1 Year

One year ago today I boarded my first airplane, and landed in a country that would change my life forever.....Haiti! A year later Chris and I are still talking about it and  praying for the country and the amazing people there. It really doesn't seem like a year. It was also a year ago today that I met WaNelson, now named Nelson. I love that sweet baby and pray for him and his new family as they wait for him to be home with them. Nelson changed my heart, I am forever thankful for God placing him in my path of life. 

I miss so many things about Haiti. I'm sure it seems strange to most, but I miss the heat, the mosquito's, the cold showers, the different foods, the smells of trash and diesel. The people that we encountered every single day and their strength, each and every child that we got to feed, hug and show love to. Haiti taught us Compassion, Love, Strength and Hope. I am thankful that for the time we spent in Haiti, not teaching them. But learning so much from the people of a country not so far from us.

I often find myself thinking of Haiti... cloud watching on the trampoline with my kids and wondering what the sky and weather is like in Haiti on that day. What some of the people I remember so clearly are doing on that particular day.

Pray with me for Haiti, the people there... the widowed, the orphaned, the sick, and the lost. Pray for each missionary and their families who have given their comfortable life elsewhere to serve and work alongside  the people of Haiti.

We hope and pray to be back in Haiti January of 2013. Please pray with us, that God guides us once again as we began to save and prepare not only supplies but our hearts for this next trip. Pray for those who are considering taking this trip and that doors are opened for this new group that goes. Pray that doors are opened and closed for myself and Chris. As I mentioned in previous posts, Haiti has been heavy on our hearts, for quite some time now. Pray that we hear and understand  God's calling for us. Whether it be giving up our lives here and going there, leading groups from here to there every few months, adoption, supporting a group already there or whatever it may be. Pray for us to follow what He wants, not what we want.

Keeping my eye on the Treasure

Chris and I have started searching a little more seriously for a house. We have compiled a list of what we feel our future home should have to meet our families needs. One need/want is to have a dinning room big enough for a very large table to seat our growing family. It just seems important to us for everyone sitting together and talking about their days. The more I search for homes the more wrapped up I become in this.

Let me back up a second a share with you that at different times Chris and I both have felt God pulling us toward Haiti. But didn't share this with each other until about 2 months ago. We are not sure for what. Maybe to live there full time, maybe to lead short term church missions, or to adopt. But our hearts are definitely with Haiti, and we continue to pray about this individually and together. We pray for God to open and close doors and reveal how He wants us to be His hands and feet. I get wrapped up in this too! Sometimes my treasure is Haiti, and sometimes my treasure is buying a house, and sometimes it's growing our family through adoption. When really my treasure should be Him, and Him alone, and then all the rest will fall into place.  So pray for us, pray with us, pray that we stay focused on Him that He becomes and stays our constant treasure. That we will allow Him to use us for what he wants us to do, not what we want to do.

Luke 12:34
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Spring Break - Easter & Alex's 13th Birthday

Well I promised a few post back to not get so behind on our family updates, and here I am way behind AGAIN!
Spring Break came and went, Nathan and Nick were able to stay with me the week of spring break. We all had the best time, here is a picture timeline of all the activities from the week.


Somebody got into Mommy's Lipstick!



Watching movies

And then comes a moment when you realize what it was like to be a child. The simple things that make you smile. I remember how fun it was to pick the little white fuzzy flowers and blow all of the seeds away. The way they tickle your nose and get caught in your hair.

Sweet moments like this!

While Nathan ran and found flowers to blow, I was reminded of a sweet group of children living in a tent city in Haiti. On one of the days we walked out into the city, we blew bubbles for them. I was amazed, how the children and adults giggled. They had no idea what bubbles were! Really?? As Americans we take so much for granted- have you ever gave a 2nd thought to bubbles? I bet not, I'm sure you make them at home or run over to the dollar store and grab 1, 2,or 3 bottles. You have probably even given them out at parties or weddings. But to see a child or adult for that matter that has never seen or blown a bubble before, is PRICELESS! And the two pictures above reminded me of just that.


Playing outside getting plenty of fresh country air.

A Caterpillar nest the kids found! We watched it for many days, I couldn't believe how many came out of it.

Our Blueberry bushes, can't wait until they are all ripe.



Movie day and Story time

Resting with Bella- Hope Daddy doesn't see this. Bella being on the couch is a big NO NO!

Easter morning before church

Marley playing with her cousins

Chris's Granny had her 75th Birthday this year and it fell on Easter! What a special day for her. We had an egg hunt, dinner and cake.

