To keep from being polluted by the world

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27)

Right now, it's 6am about 25 degrees in Louisville and I'm sitting in a heated live truck. When I stand outside for my live hits, I begin to shiver. 

I'm watching a homeless person struggle with a cardboard box. He lives under the stairwell of a parking garage, across the street from the police department and steps away from where I stand for my live shot. This isn't the first time I've seen him. He's got to be miserable under there, and at times, dangerously cold. I don't know what I can do to help him, and I'm afraid to approach him. 

This morning, an older woman pulled up to our truck asking for directions and money for gas. We gave her directions but I told her I didn't have cash, and I've been filled with regret ever since. What a missed opportunity to help someone out of a tough spot. 

I've spent the last two days (my weekend) in a church, reading my Bible- the chapter of Luke. The more I read about Jesus and his life here on earth, the more I realize how much we are missing the mark as Christians in America. And my actions today, turning down a woman who asked for help, shows me how wrong *I'm* getting it. 

Jesus spent his life helping the most vulnerable- the poorest, the sickest. Jesus didn't teach Christianity to be self-serving. We'd like to think we're helping others, but are we really? What are we sacrificing to help others? What are we giving up, what are we sharing? In Luke, Jesus asked a rich person to give up all his possessions to help the poor, and to "Follow me." How many of us would be able to do that? I would like to think I would, but when it comes down to it, I really just don't know.

What if we think we're being taken advantage of? That's inconsequential: 

Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. (Luke 6:30) 

In his book, "When Helping Hurts: How to alleviate poverty without hurting the poor... and yourself," Brian Fikkart writes: 

"North American Christians are simply not doing enough. We are the richest people ever to walk the face of the earth. Period. Yet, most of us live as though there is nothing terribly wrong in the world. We attend our kids' soccer games, pursue our careers, and take beach vacations while 40 percent of the world's inhabitants struggle just to eat every day. And in our own backyards, the homeless, those residing in ghettos, and a wave of immigrants live in a world outside the economic and social mainstream of North America.  We do not necessarily need to feel guilty about our wealth. But we do need to get up every morning with a deep sense that something is terribly wrong with the world and yearn and strive to do something about it. There is simply not enough yearning and striving going on." 

Are we yearning and striving to help the poor, the needy? What happens when the needy comes to us to help? I obviously have a lot to learn. I clearly have become "polluted by the world" as we are cautioned against in James 1:27. 

But it's a worthwhile plight. It's important not to give up, even when we fail. 

Why? Because that's what we're called to do as Christians. Because that's how Jesus lived his life. Because we shouldn't allow ourselves to be polluted by the world. Because we can't take it with us. Because when we help those who are materially poor, we sometimes learn about spiritual wealth. Because when we are in the place where God calls us to be, we are filled with an immeasurable joy and a fullness that we can't find elsewhere. 

The Boy with No Address

He's a boy with no address, who lives in a nondescript mud hut... Just like the other ones in his village - down a long, winding gravel road-- on a street with no name.

It's a school with no walls, a school with no phone.  A school made up of four poles, a roof, and a dirt floor.

I'm 1,500 miles away.

But the boy with no address has a one in a million smile that would light up a room. He has a spirit that transcends language barriers. The boy with no address has a permanent home in the hearts of all the people he meets, and somehow, without even speaking the same language, he's convinced me to do everything I can to help him succeed.

The thing no one tells you about missions is that they are hard, frustrating, can be excruciatingly agonizing. Behind the smiling, perfect pictures is hard, unending work - countless phone calls, sleepless nights, tearful conversations.  Going on a mission trip changes most people. You don't come back the same person... Brooke Frasier sings "Now that I have seen, I am responsible" after her mission trip to Rwanda. How can you not want to do everything in your power to help when you may be someone's only hope?

But progress is hard. My Haitian friend TB reminds me, "step by step. Have patience, my sister."

I'm trying to get Vilanio enrolled in school. When I met Vilanio and his mother Madeline in December of 2013, I asked her what I could do to help. With a little prying, she shyly told me that because of Vilanio's accident (he's paralyzed from the waist down after falling from a mango tree) and the accompanying financial strain on their family, he hadn't been going to school. She said she needed help getting him enrolled in school and I promised to help.

A year later, Vilanio still isn't in school. We traveled to see him in September. It was a wild trip. We couldn't get ahold of his family, but decided to chance it and travel halfway across Haiti on a wild ride including using motos, a public bus, and a tap tap. I didn't know if we'd make it, honestly. I was nervous that we were wasting a day and a lot of resources on a wild goose chase that may not pan out. But it seemed like God was encouraging us to go. So we did. And it did pan out. As soon as we pulled down the rutty, dusty road where he lived and immediately saw Madeline standing there (what are the chances?), I was like the Grinch whose heart grew three sizes.

