On September 6th, Hurricane Irma crashed through the small island of Barbuda—home to around 1,800 residents. The Barbudans knew the storm was potentially coming their way and boarded up their homes to wait it out. What they heard might be a Category 3 or Category 4 hurricane came in as a terrifying Category 5. It's a miracle that only one life was lost in the storm. Please continue to pray for the family whose toddler son died when he was literally ripped from their arms by the strong winds. In the days that followed all the residents of Barbuda were evacuated to their larger sister island Antigua. They've been there ever since with limited opportunity to return.

Thankfully Antigua didn't receive much damage from Irma. We are able to operate from a base in Antigua to support our work in Barbuda. Every morning Mark and a construction crew board an early flight to Barbuda for a long, hot day helping the residents clean up and make repairs to their roofs. They've distributed tarps to help nearly 100 homes so far. For the homeowners who need assistance, Mark and the team are installing the tarps for them. Most of the homeowners have been able to do the work themselves and have been grateful to receive our materials. The team is also providing small generators for homeowners who are coming over to stay for a few days to start the cleanup efforts. Keep in mind that many Barbudans have not even had a chance to return to Barbuda to see their homes. Slowly some are starting to come back, but there are no major services on the island in order to actually move back and stay for any length of time. So far our organization is the only one providing clean drinking water on the island. There is no electricity and there is major damage done to the water and plumbing system.

It's been an emotional weekend for homeowners returning to Barbuda as the home assessments have begun. A structural engineer and others have been going from house to house declaring which houses can be saved and which will be condemned. Some homeowners who thought their house could be repaired are now learning that it will have to be demolished. Another trauma on top of the loss they've already experienced. Please pray for them as they process this catastrophe and face the days ahead. I am encouraged, however, by the many stories I'm hearing from Mark and the team about how they are seeing hope restored to the Barbudans when they see our teams working hard to help them. Our presence and friendship on Barbuda is making a difference and we trust will make a lasting impact on their lives for years to come. And that's our prayer... that we'll be used by Jesus to be His hands and feet each day and that the fruit of our work, both physical and spiritual, will remain long after we're gone.

This is C.G. Behind him is the shed his mom and dad, his daughter, and his two grandkids weathered Hurricane Irma in. As the first blast of the storm passed over their roof was ripped off. Then, in the calm of the eye they ran into the little shed because it was dry. Before they could get the door closed the second blast ripped the door open and then broke the little building into pieces. C.G.'s mom was sitting in the chair and couldn't move. The freezer had her pinned in but it also kept the wall from slamming down on them. C.G. said it was a miracle anyone survived.

Thank you for your continued prayers and encouragement. We are honored to have the opportunity to serve the people of Barbuda and we're meeting many incredible people through our base of operations in Antigua as well. We'll keep you posted when we can and please follow along with us on Facebook and Instagram for more photos and updates.

Some of you may have already read this on Facebook. It is difficult to process what we experienced in Northern Iraq and seemingly impossible to explain. Mark's post has been such a gift to me and to so many others who were there. Putting into words what our hearts have struggled to comprehend. And reminding us of the Hope that still and always remains.

Read his post here...

Tomorrow we will leave the emergency field hospital and return to Erbil. Early Saturday morning we will begin our 24-hour journey home. I don't know how to sum up my time here. Certainly I will be processing these past six weeks for months to come. I hope my occasional updates have given you some glimpse into what we have experienced. And I thank you again for all your prayers for us and the team. We've seen the horrific results of what evil can do. And we've witnessed the beauty of love bandaging up those wounds. We've seen God bring about miraculous healing. And we've seen lives transformed by the truth of the Gospel. One of our national doctors made a decision to believe in and follow Jesus just a few days ago! Despite this being such an intense and difficult time, I am so thankful to have had this opportunity and to see God working in such a unique way. I will forever carry the sadness in my heart of what we witnessed here, but I will also remember the sweetness of God's love in such a dark place and the unity of His people to care for the broken and the dying.

A Shining Light

One night as we were standing at the bedside of a dying little boy, a European security guard started encouraging us about the work we are doing here—and not just the work itself, but how we are carrying it out. He said that his Iraqi staff were hesitant about working at the hospital. They knew we are a Christian organization and joked (with more than just a hint of seriousness) about whether we would poison their food. Many people in the Middle East have been told lies about us. These men have been faithfully guarding us nonetheless, and this supervisor was saying he has seen a change in his guards because of the love we have shown to the patients. Most of them wanted to stay longer after their two-week shift ended. He went on to say, "There is a light all around this place and you would have to be blind not to see it." Praise God people are seeing the Light that we have carried into this darkness. May our good works here, spurred on by the love of Christ, bring glory to God and draw others to Him.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

This was removed from the side of a ten year old boy's chest. He is still recovering here at the hospital and we would appreciate your prayers for him and for all our patients. We've seen many healthy discharges and there have also been many who are transferred to other hospitals for further care.

If you want a glimpse into the battle in Mosul, click here for a 30 minute news documentary. Parts of it are hard to watch and there are a couple bad words in the subtitles, but it's quite informative. It's easy to see why we receive so many civilians causalities as the fighting is literally happening on the streets and around the homes where hundreds of thousands of people are still living. Many of our national staff members have family still living in these dangerous areas. Please pray for their safety and for a quick end to this brutal war.

