Great Day at VBS

Last night I kept Logan while Steve was at Jacob's Well with Issac and Holli was working. She doing well after her contraction scare on Tuesday. We had 76 kids at VBS today and I had 6 in 4th grade and was so proud of them. They all learned John 3:16 my first bible verse I learned. We had to rap to get it but how awesome! Tomorrow we will play in the water so this should be a good time! I have been taking the neighborhood boys, Kele and Camden home. Life is good when serving God!

I Love VBS

So today was the start of VBS at First Presbyterian and there were 72 kids! I thought that was great even thou the chaos was incredible. I think they had a great time and I am exhausted, can't wait till Logan gets big enough to go. I am leading 4th grade with Carolann Farley and we had a great time and taught 6 kids about Faith-Romans 10:17.

On another note, Holli went into preterm labor and was having a bad allergy attack so they kept her just to watch her. They gave her Benadryl and Ibuprofen and her labor has stopped. She is home resting so I am praying that she can take it easy and slow down.

Fun Day with Holli and Logan

Today Holli and I took Logan out early to garage sales. All was not lost as I got a potty chair for Nana's house. Since he now tells you when he's wet it may not be long. What a joy that would be if he were potty trained before the new baby comes in October! They went home and got a nap and I met them and Steve at the movies to see Cars 2. Logan is crazy in love with Cars right now and we had a great time. He did really well at the movie with his snacks of popcorn and M & M's. My lawn mower has some issues right now and so I decided against the yard mowing since it is so hot out.

God's Beauty

I took this of the Hydrangea that the Taylor's got me for Mother's Day. It's just a beautiful reminder to me of how much nature is a gift from God!

Easter Carnival

Even with the weather a bit overcast, that didn't stop Abby and Holli from taking the kids out to celebrate Easter around El Dorado. In the morning they went to the hospital egg hunt and then I met them at the Presbyterian Church for the Easter Carnival. Logan had just woke up and Payton and Grayson were asleep when they arrived. We colored coloring pages, crafted crosses and bookmarks, hunted eggs, threw bean bags at the animals in Noah's Ark and found all the wonderful bubble blowing wands. Logan doesn't quite have the keep the wand flat in the bubble solution but he liked trying all the different wands. The kids had a great time but Nana had the best time. Logan is going to church with me in the morning!

Update

Since our team returned to the states, Jan has purchased a house 3 blocks from her current house to begin an orphanage. 11 children from St Marc will be residing there. One of the children has tested positive for HIV and has started on meds. Stephanie will be headed back there to help the team learn how to provide for this special child. Christopher's Hope is such a blessing to these children.
On this Easter weekend, we are so blessed to have Jesus's saving grace and love. What a great God we serve to give his only Son to die on the cross for us so we can have peace and joy! Victory in the cross that Jesus bore.

Playing in the Dirt

So yesterday Diana and I went to the ranch and pulled on the tiller to turn over some dirt. Planted some fabulous onion plants that Wayne had started. The four different varites should be yummy! It was so beautiful out in the pasture and the ranch is so neat! I'm waiting to see the deer and all the snakes that will be coming out soon. I got to sit on the big John Deere and imagine myself as a country girl. Later Ethi had a cookout and the storm blew in which was beautiful colorful. The grass fire was beautiful from a distance!

Sarah and the Children of the Mountain Orphange

All the children of Haiti moved my heart. Precious gifts from God. Sarah the little one I am holding, stole my heart and we colored her picture with her brother Eziekel. The artwork of the children's feet on the wall behind us was created by a team that came in before us.

This is what a typical orphange in Haiti looks like. It had seperate rooms for the boys and girls and they shared beds. They cook outside over an open fire of sticks and eat standing at the long tables we were coloring at. There were no chairs. They did have clothing and worn shoes. They did have a water system so they didn't hve to carry water. Most children have never taken a shower.

In the group picture, that is Jiffy our Translator, who was singing with the children.

We were able to bless them with suckers, jump ropes,bubbles, frisbees, flip flops along with coloring books, crayons and some oatmeal. Stephanie was having a great time with Sarah and the bubbles. To be the hands and feet of God and the love He has for us will forever be an experience that will bless me.

Precious Logan

Holli was at work and Steve asked if I could keep Logan for a few hours! We had such a good time and he is fascinated with my sewing machine and all the things in my craft room. Today the button jar caught his attention. It was fun to see him look at the different sizes and colors. He had a good time just spooning them into the jar. We did make a necklace with the ones that were his favorite such as a duck, large tan and blue button. He even put a couple of red beads that were in the mix. He loves playing the piano. How precious are our children and grandchildren. We didn't go outside as he had a hacky cough. Holli took him to the doctor but it just needs to run it's course. Good times just reading and playing. It was great to see Christopher this week and he came with Steve to pick Logan up. Christopher is getting so tall and will start High School next year. He will be 14 this year.

