Our journey from Grenada to MS

A pleasant good evening to each of you!

 

I realize many of you know all of this already, while some of you know little or nothing at all about this.  I'll try to briefly give you a praise & prayer report mixed together at one time.

 

Our family is moving to Mississippi.  We flew from Grenada on June 30, as planned, to Miami and then on to Philadelphia, PA, arriving there early July 1.  It was quite a mix of emotions and flurry of activities as we attended a school quizzing, packed suitcases, said goodbye's, had a rushed time trying to get through customs and on to our next flight after some airport delays, then saying hello to family in PA and settling in to catch a few winks of sleep before morning.  We felt God's grace carrying us through.

 

We enjoyed a few special days with family & friends..........

 then suddenly, things took a turn for me on July 5 as I got sick and I eventually ended up in the ER in a Lancaster hospital and late that night they did emergency surgery to remove my appendix.  We saw God's hand in it all, and are very thankful for God's timing and that this infection hadn't hit me a few days earlier while preparing to fly from Grenada

 

I was released from the hospital on July 6, and although I was still in a lot of pain it was good to be back with family.  Jen & I agonized over what to do next since our (nonrefundable) tickets for the flights to Mississippi were scheduled for July 8.  Finally, we decided that we think we can do it - with lots of help from family at both ends of the flights, and wheelchair assistance from Delta throughout.

 

Our flights went well, and we were so glad we decided to fly, although it was humbling to be so needy and having so many people help us throughout the day. Our children were real troopers, with Nicki & Caleb handling even our 50 lb suitcases at times.  Mississippi friends had prepared our house for us, gave us transportation, carried our suitcases, even brought us food for meals.  Saturday night our exhausted family was all in bed by 7 PM.

 

Sunday morning, we were privileged to attend Magnolia Church again - and were warmly welcomed.  Sunday afternoon Jen discovered that the incision from my appendectomy was oozing pus, and we noticed red around the incision.  Later on, we noticed that my whole abdomen was swollen, and so once again, we headed to the ER.

 

This time, it was a long, 3 hour wait through the night, but finally we were admitted and after more tests and scans they started IV antibiotics to fight the infection.  But Monday morning, the surgeon said that another surgery was necessary, so once again I was going through the process of preparing for surgery.

 

Thankfully, it went better than hoped for.  What we had expected to be nearly an hour long surgery lasted only 20 minutes or so.  By this afternoon, I was feeling much better - even better than I had ever since the 1'st surgery.  Hopefully the needle pricks and knife cuts are nearing the end - the doctor thinks with a couple more days of IV antibiotics I should be finished.

 

 

So there's the basic story.  What's much harder to know how to share about is all the blessings.  Miracles; like experiencing God's peace in the midst of uncertainty. Blessings of family & friends putting aside their schedules to help us out with children and transportation and food.  Blessings of encouragement from dozens of friends in countless ways from texts, prayers, calls, etc.  Friendships made with some of the nurses and staff even in our short time here. 

 

Although you'd think this time would be very traumatic for our children... (moving from friends & familiar to foreign & unfamiliar, mixed in with numerous car rides, train rides, plane rides, packing suitcases, unpacking suitcases, new faces, Dad's in the hospital, making new friends, Mom & Dad are gone, sleeping in different beds, etc. etc)  it actually seems to me that the children have not been too stressed or worried and are actually enjoying themselves immensely!  Praise God for answered prayers and for people who did special things with them!

 

I'm not sure what else to write, partially because I don't know what's next, and partially because I'm very tired again.  But I do know God holds tomorrow in his hands and I trust him to do all things well.

 

We ask that you praise God with us, and continue to pray for us. It feels like a long, long time since I left Grenada - yet, other than Saturday night, I still haven't been at "home".   Also, I realize that even when I finally reach "home", I won't be finished with the "long trip" -- many of the transitions will only start at that point!  Pray that God will give us strength and wisdom during the next months of transition.

 

Pray for our children.  Pray for Jen as she nears the end of pregnancy and faces the daunting tasks of "moving in".  Pray for the health of our unborn baby.  Pray for me; for healing, for wisdom in the many decisions of the days ahead.

