Not So Little Any More!

Off to school!

It's that time of the year again! School buses, homework, pumpkin everything and cooler weather. And this year my very own Cutie is joining the elementary school kids! She started kindergarden on Tuesday. I feel sappy saying I can't believe how quickly she grew up, but it's true. Just a testament to how precious every day is!

My cutie

Since I am also in classes I couldn't make it home Monday night to be there for the first day of school, so we all skyped. I left her a dress for her first day that she opened while we were skyping and was very excited to wear the next day, and I also got to surprise her that I was going to come home and pick her up from school! All smiles, we ended skype and I crammed in as much homework as possible to enjoy my short time at home.

Shannon and Sean

Tuesday came, and I anxiously awaited the e-mail from my dad full of the traditional "first day of school pictures." She was just too precious! And while the dress is a tad long, it looked adorable with her curly pig-tales. I prayed that God would speed up the clock so I could get home just in time, and through His faithfulness I made it with about 15 minutes to spare!

We walked over to the school and they had the kindergardeners in a corner so they wouldn't get lost or mixed up with the older kids, when Shannon saw us she dropped her backpack and jumped into my arms. It was such a precious moment!

Few more
years buddy!

To celebrate we went and got ice cream (a new first day of school tradition) and Shannon and I spent the rest of the afternoon together. We painted nails, colored, played some games, I braided her hair, and both worn out from a long and exciting day we went to bed early.

In the morning I got to walk her to school and the cutie held my hand the whole time. And when we got to school she gave me a big hug, told me she couldn't wait to come for the football game, and proudly marched into school. That's my goober!

2nd day!

While my trip home was short, it was completely worth it. Shannon and Sean mean everything to me, and to be there for my Cutie on her big day was so special! Their hugs and kisses are irreplaceable!

Ready for the football game!

*Joy of the day: Besides my time with my fam, I love the drive to and from school- it's absolutely beautiful. A true gift from God!

Little Dresses For Africa

While I was in Haiti one of my favorite parts was the little girl's orphanage. I loved painting their nails, playing with bubbles, running around and most of all being able to give them a little something to let them know that they are loved. One special thing that we were able to leave with them was handmade dresses from a group of women at our church! It was really neat to see the way that they were showing these little girls God's love even though they were thousands of miles away! These women never even touched Haitian soil and yet they made a difference!

Now it's my turn! My big hearted friend Brittany is leaving for Africa in a little over a month. She'll be serving the Lord their for several months, and I must admit that I am jealous! I would much rather be serving the Lord and his beloved people in one of his beautiful countries than in a stuffy classroom. So I am going to serve in the same way that the women of my church served along side of us in Haiti!


I found this adorable website called "Little Dresses for Africa." It has the directions on how to make the cute and simple pillow case dresses (and then if you follow their directions you ship them to a woman who will get them to little girls in Africa who need them). But I'm sending mine a different way! Miss Brittany will take the cute little dresses and give them to the little girls she meets while she's over there.

While I believe that everyone is called to serve, service looks different at different times. Making dresses is just as important as taking them across the world. No matter what you are doing, it's big and it will make an impact on someone's life. If it's a bottle of nail polish or painting a little girls nails for the first time,  or making a little dress or giving a little girl a brand new dress that she can be proud of, all of this to show that she is a beautiful daughter of God and that she is fiercely loved!

*Joy of the day: Praying over each of these dresses and for the little girls that will wear them!

God's Work Through CCH

He lost everything
in the earthquake

She's a widow with six children

Community Coalition for Haiti has done a lot in the few years that it's been established there. While it's built and helped with several housing projects, they believe in more than that. CCH doesn't just hand over keys to a house but makes sure the family has a source of income, that they are providing for their family, and giving back to the community and economy.


 

She is raising a son and works in the Isaiah House

CCH has also worked on several other projects through out the region. They are currently building a school in a rural area. They have started a "pepper project" which allow farmers to grow and sell these peppers which grow quickly in this climate. They've started a few other garden projects.

