This is my Father's world..in Haiti and Turkey!

This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought

Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;

His hand the wonders wrought.

We sang this song in church last Sunday, the day after surviving our first hurricane in Haiti. Certain words from this song have been playing through my mind all week. This has been a week of surviving while relishing in the truths of God's Word. This is my Father's world. He reigns over the wind and the rain. He reigns over the circumstances in our lives. He reigns over our wrestling hearts. 

This is my Father’s world. O let me ne’er forget

That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.

This is my Father’s world: the battle is not done:

Jesus Who died shall be satisfied,

And earth and Heav’n be one.

Eric was able to fly out of Haiti the day before the hurricane hit. Here is a little more information about the where and why. We cannot disclose details publicly at this time because of safety risks. 

See that mountain?
That is where Eric is now.  

This is probably what he is doing right now. 

This is the hotel where he is staying if/when he gets there.
Yesterday I received word that he needed to climb two days worth in one day in order to reach shelter and provisions.
He is now out of communication range. 

THIS IS WHY WE BELIEVE THIS PROJECT IS IMPORTANT

(click on link to read)

The Lord has provided in miraculous ways for Eric to be a part of the Turkey team since 2009. However, each year we have faced tremendous adversity to Eric going for one reason or another (several such reasons as explained in the link above). We have also experienced tremendous support. We consider it an immense privilege and honor to be a part of this project. Yet the sake of the project is not the only reason Eric has gone in the past and not the main reason he is there at this time. The main reason he is there at this time is to be a physical, mental, and spiritual support for my father who is the lead archaeologist on this project. Dad is getting up there in years and these conditions are very rough on him. Eric and my father are very close and my dad needs him. Dad asked that Eric come knowing all that we would be potentially sacrificing if he did. He would not have asked this of us if it was not really important. We want to honor our father as well as the rest of the team that raised all the funding for Eric to be there. This is not a glory seeking, male bonding, freeze to death and call it "fun" excursion. This is extremely hard work in harsh and unsafe conditions. These pictures were taken last year. We've been told the weather conditions are "not as good as last year". 

We know that the project may or may not come to fruition. We might have a difficult time justifying Eric's participation this year if it were not for the concern and love we have for dad and desiring to honor his request that Eric come. We received an e-mail two weeks ago from dad who was already there asking that Eric leave and come immediately. This request could have stemmed from a lack of oxygen, lack of food...physical and mental depletion on my dad's part, and/or simply because he desired to share this experience with Eric and deemed it important enough to ask him to come. Whatever the case may be, we decided it was important enough for Eric to go. 

Another reason (besides dad and the actual project) that Eric has continued to go is the relationships he has been building with local families and individuals he has spent time with in Turkey. Several of these he keeps up with throughout the year on facebook and they look forward to Eric returning to continue their conversations each year. A few of these guys are with Eric as guides the entire time and the weather conditions often give way to much time in the tent talking over Turkish coffee. Eric sent me the following a few days ago among his prayer request..."I am sitting in the midst of Muslims who need to hear the truth of Jesus that yes He is a (the) prophet, but He is God, Priest and King too." Sharing the gospel is always a good reason to go. We believe that we are honoring the Lord in the decision to do so and that He will continue to provide for us as we continue to submit to His authority and direction for our lives. 

We appreciate your prayers and support for our family especially during this time. The children and I are doing fine here in Haiti, though we miss Eric and life is not easy. We will be facing more transitions soon and we ask for prayers in this as well. We continue to have a peace that surpasses all understanding and trust God's timing and plan for our family. We will try our best to keep everyone updated with what is going on in our crazy lives! 

Thank you for blessing our lives with yours. It is often difficult to connect through skies and seas but please know that our worldwide friends and family mean the world to us! 

This is my Father’s world, a wanderer I may roam

Whate’er my lot, it matters not,

My heart is still at home.