2009 — Here today and gone tomorrow!
I cannot believe how fast 2009 has come and gone. As I look back over an entire year and all that has taken place I am amazed. Our campus in Beauchamp has grown considerably with more growth schedule for 2010. There has been 4 new churches planted in the northwest zone with the adoption of 10 new ones. We now have “running” water on the campus when the cisterns are full — we went from bucket baths to showers in 2009. I know a lot of travelers to the Beauchamp campus are happy about that including myself. There were new additions “animal wise” to our campus. We now have 2 donkeys, 1 horse, 1 colt and a kitty that we did not have previously. Although I am sad that in 2009 we lost all of our dogs. First Bandit, then Katie from the main campus had to be put down and while in the states I have learned that Cody and Belle (the dog) died. It will be sad going back to Beauchamp next week and not having anyone to greet me at the St. Louis campus and the Beauchamp campus. I have already told Mike that I cannot live without a dog in our lives so I will be on the lookout to get a dog for the Beauchamp campus. I might even try to get one from the states to take back in with me when I am in during March.
Our interpreter, Vogly, had big changes in his life in 2009. He went from single to married and is now waiting on the birth of his first child. We pray that God will continue to bless Vogly and his family in this upcoming year.
Mike and I had a wonderful addition to our family in November. Our 4th grandchild was born, Jude Michael Grant. We have been thrilled to be able to spend a little time with him this past month. We were able to spend his first Christmas together along with our other 3 grandchildren. Christmas has been fantastic — all of our family together — vacationing at Disney and enjoying a magical time! One of the hardest things about being in Haiti is not being with our grandchildren.
As I think about the path that God has us on for 2010 I pray that we are keenly alert to His will and His direction. Many things are already planned for 2010 — 6 new church plants, 20+ revivals, the teaching of the leaders and ministers in the far west and bible college, the sewing ministry which has grown by leaps and bounds, multiple groups coming out to Beauchamp, and our own personal and spiritual growth — may God be at the heart of all of these things. Mike and I are both reading “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan — I pray that our love for God and His work will be a crazy love. One that is not bound and characterized by the world but wrapped up in God and visible to the nonchristian as crazy.