I'm looking forward to the new babies to come in our family and hope that these babies will be raised in the church so they know God.

Working for God

Thanks for all the many prayers, support and love you have given me for my minstry in Haiti and with Christopher's Hope Ministry. The team arrived home on Friday night around 9:30pm in Wichita and there at the airport to pick me up were Mom and Dad and Deanna and Les. I had forgotten only for a moment how cold it was here and I have a cold or something now. Of course I always get something when I fly as the togetherness on a plane lends that.

What a great experience to serve God with 9 other people on the team. Kirk Day is an awesome team leader and made sure that we were safe and taken care of the whole time. He has a passion to serve the Lord with Jan in Haiti and did a marvelous job. I especially praised his driving abilities in Haiti. Mike and Jane Dauwer were from Oxford Kansas and were the senior members on the team. You wouldn't have known as they were serving as hard and long as the other members. Other members of the team were Barbara Day, who is Kirk's Mom and a co worker at Butler. Her daughter Angie and husband Dr. Marcus went and they own Art of Life Chiropratic in El Dorado. Stephanie McCreary was from the Augusta area but lives now in San Diego, California. Jodi Bailey is from El Dorado and she and Stephanie are friends and also nurses. It was such a blessing to get to know these brothers and sisters in Christ and see the talents each one gave. Shelby Humig also traveled with us from El Dorado.

When we didn't arrive the first day and had to stay in Miami because our plane had mechanical problems in Dallas, I was so disappointed but at the same time I knew God had a plan for us. We flew American Airlines going and coming back and they placed us in a hotel near the airport and we had a nice meal in the Doubletree Hotel.

We arrived at the Port Au Prince Airport and what an experience. There were so many baggage handlers that wanted to "help" us get our 20 tubs and luggage to the vehicles. They had made some improvements to the outside pavement so it wasn't as hard to push as I had anticipated.

Our translators for the trip were Jiffy, Nahomie, Victor and Jay. They are Haitian and really worked hard to help us understand and be understood. Shelby, who is Jan Thompson's daughter, traveled from Kansas with the group and also translated for us. After living in Haiti she had the insight and knew some of the people we were ministering to. She is expecting Jan's first grandchild and this trip was really rough on her especially in the mornings.

We started for Gonaives which is a 3 hour trip from Port Au Prince. The city of Port Au Prince was alive with traffic both in vehicles and people on the street. People everywhere selling everything from oil to food. There were goats in the State Agriculture yard. I was sadden to see all the tent cities and mass burial grave from the victims of the earthquake. In a lot of places it is just like you see on TV. They use whatever they can find to build "shelter." Some used blue tarps, some sheet metal and others wood. There were some that used gray tarps with UNAID stamped on them. The road was very rough most of the way to St. Marc where we stopped for lunch at a place that is equivlaent to our McDonalds. It was up the stairs above a store. There were cakes and pastries that were in baker cases. I ordered a cheeseburger and fries and Sprite. They acutally had ice for the drinks which is such a luxury in Haiti. While we were there, young people arrived after school to "hang out." Of course these young people have much more than the children we would soon see. They were dressed very nice and clean and one even brought his laptop. We sat where we could see the van with our luggage on it so at this point I knew we were in a danger area. There was a lady selling rice and beans sauce. A big helping of the rice with sauce would cost about $2.00 US money. After eating we went down to the store and looked around. There were many American items such as cereal, Valentine items and even a big TV. We bought some Haitian chips to take to the beach for our lunch the next day. While waiting for the team to gather we stood outside taking in the sights of the streets and being yelled at and waving back, I realized that you can't be "friendly" as we would at home. Culture shock had set in. We traveled on to Gonaives and I was so overwhelmed with the way they "drive" in Haiti. Since my degree is in organizational leadership, the whole trip I was trying to put this chaos into some form of normalcy but gave up the second day there. They have no road rules so the motorcycles, big trucks and tap taps were all moving and honking at the same time in many directions. Kirk was an excellent driver. The only time I was afraid was at checkpoint outside the headquarters of the police station when someone was waving us down to stop and he asked Jiffy if we should. From the back seat driving I was doing, I yelled NO! It was so different. From that point on, I just looked out the side windows of the van instead of the front window. After getting to Jan's house, I was tired and ready for a break of processing all that I had seen. We unloaded all our stuff and the food that was in the tubs still was frozen so that was good news. I helped unloaded the frozen and other food in the kitchen before settling into the room where I stayed with Jodi and Stephanie. It was the Faith Room and welcomed us with quilts on the beds which made me feel right at home. This area wasn't attached to the house it was a seperate area in the back of the house. It had a cubby with shelves where we could store our personal items and 2 fans. The concrete floor was painted.

