Praise God!

It has been a whirlwind since Michael and I got to the states... but it has been AMAZING... God is soooo good and He is giving us both the strength to get things done that need to be done, to get to places we need to go, etc...  Here's a BRIEF overview...

Tues. Aug. 9th- we flew "home" the US- Ron, Emily and Danika (my hubbie and 2 of our daughters) picked us up at the airport and we arrived at our house by 11 pm.

Wed. to Sun we spent getting used to the US- experiencing routine- answering e-mails, phone calls, exploring the area, going to a concert, outlet shopping, going out to eat, going to church in America (though our church is not a "typical" American church- attendance was very low due to a lot of vacations), etc..

Monday morning we left to tour Philadelphia (art museum steps, center city, liberty bell, independence hall, etc..) and then went off to New York City... spent about 6 hours in New York City- saw the usual "sites" (Rockafeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, Times Square, St. Patrick's Cathedral, etc... and then rode the Staten Island Ferry for a "glimpse" of the Statue of Liberty)

Tuesday morning we drove 2.5 hours to Connecticut to meet a friend of Michael's from New Hampshire (thanks Sarah for meeting us halfway) and dropped him off with them while Emily and I continued home to PA. He got to spend time in New Hampshire until Friday when we met again in CT (11 hour drive round trip for me-just about as long for them).  During those three days he got to reunite with the New Hampshire group when they threw a surprise party for him and also travel to Boston to see a good friend before meeting me to drive back to PA.

Saturday was his birthday- we went out to breakfast with our family but then he spent the day relaxing and resting from his whirlwind trip to NH (and resting up for the presentation yesterday).  We had plans to do a bunch of things to make his birthday special but it didn't take long to realize that just being with "family" is special enough and he needed to REST - even Jesus took time to rest and refresh himself- especially before and after times of great ministry.  :)

Yesterday (Sunday 8/21) was church, then lunch with a good friend (who donated school supplies to the ministry and treated us to lunch) and then the presentation followed by dinner with Lili (from the July mission team) and her family.  The presentation was not very well attended (it IS summer and people are very very busy- that is understandable) but for those who were there it was a good time.  We were able to share the ministry and what God is doing in Haiti with many and we pray He will use that presentation and time to continue to grow the ministry and to bless many in Haiti and beyond.  Only He knows what seeds were planted.  :D :D :D

Today we will depart for Florida (with a stop planned in Georgia to visit another good friend/family).  Please pray for us -- as we drive so far, as we try to meet/please everyone we need to, as we spend MANY hours on the road in the car (about 24 hours total on the road) and then pray as we spend some time in Florida.  My youngest daughter is moving in with her older sister in Fort Lauderdale so it will be a bit emotional.  I will fly back (Sunday I think) alone because Michael will fly Sunday to California to spend almost two weeks with his fiance' there before traveling back to PA on the 10th of September.  While in California he will speak at a few churches and meet up with many friends he has there.

Hope that all made sense and you understand why I have not posted in a bit... it has literally been running from one thing to another but God has orchestrated it all and we have been SO BLESSED to get to see so many, to share what He is doing with so many, etc... THANK YOU for your prayers as always... we could never do all this on our own strength- He is amazing!