December 13, 2010
December 4, 2010
Save a Life in HAITI
“Once our eyes are opened, we can’t pretend we don’t know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows what we know, and hold us responsible to act.”
Right now, as I type, many are being infected with Cholera, and many more are dying in Haiti. Following the deadly earthquake in January It was just a matter of time before an outbreak like this occurred. It spreads in areas with untreated sewage, contaminated water, and people living in close proximity. It also spreads amongst those ill or malnourished. That’s what the reports online say. “ill or malnourished.” Does that strike a cord within you? Probably not. It doesn’t really with me and I live on the same island and visit with the “ill and malnourished,” that they describe.
How about this instead… As I type these words, and as many Americans are busy checking the internet for the best deals at Target, Best buy or where ever else we think we can get the cheapest gifts for our kids and loved ones, thousands of helpless children who had no choice as to where they would be born or spend their days on this earth are faced with the sinking reality that their only meal for the day (if you could call it a meal) is eating dirt. Dirt cookies. Dirt infested with parasites and other sickness. Dirt that locals mix with oil bake on top of their tin roofs in the sweltering heat to provide the swollen malnourished bellies of their children some relief from the pains that must torment them. My eyes are filled with tears at the thought of these children begging for something to eat, crying out in their pain. In their agony. They have no rice, they have not a vegetable, or a piece of fruit. They have dirt. Dirt that is killing them.
Do you know how Cholera takes a life? Immediately a person (or child or baby... think of yours) falls ill with diarhea. Violent diarhea. Fever. Vomiting. They lose GALLONS of fluids in a day. They become dehydrated. Their heart rate falls. Lack of potassium causes cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death.
Now go look in the eyes of your child and imagine that terribly horrific reality as if it were for them… do they still need the PS3 or the new Ipad or latest cell phone or could we instead spare some of the gobs of Christmas money we as Americans shell out each year on crap to save the life of a man, like our husbands, or a woman like our mothers or sisters, or a child like our own children. The ones we would live or die for? The ones we spent countless hours comforting, rocking, feeding, drying tears and celebrating all their milestones with.
Or her life.
Or her life.
What if it were these girls who needed you?
12 ¢.
That. Is. All. It. Takes.
Proverbs 24:12
Right now, as I type, many are being infected with Cholera, and many more are dying in Haiti. Following the deadly earthquake in January It was just a matter of time before an outbreak like this occurred. It spreads in areas with untreated sewage, contaminated water, and people living in close proximity. It also spreads amongst those ill or malnourished. That’s what the reports online say. “ill or malnourished.” Does that strike a cord within you? Probably not. It doesn’t really with me and I live on the same island and visit with the “ill and malnourished,” that they describe.
How about this instead… As I type these words, and as many Americans are busy checking the internet for the best deals at Target, Best buy or where ever else we think we can get the cheapest gifts for our kids and loved ones, thousands of helpless children who had no choice as to where they would be born or spend their days on this earth are faced with the sinking reality that their only meal for the day (if you could call it a meal) is eating dirt. Dirt cookies. Dirt infested with parasites and other sickness. Dirt that locals mix with oil bake on top of their tin roofs in the sweltering heat to provide the swollen malnourished bellies of their children some relief from the pains that must torment them. My eyes are filled with tears at the thought of these children begging for something to eat, crying out in their pain. In their agony. They have no rice, they have not a vegetable, or a piece of fruit. They have dirt. Dirt that is killing them.
Infected water that is killing them. They bathe in water filled with waste. Think of the smell, think of the stench that must fill their nostrils. What do you think they feel? What must be going through their minds? Are they cursing God? Are they crying out to Him for help? Do they think everyone must live like this? Have they heard of America?
Now go look in the eyes of your child and imagine that terribly horrific reality as if it were for them… do they still need the PS3 or the new Ipad or latest cell phone or could we instead spare some of the gobs of Christmas money we as Americans shell out each year on crap to save the life of a man, like our husbands, or a woman like our mothers or sisters, or a child like our own children. The ones we would live or die for? The ones we spent countless hours comforting, rocking, feeding, drying tears and celebrating all their milestones with.
Do you know how much of that Christmas money you would need to spare to save a life from the deadly Cholera outbreak? 12¢. 12 lousy cents. Does that even seem right to you or fare? People are dying over 12 freaking cents.
Here’s what would save their lives: a mixture of salt, sugar, and clean water. And it costs 12¢.
You could save his life.
Here’s what would save their lives: a mixture of salt, sugar, and clean water. And it costs 12¢.
You could save his life.
Or her life.
Or her life.
What if it were these girls who needed you?
12 ¢.
That. Is. All. It. Takes.
A matter of life and death over 12 cents. It’s not right and it’s not fair. But you and I are called to this. As human beings we are called to this and as followers of Jesus we are called to this, and rightfully so, will be judged for how we respond.
“Once our eyes are opened, we can’t pretend we don’t know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows what we know, and hold us responsible to act.”
Proverbs 24:12
We will be held responsible.
Please please, I am begging you to save a life and donate now.
So, how do you do it?
Several ways- text GOHAITI to 85944 and you will be making a $10 donation. Enough for 80 treatments!
Send a check to G.O. Ministries, Inc. and mail it to:
11501 Plantside Dr.
Suite 14
Louisville, KY 40299
In the memo write “Haiti/Cholera”
December 2, 2010
November 30, 2010
Sports in the Bateys
Every year the Sports Ministry plans a mission trip of our own. Throughout the year North-Americans travel to my country to serve the people here, and all year long we are blessed by their service. This is our way to give back to our country. This year we went to Batey Nueve in Barahona.
