Sisters... Sisters!

Enjoying some good time with mom-made sweaters.

Already lovers and handlers of the i-pod

Europe bound.

Life in Jamaica in Pictures -- Part 3

Daniella played the role of Mary in the Christmas play at her school.

My two princesses.

Smiling Sophie.

Musicians in the making.

LIfe in Jamaica in Pictures -- Part 2

Sophie is ready for a stroll.

The wonderful ladies that God has blessed me with.

Dr. Tapiwa Mucherera came to CWC and taught an intensive course on "Pastoral Care and Counseling".

Uncle T. was very happy to spoil Daniella and Sophie for a while.

Of course, there should always be some time set aside to relax and enjoy.

Life in Jamaica in Pictures

The following is a pictorial highlight of our life in Jamaica

We have acquired three chicken layers and enjoy fresh eggs on a regular basis.

Our vegetable garden. A friend at ATS used to say: "God must be a farmer, because one of his act of creation was a garden." We figured that having a vegetable garden can be a good way to get closer to him.
We enjoy some (backyard) camping from time to time.

Our house.

Still Breathing

Josephs' Journal still has life.
The last few months have been very hectic but productive. We returned from England last week Saturday (1/17) where I successfully defended my Ph.D. thesis on December 19, 2008. The semester started on Monday (1/19) at Caribbean Wesleyan College, so we had to hit the ground running.
I am in the process of organizing my schedule and will set some time out to update the blog once a week. So, please, come back and visit us again.

Time to Celebrate: Birthday/Housewarming Party!

Supermom!
Yesterday, we had some of the students, faculty, and staff over at our place to celebrate. We have a lot to be happy about, and a lot to be thankful for: Abson's birthday (Oct 5); a new place to live; and Abson's thesis submission (Oct 6).

Thesis Submitted!!!

Hhhhhhhooooooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In Memoriam Juna Constant -- 23 Dec 1979 - 8 Sept 2008

Je me souviens te voir grandir à mes côtés
Nous étions de bons amis, on se disait tout
De sang nous étions cousins
En réalité tu étais ma sœur.

Je me souviens te parler de Jésus
De la soif que tu voulais étancher
Je me souviens comment a petits pas
Tu as trouve la voie qui mène a la vie

Je me souviens des jours noirs
Quand la nostalgie de voir ton père
Te faisait couler des larmes
On criait et on espérait ensembles

Je me souviens de nombreux jours
Quand l’on se rencontrait après l’école
Tu étais fière d’introduire ton frère à tes amies
J’étais heureux de t’avoir comme ma sœur chérie

Je me souviens de la joie qui émanait de toi
Quand tu étais amoureuse
Et la peine sur ton visage, quand tu avais le cœur brisé
J’ai partagé ta joie, j’ai partagé ta peine

Je me souviens de ma visite à Santiago
Tu aimais l’université et travaillais assidûment
Nous savions tous que tu serais un médecin de calibre
Si seulement le temps était ton ami

Je me souviens de ta visite à la Jamaïque
On a passé un moment mémorable
On a célébré le miracle de ta guérison
Tu aimais la vie, tu étais heureuse

Je me souviens de ton appel, c’était comme hier
Tu partageais avec moi tes difficultés
Nous avions prié ensemble
Et avions pensé comment trouver une solution

Je me souviens de la nouvelle de la récurrence ta maladie
J’ai pleuré alors, et continue à pleurer aujourd’hui
Tu étais courageuse et sereine
Tu as gardé ton sourire et ta beauté

Je me souviens de la dernière fois que je t’ai vue
J’avais l’espoir qu’on allait encore se rencontrer
J’avais la conviction que tu serais plus que vainqueur
J’étais sur que la vie t’aurais sourie

Tu vois, June, je voulais avoir la mémoire de ton jour de noces
La mémoire de jouer avec tes enfants
La mémoire de voir nos enfants partager le lien qui nous joint
Comme nos parents ont eu la chance de voir

Je voulais tant te dire au revoir, Hélas !
Peut-être c’est une bénédiction
Car je me souviendrai toujours de toi
Vivante, souriante, charmante

J’entends ta douce voix, souriante, me dire
Sony, sèche tes larmes, je suis dans les bras de Jésus
Toutefois mon cœur se déchire
Car je me souviens de toi, je me souviens de nous.

