The Final Week

Family and Friends,

Day 196 of our Haiti Adventure!

Here we are…we’ve arrived at the final week of our first school year in Haiti. What a strange feeling. We already have so many memories to carry with us, and yet there is a feeling we have barely even begun to scratch the surface of what God wants to do here. As we finish up this first term in Haiti we look forward to a fun and relaxing summer, but we also know we will miss our new friends and eagerly anticipate coming back.

Many mission teams have come and gone over the past half year, and we get to help out with one final group before we go. They will arrive tomorrow afternoon if everything goes as planned. Most of the members come from First United Methodist Church of Sioux Falls, SD. The group includes a number of teenagers from the youth group. Our Haitian youth group always enjoys when teams like that come, so we look forward to big Bible studies each night.

The American youth group is led by Mark and Lisa Johnson, who are friends of mine. Mark was a fellow classmate at seminary, and we were two of the four members in a class called, “Walking with the Poor." That week we walked the streets of Sioux Falls and lived our lives among the poor of that city, and that class was instrumental in our call as a family to be missionaries. It will be fun to find out how God has continued to work in Mark and Lisa’s lives and ministry.

We have been cleaning and reorganizing the mission house, including packing our belongings that will stay behind when we go. The kids have grown out of or worn out many of their clothes and shoes, so we look forward to shopping for some new things when we return to the states. I myself have shrunk out of most things, so I have the opposite problem. Lynn’s ongoing issue is that her shoes never wear out, so she is stuck with the same ones. Maybe I’ll let her pick something new anyway.

We might not have a chance to post or check email this coming week, but we look forward to writing more when we are in the US. At that time we will do some reflecting on our first year here and the process of readjusting to American culture for the summer. Be sure to check the blog in early June to read about those topics and more. If you want to see our pictures and hear our stories in person at some point this summer, we will be giving our presentation at the following places and times:

     June 12-     1st Presbyterian Church, Newton, IA (AM Church service)
      July 24-     Alcester Baptist Church, Alcester, SD (AM Church service)
      July 24-     1st Reformed Church, Sioux Center, IA (PM Church service)
      July 29-     Festival of Tables, Herrick, SD (Evening)
    Aug. 14-     The Crossing, Sioux Falls, SD (PM Church service)
    Aug. 29-     Return to Haiti

We would be very happy to add more dates to the calendar for this summer, so please do not hesitate to contact us to visit your church, your missions committee, or any Bible study or other group that would enjoy hearing our presentation.

Please pray for Mission Haiti, the visiting group, the people of Haiti, and our family this week as we seek God’s guidance and protection for ministry and travel. As always we expect God to do big things in the lives of both the Haitians and the Americans. Undoubtedly through both blessings and trials He will be glorified this week!

Looking Forward to Seeing You All Soon!
-The Grimms