Dear friends,

I have always considered it an honor by God to be given the title of "poppy" for Manel, Claudy, Tito, Shadrach, Dearson, Matthew, Sonson, Jay, Steven, Sonal, Jony, Peterson, Addrianno, Ricardo and Maxim. A few of the older boys have moved out and we are down to this group, plus Mommy Tia, Stephanie and her daughter, Roger and Altimae, 20 in all.

Being the one responsible, the parent, I see what you don't. I get to deal with the problems, the complaints, the laziness and all the fun stuff you deal with when you have kids, mostly teenagers.
Seeing the teenage side of them, sometimes makes me forget what a great bunch of young people God has blessed me with.

Yesterday I went to town and Dearson, Shadrach, Sonson and Tito went with me. It is about a 6 hour ordeal, 2 hours going, 2 hours shopping, 2 hours back. As soon as we left, I started a Bible question game. This went on for most of the 6 hours nonstop. We had so much fun naming the 10 commandments; books of the Bible, naming prophets, people mentioned that weren't named, miracles, names of God and so much more.

At one point, Tito said Bible was a name of God. The boys just roared. For 15 minutes they laughed at that answer. They asked him if God's first name was Holy. However, I was thinking, if Tito ever took this case before Judge Judy, he could use John 1:1 and actually have a leg to stand on.

I see the boys load the truck with the sound system, unload it at church, load it back up to bring home to unload, every week for 4 years.

I see them playing soccer with the boys in the dump, on broken glass, empty cans and trash.
I watch them lovingly and tenderly play with the orphans at the Good Samaritan orphanage.
They help me with kids clubs in the villages.

I actually catch them reading their Bible when they don't "have" to. I hear Claudy ask about being a pastor, and then others this week talk about that. I see them help with our younger boys, feeding, bathing and playing with them.

I was thinking how blessed I am. I was thinking that these guys really are becoming ministers of the Gospel. These are young men who will change Haiti for Christ.

I also want to thank the hundreds of you who have poured into my families lives. While here, then with emails, phone calls, gifts, and prayer.

I have no idea how this will all turn out, or what they will be doing in 10 years but I am confident that as Philippians 1:6 says "being confident that He who has begun a good work in you, will continue it until the day of Jesus Christ." These young people are the ones who will continue the good work, no matter what vocation they are called to, no matter where they are. They are the future of our ministry, of our church.

I am blessed to be called "poppy" by so many. They make me proud to be their dad and thankful that 11 years ago I answered the call, to come to Haiti. FOR GOD SO LOVED HAITI, HE SENT ME......................and I am very grateful I was chosen. Thank you Lord, may I be worthy of the call you have put on my life. tominhaiti