Search for answers

We made it to Haiti safe and sound with no real issues.  It took a little longer to get through customs because of the pool filter Jared brought with him, but Jim and Debbie talked their way out of having to pay taxes on it.

Our last two days, for me, have been pretty uneventful for the most part. Jeremiah's team however, has gone above and beyond all expectations and gotten a lot done so far.  I unfortunately have not been feeling too well ( thanks mom! :) ) but thankfully the doctor prescribed me a Z-Pack so I'm trying my best to knock this sinus infection out.

On Sunday, we visited the Australian church (I think it was call Port au Prince fellowship) which was a true treat.  There is nothing better than praising God surrounded by fellow missionaries and believers in Haiti! It was an amazing worship time where we all got to connect with God like never before.  I was so encouraged to see how many missionaries, especially young missionaries, were here! I've gotten in the habit of working with the same people down here that I forgot how many missionaries were really here.  God is working in this country, I feel truly blessed to be a part of it.

This morning we all took a trip to the hardware store. I had heard all about it and wanted to check it out myself. I have to say I was very impressed! It wasn't too far off from a Home Depot.  I helped Debbie pick out a paint color for the exterior of the house, and they mixed it for us like they do in the states! That's HUGE here!  It used to be whatever colors they had were your options.  If you wanted something different you had to mix it yourself. ( I've seen that first hand painting Dorothy's bathroom a few months back.) The best part, however, is that their room for the paint mixing was air conditioned!!!! When they guy asked us to come back in a second time Debbie and I joked saying "if we must!"  It was a nice treat.

After our trip to Eko Depot we had lunch and the guys got to work on their various projects.  The pool got filled almost completely, a screened porch is almost complete, and electrical stuff has been wired up.  They are finishing the screen porch & pool tomorrow and then working on getting they inverter set up.  Once that's hooked up Jim & Debbie will basically never have to go without power.  It's such a blessing to them and teams coming through!

While the guys were hard at work, I got to sit down with Debbie and go through my list of questions. She patiently answered them all and I feel much better about things. I'm gonna have to raise more money than I expected, but I know if this is God's will he will provide.   I'm trusting Him with the details because they surpass my understanding at this point.  It's all a bit overwhelming but I know and trust God will take care of every thing, even dow to the tiniest detail.

I've been so encouraged by the team, Donna, Jim, & Debbie over the last two days.  Everyone is so supportive and willing to do what is needed to see me succeed.  God really knew what he was doing when he connected me with Jim & Debbie almost four years ago.  The whole journey has been incredible and I'm constantly standing in awe of God's goodness and provision.

Thank you all for the love, prayers, and support! The week has just begun, I can't wait to see what comes next!

And I'm off!

Well it's that time again!!  I leave for Haiti tomorrow morning at 6:50am.  I've got a pretty long layover in Miami, but I am very excited to get back down there and start putting plans into action.

My goal for this trip is to finalize (as much as possible) the amount I will need to raise to make the move.  I've got a long list of questions to go through with Jim & Debbie to work through some of the logistics.  I'm truly praying this trip will be one of more answers than questions.  While I'm sure I'll end up coming home with questions I had not yet thought of, I truly hope and pray I will come home with a pretty clear understanding of the next step!  I'd like to get the fundraising started as soon as possible, so fingers crossed and prayers lifted on that area!!

I am not taking my computer on this trip, but I will have my phone, so I'll try to update here and on facebook as internet allows.  I have a feeling most of my trip will be spent compiling the details and sorting through it all.

Please pray for me as I take this step of Faith and continue on this journey.  Please pray for safe and timely travels, my safety, & my health.  I'd also like to ask that you would begin specifically praying over my long-term goals.  Pray that the Lord would use this trip to open doors & that He would show me which path to take at every turn.  Also, please pray about my fundraising needs and how it will all come together. I know the Lord has a plan, and I am trusting he will provide exactly what is needed to make the move.  I am continually praying that I will have the courage and strength to follow his call & that he would begin working in me to prepare me fully for this journey.

It's going to be a great week!! I can't wait to see how God works!!

Thanks again for all of your love and support!! 

