Thursday, July 11, 2013

Haiti 2013

Disclaimer:  Pictures are totally out of order.

Daddy, Big Sis, and I went to Haiti in June.
I was there last June.  If you want to read about last year's trip click here.


It was just as beautiful as I remembered it.
I didn't have the culture shock this time, so I didn't have to wait for God to reveal the beauty.
I just saw it.  


Immediately.










  I have a love affair with Haiti.  It takes my breath away.
I'm not the only one.
Many of us returned for year 2.  This time we brought along our children, spouses, and friends.
So many of us needed to share.

I have tears in my eyes as I type.  I'm already ready to go back!



 


When Big Sis got some free time she almost always headed to the 
orphanage or play areas to hang with the MOH kids.



I remember last year I was TERRIFIED to hang out with teenagers.
It seems so silly now.  These kids are so wonderful.  
I wish I would have spent my teen years with a heart for the Lord.
It's truly a privilege to serve with them!


They are crazy....





But it's a good crazy!









The challenge for the week and for our future is to LOVE RECKLESSLY!












Wherever we went....kids flocked.











































The very last day I was so bummed when I found out that we would be working on MOH campus in the food warehouse instead of in the villages. 
If you can remember from last year's post...the warehouse was being built.  
Now it's full of food!

 I felt very differently at the end of the day.  
I never understood how MOH feeds 63,000 kids a day.  
Now I see.  It was a privilege to be a part of it!












A weeks worth of rice, protein powder, and beans were bagged up in each trash bag.



Each bulk bag below contained 100 trash bags.





We packed food for 87,045 people that day.  

We were pooped!  But it felt good!



Our worship time together....
No words....




Worship time with the Haitians....




AWESOME!!!

Big sister's observation, "I can't believe how people are so happy when they have so little."

Yes....isn't that something. 


I had the bonus of having some of my favorite people with me on this trip....









 

Above pic was taken on Big Sis's 12th birthday!!
(I'll write more about that soon.)




 And having my favorite guy there meant the WORLD to me!!
 

From the moment I left Haiti last year I prayed for the above picture.  
Having Daddy and Big Sis there was an answered prayer!

We met a new friend.
He traveled alone.
He wasn't even sure why he was there.
I was so drawn to him because I could see the Lord working...
I was so excited for him to see Haiti how I see Haiti.


By the end I think he saw a lot of beautiful...


Just as God sees them...and us!




I got to see the whole thing unfold and it was cool!


 I love these people!  



I love this country!















Most of all I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the God that NEVER fails.


Until next year Haiti.....





I hear the chains falling!!!

Monday, June 24, 2013

A crazy time at Disney......


Disney is one of my favorite places on Earth.  
And this time we were there with some of my favorite people.
Sounds like a perfect combination.....right?
It was a memorable week.
But, there were some serious challenges!

4 Adults....
8 children....
and RAIN, RAIN, and MORE RAIN!

Her name was Tropical Storm Andrea.
She definitely rained on our parade!!
The last 2 days the rain stopped and Mr. Sun showed his face in FULL FORCE!
Therefore, every vacationer came out to try to get their monies worth.  

Our camera did not capture many pics due to the rain.
Here are a few fun pics we did get.














He said it was the worst birthday ever....
But the pics look like he was having a good time ;)












   

















Bedtime stories by Daddy...


For the most part Baby Girl did not enjoy the trip.
She liked climbing on things and playing in the water fountains....
but hated rides, sit down restaurants, and she started refusing a poncho after the first couple days.
Naps broke up our time and one night she coughed so hard she threw up in her bed.
I am thankful that this is the last time I will be at Disney with a child in diapers.
(But I can't wait to take her back in a few years!!)

So....if you asked the children to tell you about the trip you would hear a different story.

At the end of the week I asked the older girls what they thought. 
IT WAS AWESOME they all replied. 

This was our second vacation of the year.
(The first one was Spring Break at the Beach)
Weather wise....we are 0-2.
Family time we are 2-2.



catch up....baby girl's birthday

I'm way behind....

Here are a few pic from Baby Girl's celebration....