RAINY DAYS

There's nothing like that moment when you stop admiring the sound of the afternoon rain and start remembering the laundry is still on the line.

Oh well, minor inconveniences are not the worst consequences of rain! 

One of the things that has characterized our fourth year here in Haiti has been the tremendous amount of rainfall, the polar opposite of the drought of our first year. And it often has made life quite difficult for our neighbors and friends and co-workers. The rains push garbage and mud and sewage through the streets and, if it falls long and heavy enough, the floodwaters rise and bring disease and property destruction. Sometimes even death.

The English idiom "saving up for a rainy day", apparently dating back centuries, means "putting aside money for when a need suddenly arises".  In Haiti, there's no time or means for "saving up" because, figuratively, the "rain" is falling daily. 

I am writing to you today because we are a needy family living in a needy land. 

A few snapshots:

1) Almost weekly, my 14-year-old friend, Melky, asks me for a job. He wants to help support his family. I have no job to offer.

But as Melissa and I serve at Cowman School we are part of the reason the school has grown enough in the last four years to offer at least thirty local men and women meaningful work and a regular paycheck.

2) A young, brand-new father named Charles came to our front door recently, desperately looking for hundreds of dollars because his wife's first birth was complicated and the baby and mother were basically being held captive by the hospital until the bill was paid in full. I was able to give him part of what he needed.

But as our family lives and works here at OMS, our support account plays a part in enabling our own Bethesda Medical Clinic and the outstanding (and affordable) work being done there by Dr. Rodney and his staff.

3) In the past four years we have watched helplessly as the Haitian gourde has relentlessly weakened against the American dollar. What our friends used to buy in the marketplace for 42 gourdes now costs 69 gourdes. Our friend Daniel has more and more demand for food among his neighborhood's kids.  

As far as Daniel is concerned, FEEDING those kids is just the first step. They need clothes and clean water. And, if the cycles are ever going to be broken, an education. Daniel gets quite passionate when he starts talking about his dreams for these kids.

We are so glad to be in a position to support Daniel in his incredible ministry.

Melissa and I are also sold on the long-term positive power of a good education for Haiti's next generation. Cowman continues to grow (even beyond what we can keep up with currently!) and, by God's grace, we will be sending out our first group of high school graduates in just over two years. It's an exciting ... and exhausting ... time to be serving at Cowman.

So let me explain what I mean by describing OURSELVES as a "needy" family. I am sure most of you realize that we and our family's work here in Haiti are dependent on the friends, family, strangers and churches who give financial gifts to our support account with OMS. Some give special gifts now and then, some give annually and many even give monthly. 

As we tackle day to day work responsibilities and the (endless) variety of unexpected challenges along the way, Melissa and I always must keep an eye on that support account. (Each time I look it over, I am truly humbled and thank God for all who support us in so many ways!) Those monthly gifts are the bedrock of our support account and the special gifts keep our heads above water. 

Now and then, our account starts to dip into the red. When it does, the repercussions begin to mount. First our ministry-related expenses can't be reimbursed, soon our monthly "salary" gets reduced, and - eventually - the specter of spending extended time back in the States for fundraising begins to materialize. 

We have learned not to get too anxious - the Lord has not failed yet to provide for our needs through the generosity of His people. We understand not everyone we know is in the position to support us, but if the Lord puts us on your heart in this way, the easiest way to send support is through our page at the OMS website - right HERE. 

Soon the school year will end and our family will be back in Indiana (and surrounding areas) for the summer. We would LOVE to sit down with you over a cup of coffee to catch up. Or do you know of a small group, Sunday school class or local congregation that would be interested in hearing about our work in Haiti? Don't hesitate to contact me at sgross@onemissionsociety.org or through Facebook. Finally, how awesome would it be if this coming year would be the year you come visit us in Haiti? Let's talk about it this summer!

As always, we are so very grateful for your prayers and support. God bless you!

(A couple of Cowman teachers shielding students from the rain. How's THAT for a metaphor?!)

At least these April showers bring May flowers...

