Bon Voyage and Blessings

My day started a little earlier than usual. Rick and Ryan had a 6:00 a.m. flight out of K.C.I. this morning. I got up to see them off. I told them that I love them at least a dozen times each. Hugged and squeezed them extra tight.

Then, just like that, they were pulling out of the driveway. I'm not sure if it was the last hug or watching their headlights as they drove off, but I was choked up.

I'm so proud that Rick has always wanted to do this. I'm proud that he is such a good Daddy and took his son with him. I just have a really good feeling about this. A feeling that so many lives will be touched somehow. I'm certain the most touched will be my boys!!!

Several months ago a lady gave Rick a $100.00 check to purchase supplies and medicines. She passed away three weeks ago. Rick contacted her daughter and asked her what he should do with the check as he hadn't cashed it. I think that he fully intended to return it to her. She begged him to cash it and added another $20.00 from herself saying, "that is what mother would want." The same day we heard from the village in Haiti that they were having an outbreak of Typhoid and Malaria. No one had expected this and they didn't get any donated medications for them. With that money the lady gave, along with her daughter, he was able to purchase those meds.. I'm sure that God had that all planned out. I'm also sure that this will be one of many amazing stories I will hear in the coming week.

I thought it would be easier for you to visualize if I introduced Rick and Ryan's fellow team members.

This is Sue Bachman. I met Sue several years ago in a Beth Moore bible study. It was called "A Heart Like His" and she was the facilitator. We have been friends since.

From left to Right:

Lynn Lyon: Father-in-law to Lori Lyon

Keith Bachman: Son of Sue Bachman

Lori Lyon: my A+ Mary Kay consultant and friend

This is Mama and her family. Mama does all the cooking for my boys while in Haiti. Wow, that's a tall order. My boys can put it away!!! Especially my red-head. I have no idea what her given name is. Sue, Lori, and Lynn have always called her "Mama".

This was their supper tonight............ barracuda. I'm not even joking guys!! I think I just threw up in my mouth. Uggh!

I may have prefered this one. At least it's pink!!!!

The village is nestled in the bottom of a mountain. They have had lots of rainfall this week. Here is a picture taken on the 19th. Two families lost their homes (Not that they were much to begin with. Can you imagine?) If you think of it, please pray about this. They are expecting more rain this week. Since most natives do not have transportation, they will be visiting Rick's clinic on foot. Flooding will hinder that. Rick's goal is to see as many people as possible. He wants NOTHING to stand in the way of that.

This is a sunset picture that Sue posted a few nights ago. Isn't is amazing that a place so pretty could have so much sickness and despair. It tears my heart strings.

I've pulled all of these pictures off of Sue's facebook photo album. I hope to post some of my boy's pictures tomorrow. They have promised me! Rick sent me an e-mail. I'm going to type it word for word...........

"Holy crap unbelievable. Ryan not even talking. Just dumbfounded. T.V. does not come close to how bad it is."

That says it all, I guess.

Packing for Haiti

Well......... this is a first for our family. We spent one whole evening repackaging medicine for Rick and Ryan's Haiti trip. It was a complete group effort. Now let's pray that the airlines are in a good mood when they go to check-in. I'm terrified that they are going to apprehend all this hard work.

Several donations were made by local pharmacies. A few friends and co-workers of Rick gave money, and another mission team from Hondoras gave many of the supplies. I cannot wrap my brain around how much difference this is going to make to these people.

I'm not sure what Ryan is expecting out of this. Right now I'm sure it seems like an adventure to him. I hope that it gives him a respect for God, God's people and how blessed we are.

They are taking suitcases full of gauze, bandages, sterile kits, etc. Most of it I wouldn't know how to use. I'm sure that the people will utilize every single piece of it.

Even Gracie was able to help.

If I think about this for too long at a time, I get butterflies in my stomach. I'm know that 10 days from now I will be showing you their pictures. Telling you their stories. Sharing stories of the people they helped.

