I’m baaaaaaaaaack!!!!!!!!

Did y’all miss me?!

I’ve been in Haiti driving tap-taps (not really, but I got to ride in the back of one), sweating like crazy, and pushing wheelbarrows of dirt and base rock for a church foundation in Leveque. I’m glad to report that since I arrived home, I’ve taken 4 showers, soaked in the tub twice, washed my really stinky clothes (multiple cycles), and my backpack is washed and air-drying outside.

THE REUNION OF THE CENTURY ….. en route to Port-au-Prince, during a layover at Miami International Airport, I saw Jenny C. She and I went to elementary school and we haven’t seen each other since the sixth grade!!!! Believe me, neither one of us has changed a bit. =) She has traveled to Haiti numerous times over the years working and volunteering in orphanages and children’s hospitals. She also owns her own snow-cone stand in Bowling Green, Kentucky. She’s pretty much the bee’s knees in my book for these two reasons.

This trip to Haiti was incredible. While I wouldn’t trade last year’s trip for any amount of money, this one was different. We lived, worked, played, and worshiped as a family unit. Church and school leaders live on one side on the property and the Haitian construction site coordinator lives on the other. Students and church members live nearby also. The church, literally, is the center of community life.

Speaking of the work site, the Methodist School of Leveque was rebuilt in 2011. Earlier this year, UMVIM teams began clearing the demolished church and construction on the new building immediately followed. Until the church is complete, however, worship takes place inside a classroom and choir practice in a large hallway. The hallway also served as the site of our team’s impromptu nail salon. We packed several bottles of nail polish and it was a *HUGE* success with the girls in the community!!!!

When we arrived, base rock had been placed in the majority of the squares (each square measures approximately 10 feet by 10 feet). Needless to say, we had our work cut out for us.

At the bottom of the last square, each person on our team wrote a message on a rock. Since I’m an over-achiever, I decorated my rock with Sapphire Siren and French White Tip nail polish. My rock is really adorable. Don’t you think?!

By the end of the week, all squares of the foundation had been filled with base rock and a three-inch layer of concrete had been poured in section as well. I feel really sorry for future teams as they will be mixing and hauling TONS of concrete … that’s a LOT of work.

Whomever said mission trips were boring has never traveled with fun, fabulous, and friendly folks like us. I mean, we work hard and we play hard. Plus, while graciously supporting the Haitian economy, we had this amazing view …. go ahead, be jealous:

Yes, Haiti has beautiful beaches. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

The town on Leveque is also home to Haiti’s largest deaf community. Mission of Hope has built an entire community with permanent housing for the deaf and hearing-impaired. During an afternoon walk-about, we toured the community and met several of its residents.

THE FACES OF HAITI ARE PRECIOUS TO ME

Finally, I visited the site where I worked last year. Two other team members and I were on the 2011 Haiti Mission Team and seeing this school in its finished state was unbelievable.

The Methodist School in Puit Blains is complete with its second-story addition and basketball court. It is the most beautiful building I’ve ever seen!!!!!!!!! Standing in a classroom atop the second floor overlooking the property adorned with a full-size basketball court was the most rewarding, fulfilling, and gratifying moment of the entire trip.

I’m exhausted but grateful for the experience. Thanks to all the wonderful ladies who provided guest posts (told you they were awesome!!!) and took care of Three 31 while I was gone.

Take care!

boundaries

I am 100-percent, unequivocally, wholly,
and shamefully responsible for the
unsustainable pace I’ve set forth in my life.

Last Tuesday, I had a revelation. It was painful and affirming just the same. Until that miserable conversation, I had been (for lack of better terms) wearing blinders. The relationship that I should have been holding in the highest regard, the one I vowed to hold higher than any other, was crumbling and I hadn’t been present long enough to realize it.

To publicly admit this, I am embarrassed, ashamed, and disappointed.

I have had no boundaries. I have not been honest. I have taken loved ones for granted.

I need to restore balance.

I am asking forgiveness for being selfish and distracted. I am asking for patience as I repair what is damaged.

This weekend will be different.

The calendar is empty and it’s staying that way. Husband and I are going on a date: probably lunch and a movie. There is no schedule. There are no demands. We are simply going to be together. I suspect I’ll be alongside my Grease Monkey as he puts the finishing touches to the flatbed trailer he’s restoring. There’s been talk that he’s going to teach me to weld too. Sunday, I will go to church and make last-minute preparations with the Haiti mission team. Afterwards, I will return home and rest. I will really observe the Sabbath. I will make phone calls that have been put off for weeks, some even months. With the predicted cooler temperatures, we might open windows and nap under a down comforter!

