2021 was a year of WAITING and PATIENCE .... and GOD'S PROVISION

WE ARE SO CLOSE TO THE FINISH LINE!

Look at just some of what we were able to accomplish this year:

• Jean Phillip was hired as our Grace Kids Coordinator

• Planted more fruit bearing trees throughout the property

• THREE cherry harvests

• Carpentry work started... doors are complete

• Carpentry contract worked out for all cabinets, work stations, reception area, exam rooms, etc.

• Solar powered security lighting installed

• Electric work started... almost completed, waiting for more supplies to arrive!

• Finished the guardhouse construction

• Provided emergency funds for a local feeding program that ran out of food & funding for food

• Emergency medical fund for local villages

• Our truck was used for emergency medical transport for multiple life threatening injuries and illnesses

• 26 children sponsored for school, uniforms & supplies Doubled sponsorships.... we now have

• Food & supplies provided for our construction team during “down” time

• Launched GraceKids Program - tutoring, Kids Club, Bible Study, and parenting classes

• Launched Kids4Kids program - each GraceKid received a goat for their family

• Non-perishable foods & supplies provided for each of our GraceKids families to help them through drought time

• Provided land for Soufrantz for gardening to help increase his income

• ERAU water system is finalized... waiting for shipment

• Brush at the back of the house was chopped down (and Soufrantz is using it to make charcoal for cooking and selling)

• Beautiful, vibrant paint complete inside and out (nearly 200 gallons of paint!)

• Elizabeth made two visits and stayed onsite to check progress, meet with electrical engineer, carpenter, launch GraceKids, design outdoor waiting, have staff meetings, etc
  

HE’S IN THE WAITING

While living in Haiti I came to understand that waiting and patience are just a part of everyday life.... used to the instant gratification and fast pace of America, it took some getting used to. I often joked with our visitors that we had to hurry up so we could get where we were going ...to sit and wait.

I came to understand the beauty and power of WAITING. My favorite song (and anthem of sorts) became the song, Waiting Here For You as I began to embrace this part of daily life. You should take a minitue and listen to it!

I honestly came to LOVE the slower pace. I loved that it allowed time to get to know the people around me.... no phones meant talking to everyone around me, practicing my Creole getting to know people, listening to their stories, laughing with them, praying with them, holding babies, and growing in my compassion. It also allowed me to take in all the details of what was going on and get an understanding of WHY things worked the way they do... things that don't make sense in a rush often do make sense when we slow them down.

In total transparency, over time living in the US again, I have slipped back into the old patterns of rushing and impatience.

Waiting? Delays? Work stops? Who has time for all that??? We need our clinic doors open!!!

Civil unrest, fuel shortages, devaluation of money, presidential assassination, earthquake, tropical storm, kidnappings, crisis after crisis..... things have not gone at the pace I would choose. And at times I've been discouraged.... impatient... frustrated.... and yes, even angry.

But God has not been rushed. He has not been taken by surprise.

He has been at work... in Haiti... in America... at Grace Center... and in my heart.

As I began to lean into this wait, to lean into God's presence He has reminded me that we are working on HIS timing and His timing is always perfect.

And His timing? It's never early, never late, but always on time. Our timing isn't God's timing. For us, God's timing often feels like a long, desperate delay.

But His perfect timing does two things: It grows our faith as we are forced to wait and trust in Him and it makes certain that He, and He alone, gets the glory and praise for pulling us through.

At the right time, God will provide our needs. At the right time, God will deliver us. At the right time, God will make things happen.

Isaiah 60:22 - "When the time is right, I, the Lord, will make it happen."

At the RIGHT time.... HIS TIME!

I feel like we did a lot of waiting, but when I look back over the year I am BLOWN AWAY!!! While we were waiting.... God was WORKING!!! Each little piece makes a BIG impact!!