This January our missionary women started an Ephesians Bible Study. Every day we read a few scriptures. I love that no matter how far apart we are – we can read and share God’s Word at the same time!

Beth and I are also meeting weekly & participating in the Faithful, Abundant, True Bible Study by Kay Arthur, Priscilla Shirer, & Beth Moore.

Today was our first session and I already feel so blessed by it. Kay was speaking out of the book of Hebrews. Here are a few of the passages she was speaking from:

Hebrews 2:1 -  ¹ We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

Hebrews 10:32-39 -

³² Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. ³³ Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. ³⁴ You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. ³⁵ So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.

³⁶ You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. ³⁷ For,“In just a little while,  he who is coming will come and will not delay.”^[a] 38 And, “But my righteous^[b] one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure  in the one who shrinks back.”^[c]39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

****

Kay reminded us that we are living in difficult times. The drama is in fact EVERYWHERE! All of us at one time or another has experienced a great conflict. There’s no doubt about it  -  all of us are being tested no matter where we are.

The passages we read in Hebrews were talking about when Rome was burned and they blamed the Christians for it. They would bind the Christians in the garden and set them on fire. Neighbors were turning in their Christian neighbors. Imagine the knock on your door knowing that you were going to be burned for being a follower of Christ! AND the Bible says they went with JOY!

Talk about your drama!!! Wow!

Verse 38 & 39 hit me really hard! God was telling me He takes no pleasure when I shrink back!! WOW!  He is telling me that if I pull back – if I draw back – if I hide –  I will MISS the blessing God has for me!

There are days where I’d rather hide in my room than face the drama outside my door! God takes no pleasure in that. He sits on the Throne & is making intercession tonight! We need to cling to Jesus and move forward so that we aren’t destroyed! The reason I’m feeling convicted to be in the Word more –  is because when I’m not – I’m walking in a destructive way! He is calling for a Rest of Faith – taking everything we are and resting all of it on Him.

I feel so encouraged to plow through whatever satan may throw my way! He needs to get under my feet because…… I. WILL. NOT. SHRINK. BACK.

Tuesday afternoon we loaded up the van with all our luggage and headed to Cincinnati! We flew on a direct flight to Miami! Everyone including the puppy was great on the flight!

We landed at 8:30pm. Our next flight was at 7:30am. That meant we had an 11-hour layover in the airport!

I must say that the first few hours were a little hectic! The girls were hungry and constantly needing to go to the bathroom, the puppy wanted to roam, Gabriel wanted to get out all his toys, and the babies wanted to climb on all the chairs. We were definitely outnumbered! As we got closer to 10pm we laid out a few blankets and told the kids they weren’t allowed to leave the area! The boys definitely struggled at first!

Miss Beth showed up around 11pm and the kids were so excited to see her!

Momma Gigi was tired and she decided to lay down with the boys. It wasn’t long and they were all asleep…..all but Gabriel! It was about 2am before he finally closed his eyes!

Miss Beth and I spent most of the night talking. It was hard to sleep with all the announcements on the intercom! Jose put his headphones on and watched a movie. Soon enough it was morning! We met Sam at the gate and then flew to Haiti together!

We met up with John Black, Pierre, and Nene in Port-au-Prince. After a little shopping –  we headed to the Mole! We received a warm welcome by all the staff! The twins immediately went to Mme Nene, Gabe went right to Bena, and Sophie was a great surprise!

FIRST FEW DAYS  HOME:

Sam, Jose, John, Bena, Jocelyn, & Pierre have gone out every single day visiting villages so we can set up Neighbor Projects. Neighbor Projects allow for teams/churches to partner with specific villages and provide basic needs. There’s a ton of information about how your community can connect with a community here. If you’re ever interested in that information – please send me an email and I’ll forward it along.

Sophie has been quite the little handful! I told Jose she was more work than a baby! She doesn’t like for us to leave her at all, we’re constantly taking things out of her mouth that could choke her, and she’s not quite potty trained! The Haitians all love her and were shocked by her size!

The girls have already held their first VBS and will start school tomorrow!

***

John Black is the mission’s Media Director and takes AMAZING photos! This was his first trip to the Mole! Here are some of his pictures…

Jose and I were supposed to go to PAP together that morning to meet with the Director of Tortuga Air. We had some shopping to do as well and he needed to help clear a container. So we had decided we would go and spend 2 nights.

But there I was – laying in my bed hooked up to an IV. I had dengue fever. Melissa Curtice was coming in and out of my bedroom checking on me. I got sick 2 days before – the sickest I had been in a long time. I was unable to go. Jose was going to stay back with me but my mom said she would come and take care of me. So he continued on to PAP – January 12th, 2010.

