The Beauty of Summer

Me and Jeremiah.  He is one of the children who live in our orphanage at Mission of Hope.

 

I received SO many letters from the children from my home church in Arkansas!  #KidLife

Me and Steeve! He is another child that lives in our orphanage.

This is Vladamir.  He lives in Leveque and I've known him for almost 2 years!

Afternoon stroll with my good buddy Snyder!

This is a picture I took of David our Haitian prosthetic tech.  He is making a leg for an amputee victim.

Schildresse is one of my favorite kids in Haiti!  Love her lots.

Nothing beats a Haiti sunset!

Nothing short of a miracle

June 6th, 2013

I had been back in Haiti for 6 days after a much needed month long vacation.  The month of May had been a great time of seeing family and friends.  I was still getting back into the swing of things being back at MOH.  Getting into a rhythm of lots and lots of short term teams being in Haiti.  An entire new intern class.  I was really starting to get into the groove. Little did I know what was coming the night of June 6th.



CAT scan from June 6th. 1 of 4 stones,

Technically it was about 5:00am on the morning of June 7th.  I was awoken by a pain in my lower abdomen that was virtually indescribable.  I had no idea what was happening and why I was in so much pain.  My first thought was surely my appendix was about to rupture.  I will spare you the extra details of what accompanied this extreme pain, but we can just say that it wasn't pretty.  After about half an hour of debating what to do (I'm fairly certain the pain was also inhibiting my reasoning skills) I slowly made my way to another apartment in the staff housing to find a MOH medical staff.  I woke her up and she quickly gathered other medical personnel that we had in country.  It was quickly decided that it was either kidney stones or my appendix.  With neither one of these being a good option, I was quickly taken to a hospital in Port Au Prince.  There were a lot of details from that day.  First, there just "happen" to be an American doctor volunteering at this particular hospital for 1 week.  He was able to quickly diagnose that I had kidney stones and after an affirming CAT scan there was no doubt that 4 kidney stones were invading my body.  Another crazy factor was that the MOH medical staff that traveled with me just "happen" to have the EXACT pain medication that I would need -- in her purse!  She had brought it with her days before, never guessing that we would need to use it so quickly.  My hospital visit story was later posted on the MOH Facebook page. There was also a wonderful and miraculous story that accompanied my time at the hospital.  As I reflect back on everything that needed to take place that day and ALL of the things that did fall in line, it was nothing short of a miracle.  By June 9th I was pain free.  I slowly went back to my normal routine.  I wondered if that was it, if I was finished with the stones because I didn't believe that I had passed them, but also hadn't experienced any pain for weeks.  They were completely out of my mind and life seemed to be back to normal.


July 8th, 2013

There is no way to prepare for an emergency.  Even with the best "emergency plan" in place, there are going to be unknown factors and variables that cannot be predicted.  In my case, there wasn't even a plan. 

The night of July 8th I went to bed and was pretty uncomfortable.  I figured dinner wasn't agreeing with me so I took some Pepto-Bismol and figured I would feel fine in the morning.  I tossed and turned not realizing that my pain was ever so slowly increasing.  By 4:00am I was in so much pain that tears filled my eyes and I could not stay lying down.  I honestly don't know why it took me so long to realize what was happening.  They were back.  Or maybe they had never left.  I knew that a kidney stone had to be moving and once again I was in some of the worst pain I've ever experienced.  I quietly slipped into the adjacent apartment where our medical nurse was sleeping and woke her as gently as I could.  Since she was already familiar with what had taken place in June, she was so quick to administer a shot of pain medication.  Fairly quickly my pain had been reduced.  Big deep breath.  It was with a very heavy heart that I looked at her and said, 'I think I need to go back to the states.'  She didn't say anything.  Her eyes said it all.  She knew I needed to go back too.  There wasn't much we could do at 4:30am, so I went back to my apartment to try and get some much needed rest.


