December 2011
1 post
A Prayer
“Father I abandon myself into your hands, do with me what you will. For whatever you may do, I thank you. I am ready for all, I accept all, let only your will be done in me, as in all your creatures.” -Charles de Foucauld
God help this be the prayer of my heart.
It Was a Birthday Kind of Day...
Happy birthday to Paula today!! Didn’t do alot today and that was just fine. A quiet morning led into a restful afternoon, followed by a trip to market and birthday dinner with friends. We shoveled the yummiest cupcakes in before heading off to Wednesday worship with all the staff, kids, and team members. (some of my best moments here are in times of worship with these sweet people) It was...
November 2011
2 posts
Haiti (Nov/Dec)
There is a precious girl I’d like to tell you about. Her name is Ensa, she is 4 yrs old, and as you can see from the picture above, she has the sweetest smile ever and a personality to match it. Brooke, our nurse friend here, took us to meet her today at a hospital nearby. Yep… a hospital :( She has spent the last 2 wks staying there and more than 7 wks battling fevers. She also continues to have...
June 2011
5 posts
Lizards everywhere…
written Friday, June 10th…
It’s become a pretty normal occurrence… all shapes and sizes, perched on a ledge, climbing a wall, falling from somewhere above you to land in front of your feet. No big deal. Ha. Today we had a lot of sun… it was glorious! We soaked it up over lunch and then walked up the river that runs behind the house to go swimming. It may have been my favorite part of the...
Fireflies and candlelit dinner...
The lights are out. I’m laying in my bed under my mosquito net so I don’t get attacked by bugs while holding my phone or a flashlight. Oh life without consistent electricity…
A quiet morning led to long day of seemingly endless projects. We worked on two things today, and it’s discouraging to barely see a dent at the end of your work. But… There is a dent. And I guess sometimes you just don’t...
Two wonderful things: we had pizza for dinner last night! and we got the afternoon off today! So nice to have some time to breathe before we are off to the next place tomorrow. Things have really settled down at the CTC… lots of patients still, but less chaos. We considered changing our plans and staying here an extra week, but have decided to leave as planned. We are excited for the new and...
May 2011
12 posts
Prayer Needed
“Jesus give Paula and I strength, endurance, and a happy heart. Grant us the ability to be okay with change, and to know that we should never count on our own plans. You are in charge, not me. God you are sustainer, comforter, healer, giver of life. and joy… I do not have to rely on my own abilities, so help me not be discouraged. These patients do not have to rely on their bodies or us to...
I’m writing this while watching Enchanted in the midst of a major downpour and thunderstorm. The internet is out because of the storm so I won’t be able to post this until tomorrow, but I figured I’d get the writing part done. The rain here in Haiti is nothing like the rain us Seattlites are used to! In most cases, when you walk out into it you are immediately drenched from head to toe, it lasts...
Be prepared… it’s a long one :)
So we’ve been working in the Cholera Treatment Center (CTC) since Sunday, which I have to say has been quite the experience. The first day I thought, wow that was crazy… and then Monday happened. I had written an entire post about the day on Monday night, but as I went to post it, it disappeared :( I will try and recapture it to the best of my ability.
I think I’ve...
transitions
as paula and i make our transition from Child Hope to Samaritan’s Purse, and wanted to make sure i blogged about another transition… the one the kids go through as they age out of the MDL (maison de lumiere). Child hope has recently put into place a “transition program” for these young people, and we had the chance to tour it as well as get to know the awesome staff working...
trust...
a new place tomorrow… I am sad to leave this place, but our attempts to stay a couple extra days were not successful, so off we go. I am one emotional girl and my heart attaches quickly, so even though there is excitement in what’s ahead, leaving the comfort and connections here is hard. so for now, I will soak up every last moment, I will lavish hugs and kisses on the kids, I will take lots of...
answered prayer :)
*sunset on the roof :)
last night we had the opportunity to join the girls for a bible study… we got to spend time worshiping together (you wouldn’t believe how awesome it is to sit back, close my eyes, and listen to their beautiful voices!) the pastor from the visiting team, lead the scripture reading and questions that I was convinced the girls would not answer… but they did. multiple girls...
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine,...
October 2010
2 posts
just sharing...
…i’m back with Child Hope and the “MDL” kids for a few days. a few days? can’t believe i return to the states on thursday. this is where i spent my whole trip in july. i was excited to come back, but also a little nervous… i didn’t know if the kids would remember me and i doubted they would be nearly as excited to see me as i was to see them. its not that...
Back in Haiti: highs and lows from week one...
highs:
-out in the beautiful countryside of haiti, we set up a clinic for three days. we were blessed with great translation and a group of helpful guys, who not only served willingly, but were alot of fun :) a boy came in on the second day with a tooth so infected that the whole left side of his face was immensely swollen. we were able to send him immediately to the hospital, with money to cover...
September 2010
2 posts
““Jesus, all for Jesus,
All I am and have and ever hope to be.
All of my...”
Lesson: Give up...
Psalm 33:10-11 “The LORD shatters the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes. But the LORD’s plans stand firm forever; his intensions can never be shaken”
Psalm 32:8-9 “The LORD says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life, I will advise you and watch over you. Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control’”
I often...
August 2010
1 post
Lesson: Suffering and Purpose
I posted this to Facebook earlier this year and have been wanting to add it here as well. With everything going on at the moment, this is the perfect time for me to repost this… to reread it… to remind myself of God’s goodness and the TRUTH in the quote under the title of this blog.
