Kids on Mission

"Where are you going for your mission trip?"

"Mexico."

"Oh.  And you are taking your kids?"

"Yes."

"Oh.  You know Mexico isn't safe?"

"Yes."

"Well, be careful."

This was the usual conversation leading up to our trip.  Like I said in my previous post, I had lots of fears about going. But I can say, now that we have gone, that not only going on mission, but taking our kids was one of the best decisions we ever made.

Our family learned things about ourselves and our relationship with God that we could not have learned in the comfort of our everyday life.  For example, serving others is a blessing and serving ourselves is not.

Broderick (9) and Carys (7) worked their behinds off for 6 straight days.
They were staying up late for worship.

 They were waking up early to eat, do devotions, and serve breakfast.

They were playing with kids.

They were making bracelets.

They were serving food.

They were singing songs.

They were cutting craft materials.

They were caring water jugs.

There were doing whatever was asked of them.

I do not tell you this to say, "Look at my kids.  Aren't they awesome!?"  They are, but that is not the point.
The point is, that my kids served our Lord in another country for a week and your kids can do it too!  It was such an awesome experience to serve as a family...to watch my kids eager to help others...to hear them share their "picture of the day" (this was a something that happened that day that stuck out to you).  Nothing can top those experiences.  NOTHING!

Sometimes I feel like as a parent I can put my kids in this safe little bubble and say they can't handle this or that.  But the scripture tells us different.  It tells us, adults, to have child like faith.  Remember I said the first night we were debriefing and Amy asked about our fears for the trip?  My answer was a mile long.  You know what both my kids said?  "I don't really have any fears."  That is what God wants us to have.  He wants us to go into this world, living with abandon...no fears, and serve Him.

I encourage you to look into a family mission trip.  I know Back2Back allows it, because that is the organization we went with.  There are all different organizations and all different places.  Last year we went to Pikeville, Kentucky with Youth on Mission.  Do some research.  I would encourage you to start with Back2Back.  I was highly impressed.  (If you have any questions you can always ask me.  I LOVE to talk about our trip.)
Going on a mission trip with your family is something you will NOT regret!

Te Doy Gloria

 We are back from Mexico!

To say it was amazing and life changing is an understatement.

We woke up around 4am and traveled all morning.  We arrived in Mexico around lunch time.

We ate, had a couple minutes to get settled in our rooms.

We met with the lovely, Amy (our debriefer) quickly.  She asked us 2 questions...

"What is your biggest fear this week?"

"What are you expecting?"

Fears?

If you know me at all you know I had a list a mile long of fears.  Even more than I let on before we left.

I thought of every worse case scenario.

From my kids being taken to getting bit by or even seeing a tarantula!

So I simply said, "I have a list of fears."

My expectation was a little different.  I tend to think of expectations as bad.  Which they aren't always.

So I really tried to go into this trip with no expectations.  I just wanted to see the Lord at work and join Him.

Soon after we arrived kids from 2 children's homes started showing up for swimming, games and a cookout.

While swimming with the kids it hit Rob and I that we really couldn't communicate with these kids through words.  We both were a little unsure of what to do.

The kids jumped right in...literally.  They just started playing.
We quickly learned that we could commincate love and laughter without words.

 The cookout was a lot of fun.  It was a great time to see people on our team reconnect with kids they met last year and get acquainted.  We ate hot dog/sausage things in a tortilla with guacamole and pico de gallo, with hot sauce of course.  Whatever you have heard about Mexican people liking hot things...it is true.  

Even the little kids would put hot sauce on everything!

Every flavor of chip I ate had a little bit of kick to it. 

 (Queso chips and Chili-lime Frito's were my favorite.  I am trying to figure out how I can get some!)

Sunday we toured the Back2Back campus and got some great information on what they do.

(If you don't know much about them I encourage you to look into their ministry.  It is AMAZING!)

Then we went to church.

Before we left, Antonio the director of Monterrey, said to me "It isn't like American church."

He was right!  People were dancing and singing LOUD, clapping.  They were just so excited to be worshiping the Lord.  I stood there and watched and listened, moved to tears, and thought... I love that they have no reservation.  They just give God all the Glory that he is worthy of.
I literally sat there listening to these people sing and thought, "You can take me know Lord.  I am good."

Speaking of glory, we have a new favorite song in our house. Te Doy Gloria.  It means, I give you glory.

