NeesNews2005

Last week Dave and Evan traveled together to Cap Haitien to photograph and video the distribution of "Christmas Bags for Haiti". This was Evan's first time staying overnight in Haiti, and it was a humbling experience for him. He was able to see what true poverty is, and to see the childlike faith of the Haitian people and those that work with them. The children were adorable and so excited! They waited patiently for their teachers to say that they could open up their bags, and then some actually stuffed their heads inside the bags to see what was in there. A total of about 6,000 bags were prepared and delivered throughout the schools and orphanages in the Cap Haitien area, reaching and teaching many about the love of Christ during this Christmas season. If you or your church would like to be involved in "Christmas Bags for Haiti" in the future, please see the MFI website for more information.

Our Thanksgiving Day was different this year than ever before. A very special young man arrived early in the morning looking for a very special young lady. When they returned from a brief trip to the nearby park, Mark and Kira were engaged to be married! Mark is the younger of the two DeRosa young men that you've heard us talk so much about. We met Mark and his family almost exactly two years ago at a Christian Heritage Conference in Plymouth, Massachusetts. They were there with their exciting fossil displays to talk about the field of Creation Science. We have been blessed to watch the Lord working in both Mark and Kira's lives over the last two years, preparing them for this very moment. It is their desire to remain focused on their Creation ministry as long as the Lord leads. We are so pleased and look forward to watching them go forth boldly together, with their eyes fixed on their Savior, proclaiming Truth to all they meet.

This past week we were privileged to attend and photograph the unveiling of a testimony to God's judgment - a fully restored Allosaur skull. This is only the fourth complete Allosaur skull in the world, and it is awesome to behold. The DeRosas believe and teach that Ebenezer "God's Allosaur" was buried quickly and fossilized as a result of Noah's Flood. We are thrilled to be a part of their ministry, especially Miss Kira, who had the joy of helping to restore this mighty creature.

Hi everyone!!

Daddy had a great day today, visiting the 2 missions I told you about last night. There are so many wonderful Christian servants here. Though I'm very glad tomorrow is my return flight, I'm also thankful to have come back to Haiti for a short visit, and to spend time with Bob and Barbara Ramsey. They have been so gracious. I also love listening to the joyful singing going on at the church next door. They do it every evening. The sounds of Haiti, even amidst such poverty, is also often so joyful as to be truly humbling. For those here who are IN Christ, the joy of the Lord IS their strength. I pray that my photographs, and OUR (not just MY) work for MFI in communicating how His work is being done in Haiti, will be honoring to Him.

Yesterday Pastor Saintil told me his church baptised 40 new believers a few weeks ago. He is such a loving and joyful man - it wasn't boasting in himself, but in rejoicing in how our Lord is blessing the obedient teaching of the Gospel in Haiti. He said he would be coming to the US again at some point in the next few months, and visiting his brother's families. I pray that all of you may be able to meet Pastor Saintil, perhaps if we go to his brother's Haitian church in Tampa while he's there.

With regards to coming home tomorrow, unfortunately I'm going to be VERY late in arriving. Since yesterday's 2 flights included cargo that had to go to Port-au-Prince (since it didn't go last Thusday), tomorrow is a regular Port day again. With a work team going up to Pignon, but very little Cap cargo coming in, they're only taking N300MF tomorrow. They'll come to Cap, clear the work team through customs, go up to Pignon, drop the team, then go Port to drop that regular cargo, THEN come back to Cap to get me and 9 outbound passengers. The ETA in Cap is 3 pm, which means Palm Beach arrival at about 7 pm. I won't be able to head home after clearing customs and getting a ride to the minivan, at about 8 pm. That means about 12:30 or so getting home. Sorry!

I love you all and miss you! Please pray for Daddy tomorrow - see y'all
later!

Love,
Daddy

Tonight was a rare night for us, with everyone home having some 'family time'. Evan built us a roaring campfire.

Life for us has a new flavor here in Crystal River. Dave has found a couple of part-time jobs, Kira is off to the lab, and the rest of us are just trying to figure out which box is hiding the last of the homeschooling supplies. This week there was a family here from New Zealand to visit the DeRosas and Kira was able to assist in taking them on a Peace River Dig. Her other tasks include office and computer work, grant writing, hospitality, and bone restoration. Evan is also starting to spend some time in the lab. His main job is sorting out Peace River fossils. It's fun and educational! The first photo is Evan sifting the sand around the Allosaur's lower jaw bones. The next photo is Kira and Mark DeRosa opening a 'package' containing Allosaur neck vertebrae.

We are excited to announce that we have (finally!) moved to Crystal River, Florida! It is a modest home, but the yard is nice and we continue to see "little" blessings popping up all around us since moving here. Kira is thrilled to be less than a mile away from the Creation Expeditions lab restoration facility and has been working there almost every day since our arrival. Both Evan and Caleb are having a wonderful time playing outside and getting really dirty! IrisAnne (other than being thankful that her brothers can go outside so they aren't on top of her!) is just happy to be settled in and hanging-out with Mommy.

Thank you all for your prayers and may the Lord Jesus bless you and your family in every way!

September 10, 2005

Here are some photos from an MFI/Hobe Sound Bible Church trip to Alabama and Louisiana for Hurricane Katrina relief. The middle one in the second row is Dave - on the job taking photos. They flew back on Sunday and we spent the balance of the afternoon quickly putting together a PowerPoint presentation to be shown that evening at Hobe Sound Bible Church. After some testimonies and the showing of the presentation, the church took up an offering and raised another $15,000 for hurricane relief. That was enough to cover the expenses of the trip, and plan for at least two more. Praise God for His provision in reaching out to these hurting people!

This Labor Day we traveled to Jacksonville for a party commemorating the one year anniversary of Scott Thomas' accident. We spent the afternoon with about 50 of Scott's family and friends who came to support him. We then added photos from the party to the website we have designed for him and his mom. High points of the party included: seeing Scott's face light up as he greeted the special people in his life, watching him enjoy eating some cake, and listening as his doctor worked with him to find new ways for him to communicate more clearly.