CHASING WATERFALLS

Yesterday my family joined about two dozen assorted friends driving a bit over an hour over extremely bumpy roads to reach a little known natural wonder here in the north of Haiti: a series of 19 spring-fed waterfalls tumbling through magnificent boulders down a mountainside. 

The road kept narrowing until it disappeared entirely. At that point, we parked and jumped out to hike for the next hour, following the stream towards its source. 

The parking lot:

Johnny in the river. The path criss-crossed the river multiple times.

Selfie with Melissa:

Everything was so very green.

Our destination. The bottom-most falls filled a peaceful, waist-deep pool of refreshingly cool water.

It wasn't long before the kids got the itch to explore the other falls and went scrambling up the rocks to see what they could see.

Johnny was leaping from rock to rock while trying to avoid getting wet. 

For me, just coming off my 49th birthday, it was a day to stop and smell the roses and enjoy some family time. The girls are growing up so fast - and just so lovely.

And our boys are more handsome every day as well.

Bryan and Patti enjoyed the chance to see part of Haiti most people don't even know exists. Even our field director, who has lived here over 15 years, had never heard of this spot.

Many of the pools were deep enough for some great jumps.

Some of the explorers relaxing after their return from the top of the falls:

All two dozen of us were entirely wiped out by the time we reached home in the late afternoon. But it was just what I needed. 

Isaiah 58:11

The LORD will guide you always;

He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land

And will strengthen your frame.

You will be like a well-watered garden,

Like a spring whose waters never fail.

A DAY, A WEEK, AND A YEAR'S NOTICE

A day, a week and a year from now, I will reach the half century mark. Typically a chronic procrastinator, I find some strange inner drive to plan ahead for these big, bittersweet birthdays. 

So I am getting a jump start on two things RIGHT NOW.

1) My second "mid" life crisis. When I turned 40, I couldn't afford a red convertible, so I had to settle for running a marathon. 

When it comes to athletic interest and ability, I have definitely proven to be a late bloomer. I had muscles toned like marshmallows when I was in my teen years and my twenties. In my late 30s, I started to run as a way to exercise a hyperactive dog I owned (briefly). Although my doctor-brother has warned me that someday my knees will rue the day I first strapped on running shoes, I still find running to be a good way to keep the pounds off and to keep my heart in shape. These days, I enjoy the alone time and the opportunity to get some unstructured minutes outside the gates of the mission grounds. 

But there's no way, under the Haitian sun, that I would ever commit to putting in the hours of training necessary for another marathon for my 50th. (Even if my own common sense failed me, my wife would forbid such a thing.) Besides, I don't like to repeat myself. It needs to be new. And bigger. And better.

So that leaves me looking for a viable alternative for 2018. I'm indecisive by nature, so I need to get a start on thinking this latest mid-life crisis through. If you have any suggestions, I'm all ears.

Don't even suggest something EASY like hiking up a mountain and spreading JOY to all the local kids. I did that last weekend. (At least this little guy didn't scream at the sight of me, turn and flee in terror like one of the little girls did. I have a way with children.)

And 2) A surprise party. I know I am not supposed to plan my own surprise party, but I am trying to be a supportive spouse to Melissa and not leave this BIG of an event solely on her plate. She's a busy lady. Besides, I'm not really talking about a "party" at all.  Or, for that matter, a "surprise" ... not in a traditional sense anyway.

You see, I think my 50th would be a great excuse for certain individuals and/or families to come visit us here in Haiti in 2018. It doesn't have to be in April - I will be happy to stretch my birthday out all year long. 

Since moving to Haiti in 2013, we've had some great visits by friends and family members - and sometimes even complete strangers - but I've got a very LONG list of others whom we have yet to see cross our threshold. And if any of those folks on that list should show up on our doorstep, you bet I would be SURPRISED and you bet I would throw a PARTY.

And if you wonder if YOU are on that list - well, you ARE. Believe me.

So I wanted to give you a year, a month and a day to start looking into flights and start lining up those days off from work. (Melissa and the kids and I were reminded this past week with the much-too-early death of a dear friend from our days in Pensacola: there are no guarantees about tomorrow.) 

God willing, there's no better time to plan your trip to Haiti ...

Bring your running shoes and we'll run ... and probably mostly walk ... through the neighborhood.