 

Also, please pray for the Limes church.  The transition of staff leaving/coming has just begun there as well.  During the next month or so, all the missionary staff will change except for Dervin & Lydia Seibel  and Rhonda Stoltzfus.  They, and the Grenadian church members, will have lots of adjustments as different families come for short-term and four new school teachers come in August.  At this point, to my knowledge, there is still no one committed to come and serve as pastor.  

 

Thank you for your friendship & prayers.  God bless!

 

Marvin (for the Lapps)

 

June

Well, this was gonna be a quick update about a week before we came home, but obviously that didn't happen.  So, now, hold on as I scroll through our last month in Grenada.  

Before our one-week Crusade, we usually have a one-night crusade the Wednesday night before at the spot where the week long crusade takes place.  The youth lead us in a time of singing.

Brian Yoder's family came as the Crusade speaker this year.  We hosted them and had a lovely time together.  The church and community were blessed, encouraged, and challenged throughout the week and we praise God for the leading of His Spirit.

Nicki enjoyed Brian's girls, Elisa and Olivia.  She doesn't get 'girl time' very much so this was extra special for her.

"Hurry, mom, take a picture"!

Pastor Marvin leading the children's class one night during crusade.

Some of the Limes School students and teacher's blessing us with some singing.

Ethan and Shawn played and played.  They were sporting their new Grenada shirts.

Marvin can't help but get people's hands a little sticky.  All it takes is someone a little interested.  He loves doing bees!!!

We spent the Monday after crusade touring with Brian's.  Annandale Falls was more of a gush than a relaxing waterfall so we had to keep our eyes on the children as they swam.

Euran "Lapp" helping make cookies.

Our church and some community people had a hot dog roast by a beach one holiday afternoon.  Like usual, there were more people than hot dogs:)

Our neighbor man, Tanko, needed a drop at the hospital.  This is the emergency entrance.

Josh and Judy Neckle came as the OBMM rep. a few days after crusade finished.  We had a staff supper while they were here.

Marvin preached in Laura on Father's Day.  They had a 'pot luck' dinner planned and we had sweet fellowship.

We staff ladies started a tradition of going out to eat for birthday's.  Sharon Krabil's birthday was soon coming and we wanted to do this before I left.  The lady on the Left is Josh Neckle's wife, Judy.

While walking around, we got caught in the pouring rain.

Danny playing cricket with the children.

Mom entertaining the children while we packed:)

Conrad found a friend.  It's fun to watch the children play with God's wonderful creatures.....as long as they keep them outside:)

I'm lacking for a good comment for this crazy picture.

And then it was time to start packing:) and the final good bye's:(

Our children enjoyed singing for Leroy and Eugie.


My (Jen) mother came June 26 and helped take care of the children as we packed. She's standing beside me.  I'm not sure what I would have done without her help.  This was the last cottage meeting before we flew on Friday (June 30).

After the cottage meeting, the church had a farewell planned for our family.  The food was special, and the fellowship was sweet. Oh how we will pray for our church family in Grenada.

It's tradition for friends to stop by and visit the families that are terminating the night before they leave.  Sammy, Dervin, Euran, and Marvin had their last rook game that night.

Euran, we miss you and pray for you!  We love you!

Danny, Shawn said, "if my kite breaks, I won't get any more kites"!  We miss you and pray for you!

So, Friday June 30, was the day scheduled to fly.  We knew it was gonna be quizzing day and wondered how it would all go.  The children had fun quizzing and at 12:50, Nicki finished her final quiz, ran to the house, changed, and ................

we left for the airport.

There's our plane!

Good bye's aren't fun or easy.  We left with such mixed emotions.  Thank -you God for the gift of so many opportunities and friends we made and for the church family that we could call 'ours'.  We pray for you!

Mom and Dad Lapp welcomed us at the Philly airport early Sat. morning.


  Our time in Grenada seems like a dream, yet it seems like we lived there a long time and it was home.  Thank you for praying for us.  You don't need to stop praying for us!  We still look to Jesus as our Rock, Shepherd, and Father and look forward to seeing Him face to face one sweet day.

Here's your sign! (that you're in Grenda)

This post idea started in my mind many moons ago... originally was just thinking I should post a collection of interesting signs that can only be seen in Grenada.  Anyway, I've veered off course quite a bit from that idea - but here are some pictures of things (signs & otherwise) that probably have little value, but I've found interesting for various reasons.  Enjoy my collection...