Here is Granny with her grandchildren, their spouses, and her great grandchildren.

I come to an end on this post with sadness and excitement! My firstborn had his 13th birthday- a teenager really? It's seems like only yesterday I was holding you in my arms and now you can almost pick me up.

Alex,

You will always be my baby. You are my first! The one who taught me how to love like no other love. Who I watched grow from a beautiful 8lb. 4oz. 21in long baby boy to a handsome 13 year old, and who helped me grow into the mother I am today.  You are smart, talented, and I am so proud of you. I love you more than you will ever know. "I love you forever, I like you for always, as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be"
I can't wait to see the man you will grow into.

Love,

Mom



Ready

Well it's been awhile since I have posted any updates. We have been back from Haiti for 4 months now, we are READY to go back. I have prayed harder than I have ever prayed for God to give me peace about Wa Nelson. I love him dearly and still deep down inside I wish he could be our son! With that said, not very long ago I ran across a post on Facebook and found out he was being adopted by a couple in Alabama. I wont lie I was super jealous at first. After a ton of prayer God has given me the peace I need. And I  am truly happy for them and even happier that WaNelson is getting a forever family, even if it's not our family. I will continue to pray for WaNelson and his new family, daily. It is my prayer that God prepares them for him and will guide them in raising him to be a Godly man. I hope that I will see him again one day. I understand that God has a different plan for us.   I also know that some of you have been waiting for an update about our custody over the boys (my step children)  We have high hopes that it will be over soon and God can move us on to the next step of our lives. Our temporary hearing was in September. Whatever happens is God's will. Just continue to pray with us that God will guide the lawyers and the judge in whatever decisions are made. And that peace is given to both sides involved.

The Why's

Well we all have asked WHY before. I think over the past two months I feel like I have had a million (why's)! Shortly after we arrivied back in the states, we  recieved word that nine children were moved from the children's home back to their own homes and back to the tent orphanage. Mama was one of five brothers and sisters that left. Her mother came to the home and asked for them back. I pray that she is doing well and getting the nutrition she needs in the streets of Haiti. I prayed long and hard for God to prepare my heart for  what I would see and experience in Haiti. But I never thought I would go there and fall in love with a child. Yes, had emotions for the other children I came in contact with. But never expected to feel the way I did about WaNelson. That brings me to my question WHY?? Why couldn't I just bring him home, to love, feed, teach, and hug everyday!?! Why does God let these things happen? I just couldn't understand it, I was mad that there are orphanages all over the world full of hungry children- not just for food but hungry for LOVE! This is where we, not just us but all of Gods people come in. There should not be a single orphan! It is our job as Christ followers to watch over, care for and love all of Jesus Children! I wish I could bring all of them home. Chris and I don't meet the requirements to adopt from Haiti and wont for a few more years, or I would have started the paper work while we were there. I know what you are thinking... your thinking we are crazy because we already have four and kids and America says kids  are so expensive to raise! Well each child is a blessing in our eyes and in GOD'S eyes, and he will provide for each one. I am privileged to be a stay at home mom, we don't have a fancy house or anything super spectacular but week after week I watch God provide our family with exactly enough money to eat and pay our bills. We make it just fine. I have come to understand that God lets people come in and out of our lives for different reasons, and maybe why I can't move forward is because I am stumped and I am not doing what God wants me doing right Now. My husband reassures me that God will watch over WaNelson ( as we ask him faithfully every day to do this) and that for all we know he could be President of Haiti one day. I would be so proud if he did! I was reminded of a verse this past Sunday and would like to share it with you.

For I know the plans I have for you. "declares the Lord, " plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11

God has a plan for each and every one of us and I know that God has a plan for WaNelson and I have Faith in Him!

I know now that I have experienced Haiti for what God has planned for our future whatever that may be? And am thankful for all of it.

Just a note, I recently heard that WaNelson is being adopted by a family in Alabama. In a town very close to my Aunt, who knows maybe I will see him again one day :)

What Next?

It's been almost two weeks since we landed back in the states. My heart is aching for Haiti, I have thought of WaNelson and Mama everyday since we came home and wonder what they are doing? I pray everyday that God will watch over them, and give whoever cares for them the knowledge to teach them everything they need to know. And hope that I will see them again one day. Six months seemed like so long to have been praying, before our door was first opened for this mission opportunity. I realize that God knows exactly what he is doing and that I just have to trust in him and open my heart to what his will for me is. I'm an impatient person anyway, so i'm anxious to know His great plan for Chris and I! For now I just have to grow in knowledge, be patient, and to remember that My mission field is wherever my two feet are planted!

