We started sending monthly updates in late summer of 1995, so we know we have mentioned the following before, but we also feel we should never lose sight of what all of us are doing.

Christmas in Haiti is absolutely nothing as we know it in the United States. In the cities there are decorations. We know there are some people who have money, and their children are considered privileged. But in the villages, if you see any decoration they are in the form of brightly colored crepe paper or plastic flowers hanging in a church. An actual Christmas tree is unheard of; some think of them as no more than idols. So what you do takes on even more importance at this time of the year.

The money given for teacher salaries doesn’t just support a person. Odds are they have their own family, a set of parents and possibly a brother and sister living with them too. This year, because of your giving, each teacher will receive an extra $100 to help with Christmas, food, or whatever they want to use it for.

The feeding programs feeds more than just children; it also includes all the adults who gather the things needed to run the program, as well as those who act as “crowd control” and pass out food. They need to eat as well. This year, thanks to what you have provided, there will be extra meals at each place for Christmas for everyone.

This year, instead of sugar plums dancing in your heads, we hope the thoughts of what you have provided over the past year will be a blessing to you. For another year you have made a very big difference in the lives of so many.

Merry Christmas,

Steve and Terry

PS. In Terry’s last appointments most of her counts were okay. I say okay because they are just above the low normal. The concern now is the level of her immune globulin which is very low, Since this is the first line of defense against infection, doctors will more than likely start injections to raise that level.

As a family and ministry we have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. We have been grateful in past Thanksgivings, but not quite like this one. It seems Terry is on the road to recovery; her energy is slowing coming back and some days it seems like she is stronger than the day before. I am having problems letting her do things, although I know she does them when I am gone.

She is still having to take a “maintenance” drug (Revlimid, for those wanting to look it up) and it has a lot of side effects, but nothing like what she had to go through during the winter. So, we are thankful for that and for all of you who have helped. It has been just that: a very big help. The prayers and cards have been a blessing to both of us.

Her next appointment is in December. Then, at some point during winter 2016 there will be more bone marrow testing and we’ll know for sure then, so pray for those.

The ministry has been blessed as well and in many ways. It seems so long ago since we spent Thanksgiving in Haiti the first time and at the same time, it seems the time has gone by so quickly. But then 1995 WAS a long time ago.

Haiti is in the middle of more political unrest but this is nothing new is it? Elections have been delayed over and over, and next year they will elect a new president. Hopefully this time it will be someone more in tune with what the country needs. We can say during the current President’s watch there has been very little happen, and in fact during the primary elections last week there weren’t any problems at all. The have just 50 people running for the office of President.

It was also a very quiet hurricane season there, as it was here, and that a very big blessing for everyone. All of the schools are operating as they should and the feeding programs are as well That is because of you.

Terry and I pray your Thanksgiving is filled with blessings. We hope some of those blessings are thoughts of how you have helped our friends in Haiti through one more year.

Steve and Terry