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

John 1:5

Meet Aliza

I've enjoyed the opportunity to get to know some of our incredible Iraqi staff members. Last night I sat in the pharmacy for a while with Aliza* to hear some of her story. She and her family fled their home in 2014 when 1S1S was sweeping through the area. They left just in time—two hours before 1S1S arrived. Aliza's family is now living in Erbil but her father wants to one day return to his home. A few months ago she had the chance to go by her house which is not very far from our field hospital. "It was so dirty," she told me. "1S1S members lived in our house for over one year." Not only did they leave it a mess, but as is common in so many homes, they left behind deadly explosives. The military found two unexploded devices in her home.

Every three days Aliza leaves the safer city of Erbil and travels towards Mosul through a number of security checkpoints on both the Kurdistan and Iraq sides to come work with us at the hospital. Although it's difficult for all of us to see the tragedy of war in this way, Aliza enjoys working here. "It is so different here than anywhere else I have worked." I am so thankful for our national staff and the invaluable resource they are to us. This is their country. Our patients are their neighbors. They can serve them in ways we cannot. Thank you for lifting up all our staff in prayer. It is my hope that everyone will see that the "difference" here is the love of Christ flowing through us for every person who enters these gates.

*Name changed for security

There are many structures like this near the field hospital. Homes, apartment buildings, businesses. All damaged and scarred by the violence of war.

This is one of the huge IDP camps for those who have fled Mosul. Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes. Our teams are helping in camps like these in addition to the field hospital where Mark and I are serving.

Thoughts on Leaving

In a little over a week Mark and I will board a plane and head back to the States. I'm honestly trying not to think about it much. As with everywhere I've served, the roots of my heart sink down deep and it soon feels like home. I suppose it's not this country that feels like home—my view basically consists of giant concrete walls and the big blue sky overhead. But it's this community of believers serving together to bring comfort and healing to those who are suffering. When I heard God calling me to full-time ministry in 2005, I remember feeling a love and passion stirring in my heart for vulnerable people—those who were struggling to help themselves. While my role of serving others has looked different in different locations, I have always kept this desire. Here, in this place that often feels as if we're sitting at the doorstep of Hell, we have an opportunity to not only save lives, but to bring a hope and healing that goes beyond this physical world. Outside these walls people have experienced some of the darkest evil imaginable. Inside these walls they've encountered a love many cannot explain. I am so thankful, honored, and humbled to be here. I'm not quite ready to think about leaving. But since I know it's coming, I'll just dig in even deeper as I pray for God to use me to bring His love to this hurting nation. Thank you for your prayers as we finish out our final days here.

"I lift my eyes up to the hills— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord the Maker of heaven and earth." Psalm 121:1-2

It's like scrolling through a silent movie reel. Dozens of patients I have touched and who have forever impacted my life. Their faces are burned into my memory. The little girl on my first night at the field hospital who cried out for hours. Tortured by memories and horrors I can't even imagine. Another little girl days later who was so scared and in pain and just wanted her mommy. For days her mother fought for her life in the ICU. At one point when her mother woke up, they were able to be reunited for a couple of hours. I remember walking by and seeing them both asleep in the mother's bed. There were a few intense times throughout the mom's stay where she almost died—and by any medical standard should have died. But God miraculously intervened each time and our staff was able to eventually walk her out of the hospital, finally reunited with her family. She left our hospital having experienced the love of God in amazing ways through our team. I cannot forget the faces of the young boys I sat with who shortly after breathed their last breath on Earth. And I'll always remember the sweet face of a new friend who came in a few days ago. He was an older man who had shrapnel in his back after a drone attack. He had lost six of his eight pints of blood and I stood at his feet that night praying hard for him. The next morning I heard the good news that he survived the night. I also learned that he is a French professor in Mosul, so I've been visiting him each day and speaking to him in French. Spending time with him has been one of many highlights of my time here.

An update on the toddler who lost both of her legs. She has been able to come in for follow-ups (a miracle in itself!) and Frank our orthopedic surgeon has been straightening out her knee so that as her body continues to grow and adjust she will be able to use prosthetics. Praise God! Thank you for praying for her and please continue!

Prayer Requests

Thank you for every prayer lifted up for us and the team. The days are often long and intense and we depend on God to renew our strength each morning. Thank you for praying for God's protection for the hospital and for our team members as some travel back and forth. Please pray also for the details of the hospital itself. Pray that the generators keep running well. And for all of the behind-the-scenes operations that allow us to do what we're doing.

Thank you for praying for our patients and for peace in Iraq. Yesterday's press release from the UN states, "People, right now, are in trouble. We are hearing reports of parents struggling to feed their children and to heat their homes. Children and their families are starting to face critical shortages of safe drinking water. [As the military campaign begins] tens of thousands of people may flee or be forced to leave the city. Hundreds of thousands of civilians might be trapped— maybe for weeks, maybe for months." Truly the people in Mosul are facing a humanitarian crisis. Thankfully we are in a position to respond to some of the medical needs, but that is only a small part of a huge crisis. Thank you for continuing to pray for these families as they are constantly living in fear, struggling to have enough food, and suffering in the cold as temperatures are still often below freezing at night.