I was lying on my bed and the girls were playing cards with my mom right beside me. “GO FISH” – - the rocks began to rumble. Our bed was jumping off the floor. We were looking at each other confused? What is this? What do we do? We ran out of our room so fast that I pulled my IV out. By the time we got to the living room – it was over.

Hmm. I guess we had an earthquake. How odd!

My mom was cleaning up the trail of blood I left from my IV as I began to lay back down. Then the phone rang from the states. Then Melonnie and Grant were in my room. Then the word came – “Port-au-Prince is bad. It’s bad Jody”. I couldn’t absorb their words. They looked at me and said –  ”JODY – JOSE IS IN PAP”!

It would be 5 hours before I heard Jose’s voice. All Haiti cell phone communications were cut off. He found an official with an AT&T phone. Jose was weeping on the phone – afraid that our house had fallen into the school. ” Are you okay? Please tell me everyone got out!?” I assured him that we were.

Over and over again –  ”Don’t go back in the house. Make everyone sleep outside. Get out of the house. Stay out of the house. Everything has fallen around me. People are in the streets. People are dead everywhere. The ground is still shaking. STAY OUT OF THE HOUSE“! Then the phone died. It would be 5 more days before I would hear from him again.

The Weather Channel called and Grant gave the first interview. A few hours later – I gave an interview with what Jose said. The next thing I knew I was on the BBC, Fox, NBC, Weather Channel, Focus on the Family, Local Miami & NY channels, WLEX 18 News – in Kentucky, etc. The phones were ringing off the hook. There weren’t any camera crews in Haiti yet. Anderson Cooper was nowhere near. I had been one of the only ones still IN HAITI – who had heard from someone in PAP that first day. Jose’s story was even in People Magazine.

I got a phone call from someone who heard me on the Weather Channel. This was the night of January 12th. She said, “My friend is trapped under the rubble in PAP. Can you please help her? Can you contact someone to help her? She has an AT&T phone. Here is her number. Please save my friend.”

We called the girl and indeed she answered. She had just a few bars left on her cell phone. Her battery would die by the end of the night. I talked to people here who knew exactly her location. But we couldn’t contact any Haitians to go and find her. No Haitian cell phones worked. Jacques was in St. Louis and talked to her several times. Her phone died that night. Later we found out she did too.

Throughout the next few days on campus –  you would hear LOUD weeping off and on as the  news would trickle in of loved ones who had passed. Mme Nene was told her husband and three children were killed. There was no consoling her. There was no holding her. She shook and wept – and she fell to the ground.

That is how it was. One after another. One after another. One after another. One after another. Too many to count. Too many to help. Too many to process. Too many to console. Too many. Too many. Just way too many.

My house was constantly full of people. We gathered in special prayer times. We cried when there were no words. We searched for answers that weren’t there. We fell to the ground in sorrow.

Our orphan boys would come back with stories that left us speechless. Stories were trickling in that were unheard of – unimaginable.

What I couldn’t figure out was if they made it to St. Louis – where was Jose? He would walk if he had to – just to be with his family. Why wasn’t he here? My mind kept thinking – he must have died during the aftershocks. That’s the only thing that could have happened. Otherwise he would be here just like the others.

A few days later Andy (our media director) & my father went to PAP. I told my daddy to go find Jose…….

A few days later we were sitting in Haitian staff devotions. It’s 7am and the gates open wide. Mme Nene’s family walks through. There they were – her husband and three children.

I will never forget.

Here is the link: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/01/10/2022882/lexington-woman-changes-lives.html

Here is a cut and paste of the article!

Katya Cengel, a former reporter at The Courier-Journal in Louisville, is a free-lance writer.

It’s been a ton of fun but we miss our beds, our staff, and our lovely Mole people!

Tuesday we head to Miami where we will connect with Miss Beth! Then we will meet up with Sam Guilliams & John Black on Wednesday and head to the Mole together!

With 9 carry-ons, 9 backpacks, and 1 puppy  - it seems like the easiest thing to do would be to sleep in the airport and avoid toting everything to a hotel and re-checking through security again! We land at 9:30pm and our flight to Haiti is at 7:30am Wednesday! The kids have their pillow pets and we’ve packed a few blankets! It will either be the wisest thing we’ve done  - or the craziest! I’m leaning more towards crazy!

As always we appreciate your prayers as we adventure back home! Please remember to pray for us Tuesday/Wednesday! You should probably pray for those seated next to us…. and anyone else in the airport late Tuesday night!