Going Home

Boarded the plane in Port Au Prince smooth ride to Miami and then a delay. They were replacing some bulbs on the switch board of the plane. Very axious to be back home. Finally back in the air and on our way to Atlanta, we were all so exctied to see Atlanta from the plane. We had a wonderful week, but are all glad to be home. Made our way to baggage and customs and to the church van that was waiting to pick us up in front of the airport. My mom picked us up at the church and brought Marley with her. I could tell that M was mad that we left her all week, but she quickly warmed back up to us. Came home and ate Zaxby's seemed like the best food ever. The kids were all excited to see us and hear about our trip! Off to bed early,tomorrow each person from the trip will share with the church something they learned or experienced as an individual while in Haiti. Pray for God to speak through us. I know that we made a difference in people that we crossed paths with in Haiti and hope that our stories make a difference in someone else here at home! I find myself being home a little over 48 hours and feel sick. As in homesick, homesick for Haiti! I already miss it so much. I have really enjoyed blogging the begining of our journey and will continue to blog about what God is doing in our lives. Thank you for all your prayers, support and encouragement.

Haiti Day 7

Had a horrible night last night, Melissa and I were up and down sick most of the night and morning. Chris, Brock, and Whitney we are all sick this morning too. Drank some water, took some meds and went to meet up with Pastor Jude to travel through the town near the church and children’s home. We split up into three groups, four people gave their lives to Jesus today!  So amazing! Had a lot of fun at one of the tent villages. Ashton ran around and the children chased her, while Melissa and I blew bubbles for them. It was amazing to see the children’s faces; I’m sure some of them had never seen bubbles before. Some wanted to blow their own. I even had a couple of adults who wanted to give blowing bubbles a shot. They were amazed to see bubbles actually come out when they blew it. Spent about two hours walking and witnessing, and then headed back over to the children’s home. Spent several hours there. Got to play with all the children one last time. Chris and Mama played and I fed WaNelson. Those children were the two that Chris and I spent the most time with. I cried the hardest I think I have ever cried when I had to leave WaNelson! It was a little easier for Chris, Mama fell asleep in his arms and he laid her down in the bed. Though I'm sure hard for her. Because when she awakes we will be gone. I will keep those two children in my heart and prayers always. We made a last trip up to Andrea’s orphanage; kids were so excited to see us. Lovely was very excited to see everyone, she is the one that gave us all tattoos earlier in the week. Chris was holding a little girl named Shada, and Daniel another little boy got jealous and told her to get down that Chris was his! Oh and all the children kept calling Brock Santa Claus and father Abraham because of his beard. Today has been hard most of us have been sick. Its  probably because all the Haitian food finally caught up with us. We  had a minor car accident on the way back to the house. A motorcycle ran slap into the back of our truck. Nobody was hurt, and wrecks happen often, due to there being no traffic laws. We made a stop at Bel-Mart on the way home to get cold drinks. Came home to brown rice and beans, chicken legs, salad, and fresh squeezed mango juice. All I could stomach was the salad, rice and juice. Going to start packing for tomorrow morning our plane leaves Haiti at 8:50 am. Very excited about seeing my children tomorrow, I have missed them so much!

Haiti Day 6

Woke up to pancakes, sausage and fresh squeezed mango juice, packed up and drove over to a school in which orphan’s and local children attend, they have to pay $900 Haitian dollars a year for school which converts into around $20 US dollars. It’s a small building with four classrooms and a chapel. Two hundred  children attend school here. On the way home we stopped at a market in City Soleil, this is the most dangerous city in Haiti. Everyone was friendly as usual. It’s amazing to see how surprised people are just to see you coming to visit them, say hello, and tour where they live especially when it’s in tents and shacks. Blanc is French for white, so all the people shout…..Hey blanc, Hey blanc at us. Arrived back at the compound to a wonderful dinner. Some sort of meat, mashed potatoes, green beans and carrots. Oh I don't think I have mentioned we have access to a cooler with 1 liter Haitian cokes in glass bottles made from pure sugar cane, and they are only $1.  Our group has gone through an insane amount of Haitian Coca Cola this week! Looking forward to tomorrow, we will meet with the local pastor from Sunday and walk in that neighborhood, to visit with people, after that we will visit the children’s home one last time. Thank you for the prayers and we continue to need them.

