I usually don't post things that others wrote on my blog. I figure you come to my blog to read why I have to say :)

The director of Angel Missions, Vanessa, gave me a devotional book about 2 months ago. It is fabulous! It is a 365 day devotion book. They are really short, yet profound. Written from the perspective of God speaking to the reader. Then there are always 2-4 verses for you to look up at the end.

I don't know about you, but I find that I read so fast I don't always retain the information I read. I learned this about myself back in high school. So since then I write out the things that are important to help "write" them in my brain too. I write the verses out in my journal notebook. The time it takes me to write it forces be to really think about what the scripture says.

Then after those scriptures I write out my prayer list. In detail. Not just a name or a need or a brief thank you. I write out my thoughts about it. More like a letter to God than a list. I should call it my prayer letter rather than my list.

Yes it takes me longer this way. But that's a good thing. I got the idea from the book, "The Help." If you haven't read it...do it! I haven't seen the movie yet but I have yet to watch a movie that is better than the book. So even if you've seen the movie, you should read the book.

Aibileen is the main maid in the book and she has a prayer list/journal that she writes in everyday. This gave me the idea and I have been doing it ever since. It helps my mind not to wander during prayer and focus on the conversation I am having. 


The following is the yesterday's devotion in the book, "Jesus Calling. A 365 Day Journaling Devotional" by Sarah Young. If you're looking for a good, quick, devotional everyday...this is the one. Here is a link to the app you can get for iPhone or iPad with the daily devotional. And here is the link where you can buy in on Amazon.com.  And here is the link to buy it for Kindle. Can you tell I really recommend it?

Go gently through this day, keeping your eyes on Me. I will open up the way before you go, as you take steps of trust along your path. Sometimes the way before you appears to be blocked. If you focus on the obstacle or search for a way around it, you will probably go off course. Instead, focus on Me, the Shepherd, who is leading  you along  your life-journey. Before you know it, the "obstacle" will be behind you and you will hardly know how you passed through it. 

That is the secret to success in My kingdom. Although you remain aware of the visible world around you, your primary awareness is of Me.  When the road before you looks rocky, you can trust Me to get you through that rough patch. My Presence enables you to face each day with confidence. 

Scriptures: 

John 10:14-15 

"I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep, and my sheep know me,  just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I give my life for the sheep.

Isaiah 26:7

The path of life is level for those who are right with God;
       Lord, you make the way of life smooth for those people.

I know there is controversy about this book. But after rereading the introduction, I see Ms Young is not trying to Speak from God to us. Or add to the Bible. But she is helping me stop and come into the presence of the Lord everyday in the midst of the chaos I live in.

There about 70 people a day looking at this blog. I realize it could be the same people over and over :)

I am always looking for great Christian reads. Especially ones on Kindle since I live in Haiti.

Beth is a follower of my blog and she sent me "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan some months back. FABULOUS BOOK! Here is the link to Beth's blog.

Take 3 seconds and leave a comment about your current favorite Christian read. (Note: I have to approve them for them to post so if it doesn't show up on the blog right away...no worries)

10 women from 10 different places. 10 different walks of life. 10 hearts for helping others.

One in Antarctica, one in Kentucky, one in Georgia.

Two nurses who are former co-workers.

A high school classmate I haven't seen in 13 years.

Her mother whom I have never met.

A friend I met in Haiti-who was here for only a week but holds Haiti in her heart.

Another whom I have never met.

And me.

10

When I asked for help with Oscar I never guessed this specific combination of people would respond. I am the only one who knows (almost) all of them. These people are different as day and night. NEVER would this group of women all go out for dinner or coffee.

But that's what makes it so exciting! God put us all together to help Oscar. God knew when I met each of these people that He was going to make us part of a group of 10 one day to help a poor little boy in green cordouroy pants.

He used nurses, photographers, stay at home moms, high school classmates and family friends to do something in His name! And He did it in 9 hours. 9 hours after I posted the request, 9 people had volunteered! 9 hours!

Once again I get to be here for the fun part. I get to tell Oscar and his family he is going to get surgery. Witness to them how God provided for Oscar's needs. I get see him post-op (hopefully with the green pants!) and finally see Oscar pain free.

Being a missionary really is cool.

Seeing how God used 10 people to come together to do something in His name is amazing.

Oscar and the green corduroy pants

Meet Oscar.

Cute huh? His serious attitude cracks me up. When he talks you would think an 80 yr old man was talking! And the 4 times I have seen him he always has these same clothes on. The wild Hawiaan shirt and (the best part!), green corduroy pants.

The first time I met him was downtown when the Comfort Ship came to Haiti. His dad brought hime to get his hernia repaired. But thousands of people showed up and a little over a hundred were chosen for surgery. Needless to say, Oscar's hernia wasn't high on the list.

So we referred him to a hospital here in Port au Prince where they can do the operation. He is not a canidate for a medical visa for a hernia. Medical Visas are given out for more severe cases. Plus this is a surgery offered in Haiti so the Embassy wants it done in Haiti.

So the cost of the total hernia surgery here in Haiti is $312 US.

So....

Lots of so's huh?

So...anyone want to help Oscar? He is in school and hoping to have the surgery over Christmas break so he doesn't miss a lot of school. (told you he talks like an old man!)