July 9th, 2013

The series of events that unfolded that day were nothing short of a miracle.  Tropical storm Chantal was quickly approaching Haiti and hundreds of people were trying to leave the island.  Airlines were booked!  There shouldn't have been an available plane ticket.  But there was.   MOH has a Haitian Executive Director and I'm convinced he has a direct phone line to the Lord and to American Airlines.  He got me a seat that very day!  Not only that, my boss just "happen" to be flying back to the states that same day and a first class ticket had his name on it.  Without any hesitation, he traded me seats.  Not only did I get back to the states, but I did the most comfortable way you can.  Upon arriving in Fort Lauderdale, at 8:00pm, my boss rented a car and we began the long 2 hour drive across Alligator Alley.  The goal was to get to Fort Myers.  My boss' wife also "happens" to be a nurse practitioner and she was working that night.  If we could make it to the hospital she worked at, everything would be ready.  She already had my information, my health insurance.  They would be ready.  I was so thankful that right before I left Haiti I had one more round of injectable pain meds.  I was praying that they would get me through the flight and the drive. 



Getting ready to head into surgery.

We arrived at the hospital around 10:30pm.  I was in a great deal of pain.  Again, I will spare you the lovely details of what that kind of pain brings with it.   Yuck.  Now if you've been to an ER, you know that the waiting room time most often takes longer than the doctors actually seeing and treating you.  My story is very different.  From the time we walked into the hospital, checked in, were called back, triaged, in a room, in a gown and pain meds being admitted - 12 minutes!!  Can I get a Hallelujah!?!  Once again tears filled my eyes but this time it wasn't because of the pain.  As I laid on that bed and I started rethinking what all had taken place that day to get me where I was, it was nothing short of a miracle.  You may disagree with me.  And that's fine.  But I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Lord was working on my behalf.  I know that he was orchestrating details that I will never know and never be able to fully understand.

 

Isaiah 55:8-9 - “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts. 

July 11th, 2013

Finally surgery day!  The team of doctors and surgeons were going to do a standard procedure to remove the kidney stone that had lodged itself in my ureter (tube between my kidney and bladder).  The doctor said that if I would have waited one more day to come in, it would have been a very different story.  The stone had been wedged for awhile and they could tell from my white blood cell count that I was on the edge of developing a pretty serious infection.  Fortunately they were able to start me on antibiotics the first night I came into the hospital which prevented me from having any major complications.  

The surgery didn't last long.  Not that I remember any of it.  But it was a success.  Everything went perfect.  They placed a temporary stent in my ureter to help pass a few more stones I had in my kidney and allow things to heal.  They kept me in the hospital for one more night to monitor my progress and on Friday June 12th, I was released. 



Another huge blessing was that Mission of Hope, had my mom sent to Florida to be with me this week while I am recovering.  When my boss told me she was on a plane and would be landing soon, I couldn't get my brain to comprehend what he was saying. 
My mom.  Coming to Florida.  What?!  But it was true.  And now she is here.  I will keep more updates posted as the story continues.  But if you hear anything from this, please know that God is good.  That He is faithful.  He is taking care of the small things and He knows how to handle the big things as well.  He has your best interest at heart and even though things don't always make sense, He is orchestrating things for the good of those who love Him.

Me and my momma!  So thankful to have her here.

Captured

As the summer really starts to get into full swing, I can't help but step back and look at where the Lord has placed me.  I am quickly approaching my 2 year mark of being in Haiti and

working with Mission of Hope. 

CRAZY! 

My 30th birthday is also quickly approaching.  REALLY CRAZY! 

But I wouldn't have it any other way. 

This is exactly where I want to be! 

Haiti has captured my heart!!

 

 

 

 

I love this simple way of living.  I love the joy of a clean cold glass of water or a cool breeze that cuts through the hot humid day.

 

I love the smiles and the laughter.  The expectation of what tomorrow will hold.  The hope that He is moving and working doing good things!

I love that life transformation is happening! 

And I am blessed to have a front row seat.

Heaven's Taste

Sometimes the best thing to do with a free afternoon in Haiti is - do what you would normally do. 

So this afternoon = cupcakes. 

112 of them to be exact. 

 

Every color you can imagine.  Batter.  Frosting.  Sprinkles.  The Works!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thankful.

 

 Spending an afternoon making  cupcakes with good friends is such a beautiful reminder of heaven.  Imagine how wonderful a soft, vanilla cupcake with creamy, fudge frosting tastes. Maybe you’re a strawberry cupcake with smooth, cream cheese frosting kind of person.  Whatever your weakness is, it absolutely pales in comparison to what heaven will be like. Can you imagine heaven's taste? 

 

 

How gracious is the Lord to bless us with these little treats this side of eternity. 

 

So we lick our fingers, we peak into the oven, and we definitely ensure there is quality control for the finished product. 

 

                                 We laugh.  We breath. We live.

