Amen.

He is risen.  Enough said.

Let this truth resonate through your soul this Easter season.

6 years ago I applied for my passport...

...and I was convinced that Haiti was going to be the very first stamp.

Honduras
Nepal
but no Haiti.

I was eighteen when the earthquake of 2010 wrecked havoc on the destitute country of Haiti. Everything within me wanted to come to their aid, to help, comfort, do something.  It soon became clear, however, that then was not the time. Fast forward six years and the time has now presented itself.

Come June, my passport will contain the Haitian stamp.

I am thrilled to be apart of a Worship Outreach Missions trip throughout Haiti, with my local church (Harvest Bible Chapel Lancaster).

We will work with a number of churches in Haiti, including two Harvest churches, doing evangelistic music outreach events across the country.  The gospel will go forth to the people as we sing and serve alongside the Haitian church.

Launching our trip in Miami, FL, we will serve alongside Harvest Miami to do our first outreach event on American soil before flying to Haiti.  I will be traveling, ministering and singing alongside 21 people from my church AND 20-25 people from Harvest St. Louis.

The entirety of this trip is committed to God and it is my heart to see His high and lifted up.  I covet your prayers before and during this trip.  In order for this outreach to be successful we need God to do His work, and I firmly believe this will happen if His people pray!

Prayer Requests
- Team unity
- Strength to minister in a spiritually dark place like Haiti
- Clear communication between St. Louis and Lancaster teams
- Prepare people's hearts in Haiti to hear the gospel
- Funds for the team to go

A couple specifics:
Trip Date: June 9th-18th
Cost: $1,500
Outreach Location: Miami, Cabaret, Port-au-Prince, Maplat, Jacmel

Also, if you would like to make a tax-deductible financial contribution click HERE and select "Haiti" from the drop-down menu.

Stay tuned for updates and more info!!

Happy New Year!

It's March already... so yeah, that happened.

But let's pretend it's still January.  

A fresh new year, with resolutions being made, lists assembled and oodles of good intentions.  Contrary to some people, I love this time of year.  I like to make goals, dream big and then start with gusto.  Even if the goals accidentally get thrown away - literally - or the dreams seem to die faster then they grow, it still seems right to begin the new year with an exciting outlook.

Every year I pray for a theme for my entire year, so in late October/November of 2015 I began to intentionally pray for my 2016 theme.  I had no clue as to what God would put on my heart, but I was trusting that He would give me a phrase, quote, verse, something to kind of base my goals and dreams on for the coming year.

He did not disappoint. 

Whew.  And now we're in March and it's been a doozy of a start to 2016.  God gave me a phrase and a verse and He didn't waste any time in making it a part of my daily life.  No joke.

{I really want to roll it out and share it with you all, but blogging was not on my 2016 list of to-dos... but then I really don't remember because the list was thrown away (by accident). But I'm hoping it'll still happen one of these weeks.}

Last year I realized in a new way that intentional living requires intentional work. 

(nope, not my theme, although it would be a good one) 

I want to be intentional. To accomplish things this year, both small and great.  And that takes work, and focus.  I have also found that I get very distracted and overwhelmed when ideas float in my head and keep piling up.  

Hence my brilliant idea for 2016 - the Goal Board.

I pitched the idea to one of my roommates and she fell for it - hook, line and sinker.  

We started immediately (because I have to act in the now or in the never).

Three categories are on our board: Physical, Spiritual and then Creative/Fun.

Each month we select two or three goals for each category and pin them up in a fun and creative way.

The Goal Board hangs in our kitchen so it's constantly in our thoughts and eyesight.

It's been fabulous, simple and challenging, not to mention rewarding.  Of course we fail on some of our goals, but then a new month begins and we start afresh.

It's Been Quiet Around Here

The minutes turn into hours, turn into days, weeks, months...

But let's just forget that I haven't posted in months.  I'm here, at least right now.

This phrase is being sung through my headphones even as I type
"As sure as the sun will rise and chase away the night, His mercy will not end..." - Ellie Holcomb

Amen and amen.