The more I travel the smaller the world seems sometimes. Bill Ragon walked into the EFH proudly wearing his Tennessee ball cap. We became fast friends. And it turns out his brother and sister-in-law go to my aunt's church in Milan, TN. I could brag on each person on our team, but I was especially encouraged by Bill's tender heart and gentle spirit no matter how difficult the day might have been.

I can never say it enough... Thank you! We appreciate your prayers and encouraging messages so much!

"The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him." Nahum 1:7

Today marks our second week at the field hospital. Time has been quite a fuzzy thing here. It feels like we've been here so much longer. I suppose that's due to the intensity of what we've seen and experienced here so far. I want to thank you again for your prayers and encouragement. I know the last update was hard to read, but I think it's important for people to remember that war isn't just two sides fighting against each other. War means homes are destroyed, families are separated, children have no safe place to play, and the people affected will never ever be the same. It's the ugliest, most heartwrenching thing I've ever seen. And yet I have been so encouraged to see God working here. How He will make a way for something that seems impossible. How He sustains and strengthens us when we're at the end of our own abilities. And how He has brought this incredible team together from across the globe to minister to the hurting, the broken, and the dying. Despite the physical and emotional toll of serving in a place like this, I am so humbled and honored to be here.

This little girl is perhaps our most popular patient right now. She is a little over one year old and came in with her cousin as victims of an explosion. This baby's legs were so badly injured that they had to amputate both of them below the knee. Looking at her cherub face and rosy cheeks you would hardly know anything was wrong. Several of us have enjoyed the task of rocking her to sleep each day. Please pray for her and her family as they face the challenges ahead.

I have loved getting to know everyone on our team. During the slower moments I get the chance to hear a bit of their stories and what God has been teaching them here. Vicky was one of my bunkmates who recently left. It was cool hearing how God brought her to the field hospital. And a special coincidence with my family... her daughters' names are Rebekah, Elisabeth, and Hannah. :) Please continue to pray for our team here, and also those who have already headed home. As you can imagine, transitioning back to "normal" life after experiencing something like this is a difficult task. Thank you for lifting us up!!

This is been the most intense assignment I've ever had. My job title is Emergency Field Hospital Admin, but my daily tasks have included holding the hands of dying children, praying with nurses who are at the end of their own strength (Thank you Jesus for Yours!), and rushing around during our busy times to bring patients warm sheets and towels as they come off non-heated ambulances in nearly freezing temperatures. These are on top of my actual admin tasks of keeping up with the comings and goings of our staff, providing orientation for newcomers, and answering a dozen emails. I'm constantly amazed by our team and how they are able to do what they do again and again and again. When I mention how appreciative I am for your prayers, I mean it more than I can explain. We are depending on God every hour and we know your prayers are being heard and answered.

1S1S is hunting children

These are the words I heard out of the mouth of one of our head security guys. We have seen a high volume of children coming into our hospital. Yesterday five children were taken to the morgue. Two had already died before the ambulance reached us. The other three died in the hospital. Some of these casualties are the result of weaponized drones 1S1S has created. Many are like the ones some of you fly around in your backyard. Others look like tiny planes. When they send these drones up, often they have a camera on them to show who they're about to attack. Whoever is watching that footage can see whether they are about to drop a grenade on a soldier or on a child. So when we get a group of children admitted due to a drone attack, they weren't just victims of an explosion nearby—they were the intentional targets. This is an evil I absolutely cannot understand.

I recently read an article that said, "1S1S is using snipers, suicide car bombs and drones to attack Iraqi forces." Yes, that is true. And they are also using all of these things to attack children... in case you never hear that on the news.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your prayers and your encouraging emails! While this experience is difficult and impossible to wrap your mind around, we are so honored to be here and pray that what we are doing here will transform lives long after we're gone.

"Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

Hebrews 4:16

It's hard to believe that we've not even been in Iraq a full three days. We are learning our new roles as quickly as we can. I'm sure Mark already has a great handle on things here at the base/field hospital. It will be a very busy and important role, but I know he'll do an amazing job. With every new task I learn, I'm taking work and stress off of the small admin team here. I'm sure within a few more days my daily list of duties will be quite lengthy. We have new people coming to serve at the hospital every day and others who are heading back home. We also have an large amount of national staff who rotate in and out every few days. There are a lot of people to keep up with but the team here is wonderful and it's been incredible to see how God has handpicked each one of us to be here. Thank you for your continued prayers that we will serve well and as a caring and unified team.

War is horrific

I don't think anyone can be fully prepared to enter a warzone. Not mentally anyway. We received a thorough security training upon arrival in addition to some online training we had to do before we got here. I started to get a decent picture in my head of what it might be like, but nothing prepares you for seeing it with your own eyes. Our first night at the field hospital we received an influx of nearly 20 patients... the biggest load that had been seen here in days. It was all hands on deck and very intense. I'm sure serving in a hospital after a natural disaster is also difficult, but we've all remarked about how seeing the trauma and casualties of war is perhaps even more disheartening. These are victims of hatred and evil. Villages that were deserted by those fleeing the fighting have been heavily booby-trapped by the enemy and now many families trying to return are being killed when they step on their doormat or lift up the coffee kettle.

Please continue to pray for all of us here. Our medical team is working long hours and sometimes right when they think they'll get a break, a new wave of patients comes in. We can only do so much in our own strength, so we are relying on God to provide everything we need for this great task. Thank you for lifting us up whenever you can.

