Do what you can for Haiti...

I don't watch TV. Someone asked me at our home school group how I know what's going on in the world. Either my husband (he watches news at work and reads the newspaper online) or other sources online. So I haven't seen the pictures or the news stories. I found out about the tragedy in Haiti on Facebook. One of my friends, who's also in my class at church, was in Haiti on a Mission Trip the week of Thanksgiving, so it holds a special place in her heart. I'm also friends with Compassion International, who we have supported for 11 years. (Fan Compassion on Facebook.) I also read blogs, and when a crisis happens, bloggers spring into action.

Money Saving Mom is one of my favorite blogs. She and her husband have graciously offered to donate $10 to Compassion International for every blogger who blogs what they're doing to help the relief efforts and links to her website. Last time I checked, she's up to donating $3280! And that was before I linked up! She's got it open through January 21. I'd say she's been a good steward of her resources to be able to leave an open-ended donation going like that. Her blog is well worth your time.

You can also make a donation directly to Compassion International's Disaster Relief Fund. Compassion was already in Haiti. Casualties could have included some of their staff, volunteers, and definitely the children and families they were already ministering to every day. Compassion has been keeping us up-to-date on their ministries on their blog and on Facebook.

The cloth diapering world is also getting involved. Kelly's Closet is doing a raffle fundraiser, with 100% of the proceeds going to the American Red Cross International Response Fund. For a $10 donation, you are entered into a drawing for an awesome diaper bundle or gift certificate! The last update they posted on facebook, was that the fundraiser had already brought in $2580 for donation. You can also donate online directly to the American Red Cross. And the easiest way to donate that I've seen - by text. I don't have texting, but you can donate $10 by texting "HAITI" to 90999.

My friend from church also tells us that our church will be sending disaster relief through the organization, New Missions, who is already positioned in Haiti. Our church has gone with New Missions to Haiti for a few years now. The photo above is from this year's trip. That's Jessica in the foreground. You can read more about the work in Haiti on their website, where I learned that Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. Contributions can be made directly to New Missions on their donations page.

So what am I doing to help? In addition to our contribution to Compassion International, I'm spreading the word. You can also help other bloggers give, too! At the bottom of Money Saving Mom's post, you will also find a list of other bloggers who have committed to donate to Haiti in some form based on comments they receive. Your clicks & comments will help the donations grow without even coming out of your own pocket!!!

So get out there! Get involved! Make a donation! Comment on a blog! Make a difference!

Grandpa's Jeans Never Looked So Good

Before leaving on their mission trip, Grandpa asked me if I could use an old pair of jeans. Not one to turn down free fabric, I said sure! I was actually thinking about a denim quilt I'd mentioned on my craft blog once before. Then as I was wondering what tag blanket I might sew this evening, this one came to me! I'll post more pictures on my craft blog tomorrow.

Grandma & Grandpa On Mission

Grandma, Grandpa & Will made it safely from Texas to Wichita, Kansas by 4:30 p.m. today. This is day one of their weeklong mission trip. Grandpa is blogging teh trip HERE. Please keep them in your prayers as they travel & work this week. This is Will's first mission trip.

Mission Trip Reports

Andy and Lauren have both returned home safely from their month long mission trips! Thanks to anyone out there who prayed for them! Lauren is the white girl above! : ) Read all about it & see more photos (these blogs are works in progress):

Andy's blog about his Thailand trip

Lauren's blog about her Peru trip

Missions Update

Sorry for not posting more regular updates on Andy & Lauren as promised! Andy safely returned home from Thailand on Friday. I got to see his photos today & there are some really awesome ones! I'll see if they'll let me blog one with an elephant... ; ) And I'll link you to their blog when they put up photos. He's full of great stories, but exhausted right now. Continue to pray for him as he adjusts to being back home. His body and spirit has to readjust to this life we lead.

This is one of the photos we got while he was gone. Andy is in the black shirt.


Lauren is still in Peru. Their satellite phone is not working all that great, so we haven't heard much from them, just that they're OK. Continue to pray for their safety.

Thailand

I haven't seen any new pictures, but here are just a few of the updates from students on Andy's trip to Thailand.

6-21-07
Today we went to CMU (Chiang Mai University) and to tell you the truth my whole team just seemed to be wiped out from the night before. So we prayed that God would just completely use our bodies as tools instead of us speaking, let Him speak. Leah and I sat down with these two girls. We began to talk, but the language barrier was beginning to cause a problem. We had gotten deep into a conversation about Buddha and Buddhism. Leah and I prayed that God would bring us an English speaking Thai person. A few moments later, their friends, who just so happened to speak perfect English, joined our conversation. One of the girls had went to a Christian school, but believed none of it. When asked a question about why they pray to Buddha, all they could say is “protection.” I asked the girl what they had taught in her school and she told me. However one major thing that school left out was the sacrifice Jesus made for them. So Leah and I explained Jesus’ death to them with the “evangacube.” They had never been told Jesus died for them and that He loved them. The boy became very curious. He asked us to explain to him why Jesus would do that. We read John 3:16 to him. He now understood. He wanted more information to learn, but did not know how to get it. Leah handed him a small Bible that was Psalm and Proverbs. But there was something telling me that the Bible wasn’t the one he needed. My Bible was the one he needed. With a few tear in my eyes I handed it to him and said, “this is for you” and with a smile on his face he left and said, “thank you, I will never forget you.” – Katie


6-21-07
Today we were teaching commands to the second graders. We tried so hard explaining to them that when we did the action, they should say what it was, such as “listen, work, stop…etc.” They did not understand so Joy went into the crowd of students and pretended to be one. She said the commands that Jeff and I were showing. It was then that the students knew what to do: by following Joy’s example. I just thought that this was amazing. It was exactly like when Jesus came to earth. He left the comforts of Heaven to come join us so that we would have an example to follow. This is what the Thai students have helped me better understand. – Jill

6-22-07
Tonight we had our parties with the University students that we have been building friendships with all week. With the two teams, we had about 50 – 60 people attend our parties and about 20 gave their lives to Jesus. The churchplant team also had a party to begin building relationships with the people not associated with the school where they have been teaching English. Many testimonies are coming from these parties and they will be posted as soon as possible! Pictures will be posted soon also! So keep checking back!! God is certainly moving in Thailand! - For Thai souls, Lisa

Lauren's in Peru!