We love it!  Every time I hear it I go right back to church on top of the hill at Casa Hougar Douglas.

 Carys jumped right into the dancing with a friend she had made while swimming the day before.

After church we went to Imperio De Amor.  This was the children's home we would be spending the rest of our week at.  We picked up the kids and headed to a park.  Yes, park.  My panic and fears began to surface.  Taking my kids to a park that is semi crowded where I can't keep an eye on them is nerve racking.  And you want me to go to a park in Mexico, where I don't speak the language, keep track of my kids and another child.  Uhh...no.  Not cool with this.  At all!  But I decided to pray and trust in the Lord.

Then we get to this "park."  It was MASSIVE!

breathe Amy, breathe.

I get paired up with 12ish aged girls and follow the crowd.

Antonio says, "This will be our meeting spot.  You have until 4 and then meet us back here."

Huh!? Did I hear him right?  Now you want me to walk around here by myself.

I immediately found Rob and said, "I am staying with you.  Don't leave me."

If only it were that easy.

The boy he had wanted to go one way, the girls I was with wanted to go another and Carys thought we were going to a play ground and she wanted to play.

I kept trying to get the girls to come with me so I could stay with Rob, but they wanted none of it.
 And since I couldn't talk to them that just added to the frustration.

Then, very clearly, I heard the Lord saying, "Amy, what if I want you to just say yes to following these girls through this park.  By yourself."

It struck me.  If I can't say yes to the Lord for this, I am not going to say yes to Him for much else.

So I said yes and began following the girls.

And guess what?

I survived.

I found my way back to the meeting area.

No one was kid napped.

Everyone was just fine.

We spent all week at IDA helping them put on a VBS for the community.  Yes, you read that right.  The children's home was doing a VBS for the community.  It was awesome too.  They had games, crafts, snack, Bible stories and puppets.  I even got to play Goliath in one of the stories.
Each day after VBS we would eat with the kids that lived at the home and then play with them.
Carys took her rainbow loom and her and Broderick made bracelets for them.
It was so great to watch my kids give to and serve others.

Tuesday we took a break from VBS and went to an impoverished community to serve.

To say I was not prepared for this is an understatement.

I had read books, seen pictures and heard stories of people living in a trash dump and making their homes from the trash. I truly think that part of me didn't really believe it was real.

Oh, it is real.  Very real.

And God used this place to change my life.

I saw kids living in trash.

Broderick saw a baby getting a bath in a Home Depot bucket.

I heard a baby crying from inside one of the houses.

I saw a street orphan.  That is a child that lives on the streets.  

A child. He doesn't have a birth certificate so he can't be put in a home.

This day quickly turned from the worst to the best.

We served food to some of the people that live in these homes.

It was so great to see these people smile and be so thankful.

Carys met Esmeralda and became great friends.

She also became my friend.  We got to play ball, color, make bracelets and we even taught her a song.

We spent the entire afternoon together.

When we left we gave big tight hugs.

When Carys and I got on the bus Esmeralda was standing right outside our window waving to us.  I opened up the window and grabbed her hand.

I don't know if I will ever see this sweet girl again, but I am so glad I met her.

One of my fears was that Carys and I would get lice.  Lame, I know.

I tell you what...

I would have lice everyday if it meant I could share the love of Jesus with Esmeralda on a regular basis.

I truly and genuinely love this little girl.

I told her she was beautiful and wonder if that was enough.

I miss her everyday. 

I think about her often.

I pray for her every night.

After we played for a while we took the left over food and delivered it door to door to some of the people in the Rio.  I honestly wish we had more left overs.  

Just one of the houses in Rio 3.

For a moment, imagine your family living here.

Day 4 brought more VBS prep and fun.  Thankfully I am a pro at prepping craft projects.  I am a preschool teacher assistant.  It is what I do.  And apparently it runs in the family.

We also got to take a tour of the dorms where the kids live.

I love the way they set it up.  Each dorm is set up like an apartment.

There is a living space, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom.

There is roughly 8-10 kids with one "parent."

Girls are in several dorms and boys are in several dorms.

These are some of the girls making a blanket fort out of their beds.

Blanket forts are universal!

We also got to take part in a baptism of one of our team members, Angelica.

It was such a blessing. 

Afterwards we all jumped in the pool with her and celebrated. 

Complete with a belly flop contest.

