16th Nov. Did you know??

OK did you know that Cory is a great packer?!?

Really-he has learned over the years to not only fit a lot of stuff in a small place but he is so careful that it is rare that anything breaks. What a great skill for a missionary to have!

Often when we're in the USA and our 'To-be-packed" pile is growing our parents will ask if all that is going to fit. Now generally we do leave a few things for them to bring when they come in January but most items are carried back to Haiti by us.

How good is Cory? Following retreat even the other missionaries having seen the back of the truck were doubting that there was room for the 26 date palms that were waiting at the boat dock for pick up.

I didn't doubt him because I knew that he had been disappointed in August when the boat didn't come with the trees. Also I know that it takes more than 26 trees to make Cory drive back the 7 hours of rough roads and if the trees didn't make this trip it would be a long wait.

Well as you can see in the pictures, everything found a place, the tarp kept the dust off and nothing broke.

Well we did have one scary moment. We had stopped in Gonainves at the Pastor's mothers house for a bathroom break, to drop off 3 trees, pick up some seeds and a letter. Not all of the items end up in the back of the truck-pillows, Gameboys, computers, important paperwork and so on are packed in around people in the front.

A while after our stop I realized in horror that my computer was no longer between my leg and the door. I remembered handing it to Cory when we stopped and then hadn't gotten it back!!!!!

He had casually put it behind the back window by the trees. When I thought of the bumpy, teeth jarring roads we had just passed my heart sunk. OH....NO!!!!!!

I thank the Lord that the computer was still sitting here. Not tied down. Nothing at all to keep it from sliding sideways and onto the roadway. Just perched on top of the load by the trees like a cherry on top of a ice cream sundae.

It took a while for my nerves to calm down.

Thanks for praying for us and our stuff!

Tomorrow Nov. 17th Cory, Chris and Kathleen plan to make a fast trip to the DR-so that Sloans can cross the boarder before their visitor visas [good for 3 months] run out on Friday.

Returning to Haiti should get them another 3 months.