He's raising 2 nephews and is the security
guard for the Isaiah House

They have also started some deaf ministries. Employing four deaf men to work on the construction when groups are not down there, and a group of deaf women who make beautiful jewelry.

Community Coalition for Haiti is committed not only to helping the people of Haiti get back on their feet but equipping them to provide for their families and give back to the community!

*Joy of the day: Getting to meet several families who CCH has served.

My Day as a Nurse

My "ah ha" moment of the trip was certainly in the clinic. Since the team knew that I'm studying to be a nurse they kindly arranged for me to follow a doctor at the clinic one morning, and it was amazing. It was so different that a doctor's office in the United States because of illnesses that were seen and the availability of medicine to the patients.

The CCH Clinic

One of the operating rooms

I followed Dr. Calix around, he had his medical training in Cuba and spoke wonderful English (what he didn't know in English he'd explain to me in Spanish!). The way it worked was a patient would come in a sit down at the evaluation table, Dr. Calix would ask what the "story" was and find out all the details. Then moved to the exam table where he would do an evaluation of the systems that were complained of by the patient. From there he could make a diagnosis and would give them a prescription for the free pharmacy downstairs in the clinic.

Here's where things were strikingly different than at home, these prescriptions were for things that we would find every day in a store. The patients would receive prescriptions for Tylenol, Advil, vitamins, and cough medicine. While some would also get prescriptions for antibiotics, these other medicines were often prescribed. And the patients were able to get them all for free because they had all been donated by groups like us!

All the medical supplies (it was really hot)

We saw a variety of patients that morning: a man with malaria and typhoid, a little girl with kwashiorkor (malnutrition), diabetes, hypertension, high fever (105), sore throat, and a pregnant woman. She was eight months pregnant and this was the first time she had been to the doctor, Dr. Calix made sure the baby had moved into a position for delivery and then found it's back and we were able to listen to it's heartbeat. It was amazing!

This was one of those moments when everything just felt right, when it shouldn't have. I was completely out of my element, in a strange country where I am not respected by the people, I don't speak the language or understand their customs and yet I felt at ease. I could see myself being a nurse in a third world country one day. I could see myself serving the Lord and his beloved people in that way!

The Haitian Nursing school!

*Joy of the day: Witnessing the way that Dr. Calix is serving his people with his time and talents.

Beauty of Haiti

We had two "fun days" to enjoy some of the sites of Haiti and the natural beauty that the island has to offer. We got to hang out on a beach and go to Bassin Bleu. Both were gorgeous!

Stunning Beach

The first Sunday we were there we went to church then enjoy our Sabbath at the beach! We traveled about thirty minutes to a beach where a lot of missionaries hang out. It was lovely, a real piece of paradise among all the brokenness and poverty in this country. The water was bright blue and so salty that you could float with out really trying. It was refreshingly cool too! There were beautiful shells all along the shore, huge conch shells and lots of sea glass. There were also the iconic island huts lining the coast, with the palm branch roofs. It was picture perfect!

Look at that water!

Our last day in Haiti we went on an adventure to Bassin Bleu. It became more of an adventure because it rained the night before making the river we had to cross a little deeper! (We cheered when we made it across.) Then we traveled an hour up the mountain to the other side of the bay to the base where we would then hike half an hour to the waterfall. It was fun to hike through the tropical forrest. We crossed a river and the water was aqua blue. I've never seen water like this except in the ocean! We we got to the Bassin you could get in to it in the first part or climb up a ledge, repel down to the other side then swim to a rock in the middle or all the way to the water fall to jump off the rocks there.

Jumping from the waterfall!

The place was breathtaking; the color of the water, the rocks, the waterfall. As one of the women on our trip said it was such a promise to the Haitians from God. That among all the destruction and devastation, that he was still there and his promise of restoration!


*Joy of the day: God's beauty, his promise and his covenant was so evident!

