Canada

I have been waiting to post about our trip because I was not sure how to explain it. There is not a way I can explain it. I am in awe on what God can do to a person. I questioned, alot, why we went on this trip. Why these children are treated the way they are? I did not realize how attached I would get. Why some opened up to me... And told me how they were treated... I think what can I do now? I know for a fact I am going back next year!!! Main reason to make sure my little girls are ok!!! But what can I do now... I don't want to wait a year I want to do something now.

I'll start off with when we got to camp. I was not prepared for the bugs!!! BULL FLIES!!!(aka horseflies on steroids) I have never seen so many flies in all my life. They would not leave you alone either.. But once they were gone(the day it rained) the mosquitoes were there... So do you want flies around or mosquitoes.. I choose flies.. Silly but the day the flies were gone I prayed for them to come back... Just think of 100 flies all around you.. No joke!! It was crazy.. The first day the kids were not at camp. We had to set all the tents up and get all the food and clean the kitchen and the Chow Hall. The Chow Hall was the only building we had to do the worship and to eat in. We practiced the music and discussed what everyone would be doing.

The next day the kids came. At first they really did not have anything to do with anyone. We did our thing for couple of days and they started to warm up to us. Our youth would pair up and they would have 4 kids to a group. I was the adult over Courtney and Amy's group. There were 4 little girls I grew very close to Tiana, Sierra, Aleah and Destiny. Some of these little girls had a potty mouth. They knew every bad word in the book. Words that would make some one blush!! Some that made me laugh! They were only 7 to 8 years old. They told me all the scary movies they watch. Movies I would not even watch. I would just seat back and watch and listen to them.

One after noon we played Hide and go seek eh!!! I won their trust! After the 3rd day they were my little girls... We would draw pictures and play outside... The night before it was time to go home we had a share service and some of the kids got up front and just cried thanking us for coming. Mainly telling us this is the only love they get all year.. I knew then this is what God wanted me to do was to love them..

The day they went home we all met at the church some of the kids parents were there and the parent did not say a word and took their kids and left. There were some that the parents did not show up. There was one little girl, Destiny, that was in my group, who had no parent showed up, but had a couple of foster kids come to pick her up. I knew she did not want to go.. She was scared, I did not know what to do. I took her and held her for a long time. This little girl was only 7 years old and I know something bad has happened to her in the past. She had all the signs of abuse.. Letting her go was the hardest thing I think I have ever had to do... I do know she is not with her mother right now because of drugs and she is in a foster home.. All I know is that it is not a good situation for her. So I ask you to please pray for her everyday that God will keep her safe.. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think of her.. I have already adopted her in my heart... Travis and I both want to go and get her, we would bring her home if they would let us. She is not the only one but she is the one that took my heart... She was the little girl at the first of the week that would not let anyone touch her or come close to her... I won her trust and then I had to let her go back to the environment she came from. I am not sure how to handle this, But God has put her in my path for a reason... I pray that God shows me what to do next...

This trip was not what I was expecting!!! God has showed me alot and it so hard to explain!!! I feel there is more we can do but I am not sure what it is yet... Please pray for Travis and I to find what God wants us to do... Thanks again for your prayers !! Below are pictures of my group and Destiny that day before and the day she left...

Upcoming mission trip Daily Prayer Request.

Hello everyone,

This is the outline for the up coming mission trip.. Please come back to the site and say a little prayer for us. While we are gone.

Saturday July 18th
North West Flight departs Nashville 7:10 am
arrives in Saskatoon 1:36 pm (Please really pray for me during this time I am very scared of flying!!)
After we land we have a 2 1/2 hour off road van ride to camp.

Sunday July 19th
Getting camp set up
VBS prep

Monday July 20th
Children arrive at camp at noon
Praise and Worship 7:00pm

Tuesday July 21st Thru Thurday July 23rd
VBS 9am-Noon
Praise and Worship 7pm

Friday July 24th
Children depart camp at 11am
Our 2 1/2 hour van ride back to Saskatoon

Saturday July 25th
North West flight departs Saskoon 2:15pm
Arrives in Nashville 9pm

Thanks for praying for us!!!

Mission Trip update / THANK YOU!!!