In regards to this blog, it will be much quieter. I am unplugging for a while.

The mission trip (October 10 – October 19) is taking me away from home *AND* modern conveniences, but I think it’s Divine Providence affirming my decision to step back and reevaluate my priorities and time commitments. Not only will my team and I *NOT* have running water, electricity, or Internet services, we will be digging our own latrines, sleeping on cots beneath a protective mosquito net, and bathing out of a bucket. This trip will require demands I’ve never had to endure.

We anticipate living in the coastal community of Leveque, also home to Haiti’s largest deaf community. In sign language, I know how to “say” my name, water, church and Jesus. As for the specifics of the work site, I am under the impression that the community’s school has been rebuilt but the church (heavily damaged in the 2010 earthquake) is still under reconstruction. I won’t know until I get there and I’m okay with that.

While I am away to Haiti, I’ve asked a few friends to provide guest blog posts. I think you will thoroughly enjoy meeting these ladies and reading what they have to say.

When I return, my intentional restoration (personally, privately, and communal) begins. As my great-grandparents used to say, I’ve got a long row to hoe. It’s not going to be easy or comfortable. But I got myself into this mess, and I must get myself out.

Let the good times roll.

Great Day of Service

How’s your Saturday going?

Mine started extra early but I participated in the 2012 Great Day of Service. Nine people, including three youth, representing the First United Methodist Church in Joshua, traveled to Fort Worth for a brief worship service and orientation session, then traveled to the first project site.

Our supply buckets included paint brushes, paint rollers, paint trays, and paint buckets.

Want to take a guess on what the team did?!

If you guessed *PAINTING* …….. you are correct!!!!!!

The wheelchair ramps had recently been constructed, but they needed to be painted. Equipped with supplies, we painted a larger (and longer) ramp this morning, then drove to the second clients’ home to paint another after lunch.

*OUR FINISHED PROJECT*

I’m really proud of our team and their willingness to serve in Fort Worth. I hope this creates a spark within our congregation to serve others in the local community. Perhaps FUMC Joshua can host a *Great Day of Service* in the future, or create our own service opportunity.

Jesus said ….. Whatever you do for the least of my brothers and sisters, you do for me.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

{ tears in tennessee }

Each time I pull out of my parent’s driveway, I cry big alligator tears from Sebree, Kentucky until I hit the state line near Union City, Tennessee -  about 150 miles. Those 2-3 hours give me plenty of time to get all that emotional crap out of my system. No matter how many times I go home, each time I leave it’s as if I’ll never return.

Yesterday, however, I did something I’ve not done before.

I cried in Tennessee.

The mission team finished our project at Ms. Hester’s house after lunch yesterday. (Click HERE for project pictures!) The covered porch and new vinyl look terrific and I’m so proud of our team from FUMC Joshua, plus my Mom. By the time we packed up the project site, drove back to the house at Henderson Settlement, and packed our trailer with luggage, it was time to hit the road for the long trip back to Texas.

Saying goodbye to Mom didn’t help my breakdown either. In fact, she made it worse.

By the time I got my cry-baby-self into the van, we were on our way out of Frakes, Kentucky. There was just one small problem: instead of 150 miles to get that emotional mess over and done with, the state line was six miles down the road! I was a hot mess. Literally and figuratively.

I’m sorry, my beloved Kentucky, but I left a few tears in Tennessee.

Mission Trip ~ Project Updates

This is the first post I’ve done since traveling to southeast Kentucky for a mission trip. I am responsible for the team’s blog and it has been my priority this week, but I stayed up late last night to prep this post for my personal blog. After all, I really appreciate all of my blog readers and don’t want you to think I’ve forgotten about you!

If you’d like to read the mission team’s blog, please click HERE.

The mission trip is going very well and the team is fantastic. We have laughed so much, a few of us have begun to “snort” and that cracks us up even more! It’s quite the family-affair as several families are represented, including my Mom. This is her first mission trip. It is also the first mission experience for several others, and it has been wonderful to witness their enjoyment to this new experience.