And I know this will work out too. But in the meantime, it's so incredibly frustrating. Each day brings it's own challenges. At first, we couldn't get in touch with the school. The number painted on the side of the school didn't work. Madeline's number was lost. Along with it, hope. But the number magically re-emerged, and along with it a renewed sense of purpose. Each (painfully slow) step brings us closer to getting Vilanio in school and a brighter future. It'll all be worth it, I know it will.  Because I know that one day the boy with no address will be a big part of mapping out a brighter future for his village and for Haiti.


"I have learned that I will not change the world, Jesus will do that. I can however, change the world for one person." Katie Davis, Kisses from Katie

Go Ahead, Call Me Ugly

She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.

Proverbs 31:25 

If it were up to me, I'd only wear makeup on special occasions. But it's not up to me. I'm in a business where being "put together" is part of my job. And I like my job, so I'll wear makeup every day. There's nothing wrong at all with wearing makeup, and there's nothing wrong with getting dressed up and feeling like a million bucks. But underneath all that - YOU are worth more than all the money in the world- more than all the gold, diamonds, and rubies. 

That doesn't mean that I feel any less pretty when I'm in makeup-less, sweat pants-donned state. Am I pretty? I don't know. That's completely subjective and based on other's opinions.  And frankly, I don't care what those opinions are. That's none of my business. 

But I feel pretty. And you should too. Not because of my hair, or my makeup, or my clothes- but I feel pretty because I was created by God, in his image, and I feel special because, just like every other human on this earth, I'm unique. That's something I wish every woman and every girl felt. I feel pretty because I try to be kind to others. I feel pretty when I make others feel special. I feel pretty when I set out to accomplish something that feels a little out of my comfort zone. I feel beautiful when I'm in nature, staring at a flowing waterfall or on top of a mountain. And I feel beautiful when I'm smack dab in the middle of helping others. 

But recently I've had hateful words spewed at me. I'm not alone in this. I can only imagine that every other girl and woman in America have, at one point or another, been subjected to cruel judgements based on an unnecessarily large focus on outward beauty. Recently I've been told my hair is "ugly, unfixed, out of style, out timey, outdated." I've been told my clothes are suited for someone older than me. I can only imagine the pain and hurt that comes from the same place inside the woman who said these comments to me. 

And that's not all. Last night, a friend of mine told me in my pictures where I am serving in Haiti, I look "haggard, tired." These are moments when I feel most beautiful, most alive. 

There comments don't cut me very deep.  But they are troublesome because I know there are other girls out there who haven't come to the realization yet that true beauty comes from within, that even the most beautiful person in the world will have detractors, that beauty fades, but character doesn't. 

And I think these comments also reflect a part of society that is very dark. A part that only sees value in women's looks, not in their heart. 

I don't want other women to face these comments. I don't want my sister, my mother or grandmothers, my cousins, my niece, my aunts, my friends to be subjected to this - let's call it like it is it - this bull crap. So it you read this post and are at all in agreement, maybe give a kind word to a friend. Compliment them on something that's within. Some beauty inside a person that doesn't fade with age. 

Last year I interviewed Jennifer Pharr Davis, who set the record for the fastest thru hike of the Appalachian Trail and these words have stuck with me ever since: 

"The trail made me feel very beautiful - and the reality was, I was very, very dirty. But I felt like I was a part of God's Creation and Creation was beautiful, and my interactions with other people - if I was kind, that made me feel pretty. Once you hike over 2,000 miles, your self worth is based on what you can do as opposed to how you look." 

Going Through the Motions

I feel like I've been just "going through the motions" lately in my life- and I don't like it. But let's face it- we all feel this way at some point or another, right?  

But that's not the point of life. We get one chance- one shot at life. And when you look at a lifespan of a human, it's really not that long. It goes by in a blink, in a flash. So why not thrive? 

So many times I feel like we're not thriving, we're simply struggling to survive. I'm guilty. Sometimes we take the easy way out, just do what it takes to "slide by" in work, in relationships, in activities and projects. Sometimes we're overwhelmed. We are overcome by grief, by guilt, by changing circumstances that cripple our very souls. As we learn to adapt to new realities, we stumble blindly in the darkness, grasping for any familiarity, anything that resembles joy. 

But it doesn't have to be that way. We don't have to compromise and settle for insignificant portions of comfort in exchange for overwhelming joy. We may go through tough seasons of growth, or of grief or pain, but we can't stay stagnant in these times. We learn, we grow, we realize that the dark times and thorns make us able to truly appreciate the times when happiness and blessings grow wild. 

What makes you happy? What are you passionate about? Hang onto that. What's on your bucket list? What's stopping you from marking something off it? What's a stumbling block- or what's something you need help with? Why not ask a friend for help? 

There is someone out there who believes in you, and who sees the potential for you to thrive. Why not believe in yourself?  Do what makes you happy. Make a positive change in the world. Shrug off things that upset you... After all, we only get one chance at this crazy life. 

"The ghosts that we knew will flicker from view and we'll live a long life." 

Hope in the Darkness

"So give me hope in the darkness that I will see the light, cuz oh it gave me such a fright. And I will hold as long as you like- just promise me we'll be alright." 

