Meilleurs Voeux  - as they say here in Haiti, Best Wishes for the new year!  With 2 devastating floods and political instability, 2004 was not a year that Haitians would like to see repeated.  They are hoping for better things in 2005 with the promise of new elections later in the year.  But we know that our hope is not in people or elections or circumstances.  Our hope is in Jesus Christ who is working all things, no matter how difficult they seem, for the good of those who love Him.  We trust that your hope is in Him as well, and that you are ready to receive His best for you in 2005.

Thank you for praying for the Christmas program and for our time with J.R.'s parents.  The program went very well (the kids were great!).  And, we spent 3 relaxing days in Jacmel in the south with J.R.'s parents.  The beach was beautiful, and we hiked up to famous waterfall.  It was just what we needed.  Now we're back into the busyness of daily life here.

This past week Bishop Roger and Ellen Haskins were here to preside over Haiti's Annual Conference (gathering of pastors and lay delegates).  It was cancelled last year because of unrest, so it was great to see everyone together again.  The Haitian leadership handled all of the planning.  Please pray for the pastors with placements at new churches and for all of their adjustments.

A team from Wenatchee, WA led by former VISA missionary Diana Carty and Pastor Floyd Schwantz is presently in Dessalines constructing a badly needed perimeter wall around mission and hospital housing units.  Please pray for safety and quick progress for them and for the nationals working with them.

This week the reconstruction project for the Parc Chretien church next to our house begins in earnest.  Three teams arrive this month to work on the church, as well as finish details on the FOHO guesthouse building.  Three short-term couples will be coming to help with these projects.  Merle and Dorothy West are coming back to handle things at the guesthouse.  Vahan and Zoe Sipantzi are coming to construct cabinets for the guesthouse.  Ian and Alice Van Norman will oversee the church project and assist with mission bookkeeping. 

Speaking of bookeeping, a long-needed bookkeeper is arriving on January 27!  Shara Blackford raised her VISA (volunteer) support very quickly.  She'll be relieving Gregg Ennis of this heavy responsibility.  Alice will help bridge the gap until Shara arrives and hopefully be around some to help with the training.  Jack and Jeanne Munos are arriving on January 13.  They are new career missionaries who have had Haiti in their heart for several years.  After language learning, Jeanne will assist in the Bible Institute and Jack with administration, teaching, and counseling.  So after several years of lean-staffing, God has brought new co-workers to join us.  Praise God with us for their arrival.  Also, please pray for all of the adjustments, both for them and for the whole team as we learn to live in close proximity and work together.  Continue to pray for someone to serve as a team coordinator and to assist with the Dessalines hospital.

We're settling back into our usual routine of taking Marissa to preschool, heading to our offices for teacher training and development administration, and teaching English and development in the Bible school in the evenings.  Please pray for safety in the daily commute, and for strength and wisdom in our ministries and parenting. 

 

We wish you God's best in 2005!  Thank you for your faithful support and friendship!

Blessings,
Becky, J.R., and Marissa Crouse