Summer 2010

I have been back in the US for 5 of the 10 weeks I will be gone from Haiti. I left Haiti June 24. I was excited to be able to fly out of Pignon as it is much closer to the house (30 minutes rather than a 4 hour drive) and I arrive in Florida less tired. But this time, it was a bit nerve wracking. There was a huge rain storm gathering and the Missionary Flights International DC3 was late arriving from Port-au-Prince where it was held on the ground waiting out the rain there. Once they finally got to Pignon and we loaded and took off, it took 45 minutes, rather than the normal 20 minutes to get to Cap Haitien.
We had to fly around the storm taking us way to the west over Gonaives and Port-de-Paix rather than straight north over St Raphael. It was a little scary as the wind was buffeting us in the narrow passes between the mountains (though I knew I was in good hands with pilots Kenny and Brent). But it was exciting as well -- I saw some of Haiti I had never seen before, including a ruined French era fort perched on the prow of a mountain!
We arrived in Fort Pierce, Florida and unloaded the plane in the Missionary Flights International hangar around 11:00 that evening. (Thanks to MFI for these two photos)

After a weekend with friends in Florida, I got on the Auto Train the 28th to get to Pennsylvania as soon as possible, arriving at the house the evening of the 29th. The weather was wonderful -- perfectly pleasant (read cool and dry!) during the day and chilly at night! I helped my tenants prepare to move out of the house -- we labeled things that were to stay and things that could go on the truck.
They moved to Virginia July 1 and I had the joy of entertaining friends and supporters that same evening. I am going to try to not rent the house. I have found in the last few years that I need a nest – some place I can feel comfortable taking care of things in the US – preparing for visiting supporters, etc.
So I am slowly re-claiming the house. My cousin came 2 weeks after my tenants moved and spent a week painting the interior of the house (the photo was taken pre-painting -- thanks, Doug!). Now I am slowly getting settled back in – trying to figure out what I want where!

I head to Potsdam, NY this coming weekend for the 40th anniversary of the start of Koinonia Church (now called New Hope Community Church), the church I attended 30 years ago for the two years I was at Canton College.
Then, the weekend of August 14th I will be in Orangeville, PA for the Welsh family reunion -- my mother's mother's family. I have hopes of not being the only representative of my Grandmother Conner's family this year!

Finally, I get back on the Auto Train August 23rd and travel around Florida a bit before heading back to Haiti September 2nd. Please pray for the traveling and for my final 5 weeks in the US. Also that God would prepare me for being the only North American at HAFF for several weeks when I first get back in September. Please remember in prayer as well the people in Port-au-Prince who are still living without adequate shelter. And check out www.HAFFDetails.blogspot.com soon to see what has been going on at HAFF in Haiti for the last several months.