"Sympathy is no substitute for action” David Livingstone
I opened the cards people sent to us and I received the following Quote: "You have to leave the city of your comfort and Go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover will be yourself" - Alan Alda
I appreciate so much the support and the encouragement of those who sent cards, prayer and gifts so this mission is more about 'US' as church community coming together to give and share our hearts than it is about 'us', five individuals out on our own completely out of our element. And Believe me we are out of our element.
To begin with, last night it rained on us while we were on the roof. So we picked up our mattresses an brought them under the porch, wet and hot. Which is just the way the mosquitoes like it. Erin, Jennifer and steve got eaten up, while Abbie and Tony are still bit free.
Today, about 3 pm we're going to John Charles for church tomorrow so I'll be off line probably. We still plan to try and call during Sunday School to Matt Young, so
Abbie & Kervenson
![IMG_3078[1]](http://www.stevegedon.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMG_30781.jpg)
Today we played with the boys, Abbie played Soccer and Erin an Jennifer played with chalk. The boys got created and found a new use for chalk we never thought of before. What do you think of their creativity?
![IMG_3074[1]](http://www.stevegedon.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMG_30741.jpg)
Because we didn't get a lot of sleep last night, we've been kind of dragging all morning, playing with the boys and getting ready for our trip. Sometimes, though, even the best adventurers just need to crash. Tony needed some time away from the action to regenerate.
Well that should just about do it for now. Waddles has been right here with us, sharing the adventure and the stories. Last night we pulled out the portable DVD players and watched the movie "Happy Feet" which everyone enjoyed. We miss you all and Waddles can't wait to share his experiences with you too. ![IMG_3093[1]](http://www.stevegedon.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMG_30931.jpg)
From all of us to all of you: We're in this together as one Body. 
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…sorry about the rain…that is not something you have encountered during the previous three trips…perhaps that is because you were there in February.
…I would say that the rain was designed to “wash you clean” but I am not sure that the mosquitos “sucking your life’s blood from you” is intended as part of the process.
What about the mosquito repellent spray and wipes? Both might help, might they not?
Sounds to me like the climate is more of a challenge and concern than you have faced and dealt with in the past. Might that be because you are there in March rather than February?
Let’s see…how can we be optimistic in the midst of this? Not that you want to be but let’s try…1) the mosquitos choose the sweetest of all six of you for their meals; sorry Tony, Mom Barb, and Abbie and 2) none of the ten plagues visited upon the Egyptians by God are “plaguing” you…hey, locusts and frogs might be a smidgen worse than the mosquitos.
Two possible solutions to the itching of the mosquito bites:
1) Warm a regular spoon under hot water and then place the back of the spoon on the bite; the heat will destroy the protein that caused the reaction and the itching will stop
2) Take your stick deodorant and rub it on the mosquito bite; the contents of the deodorant solution will stop the itching.
Sounds like my prayers need to be centered on silence and rest for each and all of you as well as an uplifting and invigorating of your hearts as God holds you and smiles into your hearts reminding you that “His grace is sufficient,” that He so loves and is so proud of each of you whom He knows, no matter what, is “His good and faithful servants,” and that He is ever-present, ever-protective, and ever-sustaining of you.
Keep the Cross ever-present and ever-near…and ward-off your feelings of discouragement and exhaustion with your sense of purpose, your determination, your perseverance, and your faith in and belief that “you can do all things through Christ Who strengthens you.”
Keep moving forward, not backward; and keep trusting in God’s purpose and reasons; and remember “It is often in our darkest hour that the Light of God’s Presence shines brightest.”
…remember, “Where two or more are gathered in My name, there shall I be also.”
Numbers 6:24-26…and…in our prayers…
Give Waddles a hug for me.
Did you ever stop to think, referencing your anxiousness that you shared with us in your first Haiti entry, that the need to be vigilant stems not so much from the external but from the internal…from demoralizing and de-energizing events such as mosquitos and rain and exhaustion that causes a lack of desire as well as a lack of passion and determination to “Go” and preach the Good News and to be as was Paul, no matter his physical circumstance, “God’s salt and light.”
Be optimistic…no matter what…fight the negative with the positive…no matter how hard it might be…find something good in everything, every event that happens…find something good in the bad…keep a smile in your heart and on your face…and remember what is said about the way that Joseph’s brothers treated him, especially when they threw him in the pit…”What man intended for bad, God intended for good.”
…something good in everything…remember that along with…a smile in your heart and on your face…
Numbers 6:24-26…in our prayers,…
…if He doesn’t mind and if you will understand why…
…from God and on God’s behalf, my words to each of you and to all of you…
DON’T YOU DARE GIVE UP and DON’T YOU DARE GIVE IN!!!!!!!
Remembering all of you in prayer. Asking God to transform your lives even as you are being used to change the lives of others. I love you all!
Do you know how thankful we are for each and for all of you…how proud of and blessed because of each and all of you we are?
You are serving; you are doing; you have gone because Christ said, “Come” and because He said, “Go”…and you have…”in search of Him,” you have…in order to discern His purpose for your lives by looking into the eyes and the hearts of orphans and fellow sojourners in the Faith, you have..
Do you know how thankful we are for each and for all of you; how proud of and blessed because of each and all of you we are?
“…I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.” [Romans 1:8}
…thank you, Abbie, Erin, Jennifer, Mom Barb, Tony, and Pastor Steve…Numbers 6:24-26…in our prayers…