adjusting.

Well, we've been home for almost two weeks and I'm still missing Haiti like crazy. And not adjusting very well. Life here is so different from there. It's fast. When you're there, you take the time to see the beauty of the people, mountains, and stars. Here, we don't do that. We do now, since it's kinda hard to miss the leaves changing colors but do we do it everyday and do we do it in more than just our surroundings? Do we look at the beauty in each other or the people we drive by on the street or our family members? (which that one is probably the hardest to see) We're made in God's Image! We SHOULD see the beauty. Every day.

You must not make for yourself an idol of
any kind or an image of anything in the
heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You
must not bow down to them or worship
them, for I, the Lord your God, am a
jealous God who will not tolerate your
affection for any other gods.
-Exodus 20:4-5

I'm very thankful to live for a God who will fight for my wandering heart. This verse applies so well to my life lately. God's been showing me the idols in my life, then stripping me completely from them. You see, these idols aren't bad things. They become bad when you put them above God. When you look to them for joy, satisfaction, and fulfillment. Relationships- family and friends, is a big one for me. That's where my joy, satisfaction, and fulfillment were coming from; not all of it, most of it was from God, but some of it wasn't. God cares about your whole heart; He wants all of it. Even if the slightest bit wanders, He will go after it. He will do anything to get it- until He has it all. Until you only have Him to look to for joy, satisfaction and fulfillment. To be filled with Jesus and only Jesus: true joy. true satisfaction. true fulfillment.

He emptied my hands of my treasured store,
And His covenant love revealed,
There was not a wound in my aching heart,
The balm of His breath has not healed.
Oh, tender and true was His discipline sore,
In wisdom, that taught and tried,
Till the soul that He sought was trusting in Him,
And nothing on earth beside.

packin'up.

We're heading out today. It's now a lot harder to leave here after spending time with Wilson and Julie. But God will take care of them. Last night I was on the deck of the guesthouse star gazing. When I first got out there it was all cloudy, but as I watched, the clouds slowly drifted away revealing a sky completely covered in stars. That is such a great picture of how God works. He may bring clouds in your life, but He is always faithful to bringing everything back to His glory and to our good- to something beautiful. Rest in that today.

See you all soon!

babynopants.

I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.
-Psalm 140:12
I am just overwhelmed with how good our God is. In April 2010 when I first came to Haiti, there was a little boy along the mountain that we would see every day. He never had pants on so we named him Baby No Pants. He stole my heart the first time I saw him. Ever since then there has been a picture by my bed and I've been praying that he would get a chance to go to school and that he'd be told about Jesus. Today I walked up to the preschoolers to see the little girl our family is sponsoring, and I see him on the play ground with the school kids! He is in school getting an education and being told about Jesus! Now through sponsoring him I get to write him letters, send him things, put him through school, give him a meal everday, and give him a chance to hear about Jesus because of what Mountaintop Ministry does. God is so good and faithful- answering prayers you never thought would be answered. He is so powerful! Oh, and his real name is Wilson Louis. God, you are good.

hope.

This mornings service was awesome. It gave us just a teeny glimpse of what Heaven is going to be like.
After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. Revelation 7:9
What a beautiful picture! That will be one glorious day, being in heaven and worshiping Jesus with people from every nation and tribe and people and language.

After church we took a tour through the village of Gramothe where the church and school are. We went through peoples homes, saw some old voodoo temples, and got to see what life is like for them. They are so joyful and appreciative, that blows me away.

We got to visit the orphanage where the Lance's and Schumacher (friends from dubuque) families are adopting. We got the chance to snuggle with and love on their soon to be kids, it was so hard to leave them there. They probably don't get barely any love, and I'm complaining about missing Lillie, Titus and Toby. We complain so much.

Prayer requests: God's power to keep breaking our hearts, we'd see as many patients as possible tomorrow, and God's will.

PS. If those of you who don't have facebook want to see more pictures, here's the link to my album: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150382088508000.406002.749417999&l=b8bf8d5489&type=1

blessings.

Yesterday was a crazy day in the clinic- many sad stories, God showing me I have nothing to complain about. He is just stripping my heart from all my comfortable life. We could have it so much worse in America, but God has blessed and cursed us by putting us there. Blessed because we have nothing to worry about compared to the rest of the world, and cursed because we don't appreciate or see what God has blessed us with. Start thinking about all God has saved you from and blessed you with. It will blow your mind.

We saw Baby No Pants on the way home- Anna stopped so I could get a picture (above). He is so big and precious! I want to just take him home with me, he's so cute and joyful. We're heading off to church, I'll try and update later today. Sorry I didn't get to last night, we haven't had any power the whole time we've been here so we're trying not to suck the power.

Prayer requests: our last day of clinic (tomorrow) would go well and we'd be able to see the rest of the patients with no turning people away, safe travels on the way home, and God's will to be done. He is good!

lotsofpills.