GOD IS GOOD !!!! That is all I can say… We are 8 days out of our mission trip… The last time I posted, I was worrying about the money! I could not believe all the people who donated. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! You will never know how much that means to us. God provided and I don’t know why I was so worried. But that is my nature; I can’t help for worrying.. We raised all the money. I think Travis and I had to pay about $100 of the whole trip!! WOW!!! When you put something in God’s hand and wash your hands of it he will deliver.
I am getting so excited about the trip!! Travis is going to be the fishing coordinator and I am going to be over crafts. We are doing a VBS program that our church did. And I am not sure of the other things we will be doing. We are having another meeting this coming up Sunday.
I know of some prayers we need. 1 st we are still in need of a camp paster, PLEASE PRAY that God will put the right person in our hands... I have learned from past meetings that the children we will be with have not had the best lives. They have had a lot of things happen to them that no child should have done or have to go through. Most of their parents are drug addicts. They have not been showed how to love or to be loved. They do not care for adults. They have had some really bad thing happen to them from so called Christian people. (Not truly Christians) And they believe in many Gods! Not the one true God. Please pray for them to open up with us. Please pray every time you think of us. Pray that our fears leave us when we get there. Pray for our safety, and travel! Thanks again for everything..

Done !!!!!

Alot of hard work! But it paid off!!! Travis did a great job!!!

Floor Project

Travis and I have been working on the floor all day. Here are some pictures..

I felt bad for Travis because I could not do much to help, but to make sure the kids were out of his way. I hated it that his back was hurting. But he was doing a great job!!! Here is Addie trying to help while Daddy was eating some pizza. The kids below decided they were going to make something with the left overs.

We are not done yet but we are making progress!!! It should be done before the weekend is over... I will post pictures of the finish project!!!

Beach pictures!!

Ok this is going to be alot of pictures. I am putting them out here for my in laws.. Because I am the best daughter in law ever!!! Ha Ha ! Just kidding. They don't have facebook so they can't see all the pictures. So here are some. Look at how packed we are in this truck, we did not have any room.. (Note to self if you have 4 kids don't get a small truck lol)

The kids having fun in the pool.

Fathers day, The kids made Travis a card. I made hims a slide show of the kids. This year we decided not to get each other anything, It was hard because I love buying for him. But I did good. I did make him b-fast, in bed!! And he got a trip to FL so I hope he had a good one.

watching the slide show!

Ok in this one Megan and Keyleigh got bored and decided to do Addie's hair.. (Yes Addie has a hair bow for every outfit...)

Addie liked getting in my chair!!

This was one of Cole's favorite things to do at the beach.

Addie loved the beach, The water was great the last two days. The first couple of day I did not get in the ocean. If I can't see my feet than I don't go in.. But I was happy it cleared up.

That would be Cole in the sand.

Keyleigh finding sea shells, She did not like the water this year. I am not sure why. She did not like the waves...

Addie would take long naps on the beach.. I think she was wore out this day..

Family FL pictures

Here are some pictures Travis and I took, I can not believe in the family photo we got them all to look at the camera with no one standing there. Thanks Michelle for letting us use your tripod.

Busy Busy Busy weekend!!! Awards day!!!

Friday we had the Graduation party for Bridgette and today we had ball games and closing ceremonies at the ball park. Started off the morning with Megan and her team playing for the championship, we came in 2nd!!! They did a great job this year from starting off losing several games to coming back to end the season in the number 2 spot.

After Megan's ball game, we had the Softball Olympics. This was for all the softball players. Our Megan came in 2nd in the accuracy throw for the 10U.

After that there were closing ceremonies. Keyleigh got her 1st trophy for playing ball. And in all the ceremonies Travis and I were running back and forth watching Coleman play his ball game. No pictures of him playing today because it was more about Keyleigh and Megan!!! On a side note we also watch Crislynn and Brennon play there games too. What a day, I think I am going to bed, tomorrow is another long day, church and Keyleigh has her ball party...

Busy, busy, am I !!!!

During the ceremonies Keyleigh decided to get into the white chalk if you look close you will see it all over her. But it was a easy fix, just had to wash it off and head back to the field...

That's my Key Key!!

Oh, did I mention I cut Megan's hair to !!!

She had been begging me to cut it and she wanted it this short!!!