Challenges and Opportunities

Lavi byen pa fasil - A good life is not easy

Many of you that read my blog on a regular basis might just think that everything is sunshine and palm trees down here.  Yes, I do try to focus on the good stuff and fun things that I get to do, but life does have its challenges.

Marriage takes a lot of work!  I am sure that my friends that are married will just shake their heads and say "Duh!"  I am finding that out.  I am happy to have some great friends down here that I can talk to and that can give me advice.

The girls -

Victoria absolutely loves her little sister.  When Abby cries, Victoria will put her pacifier back in her mouth or even hold the bottle for her.  Victoria loves to hold and tickle her too!  Abby is growing so fast.  She is a little over three months and she can roll over and she turns her head and follows me around as I walk by.  She has a great head of hair that can be combed.

Abby sitting up in the bed

Victoria and I getting ready to go for a walk

That's a good big sister!

Victoria is helping me with a project for shade on my tomatoes!

Victoria does not like to have her hair done.  Down here it is unacceptable for a girl to leave her hair in the natural state.  It has to be braided with barrettes.  I really don't understand why we can't just let her hair be, but that is a minor cultural thing that I don't understand...not one worth worrying about too much!

Projects -

My kitchen is a little further along than it was on my last blog update, but I have been busy trying to finish the first room for CoreLuv, so the kitchen has to wait.  I hope to install the cabinets this week in the medical clinic.  Then I can start on the next room!  I also just landed a contract to build some more beds.  The Salvation Army has a training center in Port au Prince and they are going to have me build 4 bunk beds and 32 regular beds!  I am going to be very busy trying to manage all of these projects at once.  I am grateful for the opportunities.

The kitchen cabinets in progress

The Salvation Army contract came from someone that had spent a few nights on my bunk beds at the House of Hope - Jim and Debbie Hambrick.  We have been trying for over a year to figure out exactly what they want and a schedule to do everything.  The contact at the Salvation Army would not settle for anyone else making their beds!  She was impressed with the quality and simple beauty of my "Standard Bunk Bed."  It pays to do quality work every time.

Making a mobile with shapes and colors for the girls.

Are these ladders OSHA approved?

Expansion -

The lot next door has come up for sale.  I would like to purchase it to build my workshop now and eventually some of the other things I have in my dreams.  I made an offer on it earlier this week, but it was too low...the owner told me that he paid more for it than I had offered.  The land could probably get the price he wants...it is a big piece of land, nothing on it yet, on a busy and paved road.  Even if I had enough money for it, I don't know if I would try to buy it or maybe look for something less expensive in another location.  I will pray about it for a while...hopefully it is still available when I figure out the solution.  Or maybe the solution is some land a bit out of town.

The lot next door

My back yard (from the apartment being built in back of the lot)

In the mean time, I will build a covered area in my back yard to store lumber and for people to come and work.  The masons are nearly finished raising the wall, when that is done, I will put up a tin roof over an area for shade and protection from the rain.

My challenges (prayer requests)

My wife and I need to communicate better, pray that we can understand each other and that we can empathize with each other.  I need to be as productive as possible, pray that I find good help and that I am able to use my time wisely as I work on multiple contracts at once.  I still come up a little short on money some times, pray that I am a good steward of my resources and that I am able to get the work and support that is necessary to grow down here.

As always, thanks for reading this and may God bless you as he has blessed us.

Scott, Ruthcher, Victoria, Abbigaelle