Yes, it's been a summer to remember! 

We left Haiti in mid June during an outbreak of Chikungunya Fever that quickly spread from other Caribbean islands to the Dominican Republic and then across the border to Haiti. Some of you may be hearing about this mosquito-born viral illness that means “contorted in pain.” Although not generally as fatal as Ebola or Dengue Fever, it can cause fever, severe aches and pains, weakness, and rash.

Before leaving Haiti, we became well acquainted with “Chik Fever” as many of our friends and co-workers fell prey to this outbreak. We were able to spread the word about treatment and prevention in our local community and help care for some who had come down with the illness. The best treatment is rest, hydration, and acetaminophen tablets for pain. The best prevention is avoiding mosquito bites by applying repellant or sleeping under nets as well as eliminating standing water and mosquito breeding plants such as bromeliads. Although cases have decreased in Haiti, it is still a problem and leaves some with painful joints that can last for several months.

We did not leave Haiti because of this fever, but left to attend both the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the American Baptist annual conferences. After having a great reunion in North Carolina with our children and grandchildren, we drove to Atlanta for CBF General Assembly. We were able to stay with fellow IM missionary, Kristy Engle, in her home outside of Atlanta and travel by train each day to the conference.  We listened to inspiring speakers including Allan Boesak, theologian and humanitarian, who spoke of his search for reconciliation after the end of South African apartheid, and former UN Ambassador Andrew Young, who reminded us of Jesus’ words, “Ask and it shall be given. Seek and you shall find.” Young stated, “How much better off as a nation would we be if we simply asked others how we can help.” It was great to reconnect with many friends and then get together with our CBF Latin-American Team in Decatur for 3 days of meetings. We came home, energized and inspired.

After another wonderful week with our family in NC, we set out for the long drive to Green Lake, Wisconsin, for the 200th anniversary celebration of the founding of American Baptist Missions. The All-Staff Gathering brought ABC missionaries from all over the world for a well-organized time of fellowship that included devotionals, prayer, worship, and strategizing for the next century that included many creative-visioning sessions. It permitted us to meet and get to know many missionaries that we had only read about and also reconnected with many old friends. We feel so grateful for those who worked hard to plan this unprecedented gathering. It was so exciting and filled us with hope to see what God is doing through these ministries.

The weekend brought new folks who are seeking God’s lead to new ministries, either in the US or internationally. It was wonderful to meet these seekers of all ages and explore the possibilities for future missions. Also during this week the International Partner Consultation, including over 100 Baptist national leaders from many countries, met to envision the worldwide work of God.

The final week was the World Mission’s Conference with over a thousand in attendance. We led two workshops on Haiti and enjoyed attending other missionary workshops. The WMC was a real international event with many languages, costumes, and music. It was inspiring and educational to participate in these events. During the conference many of the participants donated hundreds of bottles of acetaminophen tablets to send to Haiti for the Chikungunya epidemic. The generous outpouring by so many was amazing! The tablets were hand-carried to Haiti by former IM missionaries Herb Rogers and Charles Chapman when they attended the 50^th Anniversary of the Haitian Baptist Convention in Cap Haitian and will to be distributed to the clinics there. 

After returning to NC, we learned that Steve’s father, Lloyd James, was weakening and not taking any more food or water. We drove to Audubon, PA, to be at his bedside for the next 5 days, talking, praying and singing to him. As we mentioned in our last newsletter, hospice and Steve’s brother David, continued in their loving care of him. Saturday morning, August 9, 2014, dad Lloyd, age 95, went “Home.” His final days were very peaceful, and we truly felt an aura of love surrounding him. A week later, family and friends gathered at Lower Providence Baptist Church, his church home for 50 years, to celebrate his life of service and love. It was moving to see so many friends from Burma (Myanmar) and other long-time friends of both Lloyd and Eileen. Dad Lloyd will be greatly missed by all his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Our oldest grandchild, Skyah, age 10, sweetly sang the prayer of St. Francis, “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace,” which I know grandpa “Bo” would have loved! “Well done good and faithful servant!”

We will be speaking in churches in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts at the end of this month and all of October before returning to our work in Haiti in November. Please keep us in your prayers as we travel and speak and as we seek God’s will for our future.

In the meantime, please consider giving generously to the World Mission Offering. Thank you all so much for your support, thoughts and prayers.