Stripping away the excess... Haiti takes things from you. It takes your cell phone reception, your internet access, your pillow top mattress, your drive thru restaurants, your Starbucks Venti Triple Latte with skim milk. It takes away your material comforts.

But Haiti gives you so much more. In the space of no distractions- there's room for   unlimited smiles, indescribable joy, happiness from simple pleasures like a coconut fresh from the tree and a luxury like a cup of ice. Stripping away the excess leaves you with the raw essence of what it means to be human. Relationships and connections are so much stronger. 

Sometimes when I look around Haiti I wonder what in the world we're doing there. We - being Americans. A country full of so much joy, of so much laughter and happiness and songs, and communities coming together to play soccer. People may be living in the darkness in mud huts but their lives are so much brighter.  Poor in material wealth but rich in spirituality. We've crippled their economy by exporting rice to a country full of rice farmers. Our rice can be sold much cheaper at market and local farmers are left with a crop and no customers. We send t-shirts and shorts when women at the markets sell fabric and local tailors make beautiful Haitian suits... And for the school kids- beautiful dresses and dress shirts. What are we doing? Why do we think our way is better? 

It's important to help without hurting. I love the organization I volunteer with (Grace so Amazing) because they work in community with Haitians. The four Americans in our guest house was outnumbered by the 8 Haitians (including two little babies!) and I wouldn't have it any other way. There is a need for a school to serve the neediest in Mirebalais and GSA is meeting that need. The KORE program they are partnering with is helping area families start their own businesses by providing micro loans and building chicken coups behind houses. It's a hand up rather than a hand out. 

I always come to Haiti to help. But I'm the one helped. I come to shine a light in the darkness, but I always find that I'm the one in the dark. Haiti is a light cutting through the excess of my American life, bringing joy I never thought possible. 

This isn't National Geographic

This isn't National Geographic. 

I'm not looking at these images from a tv screen or the pages of a magazine. 

These are real people in front of me, with lives and dreams and hopes and fears. Just like me. Who are reaching out to me and grabbing my hand, asking to take pictures with my phone, and smiling at me like we're old friends. 

Their faded, ripped American t-shirts and my dusty pale feet, standing together in community. 

Brooke Fraser sings, "Now that I have seen, I am responsible. Faith without deeds is dead. Now that I have held you- with my own arms- I cannot let go." 

My first trip to Haiti haunted me. Kept me up at night, brought me to tears on the way to work as I read notes from my friends in Haiti, realizing that the only thing separating us is the country where we were born. I'm no different than the friends I made in Haiti. We're similar- we have goals for our lives, we get our feelings hurt, we go through trials. But the trials for my Haitian friends are greater. In turn, they're stronger, more resilient, more likely to laugh in the midst of turmoil in their lives. They teach me much about true religion. They teach me how much more I have to learn about the important things in life. They live in poverty outwardly but are much richer spiritually, because their circumstances forced them to be. I may have won the lottery geographically, but having all the things that are important in America sometimes misses the mark. 

Last time I went to Haiti, I worried about the clothes I wore, I worried about financially being able to afford the trip, I worried about everything. This time I'm not concerned about clothes or what I pack, and my faith has strengthened through trials and I now know to never worry about finances on a mission trip. I now say don't worry about fundraising- if God is calling you to a mission trip, He'll provide the means for you to go. My friends and family have been so incredibly generous- and I've gotten donations when I least expected it. For that, I'm incredibly grateful. 

For this trip though, I feel overwhelmed. For those who know me (and let's face it- you probably wouldn't have made it this far on this blog if you didn't!) - you probably know that I recently started a new job in a new city. All great, wonderful changes. But I'm still trying to get my "sea-legs." I'm still trying to develop a routine. And going on a mission trip three weeks after I start a new job- although I feel incredibly happy and blessed to have the opportunity- is a little overwhelming. 

I think of the apostle Peter a lot- especially the story of him getting out of the boat and walking on water. To be totally overwhelmed. To feel like the crashing water around may drown you. Such a familiar feeling for me lately- completely overwhelmed. To be right on the cusp of sinking and - on the other side - something totally awesome. Because Jesus lets us get in over our heads- so He can be the one to reach out a hand and let us walk on water. We just have to get out of the boat. 

As Mumford and Sons sang- "I know my call despite my faults and despite my growing fears.... I'll find strength in pain, and I will change my ways. I'll know my name as it's called again." 

Thank you for supporting me on this journey. Thanks for your well-wishes, your prayers, giving of your time and your finances. This isn't just my trip- it's our trip. Only through the community of friends and family am I able to go. Please keep my dad and me (and more importantly, our friends in Haiti) in your thoughts and prayers next week. Can't wait to see the surprises God has in store! 

There is Sunshine in My Soul Today

A light heart and a happy soul... Sometimes we just need to let our souls breathe.  I do that best with wide open spaces, fresh air, and a song in my heart. This past weekend, I added bluegrass music, hammocks, bubbles, and stars to the mix. 

