God is Good...All the Time..Just a saying?

"God is good...all the time...", my friend tells me after a micro burst from a Hurricane blows away his tents that the 13 people in his family have been living in since the earthquake in January.

I have to admit that I have no idea how good God really is on a daily basis!  I am such a whiner most of the time!!  I'm not just talking about having any and all of the food that I want at any moment that I may have a craving.  I'm not talking about a very comfortable bed with lots of covers and four pillows to sleep on.  I'm not talking about a clean, flushable toilet with toilet paper, a toilet seat and a candle to do whatever business I need to do, whenever I need to.  Safe houses. Free education for our children.  Clean water and soap to wash with, hot water to bathe in.  Clean water to drink.  Bible studies, church, dvds, coffee shop talks, counselors.  It's not just the physical things, it is everything!  Their faith is so much bigger than mine in the wake of so many, many heartaches.  "God is good, all the time".

 I have returned home from being in Haiti twice in the last month.  Each time I go, it is such a huge blessing and yet overwhelming to see up close and very personally the challenges that our friends and our children face on a daily basis.  Heat, hunger, filth, lack of good medical attention, longing to be part of a family, homelessness, unemployment, illiteracy, no jobs...

and yet I do know and strongly believe and cleave to the fact that God is good...all the time.  Despite what we so shortsightedly see on this earth.  "I know the plans that I have for you declares the Lord, plans to take care of you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Jer.29:10

I continue to ask myself, what is my part in all of this madness?  God has called me to be a part of restoration in these people's lives.(even if it is a very small part)  I want to be obedient even though it is extremely painful at times.  I am so thankful that I have been given the opportunity to work with HaitiServe.  We are identifying organizations that are truly making an impact on the people's lives in Haiti through education, spiritual leadership, medical care, teaching trades, building homes, sustainable business etc...  Some of these organizations are:  http://www.haitirescuecenter.org/, http://www.apparentproject.org/, http://www.childrenofthepromise.org/, http://www.haitichildsponsorship.org/   God is using these people in amazing ways to bring hope and life to the people that they work with on a daily basis.  Please lift them up in prayer!

Trying to re-enter life in TN

I just returned from Haiti and will post soon.  I am just trying to catch up at home right now and missing our babies in Haiti so, so much!  My heart aches for them.  Details about the trip soon...

another trip to Haiti

Today is Monday Oct. 11 and Renee' is in Haiti again.  It was a quick turnaround from her last trip and she is still very tired and worn.  She came home with a sinus infection and some funny Ambien CR stories.  The reason for the quick turnaround is a really cool one that I am jealous of.  Our friends in Kansas City, Dave and Melissa Hogue are adopting little Wilby from "our" orphanage.  Wilby has what is likely cerebral palsy and is in desperate need of treatment and therapy.  He is one of the sweetest kids you could ever meet.  A real charmer.  Renee' got to go meet the Hogues in PAP and take them to meet Wilby and Bobby and Lurdie (who run the orphanage).  She said it has been really sweet.  what a privilege to get to be a part of this process.

She is also working out some kinks and details with lawyers there.  It has been a really emotional ride for her there.  Nothing is easy or smooth in Haiti right now.  I hate that she is there without me working thru a lot of hard stuff, but we know Renee' - she's a tough cookie.  I'm very proud of her.

We would really love and value your prayers for this process.  Still lots of hurdles and hoops ahead.

In the midst of the emotional ride we are more certain than ever that this is obedience and right.  There is no way to go but forward.  "Lord have mercy" is my regular prayer.

MOre jealously: she got to hang out with Kiki and G for 2 1/2 days.

I pick her up from the airport at 10 tonight.