Our family returned from Haiti on July 28th, then spent a couple of days with friends in Atlanta before returning to Birmingham. We were so blessed by our time in Haiti, and we pray that the villagers were able to see God’s love through us as we spent those three weeks living life with them. We were able to live “village life”, without access to air conditioning, refrigeration, electricity, clean running water, or transportation for most of our time in Haiti, and we even lived to tell about it! God was gracious to us physically, as we suffered very little sickness while in the country. Sam played lots of basketball with the villagers, Olivia loved being outside all day every day, and Everett taught the Haitians a few things about the game of UNO. The last two days of our trip were spent at the beach, where we were able to relax a bit and take real showers in clean(er) water. We even had electricity (most of the time), and air conditioning.
Saying goodbye to the country of Haiti was difficult for us, as we have made many friends there over the years, and we’re praying that God will raise up someone who desires to continue the ministry which has been in place for over twenty years in the village of Petite Rivierre. Please pray for the Holy Bible School and Church, its teachers and children, and especially Pastor Elise, as they are facing difficult times.
Our time back in Birmingham was short but sweet. We truly enjoyed spending a few precious hours with friends and loved ones whom we miss terribly when we’re away. The “goodbyes” are always hard, but that makes the “hellos” even sweeter.
Upon our return to Texas, we immediately packed up our house, then moved into an apartment on campus two days later. The kids started school the next week, and now we find ourselves preparing to leave once again. This time we’re heading to the other side of the world! We will begin our journey to Papua, New Guinea on Saturday, August 25th. Our travel will consist of a ten hour drive to Dallas, a sixteen hour flight to Brisbane, Australia, a three hour flight to Port Moresby, PNG, then a one hour flight to Goroka, which is where we will spend a month with the Sisson family. We are beyond excited about this trip, as the kids and I haven’t seen the Sissons since they moved to PNG in July of 2010. Jeremy and I are so looking forward to seeing Alex and Kelley, as well as the country that we will call home one day, and the kids can’t wait to see Haley, Graham, and Nate again.
We will return to Texas on September 27th, and Jeremy will begin the process of trying to catch up on CPCP work, since we will be gone for the first month of class.
Please keep us in your prayers over these next few weeks. Here are some specific ways you can pray:
- That we will make all connecting flights
- For the children to easily tolerate the long flight from Dallas to Brisbane
- That we will adjust quickly to the sixteen hour time difference
- For us to keep our eyes open to how God wants us to use our time in PNG
- That we will remember to treat each other, and those we come in contact with, always with grace and love
- For wisdom and direction about plans for the future
- That we will continue to rely on God for that wisdom and direction
Here’s a slide show of a few pictures I took while we were in Haiti. I wish I could share them all, but alas, who has time to look at seven hundred pictures? 🙂
Haiti 2012 from Jeremy Sanders on Vimeo.
Sanders Party of Five 