I'm not going to lie, I've had a heck of a few months. Overall, I really have no room to complain- I have so many things to be thankful for. But work and other stressors have really been wearing on me lately as they tend to do from time to time, and I've just felt really weighed down from some things I probably shouldn't be letting get to me. 

So this past weekend was JUST what I needed! It was a magical weekend filled with my favorite things and surprises and just so many fun things that make me happy! 

I moved to Evansville last year and heard about ROMP but was out of town and didn't get to go... so for a whole year, I've been excited about this Bluegrass festival held in Owensboro. 

I had no plans... Just showed up with plans to hang out with a co-worker and good friend of mine and his daughter.  We ended up making good friends with the guys camping next to us who were so nice and laid back, and I ended up just chilling with them the whole weekend, just hanging out and listening to amazing music.  

Sometimes my life gets too wrapped up in the unimportant. The daily routine of putting on makeup, the consuming thoughts of how other people perceive me, the small work dramas that take away from what's truly important in life.  It was great to put all that behind me for a weekend and just relax and have fun!

I forgot my shoes. It was an accident, but it turned out to be a blessing. I just went barefoot! It was great to walk around shoeless in the soft grass... and I didn't worry about putting on makeup or blowdrying my hair either. True beauty is about more than clothing and makeup and I'm so glad I had a chance to just let my true self, my soul, breathe. 

I hope you have the chance to find rest for your soul soon too! 

The "List of Rules" and God's Awesome Adventure for Our Lives

"God only presents two paths in this life- the straight and narrow and the path straight to Hell."

The bicycle "evangelist" had staked us out, following us down the winding sidewalk that led under the bridge. He continued to berate us, telling us how if we didn't turn from sin and pray with him right then and there, that we faced eternal damnation.

I didn't tell him the sack I was holding in my hand was full of hamburgers. I didn't tell him the reason I was walking under the bridge was to look for homeless people, to sit with them and bring them lunch. I didn't tell him I attend church every Sunday. The only thing I wanted to do was to run away from this red faced fear monger.

I was reminded of the time in South Padre Island.  We piled into a bus, the bus full of young Christians across the United States, spending their spring break to spread the gospel. I wasn't one of them.  I was just a college student, ready to spend a rowdy week at a college spring break destination and maybe catch a few rays at the beach while there. I didn't mind the missionaries on the bus because I am a Christian, and besides, it was a free ride. All they requested in return was to pray with them- so of course, I was down with that. Until I met The Girl.  The hateful Girl who turned me away from mission work and even certain churches for years.  I know I shouldn't have given her that kind of power, but the kind of "Christianity" she preached scared the crap out of me. She asked if I was a Christian. I replied 'yes.'  She asked me what kind of church I went to- I replied "Methodist." She asked me if we had windows in my church- I replied "yes." She then proceeded to tell me that she'd never heard of Methodistism, and that she was pretty sure I was going to Hell if I didn't convert to her denomination.

I don't operate on scare tactics.  People like the man and the girl above scare the living heck out of me, and I feel like probably the majority of people they comes across.  I don't believe in that type of evangelism, the whacking people over the head with the Bible until they submit (or pass out) type.

These types of experiences make me think maybe we've gotten it all wrong. Maybe our God isn't the kind of God who is angry, detached, sitting on a throne and waiting to catch us in sin so that He can punish us.

I used to think of Christianity as a set of rules almost.  As a list of "don't dos" rather than "dos."  Don't drink, don't smoke, don't swear, don't get upset, don't show emotions, don't be anything other than perfect.  I even was a member of a small group that perpetuated these thoughts. Once the young ladies in the group were told not to wear black pants to church, because it was a "stumbling block" for the young men.   I was laughed at when I shared with the group that I felt God was leading me in a certain direction in my life.

The major thing absent in that way of thinking is the importance of an actual relationship with God.  I know this isn't the life that God wants for us, because now I know God a lot better.  He doesn't want to trap us in a little box, with a list of rules for us to memorize.  He wants to show us freedom and true happiness! Over the past year He's shown me, little by little, His true character. Not that it isn't a good thing to have guidelines as to how we maybe should live our lives.... but that kind of narrow minded thinking really misses the mark. Our God can't, and shouldn't be placed in a box. He created creativity! He knows how we tick, He knows the things that make us smile, He delights in surprising us.  He also delights in challenging us, and allowing us to step out in faith to reach a freedom that can only be known in Him.

So I think the "straight and narrow" isn't referring to a boring, outdated lifestyle devoid of all smiles and happiness.  "Enter through the narrow gate, For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7:13-14) I think there's a sadder meaning behind this.  I think this verse refers to the few people who have an intimate relationship with God- the lucky ones who walk close by Him, who walk down the narrow road that leads to freedom. The road that's full of surprises and adventures, birds singing, fragrant flowers- lush, green grass, and incredible, awe-inspiring, breath-taking views.... The path that leads to the destiny God's created for each of us.  The path that each of us can take- if we just take the time to let God into our lives.