Carys asked me Saturday night at church if there was going to be a baptism.

I said, "I am not sure but if there is we can't jump into the baptism afterwards."

Or maybe we could...

What do you think Apexers!?

Our final day we took the kids to get ice cream at the mall.

Little Rosa did not want her picture taken this day.

I stole a few anyway.

Especially when she fell asleep on my lap on the bus!

This experience was absolutely amazing.  I encourage everyone to get out of your comfort zone and go on a trip.  It will change your life and the lives of the people you serve.  If you have kids, take them.

Our family is different because God used this experience to show and teach us things we couldn't learn here.

I met people that will be life long friends and some I may never see again.

I can not wait to go back!

God is Driving a Truth Home Today

This morning Broderick woke up with a fever.

Not a big deal.

He gets one every summer.

The thing I am struggling with is...
we leave soon for Mexico and we are taking a typhoid fever vaccine pill.

We started Sunday and we take a pill every other day.  The fever could be a side effect or he could just be sick.

My first question was whether or not to continue the medicine.  After consulting our doctor and a pharmacist I received my answer which is to continue.

Did you catch that? "After consulting our doctor and a pharmacist..." 

I sent an email out to some friends to pray.  Which I did.  Quickly.  I didn't fully stop and seek Him on the matter.

Then I read this.  (seriously this ladies blog posts get me every. single. time. But that is another story.)

I mean, for real!?  (If you didn't read Ann's post go back and do it.)

So I stopped what I was doing called the kids in and prayed.  For healing. For protection. For faith.


My #1 struggle in my walk with the Lord is lack of faith.  I worry. I get anxious. I think of the worst case scenario.

I need to have faith.  (Oooo you gotta have faith, a faith, a faith! Sorry...couldn't help myself.

I knew that there would be some spiritual battles as our trip neared.  I figured it would have to do with me lacking faith.  I am ready to surrender to the Lord.  He's got this!

What Can $10 Do?

Our family has been doing a family devotion over the last five weeks.  It is a book and study guide called "Tales of the Not Forgotten" by Beth Guckenberger.  Beth is the co-founder of the organization we are going to Mexico with, so we thought it would be a good study to do as a family to prep for our trip.  It is mostly about orphans and missionaries and how God weaves their stories together.  It refers to God as the Storyweaver.  It has been very eye opening for Rob and I.  I had been wondering if the kids have bee understanding and making connections...until last night.

Our story last night was about orphans in India and how only 3 out of 5 boys get to go to school and 2 out of 5 girls.  We were talking about ways our family could help kids that can't go to school.  Broderick said, "I mean, I have $4, but what can $4 do?"  And Carys said, "I have $6.  I will give it."  Rob and I did not ask them if they had money or if they wanted to give it.  We were just discussing ways we could help.

The "ironic" thing is...we got an email that Ebeneezer Children's home (the orphanage Rob went to in Uganda) needs money to buy school supplies.  It had a broken down list of how much each thing cost.  So we pulled it up and told the kids what their $10 could do.  They said, "We want to give it!"  I could not believe it.  Broderick said, "I was going to buy 4 hot wheels, but I already have a million.  I don't need anymore."  I thought, "Thank you Lord.  They are getting it."

We got to talk about how God is using them in the lives of the kids at Ebeneezer.  He is weaving their stories together. 

The Lord is SO Good

This day has been amazing and the Lord has BLOWN my mind!  First of all I had some great friends help by donating items and helping me set up.  To say my sister has been a huge help is an understatement. My Grandma came and guarded my money box.  And then, there is everyone that came and bought things.  Some of these people don't even realize the way they have blessed me and my family.  Some of them...knew exactly what they were doing.  Like one lady who came...she asked about our trip and talked awhile with me.  She then shopped around a bit.  When she was done she had $4.50 worth.  She handed me a $100 and I said, "Let me see if I have change."  She said, "Oh no.  You keep it."  WHAT!?  I could not believe it!  I mean, why not?  The Lord is that good!  Then there was another guy, with 2 boys that were cracking me up.  The dad was making a pile and the boys kept adding to it.  Hilarious!  We started talking and it turns out, his son just bought our neighbors house and they go to a church in our area and have two kids just around the same age as my kids.  When it was time for him to check out he ended up buying $75 of stuff and again game me $100 and told me to keep it.  I also had a donation jar that people kept dropping money in.  Friends came and bought stuff when I know they didn't need to!  It was truly such a blessing.  I have fought back tears all day! 

