Today is Habakkuk's birthday

Today Habakkuk would have turned four years old.

Today we celebrated Habakkuk's life.

Today we remembered that God takes the really bad stuff and brings something good out of it, if we let Him.

Today I'm still sad that I'll never hold Habakkuk until heaven. But, I'm so grateful that his life brought us to Kpeletayama village, my other home town. I'm thankful that his life continues to save the lives of many other children through his namesake well. And, more, because of Habakkuk, others are working together to build partnerships with the people in that community to bring hope.

Mark reminded me today that the book of Habakkuk in the Bible is about how God uses terrible circumstances to bring about His good plan. If we want to do something good, we get some good people to do it. But, God can even use bad people to accomplish His purposes. The death of a child due to unsafe water is tragic. But God... I love that phrase. But God didn't leave Habakkuk's death as the last chapter, but the begin of a whole new chapter. The first chapter was the well. The next chapter is the school.

Today I celebrate Habakkuk's life. He reminds me that every life matters.
Happy Birthday, Habakkuk.

I got a teacher's house for Christmas

This is similar to what the house will look like.

My Christmas wish this year was a house for the teacher for the future school in Kpeletayama, Liberia. The best time to build is during the dry season, which started in October and goes until April. We were able to raise $4,600. This is enough for the house, school supplies and most of the administrative costs. Now, we just have the teacher salary for a year.

Hopefully, the house will be completed by the end of February. Meanwhile, a open hut will be constructed and an interim session of school will be held from March until June. None of the children in the area have been to school, so this will be a great introduction for them. And, we will be fully prepared for a regular school year to begin in Sept.

Donated school supplies like backpacks, pencils, notebooks, etc. were donated from Roosevelt Elementary in Eau Clarie, as part of their Christmas celebration. These items will be taken to Liberia in March.

I am so overwhelmed with gratitude for all the friends that have helped and donated. This is the best thing I've ever got for Christmas.Peggy and Pastor George, future teacher for Kpeletayama school

I talked to Michael

I talked to Michael on the phone yesterday.

Oh what joy to hear his sweet small voice. Oh what pain that he is so far away.

I wasn't expecting the call. Peter called me while I was shopping and just put Michael on the phone. Peter was so pleased with Michael's english.

I got this update about Michael from Pastor Peter today:

Michael:- I called him personally the bluff boy. By his physical look he is called by this name, but he is a hard working boy. He tries to build his house out of toys brought by his mom from oversea. He is one of the kids that are aware of their going to the states any time.

I am so happy that he still loves the Legos I gave him. I am sad that he is awaiting the undefined time of his journey home.

When I told the kids that I had talked to Michael, they wanted to know when they would get to talk to him. Evelyn asked me if he thinks of them as his brother and sisters the way they think of him. Even Mark choose "fatherof5" as a password recently.

We are so, so, so ready for Michael to come home. Christmas wasn't as hard this year as it was last year, but sometimes my heart just aches. I finally went to develop some of my favorite pictures of Michael and I. It's hard sometimes, to see us together. I reach back into my mind to pull back the memories of holding him while he slept, kissing his head, and singing to him. Those used to be dreams of mine, now they are my memories. But, it's not enough. I want him here, coming through the door after school, leaving his coat on the floor asking about a snack. I want to tuck him in bed, one more time, and say one more prayer. I want him at our table for supper. In our van on the way to church. I want the wait to be over. Please, God, please open the door for our son to come home.