Month: June 2010

Today is Asher and Levi’s first birthday! I remember their first day so well. I had a doctor’s appointment. I was in the doctor’s office and I kept telling the nurse that I thought I was in labor. She told me it was “nothing”. Nothing? So she let me sit there in the waiting room for a while until my mom finally said –  I think she’s going to have these babies!!  So they put me on a monitor. Levi’s heart rate was too low and I was rushed for an emergency c-section. So it was “nothing” right? Sometimes a mom just knows.

Watching my little boys walking all over the house – it’s hard to believe it’s been a year. I won’t bore you with their story – after all you had 9 long months of waiting for their arrival. I really need to go back and delete most of last year!! LOL!

I have been ready to battle here. In a lot of ways I’ve even been looking forward to it. Nothing like getting totally frustrated and angry on His behalf!! It’s kind of exciting to know you’ve got something to fight for!

I don’t know if you remember the story of the mission’s church in St. Louis. We bought the land from a voodoo owner. When all the men had left for Port-au-Prince to take a group back – 200 people in their ceremonial clothes – with animals in hand – came to the land to make a large sacrifice for Satan.

A visual battle of good versus evil took place that day. As they threatened to bloody that land – three missionary women held hands and sang songs with the name of Jesus. Our ladies and children from the nutritional program sheepishly joined them. While the voodoo people tried their hardest – they ended in frustration – releasing their animals and walking off the land.

The next Sunday at church the townspeople who had witnessed the scene came and said – Tell me about the Jesus that makes the voodoo people leave. Tell me about the Jesus who is more powerful than satan.

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I have been praying for the hearts of the people in the Mole. I’ve been praying that a visual battle will take place here  and they will want to know about the Jesus who is more powerful than satan. I’ve been waiting for satan’s punches – preparing for them over the last few weeks. I’ve been looking for the places I know he wants to take charge. I’ve been gearing myself with the armor of God – ready for the battle.

But man – does satan know right where to punch or what? He’s got our 411 on our most vulnerable spot. For a mother – there is no place better to hit than that of her precious baby. You say anything about our children and those are fightin’ words!

I have been preparing for every battle except the one that is closest to my heart – my children. Since arriving in the Mole my little Asher has been attacked. Unsure if he’s having seizures or heat strokes – his little body has had 10 episodes where he goes limp and lifeless for minutes at a time. Wow — didn’t see that one coming.

My momma sent me this email last night:

Jody, i am praying the armor of God over him continually.  You pray that too.  That no firy darts of satan can get to him because sickness is of the devil and you just moved out there to do a mighty work and satan doesn’t like that.  Stand firm honey and keep a watch over Asher but know that God is right there with you as you sleep beside that precious boy.  I heard something tonight on the spiritual channel….some prayer, some power   more prayer, more power   –  much prayer, much power….so have people pray, pray, pray!  love, momma

Nothing like having a praying momma. Nothing like having a praying family. Nothing like having a praying community. Please commit my little boy to your prayers. Satan hit me in my weakest spot. I’m not going to lie – I have been very worried and my first response was to fly him to the states. But wouldn’t satan just love it that our first week out in the Mole – we’re taking that emergency flight to the states? I should have predicted it from the prayer-request list I blogged about a few days ago.

I am keeping in contact with his pediatrician in the states but I believe that I am NOT supposed to take him out right now. There is much work to be done here – and while the battle wasn’t what I expected – I’m suited up and claiming victory in His name.

We are safe and sound in the Mole. It was quite the adventure here. We had two flat tires which made for a 6 hour drive! Malaya was sick the entire time – throwing-up outside the window because the driver didn’t want to stop anymore! Gabriel was hungry and crying most of the trip and Gigi was making monkey noise! The twins and Mikela and Rosie weren’t too bad although we were all going stir crazy.

It was harder than I thought when we pulled outside the mission gates. Several of the employees had come by Monday morning to say good-bye. They waited in the courtyard as we pulled away. Something about sitting on my steps and seeing my front door closed – realizing we don’t live there anymore – it really hit me. Jose too. The dogs thought we were leaving them but were excited when we put them in the back of the truck.

The house was already fixed up and ready from the week before. So it was a nice transition for the children to come here and see all their things. The girls really love their home. Gabriel was on the floor playing with his cars within 5 minutes of arriving. Gigi was a little nervous about walking up the steps to the house. She definitely didn’t know where she was. But when we brought her to the daybed and had her doll laying there  – she made a loud happy noise and started bouncing on the bed and chewing on her dolls’ hair!! It’s her favorite thing to do!

The twins are walking!! Not sure if I told you that already or not. They have been walking all over the house and getting into EVERYTHING! They will turn 1 on June 25th. Hard to believe it’s been a year. Hard to believe what all has changed since they came into this world. When I connect all the pieces – they’re actually the reason we are in the Mole. Listen to this and tell me if this isn’t some sort of God’s great plan:

1) We’re told we cannot get pregnant without medical intervention.
2) We end up with twins – TOTALLY UNEXPECTEDLY
3) I’m sick and have to go the states for 9 months
4) Because I have to leave Haiti due to the pregnancy – we bring Melonnie on as my assistant
5) Melonnie learns to manage all the groups and daily operations while I’m gone
6) Because we finally have help with groups in St. Louis- I can now go to the Mole and start a new campus plant
– – and it all started because we got pregnant with twins!

So the kids do seem to be adjusting. We were most worried about Gigi but I really think she’s doing well considering everything is new. We walked her to the pastor’s house last night. Granted – everyone stares at her – but we haven’t heard anyone making fun of her.