Je vais garder la mémoire de ton sourire
Jusqu’au jour où l’on se rencontrera encore
Au delà de cette terre maudite
Dans la présence de Dieu où il n’y aura plus de pleurs.

In Memoriam Juna Constant -- 12/23/1979 9/8/2008

I remember watching you grow up.
We were very good friends. We shared everything.
By blood, you are my cousin,
But in truth, you are my sister.

I remember telling you about Jesus.
The thirst that you wanted to quench.
I remember how little by little
You found the way that leads to life.

I remember the dark days,
When you shed many tears
In longing to see your father.
We cried and hoped together.

I remember the many days
When we met after school.
You were proud to introduce your brother to your friends.
I was happy to have you as my beloved sister.

I remember the joy you had when you fell in love.
And the pain on your face when you were heartbroken.
I shared your joy.
I shared your pain.

I remember my trip to Santiago.
You were enjoying the University. You were working hard.
We knew you would make a great doctor one day;
If only time was on your side.

I remember you trip to Jamaica.
We had a great time together.
We celebrated the miracle of your healing.
You were enjoying life. You were happy.

I remember your call. It was like yesterday.
You were sharing your difficulties.
We prayed together
And thought through some solutions together.

I remember the news about your sickness.
I cried then. I am still crying today.
But you were courageous and serene.
You kept your smile and your beauty.

I remember the last time I saw you.
I had hoped I would see you again.
I was convinced that you would be more than victorious.
I was sure that life would smile on you.

You see, June, I wanted to have the memory of your wedding day.
The memory of playing with your children.
The memory of seeing our children share the same bond that binds us
Like our parents have been blessed to see.

I so wanted to say good-bye to you; alas.
Maybe it is a blessing,
Because I will always remember you
Alive, smiling, charming.

I can hear your sweet voice, smiling, telling me,
“Sony, dry your tears. I am in the arms of Jesus.”
However, my heart is torn,
Because I remember you, I remember us.

I will keep the memory of your smile
Until the day we meet again
Beyond this wretched earth
In the presence of God, where there will be no more tears.

Former Classmate/Teammate, Adler Volmar, Beijing Bound!

Adler Volmar is representing the United States this week at the Beijing's Olympic Games in Judo. He is the top ranked US athlete in his category. Adler was born in the US but grew up in Haiti. He represented Haiti in the 1996 Olympic Games. Adler and I went to school together in Haiti and are great friends. We were classmates for the last four years of secondary school. The coolest thing is, we were also teammates. Adler and I attended the same dojo, and practiced together. I stopped practicing Judo after I left Haiti to go to Jamaica for my undergraduate studies.

You can catch live action on NBCOlympics.com or read his bio by following the link below.

http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=1281/bio/index.html

The Beginning of the End

Last night I submitted a completed copy of my thesis to my supervisor for final review and comments. This is a major step toward the end of a soon to be three year process. I have much work left to do, but it is a great relief to have reached this stage. Once I receive the thesis from my supervisor I will make the necessary corrections and send it off to London School of Theology. The viva/examination will take place some time in the Fall. I will give an update when the date for the viva is set.
Thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement throughout the process.

Most Recent Pics of Sophie and Daniella

Pictorial Report--Part 1

Rev. Patrick Gué, Pastor of Mauldin's First Haitian Evangelical Wesleyan Church.

We took a quick trip to visit the campus of SWC, on Sunday afternoon.

On Monday, on our way to Brooksville, we stopped in Savannah, Ga. to visit the city and see the Haitian monument erected there to honor the bataillon of soldiers from Haiti (then St. Domingue) who took part in the Battle of Savannah in 1779. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Savannah

On Tuesday, in Brooksville, we went on a picnic with the Wrights and their family.

3 years and counting!

