I have created a new blog just for my trip into Haiti -
HandsforHaiti.blogspot.com/
I will update it whenever I get on the computer but I really have no idea when that will be or how often.
I will not be updating this blog until after I come back from Haiti - in 4-6 weeks.
Please continue to pray for me and my family.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Operation Haiti . . . . .
Wow, I don't even know where to begin. This has been a crazy, emotional roller coaster over the last 48 hours. The earthquake in Haiti has shook up my whole family. We just sat in shock that first evening - waiting for news from our friends - American and Haitian. Wednesday morning, my dad announces that he is raising money and supplies and is leaving Monday. I am texting with Rick and I tell him about my dad. Rick asks if I am going with my dad. He didn't ask if I was thinking about going, just am I going? I had not voiced that I had been thinking about going and wondering what can I do to help my people. Kinda freaky - totally a God thing.
Since that point - I have said 'Yes I am going!' and then wavered and said 'no, maybe I will wait and go later'. I want to go and and I truly believe that God planted the idea in my head. But I am over-thinking the situation and letting Satan throw things at me. The finances have been totally covered for my dad and I to go. So that is no longer a worry. But I just wonder if my first language will come back to me as fast as I want and need it to. I keep praying that God will just unblock my mind and that I can start speaking creole again. So far it hasn't happened.
Lots of scenarios have been discussed - including Rick going down with us next week and Sarah and Joe come in a few weeks - to just Sarah, my dad and I going now and the guys coming later - back to just my dad and me. We have not booked our tickets yet - we are waiting on word about us going over with an organization (not sure who)and will be finalizing something by tomorrow and hopefully by then we will know who is going and who is coming later.
Last February, Rick and I attended the Campus ministry conference in Gatlinburg. The speaker talked on the book of Job. (I also think that I posted a video on my very first post from that weekend) The main point of the whole weekend was asking God to break you - but don't ask if you are not ready for what God is going to do. I took that message to heart and really prayed and thought about where I am in my Christian walk with God and I eventually did pray 'God, use me, break me, I want to become wholly yours'.
Nothing happened right away and I have honestly forgot that prayer. Until yesterday. Every time I would think about not going, the phrase 'break me Lord, break me for You' kept popping into my mind. I prayed for the Lord to use me and now I have the perfect opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and completely rely on God. And I am scared to death and just want to take back my prayer and tell God to get someone else.
Another phrase keeps coming back to me 'for such a time as this . . . ' I have often wondered and questioned God about why did I live in Haiti for 12 years and then just end up living in Charleston WV living the American way of life. Why did God let my family go through all that pain just to end up back in the USA? I think that maybe I have my answer - for a time such as this. I have the resources of knowing the language and being familiar with the culture and people. This is my time to use what I have to live for God the way that He has prepared me.
My stomach has been all queasy, and I haven't been eating much. All of my stressing out and over-thinking has given me a constant headache for the past 3 days. I am ready to just go - start helping and quit thinking - just do.
I truly believe that God is working in my life right now. I am excited to go back to my home country. I am also scared out of my mind.
Pray for me.
Since that point - I have said 'Yes I am going!' and then wavered and said 'no, maybe I will wait and go later'. I want to go and and I truly believe that God planted the idea in my head. But I am over-thinking the situation and letting Satan throw things at me. The finances have been totally covered for my dad and I to go. So that is no longer a worry. But I just wonder if my first language will come back to me as fast as I want and need it to. I keep praying that God will just unblock my mind and that I can start speaking creole again. So far it hasn't happened.
Lots of scenarios have been discussed - including Rick going down with us next week and Sarah and Joe come in a few weeks - to just Sarah, my dad and I going now and the guys coming later - back to just my dad and me. We have not booked our tickets yet - we are waiting on word about us going over with an organization (not sure who)and will be finalizing something by tomorrow and hopefully by then we will know who is going and who is coming later.
Last February, Rick and I attended the Campus ministry conference in Gatlinburg. The speaker talked on the book of Job. (I also think that I posted a video on my very first post from that weekend) The main point of the whole weekend was asking God to break you - but don't ask if you are not ready for what God is going to do. I took that message to heart and really prayed and thought about where I am in my Christian walk with God and I eventually did pray 'God, use me, break me, I want to become wholly yours'.
Nothing happened right away and I have honestly forgot that prayer. Until yesterday. Every time I would think about not going, the phrase 'break me Lord, break me for You' kept popping into my mind. I prayed for the Lord to use me and now I have the perfect opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and completely rely on God. And I am scared to death and just want to take back my prayer and tell God to get someone else.
Another phrase keeps coming back to me 'for such a time as this . . . ' I have often wondered and questioned God about why did I live in Haiti for 12 years and then just end up living in Charleston WV living the American way of life. Why did God let my family go through all that pain just to end up back in the USA? I think that maybe I have my answer - for a time such as this. I have the resources of knowing the language and being familiar with the culture and people. This is my time to use what I have to live for God the way that He has prepared me.
My stomach has been all queasy, and I haven't been eating much. All of my stressing out and over-thinking has given me a constant headache for the past 3 days. I am ready to just go - start helping and quit thinking - just do.
I truly believe that God is working in my life right now. I am excited to go back to my home country. I am also scared out of my mind.
Pray for me.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Grandma Rodgers Update
Written by my mother-in-law:
Yesterday -
My mother passed her barium test today and can now start having pureed food. She has already had some applesauce and banana--this is the first step to getting her off the feeding tube. Also yesterday she sat on the side of the bed for quite a while (my dad's term) unassisted, and today she stood up for a few minutes with assistance.