"You Call Me Out Upon the Waters...."

"How do you prepare for an experience you know will change you?"

Journal entry- 12/21/13

I left for Haiti the Saturday after Christmas... the day of my 31st birthday, December 28th.  I was exhausted before I stepped foot on the plane- but the best kind of exhausted, the running 100 miles an hour and feeling very productive kind. I was as prepared as I could be- in fact, more prepared and packed than I'd ever been for any trip in my entire life. Yet, I knew there were some things you just can't prepare yourself for. So in ways, I felt the most prepared and the least prepared as I'd ever been. 

Christmas had been great but very short and I'd spent the week before traveling back and forth between Evansville, Bowling Green, and now Nashville.  I love seeing my family for Christmas.

I was worried though- my sister was pregnant with her second child and was sick.  My dad had taken her to the emergency room Christmas morning but they had a hard time getting in to see a doctor.  She was progressively getting worse as the week went on, and I found myself nervous about being in another country with limited cell phone service and not being able to check on her.  The day before I left, I panicked, thinking I might, too, have the flu- my sister and I had both gotten flu shots but this strand somehow still got her sick. I worried that I might be "carrying" the flu to a third world country where healthcare is scarce, and I scrambled to get a prescription to Tamiflu.

On Friday, December 27th, my dad met me at work.  My backpack and my carry on bag were both packed in my car, and we loaded up into his car and headed for Nashville.  I hated that the rest of my family was sick or taking care of the sick and couldn't join in the festivities.  We ran around and made copies of a crown craft I was bringing to Haiti and then (quickly) checked out the Christmas lights at Opryland Hotel, then ate there as well.  I opened my birthday presents in the hotel then we stayed up late- my dad running last minute errands and I was working on getting my donations together.  Tonight's project consisted of emptying out vitamin bottles and putting all the vitamins into a ziplock baggie to save room. I was so fortunate to receive so many donations! From items to monetary support, I was seriously overwhelmed with the help my friends and family were giving me.

I stayed up a little late and wrote in my journal.  With all the preparation, the lack of sleep, and the sheer amount of work involved, I briefly thought about the contrast of what I typically would be doing on a Friday night- in bed relatively early, catching up on sleep from my brutal work schedule, looking forward to a weekend of rest and unwinding.  But as I faced this daunting, unknown task before me, I realized that I was just going to have to close my eyes and take a gut-wrenching leap.

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find you in the mystery in oceans deep
My faith will stand

I Carry You in Me

"I am on a plane, across a distant sea... but I carry you in me."

It's been almost 7 weeks since I returned from Haiti.  I've been putting off blogging about my experience, mainly because it's taken me a long time to process everything, and partly because I have this nagging feeling that I need to "step back" and focus on other things in my life for a while.  But that doesn't happen.  I'm too involved now.  Each time I think to myself that I will take a "Haiti break," I'm pulled back in by this project or that, each one as important as the other.  I'm so intertwined now by the projects I started when I got back. And the truth is, I don't want to stop.  There's so much that can be done to help, and I'm only one person... but when I know there's *something* I can do, no matter how small, I want to do it.

I had no idea the hardest part of going to Haiti would be the "coming back" part.  My teammates and I have stayed in touch, and we've all experienced varying degrees of "Haiti hangovers." From almost reverse culture shock, to having a hard time of explaining what we experienced in Haiti, to trying to reconcile our 'old lives' with our new, changed selves... it's been, at times, a difficult experience.

How do you put into words an experience this life changing?

Lorenz is Missing

I am 1,593 miles away and hiking in snow. I always come to the woods when something's on my mind. Today, it's Lorenz, a teenager in Haiti. I'm freezing and my hands are numb, but I am angry and I keep walking.

Lorenz is missing.

I met Lorenz and his brother, Lorenzo, last month in Haiti. I'm not sure about all of the specifics of their story, but they spent most of the week in the guest house where we were staying in Mirebalais. Lorenz and his brother Lorenzo felt like instant friends to my teammates and me. It didn't matter that we spoke different languages, communication was easy with them. It would be hard to find two brighter smiles than that of Lorenzo and Lorenz. It's hard to describe these two boys and how special they are, but their eyes twinkled and lit up when we spoke to them.  It's also hard not to imagine a Haiti with a brighter future when around these two. Smart and extremely polite, someone did a great job helping raising them.

One of them would always find us. One of our first days in the market in downtown Mirebalais, Lorenz popped up almost out of nowhere, grinning from ear to ear, so excited to run into us. Another day, he went with us as we worked around Mirebalais and bought food for the street children. We learned more of his story, and how his father had died and that he had several (6 I think?) other siblings. He invited us to go to his house to meet the rest of his family.

What we didn't know about was the turmoil inside his home.  His mother has a new man in her life, and he is into vodou. Apparently there is some tension between Lorenz's "step-father" and the children in the house. On Friday, something happened between Lorenz and his "step-father" (we don't know what) and now Lorenz is gone. The fear is that his disappearance is linked to vodou.