 

 

 

March Madness

Spring time in Haiti is nothing less than crazy!  Literally hundreds of 'spring breakers' chose to spend their time serving in Haiti with Mission of Hope.  I'm sure that you can guess what this means for me.... BUSY BUSY BUSY!  So my blog update this time around is going to be a few pics of what I've been up to.



Got to spend some time in the mountains doing a fod drop with Mission of Hope. 
Currently MOH gives out 57,000 meals a day!



It's kite season in Haiti!  Who doesn't love a kite?!
This is me, my roommate Rachael and one of our security guards, Danny.

This is my little friend Sonson. I've know him for a year and a half.
He use to be terrified of me and now we are the best of friends!!

 

I had the amazing opportunity to serve alongside Denver Broncos' free saftey Quinton Carter.
Never would have guessed I would meet a Bronco in HAITI!! 

 

This is the 2013 Spring Interns.  They are an amazing group of people and I am incredibly blessed to serve with them!

 

 

Partner with me & share the vision of seeing this nation changed!

Why. Where. When.

One of the questions that I can’t help but think as I live in Haiti is this, “Why was I born in the United States?”  I think most ponder this question at some point during their visit to Haiti.  It is a fairly common question.  Why me?  You can allow yourself to think of all the other places you could have been born and you wrestle with trying to comprehend why the Lord has placed you where you are.

Now I’m going to take this a step further.  The Lord has impressed upon me lately that He is sovereign and that He is in control.  Yes, He has chosen exactly where you are for a reason.  You have the family that you do, for a reason.  You have the neighbors that you do, for a reason.  The boss, the coworkers, the employees, the teachers, the mailman for goodness sake – you have them all for a reason.  Now, I want you to think of this – not only has He placed you exactly “where” you are for a reason, He has placed you exactly “when” for a reason.  Track with me here.  God could have placed you in any time period He wanted.  You could have been born 100 years ago, you could have been born 50 years from now!  The Lord literally handpicked you out of time and space and has placed you in the time frame that He has, for a reason.  Are you following me?  Anytime, anywhere, anyplace and He chose you to be exactly where you are, when you are, for such a time as this!  And why?  I believe it is because He is the great Author and He is writing the greatest story ever told and YOU, you my friend, get to play a part in it.  I get to play a part in it.  He is weaving and painting this beautiful masterpiece.  Ephesians 4:1a beautifully captures this, “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world.”  Before the creation of the world!  Before time even existed He knew exactly when He would place you.  Not only the where but the when. 

If life doesn’t seem to make sense right now – please hear this, you have been placed exactly where you are and when you are for a reason.  You are not a mistake.  You are not an extra.  You are not overlooked.  The Lord sees you and He knows you.  He holds you in the very palm of His hands.  Taste and see that the Lord is good.  Be still and know that He is God.  He is good and He is doing good.

The Beauty of a Story

I love to tell a story. 

Sound effects. 

Hand motions.  The whole nine yards! 

I don’t leave out any details.  I love to paint a picture with my words. 

As this new year in Haiti begins to unfold, I can’t help but wonder what kind of story I have fallen into.  Haiti.  Of all places for me to be, I would have never imagined that this is where the Lord would place me.  I never imagined that I could fall in love with this place.  One of the most frequent questions I am asked is how long will I stay.  And at this point, I really don’t have an answer.  The last year and a half seem to have flown by.  Then on the other hand I feel like I’m just getting settled into this amazing place.  The only answer I am really able to give is this, “I will stay until He moves me.” 

Proverbs 16:9 says, “The heart of the man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” 

There have been many, many seasons of my life where I have made plans and I think I know what is best.  None of those seasons have proven to be very fruitful.  I believe that is why this season of my life has been the exact opposite.  In 2009 when I let go of control and stopped trying to do things my way, that’s when things really started to change.  I stopped trying to plan.  I stopped trying to steer the course of my life.  2009 is when I moved from Colorado to Arkansas.  And for those of you that know my story, you know that moving to Arkansas is what eventually led me to move to Haiti.  It didn’t happen overnight.  My life didn’t change in a flash.  But step by step, the Lord was leading.  I am so thankful that I finally let go.  Nevertheless, I still find myself wanting to grab the reigns and take control.  It is a daily battle to surrender my pride and my selfishness.  But it is worth it.

 

I am thankful for grace.  I am thankful for God rescuing me from myself.  I am thankful for the story He has placed me in.