His mercy will not end, and His love will never fade.
Ah!  I soak in His promises every morning.  It's been a tough start to this year, nothing really big, just issues of the heart.  A constant battle to declare truth when I want to believe the lie.
The lie that...
God doesn't care
I know my life better then my creator
God enjoys crushing my dreams
He just doesn't understand
If He loved me He wouldn't ask this of me

Sometimes I wonder if I ever learn - Do you sometimes think that God is teaching you the very same lesson again.  and again.  and again.  Except I think He goes a little deeper each time.

God is so good, and patient.  I'm so grateful for this season of struggle and intentional learning, prayer and seeking my Father.  He is faithful to draw near as I press in to know Him more.

And not to switch the subject, but how about the pictures?

Bethany snapped a couple over Christmas (it snowed Christmas Eve in Nebraska!! All my PA friends were beside themselves with jealousy - it was 70 degrees in Lancaster on Christmas Day!)

Enjoy.  And Happy New Year.

Daily Reminder

24th Birthday - in Nepal!

My team + 2.  They loved on me and made my birthday so special!

Surprises, encouragements, gifts, pool party, lots of hugs, enthusiastic singing... I am so grateful to each of them!

Nepal does have some special birthday traditions that I gladly incorporated into my day.

On Monday, my birthday, we began a week long kids educational camp at a partnering school.  Bringing candy to all the students is a local tradition - and the kids were happy someone informed me ahead of time of this special sweet treat.

After school we headed to a very American looking pool at a hotel.  A double chocolate cake awaited me, with my picture on the front; candles blazing.  They strapped a birthday hat on my head and sang yet again.

Nepali tradition #2: feed all your friends cake.  Didn't think I would every feed people cake before my wedding reception... but it happened on my birthday.  And I was nice, for the most part.

Pizza, french fries and cake were enjoyed all around.  The evening commenced with games, encouragement and laughter.

I was a little sad my birthday was going to be overseas away from all my family and friends - birthdays are seriously my favorite time of year - but my new team stepped up and what a wonderful birthday to remember forever!

Of course I miss my family and friends... but you all crowded my phone/Facebook with loving notes.  Thank you.

I love you all!

Love is Not Quickly Forgotten

He was smiling knowingly when he asked the fateful question...

"Do you remember me?"

My brain went into to hyperdrive as I tried to trace his face.  My photographic memory was definitely out of film; I couldn't think of where in the world I would have seen this guy, let alone remember his name.  I was visiting Nebraska and was attending an extended family birthday party, and I knew this wasn't a relative.  At a loss for words, I had to say something...

"I'm so sorry, have I met you recently?

"No it's been a long time.  You were seven years old."

I breathed a sigh of relief.  There was no way anyone expected me to remember someone I must have met somewhere close to seventeen years ago. 

I smiled and asked him name - Mark.  Still not ringing bells, but then he went on to explain.

"A long time ago your uncle had a family reunion at his house and I dropped by to see what the party was all about.  You were walking with your uncle and came upon me in the driveway.  You extended your hand and revealed a simple crocheted bracelet and simply stated 'here, this is for you.'

He lifted up his arm right there and pulled back his sleeve.  There on his wrist was a pale, sea green, crocheted bracelet.  My mouth dropped open.

"Are you kidding me?" It was all I could think to say.

His answer was simple.  

"This is the same bracelet, I still have it.  In fact, I was having a bad day when you gave me this little bracelet; it completely cheered me up and the impact has stayed with me for years."

What are the odds?

My aunt had mentioned that I was in town from PA and would be at the birthday party, so he pulled a 17-year-old chain-crocheted bracelet from his dresser and put it on to tell the story. I was seven years old, and had just learned to chain yarn in hopes of being able to crochet cool things one day.  It wasn't expensive, time-consuming or all that beautiful, but it had touched a human heart.

I was so blessed as he told this short story, but I was mostly struck by this simple fact:

Never, ever underestimate the impact of a simple act of love.