Dec. 17th

Haitian Nativity I found in storage a few years ago.

The sun disappeared behind the clouds and soon to move below the mountains. Right now my Dad's family in Michigan should all be at my folks celebrating Christmas. One of those times one wishes for an instantaneous, cheap method of travel to zap one here and there.

Our day mostly consisted of cleaning and making some Christmas cookies. Good thing we doubled the recipe as it only made 1/2 as many cookies at stated. Guess our candy canes just turned out denser than they were meant to be. Taste OK but most will go into our Christmas bags of treats for the neighbors.

Anna took the cleaning to a whole different level than the rest of us. While Eli and Cory spent hours this afternoon creating civilizations and somehow interacting each on their own computer Anna and I sorted items from her room.

While we watched a Christmas video we sorted through a trunk of her old treasures. Our girl continues to grow up as seen by the 4 boxes of toys she decided to donate. One special toys and items no longer hold any appeal to her but the idea of other children getting a special bear or toy for Christmas brought a sparkle to her eyes and a smile to her face.

Last Sunday a young man between Sunday school and church took about 15 minutes to talk to those present about the need to protect the trees and prevent erosion. Andy attends Christian University of Northern Haiti, a private Christian four-year university on the other side of Limbe studying agriculture.

I thought when we chatted after church for a moment that he asked if he could talk to me for a few minutes after church on Sunday... well he just stopped by to confirm that I'm prepared to talk for 15 minutes tomorrow on health right before the church service starts. Well not exactly but I will be now that I understand.