Haiti Day 5

 Great night’s sleep and I was the first one up at 6:45am that has got to be a record. Hit the shower and then breakfast at 7:30, Haitian scrambled eggs (onions & peppers), with cheese on bread and coffee. Loaded up in a 15 passenger rental van and traveled up the coast to small village. Beautiful there, no bad smells, no trash in the streets. Visited a small orphanage with 20 kids. All spoke perfect French and had straight A’s in school. And yes Haiti is French speaking country but most people speak Creole/French. The orphanage was a three bedroom one bathroom house and had no beds. That’s right no beds they all sleep on a concrete floor. It's humbling to be here with them, they are so very thankful for what they have. We played volleyball with a beach ball, jumped rope, gave the children some  candy and stuffed animals. But the most joy I felt all day was when we were walking down the road to the van. There was a young girl standing near our van, not a child from the orphanage, but a local. I motioned her over but she would not come. I reached into my bag for a handful of candy and held it out. She smiled and came over to get it, as she walked off I told her to wait. She turned to look back at me and I gave her a green stuffed bunny rabbit that I had in my bag. The excitement on her face was priceless, for all I know that is the only toy or candy that child has ever or will ever have.

 Next we would travel up the road to Greg’s (our mission host) beach property. He and his wife bought three acres on the beach, it is so amazing. Blue water, palm trees, an old gazebo, and the beach is all shells and rocks. And here is the best part, they are planning to built a set of dorms, cafeteria, classrooms, bathrooms and a pool for children who live in orphanages, interns, and care givers to come to get away to have a vacation outside of the orphanage. Even though these children live on an island some of them have never seen or played in the ocean. Next we would move on to Kiliko’s Beach Resort, that’s right our host missionaries got us bungalows for the afternoon and night to give us a short break. Chris and I and the other two married couples got to stay together. I must say it was so relaxing. We walked on the beach, played in the ocean, swam in the heated pool in 95 degree weather, had a wonderful dinner and got to sleep in a comfortable bed with air conditioning. It was a much needed day of rest!

Haiti Day 4

Pancake breakfast, my favorite Yum!! Saw my first tarantula, and then we headed outside of town to an orphanage that another young couple from Tennessee watch over. This orphanage had a terrible cholera outbreak back in May. Chris and I were honored to be apart of helping them replace 12 of the 25 mattresses lost during the sickness. There new facility is great, they have a  wall all the way around it, the boys have two one bedroom houses with six beds in each and the girls have two one bedroom houses with six beds in each. There is a separate bath house with one toilet, one sink, and a shower. There is a school house and a kitchen/cafeteria house. Children were all very well behaved, and healthy. Most of the older ones have learned English. We had a lot of fun with them today. Played soccer, marbles, and wrote with sidewalk chalk. Met a wonderful eleven year old girl, named Lovely. She is very smart and has beautiful handwriting! Several of us in our group have tattoos, and the children are fascinated by them. Lovely decided to use an ink pen and give us all one. The tattoo she wrote on my hand read this.

God bless you

 I love you so much

Jesus loves me and you

You are a special friend for me

After reading what Lovely had written on my hand she wanted me to take a picture of it and then read it?

I was overwhelmed with emotion! As we all loaded up to leave we hugged all the children and told them goodbye. I hope that this is not the end of my relationship with them. We would spend the rest of the day at the children’s home, and you know what that means. I got to see WaNelson! I love this baby so much, he was still a little grumpy today from his fever. I got to feed him some rice and a bottle and then I painted a picture with him. I painted his name and a heart and then put his footprints on it. I plan on printing a picture of him to go inside the heart and on our wall. Oh he is so precious I wish I could bring him home. Chris spent the rest of the afternoon with mama, she loves him. She doesn’t leave his lap, they painted a picture together.

This sweet girl falls asleep in his lap everyday

And the sad part is that mama’s mother was there to visit her and her other four brothers and sisters but she would rather be with me and Chris. Around 5:00 ends our day and it’s time to head back to the compound. Came home to a spaghetti and hotdog supper, by far the best spaghetti I have ever had! A quick meeting, internet is down tonight so will delay this being posted. Found out that a new baby was dropped off at the clinic today it has typhoid fever and cholera. Please pray for this baby’s health.  Tomorrow will start early, very exciting day. We will be visiting Real Hope For Haiti (this is a cholera house and clinic up in the mountains). Will post more tomorrow.

