Monday, February 28, 2011

Preparation & Reflection

I have thought constantly about different updates. I even started a FAQs update but never got it completed. I’ve had sick little ones, which is hard enough but even harder when your husband is training troops. It’s been a busy few weeks! The next few don’t look any better.

I have officially applied for my passport!!!! It should be here by the first week of April. Soooo exciting!!!

I’ve also set up a doctor’s appointment to get started with vaccines, but that doesn’t happen until the end of March. I hate waiting!

Next, it’s time to start learning the language!

I will get to the FAQs stuff, I promise, but for now. I’m going to leave you with a video. This is nothing Haiti related. It’s a previous mission trip I’ve been on. This video was taken in South Korea. Just keep in mind that I didn’t travel internationally. I went to Hawaii and did a Midwestern tour. In all, I danced with GX for 3 months. This is what we did. We saw thousands of people come to the Lord during that time. Ironically, this is also how I met Jesus. One night in a gym through this group.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

This Morning’s Quiet Time Reading

Psalm 72

12 For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. 13 He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. 14 He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall be their blood in his sight.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Prayer & Financial Support

Well, my letters will probably start arriving today. Eek!

I don’t know why I’ve been apprehensive about the letters. Well, maybe because any time I ask people for help in any way, I feel apprehensive, even if it’s prayer. My pride says, “I can do this all by myself.” I’m aware though that there is nothing about this trip that I can do myself. I need support. The comments that I got on facebook were so encouraging to me! They lifted me up the rest of the day. I really do need support, even if it’s just people saying, “Mandy, that is so awesome!” I need prayers, encouragement and some excitement too!

I am excited! Every step that I take gets more exciting. We had a letter stuffing meeting last week and a few people admitted how nervous they are. I hope it doesn’t sound arrogant because I don’t mean it like that, but I’m not nervous. Since the first moment I heard about the trip, I’ve been excited. At times, I envision what it will look like, what it will smell like. I get excited!

If school doesn’t get canceled tomorrow, I’m going to get my passport photo taken and apply for my passport. I have everything put together and filled out. I just need to take it in.

If school is canceled tomorrow (we are expecting snow!), I will work on switching doctors and getting an appointment to start my vaccines. It’s a bit more complicated for me because I’m still nursing and I want to be sure that I’m getting the vaccines that are safe for nursing.

*deep sigh* So much to do. I know it isn’t until June, but that is not that far away and I have a lot to do to prepare…like learn a language, for one!

If you are interested in financial support, the best way to do that at this point is to mail a check to:

Crosspoint
2005 N. Hendricks
Hutchinson, KS 67502
Please put “Mandy-Haiti” in the memo line

They are asking that financial contributions be made by March 1st. If you can’t make it by that time and would still like to help, let me know as it closer and I can let you know what kind of supplies we might need.

If prayer or encouragement is how you want to support me, I WELCOME IT! I need it! Bring it on!!! Anytime!

Whatever way you want to support me, THANK YOU!!!!! I love you! :)

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Haiti 2011

Missions is my heart. If you’ve been around very long, you know that. International missions has been my desire from the very beginning. If I hadn’t had children, I’d be a missionary. I had children, so mission trips, well there you go.

I get to kick off international missions in the best possible way. It really does not get any better than this for me. I am so unbelievable stoked! I cannot believe that I really get to do this! I mean Haiti, right now! Are you serious??!!

We are a satellite church. Our main church is in Hutchinson (www.crosspointnow.net) . So, I get to go on this trip with a group of people that I’ve never met. How awesome is that!

Anyway, here are the details:

June 19-25
Fontamara (45 minutes from Port-au-Prince)
We’ll be with A.I.M. doing whatever it is they need us to do, like orphanage visits, food distribution, rubble removal, medical clinics, relational evangelism, etc.
We get to sleep in tents and have Haitian food for dinner.
I’m supposed to get malaria medication, yellow fever vaccination, hepititis A & B shots, typhoid vaccination and the rabies vaccination.
I also need to get my passport, which I don’t have because I’ve never traveled internationally. How awesome is it that my first international trip is this one!!!!
I also get to learn Haitian creole between now and June.
And, I have to come up with $1600.

I’m going to use this blog to update my progress and talk about my excitement. I’ll probably talk a lot about what I’m learning and be able to give regular updates.

If you like to offer support, I’d love prayers for me, the team I’ll be with and my family! Also, if you’d like to offer financial support or support through supplies, that would rock too (let me know, I’ll tell you how to do that)! If you aren’t into any of that and just want to read along this journey with me, enjoy!

I’m living my dream!