{Friday Favorites} - October 26

It is a rainy Friday...well, a rainy week. Hurricane Sandy is past, but we are still getting rain. We are safe. It has rained so much we haven't been able to much checking on people. We are hoping to get out a little bit today and tomorrow and help see if we are needed and what we can do! I'm not sure about our direct area, but I know many in Haiti have lost their homes this week. Please pray for them and those that are in danger if the rains don't stop!

Besides the storm, we had a great week. We are coming off the end of two teams visiting us! We were able to do quite a bit of work, prayer walking, and ministering to those in our circle of influence. 

 1. School is back in session. Last week, we brought our team up to the school! It was so great to be back. In November, we don't have any teams, so I am looking forward to spending a lot of time at the school!

2. Garden - I know many of you read about it on one of my previous posts. However, we have a new garden!! Praying that with all of this rain it isn't drowned! We are so excited about it and the possibilities it brings :)

3. A new running partner: I have a new running partner!! My husband doesn't like me running alone and for my sanity, I need to run at least a couple of days a week. I told him that he needed to run with me, but he had another idea :)

This sounds crazy, but in so many ways Claudy reminds me of my dad! I had to take a picture of this, because it felt like it did 10 years ago, when my dad would wake me early to ride his bike along side of my...to push me and make me a better runner! I'm so thankful for those days! Claudy is a little different, he doesn't yell and ride 5 feet in front of my so that i will run faster...instead he rides 20 feet behind me and the Haitians make fun of me because I have security!!

 4. PUMPKIN!!! Thanks to Donna and the Midland group, we have pumpkin!!! I have been craving fall! Facebook is great for some many things, but it also makes me miss so of the things I love a lot in the States.

I will admit, that I don't always like to bake. I would prefer cooking. However, we have a cook (I know, woe is me), so I have tried some backing. Here are so of the things I have tried below.

 Pumpkin Spiced Lattes:

1. Make Coffee: However you want, a little stronger than normal is better.

2. Make Pumpkin Milk:
1 c. Mil
1/4 c. pumpkin puree
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
sweetener to taste
optional: other warming spices

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and whisk well..He on the stove top until almost boiling.

3. Pour 1 c. of coffee and add pumpkin milk to taste (I use about half)
Top with whipped cream!!

 Pumpkin Angel Food Cake: My pictures don't do this justice, Claudy wanted a taste and I didn't have my camera..Also we had no powered sugar to make the frosting, but it was SOOO good!

1 c. Canned Pumpkin
1 tsp Vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves
1/8 tsp ginger (optional)
1 pkg one step angel food cake mix.

Combine first 6 ingredients. Prepare Cake mix per package instructions.

Fold in 1/4 of the batter into the pumpkin mixture. Gently fold in remaining batter. Gently spoon into an ungreased 10 inch tube pan. Bake on lowest oven rack at 350 for 38 to 45 min, until golden brown and cake

springs back. Immediately invert pan onto a wire rack; cool completely for 1 hour. Top with whipped cream and cinnamon or frosting!!


I also made banana bars this week :) So good!!

5. Rain Boots: My dad gave these to me for Christmas last year. I am so glad I had them!!! Notice I am wearing pants...I also had on long sleeves.. this weather has been crazy!!

 I hope you all have a great week!!

{Life on the Field} - Teams

After 6 weeks with no teams, we have had teams the last two week. Which, usually means, I run from site to site, get supplies, manage the staff, etc.. 

Today...I have to brag on our Haitian staff. Yesterday it rained...it rained this morning and our schedule needed to shift. Our group was wanting to help with construction, but also develop relationships in the community and work with orphanages. It's nearing the end of their week so they wanted to split up today, to do different things. I will admit...in the past this would freak me out, because going in 3 directions, would mean I would need to go in 3 directions...

TODAY....I stayed at our house and hung out with our cooks. We had our construction boss, Alex, lead 2 with the construction...Billy & Zicot, lead 2 with the prayer walk...and Donna & Miguel, took the other two to the orphanage. 

I am so proud of our staff.. So proud and thankful to work with a great team....

God is big, I am small!!!

ReachGlobal Garden

This is been something that has been on my heart since moving to Haiti...and even something I tried before, but was unsuccessful.

A new Garden....to bring life, to bring hope, to bring therapy, to bring joy...so share in bounty.

Yesterday and Today, Constance Church, worked along side our staff to make our newest garden.

They put up the walls to protect from the chickens.

Then we tilled
...with Shovels and Picks

and raked...

there may even have been some foreign objects!

and then planted!!

Please pray that our garden will be abundant...that we can use it to teach others in our community..to help give purpose and life to families around us!

{Friday Favorites} - October 5 {FALL}

1. I love fall!! Seriously, it is the best. Haiti doesn't have fall. Well it does, but it is still 95, sunny and green!  Claudy and I were able to spend a week and a half in Sunny Florida (they don't have fall either), and I was able to enjoy some of my favorite falls things...

2. Fun in Florida: Thank you to all of my friends in Fort Myers. Beth and Aaron for opening up your home to us! We had a blast! We were able to come back to Haiti, relaxed and rejuvenated. 

Lunch with these lovely ladies!!

Girls night...Lots of CHEESE!!!!

Watching the sunset!

Claudy playing with Joseph!!

My first time ever holding a gun! Thanks Wes!