She is in isolation, but she had the first test done today to see if she still has c-diff. She has to have 2 negatives before she can be out of isolation.
Today -
Mom's second c-diff test came back negitive so she no longer has to be in isolation. They took her to the shower and are scrubbing down her room. Great-Grandma will finally be able to go and visit her agian!
Yesterday -
My mother passed her barium test today and can now start having pureed food. She has already had some applesauce and banana--this is the first step to getting her off the feeding tube. Also yesterday she sat on the side of the bed for quite a while (my dad's term) unassisted, and today she stood up for a few minutes with assistance.
She is in isolation, but she had the first test done today to see if she still has c-diff. She has to have 2 negatives before she can be out of isolation.
Today -
Mom's second c-diff test came back negitive so she no longer has to be in isolation. They took her to the shower and are scrubbing down her room. Great-Grandma will finally be able to go and visit her agian!
2010 . . . . so far
I have been meaning to blog for so long. I 'write' blogs in my head every day - sometimes twice a day! But they just never get typed and published. Oh Well, here is a quick run down of my life at the moment.
New Years was good. Busy with a youth group lock-in, football watching with Rick's family, and our last Christmas of the 2009 season with my Grandma Mehok and Aunt Shelia in Ohio.
I did not make any official New Years resolutions. Just a few of the same ol things, read my bible more, lose weight, be a better friend, etc. I have thought some about what this year will hold for me, and I have come up with a few things that I would like to see happen - but I always end my thoughts with a prayer to God that I know He is the one in control and things change all the stinking time that I am not even going to worry about it. My new motto this year - just take one day at a time. Just one day.
Rick and I are quickly approaching our first anniversay of marriage. Has it really only been one year? The thing I LOVE best about being married the the love of my life: falling asleep in his arms every night. Well, as long as I am not being long-distanced that night that is. :0)
Work is going good. I am still filling lots of shoes in all the class rooms and the office. Sometimes it can be stressful, but I love the change of routine. I worked with the school age a ton over Christmas break. Not my favorite age group. Ever. They drive me nuts! I have no patince for all of the tattling and fighting. I was SO happy when this past Monday the kids had to go back to school! And then, it has snowed every day this week and both Kanawha and Putnam Counties have had snow days or early out for chance of snow. And guess who gets to work with this kids when they are not in school? Yup, me. Today we had 35 kids total. That is a lot of dang kids! I had 2 of 'my' little boys duke out an argument that ended up a bloody nose from a punch to the face. I love my job. :-/
House news: we are at a slight standstill. The house needs a new roof and we are asking the seller to pay the whole cost. We still havent gotten an answer. I am honestly not stressing over it. If this is the house that God wants us to have then He will continue to open the doors. If not then He will close them at some point. I only wish I knew when I could get into the house to start painting. :0)
For my friends and prayer partners out there - I have not been feeling well the last few weeks. My mom is speculating that I have an ulcer - which could be true since I have had extreme heart burn, stress headaches, a 'burning' in my stomach and feeling nausious and just plain yucky. I have only thrown up once so far and I am watching what I eat very closy. I know that I probably should go to the DR. but with the new year starting, we have a new detuctable with our insurance. Which normally wouldn't be a big deal except that we have spent a lot of money with the house so far and will have to spend alot more in the weeks to come. So, I am holding off as long as I can and keep praying that God will heal me if this is the problem.
New Years was good. Busy with a youth group lock-in, football watching with Rick's family, and our last Christmas of the 2009 season with my Grandma Mehok and Aunt Shelia in Ohio.
I did not make any official New Years resolutions. Just a few of the same ol things, read my bible more, lose weight, be a better friend, etc. I have thought some about what this year will hold for me, and I have come up with a few things that I would like to see happen - but I always end my thoughts with a prayer to God that I know He is the one in control and things change all the stinking time that I am not even going to worry about it. My new motto this year - just take one day at a time. Just one day.
Rick and I are quickly approaching our first anniversay of marriage. Has it really only been one year? The thing I LOVE best about being married the the love of my life: falling asleep in his arms every night. Well, as long as I am not being long-distanced that night that is. :0)
Work is going good. I am still filling lots of shoes in all the class rooms and the office. Sometimes it can be stressful, but I love the change of routine. I worked with the school age a ton over Christmas break. Not my favorite age group. Ever. They drive me nuts! I have no patince for all of the tattling and fighting. I was SO happy when this past Monday the kids had to go back to school! And then, it has snowed every day this week and both Kanawha and Putnam Counties have had snow days or early out for chance of snow. And guess who gets to work with this kids when they are not in school? Yup, me. Today we had 35 kids total. That is a lot of dang kids! I had 2 of 'my' little boys duke out an argument that ended up a bloody nose from a punch to the face. I love my job. :-/
House news: we are at a slight standstill. The house needs a new roof and we are asking the seller to pay the whole cost. We still havent gotten an answer. I am honestly not stressing over it. If this is the house that God wants us to have then He will continue to open the doors. If not then He will close them at some point. I only wish I knew when I could get into the house to start painting. :0)
For my friends and prayer partners out there - I have not been feeling well the last few weeks. My mom is speculating that I have an ulcer - which could be true since I have had extreme heart burn, stress headaches, a 'burning' in my stomach and feeling nausious and just plain yucky. I have only thrown up once so far and I am watching what I eat very closy. I know that I probably should go to the DR. but with the new year starting, we have a new detuctable with our insurance. Which normally wouldn't be a big deal except that we have spent a lot of money with the house so far and will have to spend alot more in the weeks to come. So, I am holding off as long as I can and keep praying that God will heal me if this is the problem.
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