This summer flew by so quickly that we barely had time to process everything there was to accomplish and everyone we wanted to see. For those of you whom we were able to visit with, we were so blessed to spend some time with you, regardless of how short that time might have been. For those whom we were not able to connect with, we are sorry! Between a full schedule and a three week battle with strep throat in the family, we just were not able to see everyone that we wanted to see. Following are some pictures of our experiences this summer . . .
We learned that gaining wifi connection can be a challenge, even in the US. On this particular night, we needed to take care of some things online and went to the public library after it was closed. We had to sit on the bench next to the door and then when it started raining, we pulled the bench under the overhang in front of the doors in order to keep our laptops dry:)
We finally had the opportunity to meet our nephew and cousin, Evan, who turned eleven months old while we were visiting:)
We enjoyed some time in the pool with friends and family.
Daniel gladly played with Pap’s tractor . . . Lee and the boys also helped with some other projects for family and friends including moving boxes, staining a deck, splitting wood . . .
We found a great new form of entertainment . . . little rubber chickens that you shoot at each other. They provided hours of entertainment this summer for everyone at Grandma and Pap Eiseberger’s house. You gotta love those Dollar Store purchases:)
Some of the cousins left Pap Eisenberger someone special in his barn to remind him of them.
As a grand finale to our time in Lancaster, the guys went to a Monster Truck event at the Buck in southern Lancaster County.
Besides all of this there were golf games to be enjoyed (and laughed about), board games to be played, fishing excursions, and precious time with family and friends. Thank you to all who helped us to enjoy our time in the states.
Monday we get back to the work and ministry that we came for in Haiti. A large part of that means that it is time to get back to school. At 8:00 tomorrow morning we will join the other students, faculty, and parents of Cite Lumiere Christian School and community as we gather for our opening chapel service. Lee will be sharing the devotion for the start of the school year, so he would appreciate your prayers as he shares the message that the Lord has placed on his heart. This year, Josiah will be starting his senior year in high school at home. Nathan and Isaac will be attending CLCS in 8th and 3rd grades. I would like to say that there is a lot of excitement surrounding this year of school for them, but excitement has never been a word that any of our boys have used in the same sentence with school. We appreciate your prayers for them as they adjust and put their best foot forward in this new year with new teachers and new friends.
Following the chapel service tomorrow, Lee will return to the RMI office to get back to work on team schedules for this coming year. Daniel has already done a good bit of work in serving teams and fixing things since we arrived back in town on Friday night, so he will be plunging in with both feet tomorrow morning, as well. As for me (Tina) I will be overseeing Josiah’s online school schedule for the year, teaching 5th and 6th graders at CLCS for history and Bible the first half of the school year, and will be overseeing the team hospitality this year in Becky Thompson’s absence.
As a side note to our arrival back in Haiti, Madam Lala and Emilye (our cook and housekeeper) were quick to inform us on Friday that our rat problem is not solved. Since we have been back, we have noticed that they have eaten through our screens at a couple of different spots, they stole a basting brush and chewed the bristles and part of the head off of it, and have generally made nuisances of themselves. Fortunately, we brought new rat traps with us and we heard the first one go off last night right before we went to bed . . . but, the rat got away . . . so our battle will continue to wage . . . and I see new screens being on the project list for this fall:)
Thank you all for your prayer support, your financial support, and your words of encouragement to us. Without you as our support system, we could not do what we do. Your prayers are invaluable to our ministry here.