It's been quite cold here in Iraq. We packed accordingly but it's still a bit of a shock after being spoiled in warm Gulfport the past few weeks.

I was recruited on our first night here to be a hand holder in the women and children's ward. For nearly six hours I tried to console this little girl. I can't imagine what these precious children have already seen and experienced. As I am typing this, two little children are dying in the emergency room. They are being rocked and sung to by our loving team. We cannot explain how much we appreciate your prayers for us and these families.

2016 sure ended with an exciting bang! The last few months have been a whirlwind... from getting engaged right after my summer in Belgium, to planning our special day, and then heading to Haiti together a week after getting back from our honeymoon in Colorado. All of this beautiful craziness just makes us more excited for what God has in store for us in 2017!

Highlights from Haiti

Hurricane Matthew made landfall in Haiti on October 4th killing over 1,000 people and leaving nearly 1.5 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. Mark deployed to Haiti just days later to help deliver aid to some of the hardest hit areas. He returned the week before our wedding and then we left for Haiti together shortly after our honeymoon. We served with Samaritan's Purse in Les Cayes, Haiti. I was the base manager for our team there and Mark was the area coordinator. It was an incredibly busy and full time. We were both glad to be back in Haiti where we could use our Creole and experience from living there before.

As the base manager I supervised 14 ladies who cooked and cleaned for our base. We became fast friends and I did my best during our busy days to get to know them and love on them. I wanted to leave them with a gift and the only resource I had for that was my camera. We had fun on several occasions taking silly pictures together. They loved it! I put all of the photos on one of their laptops so they can eventually print some of them out. It was a tearful goodbye even after only knowing them for three weeks. Mark stayed an extra two weeks to wrap up some of the important tasks and then we enjoyed the holidays together in Tennessee.

Although we were serving in a different part of Haiti than where I used to live, I did get to make a brief visit to the precious kiddos at Hope For Life Children's Home. They're doing well and still loving their new dorm. :)

What's next?!

We are leaving tomorrow on a new assignment with Samaritan's Purse. We will spend six weeks in Iraq helping the team provide emergency relief to Iraqi citizens fleeing the conflict in Mosul. Samaritan's Purse is distributing food and supplies to those living in evacuee camps and has set up an emergency field hospital for those in need. We appreciate your prayers for us and the team as we serve those who have left everything behind in search of refuge. Pray for us that we will have the opportunity to share about the One who promises to be our refuge and strength and a very present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1) Thank you for your love, encouragement, and support. We look forward to keeping you all updated as we follow after God's plans for us in the weeks and months to come.

I am so thankful for the compassion and generosity of others when a disaster strikes. I often receive comments and messages asking how people can help. Hurricane Matthew's devastation of Haiti has been no exception.

Let me try to write out a concise explanation that covers the basics for those of you interested in helping out. And this is not just limited to Haiti. It applies to disaster relief anywhere in the world.

Here are two common messages I receive:

I would like to make a financial contribution. What organizations do you recommend?

When possible, support local organizations that were on the ground before the disaster and have long-term efforts already established. They have the best understanding of the needs and how to respond most effectively. They also have long-term development in mind and aren't only looking at short-term relief.

Here's one great example of an initiative taking place in Haiti right now to provide relief where it's needed most.

HURRICANE MATTHEW EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN: This is a collaborative effort of several grassroots organization in the Gressier and Leogane areas to make a well-measured response. We are combining our efforts and resources to make both long-term and short-term positive impacts in some of the worst hit areas in Haiti. We are performing a needs analysis based on current needs and supplies already being sent by other relief groups. Our relief efforts will focus solely on the gap between what is needed and what is already being provided. We prioritize buying locally to support Haiti. If you feel called to help with this relief effort, you can contribute finanicially through the following link: www.amoveogroup.org/hurricane-matthew-response.

Photo credit: Michael Broyles

What I love about this is that it is a combined effort of several organizations working together for maximum impact. Not only are they working together within themselves, but they are making it a priority to find out what other efforts are taking place so that relief is not duplicated and more people in need can be reached. I know these people personally and that they are doing everything they can to do things well. They are putting into practice important lessons that they learned after the 2010 earthquake. So again, if you would like to give to a reputable effort to help where it's needed most, click here to make a donation.

I am also heading up a smaller scale fundraising campaign for Hope For Life Children's Home and a few families I know in the Leogane area. If you would like to support either of those causes click here. It will automatically go towards the children's home, or if you'd like to support one of the families I mentioned on Facebook yesterday, write "families" in the "add a note" section. I can assure you that 100% of your donation will go towards those needs.

I would like to travel to Haiti to help with disaster relief. Do you know any organizations needing volunteers?

I commend your desire to want to go and serve. If you don't already have personal contacts on the ground, it's generally not easy to quickly jump on board with relief efforts. From time to time I may hear of an organization needing volunteers with specific skill sets. I try to post those needs when I learn of them. But my general answer is this... If you find your heart pounding to get involved on the ground when a disaster happens, you should look into becoming a registered volunteer with organizations that deploy volunteers. This is something you can do ahead of time and possibly get your name on a list to serve with future disaster relief efforts. If you are in the medical profession I recommend Heart To Heart International, www.hearttoheart.org/volunteer. Samaritan's Purse also has opportunities in the U.S. and abroad. Occasionally they have an international DART position opportunity listed on their employment page where you can apply to get trained as a DART member. Otherwise check out their volunteer page where they'll have a list of current volunteer needs, www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/volunteer. These won't always be immediate opportunities after a disaster (unless it's in the U.S.), but if you have an interest in relief and development work in general, that's a great place to start.