Haiti Day 3

 Breakfast homemade oatmeal with cloves, and fresh squeezed key lime juice. Great start for the day; the ladies that cook for us are so nice and cook wonderful meals! Traveled up in the mountains to a village called Canaan, this is a place where people fled after earthquake to start a new life. There are hundreds of homes there that world vision built. The homes are 12 x 12 one room homes with no bathroom. We split up into two groups; Kessy went with one group and Joshua with the other. Joshua was the interpreter for my group. We walked around the village, talked to people and prayed for the ones who wanted to be prayed over. Many heart breaking stories. One women was washing clothes in a tub on her porch, told us her story. She has three children and one on the way, her husband left one day and didn’t come back. She has no idea how she will take care of her children. Another woman asked if we could pray over her, she is pregnant and has been bleeding during most of her pregnancy and there is no medical clinic in her village. Very sad stories today but many hopeful people! After we left Canaan we drove up the road a little ways to visit the mass grave site from the earthquake. There are 250,000 people buried in this site. Greg and his wife Michelle are our host. They moved here from Tennessee. Greg came to Haiti two days after the earthquake and helped load bodies onto dump trucks for three straight months. Standing at the mass grave site, is emotionally indescribable! How many of those who died, left this place without knowing Jesus?

 The population of Port Au Prince is almost four million people and a total of 10 million on the whole island. Ending our day we traveled to down into down town Port Au Prince to see the main damage of the city. A little over one year later the damage is extreme. It was unreal how many tent villages there were, people sell food on the sidewalk right beside the trash piles. We came home to one of the best dinners ever. Some kind of meat (didn’t ask what kind) potatoes, green beans with carrots and corn on the cob. Had our group meeting tonight, excited to see how God will lead us to make a long term difference in Haiti. And very excited about tomorrow visiting a new orphanage tomorrow and going back to children’s home in the afternoon. Can’t wait to see WaNelson again.

Haiti Day 2

Woke up at 6:00am, to a sausage and spaghetti breakfast. Got ready and off to church. Very happy I was able to experience worship and communion in a Haitian church. The church has wooden benches, ceiling fans, open windows with bars, and a choir section. As Americans we sometimes complain about how long church is or that we don’t want to go because we would rather do other things. Let me tell you, I now see that Americans take everything for granted take that how you want to. But these people got up and dressed (in their best clothes: suit, tie, button up long sleeve shirts with sweater vest, dresses, and high heel shoes) and walked miles to church, and were on time. Most of them were there early just to have a seat, and graciously gave up to entire rows for us. They were welcoming and honored to have us visiting the church. If your one of those people who think an American church service  is too long then you haven’t seen anything. We were there for at least 2 hours. In a building shoulder to shoulder with NO air conditioner, the entire service except for our intro was in French Creole and did I mention I held a baby the whole time, we were both covered in sweat when it was over. And after to church we went to a restaurant called Hot and Ready, great food I had French bread with shredded chicken, green peppers, onions, and French fries. After we ordered and waited an hour for food it then took another 30-40 min. to pay for our food. So think twice before you rush off after church to have lunch, and then complain about waiting to be seated, getting your food fast enough or it being correct. Leaving the restaurant we drove up to the top of the mountain to get a view of the whole city, Amazing! You could see from the ocean all the way up to the mountains.

 There was local people selling stuff they had made by hand. Chris and I bought a soapstone statue and a hammered cross. Our drive home was interesting, drove around in circles until we found the one and only Dominoes in Haiti. Yes, Dominoes and it taste the same. Still very excited about what else this week holds. Have taken what seems like a million pictures. Now we have some down time before our nightly meeting, at which we will talk about what we learned/experienced today and what our group will do tomorrow.

