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 August
2004
Dear Friends,
It seems like a
long time since we’ve communicated with you or updated our website. We want
to take some time to let you know what has been going on in our lives.
We spent much
of the summer in the United States. We spent lots of time visiting family
and friends in addition to taking the time to help Jodie’s mother Jacquie
Gross get moved from her house in Georgia and transplant most of her worldly
“things” into a storage container in Indiana. In June Jacquie retired from
teaching in Georgia and is now going to teach at Quisqueya Christian School
here in Port-au-Prince where Jodie teaches and where Jessica is a 7th
grader. As a child Jacquie felt called to missions and specifically to
China. Never having the chance to fulfill that calling we are hoping her
experience here teaching 2nd graders in Haiti will help her feel
that she is fulfilling, in some way, that calling.
We attended the
North American Convention of the Church of God in Anderson, Indiana which is
always a delight. Jodie and Jessica worked at “Kid’s Place” most of the
time and I spent most of my time at “Peace Fellowship” with the occasional
visit to the General Assembly. We and the Murphys did a presentation about
our work in Haiti to a group of about 75 or so one afternoon. Camp meeting,
as we know it, is always fun to attend and a place where we get to catch up
on friendships of many people we don’t see frequently. The commissioning
service is always a highlight when we get to carry the flags of the
countries where the Church of God has work going on and they commission the
missionaries that are going out.
During
our stay in Anderson we got to spend a lot of time with Jacquie who is now a
sophomore at Anderson University. We are so thankful that Jacquie is doing
so well in college, is coming to love the school and the Church as we had
hoped she would, and is maturing well beyond her years.
Jessica spent
most of her summer doing a lot of reading, shopping, and visiting with
friends. She also attended Camp Challenge, in southern Indiana. This is
one of the highlights of her summer. She already dreams of being a student
counselor at the camp when she is too old to attend. She remains Miss
Enthusiasm and will always have a smile for you.
Much of Jodie’s
and my time were spent in meetings with the administrators of Global
Missions of the Church of God. We have decided to become career
missionaries under the Church of God instead of remaining as special
assignment missionaries. It was a very difficult time of decision making
for us but we believe and pray that this will be a positive move for both us
and Global Missions. Please be in prayer for us as we make that change as
of the first of September.
My role in the
clinics has not yet begun again. I have allowed a window of time so that I
would be able to get the clinic vehicle in shape before I had to begin
taking it into the provinces. Our mechanic became sick while we were gone
and has yet to complete all the things that needed to be done on the
Toyota. So this extra time will be very important. I plan to be able to
begin my part in the clinics the last week of August.
Since returning
to Haiti we have been taking part in the camp at Callebasse. The Murphys
have started a day camp for kids in the community from ages four through
ten. They have about 400 children take part every year and about 20 college
students, working vacationers, and just people with a good heart for
children come from the States to help out.
So we continue
the ministry but want you our friends and supporters to know what an
important part you have in it. We couldn’t do it without your financial
support or prayers. Our most sincere thanks to each of you. Please
continue in prayer for us since our strength only comes from God who
graciously works through “broken clay jars.”
Because of
Christ,
John, Jodie,
and Jessica Ackerman
  
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