Haiti Again!!!

God blessed us with another great trip to Haiti this Summer. Here is a quick overview:

THE TEAM:

Tony did a great job of leading a team of 12 people this year (11 from our little congregation of about 30-40 members and 1 from Arkansas) making it possible to accomplish so much more. I have to say, that I am very proud of our little congregation. About a third of the adult members came on this trip with us. I think very few congregations can say that that percentage of their membership would have a heart to minister in a place like Haiti....let's just be honest. Those who couldn't come donated candy, shoes, encouragement, and lifted up many prayers on behalf of our team. The church as a whole was very encouraged.

THE WORK:

The work was more diverse than it was last year. We accomplished alot of little projects instead of one big project including, but not limited to: painting, building, fixing up, and organizing.

Aubrey painting with Jose...one of our favorites.

THE KIDS:

Of course, the biggest and most important project was loving on the kids that we have been missing so much for an entire year. It was great to see the changes and maturity in all of them over the past year. Many came out of their shells who were a bit more reserved last year, a difference that I think is due to the stability the new missionaries, Hunter and Jillian, have provided to these little gems. Just about all of the kids seemed to remember us from last year which created an element of familiarity and trust allowing us to have more of an impact on them.

PRAYERS:

Visiting a place like Haiti is excellent for one's prayer life. There is no shortage of people with real problems. I don't mean, "I'm really stressed out because all these deadlines I've got" or "What if I lose my job?" or "My social security check isn't enough" or "My mother-in-law and I are not getting along." I mean problems like "I don't have a job and there is no hope of getting one so I'd better figure out my own way to support my family....if I don't, we will starve to death. Oh, and my 10 year old son is paralyzed." or "My entire family has turned their back on me because I have turned my back on VooDoo, so I have no support system....I'm over 70 and cannot work or take care of myself...who will help me?" just to name a few.

I have developed relationships and a love for the people who are in these and very similar conditions. It becomes mind-numbing making sense of their plight and contrasting it with my level of comfort. I find sense in the words of Jesus. In Luke 6:20 He says "Blessed are you who are poor; for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh." in vs. 24 he says "But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now for you shall mourn and weep." There is a sort of joy that these people have that I think I will never know or fully understand. A joy that goes beyond circumstance. A joyful need that brings someone to the point of wanting to seek out a relationship with their Creator. Nothing has more eternal significance or importance than that.

My problems...our problems seem somewhat insignificant when compared to those who are just working to survive every day. It's difficult to come back home and be ungrateful about very much. The words of Jesus "To whom much is given, much is required" is a joyful burden we should all feel.

Summer 2011...so far.

I am horrible at taking pictures...as most of you know. I have taken exactly 0 pictures of our family this Summer. A sad state, I know. So here is a less entertaining version of our Summer:

Visits: My Shannon came for a visit in June. We had a great time just enjoying being together and sharing the struggles as we enter sort of a new phase of child rearing.

Rachel came in July and we had a blast! Her presence always brightens up our entire family...Thanks, Eeeooch.

Adoption: We have completed everything we need (so far) for our adoption and everything is going through preliminary legal proceedings before it can go into IBESR (Haitian social services.) This monopolizes a great deal of prayer, emotions, finances, and time...so plan to continue hearing about it on a regular basis.

Camps: Cameron and Tony are headed to Boy Scout camp for the first time this year. We are going to miss them, but they are both excited to get outside, let loose, and just be "boys" for a week. I have to say, I'm a bit jealous. Aubrey will go to jump rope camp in August. Yes, there is such a thing (not really any jealousy about this one.)

Haiti: Tony, Aub, and I are headed to Haiti once again this August. We have a great team going with us. It's alot of work getting ready to go, especially last minute preparations. We can hardly wait to see all of the sweet kids again, and encourage them to faithfully seek after their Creator.

That's a quick update...there will be plenty of pics next time.

Introducing: Sem and Alto

It's time to make an official announcement. As most of you know, we are currently almost one year into the process of making these two adorable little boys a permanent part of our family. On the left is Alto (age 4) and on the right is Sam, or Sem (age 7.) They are both from Haiti and we fell in love with the two of them on our trip last Summer.

I really love this picture because it shows both of their personalities very well. Alto is somewhat quiet and shy (what a change to have one like that in our family) and Sem is a bit of a troublemaker/joker (that's a little more like the rest of them.) They both are creative, happy, joyful, caring, and giving little boys.

We've been a tad quiet about the entire thing for several reasons. First, it seems somewhat surreal to call children who barely know you your own; to feel so bonded, invested, and close to children who don't even speak the same language as you do. Nevertheless, this is exactly what is happening; as it must, I suppose, for all adoptive parents. Second, we only recently got legal permission from their birthparents to adopt them. And third, we have been COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED by the entire process! When we were told it will be an emotional, expensive, and exhausting process, not a single person was kidding even in the slightest.

So, please join with us in prayer as we continue our emotional roller coaster of lawyers, paperwork, notaries, communications (and lack thereof), and the most exciting and faith building experience I have had yet to date in my life. God is a Father who cares, who loves, and who is involved in the details of our lives if we will let Him.

Just Jumpin'

Aubrey is on a competitive jump rope team....that's right, competitive. Most of you, I doubt have heard of such a thing (neither had I.) However, if you don't believe jump rope to be a real sport...I challenge you to do it for 5 minutes straight. Trust me, it's much harder than you think.

