And they’re off!

Heading to the ‘outer states’ as Braden (almost 4) calls the United States…

Here is a picture of the family on the airplane waiting to leave Port au Prince for Miami (taken from Rob’s Facebook Page).

Early Monday morning Rob, Becky and the kids headed off to Port au Prince to the Airport. Leaving Haiti for three months, they are on furlough (known in RMI as Home Assignment) and will be traveling across much of the eastern part of the US. While furlough means three months away from daily life and ministry in Haiti it is not simply a time of vacationing and relaxation. While there will be some time to relax and rest, they will also be visiting supporters, visiting a few churches, spending some time in the Florida office, and taking care of personal business, visiting doctors and shopping to restock on clothes and household items. It will be a busy time in deed!

Rob will still be receiving/sending email and phone calls about people’s SC partnership questions and issues. He’ll still be on the job and able to communicate with the field, research projects, and answer questions.

They can both be reached on Rob’s cell phone at 239-728-8083.

Their latest e-newsletter contains more information about their travels and specific ways you can pray for them while they are in the US (click on the image to be directed to the site.)

Remember to pray for Rob and Becky and the kids as they travel (more than 5616 miles!) and visit with supporters, family, and friends. Pray for Gary and Marilyn who head out tomorrow for three months as well as for all the staff left back on the field who will be continuing to work and receive teams during this period of time.

We miss them already!

2012 Missionary Ladies’ Retreat

Every year, RMI “puts on” a retreat for all the missionary ladies at our Retreat Center. This was the second year in a row that RMI missionary, Amy Long and I, planned RMI’s Ladies Retreat. This year was more special for both of us: it felt more relaxed and we really got to enjoy the retreat a lot more. I think it’s because it was the second time we’ve planned it, we had a better feel for how our responsibilities were going to be divided up in preparation. Overall, it just went smoother! And that made it a lot more enjoyable for both of us. The weather was great and you can’t get a better location than the RMI Retreat Center!

This year we had 34 Missionary Ladies attend the retreat. It was a great turnout and really encouraging as we had a good representation of many different ages, many different ministries, and many different stages of life. Here is our group all together!

Our speakers this year were Gale Kernitz and Sheila Clark. I had not met either woman before the retreat, but they both attended our church in Arlington Heights, IL, The Orchard, when we lived there and Rob was a pastor there. They came highly recommended and they did not disappoint! Our theme was “Running on Empty, Filled to the Full” and the key scripture for the weekend was Ephesians 3:19 “… that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” [ESV] Gale spoke wonderful, timely messages from God’s Word on being filled with the Holy Spirit from Ephesians. Sheila worked in some great application and we practiced finding God’s declarations of who we are in Christ before we explored His commands. The whole weekend was food for my weary soul!

Here’s Gail and Sheila stuffing our folders for the retreat!

Amy worked really hard to plan an extra special menu. The first night we had an extra special meal, with pretty table settings. She and another girl, Alisha, made some pretty corsages. Sheila organized a special craft that was a huge hit with the ladies: we decoupaged journals! No retreat would be complete without games including the world’s largest game of “Catch Phrase.” (And nothing can bring more laughs than native Germans playing Catch Phrase in English!) Over all, it was a fun weekend of fellowship, fun, relaxation and deep time in God’s Word!

Here are some pictures of our fun!

~Becky

Happy Birthday Gary McLaughlin…

To a man I have learned much from. To a man who loves the Haitian people. To a man who loves to serve... Happy Birthday Gary.

Here is Gary, right where he loves to be… with the Haitian people…

Let’s be honest, he does like to sit around and do nothing
(if you know Gary, you will know that this couldn’t be further from the truth)…