Since the last Harvey Holiday Highlights edition was released July 4th, we have a lot of highlights to cover. We survived the week long drive from Erie, PA to North Carolina to Long Island and back to Erie, though it took longer than a week to recover. The Saturation Church Planting Seminar at the United World Mission Headquarters was challenging, and the Congo team strategic planning session was invaluable. We felt so privileged to attend.
The rest of the Summer included painting projects for Becky, and long hours at the hospital for Joseph. The neighbors were quite impressed with Becky's handling of the huge, loud, rented power drum sander in preparing the front and back porches. Once again our back yard was playground for many of our "transitional" neighborhood's otherwise unsupervised children. Olivia loved playing in the sandbox with her friends. In August, we spent a week at a nearby Christian Boy's Camp (JIM Club on Lake Chatauqua) where Becky volunteered her cooking skills along with her good friend Brenda Burrows, as Joe & Craig commuted back & forth from the hospital to enjoy the delicious meals (at the camp).
We had a combined birthday party this year for Olivia & Claire on July 24th (a compromise between the 23rd and 25th). Looking back at the pictures of Claire enjoying her cake, it's hard to believe she had had such a tentative beginning only one year before. We thank God for His protection on her, and for your prayers.
Claire loves music, is happy, and easy going. She gets quite frustrated though when "guck" (stuck), which seems to happen in 5 minute intervals. We can see her admiring her big sister in the way she mimics and parrots her. Claire is at a persistent age...likes to drag a chair around the house, climb up on appliances, countertops, and furnitue to see what she can get her hands into. They are both healthy and boisterous. Needless to stay Mom is kept busy!
Olivia started attending preschool at our church in October and enjoys it immensely. She likes to "read" books to Claire, often rendering an interesting variation of the actual story. She likes to talk on the phone, and play "pretend." Olivia got into Christmas this year--from picking out the tree, to helping wrap presents. She took it upon herself to plug in the Christmas lights each day. Seeing her so thrilled nurtured our holiday cheer. Driving back and forth to church, she would Oooh! and Ahhh! over the dazzling light displays around town. Between the preschool, home, and Sunday school, she has the Christmas story down pat..."wwwicked King Herod wanted to keeill the baby Jesus!" She's learned many of the carols, and sings them with gusto. What a change has taken place in just one year.
Mom & Dad Jones were here for the Holy Day. We had a special time together decorating the house, preparing and eating meals, knowing that this probably will be our last Christmas at our home here in Erie. We feel quite cozy here, and while we're excited to go, breaking ties and leaving home will be painful and difficult. We covet your prayers.
Just a few days ago, we went to Global Outreach Mission in Buffalo, New York, to meet with Mission President, James Blackwood. It turned out to be a blessed time of fellowship. We asked a lot of questions about the organization, and were very pleased with the answers. We felt right at home, and definitely at peace about beginning the application process with them. While explaining to Mr. Blackwood the purpose of our visit, it was refreshing to be reminded of how clearly God has been at work in our lives as we reflected on the course He's led us on in preparation for the work God has called us to do in Congo.
The meeting itself was clearly an answer to prayer as it was obtained on short notice. Getting the afternoon off from work was simple, when it usually can be quite complex. After leaving later than we wanted and driving 150 miles, we arrived precisely on time. Becky's parents just happened to be visiting, and so were able to enjoy the day with Olivia & Claire, while we enjoyed the time alone together with God.
In these last 6 months of residency, Joseph has 2 elective rotations left. On January 14 we leave for London for Joseph to take a 2 week "Tropical Ocular Infections" course offered by the London University Institute of Ophthalmology Centre for International Eye Health (the only couse of it's kind). The lecture topics are thrilling to Joe, and we were tickled to see Coffee, Lunch, and tea breaks on the schedule daily. We are using some frequent traveler awards with USAir/British Airways, and so are blessed to be able to have Mom Jones come along to help Becky explore the city with the kids while Joe's in class.
We finish residency June 30th, and then take the Family Practice Boards July 14th. The following months will be spent preparing to leave for the Congo--gathering supplies, raising needed support from churches and individuals (like you), selling our house, and deciding on the fate of our earthly belongings. Please pray for wisdom as time draws near.
Thank you so much for your support, letters, cards, and prayers. We pray that you will grow closer to the Christ of Christmas in this new year.
Love In Him,
Joe & Becky Harvey
Olivia & Claire
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