a week of thanksgiving and elbow grease

It's about all we can do to hang on lately!  There is SO much going on!

Most exciting news: Junior spent the afternoon in Konpech this afternoon, sharing the Gospel, and today, the witchdoctor who owns the property/runs the community came over to listen.  For whatever reason, after Junior was finished the witchdoctor told him that he could see that what Junior is doing is a good thing, and to keep coming!  This could change everything for everyone, as that many people have been concerned that listening to Junior could cause the witchdoctor to kick them off the land...we'll see where this goes!

For now, it looks/feels a lot like a miracle...something only God can do!

Other very exciting news: tomorrow morning Matt is proctoring my first year English final exam and then teaching both of his courses while Lily and I go to the airport to get Aunt Lisa and Uncle Adam!  Adam's going to help out Don, and Matt where he can, and Lisa is going to help me...get everything done at the office (month end finances, year end finances, financially register all 45 students for next year, grade all 45 finals, create/print diplomas, create/print 150 programs, finish making our "year at Emmaus" DVD, etc.) by watching Lily, help me get the house ready for us to go, and help me go through all of Lily's old stuff, sort things for Sofie, rebuild Lily's crib, see what we'll be needing for Sofie, etc.

I am REALLY beginning to feel 35 weeks pregnant (swollen feet, sore everything, can NOT cool down, can't sleep...you know) and WOW, I would be COMPLETELY overwhelmed by this upcoming week if my little sister (who also happens to be incredibly organized and shockingly efficient) weren't coming to take care of me :)

Other fun news: This week, in lieu of a "normal" graduation ceremony due to the fact that there are only 3 students graduating from the fourth year program, we are doing a full week of activities followed by a large "Thanksgiving" service on Friday involving members of the community, local church and past-graduates.  That means that this week will also be full of soccer matches, musical chairs (this is a BIG and frequently VERY passionate party game here in Haiti :), Coke drinking competitions (last year, Borgella won by drinking 12 large glass bottles of Coke in less than 30 minutes), egg races, dramas, musical performances, a talent show, a Bible trivia competition and...I can't even remember what else.

Lily, Sofie and I head for Ohio a week from tomorrow, so we also have a lot of friends to visit/farwell this upcoming week!

Praise the Lord for the invaluable help of so many Americans/Haitians/Canadians during this time to finish the school year WELL, to help the students finish well, and to relationship-build, kingdom-build, and literally build-build with Emmaus at this time!

Don's sidewalk project complete and already decorated by Lily...

Prayer request: tomorrow Matt, Lucner and Paul have the very unpleasant and painful responsibility ahead of them to let a student go.  While everyone involved is increasingly confident that this must be done and is the right thing to do, it's looking as if this will not go well and Matt's been dreading it all weekend.  Please pray for everyone involved.