Haiti

Ok so my first flight wasn’t so bad, pretty smooth flight.  Layover in Miami and then here we are in Port Au Prince, Haiti. Let me just say that the airport here is CRAZY! No rhyme or reason to anything. People are just grabbing suitcases and trying to get you to ride with them. After we all got our luggage, and met outside we walked down the road to meet up with our ride. Our mode of transportation was a caged truck with benches in the back, enclosed all the way around it. Roads are very bumpy, everyone honks their horns constantly, and there are no traffic laws! You drive on whatever side of the road you can fit down. A few young boys came over to our truck in traffic, someone asked to take their picture, and they said if you give me a dollar. Very sad, children beg for money on the side of the road for their parents. There were children with missing limbs from he earthquake. After a 45 min ride on bumpy roads, past burning trash piles, sewage, cows, and goats we made it to our compound. Very nice building compared to what others in Haiti have. We have no air conditioning and only cold water. No complaints here, just excited to see what we will do first. We unpacked had a quick lunch (sandwiches) and off to the children’s home we went. This home is ran by the people we are staying with. They have a total of 17 children and 6 of those are 3 sets of twins all around the age of fourteen months. The children were all very happy with the exception of several babies who are running high temps (pray for them) 2 of them are twins which we brought back to the compound tonight so that our host could better care for them. We  met a young man today at orphanage named Steven he is 17 and now too old to be adopted. You could see the hurt in his eyes as everyone played with the younger ones. Steven doesn’t even live at this orphanage he walks there from another orphanage to play with a four year old boy, named Matthew.  I became quickly attached to a toddler named WaNelson, that wasn’t feeling well. I held him for a long time and then Chris rubbed him with a cool rag to help with his fever. I was very hurt for him he has a horrible rash from scabies, which he was treated for several months ago. While holding him my pastor came over and told me that WaNelson was the baby that they saved on his last trip to Hait. WaNelson came from another orphanage, he was left on the ground under a tent to pretty much die. You see when orphanages are full and have 100 kids with 3 caregivers, they can't care for them all. They will bluntly tell you we focus on the well and leave the sick. Heartbreaking! He is a very sweet baby, the same age as Marley and I hope to hold him more this week!  As our day ended we loaded the truck (you remember the caged one) Well there was a driver, 2 girls in the cab holding the twins, and oh about 20 of us in the back of truck. Came home to an awesome meal, tacos, macaroni and cheese, salad, French fries, and fresh squeezed lemonade. I helped feed the twins, had a meeting with my mission group, cold shower and now off to bed. We miss Marley, Alex, Nathan, and Nick terribly, but can’t wait to see what tomorrow holds!

The Big Trip

I think today was one of the most exciting but scared days of my life. I’m officially in Haiti. It was my first time on a plane and in another country. Some people have asked me, as you may be asking yourself, why in the world would you want to go there?? Well my answer for you is that God has a plan for me here in Haiti, not only me but Chris as well. Let me take you back.....
 It all started back in December of 2010; we bought this book called Radical. And  Radical changed our lives! It made us realize that there is so much more out there. For instance 26,000 children die every day from preventable diseases. That instantly broke my heart, I thought to myself…. How could this be happening?  How can my children have clean water & food and others not!?! As I watched My children play, God began to  transform me even more. I always told myself I have to have my OWN children; they aren’t mine if I don’t carry them! Sometimes I think God really has a sense of humor. He started his changes in me by giving me two step children, whom I now love like they are my own. It has not always been easy, we have had to learn from each other and be intentional when it comes to loving each other.  Every child wants to be loved, cared for and most certainly deserves it! So why not adopt, I thought to myself, and decided to pray about it. Who knows where God will lead us and what will he do with this? Chris and I began to pray God where do you want us? Show us where to go and what kind of work to do that will honor your name.
In May of 2011 our church starting planning a trip to Haiti. Thoughts flowed through my head :how awesome would Haiti be: BUT we could never afford to go! There was the BUT and God was going to prove me wrong one way or another. Remember we had been fervently  praying for God to show us how he wanted to use us and  where? Well the trip opening up to Haiti was apparently the red flag. We were told at church that Sunday we had 5 days for the deposits $500 for each of us. The very next day a door was opened. Within 12 hours two friends gave the exact amount for our deposits. 
Ok God we get it, you want us on this trip. He has made everything about this trip  possible! So today I left my comfort zone, I had never flown and am terrified of heights! I left all of my children at home with other care givers, praying that God keeps his hands on us through this journey. So that we may share it with our children and others when we return home. And if we don’t return home then that was His plan all along and he will be glorified through it all! We are praying that God will show out so big, that we not only change lives here in Haiti, but back home also! And who knows working at these orphanages could open a door for adoption in our family someday.

The Begining

Oh what a Journey life is! I am ultimately starting this blog so that our family and friends can follow our journey on our first trip to Haiti and so that all of our out of state family can keep up with our chaotic lives and watch our children grow no matter how far away they are. I am very excited to see what our trip to Haiti and the journey of the McConnell Mob holds! We are here to give God all the glory and be his hands and feet wherever he takes us. So come along and read what our journey will hold.