Originally written on March 8th, 2010: “I have been faced with quite a bit of suffering...
July 2010
8 posts
How deep the Father's love for us...
“I am overcome with joy because of your unfailing love, for you have seen my trouble, and you care about the anguish of my soul.” Psalm 31:7
Today I was reading back through some notes from while I was in Haiti and I came across this verse. I remember reading it. Remember it jumping off the page and into the heaviness of my heart. I needed it then, and I think I need that reassurance even...
HAITI
…riding in the back of a big white truck we call “the cage,” snuggling sweaty children on our laps… sun burnt and dirt covered skin from maneuvering the streets of Port Au Prince while standing in the back of another vehicle… dehydration… running clinic when all we wanted to do was, well, not move… dancing on the roof in the rain… playing basketball with the boys, barefoot and soaking wet…...
HAITI
Just a couple more days… my heart is aching to stay. Often as the end of something great nears, my mood is effected in anticipation. I felt it starting to happen on Sunday… maybe even Saturday. I’ve been praying these last few days to just remain focused on being present, making the most of the time I have left. Every time I’m near a kid, I am praying for and loving on...
HAITI
This is the exercise that my lovely group of boys had to do yesterday… when it was my turn to share, they wanted me to answer the questions about the US, so I thought I’d share my Haiti answers here…
What are your favorite aspects of Haiti? The people first and foremost… the color of the water, the beauty of the haitian countryside and mountains, the food, smiles :)
...
HAITI
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4
Hope for the future. Hope for happier, easier days ahead. Things will be different someday, and that is great news! Today was full of laughter… such sweet memories I am taking from this place :) I spent my...
HAITI
“The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes.” Isaiah 58:11-12
Nine teenage boys and I discussed...
Haiti...
i leave on friday. i get to escape this world and enter another. a world that i love… i’m going to haiti. i won’t be gone long. only 13 days and i will return to deal with the woes and worries of life in washington, but in the midst of this week… under the weight of this week… i welcome the hiatus, the intermission, the breath.
when i am in haiti, i’m less...
June 2010
2 posts
my birthday
A couple weeks ago i was reading a Psalm about how creation reveals God to us. I thought that was really cool, and in that moment I decided that I wanted to plan “creation days” into my life. So last monday, on my birthday, I drove north to find new places, to find God, to find my 26 year old self. It was awesome.
there are days when i want the world to revolve around me. when my selfishness rises to the surface of my character. i am aware of it, and i don’t like how it feels, yet it is there. and i can’t seem to shake the desire for my own desires, and the bitterness of them not being fulfilled.
but today, today i choose YOU. i revolve around you, i am all about you. you are what matters....
May 2010
3 posts
Lesson #8: my insides are messed up
there are times when i feel like the psych ward may be the only place to handle the inner workings of my brain and heart. i honestly feel crazy sometimes… now would be one of those times. i figure maybe writing will calm my anxious heart. and maybe other people feel crazy sometimes too…
God is ruler of my life, right? i want him to be, but i think more often then i would like to...
Lesson #7: so easily shaken...
i’m sitting here discouraged, and i shouldn’t be. my faith, my trust is wavering, and it shouldn’t be. God is using me, using the state of my life, to do exciting things and to learn and grow in him. it’s great! and i really do get pretty excited about it.
i am learning to be a better friend and daughter and sister. God is giving me opportunities to support, encourage, and...
“For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do...”
– Romans 7:15
April 2010
7 posts
Lesson #6: be clear. (in reference to my blog...
… just want to assure everyone that the conversation that was had between me and my brother and my parents, was not a bad one. it was a good one. anything that helps me realize something about myself is a good thing. what i choose to do with it is my business.
but torry was not rude. he loves me, and you have no idea how thankful i am for a relationship that allows us to bring things to...
Lesson #5: its important to think about the good...
Sunday night i was at work and i didn’t want to be there. the drive to work was a sad one and as my shift started, negative emotions started to overwhelm me… anxiety, distraction, disappointment. and here i was. stuck. awake. for 12hrs. my mind gives me claustrophobia sometimes and i just wanted to run. to escape the thoughts that were entangling me. my beautiful friend, rachel,...
Lesson #4: i can't flirt??
while out to dinner with my family this evening, my brother informed me that i am no good at flirting. and that this a skill i should work on as i tend to come off cold and uninviting. hmm… who knew? great.
how did we get on this topic? i believe we were discussing my brother’s mad skills in the area of being flirtatious, and then regrettably stumbled upon my apparent lack of these...
Lesson #3: learning you suck, sucks
people talk about “being humbled” in a way that makes it seem like this gentle, lovely, ah-ha moment. but often, i think being truly humbled feels like the wind has been knocked out of you. it feels really awful before any hint of “lovely” comes around. for me last week, to “be humbled” seemed like a nice way of saying “i am humiliated.”
i am...
Lesson #2: God, glory, love, community
Been thinking about redemption lately… longer post to come. Below are some thoughts from my buddy Donald Miller… i like these thoughts :)
“…what if a person isn’t supposed to be alone, isn’t supposed to have glory on his own, but rather get glory from the God who loves him?”…
“I think that is beautiful… that He [Jesus] went around looking people in the eye to tell them they...
Lesson #1: it's time to write
I have this amazing, wise uncle (actually my dad’s uncle, making him my great uncle and even wiser, right?…right). He is one of the smartest people I know… phD and everything. But there’s another great thing about him. He is incredibly kind, and even though I rarely see him, I know he cares about me… and my family. All this so say, when he talks I listen…
My uncle told me I...