James

James! The newest member of our Christian family was welcomed into the faith today on the roadside in a village near his home. What a joy to witness this and to be a part of this. Wow. Praise be to God for His mercy! Mari Carmel and I returned to the hospital today to visit Ketli and her mother. On the way, we had the pleasure of riding James' motorcycle. Though young, he was an excellent driver and I certainly did not lose any teeth today! (although all I could think of was an Oreo... And yes, we were that close together!) he asked for our phone number so that at the end of the day we could ride with him again. We gladly gave it to him because he was such a good driver. He returned on time, and as we were walking to his bike, Mari asked him if he believed in Jesus. I don't even know why she did this... It was kind of random. He said no, he didn't believe YET. Opening! On the hour long ride, Mari and I shared our faith and the reason for our faith. I told him of the difficulties in my life and how Jesus was there through all of them, and how he changed my heart so that I loved him more and more each day. We had some fun on the way down, and as people shouted out to him, he told them he was with his sisters, and then that we were his cousins. We all had a good laugh. Then I told him that Mari really is my sister because are both believers, but when he says that I am his sister, it isn't really true YET. Mari told him how all things in this life will pass away... But what will happen to him after death? And in what does he put his confidence? Towards the end of our journey together, I told him that if he wanted to pull over and stop, we would gladly pray together. He said yes! So on the side of the road at the bottom of the mountain, James became my brother. On the way up the mountain, he shouted to a friend that today he had "good luck" because he was with us. At the end I told him that today he had "good luck" because now he was with Jesus. What an awesome day! Ps - Mari told him how to get plugged into a church so that he could get baptized and can grow in his faith.

It was so good to see Ketli's smiling face today in the hospital. For a little girl with a very difficult situation, she sure is tough as nails. We colored in a coloring book, read the Psalms, went for a walk and prayed together. Please continue to pray for a miracle for her foot and leg which is now very badly infected. Pray that God supplies her every need. He has already placed her in good hands. I spoke with her therapist, a woman from FL who has now lived in Haiti for 2years but has visited for 10. She is a certified wound specialist who also works in Cayes with certified prosthetic specialists! She has taken on Ketli's case and is overseeing her care. Pray with me that she will not need a prosthetic, but if she does, we can thank God for His provision of people. Now let me tell you a little about the ride there... Let's just say that a few of my teeth and a few of the discs in my spine are now part of the road there! I have so much respect for the Haitians. Bonnie Finne is a beautiful village with a large river and more fruit trees of every kind than you can imagine (and many you can't imagine because they are foreign to us). It is on the top of a mountain and they say it is cold there, but I thought it was perfect. The views are glorious! Mountains and greenery are everywhere. But to get there, you have to walk UP the mountain. These people don't need exercise, they LIVE exercise. The road is so bad that tap taps won't go there. You walk, or you take a motorcycle. I saw a young boy with his leg in a cast riding with two other people (one who was holding his leg) on a motorcycle to get to the hospital.  Anyway,from the main road it takes an hour by motorcycle to get to the hospital, and just as much time to get down. Tomorrow, we will do it again. Continue praying! 

Got here safely and even had food waiting for me which was a surprise. Lots of news about the people here. Two sad things... Please pray for Ketli as her health is very poor and she is back in the hospital. Also for Betti who was hit by the car a while ago and has not recovered.  The day started with a slowly falling star as we drove to Boston in the dark and has now ended with a glorious sunset whose golden beams reflected off of every rain drenched surface and rolled the fluffy cotton clouds right back over the mountains. God has been my traveling companion today in every moment and it has been joyful. While waiting for the bus in PAP I spoke at length with a young man selling books who wondered if God was mad at him because he didn't have time to talk with Him, but when he did talk... He was just angry. He is hungry and wants a place to live but can't understand why God hasn't given this to him yet... Carol says Hi to everyone and wants to know when you are all coming back! Making plans to go see the two girls in the hospital, but first praying for guidance.