The Kids

After lunch we would pack up toys, hats, markers, soccer balls, bubbles, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and head out to an orphanage or a school in the area. We did the same basic format of a Vacation Bible School each place we went. Using our translators we would do some songs in Creole, a play from a Bible story, then a craft where they would make hats that said "Jesus Loves Me." After we would get to play with the kids and depending on where we were that would look a little different each time!

Painting nails!

Getting my hair done

The first place we went was a school, so there were about 75 kids! The boys took some of the older over to a soccer field and started a game. With the younger kids we played with some other balls, bubbles and then the little girls wanted to do our hair! They loved that they could over and over again, but I think I lost a lot of hair that day!

The second place we went was Father Abraham's orphanages, they were divided boys and girl. With the girls we painted their nails, even the boys in our group painted nails! Played with bubbles, beach balls and jump ropes. Then with the boys we played with soccer balls and frisbees in their little courtyard.

More nail polish

Wednesday was the hardest, we went to the Sister's of Charity orphanage. They take people of all ages that no one else will take, older people with dementia, people with developmental challenges, AIDS, tuberculoses, and sick little babies. Some of the older kids (4-8) would play with us, the teenagers didn't want much to do with us, and the adult were hard to interact with due to the language barrier. But the hardest part for me was the babies and the toddlers. They would just let you hold them, they didn't seem to care and they really didn't have any facial expression. They weren't excited by bubbles, they weren't ticklish, it was heartbreaking. These little children had been through more in their few years that I would ever know. It was hard to leave there knowing that those children needed so much love.

This girls was too cute!

The last place we went was another orphanage that was split boys and girls, but they brought the girls over this time. These kids were older and some of the older boys knew English pretty well. It was fun finally getting to have a full conversation with someone and hearing about their lives.

Before we would leave we would give each child a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and a goody bag. In the goody bag was the Bible story in Creole, a picture to color, a few crayons, a few pieces of candy, and a stuffed animal.

The sandwiches and goody bags

Joy!

I loved playing with the children, their smiles just warmed my heart! One day a little girl was teaching me different words in Creole (butterfly, flower, pink, etc.) and I asked if I was doing well, and with a shy grin she laughed and said no! Oh the honesty of children. I miss them greatly and I wish I could have done more for them, but I know God is watching out for them. American or Haitian God has a plan for each one of his children.

*Joy of the day: being able to make a child smile and let them know the they are loved!

Do work!

This week we were working on building a group of houses for eight widows, who not only care for their own children but also took in other children that needed a home. CCH doesn't just give them a home and walk away but is working with the families the whole time, they help the parents find jobs, find ways to give back to the community, and make sure that they have basic necessities. So far they have finished two of the houses, and we got to be a part of the beautiful dedication ceremonies. And we began working on two more houses!

Waiting for a batch of cement

In the morning we would do construction work before it got too hot. We'd leave the Isaiah house around 8, head over to the worksite ready to get dirty because we were pouring concrete-Haitian style. They had a small cement mixer, where the Haitians would throw in a couple shovels of dirt, sand, concrete mix, rocks, and buckets of water. Then this was poured into a shallow hole in the ground, then scooped into buckets and passed down the line till its poured in the right place. The bucket brigade! It was hard work, but a lot of fun. We did a lot of work, and it felt good to see our work in a concrete way! (Pun intended!)

Pouring the floor

We were able to pour the floor for one house, and the foundation of the second house in three days! We also did some other work in between; hanging curtains, sweeping, getting dirt for the garden, clearing the space for the garden and a few other small tasks here and there.

Bucket Brigade

One cool thing about these houses is the way they are built. In Haiti, most of the houses are built around pillars with cinder blocks in between. There is no crosswise rebar to hold up the walls which make them very unsteady. This is why so many houses and buildings crumbled in the earthquake. So these houses are made with crosswise rebar to make them more stable, in case another earthquake were to happen these houses should still stand!

Returning with dirt for the garden

At the dedication ceremony Dave remind us that these homes are temporary, that God is preparing a place for us in heaven. A mansion that will last forever! What we were doing in Haiti is still only a temporary solution, only God can provide the ultimate home and it is far better than anything we can ever make or even dream of! And that makes me excited, not only for my Haitian brothers and sisters but for me too!