Today we saw 143 patients total! I worked in the pharmacy along with Caden, we had a lot of fun but it was long standing all day. My feet had heartbeats. My family got to meet the little girl we are sponsoring (picture above). She is so sweet and beautiful! We gave her a new outfit and she was over joyed- it was so wonderful. Baby No Pants was along the mountain again, I missed the picture :( Praying he will be out tomorrow. A pregnant woman came in today, maybe 20s, and she told us the father was 76 years old. She got pregnant around three years ago with a young guy so her mom kicked her out, she gave the baby up for adoption (he's now two and doing very well), moved in with the 76 year old and now she's pregnant again, keeping this baby. It was so sad, but the upside is I got to listen to the heartbeat of the baby- the gift of life is so amazing. God is good!

Prayer requests: Baby No Pants would be on the mountain tomorrow, we'd be able to see all those in need, and God's will to be done.

toms&babynopants

Again today we all worked in the clinic- seeing around 130 people. We all did pretty much the same things. A few of us went up during the pre-schoolers break from class and played with them. I made the mistake of showing them the pictures I would take of them, resulting in being surrounded by a ton of little children.

God's little love notes to me today:
-While we were up playing with the kids I saw a little girl sitting down putting her shoes on, so I go over and as I got closer I saw they were TOMS! Oh my word, it was so awesome to see that.
-On our way home along the rode I saw my little Baby No Pants! When I saw him I just cried, he is so big and precious! He did have pants on today, which is good. I didn't have my camera with me so hopefully I will see him again so I can snap a shot. He is so dear to my heart.

Prayer requests: there's a lot of rain coming down right now which makes it hard to get up the mountain so safety for that, God's power to reign down on us at the clinic tomorrow, He would work His power, and His will to be done.

God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.
-2 Corinthians 1:3-5

PS. TOMS is an organization where you buy a pair of shoes and with your purchase you are purchasing another pair for a person in need in a third- world country. Baby No Pants is a little boy who lives on the side of the mountain who we'd see everyday last year. He never wore any pants and he just stole my heart from the beginning. That's why I was so filled with joy when I saw him again.

temps, babies & pills.

The clinic went well today- thank you for your prayers! We saw around 90 people, from 12 days old to about 70. Dad and I took temperatures, weight, and pill counting. Caden worked in the pharmacy. Mom mostly counted pills and oohed over all the babies. I am amazed by how patient and well behaved the children are here. They wait in line for hours, and the kids don't even make a fuss. They are so grateful.

Prayer requests: safety going up and down the mountain, we'd be able to see and treat many patients, and God's will to be done.

Satisfy us each morning with your
unfailing love,
so we may sing for joy to the end
of our lives.
-Psalm 90:14

dayone.

We're here, in case you didn't figure that out! The flights all went well and the ride up wasn't too bad either. I have a few bruises to show how crazy the ride is though. We didn't go through all the bad damage yet, but we did see many hurting people and much destruction. Today is the first day of the clinic, I'm watching people walk up the mountain and get in line as I write. Jobs aren't assigned yet, so who knows what we will be doing. Pray we will get to see as many patients as possible, and we'll be able to treat the patients we see. I'll update tonight to let you know how it all went. I hope you all have a wonderful day cause God is good!

finally.

We are almost there, folks. Tomorrow (Monday) will be a day of last minute packing, soaking in God's presence, coffee (lots of it), and deep dish Chicago pizza with sweet fellowship with wonderful friends. Tuesday will be a day of sleep deprivation (coffee), airports (more coffee), Haiti, riding in the back of the death truck on top of our luggage with Sam Compton, and finally settling at Mountaintop (and more coffee). It has come so fast! I'm very eager to see what God is going to do through us and in us this week.

Prayer requests: baggage arrives on time, safety, everyone makes flights, team unity, our hearts would be open to what God has for us this week, and that the devil would stay out of our way.

I will never forget this awful time,
as I grieve over my loss.
Yet I still dare to hope
when I remember this:
The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning.
I say to myself, "The Lord is my
inheritance;
therefore, I will hope in him!"
The Lord is good to those who depend
on him,
to those who search for him.
-Lamentations 3:20-25

This passage of scripture is so comforting and true. When God strips away all the things dear to you, He is still faithful, loving, merciful, hopeful, and good. He doesn't need me; He wants me. I am in awe of His never-ending love for a wicked sinner like me.

14 days

That (Haiti) is where I'll be in 14 days, along with my family and a few other families from Dubuque. I am so anxious to get there! I've been having dreams about the children; the trip has come so quick! I'm going to try and blog again while we're there, in order to keep Papa and Mema sane that is. You could start praying for God's will to be done, team unity, total abandon to ourselves, and countless opportunities to show God's unending love to the beautiful people of Haiti. Thank you!