This past fall Rosie was diagnosed with Profound Developmental Delay. She also has Sensory Integration Disorder. These past few months have been very difficult for her. She doesn’t understand why her sisters are passing her in school. She struggles that she can’t keep up with all the fun things they are doing. She has a hard time verbalizing and expressing how she really feels. She doesn’t know what to do with all of these emotions she has.

As a mother it’s incredibly difficult to see her so sad. Rosie has always been so care-free but you can really see over the last few months that she’s become burdened. We constantly tell her that God made her special and we remind her how amazing she is. But it’s still a struggle!

Rosie has touched so many lives! She has more friends than anyone I know!! I humbly ask for those of you who know her –  please immerse her in prayer this 2012.  May she one day understand how truly special she is.

Here is the Link: http://transformedmagazine.com/justice/health-care-in-haiti/

Here is a cut/paste copy of the article:

HEALTH CARE IN HAITI

Denied. It’s only one little word, but it sure stung. I was a 29-year-old white female in overall good health. I had no health concerns, no history of surgeries and was on no medication. I was, however, what I considered to be overweight. Little did I know, I had a BMI of 41. This classified me as “obese,” therefore giving the private insurance company for which I had applied for health insurance reason to deny me coverage.

I was in shock. Weren’t they obligated to give me health insurance? Sure, they could jack up the price if I was obese, but they couldn’t simply deny me coverage, could they?

Yes. They could legally deny me coverage, and they did. To add insult to injury, they included in my denial letter a quote of coverage for the rest of my family. They quoted us $320 per month to cover my tobacco-chewing 28-year-old husband with high cholesterol and my two healthy toddler daughters.

My inability to qualify for private health insurance was a determining factor in my decision to return to work after my husband lost his job and golden employee-sponsored health insurance.

We were unable to afford the monthly premium. Once my husband started his own business, our income surpassed the limits to qualify for state health insurance. To our delight and relief, I was able to quickly find a job and regain health insurance coverage for our family through my new employer.

My home isn’t the only one where health care has been a touchy subject. Health care has become a political and social hot topic. Americans are up in arms across party lines in regards to health care reforms, either ongoing or recommended. After my aforementioned experience, I have to say I, too, was discontent with our health care system. During those weeks we went without coverage, I lived in constant fear of a bone fracture or car accident or even the smallest cold that would have meant hundreds of dollars in medical bills. After being denied and then struggling to find affordable private insurance, I was completely convinced that our health care system was “broken.”

After reading Jody Castillo’s blog, I quickly realized how blessed we are to have health care, even in its broken state. Countries like Haiti are fighting for health care at all, while we fight for reform. Jody is an inspiring sister in Christ. As a registered nurse, mother, wife and missionary of Northwest Haiti Christian Mission, she blogs the words of her heart as she shares Christ with Haiti. As I read through her thanksgiving of health care, I soon realized that I had great cause to be grateful for a health care system I considered in need of change.

As a mother of seven children, some with special needs, Jody knows all too well how Haiti’s health care system works: If you don’t have money; you don’t receive care. If there is an emergency, there must first be payment before services are rendered. One of Jody’s youngest sons began having seizures last summer, which resulted in an emergency flight back to the states.

There was no seizure medication or MRI equipment in Haiti to help her son, leaving them no hope but to seek refuge in the health care of the states. Once returned to the states, her son was immediately hospitalized and started on anti-seizure medication without pause.

Haiti is said to be the poorest country in the Western hemisphere and most areas lack even the basic necessity of health care provision. Most areas that do have health care available are unable to take in patients incapable of paying for services. Jody and her family had the fortune of being able to come back to the states and receive the much-needed treatment for her son.

Children in Haiti simply don’t have the opportunity to receive health care. The mortality rate of children under 5 is grim. Though statistics in Haiti are hard to come by, the World Health Organization (WHO) is especially concerned about the ongoing outbreak of cases of cholera in Northern Haiti. The recent rainy season has made some roads to health facilities inaccessible. The WHO issued a Health Cluster Bulletin in November focusing on plans of action for the region.

Cholera, an infection of the small intestine, is characterized by watery diarrhea and vomiting. It’s contracted mostly through the consumption of unclean water. As you can imagine, a small child could especially be vulnerable, easily becoming dehydrated with such symptoms. Oral Rehydration Treatment, IV fluids and antibiotics are used to treat cholera. Given that the simplest things such as clean water and IV fluids are hard to come by in Haiti, the disease continues to plague the people.