G.O. has been working in the Bateys for a long time and this was the first place we went to for our own mission trip in 2007 so it was awesome to return here after 3 years of being away.
I have to say, I was a little nervous about leaving Jackie and the babies alone for 4 days, but I have learned that when God wants to teach us something He will provide the way to do it. My mother-in-law and father-in-law were here visiting us the week prior to the trip on vacation and watching the babies for us so we could be at our yearly staff retreat. Sheila offered to stay an extra week to help Jackie so I could be a part of the mission trip.
Our time in the Bateys was amazing. God really spoke to me about waiting and about living our lives honoring God and to really look and find His blessings which are all around us.
In my own life I realized that I must be more grateful to God for the many blessings He has given me and Jackie. We have been blessed to both be involved in raising and caring for our girls. I am going back to school full-time next year to finish my degree and will be working with short-term teams so I am trying to really enjoy these moments with my family before the busy season comes and to really thank God for each day He has given us with them!
-Alan
Jackie loves spending time with the people in the Bateys though it's been over 2 years since she's last been back. You can read about her last visit to the bateys here, here, and here
prayer time in the Bateys
Houses in the Bateys. The blue building is an outhouse. There are no indoor bathrooms
Sugar cane fields. many men find their work here
I have to say, I was a little nervous about leaving Jackie and the babies alone for 4 days, but I have learned that when God wants to teach us something He will provide the way to do it. My mother-in-law and father-in-law were here visiting us the week prior to the trip on vacation and watching the babies for us so we could be at our yearly staff retreat. Sheila offered to stay an extra week to help Jackie so I could be a part of the mission trip.
Our time in the Bateys was amazing. God really spoke to me about waiting and about living our lives honoring God and to really look and find His blessings which are all around us.
putting up nets at the court in Batey 9
We used sports as a tool to speak truth into the lives of the kids living in the Bateys. It is a great responsibility for us, to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. To tell the story of the boy who sleeps on the floor at night, or the girl who eats once a day thanks to the G.O. Nutrition Center in Batey Nueve. We can share God with them and let them know that even though they may have struggles now, they can have more in this life and God has a great plan for them. A plan that we can't even imagine, it's so big and only possible with God.
Our team with kids from the camp
In my own life I realized that I must be more grateful to God for the many blessings He has given me and Jackie. We have been blessed to both be involved in raising and caring for our girls. I am going back to school full-time next year to finish my degree and will be working with short-term teams so I am trying to really enjoy these moments with my family before the busy season comes and to really thank God for each day He has given us with them!
Here's a short video of Alan teaching and leading the devotions for the sports team. Enjoy!
-Alan
Jackie loves spending time with the people in the Bateys though it's been over 2 years since she's last been back. You can read about her last visit to the bateys here, here, and here
November 25, 2010
and we give thanks.
They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
Psalm 145:7
Today we are celebrating! We have so much to be thankful for this year. I will admit, this year has taken the proverbial cake when it comes to personal trials. Having my daughters has been my greatest joy and at times my greatest sacrifice. I am learning how to live and breath and do life all over again. It is a new life. A new way of doing things. A new way of loving.
2010 began for me unlike any other. I found myself basking in the freedom of Christ in a way that I had not experienced. He was my living water and I could not get enough to drink. The climb to the mountaintop was long and painstaking and Christ so gently shed light into so many hidden dark places in my life that needed healing only He could give. I found myself in an almost euphoric state. But alas, we cannot live on the mountaintop and now in the closing of 2010 I am finding myself back in the familiar territory- the valley of the foot of the Cross. Desperately seeking Him, desiring to be His servant, and so needing His healing touch. It truly never ends, this process of holy sanctification. I am forever His and He is mine. Oh how my heart rejoices in such a simple and yet mind-blowing, radical truth.
I know you must be thinking this was supposed to be about celebration and thankfulness and at 2am, I have to tell you amidst my own personal pain and struggles this year has brought I am triumphantly celebrating the Lord's goodness! He has blessed us with two amazingly unique and special little girls.
What a fascinatingly long 9 month journey God took me on as He began preparing my heart to care for two little sweet babes.
Celebrating 2 amazing little treasures being knitted together
Amelia Grayce
Stella Natalia
Alan was granted a medical visa to be there for the birth of the girls. That alone is an amazing testament of His power to meet our needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus. Read that story here.
A proud papi
Adding to our family, May 25, 2010
We are so very blessed
We stayed at this little hotel across the street from the US Embassy. Our girls stayed in Santiago with Alan's parents. It was a wonderfully refreshing time for Alan and I to reconnect and of course, to sleep!
Even amidst our house being broken into, God was so faithful to protect me and the girls. God has used what was meant to harm and destroy us to bring us closer to Him. Our faith has deepened. The love between Alan and I has been deepened (something uniquely fierce and primal happens when someone you love is in potential danger)
If I could put a theme to 2010 it would be faithfulness. He is so good and faithful.
When we doubt, He is faithful.
When we fear, He is still faithful.
When we are unfaithful, He is faithful yet.
He has been so faithful to me through a very difficult season, I confess, in my soul I do love these times of clinging to Him as if my very life depended on it. We are climbing that mountain together and will one day be back on top- only to look right back down into the valley where He will once again lead me... Oh how I love my sweet Jesus.
For this, I am so thankful on Thanksgiving. For this, we will celebrate.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.
Psalm 136:1
November 10, 2010
In the States!
I (Jackie) will be traveling to the US in the early part of December to fundraise and share the vision God has given us for ministry in the DR & Haiti. Please let me know if you'd like to meet with me!
Pray for our Residency appt. on Monday for Alan to be able to come to the states with us!
Pray for our Residency appt. on Monday for Alan to be able to come to the states with us!
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