Tough girls!

*Joy of the day: Proving to the boys that the girls can do the same work on the site that they can!

It's Getting Real!

I leave for Haiti on Saturday. Saturday! I can't believe it, I am so excited. I have been doing little things to prepare for the trip and now they are all starting to come together as big things. This is real and I am getting rather giddy!

I spent part of my past week building an army of teddy bears. Their ears didn't stick out like they should have but as any proud parent, I think they still look pretty cute! They were so simple to make, but my favorite part was praying for each bear. These little teddies are going to kids in orphanages, who may have never had a real toy in their life. And more importantly they may not realize how loved they are, that they are beautiful children of God. I prayed that each one of these little snuggle bears would show each child that they are loved, not only by us but by God!

When I wasn't sewing this week, I spent part of my time running around collecting things for my trip! Things like bug spray with 98.5% deet, 90 SPF sunscreen and aloe, work gloves, all those luxuries that we enjoy here in the states. Along with that I gathered up peanut butter and jelly, nail polish, soccer balls, vitamins, and other items to donate to the people of Haiti.

Tonight we packed up everything. We each will carry a 50 pound checked bag full of donated items and the items we will use in Haiti, along with a 35 pound carry-on of our personal items for the week. So tonight we had to bring our carry-on all packed to be weighed and labeled; I managed to shove everything into a backpack only reaching 16 pounds! Which is perfect since I'll be adding some extra supplies because I am the first-aider for our trip.

Taking the bags home, knowing that I'm leaving on Saturday, hearing the stories of the group that just got back; it makes it all real! I know that God is going to do big things, and I am honored to be a part of it.

*Joy of the day: Packing 50 pounds of medical equipment, as a nurse who one day hopes to do medical missions it makes my heart leap with joy!

Countdown

Let the countdown begin! In one month I will be in Haiti. And excited doesn't even begin to describe how I feel. While I have been consumed with my microbiology class, God hasn't let me forget that Haiti is coming. When I start to get lost in bacteria, Haiti just comes out of no where! It's been so humbling and so exciting to remember what God has in store for me and for the people of Haiti.

In class we were talking about the spread of malaria and typhoid, and off all the countries to pick as the example my professor picked Haiti. Friends have randomly been bringing up Haiti, not in relation to my trip but in their own lives. E-mails for organizations, featuring Haiti have been sprinkling my inbox. A friend went to Haiti this past spring, and hearing her stories has made me so excited. Our neighbors are very high up in the US relations with Haiti. All these little things are just constant reminders of what I have to look forward to!

I have been praying for the people of Haiti and our team that will be going down in July. I'm excited for all that God is going to teach me, for the blessing that He has given me that I am able to share with others, and for the opportunity to share His word!

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." -Acts 1:8

*Joy of the day: I finished my second test for micro and I am two weeks away from being done!

Escape

      Last Tuesday my mom called me from work and asked if I wanted to get away for the weekend. How could I turn that down? A weekend get away to the beach before my summer class started sounded absolutely lovely. Come Thursday I picked my mom up from work and we were off!

     We traveled up to Rehoboth Beach in Delaware, which was prepared for our arrival. It was in the upper 70s and sunny all weekend, and rather empty! It was perfect. It was a resting and relaxing break from the unpacked boxes that were crowding my room and the new syllabus that was beginning to haunt me before I had even had a chance to thrown the old ones out.

     We spent our days sunning on the beach, reading (for fun- when was the last time that was allowed?) and enjoying the general splendor! I convinced my mom to indulge on photography adventures with me; sunset one night, 5:30am the next day for sunrise, and a hike out to a park to see a lighthouse! It was absolutely beautiful, God certainly knew what he was doing when he created all of this!

