1.12.10 {Haiti}

Two years ago today 316,000 people lost their lives in the devastating earth quake in Port Au Prince, Haiti.  300,000 others were injured and 1,000,000 people were made homeless on this day.  We are so far removed from this reality.  We have no idea what this type of devastation looks like.  I caught a glimpse of it last year, and Dallas got an even better idea the year before, but we really cannot fathom this reality.

I miss my short time in Haiti.  I told Dallas once and I will say it again, I could live there.  I would have never thought I could move to a place like that and drag my children along to an impoverished nation, but I could.  I don't know what it is about that place, but it is special.  A piece of my heart is there, my prayers go there and I believe I saw a glimpse of hope in a hopeless place.

Haiti is a devastated nation full of beautiful people.

Anytime I get too superficial, greedy, sad or angry I look at my video and pictures from our trip.  I look at the eyes of the children and think about what their day, year and future holds.  It really sort of puts me in my place.  I am so thankful for that reminder.

I hope you will remember to continue to pray for Haiti.  The work there is not yet done!

Mass Grave {over 250,000 bodies}

Memories

 I got my hands on a few new photos today.  Thank goodness for being "tagged" on facebook.  I rarely had my camera on me in the villages, so I'm very thankful to my teammates for snapping some shots of us!  I want to remember these faces!

 Outreach in Titanyen Village

Wislee and I in Leveque

This little boy ran up to Dallas and hugged him like he had known him all his life.  Holly just happened to capture the moment. I got one too...

Simon saaaays...

Another Random thought...Don't you just LOVE Dallas' curly head?!  Love it!!

He's looking a bit like a wolf-man, but I like it!  Our children are destined to have some THICK unruly hair.

This beach looked out onto La Ganove Island where Gut's Church has done so much to reach, feed, provide water for and educate the people there.  It was very cool to see!  We used to go to church at Guts and hear about La Ganove, so to see it in person was a blessing! Click here to read more about what Guts Church is doing in Haiti.

Haiti...here we come!

In just a few days Dallas and I, along with a team of 20 other adults will travel to the most impoverished nation in the Western Hemisphere.  I find myself getting more and more emotional the closer the trip gets.  I watch this video from last years trip and tears just fill my eyes...

http://vimeo.com/14461130

Last year Dallas traveled to  Port Au Prince Haiti just weeks after the most devastating earthquake Haiti had encountered. 250,000 people were killed and over 30,000 buildings collapsed.  I can't even imagine.  Dallas came home a different person, a changed man.  So many people from the trip last year have said that their life has been forever changed by the experience.  I cannot wait.

I cannot wait to wrap my arms around the orphans.  Every one of the kids from the video is an orphan, no parent to care for them, nobody to hug them, to love them, to look them in the eyes....nobody.   There are over 400,000 children in Haiti without parents.  I know that I will only be there a short time, but it's my mission to hug on as many of these little ones that I can. To give them attention and affection, to hold their hands, play with them and treat them like they are my kids.  There are so many abandoned kids and orphanages, please pray for them!

I am so excited and expectant for what God is going to do through our team and in my life.  I know that I know that we are supposed to be on this trip.  God has confirmed it over and over again.  Even when the financial aspect of the trip became a question, God took care of one of our trips almost instantly!  Then when the blizzard hit and there were repairs and deductibles to be met, God took care of the other trip, that very week.  Thank you so much to all of you who contributed to our trip!  I cannot express how blessed we feel by each and every one of you.  We have been SO blessed that we have been able to bless others to be able to go as well.  I pray for each and every one of you....that God will bless you and that He will take the seed you have planted in us and will multiply it's fruit 1000 times over!  Some people are called to go, some to give and some to do both.  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for answering the call to give.  By giving you are going with us!

Dallas says that Haiti is one of the most beautiful places he's ever been. 

Prayer Requests...

Please pray for our team.  We will be at the Mission of Hope, part of Convoy of Hope...http://www.mohhaiti.org They run a wonderful organization that helps feed over 50,000 meals a day to children in schools and orphanages throughout Haiti.  They are making a difference.  Please pray for our safety and for the safety of our kids while we are away.  Please pray for Rhett as he has been dehydrated.  Last night our Dr. wanted to admit him the the Children's hospital.  He ended up letting us take him home for the night where we forced pedialyte down him.  He has had over 15 ounces of pedialyte since we have been home and woke up with a wet diaper this morning!  Praise God for His faithfulness to heal!  Please pray that Rhett will continue to stay hydrated and will be healthy while we are away.  Many of the adults on our trip have children at home, please pray that they all remain safe and well taken care of in the absence of their mom or dad or both.  

Stayed tuned for our return!