I just want to say thank you to all of you who have been praying for Haiti. I have personally been encouraged knowing that so many people have been lifting up a nation so dear to my heart. And my friends in Haiti have told me how much they appreciate your prayers and concern. Please continue to pray for them as they face a long recovery. I was devastated to hear that one of my friends lost his home, as just six years ago he lost his mother, father, and two sisters in the earthquake. This disaster is reopening wounds from that terrible time, and for many people it has only piled more debris on top of the huge mountain they've already been climbing since 2010.

But there is hope and together we can make a difference. I'm reminded again of the Haitian proverb "Men anpil, chay pa lou." Many hands make light work. Let's continue to work together to help build back a stronger Haiti!

I don't want to start counting down the days, but I can definitely sense that our time here is running short. The second half of my summer is looking much different than the first. The first several weeks were spent getting used to a new place and a new routine. We were meeting people constantly and getting into the groove of what our ministry would look like here. Now we are all meeting up with people individually and in groups on a consistent basis. I've made several new friends who are all at different places in their spiritual journey.

There's one friend who I met just days after arriving here who told me during our first conversation that she is "very hungry for spiritual food." I've been trying to connect her with the local church community here. It has been interesting to see how the timing of events in her life have lined up with us meeting and me being able to encourage her during some of those challenges.

And another new friend who I volunteered with recently. She's several years older than me, but it was the first time she had experienced anything like the refugee center where we were serving. She walked away that day disappointed in humanity and how refugees are being treated around the world. I tried to share what God has taught me about loving people and being a voice for those who need someone to speak up for them. She ended the day by telling me, "Knowing that noble people like you do exist makes me process better all I have thought and felt today." Such kind words, but I'm just thankful that God allowed me to share that experience with her and offer some encouragement. I'll be seeing her again this week and I hope to have more opportunities to share how Jesus has changed my life and given me a mission to share His message of love.

And then there's Stela and Alaa who I will mention shortly...

In my last update one of the prayer requests was for our team to have more access to the refugee centers. God heard our prayers! Doors have opened wider for us in the two main centers where we were working. And new doors have opened at other centers where we've recently made contact. The big center we've been serving in is allowing us to come in 3-4 times a week for the next three weeks for several hours at a time! That's a huge increase from only having a 1.5 hour slot once a week. We are so thankful for the relationships we have made with the children and the parents. Some from our team have also befriended several teenagers, many of whom came to Belgium alone. And just today I met a young lady who has been living at the center for six months. Three months ago she gave birth to a little boy. She is not married and has no other family here. All she can do is sit and wait for her papers to be approved so she can begin a new life for her and her son. I'm reminded every day that refugees are real people with real stories of loss, heartache, and desperation. They need love. They need hope. They need someone who will take time to sit with them and listen.

It's a girl!

In my last update I asked for you to pray for my new friend Stela. If we're connected on Facebook you've also seen updates about this special family. On July 1st (two weeks ahead of her due date) baby Alexandra came into the world. I've been visiting with Stela regularly over the past several weeks. If you remember, I met Stela on her birthday, June 6th. I've never seen a face so lost and desperate on what should be a happy occasion, but I'm so thankful for the transformation I'm already seeing in Stela's life. Joy and hope are being restored as she is realizing God's abundant love for her. Her boyfriend Nicolas called me minutes after Alexandra was born. I went to visit them that day in the hospital and sat on the hospital bed with Stela for an hour, watching her cuddle with her newborn baby. Smiling as she looked at each finger, whispering to herself about Alexandra's tiny hands and the miracle of birth.

While this small family is excited about their new addition, there are still many challenges ahead. Thankfully they haven't been evicted yet, but when I visited last week there was a sign on their front door that the building would be demolished August 1st. The clock is ticking! Please pray that a door would open soon for a housing option for them. Without a legal address they cannot continue with the residency process. The second prayer request is for a permanent job for Nicolas so that they can have a steady income. Having a full-time job is also a requirement to continue his permanent residency application.

I would love to help this family in a few tangible ways while I'm still here. I'm reminded of the words of Jesus to help those in need. And while I don't believe that Stela and Nicolas are just sitting around waiting for a handout, I do feel that now more than ever they could use a little jumpstart to get them on their feet. I plan to raise some money for diapers and a stroller and anything extra I will put towards their first month's rent on a new place.

Prayer for a friend

And finally pray for a friend of mine who works at my favorite restaurant. She is a Mus1im from the Middle East. She came to Belgium one year ago. We have enjoyed getting to know each other throughout the summer. She recently hung out for a couple hours. We talked about the similarities and differences between Islam and Christianity. Every chance I had I talked about God's love, the power of Jesus' sacrifice, and how following Him has forever transformed my life. When she told me that she tries to be a good person in hopes that maybe Allah will let her enter Heaven when she dies, I told her that I believe God loves us so much that He doesn't wait to see if we'll one day be "good enough". That He loves us so much He came to us through Jesus and made a way for anyone who believes to spend eternity in Heaven. And that He doesn't just wait until we die to give us good things, but when we believe in Jesus we get to experience hope and peace and love throughout our time on earth. I'm so thankful for my sweet friend and her friendship. I'm excited for more conversations and the opportunity to answer any further questions she has about my relationship with Jesus. Please pray for her as she starts a new life on her own in Belgium.