Shining light in the darkness, Jody’s passion is medicine and children. She is excited about a clinic that she’s been able to open in her Haitian town where she can attend to patients’ basic medical needs such as stitches, wound care and fluids in a clean environment. Healthy Happy Hearts Pediatric Clinic is a medical ministry of Northwest Haiti Christian Mission that is able to work on the front lines. Imagine as a mother being unable to provide help for your ill child. I can imagine that in Haiti where such simple basic needs are hard to come by that the Healthy Happy Hearts Clinic must be a beacon of light and hope. It’s a way to share Christ in a real, tangible way.

In stark contrast to Haiti, in the United States we are able to take our children to the doctor for congestion or a low-grade fever. Our children do not and probably never will know such diseases as cholera. While without insurance, I never would have hesitated to take my daughters to the Emergency Room if they had injured themselves. Despite my fears of medical bills, I never worried that my children would go untreated. I had no worry of lack of medical care. Only months ago my youngest child pulled a cold iron onto her head, slightly cutting her head open. I was able to call and consult my doctor’s office. Free of charge, I spoke to a nurse and decided to take her into the emergency room. There I saw two doctors and a nurse. Though no X-ray or stitches were required our co-payment of $75 was.

To think that I complained of that meager $75 co-payment now slightly sickens me. The Lord has softened my heart and opened my eyes to the unbelievable blessing we have here in the United States called health care. If my child needs stitches or has a fever, I can have them seen immediately. Within seconds an ambulance could be at my door with medications and safe and clean instruments to use. If my child develops a fever in the night or begins to have a seizure, a medical center is only miles away. That medical center is open 24 hours a day and is clean and available to serve me and my family, whether we can afford it or not.

Sadly, that is just not the case in Haiti and other countries around the world. What we consider commonplace, an MRI or X-ray, is not available to every one of God’s children. How blessed are we that we can consider reforming our health care instead of building our health care system.

Next time you take a trip to the doctor, have an X-ray, your yearly pap smear or that dreaded mammogram, be grateful. Be grateful for a clean facility and well-trained staff, for God has blessed us with their services.

Want to know more about Northwest Haiti Christian Mission and Jody’s Healthy Happy Hearts Pediatric Clinic? Check out their website at http://www.nwhcm.org/. And follow Jody as she shares her heart and the love of Christ with the Haitian people in her blog. You can pray for Jody and the NWHCM team and can donate to their ministries on their website.

Love Tiffany.

Tiffany is a Versailles, KY native and resident. She shares a crazy and love-filled home with her husband, Christian and daughters, Eden & Isla. She’s a self-proclaimed “name nerd” and dreams of writing a baby name book one day. She enjoys blogging, crafting, and traveling. Though she committed her life
to Jesus at a young age, she’s thankful for her recent “life interrupted” that’s allowed her to know Him more.

Today many of us are reflecting over our last 12 months. We’re remembering the good & unfortunately the bad. We’re thinking about what we learned and what we’re hoping to forget. We’re setting goals  - dreaming dreams – deciding what things we will and won’t do in 2012. For many of us we’re more than happy to wash our hands of 2011. For others of us – there’s some anxiety of what 2012 might hold!

Each year carries its burdens and blessings. This past year definitely stretched us in many ways. There were many unexpected twists and turns – hills and valleys. Just like a roller coaster at an amusement park – during parts of the year our hands were in the air  screaming with glee! There were other parts of the year where we were flipped completely upside down –  twirling through each loop –  holding on for dear life!

While 2011 was perhaps one of the most challenging years for us – it also produced an incredible amount of growth. I think it’s safe to say that who we were in January 2011 is not even close to who we are now in January 2012. God exposed the realities of Haiti in a way we never anticipated. He empowered us in ways we never imagined. He enabled us to find an inner strength that we never even knew existed. He forced us to abandon all the people and places we fixated our hope on – and made us reposition it on Him alone.

Jose and I have talked a lot about our hopes and dreams for 2012. We talked about all the things we want for our family & our ministry! Then we laughed and wondered if our aspirations for 2012 are anywhere close to His!?!

*****

Now I thought that was the most exciting thing that happened today……UNTIL……I began my journey back to KY!! What I’m about to tell you might seem like a fabrication. But I solemnly promise to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth!!!

While today was a GREAT day of dreaming –  I was left somewhat speechless on the plane ride from Kansas City to Atlanta. It’s a 2 hour flight!

In order to fully appreciate the story I must paint the picture for you.

I’m sitting in 24A. After sitting for a few minutes I had the pleasure of meeting Virginia and Myrtle. These two ladies had to be at least 80 years old. They couldn’t have weighed more than 100lbs each. Myrtle sits in 24B and Virginia sits in 24c. I knew I was going to like these ladies from the moment I saw them.

