Monday, March 26, 2012

Diaper Donation

Adam and I grew up in loving, Christian families and now have a deep love of children and the family structure. We see the huge void in Honduras. Some of the statistics are stark:

*50% of the population are children
*200,000 street children
*Garbage dump children are most prevalent in Honduras in all of the Americas
*10% of households are children run
*80% of birth certificates are signed by only the mother
*Mothers in hospitals are not allowed to hold their babies
until they are "properly dressed" which includes
a diaper
* AVERAGE AGE FOR FIRST TIME MOM IS 15.3 YEARS OLD!

Knowing these stats, I have approached some diaper shops and Zoolikins in Old Town Scottsdale (who takes care of my personal diaper stash) graciously donated a load of diapers to be taken down to Honduras. These diapers and baby supplies will go to our teammates who will use them at Puerta de Esperanza (a teen moms home) or as a part of care packages for moms on their way to the hospital to deliver their babies.

1 diaper bag, 100 bibs, 8 dozen contour diapers, and 1 box of disposables

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Real Life Example

This is what I meant the other day by sheer madness. It's pretty funny over here.  Here is what poor Adam is facing stowed away in the home office building our support team: me banging pots in the kitchen and the kids doing something similar to this:



Saturday, March 10, 2012

The Snatch

I was recently huddled in the corner, my eyes held open with toothpicks in an utterly unsatisfying Mom-funk. My friend, Joy, knew this because she too has an infant and invited me to join her in a challenge. The challenge includes 8 weeks of the Paleo diet and a minimum of hitting the gym (Cactus Crossfit) 3 times a week. I had vaguely heard of this recent crossfit phenomenon and thought nothing of it since I am familiar (and actually LOVE) working out. (I had just fallen away from working out and blamed it on the children! Good mom points, right?)

I showed up the first day and was immediately outside of my comfort zone. "What is a WOD? You want me to do 25 reps of that? How long is a meter? Touch my toes to the bar?" And I still after 4 weeks don't know what AMRAP means. All I know is I have to work super fast, report how many, and I dislike when it's 18 minutes. But I digress.

Last week, we did a little exercise called the snatch. (Olympic weightlifting people, Google it.) Kevin, my friend Joy's husband, was the coach that morning. I have found all the coaches at Cactus Crossfit to be super informed and great teachers when it comes to explaining the movements alongside of what NOT to do. Regardless of said explanations, I still need a lot of correction and help. NOT THE SNATCH.

Kevin enthusiastically shared that I had "Missed [my] life calling." and I should "put my children up for adoption." Intense, I know. I laughed but then I haven't been able to get that first sentence out of my head. "Missed my life calling." I can't get it out of my head only because I can say with all certainty that I have NOT missed my life calling. I am sure without a doubt that my husband and I have been called to Honduras to serve out great God. I honestly don't know if there is a better feeling. To know that you are at the center of God's will for your life is wholly satisfying. What great work has God set you apart for?

Monday, March 5, 2012

Prayer, please!

So a number of people have been asking how they can be praying for us. Here's what we have been telling them:

1. Praise God for calling us to such an exciting work.

2. Please pray that we would stay on track to meet our initial support goal of 50% by March 15.

3. Please pray that this pre-field time would be a time of encouragement to our friends, family, church and supporters.

4. Pray that we would be further united as husband and wife through the stress and anxiety of life changes and preparations for serving cross-culturally.

5. Pray for Honduras and the people there; pray for our team and all of their exciting ministries; pray the Lord would be working in the hearts of many!