Welcome to 2009!

Okay, so I am a little late with this greeting. However, better late than never.

Well to begin this year I would like to update you on Peanut. My wife is about 5 months (pregnant) now, and just starting to show. Here is a picture of Peanut at I don’t know how many months. As you can see s/he is going to make a fine hockey player one day. (We haven’t decided if Peanut will play for the Haitian national hockey team or the Canadian one, but we will leave that decision till later). Anyway, as you can see – the LORD is amazing and awesome – once again performing a miracle and bringing new life!

And here is a picture of Karen. As you can tell, she is looking beautifully...pregnant. Everyone keeps saying, “are you sure you are pregnant?” because she hasn’t shown until now. So, I think she is happy now, because people can finally see that she actually is. As you can see, Peanut is no longer the size of a peanut, but since the name has a nice ring to it, I figure it can be his/her camp name. My wife is due at the end of April/beginning of May. We are not quite sure on the specific day. Anyway, we are planning to head back to Canada probably mid-way through March to have the baby. (also in time for Sarena and Mark’s wedding which are excited about as well, and hopefully in time, as Ian and Hen are due at that time too.)

Well, what else to report on. The church plant continues. We are thankful to work with such talented and gifted pastors who have a passion for the LORD, and for proclaiming the Truth, the Life, the Way, proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. And we are thankful for those the LORD has called to be a part of this church already, and we pray that the LORD would continue to work, calling people to be His.

Well, I would like to end by listing some prayer requests we have as we begin this new year. We covet your prayers as we know that our strength lies not in ourselves, and this work is not about ourselves, but it is only through the LORD that we can move forward, in His strength, through the power of His Spirit. May this work never be about our kingdom that we are trying to build, but about His. We ask you to pray, and here are some specifics that relate to us and our work here in Haiti:

• For Karen and the baby (Peanut). For Health and safety.


• That before we have to leave for Canada that everything can be in order with the school and organization.


• For wisdom and knowledge, as we continue to develop our Special Needs program to begin next year.


• For the process of having the school and organization licensed here in Haiti, to go smoothly and timely.


• Language learning – pray that we could continue to develop stronger in both French and Creole.


• That our love for the LORD may continue to grow, and that we may be kept pure and blameless, testifying to His grace, mercy, and love.
  
• That we may build strong relationships with our Haitian brothers and sisters, and share the love the Lord has first shared with us.

Thank-you for your partnership in the gospel, for your friendship and love.

May mercy and truth lead you this year.

Lodz (Randy)