Since people have read Sissie’s updates, I have received many phone calls, e-mails, as well as letters to ask how I am doing and what is happening to me.  So I thought I would send those of you who have inquired about me, and those of you who have contacted me, a big thank you via the website.  I do not have an address for many of you – so God provided this way.  And at the same time, I will let you know how I am doing these twelve weeks after surgery.  You all know the prognosis I was given; in looking at it with human eyes it is not good.  But I look higher; I look to God, to the hills from whence my help cometh.  Then I do what I humanly can.  I have, as you may all know, changed my diet drastically, and try not to overdo any work.  But it is so easy to let the care of the days take over.  I still live on fruit, vegetables, and grain.

I feel I am doing well and plan things into the future; a few of those plans are to visit our son Ariel in Florida, to visit my family in Denmark this January (2009) since my youngest sister turns 60 that month.  Closer to home, we had more or less planned a gathering to remember Art July 4^th weekend.  He passed away June 28 a year ago.  But because of my health, we have postponed it to Labor Day weekend in September.  That time was also very special to Pappi (Art) as he would always end the prophetical schools with a Labor Day weekend conference.  I know we will need some people to come and help us before that time.  I believe Sissie will post something about it, and more, in the near future.  I would also like to work as a volunteer at the hospital two days a week, four to five hours each time, and have applied for it.  Also I have gone back to work two days a week, four hours each day; we will see how it will work out.  Beside the usual aches and pains that come with age and some left from the surgery, I am doing well and my hope is in the Lord.

So, these are the hopes and plans for the near and not so near future.  We make the plans prayerfully, but it is the Lord that directs the steps (Proverbs 16:9).  I have even had the hope the Lord will have me well enough so I can take another Journey to Israel and the West Bank in 2009.  But that too is up to Him.  I still work on Lifeline, and do what I can, and plan to continue as long as I can – hopefully many years.  If you are interested to read about my work with Lifeline, you can find it at this website: www.lloutreach.com. 

Homefront

How is it here on the homefront?  It has been an uphill year with much struggle.  First, we lost Pappi and then my illness.  It was also a long winter.  But there is always spring and summer and after that the brown becomes green.  Even if it has been long in coming, we do have beautiful green here and plenty of nice weather.  Part of my getting 100% well is being out in fresh air, and I have been out in the garden a lot, and with the help of one of the residents, Dan, in his stick-to-it-ness and skills in garden landscape, the garden is coming to look like an Eden of God.  I have planted many tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers in huge buckets at the end of the house, and they are growing fast and great.  Yes, spring is here and summer is coming in every aspect of life. 

We just had the joy of celebrating Sarah’s 12^th birthday and Samuel’s 16^th birthday.  Sarah will be competing in little Miss Minnesota pageant at the end of June and Samuel passed a test with 27 points, and he had to score 24 so that he can attend a post-secondary education option, in computer network security.  He will be driving from Park Rapids to Detroit Lakes, Monday through Thursday.  He is happy and feels blessed for the opportunity he has to obtain what he likes to do in life.  I have no idea of all this modern equipment – thankfully someone can.  In that way, I surely am a dummy.  It is a joy to see one’s grandkids grow up and become fine young people – for that matter, they all are.  David, our oldest, is 44 now – where does time fly?

My hope is that this update has given an answer to some of the questions you may have.  I know it is also a long time since a newsletter has gone out, and you may wonder how it is going with Ben Israel.  I have hope for good things in the future.  Sometimes I wonder how it would be if Pappi had been with us, but he is not.  Looking back, I can see God never has forsaken us (me) or Ben Israel. 

I have been much preoccupied with putting 2-300 pictures of Pappi’s together out of thousands he had from 78 years of life in order to mail to Australia to a friend of his to make a DVD of it.  For those who may desire one, Paul has a photo lab and his work is excellent.  So my little booklet of Pappi’s/Art that I have planned to make has been put on the shelf for a while and can now soon to be picked up again to work on.

Well, dear ones, I think you have gotten a lot to read for a while.  May God bless you, and thank you again for your prayer, care and love,

Lovingly,

Inger Hava

My hospital room - loaded with flowers!

Dina was a great help in my recuperation!

My dear friend, Jane, was able to visit as well




Jessica's graduation, with Sarah and me




My "Garden of Eden"!

Me, David and Samuel (now 16)




Mary Jo and my grandkids




Pappi's grave stone