Grandchildren in Brazil, Christmas in Haiti

We feel so rich when we look at our grandkids. Between two trips to Haiti we are spending some time in Belo Horizonte so we can finish this year in an orderly fashion. Lots of meetings, and I really miss my new laptop, which couldn’t be fixed here and needed to be sent to Holland. It should work as the machine was only 5 months old when it broke down.

Eva, the youngest at 5 months

If we promise them candy they’ll sit still for a few moments so we can take a picture...

But even between all the busyness we try our best to enjoy our grandkids. All six of them are actually here in Brazil right now which is rare to happen. It is great to have grand kids. Tomorrow we are going to have our farewell party, and an early Christmas.

Tuesday we are traveling back to Haiti for another three weeks of lectures in the Education and Community Development Training School. Christmas will be in Haiti, in the Caribbean. Sounds romantic, but the reality is a bit different. We are taking a suitcase full of medicines against Cholera. The number of infected people keeps growing. And because of the election on the 28th of November, the political climate is very tense.

So the 7th of December we plan to arrive in Haiti again. The school continued normally during our absence, with the help of some Brazilian staff. Well, you have to define normality: they passed through a hurricane, were frightened by an aftershock of the earthquake, are in the middle of a Cholera outbreak, and live in a climate of unrest because of the elections. But on the other hand, we are receiving good news about the students, who continue to grow in the knowledge of God, His love and faithfulness and a deeper understanding of His ways and intentions for their lives and country. Yes there is hope for Haiti!

Please pray for our trip and our stay till the 28th of December. Pray for:

• Our health.

• Against the Cholera that already killed many people.

• Against the instability after the elections.

• For the students who will finish the Education and Community Development Training School on Christmas Day.

We wish you all a wonderful Christmas!

Me with Hannah, the oldest at 4 years of age