blessed with a burden

I feel conflictedly incredibly blessed and burdened all at the same time right now.  So many people we're so thankful for...and so many we are praying for right now.  So much helping to do and we're doing, and so much we can't do anything about.  I continue to be so glad I'm not God, only His vessel!!

So rightfully so yesterday afternoon, when Elida shared a need for family, we were both happy to be family and burdened that she was struggling!  We packed up the girls and headed for Vaudreil, and ended up the only place you CAN go when it's this hot and muggy, the pool.

The girls were very thrilled with this bit of uninterrupted family time, and it was good to be family with and for our good friend.

It was also really good not to cook.  I'm afraid all the visitors wiped me out for a while...I wish we could all eat cereal for a few days :)

I have always loved being out at night in Haiti.  Most of the work from the day has backed away, the vendors and piles of goods have disappeared, and everyone is relaxing...roasting corn and getting hair braided, playing soccer and hanging out.  The whole mood of Haiti is different in the evenings, and that which was busy becomes beautiful and relational.  The foreigner you were coming into town is no longer seen in the darkness, and it's nice to be a seamless part of the end of the day.

Today was a busy one, transitioning away from intensive courses and into our residential period.  We had three new students join us, and Matt taught his first day of Intro to OT and loved it.  Always does.  But was especially impressed with the new group of first year. 

I finished off class prep for English 1 tomorrow, English 2 Wednesday, and our new "Cracking the TOEFL" course on Thursday, the Test of English as a Foreign Language.  Kerline is hanging strong, several of you have sent help for families struggling to send kids to school (THANK YOU, both for them and for the help that it is for us!), and Lucner's wife is feeling a bit better.  One day at a time!

Thankful for family reaching out to us when we need help and prayers, thankful to be able to BE family to others when they need the same, and praying that He will provide family for the family we can't be family to.