Rob said before he left for work, "I hope this is worth all the work."  My response, "Even if I make $100 that is better than nothing."  HA!  I am laughing at myself for that comment.  God said take that 100 and multiply it by 10!!!!  Yup  $1000 on day one!  Seriously!

Rob and I have have a saying, we started using this week, "Say yes to the day."  We want to have the attitude of saying yes to God before we even know what he is asking.  Scary, right?  But think of what we could miss if we say no!  I didn't want to really do a garage sale.  I mean I didn't say no, but it was a lot of work, I had to take off work, ask for help and then sit for three days.  I am not complaining, just telling the truth.  But then I think, if I would have said no, I would have missed out!  On the blessing of all the help I received, on the encouraging words from others today, on $1100 and on letting God work! 

I am so glad I said YES today!

Purging

We have spent the last 2 weekends going through this house and purging.  (Well, not exactly purging.  We are putting it in the garage for our garage sale next weekend.)  Let me remind you we live in a small house so we can't really accumulate much.  But I have even been surprised at how much we are getting rid of.  We, along with most of America, live in excess.  It is time to simplify and purge!  For many reasons, but for 1 because the Bible says to sell what you have and give to the poor.  So, like mentioned in my last post, we are going to have a garage sale to raise money for our trip to Mexico.  (Our way of giving to the poor.)

I am also taking donations from others of items to sell.  (Just to clarify, I am not selling items for people and giving them the money.  I taking your items you want to get rid of and selling them with my stuff to raise money for our trip.) 

While the last two weekends have not been fun, and exhausting to be frank, it is has been kind of fun.  Lying...not fun at all!  Fun isn't the right word.  I have enjoyed getting rid of stuff.  It is kind of freeing.  I encourage you to try it!  (And then you can bring your stuff here!  Hahaha!)

All that to say lots of prep already for Mexico.  I have begun getting my shots, we go Wednesday to get our passports (please pray we get them by June.), and we started a family devotion last night called, "Tales of the Not Forgotten" by Beth Guckenberger.  She is the co-founder of Back2Back the organization we are going with.  (BTW, great book and her story is amazing!)

Lots of work going on in our house and our hearts as of late!

What is Next for Our Family (Mexico)

Yeah, so I just realized I never updated my blog that Rob made it home. Guess what!?  He made it home!! I must have been too busy enjoying him to let you all know.  Ooops...sorry.  It has been so fun to hear all his stories, see the pictures and watch the videos.  I tell ya...I tear up every time I see those sweet faces.  Especially one little guy...Georgie.  Oh my, this kid.

 I am hoping Rob is going to do a little "guest post" for you all.  I figure it would be better for him to tell you about it than me.

As you can imagine, there has been a lot of conversations happening at our home. 

Where do we go from here?
What is next for us?
What does God want us to do?
How do we continue with orphan care and missions?
Do we get rid of our tv?
What do we do with our excess?  (time, money, etc)

You may be wondering...

Are they moving to Africa?
Answer: no (not now!  ;)
Are they adopting a sweet African child?
Answer: no (not yet ;)
Is Rob going back to Africa?
Answer: yes...someday
Is Amy going to Africa?
Answer: yes...someday
Will they ever go as a family?
Answer: yes...someday

I am sure this is helping you, right?  Truth be told, we don't know what God has in the future for us.  We will just trust His plan.  We do know that we need to keep this momentum going.

 I have mentioned that we have been reading the book "Not a Fan" by Kyle Idleman.  We have felt like we can't read this book and continue our life the same way.  Then Rob went to Africa which just affirmed our thinking.  So, the first, concrete next step is a family mission trip this summer to Mexico!  We are so excited for this trip and what God will do in us and through us. 

There are  few ways you can help...
Pray.  This is the most important piece of our trip.
Support.  We will be having a garage sale May 2nd-4th.  All the money we make will go towards our trip.  The kids will have a lemonade/cookie stand on the 4th as well.  You can also donate items to the sale for me to sell.
This weekend our church is doing a fund raiser as well.  For a donation ($5 per person or $15 a family) you can get hamburgers, hot dogs and chips.  It will be Saturday night at 6:30 and then Sunday starting around 10:30)

Stay tuned...