WEEKEND WHIRLWIND

We had a wonderfully crazy weekend as we continue to share about our family's work in Haiti and invite friends, old and new, to join with us in the endeavor.

Saturday afternoon we drove to Mt. Carmel, Illinois to meet up with an old friend from my Free Methodist youth pastoring days, Julie.  

This continues to be one of the best parts of the whole fundraising process: reconnecting with old friends and getting to catch up on (sometimes years of) the "in between".  Julie is married now to a great guy, Matt, and they have four beautiful kids.

Their youngest, twin boys, were especially cute - and quite entertaining - throughout the time we spent in their home.

At this point in the summer, our kids are a bit pooped out, but even as tired as they were, they couldn't resist being pulled in by these new young friends.

Julie and Matt were gracious enough to host a pool party at their place Saturday night to give us a platform to share with some of their friends. In one of those "It's a Small World" moments, one of the men in attendance had actually been to our neck of Haiti just a few months ago, working on the air conditioning units at Radio 4 VEH!

Sunday morning, Pastor Jeremy warmly welcomed our family at the Evangelical United Methodist Church of Mt. Carmel. 

A beautiful place to share God's concern for the poor and oppressed: "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and to break every yoke?" (Isaiah 58:6)

The morning light shining through the windows before the service started ...

After the service, the church served us a pizza lunch and, even better, we had the chance to visit with some of the members one on one. Again, a small world - finding among them a number of mutual friends, from OMS and Asbury connections to some relatives of Melissa's beloved grade school librarian from years ago!

In the afternoon we trucked two hours back into Indiana just in time to join in an ice cream social at one of our favorite supporting churches, Shiloh Wesleyan UMC just north of Spencer. These folks have stood with us for several years now and it is always a joy to catch up with them.

And enjoy a sugar buffet...

Pastor Diane and the congregation not only support us financially and prayerfully, they have also gone out of their way to collect school supplies for Cowman School and shoes for Daniel's neighbors. It was a privilege to be able to share an update on our past year in Haiti.

Today we're back to home base: Columbus, Indiana.  IF we get the green light from OMS headquarters, our flight back to Haiti will be two weeks from tomorrow. We've been greatly encouraged by so many who have stepped up to financially support our ministry in Haiti. I wish that meant we were in the clear, but we're not quite yet.  

If you have thought about giving, but haven't made it official yet, please head over to our page on the OMS website (right HERE) in order to let the folks at headquarters know of your intentions! 

Thanks so much for all the wonderful support you all have shown and continue to show. It means the world to us.

Even though our flight date is not yet certain, we continue to pack and tie up loose ends as if we head out August 18th, because, God willing, we certainly intend to!

(P.S. - If you are local, keep next Sunday August 9th afternoon open if possible! We'd like to see you at the "Gathering with the Grosses" in Donner Park, 1 to 5 pm. Check out the Facebook even page for more details RIGHT HERE.)