Please pray also that refugees would experience the goodness of God in the midst of their pain. And pray for refreshment and increased energy for our team as we are in our final weeks in Belgium. Thank you all for your prayers, support, and encouragement! I'm so thankful for you!

It's hard to believe that I've already been living in Belgium for over a month. It's been an adventure getting used to a new place. It took a while, but I think I finally have the metro and transit system figured out... well enough anyway!

What's been most exciting has been going deeper with the relationships we're building here. Some of you may have seen the photo a couple weeks ago on Facebook of us having dinner with a family from the Middle East. We met them at one of the centers for asylum seekers and they invited us to share their iftar meal with them. Since we're in the middle of Ramadan, Mus1ims are fasting during the day and breaking their fast with iftar at sunset—which is around 10pm in Belgium right now. We've been invited twice to share this meal with them. It's an incredible and delicious spread of food. And spending that special time with the family has been such an honor. I wish that everyone could experience this incredibly generous hospitality. My heart is forever changed.

After living in the crowded shelter for months, this family has been able to move into their own home. It's a temporary location, but you can sense their relief to finally have a place of their own. On Sunday I visited them again and began teaching English to the kids. The mom joined in as well which was great because she's learned quite a bit of English and was able to explain in Arabic the grammar I was teaching them. She's a teacher herself so it was fun to work and learn together. I also mixed in some French with the lessons because when they're finally able to attend school again in September they will be taught in French.

Can you imagine uprooting your whole family and having to learn another language (or two) just to be able to live and be productive in a completely different society from what you've been used to your whole life?! This family has shared with us one horror story after another about what it's been like for them the past several years. The father has been injured so severely that it is truly a miracle he's alive. He lost two of his brothers in the war. They've had many threats against their family and finally made the decision to attempt the risky journey to flee and start over. There are still more challenges ahead, but they're feeling a bit more hopeful each day. They shared with us that our friendship has brought them a tremendous amount of encouragement.

I'm glad we still have several more weeks to share Christ's love with them in meaningful ways. On Friday we were able to tell them the story of Jesus. It was the first time anyone had told them why Jesus died on the cross. Please continue to pray for this family as they begin a new life in Belgium. And pray for us as we go deeper in our relationship with them.

During the week our team is spread out across the city doing outreach. Sometimes we'll meet people in a coffee shop or through a service project. Other times we'll just introduce ourselves to people we meet on the street. We've been able to encourage and pray for so many people! We've also seen people being physically healed from injuries and ailments. One woman my team members met who was walking with a cane received healing. She took a step after they prayed for her and yelled, "This is impossible!" The team told her that they prayed in the name of Jesus and the woman asked, "Can I pray in the name of Jesus?" Of course our team said yes! The lady invited them to her house for dinner and they were able to share more about God's power and love.

Pray for Stela

I met Stela a few weeks ago—June 6th to be exact. It was her birthday. I didn't know it was her birthday at the time. I only knew that it was a rough day in the middle of a challenging year since moving to Belgium from Romania. When I passed her that day I had noticed her protruding belly and her sweet face and sat down to learn more about her story. The details are too complex to mention right now, but please pray for this young mother-to-be (only 19) and the difficult journey ahead as she attempts to start a new life here. She and her boyfriend will be evicted from their home in a few weeks because the building is being demolished. They have little money and nowhere else to go. I spent a few hours yesterday trying to find out what services are available in the city for their situation. Will you please pray for them as they admitted they are running out of hope? Pray for me also that I will have wisdom to know how to help. And that God would open the doors that need to be opened for them. The odds of being able to start a new and good life here are sadly not in their favor. But I want to try to do what I can to see what help can be found for them. Thank you for praying for Stela and the baby girl that we will be welcoming into the world some time around July 13th!

Thank you for your prayers! We are seeing and feeling the effects of them!

See, I am doing a new thing! Those words from Isaiah 43:19 have been replaying in my mind lately. As I think about my upcoming summer in Belgium, I recognize how different this opportunity is from anything else I've ever done. How exciting! And it's also a reminder that I'm completely relying on God to accomplish His purposes throughout my time there. I am doing all I can to prepare—studying about Is1am, learning more French, praying for our team and for those we will meet and serve, and so on. But I must admit that I do not feel particularly equipped for this assignment. I'm simply trusting in the One who called me to this "new thing" and I'm asking Him to work through me to accomplish more than I ever could my own! I know that God is going to use this summer to grow my faith and take me even deeper and further with Him.

Our Vision: Our vision is to ignite a disciple-making/church-planting movement among refugees, the Mus1im community, and native Europeans in Brussels that spreads throughout all of Europe and back into the Middle East bringing transformation of hearts and society.

The role of my team will be to build relationships within those three groups mentioned above. We'll be active in community outreach, assessing needs, partnering with other organizations, starting Bible studies, and facilitating Impact Trips (teams coming to serve in Brussels for 2-3 weeks throughout the summer). Thank you for your prayers that God will draw men and women to Himself and into a deeper relationship with Him.