God blessed me to meet some children of His in a foreign country. They are beautiful people. The little girl I am holding is Sarah and her brother beside me is Eziekel. They were children living at the orphanage in the mountains. The road was very hard and rough to travel. For those of you who live in El Dorado and have ever experienced Towanda Street, I will never complain again. Some of the boys were waiting to greet us and when I stepped out of the van, I was so excited to see them that I hardly noticed the swarm of bees. We quickly went in and were introduced to the children. They sang for us and then we colored with them and blessed them with shoes, bubbles and jumpropes. Outside the neighborhood boys were playing frisbie with Kirk, Jake and Jane.

I will post more later when I get my strength back, I'm still trying to recover from the trip home and my cold. I really enjoyed the warm weather there!

New Faces

Well I am so excited! Last night the team had a meeting and we learned more about traveling and tips to help. We will start cooking and packing on the 19th. I'm making some more cookies so Angie can shop. Jane and Mike from Oxford are joining us and I met Shelby's husband last night. I am going to translate a bible verse so we can distribute boots from the prison that are waiting for us! I bought a web cam so I could Skype with AJ and Kristin before I leave.

We could still use Ziplock sandwich bags as we will gather our mission items in the morning before we go out and carry them in the bags. Money is also being collected by the First Christian Church and should be marked Haiti Trip. We should have 14 tubs that we can fill! God is love! Wow, what a great blessing to have this opportunity. Please continue to pray for the team as we go in and travel. We leave early on February 24.

Hope in the Lord

In Zephaniah what was to come is the land is of Nineveh is under great destruction and wiped out. Jerusalem was also rebellious and worshipped all other forms of idols.

The message today is even when people stray from the Lord, there will be a rebuilding and that hope comes from Lord always.

This week the mission team has added 3 new members to the team going to Haiti. Shelby who is Jan's daughter and 2 of Jan's good friends from Oxford,Kansas. We will start preparing for the packings and meals that we will be taking in. My excitement is building and the things I will see and the good I can do only strengthens my love for the Lord.

The work here in our community is also needed and I can't wait to return. The Homeless Initiative is close to securing a site for the house and that is so wonderful. Thanks be to God for those who will have a place to call home.

Please pray without ceasing for my good friend Wayne, whose been in bed all weekend. Also please continue to keep the mission team in your prayers.

For those celebrating football today, GO STEELERS, I like the color green and it's in their logo! Mark ,my brother is having a party at his house! Should be a great time!

God Hears His People

In Zephaniah 2:8-11, two tribes were at war and people were taunting each other and making threats against each other. God heard them and he told the people that I hear you and I will settle this and wipe you out but leave some people to inherit the kingdom of God. The people I choose will worship Him while the others will not be left.

This is what God wants for us to hear him and turn away from the worldly idols and greed and seek Him. He will hear us and restore our souls. Do not seek evil for evil as it only causes you to sin. Instead love the Lord your God and give Him your heart!

Bonding Together

In Zephaniah 5:6-7, even though the people in weren't following God, it says, "Woe to you who live by the sea, O Kerethite people; the word of the Lord is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines. "I will destroy you, and none will be left." The land by the sea, where Kerethites dwell, will be a place for shepherds and sheep pens.

What can be a better thing than to have shepherds in the land watching over their flocks. God restores all and sends friends to come along side to help. God loves for us to love one another! Thanks be to God for His great love and allowing Jesus to take away the sins of the world.

Seeking the Lord Everyday

In Zephaniah 2:1-3, it says, "Gather together, gather together, O shameful nation, before the appointed time arrives and that day sweeps on like chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord comes upon you, before the day of the Lord's wrath comes upon you. Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what He commands. Seek righteous, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord's anger."

In thinking about this verse, it is truly a blessing to me to know that all I have to do is seek Him and be humble and He will guide my path.

I am reminded of a time in my life when I worked at the Cerebral Palsy Ranch and how rewarding it was. I love serving others (this was right before I told my Mom that I wanted to be a nun.) It was such a blessing for me to be able to put someone in a wheel chair or walk with them along side a horse. That's what God does for us everyday! He walks along side of us and helps us be compassionate for those that need compassion or help along the way, to encourage and love unconditionally.

Pray without ceasing that my service to others in Haiti will be for the glory of God!

And for those of you who need some humor in your lives , you'll be happy to know that I didn't burn the house down, I just replaced the workout music with the smoke alarm. Of course, God made me short so I wouldn't have as far to bend down to minister to children and then He made step stools so I wouldn't have to use a folding chair! You should have seen me trying to reach it on the ceiling. I was just sure the neighbors would be over or a firemen show up on my porch. I know it works so praise God for a broiler in the oven, and a battery, the steak was excellent!