Claudy had a blast at the gun range!!

We are back!! Hope you have a great Friday!!

What's In Your Heart To Do?

What's in your heart to do?? This question pierces my mind....how can I even begin to answer all that God has put on my heart? I know it is a gift...it's a gift that he has called, that my heart is afflicted, that I wrestle with the injustice and poverty...it's God's grace to me.

Some days I find myself thinking about the future, the very near future...when we leave the field and move to the states for a little while. I have fears of moving back, fears that I will love it, that I will forget what God has put on my heart, forget what God has opened my eyes to see. Some days I find myself hoping I will forget, that I won't have to be afflicted any longer. Then He reminds me, it's His gift to me.

Some days I'm burdened by what God has put in my heart to do? I'm not capable, I don't have the right gifts, I don't always have the strength, I don't have the words to say...Today, I'm reminded again, this too is a gift. By his grace and his grace only and with his strength. He will do what He has put on my heart to do.

        2 Corinthians 8:11-15

So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

I'm ready....

God has put on my heart

Isaiah 58: 10-11 - To pour myself out to the hungry and to satisfy the desire of the afflicted...He will make my bones strong.

Ephesians 1: 3-14 - The women of Haiti will know they are holy and blameless before Him...He is the redemption...They are forgiven....He has lavished upon them...They have an INHERITANCE.

Ephesians 3: 17-19 - The women of Haiti will be strengthened and powered through his Spirit...Christ will dwell in their hearts...They will completely grasp all HE has for them!!

1 Peter 2:9 - They will KNOW who they are!

To see the women of this nation FREE!!

To see their children have HOPE!! A hope of a future to look forward too!!

Find favor in my heart Lord..Hear my plea for your children!

What has God put on your heart to do??

{Friday Favorites} - September 14

It looks like I need to start adding more pictures to my blog, since I made my crazy mistake and have lots of black spots on my blog :) It's been a great week, living on a schedule, being a wife, a friend, a teammate...I'm blessed.

 1. Number One Pool: My friends at Respire Haiti had told me this pool existed. I must admit, I wasn't too hopeful that it would be nice..even driving in, I was skeptical. However, the pool was nice, clean, quiet..the only thing that was really weird, were the two giant naked statues that were peeing in the pool (not kidding). We had a great day!!

 2. Magic Bullet - Thank you Schmidgall Family! This has been a blessing. I was able to find some frozen fruit in town and make us some awesome smoothies...Claudy is in love, I'm already out of fruit!!

3. Hammock: Last Saturday, per the recommendation of Cherie and Kristi, we visited a store by the embassy. It was everything has great as they had said (Claudy didn't think it was great and couldn't understand my joy). I actually felt like I was shopping in a target (Ok, it wasn't that nice, but still..). I wanted to buy everything, then realized, I don't need dishes, serving plates, decorations, etc...so I settled on a hammock. Which wasn't settling at all. My parents had tried to bring me one from the states, but it didn't fit in the right dimensions. So, with the help of my wonderful husband, I now have a wonderful hammock on the roof. I have spent some great time with the Lord up there...

 4. It's fall...It doesn't feel like it in Haiti, but my mind knows it's fall. To help trick my senses, I have started burning my fall scents and keep the fan on me and I almost can believe that it is true :) I love this candle, seriously go now to bath and body and buy one for yourself! I will be buying more when I return to the states. If I didn't have a thing about burning scents in seasons, I would burn it all year long!!

 5. Soccer: I told you we were more on a schedule...It seems that 5 o'clock is fitness hour. I go for a run, Claudy goes and plays soccer..I finish my run and watch him play for a little while :) I love watching him play...love seeing him disciple the men that he plays with!! Please pray for him and a couple of the other guys. They are thinking of using soccer as their platform to help reach the community!!

6. Marriage: It has been eye opening.. others had told me, and it's not that I didn't believe them, I just didn't understand. It has shown me areas that I am weak and need to grow. Lately, I've been shown, how much I struggle with value and personal image. I never believe these issues would be solved with marriage, trust me they aren't :) But I didn't realize how much I struggled with them, until Claudy was telling me things, I didn't really believe them to be true.

 I've been spending a lot of time in the word, reading His words and His promises..that I'm fearfully and wonderfully made.  Last night, I was listening to this song and its as if the words were meant for me. Click here to listen.

"So with my arms stretched out I am swaying to your heartbeat.
I am growing with the sound of your voice calling
You are bringing out the beauty that you had put in me
For your joy and for your glory falling.

With my roots deep in you
I grow the branch that bares the fruit
And though I am small I still will be standing in the storm.
Cause I am planted by the river
By your streams of living water
And I will grow up strong and beautiful all for your splendor Lord."

I love that....I'm bringing out the beauty you had put in me....I will grow up strong and beautiful all for YOUR splendor Lord!!!

Thankful that as I walk through this journey, I can minister to others. The 2nd week of October, I will be starting a bible study with the 13-16 year old girls at Maxo's school. We will be focusing on identity! Please pray for us!!!

Hope you have a great week!!!

New Look

Well....I screwed up. I was trying to fix my blog and ended up deleting all of the link to my pictures...Which is why you see those wonderful black boxes. So...to make it better, I decided to get a new look. Thanks to Hot Bliggity Blog  for the new look and all the fun things!!


What do you think??