If a few of us all contribute we can help this 7 year old be free of hernia pain. If we make a small sacrifice. Share what we have.

Hebrews 13:16 (NCV)

"Do not forget to do good to others, and share with them, because such sacrifices please God."

God sees our sacrifices. He takes pleasure in them.

I challenge 9 other people to consider donating $30 (tax-deductible) towards Oscar's surgery. With me that will make 10 people and $300. Every penny will go to his hernia surgery.

***Update***So...WE DID IT! 9 people responded to the request in less than 9 hours! The Lord provided for Oscar! I can't wait to tell his family!

Lakay nou (Our house)

Some people has asked me to post pics of our house aka "The Shoebox".  Angel Missions Haiti provides us with this house in return for my working with them.

Here you go...don't blink you'll miss it!

Front of house and porch

 Angel Missions office in  front of house

 Living room and 1st real couch I've ever had in Haiti!

Living room with the most comfy, outdated glider ever!

 My room-can you tell I don't have storage space???

Kitchen...who needs plumbing?

 Kitchen

 

 Odessa's room

There you go! Not quite home sweet home but it'll do for now!

Learning to Dance in the Rain!

Came across a quote that really hot home today.

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain. 

I had a big scare last week. I found out that the Haitian attorney I had to do Odessa's adoption, could not do it. Very bad news.

17 months we have been waiting!

But there is some good news-I got her legal paperwork and had all the paperwork done my previous attorney told me I needed for the adoption. 

But more bad news: He is not up to date and I need yet MORE paperwork.

But the good news is I had a met a missionary here in Haiti (who has adopted 10 children and is working on #11-as a SINGLE mom and she's younger than me!-I think she needs a psych evaluation!) who can help me with all of this and her mission is doing so free of charge! I meet our new attorney next week-she has already finalized 30 adoptions this year alone. I want Odessa to be number 31!

More bad news come yesterday as I learned I do not meet the US requirement for income. Can't exactly change how much money I made last year.

But the good news is I will be finalizing her adoption in Haiti so I am excluded from that requirement! (I am currently at home recovering from the heart attack I had yesterday after finding out I don't meet the requirements)

So this quote really hit home today.

So while I am going to work on this adoption and run after every document, take every psych test (that was fun!) and watch the rules change here in Haiti 947 times...

We're learning to dance in the storm of international adoption! Yesterday afternoon I danced holding in tears. Yesterday morning I danced b/c Odessa started school!  The week before I danced with a sucker-punch feeling in my gut. Today I'm dancing while making spaghetti!

We don't know what tomorrow may bring but it's just a storm. 

But we're dancing together.

 

Once upon a time...

Once upon a time there was a nurse who never felt like her comfortable life in a land known as Ohio was what the Lord had planned for her. So she moved to Haiti and not a lot has been comfortable since but the nurse experienced more adventures than she ever did working at Level One Trauma Hospitals in the states.

Last week was one of these adventures. She took public transportation (which is always an adventure in Haiti) to a land full of sun and beaches called Jacmel. There is a little girl who lives about a 30 minute motorcycle ride up in the jungle outside the city. Most people would have went in the daylight, but this nurse likes to shake things up, so her and her prince took a motorcycle ride into the darkness. This land does not have electricity so it was really dark! The prince asked the nurse if she had a lot of money in her purse. The nurse, confused, said no. The prince said that was good just in case they got robbed.  They crossed 3 rivers, one being too deep to cross by moto, so the prince carried the nurse across the dark river on his back.

They finally arrived at Makensia's house.

Here's her story: When Makensia was just days old, she was sleeping on a bed next to a nightstand that had a candle on it. The sheet covering her caught fire and her R foot was severely burned. Her toes were burned off and her foot very deformed. After seeing where she lives-literally the middle of nowhere-it is amazing she didn't die of an infection.

Fast forward 6 years.

When the USNS Comfort ship was coming we called Makensia's family to have them bring her to Port au Prince in hopes of her getting surgery. She was chosen out of the HUNDREDS that showed up! Her foot was bent backwards up her shin by the contractures the burns left. She could not walk but hobbled around. A Plastic surgeon on the ship released the contracture and now her foot is flat and moves and she can walk on it with little difficulty!

The nurse and Makensia had a good visit. Makensia demonstrated her "runway walk" and everyone cheered. The nurse checked out her wound and took out her stitches by the glow of a cell phone for light b/c this entire village lives without electricity and the nurse likes the challenge.

Makensia's story is not over. She still needs a few more surgeries to fix her all up. The nurse promised Makensia she was going to look for more doctors and possibilities to help her. One of those ways of looking is to post a blog about her and see if any doctors coming to Haiti would be willing to help her.

They said their goodbyes and the nurse rode the moto back out into the darkness with her prince following behind with a camera. (and no mom...we didn't get robbed).

The nurse who loves the adventures the Lord gives her would like to say thanks to everyone who supports her in her work in Haiti. This far away land really isn't far away distance-wise but way far away technology wise. 

She would also like to thank to Lord for not letting her fall off a motorcycle in Haiti yet. She welcomes donations into the vehicle fund her home church back home has opened for her. 

Tax-deductible donations can be sent to:

Licking Valley Church of Christ

1578 Dayton Rd

Newark, OH 43055

please put "Ginny Andrews" in memo of check.