread of Life, and it's a time when people are starving for it.

We also were able to catch up with some of our dearest friends today, and it is such a joy to be alongside them again. I think several people were doubtful of our return, saying that many missionaries leave after their first year, though we had promised everyone we would be back.

We spent today unpacking, catching up on bills, fixing everything that wasn't working, and catching up with friends. Tomorrow, we start prepping for this upcoming school year. We are so excited about what the Lord has in store for this upcoming year. Despite such difficult times, almost 35 Haitian men and women have applied to be first year students next month, and we can't help but think that the Lord has a lot in mind for this precious country.

There is much to do, and we are grateful for YOU helping us do it. Having the last 5 weeks to spend with so many of you, and to remember that we are loved, uplifted, prayed for and JOINED on the front lines by you was a deep encouragement and is to be credited for much of the refreshment and renewed energy and desire that we feel today to serve the Lord here.

We know many of you are wondering about the truck, as well...We'll have an update on Friday!!!

Haiti is, as it always has been, God's land, and these are, and always have been God's people...everyone just doesn't know that yet!

"O, satisfy us in the morning
with Your lovingkindness,
That we may sing for joy and be glad
Make us glad according to the days we have been afflicted,
and for the years we have seen evil.
Let YOUR work appear to Your servants
and Your majesty to their children.
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us;
And confirm for us the work of our hands;
Yes, confirm the work of our hand" Psalm 90