On June 7, Daniella celebrated her third birthday! As has been the case for the last three years, we were traveling, so we celebrated several times (at the Muchereras, and at my parents), and she got to blow candles and eat cakes more than once. We also plan to have another celebration here in Wilmore for her friends here. I am sure she does not mind that one tiny bit.

Blessed-ly Ever After

Five years ago to the day, in Haiti, on the first day of summer, Lara and I entered a new season in our lives when we said: "I do." It has been a wonderful five years during which we have grown to love each other more and more. We have faced our share of challenges, but we have experienced God's faithfulness to us every step of the way. We are living "Blessed-ly Ever After!" I use "blessed-ly" not only because "happily" might sound cliché, but also because what God has given us is more than happiness.

Road Trip

We are leaving today (5/31) for a two-week road trip that will take us to Florida and back.
Today, we go to Mauldin, SC to visit with Patrick Gue, a friend of mine from Haiti who is planting a Haitian church there. We will spend a couple of nights with them, and I will get to preach on Sunday.
On Monday (6/2), we will leave SC to go Brooksville, FL. There, we will visit with Wayne and Virginia Wright. We leave Brooksville on Wednesday (6/4) for Orlando. There we will visit with the Mucherera family, and attend the General Conference of the Wesleyan Church (Fri-Sun). On Thursday, Lara and I hope to go on a "scouting trip" to Disney and see what brings out so much exciting talks from people, in preparation for the times when we may need to take Daniella and Sophie.
On Sunday (6/7), we plan to leave Orlando for Miami where we will visit with my parents until Thursday. While there we will go to Boca Raton on Tuesday (6/9) to spend the day with Juna and her family--Juna's condition is improving. Please continue to pray for her.--
On Thursday, we will leave Miami to drive back to Wilmore. We will stop in Albany, Ga. for the night, and come back home on Friday 6/13.
Please pray for safe travels for our family and a productive time with friends, family, and at the Conference.

Prayer Requests

Above: Juna, Cherline, and their mother, Angena with Daniella and Sophie. Juna (in white blouse holding Sophie's hand) and Cherline, her sister, have been surrogate sisters for Enosch and me, a relationship we maintain until today. This picture was taken in October 2007.

Below: Juna with Daniella at Dunn's River Falls. Juna came to visit us in Jamaica in March 2007.


I would like to request prayers on behalf of my cousin/sister: Juna Constant. Juna was diagnosed with brain cancer a couple years ago, was operated on and was declared cancer free after treatment. However, we found out recently that the tumor has returned and has now spread to at least another section of her brain. She was hospitalized over the weekend because the tumor is swollen, causing her additional discomfort. She returned home yesterday (Thursday) and the doctors are trying to keep the swelling down and hope to resume chemo therapy soon. They have ruled out another surgery. Please, pray for a healing touch from God, strength for the family, and wisdom for the doctors to know what best course of treatment to pursue.
I came down to Florida Wednesday night to visit with her, and will go back to Wilmore in the morning (Saturday). Pray for journeying mercies for me.

I would like to request prayer also for another friend of mine “B. J.” who is dealing with some health issues. Pray for wisdom as the doctors assess his situation and look for treatment options, and that God will bring complete healing.
Thank you very much.

Sights of D.C.--Part 2

Here are more pictures from our trip to D.C. which I promised to post a long time ago.
While we were leaving the Jefferson Memorial, an important person was on his way to the White House.
Our host and hostess, Art and Ann O'Dell. The O'Dells are two of many great friends that God has blessed us with. We had a great time together.

No... Daniella is not holding Sophie :-). That thing in her hand, that's a doll.

That was as close as we got to the White House (we actually went all the way up to the fence), but it was satisfying. Lara's mom had the day of the her life.

Uncle Abson and Aunt Lara!

Leensay Emmanuelle Joseph: May 10, 2008

My brother Enosch and his wife Lorie welcomed their first child, to the world last week Saturday, May 10. Mother and daughter (Leensay) are both doing very well. Lara and I are now enjoying the thought of being called Uncle Abson and Aunt Lara.

Remember Enosch and Lorie in your prayers as they transition to and learn the challenges of parenting, and Leensay that God's hand will be upon her.