Blessed by Friends

 Our first overnight visitors since before evacuating Feb. 2019.

Dr. Bob and Marcia loaded the 4-wheeler on the boat, crossed the sea early from LaGonave to the mainland; loaded it on a truck; were dropped off on the dirt road and then drove for hours up the bumpy mountain road to visit us.

Earlier on Sat. Pastor Clotaire visited, dropping off our renewed residential visas and insurance for the land cruiser, and a big bag of dog food he bought on our request.

So very thankful for his help!

We spent a bit of time on the requested short garden tour for a first time visitor and then they left to visit other land in the area.

We anxiously watched the darkening sky and fog moving in while praying that Bob and Marcia would make it up alright. 

Many locations on the road up do not have phone service.

As soon as they arrived we enjoyed a late lunch and then the weather deteriorated. 

So we enjoyed the afternoon visiting, starting a puzzle, and a quick glance at the gardens at dusk.

We enjoyed Dr. Bob's guitar playing throughout the weekend. 

Sunday morning we headed off for worship at the Agape House.

Returning home we did some cooking for a Thanksgiving meal together: chicken, stuffing, cream corn, pumpkin pie, fudge..... actually we had the pie in the afternoon being to full at noon.

Another cool, rainy afternoon kept us inside reading, finishing the puzzle, playing a game, naps, and enjoying the fellowship.

Having a couple days without sun means out solar panels do not charge our battery system.

Cory decided to see if our small Honda generator would work. 

It had not be run the last couple of years, not since Cory worked on it following some water in the gas.

Thankfully it worked so we were able to have lights and internet at night and in the early morning hours. 

Checking out some of the apple trees.

Normally at 6 p.m. on Sundays we try to connect by phone with the folks on LaGonave for a bit of worship songs and prayer. 

What a blessing to be able to worship in person with Dr. Bob and Marcia!

Monday morning we saw the sunshine! 

After breakfast we headed out for a garden tour and for some harvesting, collecting of plant starts.

Leaving Cory behind Fritz and I walked with them up to the plantation and the fort.

We watched a pair of owls for a while at the plantation. 

The fall air warmed up rapidly. 

The view from the fort was unusually clear, so rarely visible mountain ranges could be made out far in the distance.

Back to the house for filling of water bottles, packing up of the fresh produce and bags.

And then we sent them off with prayer!

We cannot adequately express how blessed it makes us feel when friends make the big effort to come up to visit us at Délice.

Now our attention turns to packing and preparing the place for our absence. 

Looking forward to family time with the older kids.