Pray for Haiti 2010.5

Sorry for the long delay between updates.  As you can imagine life has been busy both at home in Florida and in Haiti.  Each one of us in the Hopp family give thanks for the strength God has given during our frequent separations of the past months.  We are eagerly anticipating the birth of Hopp number 4 but also the chance to be together as a family for an extended period of time.

As I write this I (Ben) am in Haiti with Team Haiti 2010 from southern California.  We are spending 10 days here conducting Vacation Bible Schools at 3 churches on Lagonav.  The team gives thanks for the unusually cool weather so far.  You can tell from the expressions on the kids faces that they have enjoyed themselves.  We are grateful for a chance to communicate the gospel truths to these young kids at Plenn Mapou, Gran Lagon and Doglas.

Back on the home front things are also busy.  With the last month of the pregnancy in progress Heather's energy is waning and the uncomfortableness is increasing.  The kids are keeping busy.  Though the weather in Florida is very hot they still enjoy riding their bikes and getting out to the beach.  Both the Florida Aquarium and more recently Mote Marine have been favorites.

As you think of us over the next couple months here are some prayer items.  We will be sure to send out an e-mail when the baby arrives.  You can also keep updated on the blog.  Information on joining is in the signature below.         Pray for a safe arrival of baby Hopp due to make his/her entrance in late July.

•         Ask God to watch over both the Kaliko home and guest house on Lagonav while Ben is away from Haiti through late August.
•         Praise for the recent success during three Vacation Bible Schools on Lagonav at Plenn Mapou, Gran Lagon and Doglas.  Pray that the children would be reminded of the truths they have learned over the summer and put them into practice.
•         Entreat the Lord for a quiet hurricane season.  There has been lots of rain lately and this brings more suffering for those living in the many tent cities of Port-au-Prince.  Pray also for the international community and Haitian government to begin to actually help those in need.
•         Ask the Lord to raise up candidates to join the Hopp family - both missionary evangelists and a missionary deacon.
•         Please pray for Ben's grandfather Willi as the doctors recently discovered a large aneursym and will operate soon.  Ask God to work in his heart so that his future might be secure in Jesus.
•          Pray for both physical healing and the Spirit to work in Jony.  We met him at the Gran Lagon church in April and prayed for him.  He has epilepsy as well as a drinking problem.  The whole situation is made more difficult by the fact that his father is an oungan or Voodoo witch doctor.  Pray that Jony might be delivered from all these difficulties and that he might be faithful in attending the church so he can hear the gospel from week to week.
• Ask God to be with Ben on his final trip before the family vacation to the OPC General Assembly in Chicago.  He will be making various presentation to the GA and churches in the area.  Pray for strength for Heather and the kids as Ben is away.