Marvin

Probably only people from good ole' Lancaster county might know why this sign occasionally makes me homesick for Gap, PA.

So, one day I was struggling trying with some computer/internet issues - when up popped this error code!  I've seen a lot of error codes in my life, but never one quite as helpful as this. :-)  What could I do other than click OK?

The window glare makes this a bit difficult to read, but I think you might be able to understand the candid, "say it like it is" approach that is so common here in Grenada.  This is on the door to IGA, one of the largest grocery stores here.  I just wish people would actually read and obey the signs!

And some more good, practical advice - mostly unheeded.

You might think our gas station looks, well, "normal", but it's actually "way out"

For that matter, our airport is really "WAY OUT"!  (or maybe the small man is)

 Now we know why people drive like they do...

And last but not least, this isn't actually a Grenada sign - but my wife's life motto. :-)  (If you see me with a black & blue eye, you'll know that my wife read this blog...)

That's all for now...

May

Here's a little picture review on our lives in the month of May.  And, since we are posting the May update, that means that it is now June and our departure is June 30th.  The month of June will be a week of crusade, which starts Sunday, June 4, a week of deputation (when a board member comes and interviews staff) right after crusade, Mom Schrock coming to help the last week, and then the final good byes and packing.  We really don't know how to prepare for something like this but we do know that God will carry us each step of the way.  Thank-You Jesus!!!!

Jesse, Ashley, Debbie, and Hannah came the end of April and stayed til the first of May.  Ashley is Mr. Brent's sister, Jesse is her boyfriend  (turned fiance while they were here..Congratulations!!) from Hillsville, VA, Debbie is a dear friend of ours from Hillsville, VA, and Hannah is a friend to all.  

Mr. Russel is a friend of Marvin's and our family went to sing for him one day.

The Terre Hill Seniors came May 4th and stayed 'til May 11th.

These are some of the projects the Limes Terre Hill group helped with.

Carmel helped make split pea soup for the Limes and Laborie groups one afternoon.  It was a very yummy pot, but you can only imagine how the bus looked after transporting this pot over all the speed bumps on the way to Quarantine Point.

This was a highlight to all of us as we sat and ate snow ice and talked about our day and got into some good discussions..

One of the projects for the Terre Hill girls was cleaning our house and these little children wanted to help.

Singing at Grand Anse Nursing Home. (the girls spent a day cleaning here)

Saying good-bye to new friends.  This is the Limes Terre Hill group with us & Dervin's.

For Mother's Day, the men made a snack for us after church in the evening.  What a yummy treat!  Thank you guys! They even cleaned up afterwards!

And these were the special gifts I got from my dear children on Mother's day.  I'm enjoying foot and back rubs, cleaner bedrooms, and other extra jobs being done:)

Morgan turned 3 on May 21.  She's really enjoyed her birthday this time and loved all the gift bags and special gifts from her siblings and Grandparents.

A prayer for Pastor Conhi as he shared the message with us on Sunday morning.

 Marvin planned a beach outing with Dunber one Tuesday, but Dunber wasn't feeling well enough to go out, so the guys spent some time singing and sharing together instead.  As you will see later, the beach day with Dunber did happen that Friday.

 A young boy came to ask questions about the Mennonites.  He had some really good questions which Marvin appreciated, and then somehow the discussion turned into a Math class. :-)

 A Grenadian man makes these hats.  Shawn asked for a picture.

 Here's the fearsome fivesome on beach day.  Marvin, Sameem, Euran, Danny, & Dunber.

After the swim, Sameem led out in a time of singing.

Euran had some vacation time, so he & Marvin spent several days working (playing) with their bees. 

Somehow I missed taking any pictures of our last visitors, Valerie Diem and Rachel Miller.  Valerie was Mr. Brent's girlfriend (turned fiance while they were here..Congratulations!!) and Rachel is our Niece.  In case you are wondering, Mr. Brent and his sister, Ashley, both got engaged while in Grenada within the last month.  Just be careful if you bring your dating friends to Grenada:)

This is our Grenada family.  We are so Blessed!!!  Pray for Pastor Dervins (on the right) and Rhonda (pink dress) as they are the only Limes missionary staff staying for the next year.  We are gonna miss this group!