     When I was looking at the sunrise I had to stop and just soak in all of the beauty. And "beauty" isn't even the word to describe it! As I was watching the day begin and taking pictures, the part in Genesis came to my mind where God created the earth from a dark and lifeless form into this stunning creation. It takes my breath away to see this; the sun peaking out over the crest of the ocean, dolphin poking their heads out for breakfast, and the general peacefulness as the rest of the world slept! In Genesis after God creates something it is described as "good" and watching this I can see why! But as I was sitting there God put on my heart that I describe his sunrise one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen, and yet God only calls it "good." What he sees as "very good" is me! (Genesis 1:31)

     Know that what ever you see in this world as beautiful, a sunrise, a flower, the mountains, God sees you as beautiful beyond compare to those things! That made me stand still. No sunrise can ever compare with his greatest creation- us! We are capable of so much, we're complex (I took anatomy and physiology, trust me we are), and we are drop dead stunning!
     On our spontaneous beach get away I caught up on some sleep, finished a book and a half, got a little sun kissed, saw some gorgeous places and moments, and left knowing that I am a beautiful creation! I would deem that a successful first adventure of the summer.

*Joy of the day: Getting to curl up under a cozy yellow blanket to fall asleep to the sound of rain after five days of joy!

Do You Stop?

     This weekend I got the opportunity to go visit friends at a college about an hour away. It's a pretty drive through the mountains, so of course I brought my camera! And I am so glad I did because as I was coming down the mountain there were two "scenic pull outs." I stopped at the second one, grabbed my camera (which I realized I had left on the last time I used it, so I said a quick prayer that it wasn't dead), and went out to look out over the valley. It was beautiful!
     The sun was just starting to go down in the early evening, so it highlighted the valley and all of its beauty. It was classic: rolling green hills, red barns, cows, dark mountains in the distance. It was gorgeous! And then when I turned around there were hawks flying above the hill, probably five or so. They were just soar, catching the wind and looking effortless in the sky. It was beautiful, a moment that I thoroughly enjoyed because honestly I contemplated not stopping.
     As I was taking the pictures and soaking in God's creation I could hear the sound of the traffic, and it occurred to me that all these people were missing this! They weren't getting the chance to see this view, and for many of them they wouldn't be traveling this way again. It reminded me of a quote from one of my favorite movies Cars. Lightening McQueen is talking about how the new highway that bypassed this tiny little town also passed this amazing view, he says "they're driving right by. They don't even know what they're missing!"

     When was the last time you stopped at a scenic pull out because you knew that you'd never see that view again? You knew that you would never have the opportunity to witness God's beautiful creation in that place? You stopped for a moment to thank God for his artwork that he gave you for your enjoyment?
     From now on one of my life goals is to stop at every possible scenic pullout that I come across! I realized that I may never be in that place again, and I don't want to miss a moment of beauty!
*Joy of the weekend: Getting to catch up with two beautiful friends from home, they're the friends that pick up where we left off, and they bring me incredible happiness!

Baby Brother

Today my little brother turns two officially! While we have already had the party, and in his mind he is already two since he ate the cake, today is the official day of celebration. I remember sitting in church on Sunday morning, getting a text from my dad saying the baby was on the way and that he’d call when he could. Since he was a premature baby things were a little different, he was about two months early and the first couple of days we couldn’t even hold him. But now you wouldn’t know the difference! Today Sean is crazy, sweet, fun Sean!

Baby Sean with the IV in his little head.
He was so snuggly, even then!

            The Easter Bunny brought him home and was a surprise to Shannon when she woke up on Easter morning (probably not the surprise she really wanted!). Over the past two years I’ve loved to watch Sean grow and change and develop his big personality. Though I’ve been away at school for most of his life he still greets me with absolute excitement when I come home. He loves trucks and trains, playing with Shannon, running around outside, reading books, and learning new things!

The first time the terrific three was all together!