Neither of the ladies could lift their bags and put them in the overhead. Another gentleman behind them had to help. AND Virginia has a black metal cane!!

Myrtle had a black mini skirt, 3 inch high black boots, & a sequence red sweater. Virginia was also wearing a black LEATHER mini skirt, a leopard print sweater, and black boots that went all the way up to her knees.

We made some small chit-chat as we waited for the plane to take off. Myrtle used to be a cocktail waitress in Florida. Now she works as a cashier at the local Walmart. Virginia runs the bingo pallor  5 nights a week!

I of course told them about my missionary work and my slew of kids. So up in the air we go a good 30 minutes and they haven’t stopped talking from the time they sat down. I got to listen to the following conversation about their New Year’s Resolutions!!

Virginia: This year I’m really going to set a goal –  something that I know I can accomplish.

Myrtle: Yes me too. I was thinking about telling Ernie that we really need to lay off the liquor. You know we spend so much money at the bars and we really should start putting some money back.

Virginia: I thought you were going to do something that you knew you could keep! Are you really ready to give up the whiskey? I’ll believe that when I see it.

Myrtle: Girl don’t I know it! You’re right!t But you know I’m not getting any younger. I really need to start saving. Inflation is so high now. It’s not like it used to be when you could be a beer for a nickel. You never know when Ernie’s going to kick the bucket. He’s not doing too well. I should put some money back for that. You know his liver isn’t worth two cents anymore.

Virginia: Well he’s got insurance right? 

Myrtle: Oh yes. We’ve had that for years.

Virginia: Sounds like your New Year’s Resolution should be to find a way to get rid of Ernie! Then you could live it up at the bar all you wanted! You know he only slows you down!

Myrtle: Well I never thought about that. Hmm….I don’t know if I could even figure out how to do that. Hmm… 

Virginia: Well it’s something to think about. You know Billy has been waiting this marriage out for 30 years!

Myrtle: Hmm….

And just like that Myrtle leaned back in her seat and began to think for the remaining hour!!!

There was another lady across from us that heard the conversation. As the two ladies went ahead I told my neighbor if you’re in baggage claim and you see Ernie – you better warn him that Myrtle is up to no good!!

When we flew out in November I really had no idea how we were going to afford our stateside visit – much less pull off Christmas. I was really concerned about the whole thing. I don’t know why I am surprised when God provides – but I am constantly in awe as He continues to hold us in His grip!

Mikela, Rosie, Malaya, & Gabe went Christmas shopping last week with Papaw. They bought a small gift for everyone in the family! On Christmas Eve around 5pm we all exchanged their gifts! It was pretty funny to see what their little minds thought of! Understand they spent 2 hours shopping with Papaw for these special gifts! My dad told me they were so funny because they wouldn’t just pick up anything.

Here are few of the cute things they gave:

1) Malaya gave Jose a Mickey Mouse cup. She gave her twin brothers car pillows. She gave me a Santa w/baby snow globe!

2) Mikela gave Nana an air freshener! She gave Momma Gigi cupcake socks! She gave me an angel ornament.

3) Gabe gave Nana a box of whoppers! He gave me a Tom & Jerry dvd! He gave Momma Gigi Christmas Window Stickers! He gave Malaya beef jerky! He gave Jose a Mickey Mouse CD.

4) Rosie gave me napkin holders! She gave Jose a bag of chocolate pretzels! She gave Nana Pretzel sticks. She gave Momma Gigi flavored chap stick.

The kids were SO EXCITED to exchange gifts with each other! It actually made me a little teary-eyed! Gabe would tell Malaya – “You’re really going to like this”. She opened up the beef jerky and smiled!! Rosie couldn’t wait for Jose to open his bag of pretzels! Mikela kept telling Nana that she really thought hard about what to get her and knew she’d like something that smelled good!

They would open up their small little gifts and immediately thank the person that gave it to them! I looked around me and although the gifts weren’t “much” –  they were the perfect gifts! There were no complaints. They were truly grateful. I was so proud. I will definitely hold onto this memory!

Later that night all the children went to look at Christmas lights with Papaw. Santa came while they were gone! They spent all night playing! Watching the girls play with their dolls my mind drifted back to the 5th grade. I wanted so badly to have an Oopsy Daisy doll! She was a doll that could crawl. She would fall while she crawled and would cry. I remember wanting that doll for months but my parents couldn’t afford it. I was SO HAPPY to see it under the tree!  I also wanted a New Kids on the Block Jordan doll! I ended up with New Kids on the Block Danny doll! He was my least favorite in the group! LOL! It was still one of the best Christmases! (And I still have both dolls!!)

Here are a few snippets of our last two days….