Lauren's missions team has arrived safely in Peru and have begun their 30-hour trek up or down the Amazon River. I'm not sure which direction they're going. Because their location is so remote, we will get no photos until they return and other updates will probably not be as frequent as we'll have for Andy's trip. Her location in Peru has no Internet access. The leader will have to use a satellite phone to send reports back, but I'll keep you posted here. Please continue to pray for her safety and the mission of their trip!

See some of Lauren's research about Peru including current weather conditions!

Thailand

I know Bubba and Global Expeditions are both blogging Andy's trip also, but you might not read their blogs, so just get used to it! : ) Here is a picture of Andy's team to Thailand. Andy's laying down in the blue stripes.

Here are a couple more testimonies from some of the teens in Andy's group:

6-17-07 We were walking through the market doing a prayer walk. One of our main focuses was that people would realize they need something other than what they had. After about an hour, my MIG decided to take a quick rest, so we stopped on the side of the street. Soon after, a Thai man came up and started talking with us about just random things. After the conversation was over, I stopped him and asked if I could give him something. He agreed and I pulled out a Bible that I brought with me. His eyes immediately lit up as he promised to read it. He then asked us to pray for him and his finances, that God would help him. We prayed and he is believing for a miracle and we are believing for his salvation through that Bible. – Steven

6-18-07 Since being here in Thailand I have learned so much about things I need God to do in my own life. As I sit back and watch others build relationships with people I realize that God needs to break down the wall that I have built so strong around me through not trusting people in my past. I have also come to realize that maybe love isn’t always bad. My leaders say that we should love each other as a family, and while everyone agrees together as this is a good idea, I really feel strongly that I would never be able to feel this way about the people on my team. But recently God has showed me that love can be good. I know that maybe God could do a miracle in my own life on this trip that could change me forever. Loneliness doesn’t always have to be for me. I have also learned through Anne, with the Hope Church here in Thailand, that we need to have faith even though we may not see. I realize I need to work on my faith through building relationships with my team and Thailand people. Even though I can’t see how this can help me and them get closer to God, I know that through faith it can. – Bryanna

Here is another picture of Andy. He's in the black cap looking at the camera. Looks like they're playing cards in the airport.

Thailand Update

Saw this update from Andy's Thailand trip on the website this evening (not written by him, but someone on his trip):

6-17-07

On Saturday, we went to a huge temple. The purpose was to prayer walk. In order to get to the temple we had to climb about 300 stairs, and on each step, as the temple became more and more into view, I became more and more ready. Once I was at the top I began to pray, even before I removed my shoes. As my MIG and I walked, I saw people on their knees in front of the statues! I almost cried at first, and then I became furious at the idea of how much Satan was in charge. Afterward a sentence came to me, “Why not for me?” It was God saying, “Why are they down on the floor praying to others?” I felt and still feel so convicted to make God known.

In early Romans it talks about a place that was deceived. The people worshiped idols such as men, animals, birds and reptiles. The girls were into prostitution and everyone refused God. That passage practically screamed Thailand. In the end God, turned from them and they were condemned. I thought maybe God has begun to turn away already…but after going to church this morning and seeing almost 2,500 seats filled I was reminded “all things are possible through Jesus our Lord.” I am ready. We are on a battle field – on the front lines and I believe we will see miracles, we will see salvations and we will leave the eternal impression.

The Great RR Heist

Perhaps only a rail fan (or the wife of one) could understand the joy Dad had today when he, Curt and Phillip dug through the dumpster at the rail yard! With the Union Pacific's OK, the three of them panned for gold in the scrap metal dumpster and did not leave empty handed. They ended up with 3 signal heads and this huge mast to mount them on. Yeah... you're gonna see pictures of that thing mounted in my yard in a few years...

Don't they look like a motley crew?

I don't know how they got that onto the trailer!

In other news, Andy called home from Thailand today & is doing well. His team is called the Tuk Tuks. I think Lauren is still at her training camp.

BTW... Have you met CPR Teddy yet?

Summer Missions

Some of my friends will be checking here for updates on my niece & nephew as they go on summer missions trips. I believe Andy is in flight to Thailand as I type and Lauren starts her adventure tomorrow. Photos of taking Andy to his training camp can be seen on Grandpa's blog entry.

Goodbye Dinner

Tonight we went to Uncle Bubba's house for Andy's goodbye dinner. He leaves tomorrow for his summer mission trip to Thailand! Please keep him (and his family) in your prayers. Thanks to our friends who offer support & prayers without even knowing him personally!
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Here are Mom & David with Andy. Wow... this humidity sure did make my hair flat!

Earlier today, Grandpa invited David for a walk to the mailbox. When David saw Grandpa put on his cowboy hat, David ran over to his toybox & dug his out!

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This afternoon, Mom, Dad & David went for a walk around the North Place. There were some really tall weeds up there!