Well, as in usual Aubrey style, she is doing fairly well. Although this time it has required quite a bit of hard work on her part. Well, she passed off enough jump rope skills to be on the team last June and believes she has finally found her athletic calling in life.

On her 13th birthday of this year she had the opportunity to compete in a regional jump rope competition up in Idaho. Here is a picture of her team with the ribbons won.

Her little double dutch team won 4th place out of 26 for their routine. They were all three very surprised to have won as this is the first year for all three of them. Aubrey was so surprised, in fact, that she broke out in tears. Their hard work had paid off and she was thrilled!

She is hoping to be able to compete in the National competition next year.

Videos of her double dutch as well as her individual freestyle routine are on my facebook page.

20 Years Already?

It's been 20 years since I graduated from high school. It's a bit of a mile marker in one's life. You are now a completely different person than you were 20 years ago, but for some reason, whether high school was a good or bad experience, who we were then (as much as many of us would like to deny this) seems to somehow influence who you are the rest of your life.

Overall, it was a great weekend to get away, let loose, and act like a kid again. "The girls" had an old fashioned slumber party and spent the evening (and early morning) looking at yearbooks, reminiscing, and giggling like old times.


The best part was I got to spend an entire weekend with my oldest and dearest friend, Shannon (on the far right.) Very few friendships make it past high school to go on to a deeper level. She is one who has and I'm grateful for it.

It was such a treat to be able to spend time with her kids. It truly seems like yesterday we were making trips out to see one another after the birth of all of our children (she had a couple more trips to make than I did.)


Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art...It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.
C.S. Lewis


Take a moment to be thankful for friends that stand the test of time.

HAITI

Many of you know that Tony, Aubrey, and I spent 10 days in Cap Haitien, Haiti this past summer working at an orphanage there. As we were hoping to make a difference in the lives of the children there, the situation was reversed. The children and the staff there had an incredible impact of the 3 of us. We have never known children to be so grateful, loving, helpful, creative, and just plain happy.

I think I could post every picture we took while we were there and write a book, but I will spare you and just share the highlights.


THE WORK:

There is no real sewer or landfill system in Cap Haitien, so when streets are clogged with trash, the water tends to pool up at the orphanage. The project we decided to take on while we were there was helping the stagnant water drain out of the orphanage. The best way of doing this was to have 5 truckloads of dirt hauled in and manually move it to build a canal to improve the drainage system already there. We've never sweat so much in our life!

Here is the end result of our labor as well as the process.




THE KIDS:

Aubrey with Sam...they were buds from the beginning.

Aubrey flying a kite with Sam. Aub and I jump roping with the girls.



Tony and Jhonny... Jose and Dalencia...they take such
care of one another.



Josie (left) and Ti-Marie (right) begged Aubrey to do her hair. It only took 3 hours and a very high pain tolerance....but they got it done. Aubrey and Josie are keeping in touch with letters since we have gotten home.

The biggest impact on all of us was an overwhelming attitude of gratefulness. Not for all of the material blessings that we have in the US, but gratefulness for a God who provides for ALL of His people. Not on a physical level, but on a spiritual level. Psalm 146:9 says "The Lord protects the strangers; He supports the fatherless and the widow, But He thwarts the way of the wicked." He is the protector of His people. The key to world peace, to starvation, to war, to corrupt governments, isn't what this world thinks it is. This world seeks diplomacy, negotiation, and sometimes war to solve these problems. The real solution is our God who is so powerful he simply spoke and made the heavens, simply breathed and there were stars (PS 33:6.) Our God who looks from heaven and sees ALL the sons of men; and looks on ALL the inhabitants of the earth, who fashions the hearts of them ALL, and who understands ALL their works (Ps. 33:13-15.) His eye is on us who fear Him, He will deliver our soul from death and famine. He is our help and shield. So therefore, we wait for the Lord, our heart rejoices in Him because we TRUST His holy name (Ps. 33:18-21.) The solution is simple...the world simply needs to learn to trust in this magnificent Creator. To trust in Him, they need to know Him, to know Him, they need to hear about Him. For this reason we are planning to continue this ministry as long as God will allow.

Summer 2010

We started off in May with our traditional Providence Fun Run with the Schadeggs. We did this the first year they moved here and have done it most years ever since. Everyone won a ribbon. Even John won a ribbon for the mile run. He somehow managed to keep up with little Joshua the entire way! (Joshua is holding it.)

Training continues as I am planning to run a half marathon the end of August and a full at the end of October.

We have a new addition to our household. We have taken in a vagabond grad student from Ohio named Trevor. He has benefited a great deal...we refinished a room in the basement just for him and he gets the privilege of partaking of my fabulous cooking every night. The kids love him and he has truly been a blessing to our family.




















Cameron has graduated to Boy Scouts and Caleb is now a Bear Cub Scout. Scouting has been great for the boys as it gives them a sense of accomplishment as they complete assigned tasks.
















We decided to take a spontaneous and long overdue trip to see the Hammon family in California while Tony was in Europe for work. They have a beautiful place and it was great to spend some quality time with all the girls (and Doug.)


My good friend Amber talked me into doing a triathlon with her. We had a great time and I finished right at my goal time (and no...I won't disclose what it was.)

These are only highlights up until June. July was full of excitement as well. Details are soon to come.