Support Update: Thanks to the support of many of you, I only lack $1,075 to be fully funded for my summer in Belgium. If you feel led to help with this remaining amount, click here. And again, thank you to all who have committed to being a part of our team through your giving and prayers! We couldn't do this without you!

"The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow."
Psalm 146:9

Prayer requests:

Pray for unity and encouragement among the long-term team members
Pray for salvations within the refugee community and for our discipleship ministry
Pray for the Belgians to encounter the living God and for an increase in local believers

Your gift to ACC is tax deductible. Donations are solicited with the understanding that ACC has complete discretion and control over all donated funds. In practice, ACC implements donor instruction wherever possible. If for any reason I am unable to go on this trip, funds raised will be used to meet the team’s needs.

33 days! That's how many days until I fly to Europe for the summer. In barely over one month I will be saying goodbye to these beautiful hills of Tennessee and jetting off to a new season with the Lord.

Several of you have been in contact with me after the terrible attacks in Brussels three weeks ago. We are still continuing as planned, though our leadership team has been wise to take time to regroup, wait, and pray as they seek God's guidance for our ministry in Belgium. They have been in close communication with the ministry partners on the ground as they work out the details for our arrival and time there. A few of them were actually in Brussels just days before the attacks. During that trip they were incredibly encouraged to see how Jesus is working in the city among refugees and also in the Mu$1im community and in the lives of the native Europeans. Our team will be entering Brussels at an exciting time to be able to join up with what God is already doing there.

I'm excited to report that well over 50% of my support has already been raised for this trip. I currently need $2,400 to be fully funded for my three months in Belgium. If you feel led to contribute financially to my trip, click here to give securely online. A HUGE thanks to all of you who have already donated. I am so humbled by the opportunity to serve God in Brussels this summer. And I'm thrilled that so many of you have joined our team through your prayers and giving! I look forward to sharing stories with you soon!

"The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him."
Nahum 1:7

Prayer requests:

Pray for our team as each one of us prepares ourselves spiritually and practically
Pray for an opening for the gospel among the refugee community and others
Pray for our leadership team and ministry partners as they plan for our arrival

"Prayer doesn't fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work."

-Oswald Chambers

Thank you for praying for Belgium. And for praying for those serving now and in the coming months with Engage The Crisis. I received an email from the leadership team that a few of them were in Brussels over the weekend and they were excited to report that they could really see Jesus working in that city. They will be prayerfully considering how to move forward in light of the recent attacks. They have ministry partners on the ground in Brussels and will be communicating with them in the coming weeks as preparations are made for our arrival. I will trust their leadership as I step into this new journey this summer. And more importantly, I will trust that the God who calls is also the God who is faithful to lead us no matter what the circumstances are around us.

I'll let the words from the leadership team encourage you as they encouraged me...

"We can have confidence today as we head toward Easter, that our God brings life out of death and we are called to be people who carry that life everywhere we go. I want to ask you to be in prayer for the people of Brussels and for those working there to share the love of Jesus with people. Thank you for carrying the refugees, Brussels, and our churches in your hearts."

I'm so excited to share that I'll be heading to Brussels, Belgium this summer to work with refugees! From May 15th to August 7th I'll be serving as part of Antioch's Engage The Crisis internship program. Those three months will be filled with meeting needs, making disciples, and mobilizing workers. You can visit www.engagethecrisis.org for more information about the mission and purpose of Engage The Crisis as a whole.

As you know, the current displacement of people throughout Europe and the Middle East is like nothing the world has ever seen. People from all around the Middle East are being displaced from their homes and families because of terrorist organizations, fragile governments and violence. In the midst of all you are seeing on the news you may not be hearing about all that God is doing! Every week there are reports from around Europe and the Middle East of refugees walking into churches asking about Jesus, Mslms being baptized by the dozens and people having encounters with God during dreams in the night. In this time when the nations are shaking I believe that God is shouting His love and salvation to all the hurting and broken.

"The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble."

Psalm 9:9

One thing I love about this trip is that my team and I can't do it alone, and I want to invite you into two big ways you can be part of engaging the crisis:

Pray: Please pray for our trip and believe with us for a mighty move of God around the world!

Give: My individual trip cost will be $7,000 all of which will be raised through financial support. If you would like to donate toward my trip you can do so online here. You'll choose my name from the drop-down list.

I’ve been praying since I returned from Haiti that God would open a new door of ministry for me. I’m especially excited for this opportunity as I’ve met many Antioch missionaries in Haiti and Namibia and consider it an honor to serve with this ministry in Belgium this summer!! Thank you for joining me on this incredible journey!

Prayer requests:

Unity for our team in preparation for the trip
Wisdom in how to best serve the refugee population and make disciples
For refugees to experience God’s love and be open to the Gospel

I was able to get down to Haiti for two weeks this month. I've been wanting to make this trip to be able to check on the kids at Hope For Life Children's Home and the other families I've gotten to know over the years. Of course two weeks was way too short but we managed to get a lot done and have sweet time with my precious friends there.

This trip was especially neat because I was able to bring my friend Lauren along. Lauren is a young lady at my church who has been to Haiti twice on trips with my church. Not only has she already developed a heart for Haiti, but she has known for years that she wanted to serve as a missionary full-time. This was a great opportunity for her to get a deeper sense of what it's like to live on the mission field and be immersed in the culture more than just a few hours a day. We stayed at the children's home several days, sharing sleeping space with two of the older girls, eating what the kids ate, and experiencing what it's like to have limited power and amenities. Lauren handled everything like a champ—even when she had to share shower time with two giant cockroaches. :) She is heading to Papua New Guinea this summer and I know she would appreciate your prayers as she prepares for that new adventure.

