praises

I had a post ready for yesterday, but there's a few blessings and items for prayer I'd like to share first...

The Lord is not letting me forget how many beautiful things are unfolding each day, as well!

Yesterday we had a family of good friends visit us, and upon arriving, they thanked us heartily for a loan we had given them months ago (and entirely forgotten about.)  Apparently, they had promised that they would return the money the first week of September, so they came to return it.

"So you're in your new house then?" I asked excitedly.

"No, no where close," they said, with smiles.  "Our budget was totally off.  We spent what we had budgeted, but there are no floors, no roof, and no doors."

"Well," I asked, "then why didn't you use this money to finish it?"

"Because we promised you we would return your loan on this week.  And we knew it would take four months to make the money to pay you back.  So four months ago we stopped the work on the house completely so we could save up these 4 months to pay you back."

I felt terrible and so touched all at the same time.  We have loaned thousands of dollars in the last 5 years, and very rarely have seen one returned.  And here's a family who has no home, who was now sitting in our beautiful home, that we didn't have to wait one day for, much less years, and they were paying us back.

"Because we said we would.  And the Bible tells us to do what we say we will do.  So we did!" they shrugged again when they could see how baffled I was.

What touched me most was that while this family of four has no home, and their new home is no where CLOSE to being finished, and they have NO plan of how TO finish it, they were full of joy in their trust for the Lord.  FULL of joy.

What a joy and great reminder for me not just claim joy, but to truly have and share it despite all circumstances.

Lily and Kinderlee, playing in her "kid house".

Not two minutes after they left, a few great young men and women from the seminary and the community came over for a while, and I was blessed again to see a true love for the Lord exude in how they carry themselves, treat each other and us and in how they speak.

Today, Micheline's family, recently reunited with Micheline's husband after almost 5 years of him living in Turks and Caicos, are coming over for lunch, so Lily will have more friends to play with.  There are few people on earth as genuine, joyful and servant hearted as Micheline...being with her is always a joy.

Micheline and her children, just a few weeks before Hershniece (far right) passed away.  Her husband left Haiti before Hershniece got sick, and just returned last week, 4 years later.

Also, our one new student who was very sick returned yesterday, and Matt is finally feeling better...thanking the Lord for healing.

For your prayers...

Uncle Don and Aunt Brenda lost their dad this past week.
My grandfather had a pacemaker put in on Wednesday (dad's dad).
My grandparents had a huge move this week (mom's parents).
Belony is still suffering with a lot of stomach and back pain, and will be heading to Milo hospital monday.
Elizay has surgery scheduled for Wednesday.