But the mommy in me lets her mind get carried away. I think about the distance they will be from me. The disease in that country. The natural disasters that have happened in the past year. Frankly, it terrifies me!!!!

Rick and Ryan have both had their Hep A shots and they have begun their antibiotic regime. The antibiotics will continue until a month after they return. This ensures that they won't get malaria. The #1 killer in Haiti.

I would appreciate SO MUCH prayers for both of them. Below I have listed a few things that you can pray for. It would mean so much to all of us!!!

1. safe travels

2. finding the man at the airport who is supposed to pick them up

3. good health for the mission team

4. the healing of many many people

5. the flooding that is currently happening to the people in the village. (good weather)

6. wisdom, patience, and understanding so Rick can help lots of sick people.

7. hearts changed towards God

Praying for Haiti

My heart has been so heavy this week for Haiti. Golly, how do you wrap you mind around 100,000+ dead? I don't know about you, but I cannot!

It's so easy to forget about since it didn't happen on American soil. However, let's not forget that we are fellow sojourners. Temporary residents of this crazy, crazy world. Brought together because we have a wonderful and merciful God. We are all God's people (whether or not they recognize their heritage).

Whatever your faith friends, please remember these people. Give how you can. Whether in financial support, mission or prayer.

My husband and son had arranged a trip to Haiti in July. A team was assembled from our church and Rick was going to provide medical mission for the people. The town is called Montrouis. It is a coastal city. Very, VERY poor.

Below is a letter from American friends who live in Montrouis.

Dear Friends:
Here is an update....you will not believe the devastation in Port au Prince...but as previously
reported, we are fine and remain strong in The Lord. .keep praying for the people. We had
another aftershock at 1:15AM this morning. Pray that God will kill this thing and no more
quakes of any kind...buildings continue to crumble in Port au Prince due to poor building
methods...But we thank our God that this building rocked and rolled but no damage. The
Boss Mason, Lexes John Pierre ate with us this morning and we all celebrated with him how
strong he and his men built this building that has kept us safe.

We now know some houses have crumbled here in Montrouis...we will be working with the
church Pastors to bring relief not only here but in Port au Prince...but it is our policy so you
will know, we go through the Pastors and their churches to meet needs.

You can help by sending ANY AMOUNT of money to House Of Bread...P.O. Box 733,
Chillicothe,Mo...64601...mark your check "Haiti Earthquake".

At this time all telephone communications are out of service. Pray our e mail stays with us.
We just bought new Digicel Phones and now learned the Digicel main office in Port has been
flattened...gone...we have our Haitel nbr which may work latr...you can try if you want...it is
011-509-3-567-0361....but the best right now is e mail.

Some of our staff including Pastor Rigaud have left for Port au Prince to try and check on and
find their family members...pray for them and their safety.

One thing we know and that is diesel fuel may become very scarce. we need it to pump water
and keep our batteries charged..pray we can find it when we need it.

Power is off in Port and we understand the International Airport is closed...but apparently some
military aircraft from the U.S. and other countries are using the facility...U.S. Coast Guard Cutters
have begun to arrive by sea.

Gayle and another nurse have gone out to see what people need around us. We are providing good
water thanks to many of our partners. It turned a little cloudy yesterday when we were pumping
for the people and this morning also...but it has now cleared up.

We learnd of a miracle and how God protects his people...Harrington Rigaud, Pastor Andrea's
brother lives in Port au Prince. This apartment house he lives in is now rubble...but guess what
he was'nt in the building...Praise God....Love In Christ...Jim and Gayle...Haiti

It's hard to write about my new UGG's after that. So I'm going to say much. Just that I wanted a pair of these since Rick and I's trip to New York two years ago.

Congo wants a pair also.

REALLY wants a pair!!!!!

He's liking mine a little too much for my comfort.

Ughh, what are you doing, Congo?

He would have crawled inside the boots if he would have fit.

I have (ahem) largish feet for a woman. I'm excited that I was able to go down a size. Opps, that was also a confession to my TRUE size, huh? Hey, I'm a tall girl.