"How beautiful are the feel that serve!" That is what the photographer said when she edited this photo. Thanks to our new friends here in South Florida, we were able to have Clifford, a boy adopted from Haiti, join us for this particular photo, and OH How perfect to have him with us!!
I begin writing today overwhelmed with emotion for our new life and our new location. It has been just over 5 months now here in Pahokee and Belle Glade, FL. And you have probably been able to follow the transition well with the older posts on here. I am just so thankful that our Father is long-suffering and ever patient with us, his children. God has been so good to us as we fall in love with His people here in addition to those we will serve beside in Haiti. Belle Glade.....such a rich area of multi-cultural people groups....lots of diversity.....lots of poverty.....lots of separation amongst the different people groups. It truly is like a "third world country" in so many of the areas in the city here. So different from "Palm Beach" as most think..... And God has been so gracious to allow us time to see His People here, to let go of "life" as we had become accustomed to, and fall into a deep compassion of "love" for this community. God is up to something. We have met at least 6 other families who have been moved here by a leading of God over these last 2 years for SOMETHING???
It was 14 years ago here in Florida that our service to Haiti and thus our love affair with that country began. But is was also 14 years ago that God began doing "Eye" Surgery on me. God had truly captured my heart at age 11 and birthed a love for HIS world in me at that time. But it was during our first term as missionaries to Haiti that I began to see the world through His eyes. A new love, a new compassion for all of the people I saw everywhere I went began to grow inside of me. The gift of mercy and compassion that I had always possessed seem to be growing larger, expanding to a bigger world.....right around me. Fast Forward the last 10 years to where we are now. Life had become comfortable.....not easy.... but familiar. God knew that. He gave me these past few months to get past all the life I had come to know, :) so I could fall deeper in love with His people.....right around me. I see the kids and the adults in town and want to gather them up and love them. Show them that their prejudices aren't necessary. That they are loved....dearly loved. Their town is something to take care of and have a sense of personal pride in. That not all the people from outside of Belle Glade come here just to get a "government grant" and then move on. That the color of skin on people doesn't need to divide them (and there are several different nationalities here). I could go on, but I don't need to overwhelm you. That is for me, and it is a gift from God. A personal ministry inside of our full time work with Samaritan Air....I get to invest in this local community and show our boys how to love a world that is so much bigger than them.
The Bible says that God has plans for us. In Jeremiah 29:11, it says: For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." God's plans for us are good. They are better than anything we could possibly think of ourselves.
Samaritan Air: We are soooooo excited!! John will be taking the helicopter to Haiti in August to stay at a temporary home at New Life Children's Home. We have been so blessed to work alongside this orphanage with a variety of people they have put us in contact with. I am looking forward to posting pictures and stories from John's time in the country later this Summer (early Fall). We have had the privilege to help this orphanage on a variety of occasions. Check out their website ttp://www.newlife4kids.com/. It is always humbling to sit back and watch God work out the details of our work with Samaritan Air. We just have to remember to stop trying to guess what He is up to and just follow His lead. :)
Thank you for your patience in this transition year. We have a long way to go to be "fully supported" missionaries with Samaritan Air, but are just so excited that we can start our work with them anyway.
The boys in front of some river cane!
Our Mango Tree!! YUMMY and FUN!
