Loading the Container

This past Friday we loaded piles of our stuff onto a shipping container headed towards Haiti! Crossings had been planning to ship many items over to the camp we are partnered with and they were gracious enough to let us also put some of our personal items on there as well.  Sweet friends, Crossings staff and even some of Kilee and Josiah's little buddies came out to help!

Medical supplies ready to be loaded.

The past several weeks have been spent getting our house packed up and getting items purchased for Crossings.  We have been hugely blessed by several local businesses here around the Shelbyville/Louisville area like Sherwin Williams, Ace Hardware, Lowes, and even a generator manufacturer in Maine!  Also, we had the privilege of meeting a man named Ralph.  Ralph is a retired gentleman who recently took his first overseas mission trip to Haiti.  Ralph's son, Rod, commented that Haiti is all he talks about now!  Ralph made a connection with an organization in Birmingham that works to refurbish medical equipement.  He decided he wanted to help get some of the medical supplies to the Baptist Haiti Mission Hospital, so he and Rod rented a truck and drove all of the supplies up to Cedarmore where we loaded them on the container.  It was a huge encouragement to meet a gentleman like Ralph who is in his retirment years, who continues to love Jesus and desires to see the gospel go to the ends of the earth!

Just a few of our Crossings staffers, a.k.a. Servants.

As I drove to camp early Friday morning I couldn't help but think to myself, "Are we REALLY loading our stuff up and shipping it to Haiti?"  "Are we actually doing this?" As my nerves settled down throughout the day I was reminded again and again how the Lord has called our family to serve with BHM. 

Monica has been packing/cleaning/reorganizing for the past several weeks while I've been working on logistics for the move and the shipment of the container.  At night, we tend to just crash.  Since the mass exodus of our furniture on Friday, we have been semi-camping out at home. It's been fun! We have a pallet on the floor in the living room to watch the tv, which happens to be sitting on some milk crates in the corner.  We are trying to recall all of the makeshift furniture tricks we used in our college days!  Of course the kids are loving all of the open space.  Kilee is "skating" across the wood floors and Josiah's has turned the living room floor into a gigantic train track.

Our departure date of August 21st is coming fast!  We have been so blessed by our Crossings family through this transition and we are incredibly excited about serving with BHM!

From left: Corky White (Cedarmore Director), Butch Gleason ( Facilities Director), Me, David Melber (President and CEO), Rob Allen (Guest Services Director), and Joe Ball (Program Director for KY Changers)

 

Haiti here we come!

Pain As We Leave Home, Affirmation As We Move

Our living room,
a place with many
wonderful memories.

Sitting here this morning, I just can't help but think about what a blessing life has been here in Kentucky.  Specifically here at 105 Rolling Ridge Way, our home.  We brought our two babies home here, their first steps were here, good fellowship with friends happened here.  From this house we walked to tee ball and soccer games, hosted Bible studies, attended preschool just 2 streets over and enjoyed the company of wonderful neighbors. We have been able to enjoy visits from all the grandparents on a regular basis as they all live 2-3 hours away. What an incredible blessing!  There are some days like today that these memories just bring tears to my eyes.  Yet, are not these blessings directly from God's hand?  James 1:17 says "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."  God gave them, and they belong to him.  And we belong to Him.  Therefore, we are His servants and we must be ready to go where He calls us when He calls us.

Oh, how this world has such a grip on us sometimes!  We have to be quick to remember Philippians 3:20 that tells us that "our citizenship is in heaven."  We are to be sojourners just passing through, "making the most of the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:16)  There is great joy in knowing that perfection awaits us with our Father! 

Bidwell home in Fermathe, Haiti.
Future site of many
wonderful memories.

All of this is hard to remember when we walk through the mall and see all of the beautiful home decor, the stylish clothes and shoes. . . heck, I'm a mom -- even walking through the appliance section at Sears sets my heart to racing!  I mean, here in America we are conditioned to want more and more, to desire the next thing constantly.  We are never satisfied. "My kitchen is not as nice as hers."  "They have so much space in that huge house, that must be so nice!"  "How does she lose her baby weight so fast?"  "She always dresses so cute.  I wish I had nicer clothes."  All of these things cross my mind on a regular basis.

The abundant life Jesus promises us in John 10:10 has got to mean more than a gigantic home, a 54 inch flat screen and a list of friends a mile long.  Doesn't it?  There's nothing inherently wrong with any of these things, but when it becomes the focus of your heart as my heart is prone to wander, then it is a real problem.  Jesus teaches us in Matthew 16:25 that "whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever wants to lose his life for my sake will find it."  Lord, teach us that all of these petty things are just passing away!  They will not last.  Help us to desire a "better country" as you spoke of the saints of old in Hebrews 11:16. 

This is what I am trying to focus on as we move to Haiti.  It's not easy.  There are good days and bad days.  There are days when I start to drool as I browse Pinterest.  There are times that I gaze lustfully at window treatments and wish I had the money for something better.  But ultimately I am trying to remember that the Lord is faithful and He is the only thing that will satisfy the deepest longings of my soul. 

Please continue to partner with us in prayer!  We've got 35 days til departure!

8.21.12

We have a departure date!  Booking those one-way airline tickets was definitely a "gut-check" moment!  The words from an old hymn came to mind . . . "I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back".  We have a lot going on over the next few weeks, packing, closing on the house, visiting family, and finishing strong at Crossings.  We appreciate the prayers that so many of you are offering on our behalf!  Keep 'em coming! :)

If you sense the Lord leading you to partner with us in this mission to Haiti, please check out the "Partner With Us" tab above.  We'd be thrilled to get to talk with you!  Thank you so much, friends!