Sorry that we have not done a good job of keeping you up to date on what is going on with us. I was a little shocked when I looked at the blog and saw the last date that we posted. There have been several posts started, but for one reason or another, they were never finished.
The first eight weeks of 2016 have been pretty busy ones for the entire RMI team. The first five weeks of the year were full of five teams back-to-back and all the preparations that go with that schedule, as well as, the start back to our school schedule after two weeks off over the holidays. It has been exciting to meet teams from across the United States as they come to visit with and minister to their sister churches in Haiti. Lee had the opportunity to go out with one of these teams (Calvary Fellowship from the Reading, PA area) and then worked with a second team (The Orchard from Chicago, Illinois) as they led a pastors and church leadership conference at RMI’s Zanglais Ministry Center. The week between those two teams, Lee also spent four days in Florida at the RMI office for meetings, as well as, attending the missions conference at MacGregor Baptist Church. In addition to the teams that Lee was out with, we met and worked alongside teams from Oregon, Nebraska, and Michigan. It is such a blessing to have the opportunity to meet and work alongside so many different people.
Following the five week stretch of teams, we had a two week break in which to catch up on some of those things that get left by the wayside when we are busy with teams. We also had the privilege to go to the Missionary Retreat at Kaliko Resort, just north of Port-au-Prince last weekend. It was extra special for us since we were able to spend some time with Barb and Friends, a puppet ministry that Lee first came to Haiti with about 26 years ago. It was great to reconnect with Kevin Walck who Lee met on that first trip so long ago and Cathy Klappert, a friend and neighbor from Greencastle, PA. Barb and Friends coordinated the children’s activities throughout the missionary retreat while the adults and older teens had sessions taught by Jayson Georges, who taught on Honor/Shame cultures and how scripture ministers to their hearts. We were truly blessed to have the opportunity to participate in this weekend of learning and relaxation with the missionary community of which we are a part here.
Last week, we prepared for another five-week stretch of teams. The first of these teams arrived Friday afternoon from Louisianna. Daniel was asked to help Greg Harvie and the Haitian staff with this team, since they needed another driver for the week. He will also be helping with some of the devotions. Daniel was excited to have this opportunity to minister alongside a team without the rest of the family, I believe. Greg and Daniel left Cite Lumiere Friday afternoon to meet the team at the Zanglais Ministry Center. The rest of the American staff, as well as, the Haitian staff spending the week with the team, loaded up on Saturday morning for the forty-five minute ride out to the ministry center for lunch and prayer with the team before they departed in the afternoon for the drive to their sister church, Petit Trou. We look forward to seeing them again on Thursday as they will be coming to Cite Lumiere for lunch at the Thompson home and a tour of the mission center. We enjoy these Thursday lunch times with the teams so that we can hear from them about their week of ministry.
Although we have already been here for almost seven months, everyday continues to be a learning adventure for us. We are constantly finding new critters and plants, as well as, learning new things about the culture in which we now live. That doesn’t even begin to touch on the language skills that we are learning, as well. On Friday afternoon, I (Tina), Nathan, and Isaac learned a valuable lesson during our weekly grocery shopping trip . . . make sure that all of your money is safely tucked away, before you leave the grocery store. You wouldn’t believe the scene that occurs when a coin worth about ten U.S. cents is dropped while six to eight needy young boys are surrounding you, begging for money as you put the groceries into the back of the vehicle. This past week, we also started dealing with our first rat . . . fortunately, it is outside the house and not inside!!! I had heard it outside our bedroom window several times during the night this week, but had not been able to convince the rest of the family that I wasn’t just hearing things. Then Friday night, when I was laying on our bed reading, I saw it run over the dog biscuit box that was sitting outside our window. Lee and Tobi went to see if I really saw what I had thought I did and sure enough, there was the little culprit. Although, the three of us tried to hunt the rat down, he is still on the run, but no longer has access to Tobi’s doggie treats:)
We apologize that there are no pictures this time, we have been having trouble getting them loaded to the blog. Hopefully, we can get that figured out soon and get some more pictures out to you.