Haiti here I come (again)!!!!!

My Month in Numbers

1 dog watched for  5 days.

5 days until my 23rd birthday!

13 days until I'll be back in Haiti!

20 hours put in during my first week at work.

10 field trips booked.

30 clubs planned.

10 students registered.

1 new camp office decorated with: 14 feet of fabric and 3 canvases; which were made into 1 curtain & 3 art pieces!

$1000 of product sold at our recent Thirty-One fundraiser.  

Meaning we raised $200 for my trip to Haiti.

All  $998 for my trip is now covered, with an extra 

$60 to save for the next trip!!!!

2 brightly colored spring dresses &

5 new pairs of shorts added to my wardrobe over the last few weeks 
*Happy Birthday to Me!!*

 All equaling 1 very happy, content, & busy girl who can't wait to get back to Haiti!!

To Grandmother's House We Went

This past weekend, all the grand kids headed up to Grandma & Pa's for the weekend, with a couple of extra people in stow :)! 

We've spent plenty of weekends at Grandma's with the whole family, but we've just recently started making it a habit to take grand kid trips.  It's such a fun time for all of us getting to hang out with Grandma & Pa without the chaos when the whole family goes up.  It also thrilled Grandma & Pa so much last time, that we knew it would become a tradition!

So after a little bit of planning, we packed up the car & headed out.  Unfortunately Stephen couldn't go on this trip, but we still had a lot of fun!

Here are some highlights from the weekend.  Prepare yourself for the craziness of my family :)

A trip to Wal-Mart is always a necessity when at Grandma's.  Andy never fails to make us laugh with his discoveries.

 We challenged Andy to make the ugliest outfit possible.  This was his selection.  Ha!

 Erin & I before heading to church!

Old timers!! Reading the newspaper and doing word searches.  Also let me make note of the rivalry in the shirts going on here.

 Andy decided to join the youth choir on Sunday morning.  To say the rest of us enjoyed this would be an understatement!! We got a good laugh out of his attempts to follow along.

 The grand kids!  (this picture is required after every trip to grandma's)

 Along with a few candid shots of our crazy family.

 The whole crew for the weekend after church.

 Andy being Andy.

Ain't they sweet!

We had a lovely weekend!  We all ate WAAY too much food, laughed hysterically, and had a ton of fun reminiscing. 

Thanks for having us Grandma & Pa!  We love you!!!!!

Trusting YOU God!

So many questions....so few answers.

My mind has been racing endlessly over the last couple of days.  My mind, wanting the details and answers now, has been fighting with my heart, that knows I must wait.  The questions seem to multiply every day, leading to sleepless nights and unproductive days.

I've been in prayer over all of this every step of the way, and even though I know God is going to make the path clear, I find myself completely unsure of which path to follow.

I covet your prayers as I take this journey.  Please pray for my patience, ability to discern God's will, and courage to walk where He leads.  Please pray that God would make HIS path clear and provide me with the resources, finances, and skills needed to follow through.

I've got two mission opportunities I feel led to follow right now.

One option is what I thought I'd be doing.  It sounds fun, challenging, exciting, right up my alley, and the path I want to take.  It will be hard, and I don't know that I am quite equipped for the job yet, but I know with His help I could do it and bring Glory to His name.

The other...well it is not at all the path I thought I'd be taking.  It's one I have fought every step of the way.  One I feel completely inadequate to fulfill, and one that requires more commitment than I even know if I can make.  It's one that would require more sacrifice than I imagined.  It is an option I know I could do, and would probably be good at once trained, but I just it's a lot to take on!  However, I know God would be glorified through it, and there must be a reason He keeps laying it on my heart.

I can't get either option off of my mind.  Each consumes my thoughts in more ways than one every. single. day.  I find myself at peace over one, one minute, and the next anything but.  I have no clue which path I am supposed to take.

Are they supposed to overlap somehow?

Do I do one now, and the other later?

Do I help with both in a way I haven't even thought of yet?

I simply don't know, but I am covering it all in prayer, waiting for God to reveal His plan.

I just need a HUGE dose of patience until that happens.