Hannah's Visit

When we hugged, then waved good-bye to the Spears at the Port au Prince air port after a great week's visit, we were so thankful that they left a bit of the family with us!  Sixteen-year-old Hannah was to hang out with us for the six weeks til we returned to the states in July.

Hannah has set a high bar for the subsequent ten grands!  She was the first and the one we all learned on - her parents, in how to parent - and the grandparents, in how to grandparent!  She has grown into a lovely young lady, gifted in music and friends, happy, a celebrator of life, growing in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.  We were delighted and had anticipated her visit.

At the orphanage after some of the girls there braided Hannah's hair.

Except for the fact that she assumed the title of Boggle Queen with too little effort this summer, after straining for the goal for years, to no avail......

Anyway.

I asked Hannah why she wanted to spend a chunk of her summer vacation on a very poor island off the coast of the Haitian mainland.  She responded that when we began praying about and talking about spending this year on La Gonave, she had the thought that she should come for an extended stay, too.  Puzzled, she said that that thought had not originated from within her, so she had a couple of talks with God about it.  Realizing that this was His idea, not hers, she was committed to the plan.

Sticky notes with Haitian creole words labeling things around her house began to show up as school neared the year's end.  A opinion paper was written for school about the plan.  She began to pray about how the Lord might use her while she was on the compound.

We could have renamed her "Mary Poppins"!  Hannah soon was a favorite of the missionary children and determined to spend time with each of them, giving their moms and dads valuable TIME to accomplish tasks, etc., while knowing their children were in good hands and happy.

        

   


One of her favorite things was interacting with the children at Mme. Soliette's orphanage, showing them love and acceptance and her genuine interest.  Gifted on the violin, Hannah played several special numbers at missionary church services and had the unique opportunity to play at the funeral of one of the precious little girls from the orphanage.  Enjoying the teams that would come in, she readily was involved when she could be and was a natural hostess.  And, she was my faithful assistant in the June English classes.  I shall miss her when the fall term begins!

A good place for a phone call home

When I asked Hannah why she thought the Lord had had her come this summer, she said she still was working that out, not sure.  MamaG has an idea.  I think He was grabbing her willing heart, infusing it with things of Himself, giving her His love for His children and planting a seed for mission work that will always be part of her life.  What will that look like, how will it pan out?  I have no idea - but God does!

And, whether she is a pray-er, a give-er, or a go-er, I believe Hannah will be used of God.  Because she has a willing heart and that heart is                                                              
toward God.   

                                                  


Thanks, Han - it was a great visit!  We love you!

DENGUE FEVER!

Larry had struggled through some kind of unidentified tropical fever/headache/aches and pains/great fatigue about ten days earlier; recovery was slow coming, but he was doing well by Independence Day.

Hannah's fever, headache and aches started as we were having our Fourth of July celebration on the mission compound.  She excused herself and tucked into bed for a nap.

My fevers were a nuisance but because I was more concerned about Hannah that first week-end she was sick, I didn't think too much about it.

It was when we decided to check her blood to see if the illness was viral or bacterial that it was discovered Hannah's white blood count was dangerously low.  The missionary doc on the mainland that I was in touch with about Hannah, recommended we get off the island to a more sophisticated lab and medical care - asap.  Within one hour, we were on the plane on the dirt air strip on La Gonave, preparing to fly to Fort Lauderdale via Port au Prince.  Three and a half hours later, we touched down in South Florida and were on our way to the children's hospital there.  It was something that very rarely happens - getting off La Gonave and connecting with a flight to the states, so smoothly and quickly.  The Lord was with us!

Hannah was well-served at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital where she stayed for two nights.  Her folks arrived soon after we passed through the initial triage, and it was when they walked through the ER door that Hannah beamed.  How wonderful it was for this grandmom to see that beautiful smile once again!   Blood tests indicated that her numbers were improving, fever was gone and it was obvious Hannah was on the up side of the disease.  We also received a diagnosis, by process of elimination; it would be a week before the results of a specific blood test showed that it was indeed, dengue fever ~  a  mosquito-borne viral illness.

It is assumed that both Larry and I had dengue as well, because of the symptoms and of the mono-on-steriods-like recovery period.  Hannah and I both had the flat red rash followed by the red speckled rash.  We both had the sensitive skin, Hannah's on the bottom of her feet, mine with flaming palms.  Hannah spent the better part of the first week at home in the bed, with no energy to do otherwise.  I am enjoying long naps each afternoon.

This is our scheduled summer break and the timing is perfect.

Right now - we are mixing recovery with visiting, re-connecting with family and friends with "vegging".  Getting to know our #11 grand, Evan and spending time with the other ten and their folks.  Looking forward to the annual beach week with the whole family under one roof!  Spending quality time with Larry's Aunt Frances who will soon leave this world for a better one.  Catching up with extended family and eating our way through oh-so-many wonderful meals shared with friends.  Worshipping at our home church.

And, it is so good!

As August wanes, Lord willing, we will be anticipating returning to Haiti for the fall term, well and well-rested.

And, you'd better believe we will be using a powerful lot of heavy-duty mosquito spray!