It is a helpless feeling, worrying about something that is happening 1,593 miles away. Lorenz probably doesn't even know it, but he has a whole host of Americans and Haitians covering him in prayer right now.  I can only imagine the army of angels surrounding him, wherever he is.  A group of Christian men who support our mission in Haiti (Grace So Amazing Ministries) are banding together to search for him and will be working with the local authorities.  They will decide the necessary steps to try and get Lorenz back when they find him. I am nervous because these men are my friends, and we are all worried and hope they stay safe throughout this.  I hope that wherever Lorenzo is and whoever he is with, he feels the love and support of the countless Americans whose life he has blessed and who are covering him in prayer right now.

Bonswa Nashville!!

Loaded the plane and ready for takeoff! The best birthday present EVER! Miami than Port au Prince. Please keep my teammates in your prayers. Thank you so much to everyone who has made this trip possible! 

Everything I need in this bag: 

With my awesome teammate, Allison: 

Malaria, Typhoid Fever, Hepatitis, Cholera

Oh my! One of the most nerve wracking things on my to do list for my mission trip to Haiti- right after renewing my passport-- was getting the right immunizations.  There's not a whole lot of information tailored to Haiti regarding what types of shots you'll need, so I'm hoping this blog post will help ya. The State Department website is very informative, but honestly a little scary to learn all the things that could possibly go wrong... Between me and you, I stopped reading after the section about how riding on "tap-taps" (Haitian cabs) is strongly discouraged because I know we will be riding them, and I don't want to be terrified! So here's a list of what was recommended to me- less restrictive than what might be recommended by the government. By the way, I highly recommend going to a "Passport Health" if you have one. The downside to this company is that it's privately owned, and they only accept a few insurance companies. They'll give you a customized booklet tailored for your trip and help you feel more confident. If you don't have a Passport Health, your local clinic should have the shots you need or be able to point you in the right direction. A word of caution, my local clinic was completely booked about 6 weeks before my trip as they only give international shots once a week- so if you can, call them at least a few months before your trip. 

Here's my list: 

1. Flu- get this shot not for you, but for those you'll be serving who may have weaker immune systems and less access to health care if they do get sick. You could be carrying the flu virus and not know it when you go. 

2. T-Dap- (Combined Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis Vaccines). I had gotten this two years ago when my niece was born, so I was off the hook. 

3. Hepatitis A- This is a two dose shot, 6 months apart. I'll get my second next summer but should be good to go in the meantime. 

4. Hepatitis B- A three shot series, 30 days apart. I'll have my 2nd round the day I return. 

5. Typhod Fever- you don't even want to mess with this! 

6. I'll get a TB test 6 months after I get back to see if I was exposed... Apparently there's no vaccine for this but there are ways to treat it. 

 

7. Prescription for Malarone (anti- malarial pills). I'll start taking these a few days before and end a few days after. I was told not to get the generic version because they can have a side effect of digestion issues. These are taken daily. There is another kind you can take weekly but the side effects are trippy so check that out if you go that route. 

8. Prescription for Cipro- this is an anti-biotic that I have in case of emergency (traveler's diareah). 

I'm also taking a pro-biotic pill - these can be taken starting up to a month before your trip.

One last note-- there's no vaccine currently available in the US for cholera- an epidemic that has killed over 8,000 Haitians since 2010. Best bet is to not drink the water- including using tap water to brush teeth or even eating fruits with skin like bananas without washing them with bottled water. Or so they tell me. 

Also, before taking any of this on, you'll want to call your insurance company to see what is covered and what isn't. My insurance company hooked me up and is paying for 80% of all international shots and will pay for any medical emergency in Haiti. The shots can get pretty pricey without insurance coverage and that may factor into your decision on which ones to get. But also- some of the shots- like the flu and the tetanus and possibly the Hepatitis might be covered even if your policy doesn't cover international shots. 

Hope this helped a little bit... I'm not an expert by any means but wanted to shed a little light on the experience for those traveling to Haiti or just curious! 

Oh Ye of Little Faith...

It is amazing how God works.  One day a few weeks ago, I was stressing about not having a camera for the trip, and being a journalist, I really want to take tons of pictures and videos to show others when I get back.  I thought about how amazing it would be to have a GoPro for the trip, however, these cameras are pretty expensive and there's no way I'd be able to buy one right now. The thought crossed my mind to ask for one for Christmas or my birthday, but I didn't want to ask for something so extravagant.  I realized my dad had a point and shoot Canon, and was excited when he agreed to loan it to me.  However, one look at the screen told me it was broken.  I was back to obsessing over GoPros and spent the majority of my day researching and trying to find a cheap(er) one online... when I decided to take a break and run a few errands.  The first person I see when I step outside is my (very nice) neighbor, Dave, who is out walking his dog, Bluto.  The first thing he says to me- without me even mentioning cameras or Haiti- is, "Oh, I've been meaning to ask you, do you want to borrow my GoPro for Haiti?" 

