In mid-December last year, we passed ten years since we moved our family to Haiti. We had only been able to return part time for the past 2 years. We have a rented home in Ohio, but we still had a home in Haiti, a ministry we enjoyed and loved, and many beautiful friends there. It was time to make a decision!

Things are very tough for everyone there right now, so they understand things are changing for all of us. We will never forget the Haitians, the other missionaries, their beautiful country, and all the many memories we made together! Haiti is a part of us and the mission there will be missed!

Reflecting on Haiti brings many memories which touch our hearts. We can’t put into words all that we went through in a culture and language not our own, all that we learned, all the people we met or labored with in the ministry to share the gospel or help the poor. We can’t forget all the interesting school visits we made on bumpy roads or climbing hills, the many prisoners we encountered in overly crowded cells, all the adventures on rocky rivers or climbing up mountains, and the adventure into town where the poor kids waited outside the store when we came out, hoping for a Haitian dollar or a box of cornflakes. We often had to remind ourselves that we have nothing, but in Christ we have all He is, to freely give His love!

Going home?! All the airports in Haiti were closed shortly after our arrival and our return flight was already cancelled a week before we were to go! The lawlessness of the gangs in Port-au-Prince and the resulting insecurity has been affecting things for a long time, but now it was at ever greater level. We wondered how long it would be until we could get out and put our names on several evacuation lists.

Agape Flights (the mail carrier to missionaries in the Caribbean) finally got clearance to fly into Haiti a week after we were originally supposed to leave. We had been furiously sorting, packing and distributing our stuff the entire time, so we appreciated the extra week! The pilots were so gracious and loving as we traveled home, sharing their snacks and water and even sacrificed themselves as there weren’t enough lifejackets for the 10 travelers.

Thanks for everyone’s thoughts and prayers during our final journey. We arrived in West Palm Beach safely and spent the weekend hanging out by a hotel pool. We celebrated our 33rd anniversary that weekend and did a lot of reflecting! God is good!

Our home address: 7420 Easton Road, Sterling, OH 44276