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!

Washington D.C

Tomorrow morning, June 18, myself and eleven others from my church are heading out to Washington D.C to do a vacation bible study at a church in the inner city. We will be gone for ten days. We need a lot of prayer. Please pray that any barriers that are in these kids hearts will be knocked down. Pray for safe travel. Pray that our team will have and keep a strong relationship during this trip. Also for patience for all of us. Thanks for your prayers! I won't be able to blog about each day so I will be keeping a journal and I'll let you know as soon as I get back how it went. Thank you so much.