The kids at the children's home are doing well. They are still as adorable and spunky as ever. I'm continually amazed as I think back to four years ago when I first met them and saw their harsh living conditions. Oh what the Lord has done these past few years to bring them to a better place! I spent time walking the grounds, picturing what it used to look like, and thanking God for the progress He has allowed to take place. I can see it in the eyes of the children—the hope they have for a brighter future because of the love and care they are receiving in that place. In a perfect world, I wish they could all live in intimate families with a mom and a dad to call their own. Some of them may have the opportunity to return to this, but many will know their Hope For Life family as their family for life. I'm thankful for the heart of Pastor Jean Marc and Mama Lisette and how they are literally giving all they have to take care of these children. Thank you for your prayers for these kids and thank you who have played a huge role in improving their lives in tangible ways. Continue to pray for their spiritual growth and that their relationship with Christ will have roots that won't be shaken. Life in Haiti is hard. Even with this loving home, there are many challenges they will face. I'm thankful that our hope in Christ is an anchor for our souls! (Hebrews 6:19)

Check out their new dorm! What a blessing that these kids finally have protection from the elements and a safe place to rest their heads each night! This trip was the first time I've seen it since they moved in. What overwhelming gratitude I have to God and those of you who gave toward this huge project!!

We were able to see the newest project on the property—a clinic built by Freshwater Community Church and Chamberlain School of Nursing. It will be staffed throughout the year with visiting teams and nursing students and staff from the nursing school in Leogane. The clinic will provide basic medical care and check-ups to the kids at the children's home and the students at the school. What a great blessing this will be to the kids and the community!

We spent time with Evenson's family. Lauren made necklaces and colored with the kids. I checked in with how Evenson and Marisolin's businesses are doing. I was encouraged to hear that both businesses are doing well. Evenson's bakery is still going strong. Both he and his wife have been able to open up savings accounts and they've used that money for emergency medical expenses and to purchase a goat. Even with these successes I know it is still a struggle for them. And despite their efforts to not have another child, Marisolin is pregnant once again. It is difficult for families like theirs to receive effective family planning. Come April, a seventh child will be added to their family. Marisolin already has medical issues from this pregnancy and asks for prayers for a safe delivery.

We visited with my friend Geddy and her family a couple times. Geddy is the mother of Smerelda, the little miracle baby who at 13 months weighed barely over 7 pounds. With lots of prayer and effort, she is now a healthy toddler. I can't describe what joy it brings my heart each time I see her! I wish I could give a more successful report about this family, but they are still struggling in many ways. Just days after the team and I left Haiti last July, Geddy's son Tipom drowned in the river. I had helped Geddy start a business selling soaps and detergent. All of that money had to be spent on burying her son. Once again she found herself at rock bottom—a young mother with three children to care for. Knowing she couldn't do it on her own, she sent two of her children to live with her mother in a neighboring village. She still gets to see them, but this is not what she wants and is a harsh reality for so many families in Haiti. I helped her start her business once again and I'm praying that she can finally get ahead with that.

Josh and Tipom, July 2015

This little guy became my new buddy at the children's home. I named him Champ. He was one pathetic, scrawny little thing when we first got there. I gave him lots of extra attention and food and in just the two weeks we were there he already looked like a completely different pup. Hopefully he will survive and thrive there, but it's such a hard life for dogs in Haiti—even at the children's home where they tend to have more respect for dogs than most.

And of course we can't forget about my sweet pup Atau. She is still doing well at the guesthouse. I miss her like crazy and I think the feeling is mutual considering the excited greeting she always gives me. But she's got a good life there and the guests sometimes take her for a walk in the sugar cane field which keeps her happy. :)

This picture represents something I miss the most about living in Haiti. These kids are woven into my heart. When they hurt, I hurt. I miss being able to see them regularly, to be a consistent source of love and support for them. Although I don't always pick them up when they fall down, there are times when I know one of the kids really needs to be held and loved and comforted. And I miss being there for them. I pray that they can always find comfort when they're hurting. I pray that the staff is proactive in giving them the emotional support they need. And I pray that their relationship with Christ will be such that they can find strength and comfort in Him whenever they need it.

This is certainly just a brief snippet of an incredible trip. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to return to this country I love so dearly. I certainly wrestle with not still being there. I've invested so much time there, learning the language and culture, and so sometimes I wonder why I'm not still there. But I know without a doubt that God has led me to exactly where I am right now. And I'm trusting Him every step of the way. He knows how my heart beats for Haiti, but He also knows that ultimately I want to follow Him wherever He leads. I'm thankful for the many friends I have who are still serving in Haiti. They send me regular updates and I'm able to keep in touch with what is happening there. The pastor and I communicate regularly and so I know what's going on with the kids and how I can be praying specifically. If they have needs, I hope I can continue to help meet them. I'm thankful for all of you who have followed along with my journey, who have been praying for me and supporting me and the ministries in Haiti that I've been involved with. I couldn't do any of this without God's help through you. Thank you! And stay tuned for an update about my next adventure!!

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