            Sean has brought me indescribable joy. He makes me feel loved, he makes me laugh, and he makes it hard to say goodbye. God’s shown me how love doesn’t have barriers, I wasn’t around for the part of Sean’s development when he was learning who people were and yet he still loves me a lot. Sean shows me how to be excited for everything, because everything to him is still so new and it allows me to see the world through his wondering perspective! Matthew 18:3 tells of when Jesus is talking and “he said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’”

            God has used Sean to remind me of this verse constantly! Children are awestruck by the world and God’s wonderful creation; they want to experience every part of it. And they also believe full heartedly, without fear or holding back. Just like we should follow God and his commands. The children knew Jesus better than the adults because the trusted him and through that they were able to witness the amazing things that he wanted to show them. That is the kind of faith I want, and that is the kind of faith and perspective that Sean reminds me to have.

The boy who stole my heart!

            Today I celebrate my baby brother. Who will always be the tiniest little baby with the biggest heart, who got my genes for height but has a personality to fill the room, and who has a wonderstruck perspective of the world that inspires me daily. I love you little buddy!
*Joy of the day: Knowing that I will always have a buddy, not matter what!

Spring Break

            Last week was my spring break, and it was indeed a much needed break. Many of my friends went of mission trips or vacations, but I just went home which was all I needed! It was a week full of family, crafts, and friends. I didn’t do a single piece of homework, which is hard to believe but that is what I needed to do in order to fully rest.

The dump truck birthday cake was a hit!

forks are for babies!

            The first weekend I was home we celebrated my little brother’s 2^nd birthday, even though his birthday is not till later this month, in his eyes he is now officially two! It was full of trucks and trains, cake, crazy children, and a sleepy birthday boy. The poor kid didn’t make it through his own party; he fell asleep while we were watching “I’m Elmo and I Know It” on my phone. But I was in heaven! He’s past the point of falling asleep while you’re holding him so this was a rare and special treat for me especially since I am only home every so often!

All dressed up to see the Lorax

            Later in the week I was able to have my little sister skip school (teaching her good habits early!) and take her to see the Lorax. It was so special to get time to spend with just her, and she thought so too since she decide the event called for her special Christmas dress! She’s almost five now, and quite the little chatterbox. I got to hear all about school, her friends, swimming classes, and my favorite quote was “BigSis there was this monster in Monsters Inc. who coughed without covering his mouth and he got germs everywhere!” I am so proud that I have taught her well at such an early age! For the movie she decided that she would much rather sit on my lap then in her own chair, which I didn’t mind at all. So we snuggled and watched the Lorax, which was quite cute!

            Through out the week I enjoyed spending time with various friends from high school and catching up with them. I only got to see a few of them, and I wish I had made time to see other people who were home. But the people that I did see are the types of friends who you pick up where you left off, and those are the friends that you never truly left. I got to hear about how God is working in their lives, whether they see that or not, and hear all about their plans for next year as this school year starts to draw to a close. I love hearing stories from freshman about their college experiences because without fail God has put them where they needed to be, put people in their lives when they needed it and shown them his love without fail. And that is something joyful to hear!

            All week I seemed to have different craft projects going! And let me just say it was wonderful. I covered a mason jar, made hair flowers/bows, recovered my Bible, made two skirts, made a dress for a friend, made cupcakes, made two wristlets, started a bag (I couldn’t find handles to finish it), made a shirt with my roomie (tutorial and pictures coming soon!!!), made an infinity scarf, I made dinner a couple of times… and I think that’s it! There will be another post coming soon with all of the things I did along with links to tutorials from other wonderful blogs that I found over break!

Watching Veggie Tales- my personal favorite!

            While I was very ready for a break I had a physiology test the Friday that we got back that I knew I should be studying for over break but made the conscious decision not to. I made the decision to rest. We had talked a lot this semester at large group for InterVarsity about Sabbath and resting, so I took my break to rest. I surrendered my worries and anxieties to God about my test and school work, so I could enjoy this break with him and relax. God used that week to restore me and give me energy and motivation to study hard this week for my test. 1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxieties on him for he cares for you.” I relied on that verse during break, because God cares for me, and he is bigger than my anxieties. And His plans for his kingdom are bigger than any physiology test; therefore I have nothing to worry about. So I rested, not only from schoolwork but in His promises and it was a wonderful break!
*Joy of the Day: getting to catch up with a sweet friend over lunch!