After a very hectic week, we are home! Home for now means Jacksonville, NC, and the fast paced, hurried life we knew in Haiti has slowed down – but, not without being close to the point of exhaustion.

Last Thursday, we flew out on an old DC-3 Cargo plane. We had tickets to fly out on American Airlines on Monday, but American wasn’t flying due to the Pandemic. Fortunately, thanks to MFI (Missionary Flights, International), we were allowed to fly to Ft. Pierce, FL, with them. The cold, noisy cargo plane that was used to fly in WW-2 may as well have been a magic carpet ride. We were so ready to get back to the States to see family and friends! The possibility of not flying arose when Immigration raised a red flag and we started fervently praying for a flight out. Finally, obtaining permission to fly, we were all too happy to be aboard to make our way back to Florida.

Thursday evening, we spent the night at the brand new quarters of the MFI Hospitality Park. We and several other missionaries were the first guests ever and were treated like royalty with a lasagna supper and other fixings, plus we had fun getting to the know the staff there. Early the next morning, we took a 70 mile trip to the West Palm Beach Airport where we flew out to Atlanta. Due to mechanical failures, our plane to Jacksonville was stalled. After spending a few hours in the Atlanta airport, we finally caught the flight to Jacksonville and an Uber brought us home. Talk about weary sojourners! Our house feels like a brand new home every year when we return. Being home is better than Christmas! This was the point where I should be writing…..”And, we are finally rested up…” 

After returning to Jacksonville on Friday afternoon, we arose the next morning and drove for over two hours to attend the funeral of one of the dearest and most precious saints who ever lived. Our longtime friend, Myrtle Wickham, passed away in her sleep last Tuesday.  Prit and I were allowed to say a few words at her funeral – of the years she spent working with us in Haiti and of all the answered prayers which we knew took place because Myrtle was praying. To say she will be sorely missed is an understatement, but we take comfort in celebrating a life well-lived. Goodbye dear friend, prayer partner, and  mother of Israel until we meet again.