HI Sunday PM at 7:30

Wow, what a week, what a day and since I have nothing else to do, I will give you final update on what is happening here, and our State contest.

Where ya from? What an intense battle between the big 3 up until this point between my home state of Indiana, my birth state of Michigan and my adopted state of Minnesota. After a big lead by Minnesota, the Hoosier folks came through to take the lead. Here are the totals. The question is, after the big 3, who is number 4? Can you guess without looking?

Indiana- 22
Michigan- 19
Minnesota- 17
Florida- 7
Washington state and California tied with- 5
Ohio- 4
Texas- 3 (thought everything was bigger in Texas)
With 2 votes- Alabama, Iowa and Canada

(Speaking of Canada, how do they beat anyone? They are like the attic for the United States. You forget it is there but when you go up there, you see some pretty neat stuff)

And with one vote each:
North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Georgia, Illinois, Colorado, New York, Israel, Scotland, Maryland, North Dakota, and Venezuela.
There you have it, you can only vote once, voting is still open until the end of the month, how do you like that? Five countries represented and 19 states....where are the other 31 states? Nobody from New England, what about Tennessee?

Final church: We had 925 people at church today and a wonderful service. We also had our 2nd baby dedication of 8 children. I gave a goodbye letting them know I was leaving for a couple weeks. I told them I was going to the states, but not going home. Home is right here in Haiti and I will miss my church family so much.

My family: The boys are sad to see me go but school starts tomorrow so that will keep them very busy. I miss two birthdays, Dearson and Manel, and am sad to miss them but will make it up to them. I have good leadership here at the house with Roger and Altimae plus the two women. Also 4 of our older boys have been put in position of leadership so things will be well covered. We will have a family meeting in a few minutes and go over last minute items.
Ministry house: As I told you, we rented a big house for groups. At first this was called the guest house, but as God is speaking to me, we are being led to use this for ministry when groups are not here. For example, neighborhood youth group in the yard, weekend staff retreat with staff, girl's leaders, Bible studies and much more.

A wonderful group of 20 from Kings Baptist in Florida just spent the week at our ministry house and they just loved it. What a great place for a group. We have beds for 22 there right now and could double that.

We have about 15 groups already scheduled for the rest of the year which leaves lots of weeks left. Please contact Linda Neal at heart4haiti@gmail.com and get on the schedule. No group is too small, and we can probably go to 30 or more if need be so come on down, see what God is doing, and assist us in this ministry and be Jesus in Haiti, for a week.

Leaving on a jet plane: Yes, at 6am Claudy takes me to American Airlines and by 9am I am on my way to the sunshine state, the Lord willing. The board has put me in a hotel to stay one night to get some rest before hitting the ground running in Ohio. I am so excited for the hotel and the AC and maybe even......................room service.

Of course I leave with mixed emotions, 30 or so kids who call me dad are left behind. A staff I love and trust so much, and a church family of over 900. Thrilled to be going home, anxious already to come back, figure that one out.

Final thought: This morning I got to church at 8am for a brief staff meeting before I leave. We finished by 8:30 and the staff was getting ready for Sunday School. A grocer that I know owed me some money from a cashed check and I knew he would be closed before I got there after church. I thought, I could buzz over, get the money and be back for church at 10. However I thought, this is not good, missing Sunday School to go get money, on a Sunday. But I did it, wasn't sure why.

After the 30 minute trip to pick up the money, it was on the way back, passing the garbage dump I saw 3 young men frantically waving me down. They said they missed the truck bringing the people to our church, and just prayed for God to provide a way there, although they had money...................and up drove Tom. They were so happy. I gave them a ride to church and we had a great talk all the way there. God knew.

There you have it, a partial report. By the way, my dear Christian friend from Venezuela said "viva la Hugo Chavez" as a joke, telling me I better not put that in my mass email, which of course, I won't. Good night all, I will keep you updated as reports come to me and may even have my staff send an update or two. Keep the love coming at me, to those around you, and to our God above. tominhaiti, soon to be tominthegoodoleusa.