Just wanted to let everyone know that we made it back to the USA. Our flights were all on time and uneventful. We actually arrived in Atlanta a full hour ahead of schedule with all of our luggage. We appreciate all the prayers that were offered up on our behalf.
It has been a few days now and we are getting used to be being here, I think. The obligatory trip to Wal-Mart was a bit overwhelming, not to mention the 3 hours I spent at an AT&T store getting cell phones for Elaine & I. You forget about the pace of life here. Everyone is going 100 MPH all the time. Oh well...
I will write more later.
Blessings,
Steve
Friday, August 29, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Between two worlds Part II
This past Friday, we left the town in Burkina that has been our home for the past four years to come here to the capital city, where we will fly out from. The days preceeding that were filled with visits from our friends wishing us farewell and lamenting the fact that we will be gone for almost a year. This was a very difficult time for everyone. I think the most difficult thing we did though was when we went down to the village of Savannah, and said our goodbyes there. Africans due not usually show emotion during these times, but there were many, including Andrew's older sister that were just outright crying. I thank the Lord that somehow, we have made an impression on people here. That through our witness, we have been able to show them the love of Jesus Christ. I pray that He will break the hearts of these stiff necked people, and that they would turn from their ways and follow Him.
I know that this is not about me or my family, but about the One who sent us here. We can do nothing without His power, His mercy, and His grace. I am just humbled that He has chosen to use us to bring His message to the Jula here in Burkina. And some Jula are responding. In fact just htis week, I heard from a co-worker of mine that lives in another city in Burkina that his teenage son led a young Jula man to the Lord! God is working.
In less 30 hours, we will board a plane that will take us to a city in North Africa, and then on to the US. We will make it back to Atlanta on the same day that we leave here. In some ways we are ready, but in many ways we are not. As I type this, Elaine is trying to recover from her latest run in with Malaria. There are times when I think about those that came before us in the days prior to air travel; when it took weeks and sometimes months to come back from their field of service. How did they do it?Next week at this time, we will be back in he land of plenty. I don't know if I am ready for that.
Please pray that our transition will be smooth. More later.
Stephen
I know that this is not about me or my family, but about the One who sent us here. We can do nothing without His power, His mercy, and His grace. I am just humbled that He has chosen to use us to bring His message to the Jula here in Burkina. And some Jula are responding. In fact just htis week, I heard from a co-worker of mine that lives in another city in Burkina that his teenage son led a young Jula man to the Lord! God is working.
In less 30 hours, we will board a plane that will take us to a city in North Africa, and then on to the US. We will make it back to Atlanta on the same day that we leave here. In some ways we are ready, but in many ways we are not. As I type this, Elaine is trying to recover from her latest run in with Malaria. There are times when I think about those that came before us in the days prior to air travel; when it took weeks and sometimes months to come back from their field of service. How did they do it?Next week at this time, we will be back in he land of plenty. I don't know if I am ready for that.
Please pray that our transition will be smooth. More later.
Stephen
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Between two worlds- Part I
It has been a long time since our last post...
Stephen was away for two weeks in a neighboring country attending seminary classes. Then the rest of the family joined him for the region's annual meeting for one more week. We are happy to report that the classes and the meeting went very well.
This week, we are in the process of packing up our house here in Burkina. Although we don't leave for the states for another 2 1/2 weeks, we have to move out of our house on Sunday, since they will be doing some much needed repairs to our home. We will move into a guesthouse here in Bobo for our final two weeks in Burkina.
The atmosphere in our home is kind of different right now; the packing and bare walls have driven home the point that we are leaving. Our African friends are sort of avoiding us as if they don't want to have to say goodbye for now. Emotionally, we are not ready to leave...this is our home now. We have built friendships and seen the Lord do so many amazing things in our almost four years here. We have experienced loss and also have really grown as a family. However, we also know that it is time ot return to the US for a while. There are things there that we need to do, people we need to see, and rest that we need to take. Lord willing, we will be bcak here in Burkina already this time next year.
Please remember to pray for us as we go through this very difficult transition.
Until next time.
Stephen (for the Habers)
Stephen was away for two weeks in a neighboring country attending seminary classes. Then the rest of the family joined him for the region's annual meeting for one more week. We are happy to report that the classes and the meeting went very well.
This week, we are in the process of packing up our house here in Burkina. Although we don't leave for the states for another 2 1/2 weeks, we have to move out of our house on Sunday, since they will be doing some much needed repairs to our home. We will move into a guesthouse here in Bobo for our final two weeks in Burkina.
The atmosphere in our home is kind of different right now; the packing and bare walls have driven home the point that we are leaving. Our African friends are sort of avoiding us as if they don't want to have to say goodbye for now. Emotionally, we are not ready to leave...this is our home now. We have built friendships and seen the Lord do so many amazing things in our almost four years here. We have experienced loss and also have really grown as a family. However, we also know that it is time ot return to the US for a while. There are things there that we need to do, people we need to see, and rest that we need to take. Lord willing, we will be bcak here in Burkina already this time next year.
Please remember to pray for us as we go through this very difficult transition.
Until next time.
Stephen (for the Habers)
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