WHAT?!?!?! Can you believe it? Not only do I have a camera for Haiti, I have the exact camera I'd been wishing for.  Not only that, Dave is also loaning me a point and shoot camera for still shots.  Now I am obligated to use this blessing to help the cause of the orphan and to come back with some nice photos and videos! Beyond blessed to have this opportunity. 

I'm reminded of one of the miracles of Jesus, the coin in the fish's mouth (Matthew 17:24-27) when Jesus surprises Peter by providing the exact amount of money he needed for his taxes in a fish that Peter catches.  Katie Davis talks about this in her book, Kisses from Katie: "The funniest thing about this story to me is that Jesus could have just handed Peter the money... but Jesus wanted to come through bigger than that for Peter. I believe that He delighted in Peter so much that He wanted to put this element of surprise and hilarity in his day." 

Isn't our God neat?? It's really neat, I think, to see this fun side of God that delights in surprising us, and who provides for us in unexpected ways. 

Matthew 14:31: Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" 

(more to come about how the trip came together!) 

At Any Price

All of a sudden, I felt really cold and strange. I'd never felt like this before, expect maybe the last time I'd done this, in college.  Although everything about the environment felt sterile, I felt dirty. I looked down at the needle and tube running through my arm, and the machine spinning and whirling to separate my blood platelets from what could be sold to a pharmaceutical company and the rest that would be returned to my body.  I must have looked nervous, because a man across from me asked, "First timer?" He had unkempt brownish grey hair and a long beard, his shoes and pants covered in dust and dirt.  We shared a laugh- me, thankful to have someone to emphathize with, and I briefly wondered what others would think of me donating plasma with what looked to be a homeless man.

I guess I didn't look like the typical plasma donor- if there is a "typical look," although there were several college guys filing out paperwork the same time I was. I was embarassed about halfway through my physical, when I was asked, "Do I know you?" I dread the question anywhere, and here it was doubly embarassing.  My typical response, "Do you watch Daybreak?" was greeted with a, "Yes, I knew that was you!" Some people may assume the life of a TV anchor or working in local news is glamorous. But the truth is, we clip coupons, we shop at discount stores for the best bargains like everyone else, discontinue our cable when times get tough, and at least for this girl, we sometimes go to extreme lengths like donating plasma to pay for ambitions out of our budget. 

For me, that was a desire to go to Haiti. Desire almost isn't the right word for it- hunger, thirst, maybe.  It was a trip I'd been wanting to take for years, and for different reasons, it just didn't work out. It wasn't my time.  The only way I can really describe my desire to go is that perhaps it was a calling.  "And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."- Anais Nin.

Several times since I was in high school, I'd been on the verge of going to other places - Nicaragua, Niger.  It had never worked out- and probably for good reason. But this time, it would work out. This time, I would finally get to visit the orphans who had been on my mind for years.  The question for me was... how?  How would I swing this- with very limited vacation days, and virtually no resources to pay for a trip as expensive as this?

"Oh ye of little faith, why did you doubt me?"

Little did I know, God would provide everything I needed for the trip, and in bigger ways than I could have ever imagined. 

TO BE CONTINUED (will write more when I'm not falling asleep!)...

P.S. I'm using an old blog to post this... it's over four years old! So I apologize for the old posts. Perhaps they will provide some entertainment for the extremely bored :) 

My Life Mission Statement

Our government has one, Stephen Covey has one, and after 3 hours and 29 crumpled pieces of pink paper, I do too. It still probably needs work, but for now it will do. 

To live a purposeful, principle-centered life guided by my Christian faith and articulated by clear goals. These goals will be accomplished through a well-thought out, running plan suited to my strengths and weaknesses.  The daily execution of this plan will allow me the freedom to live a content, healthy existence while passionately pursuing my dreams. I will gain an optimally functioning life and the capability to inspire, encourage, and energize those in my circle of influence, ultimately leaving a lasting and measurable positive impact on my community. 

Homeade Pizza

In my journey of learning to cook, I'm not sure anything I've made is quite as easy and satisfying as a homeade pizza. It takes around 5 minutes to craft your perfect pie, and not long to cook. I use pre-made Boboli pizza crusts, through on some toppings, bake, and presto! A perfectly delicious and fulfilling one dish wonder to impress your friends and family (or just yourself- making a personal pan pizza might just be one solution to that dreaded "cooking for one" problem I think we all experience at one time or another). 

My favorite pizzas include: 

Pepperoni with premade sauce and mozzarella cheese

BBQ chicken with bbq sauce and the addition of red onions and cilantro

Pesto sauce and banana peppers (inspired by my friend Kasey- she's a great cook)

Be sure to drizzle olive oil on your crusts and cheese before baking, and enhance the final product's flavor with some sprinkled parmesan. 