Zephaniah

Zephaniah is a powerful book in the Old Testament. The first two books were written to help the people of Judah turn from their complacent actions. I know God has a plan for everyone and just like the good things he has in store for our lives, sometimes there are trials that we face.

In Zephaniah 1:18, it says, "Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord's wrath. In the fire of His jealousy the whole world will be consumed for He will make a sudden end of all who live in the earth."

If you can follow God through the good and bad times then hope comes from loving Him and rejoicing with Him in the good times. So often people are only concerned about money in this world. Money can't buy happiness or give you the love the Lord can give. If you ask Him in your heart, He will answer you and your life can be changed. The Haitian people need to know the trials we face and I hope to share my divorce experience along with the Good News!

Another Day from God

Well today was a great day, everyday the Lord gives us is another day to make a difference.
I am so excited that Deanna is going to sing with me and we are going to sing about a house that mercy built with Debbie playing. This house is the one built for Jan Thompson in Gonaives which makes it so special.

The meeting tonight for Haiti planning was cancelled. I am so excited about serving the Lord and just can't wait. The Baptist Church is an amazing body of believers. I marvel in the people that serve and give so much.

So I have been in prayer constantly about my life and everything connected to the trip and in Mark 11:24-25 Jesus said, "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." I ask for lots of things for other people but sometimes all God wants is to hear what is on our heart. This power of prayer is so important and I know when I am out of the states, there will be many people that will be praying for me. What an awesome God we serve who knows our every need. Have faith in God and He will sustain you and give you a life with Him.

Tools for Living and Life

In Roman 12:14, Pauls says, "Bless those that persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited."

So I bought my first tools yesterday. The screwdriver is cool and will come in very handy. I'm headed to Kate's next week and so the tape will come in handy. Last week I had to fix the bathtub knobs. I'm getting pretty handy!

If it's one thing I've learned in the last 6 months, it's to embrace those who need a help up. I'm great at asking for help and I'm sure when I get back from Haiti, I will feel even more humble. I have a giving heart! All the possessions in the world and the toys we have 0n earth won't compare to the Kingdom of God. I've cleaned out my stamps to give away and clothes. I've already accepted two speaking engagements, the Life Enrichment members probably won't want to travel to Haiti on vacation. They are also eager to learn about other countries and are so supportive. Uncle Howard and Aunt Barb have asked me to speak to their Class of 1945 group and I will be honored. They to have always been so supportive of me and I love spending time with them. I like to think that I got some of my craftiness from watching Aunt Barb. They are also humble in their giving, and my what hosts they are! Aunt Barb is artistic and crafty and Uncle Howard is a thinker and planner, but he sure knows how to have fun. When I get back I can't wait to talk about what the Lord is teaching me through His love.

I am so blessed to update my thermometer. The generous hearts of others to send me out in the name of the Lord are so wonderful. Thanks to Les and Deanna for the meat and to all those that I am still finding put that have contributed. Thanks also for the KitchenAid Mixer for making the sugar cookie dough, it is a great machine!

Please be in prayer for the the family of the train accident that killed a mother and daughter, this family will need the Lord to keep His hand of comfort around them and strength to go on. Every time I hear emergency sirens, which is quite often where I live, I say a little prayer that God will be with those who help the patients and their families and keep them safe.

I am a Child of God

In John 1:12 it says, "But as many as received Him to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name."

This is such a beautiful verse and I will share it with the children of Haiti. I am so blessed to have this opportunity and to be His child! God is bigger than anyone knows and I love praying and lifting my concerns to Him, and praying for those who are mourning loved ones and who are sick. Comfort and strength in the Lord is their only hope!

I have joined the First Baptist Church Divorce Group on Tuesday and I am grateful that there will be others in this group to share their concerns and for me to start the next step in healing.

My back is feeling so much better and sugar cookies are yummy. My new clothes from Goodwill are fitting great and exercise is so good! What a beautiful day the Lord has made!

Truth in a World of Need

John is one of my favorite books of the Bible and John 3:21, Jesus says, "But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."

Thank the Lord for Fridays! He knew we needed to rest and spend time with him! I decided to show you a picture of my new hair do. I bought this dress because I love orange and green together and I need to buy some clothes.

At Megan's stamp camp last night, I took pictures, they were such good sports. Such neat cards that Megan had for us. I'm so glad Brenda has become a demonstrator. I didn't cut anyone's head off so that was good! I love making and sending cards, it just gives the personal touch to a prayerful heart.

Continue to keep the team to Haiti and me in your prayers. It's always been my dream to go and serve and I am really getting excited. I am always so thankful to those who want to help, God loves a cheerful giver! Someday Holli and I will serve together, but, until then I will be leading the way and sitting the example of a pure heart in love with the Lord!