If I had to say if anyone was struggling I’d say it was our dogs. Most of you who’ve been to Haiti know that our dogs bark at everything and Diddle likes to snip/bite. We’ve had people in our house all day long and not once have they made a noise. I don’t think they know what to think yet. We were actually worried that they would bite the people here because they’re very protective of our house in St. Louis – but so far – they’ve been very friendly!

We met with Tate Williams from Global Orphan Project last night. We walked on the land and started to lay out all the plans for the campus. Dreaming about all the programs and all the people we could help – it was REALLY exciting! We had a great discussion about how we can really partner together and I feel like for the first time we have a real grasp on the potential for this Mole campus.

As for the summer:
We have Borden/ Northside Group with us right now. There are about 35 people total. We rented out the entire hotel. They will spend the night tonight, do a VBS tomorrow, give out goats to a few needy families, and then head to PAP in the afternoon. When they leave – Savannah Christian Church joins us and are here for a week to do a community census. The day they leave – we have another group of 30 join us from Kansas City!! Then we have a week break and then more groups until August 6th. There’s only about one week this summer where we don’t have a group! Pretty exciting since we just moved here.

Jose and I have fixed up the house in the Mole and it’s ready for the kiddos. We have spent the last several days in St. Louis gathering the remains of our belongings – fridge/freezer/washing machine/clothes/etc. The one thing that was holding us back from taking the kids out there was having a generator.  As I have said before – it’s really hot out there and you cannot find a cool drink anywhere in the town.

Jose went to Port-au-Prince yesterday to buy a generator so that we can actually have power a few hours a day. I feel much better knowing I can mix the babies’ bottles with cool water and that we can take out some meat and not worry about it being spoiled.

Through the efforts of generous people – we were able to purchase our gas stove and gas dryer! Thank you all so much! We were a little taken back by the price of the generator though. We had hoped to purchase one in Port-au-Prince for 6500.00 but it ended up costing us 10,000.00. It’s an 11K generator. We kept debating about what to do. We only had 5,000.00 to put towards it. At the same time there is ministry to be done there. We saw the children experience their first VBS. I do not want to wait any longer to be the face of Jesus to the people in the Mole. The earthquake has taught me how precious time is.

So we bought it and it’s on a truck headed to the Mole right now. Tomorrow we load up everything including our dogs and our children for the 5 hour drive out there! That should be an adventure!

I do have a few things I would like for you to specifically pray about.

1) Evangelism – That the hearts in the Mole would be open and willing to hear about the word of God. That we can fight through some of the deep roots there and change the Mole for HIM! Pray for there to be unity among fellow pastors there. Pray for the programs we will start and that they will bear fruit.

2) The Mole – This town is a really good town. I do not want to corrupt it with our groups. There is a reason why you walk out the gates here in St. Louis and you are attacked by people begging. It’s because we created that system. Every time someone asks you for your shoes/watch/money and you give it to them right there on the spot – we’ve taught them the rewards of begging. When you throw money/candy – off the back of trucks – you’ve taught them to attack every mission truck that goes through their town. WE created this system. Right now we walk the streets WITHOUT begging. We actually blend in with the town. The moment groups start creating a system of rewarding those that beg –  it’s the moment we change the town forever. Pray that in all that we do – that we learn from past mistakes and make an effort to keep the innocence of this town in tact.

3) Gigi – She has become so comfortable here in St. Louis. She walks all over this campus. She just started feeling comfortable enough to leave the house without anyone and loves to randomly sit with people in the group dining hall. When the Miriam Center moved from one building to another – I saw what it did to Belle. She’s never been the same since. I am worried that Gigi will regress when we move. She likes her schedule and her little world here. Please pray she adjusts well. The Haitians still don’t seem to get it. They all thought we would leave her here when we moved. She is OUR DAUGHTER! This will be the first time that the Mole will really see children with special needs. I know how much the people here used to tease them – stare at them – and ridicule them – right to their face. I hope that we are able to teach the people in the Mole how to love children who are different – just like we did here in St. Louis.

4) My Health – I’m sure it’s because of the stress of leaving but the last three days my migraines have come back with full force. Magdala stuck me 5 times today trying to find a vein. No luck. The migraines cause me to throw up and I’m too dehydrated right now. The biggest concern that everyone has for me is that I tend to be someone who needs IV’s about 5 times a year – and that’s on a good year. Jose really pushes fluids on me when I’m in the mole and I am learning to be more conscientious about that out there.

5) For the health of the teams – I am a nurse and am bringing out supplies for groups if they get sick. I practiced sewing up someone yesterday. I hadn’t done that since Miss Pat lived here!! I really try to avoid the “sewing department” but I also realize I need to be able to do that if one of my kids/group members require a stitch. We have always been blessed to be right here by the hospital but we’re over 1.5 hours from the next hospital in the Mole. There is a Czech Clinic in town but I’m not sure what all they can do there.

6) For Our Needs – money to finish paying off the generator, a vehicle (4-wheeler, club cadet, truck – anything) that will help us travel in case of emergency, money to help build our home, and for an emergency-free year. This could possibly the first year I don’t have to fly to the states for emergency medical problems. Avoiding that for one year – wow – that sure would help our finances.

Thanks again for encouraging us along this journey. We consider it a privilege to share our lives with you – the good and the bad! So many of you write us and we have never met – yet we all feel like family. Being on the mission field can get lonely at times. We don’t have a church family to drawl strength from. I used to think that was a bad thing. But God did so much more for us. He gave us this amazing mission family – the missionaries who live here – those that come to visit every year – and those that pray and encourage us from afar. What more could we ask for? 😀