Change of plans!

I am sitting here this evening at the end of another successful and eventful trip to Haiti. But this trip wasn't supposed to happen, at least not with me included. Our family was half way through our month long road trip and visiting a good friend in Washington DC when the phone rang. The World Orphans team leader for the next trip to Haiti could not go because his first baby was going to be born early and at any minute! The team that he was leading was in the greater DC area and would be flying out the next day. Would I be able to make the flight and lead the team? Less than 24 hours later I was on a flight out of Dulles while Rebecca, Tynan, and the twins were continuing the drive to Texas. Whew!

Of course God's plans are perfect! There are so many reasons that I should be on this trip. I was able to lead 4 guys from Harvest Church to meet their Haitian church partner and the kids in the OVC program for the first time. They left today, their heads full of ideas about how their church can make a difference in the lives of these precious children! I was able to visit with Pastor Gaston and see him in better health than the last time I saw him, his face beaming with love and pride as he watched the team play with "his" kids. I was able to visit a family that I last saw in May. The first time I met them, "Falon", a 12 year old girl met us at the door of a flimsy tent next to a small metal shed used as a kitchen. This week I was invited into their new cinder block house; one with a foundation, metal roof, and electricity. Simple but elegant and strong. My heart was glad as I thanked God that another organization came to Haiti to provide them this wonderful home. 

There are many other blessings from this trip too. I have been able to help with a medical situation with one of our local staff. I have been able to shop for a car and look at houses while I am here. Many other things as well. Of course I miss my family and would have loved to been with them while they stayed with family in Chickamaug, Georgia, visited a dear supporter in Atlanta, stayed with good friends and enjoyed fabulous hospitality in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. I just found out that they have made it safely back to Texas tonight. I will fly to meet them in Dallas in a couple of days.

As a good friend recently told me, these events are "milestones" along the path. A way for God to confirm to us that we are heading in the right direction. God always "knows the paths He has for us", and will "set our paths straight" when we trust Him!

Help? or Hurt?

One of biggest tasks that we have in Haiti is to make sure that we & our partner churches, are aware of and sensitive to any "help" that might have negative repercussions for the people or the country as a whole. If not, good intentions can often become devastating! This post explains it far better than we could...

 We humbly ask each of you - PLEASE take a minute to Read this Link!!

On the Road - Week 2

We have had a nice reprieve from driving this week, once we landed at Rebecca's aunt's home in Rhode Island. Narragansett is one of our favorite places in the world. The weather has been beautiful and we are having a great time with the cousins!

  

The girls helped with VBS a couple of days at West Kingston Baptist Church which ended with Sunday services and an animal exhibit...

  

Ted even got to finally see an alligator!

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On the Road - Week #1

“Count Your Blessings”

Though we ARE officially without a “home” now, we haven’t yet been “homeless”! This first week on the road we have been blessed by so many of our brother’s and sister’s in Christ it has been amazing.

Sitting in the home of some good friends here in Lee, NH, I couldn’t help but notice a prominent sign above their fireplace. It is surrounded by frames holding the darling faces of their 4 boys… and it says: “Count Your Blessings”. That prompted a view of our first week on the road and all that it has held.

First, a huge concern was lifted off our shoulders as Calvary Chapel, Sawgrass offered to store our household goods bound for Haiti until we are ready to go... Through their organization, “Haiti’s Hope”, we also have the use of a P.O. Box for all of our mail to come into! Once we are in Haiti, they will hand deliver it each month – blessings #1-2

So far we have traveled 1,964 miles safely and our old Yukon is still holding up! – blessing #3

Ted’s cell phone was lost on day 2, but the restaurant called the last # and reached Stephen (Woodall), the friend we were visiting with. He was able to go back and pick it up for us! It will return to us by mail this week – blessing #4

The next day we found out that our friends at CCTI (Crisis Care Training International) had an enormous guest home available for our use. We had comfy beds and a wonderful time of fellowship with Phyllis Killborn, along with Richard, Dorothy, and Rosemary - her ministry team. Ted and I worked alongside them in Haiti last year providing children’s trauma counseling training – they were then and still remain mentors and true inspiration to us with their servant-like hearts. – blessing #4

While in the Carolina’s we also were invited for a delicious home-cooked meal by Chris, one of Tynan’s LETU schoolmates. MEATLOAF – everybody’s favorite! We had a great evening getting to know the Schultz family and hearing about their heart for missions. – blessing #5

On Saturday we arrived at Rick and Phyllis LeBranche’s home in Durham, NH. It was a REALLY cool place! Tynan calls it their “hobbit home” which is a compliment of the highest regard! We relished being surrounded by nature, the milder New England summer weather, enjoyed swimming, fishing & canoeing in the river, barbecuing with friends from Durham Evangelical Church, and sharing preparations for ministry. The LaBranches are moving to Ethiopia full time next year with WO, and their church partners with a WO Haitian church already. The twins were excited to make a new friend! Their youngest daughter, Kami, was also adopted and is going to be an MK in orphan care now, too!! – blessings 6 – 10

That leads us up to today, where we have just roused from a comfortable night’s sleep at our friend's home. We have been thoroughly blessed by their calm, sweet natures and their passion to live “radically” for God, however opportunity arises. We are looking forward to returning the favor when they come visiting us in Haiti one day, too! – blessings #11 -12

These are only the ones that we have quickly had time to count…there were SO MANY more leading up to this point in our ministry “journey”. We cherish them all, hard lessons included, as God uses them to get each one of us ready to minister for Him both here and now, and one day in Haiti.

Rhode Island is our next stop, where we anticipate a rare opportunity for making new memories with family and “old” friends. Pray for us also as we will be leading the Sunday service on 8/14 at Calvary Bible Church, a congregation that was planted by my grandfather over 50 years ago. They are my spiritual heritage and even invested in my nursing career many years ago…so we are excited to share where God is taking us next!