Eric and I have had a busy few months. We can't believe that we are already in a new year! Where has the time gone?
We arrived stateside October 2nd and immediately began house hunting. As we began to look around at rental properties, we realized we might be able to purchase a fixer upper and have a cheaper payment. So, we began to look at foreclosures. All summer long as we knew our ministry was going to be changing, we began to pray for our "home" here. WE prayed that God would put us in a neighborhood where we could be a blessing to our neighbors and we also prayed that God would put us in a location where we could serve my family. I have lived in the Dominican for 4 years. I have missed birthdays and special events. It has been such a joy to around my family for the last three months. Eric and I were able to purchase a foreclosed home within 15 minutes or less of my sister's and grandparents( they are in their 80's and my mom was their baby). My mom passed away a year and a half ago. Being the oldest of four children, it has been hard to be away from my family during their time of mourning. God has been so good and gracious to me. He always knows what you need...exactly when you need it.
October 1
0th, Eric and I were able to get away for a little vacation. We went to one of our favorite places Breckenridge, Colorado. This was our second visit to this beautiful state. We had such a relaxing week. I was able to reconnect with my child hood best friend that I had not seen in 20 years. It was such a joy to meet her and her beautiful family. We had an amazing time together! Eric and I had a wonderful time.
November 12-14th, Eric and I represented G.O. at the Global Health Conference at South East Christian church. We had a great time making new friends, meeting old friends, and visiting all the other booths of missionaries from all over the world. It's a great opportunity to learn about other mission's organizations, to get new ideas, and make new contacts. We had a great time!
November 18 we headed to Peoria, Illinois! Eric and I headed there to represent G.O. at the National Missionary Convention for 4 days. This was the biggest convention we had ever been to. It was amazing. We were able to hang out with so many friends from the Illinois area who come to the D.R. every year for mission trips. We made a lot of new friends, and saw some pretty amazing booths. This convention had over 500 booths representing different mission organizations from all over the world. I was also able to reconnect with a old friend of mine. Stephen Fierbaugh is a missionary with Pioneer Bible Translators. Stephen asked Eric and I to be on a panel for a singleness discussion he was hosting. I was single when I joined the mission field. People asked questions about my struggles as a single person and how different it is now that I am married. After the discussion, several of us went out to dinner. It was a great time of fellowship!
After the conference, we headed up to Omaha, Nebraska to spend Thanksgiving with Eric's family,spend time with our supporter's and supporting church, Grace Fellowship. We had a great time relaxing with Eric's family. We were also able to spend time with friends, and attended a mission's open house to visit with most of our supporter's.
Eric and I returned to Louisville December 7th. We have been working in the home office here, working on our house, and support raising as well. We have joined a couple's bible study, and getting to know our neighbors where we will be living soon. The house is getting close to completion! We should be in our house by mid February. Eric and I will be really excited. We are looking forward to going home at the end of the day, and just relaxing with each other!
The whole w
orld has been following the news of the earthquake that rocked Haiti Tuesday, January 12th. Haiti is a country that was already in a desperate situation. A lot of people are saying that the situation in Haiti is hopeless, but WE know that we serve a big God. The outpouring of love and resources for the people in Haiti has been amazing! Eric and I have been working in the office helping to co ordinate volunteers and donations. Eric has been manning our warehouse space in Louisville at 7325 New LaGrange Road that was donated to the ministry so that we could have a place where churches and businesses could drop off medicine, medical supplies, surgical supplies, food and water. The warehouse is open Monday thru Saturday, from 10am to 8pm. The supplies that are being collected are being flown into Santiago, D.R. and driven to the coast, loaded onto a boat and then unloaded in Jacmel, Haiti. God has opened a the doors for us to get these life sustaining supplies into the city. Jacmel is 20 miles south of Port-Au-Prince and was leveled by the 7.0 earthquake just as badly as the capital was. G.O. has been a presence in Santiago for more than 18 years, and God has blessed our relationships with our Haitian brothers and sisters. We have continued to fly in supplies to Haiti. Because other aid agencies have now arrived in Jacmel, we have directed all flights to the town of Leogane. Leogane is located closer to the epicenter of the quake and lost the three-story hospital located in that town. We continue to provide needed supplies to Leogane. We learned that the planes were landing on a road in a valley between two mountains. There have been so many planes landing there that air traffic control has now given it an airport designation.
Our relief flights con
tinue from Santiago into Haiti. We have responded to Jacmel, Leogane, and Carrefour among others. Friends at Haitian Christian Outreach contacted us. The work they support in Port-Au-Prince did not lose their building because they were built with a greater amount of reinforcement. Around 1,700 people were sheltering there. Ten days had passed and no one had provided them with any relief supplies. On Saturday, January 23rd, we were able to send them 1,800 pounds of supplies. They also received a shipment from another group that day as well. Praise God as people were starving.
You can watch this amazing video our team on the field put together of the emergency aid efforts going on in Haiti. Grab some tissues. GO HELP HAITI. You can follow up on everything that our organization is doing for Haiti Relief at www.gohelphaiti.org .
Eric and I are excited about all the changes that are coming our way. I know that a lot of you already know, but we are expecting our first child September 11th. We are excited but also a little bummed as it will cut our time short this year with our Dominican family. We will return to the states August 1st to prepare for the stork. :)
Thank you all for your prayers and support. We look forward to hearing from you all!!
