fumes of grace

Mama is falling into bed tonight...The energy I had 16 days ago when we left Mississippi is now running on fumes of grace. But it was a sweet weekend I praise the Lord for, so for you non-Facebookers, here's the short (for Stacey) report!

Pray for us tomorrow as we head into final full day craziness and return-paperwork covid testing...thank you!

Saturday: 

What a day full of fun friends, from start to finish! This morning we had some sweet time catching up with a few of the Emmaus family that we haven’t had time with yet (in our pajamas...no pictures😂), and a good time of prayer for one another. This afternoon we spent with lots of long-time friends(Nikki Stolberg Morgan Arlene) at the Shelley McCall Hari’s...so good to have fun and meaningful time catching up with these friends and especially all the kiddos! By the time we got home, we were all wiped, the littles napped, and at five we headed through the village to Jean-Sius’ house, one of our happy places ❤️. The kids played with the chickens and goats and cats and ate every scrap of food their aunties brought them (Florina is always sure the kids need plumped up!) while we all caught up on life since October. I can never even really put my finger on what is so unique about this dear family except that since the week we moved to the village in 2009, they have just been the kind of people who are who they are, and love you who you are, and that is that. There are no formalities, there are no boundaries, there are no differences, there are no expectations. If Shayla is washing clothes when you come, she will hand you a bucket and a bar of soap, that you might join in instead of stand apart. If Jean is heading to the garden, he hands Sofie the rope to bring the goat. If Naomi is selling eggs or tiny baggies of spices or hair products, she’ll have Lily making change within moments. When you are there, you are family. So thankful for the little yard and friends who have been a refuge of sincerity for us for so many years. How I cherish being family and not foreign, wherEVER I am. By the time we got home it was after seven, the tarantulas were out and likewise the mosquitoes and the girls headed to each of the other houses to kiss all their babies goodnight...and I’m thankful for friends who will always be family 💕

Sunday: 

 Today was a wrapping-it-up-sweet one in one of earth’s happiest places, Cormier Plage.

From 2007, this little stretch of crystal ocean just a few miles (but over an hour drive) away, has given us a place outside of everyday life and ministry, a time to pause, a place to mourn, a place to heal, a recharge, a chair in the shade to regroup in His grace and the glory of His creation. Many are the precious memories made here with so many of YOU...baptisms, team days, snorkeling with visiting professors, mission retreats, friend and family visits, birthdays, Christmas Eves...the list goes on and on. (⬇️Comment if you’ve been with us!) Today it was cherished with little ones who can simply never get enough, running and swimmig themselves into drive-home comas, and with family from all places. Angela Brown Gilliam, bringing all the snacks, Uncle Dave Graffenberger and Aunt Marilyn A. Graffenberger, holding babies that wore out early and always always reminding me that the Lord’s got it covered, dear friends Jean Marie Leme and Gessica Guillaume and Jonas Vertus and our sweet Yasha, all of us playing with kids and like kids and enjoying being away, and someone else worrying about the food and maintenance and power and internet and dishes and life for the day. The kids have done better this trip than I ever expected, and today was such a treat and Sabbath for all of us. Pray for us tomorrow as we Covid-test again, this time for return paperwork, try to gather all the last bits of footage, stories, interviews, answers and video, join in on the last chapel, pack again, and spend some meaningful moments with so many people we cherish. Everyone’s got a plan for what “last full day” is going to look like, and I’m just counting on that HE does.