As the official team blogger, I’m trying to stay BEHIND the camera as much as possible – Lord knows that’s best for us all!!!! – and capture as many special moments as possible, but somehow photographs of me keep appearing. Teammates of mine must keep a small camera hidden in their pockets!!!

Speaking of cameras, we’ve taken a few shots using a tripod and the self-timer setting. It’s been hilarious to look at the pictures where we are talking, looking in the wrong direction, or pointing at the camera. After a few “practice runs,” though, we finally figured out my camera flashes an orange light before taking three pictures. The last one usually ends up being a crazy-funny-silly one. Can you tell we’re having a blast?!?!?!

The work we are doing includes the construction of a covered porch and installing vinyl skirting around the perimeter of our client’s home. She’s been so gracious and we are all beginning to develop a relationship with Ms. Hester. Her sister is also visiting this week. They both have several dogs and one just happened to be-friend me …… it’s quite an ugly dog, but a friendly one. I think its (his? her?) name is Sweetie. I’m guessing it’s a girl, but I haven’t checked the undercarriage.

Two years ago, I learned to use power tools on a mission trip to Oklahoma City. Last summer, I spent 10 days in Haiti using a pick-axe and my hands to clear rocks, dirt, and debris and dig a trench. This week, I’ve learned how to install new vinyl skirting. My list of qualifications is expanding!

We have a full day ahead of us. My personal goal is to finish installing the new vinyl skirting along the east and north sides of the house. There are two large obstructions that we must work around, but I know we can do it. The ones working on the covered porch are rockin’-and-a-rollin’ and will begin work on the roof. We’re eating lunch at the site so we’ll be able to work a bit longer.

We’re going to church tonight and, afterwards we’ve been invited to a peanut butter and chocolate egg decorating extravaganza …….. I promise to take pictures and let you know all the details. It sounds delicious and yummy and not-so-dairy-friendly!!!!

Thank you for being patient with me as I dedicate a week to the people of Frakes, Kentucky and this mission team. The wireless Internet access is a bit different than I thought, but I appreciate your understanding and patience. Your thoughts and comments on this blog – and especially the team blog – are so meaningful and appreciated. Every morning during breakfast, and each night after supper, we sit down and I read all the comments and messages aloud to the team. We are all so thankful for the generous support from our family and friends ….. wherever you are!

Love,

{ eastbound }

I could have slept in this morning, but my internal clock did what it normally does and I was wide-awake at 5:36. An hour later, I gave up the battle and let Husband sleep in peace without my constant tossing and turning. I marinated chicken for supper, folded a load of towels, and read a few chapters on the Kindle. After an early lunch, I went to the grocery store, got my hair cut (thanks Sam!), and stopped at the bank to get a document signed by a Notary. Now, the washer and dryer are running, the dishwasher is on the final rinse cycle, and I am wrapped up my Snuggie on the couch …… life’s pretty good!

In a few hours, around 11:00pm, the mission team from First United Methodist Church in Joshua will load personal luggage into the church van, check the trailer one last time, and head east towards the Henderson Settlement in Frakes, Kentucky. Pulling a cargo trailer of equipment with a van filled with 10 people, the thousand-mile-trek will take us at least 20 hours. In my humble opinion, I think it will take every bit of 24 hours.

One of my contributions to this team is managing the team’s blog during the duration of our trip. I did this last year when the mission team from FUMC Joshua went to Haiti. It was quite time-consuming, but the positive messages and uplifting comments posted by friends, family, and even strangers, were a huge boost to the team’s morale. Each morning before breakfast, and each night during the team’s devotion time, I read blog comments and messages to the team. The blog provided a way for our team to share experiences with readers and, in turn, provided readers the opportunity to be in ministry even though they were not physically in Haiti. I am confident the team traveling to Kentucky will have a similar experience with this blog too.

You can be a part of the mission team traveling to Kentucky too, please visit the team’s blog and “subscribe” to receive notifications when a new post is published. You can also leave comments on each blog post. All comments and messages are appreciated and they will be read daily. Not everyone can go on this trip, but this blog provides an excellent bridge to gap the distance. I hope you will participate and be our “virtual” teammate!

Blessings to you and yours,

 

P.S. I will try (no promises!!!!) to publish a personal blog post here at Three 31 each day. However, for the next 10 days, this mission trip is my first priority.

Click HERE to access the team’s blog, or click the image above.