The Coolest 15 Year Old on the Block

Alright, George Sampson is officially my hero. This adorable mini Justin Timberlake danced his way right into Simon Cowell's heart last year on Britain's Got Talent, taking the top honor and becoming an unstoppable force ever since.

He literally made it rain on the during his "Singing in the Rain" routine with a creative idea to have a simulated rain storm onstage.  I have absolutely no idea how the designers did this, but it sure was neat! 

Once you hear his story, you just can't help but root for him.  Check him out if you haven't already! 

Click here to see his audition

Click here to see his dance in the finals

I see the kids in the steet, without enough to eat. Who am I to be blind, pretending not to see their need?

What's worse than losing your job in the recession? 

Being an orphan in a third world country

In 2008, UNICEF reported that there are an estimated 132 million orphans in the world.  Most of us feel compassion for these children, but how can we make a difference? 

My freshman year in college, I volunteered at Bellewood Home in Lexington, Ky-- an emergency home for abused, at risk, and homeless youth in Kentucky. I'm not sure if anything has ever touched my heart quite like Michael, the young boy who befriended me that day, did.  Michael and I really connected when I first arrived, and throughout the rest of the day he was by my side, holding my hand. I could tell he was starved for affection.  At the end of the day, we were winding down our activities playing Bingo and Michael crawled up into my lap.  His big brown eyes looked at me and he said 'Kara, I wish you were my mom.'  I remember promising to myself that for the rest of my life, I would try to help children like Michael find hope and opportunities.  

The first step in helping another is to first identify a need, and sometimes this is the hardest part!  We do have shelters and orphanages in America (another great place I have worked at was the Monarch School in San Diego- its a school for homeless children and does amazing things in their lives), but I also feel a desire to help children outside of the United States.  Without government help like we have here, their needs feel even more desperate and more pronounced. The AIDS epidemic has claimed so many parents in Africa, leaving children without parents or homes.  

I recently went to an informational meeting for a mission trip to Niger through my church, Living Hope, in Bowling Green.  The trip would focus more on evangelism in Niger than helping orphans, but it is a worthy cause as well.  However, there aren't very many spots for the trip so I may not get to go... If I don't get to go on this trip, I'm going to try to go through another organization. If anyone who reads this can recommend a good organization or has experience with this, please let me know! I'd love to hear your stories.

In the meantime, I really encourage everyone to find a way to make a difference with something they are passionate about. If you're looking for a way to help orphans in the state of Kentucky, the Bellewood home is an amazing place to start. Go to www.bellewood.org and click on 'Make a Gift'- you can help through volunteering your time, monetary donations, or helping 

with their wish list. Good luck! 

My Favorite First Dogs

One of my favorite things about a new President is that usually with it comes the excitement of new White House pets. I can't wait to see the Obama's puppy, but for now lets take a stroll down memory lane with a few beloved First Dogs:

Who could forget Barney and Miss Beazley Bush and their Christmas WH videos? Each time I was in the White House while living in DC, I was on the lookout for this dynamic duo, but unfortunately I was never able to catch them.  Once while walking by the White House at night, I was so excited to see a shadow darting across the front lawn, then realized it was a police's german shephard. Bummer. 

But did you know that before Miss Beasley, Barney had another companion- Spot, a Springer Spaniel? The interesting thing about Spotty was that he was born in the White House to Millie, who was Bush Sr.'s dog. The photo to the left shows Millie with her litter of puppies. Spot is the only dog who was in the White House for two adminstrations and lived for 15 years. 

This is President Clinton's adorable chocolate lab Buddy, who helped Clinton pick up chicks.  

 

Franklin Roosevelt's Scottish Terrier, Fala, was his best friend and also one of the most iconic and celebrated White House Dogs. He even had his own Press Secretary!  Fala was also the first Presidential Dog to be memorialized with a statue. 

Perhaps the saddest story of a Presidential Dog is that of Feller, a cocker spaniel who was an unsolicited Christmas present to Harry Truman. President Truman is known for his famous quote "If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog"- however ironically he was not a good friend to Feller.  He gave the dog to the White House Physician, and Feller in turn was passed around to 5 or 6 different families before finding a home. Forever in history as "The Unwanted Dog"- and Truman paid the price by having one of the lowest Presidential approval ratings in history. I'd like to think our friend Feller may have had a thing or two to do with that. 

Abraham Lincoln's dog was named Fido (a retriver/shephard mix)... President Lincoln had a soft spot in his heart for cats, but he loved all animals... In fact, the tradition of the Presidential Turkey Pardon began with him... His son Taddie befriended the White House Turkey and when Thanksgiving Day came, Lincoln couldn't bear to let Taddie lose his pet and gave him a pardon.  Fido actually never lived in the White House- he was very scared of the canon noises and of trains (part of Lincoln's election celebration) and Lincoln didn't think Fido'd make it on the long train ride to the White House... Reluctantly, he gave Fido to a local family with strict instructions that he would remain an inside dog, would always get treats from the dinner table when asked, and would never be scolded for muddy feet. Fido outlived Lincoln.