Justice Rescue

 After a very bumpy and terrifying tap tap (a make-shift truck taxi) ride, we turn into the compound.  The outside is actually quite lovely.  My first glimpse beholds a  beautiful open-air church, complete with silk flowers hanging from the ceiling.  A lovely break from the harness of the views of Haitian life.

As we step out of the tap tap, my view changes.  The view to the right is completely opposite of that beautiful church.  I witness a young boy, probably 10 to 12 years old, digging a ditch.  I attempt to hold back the astonishment as I picture my own 10 year old in his place, swinging a very heavy pick-axe to break the ground.  Where will this ditch lead?  What is it for?  Is it necissary or just punishment?  These questions remain unanswered to this day.

We are briefed on the situation as we wait for "Pastor" to come out.  We are told that this is a very corrupt Haitian run orphanage which our team has been informed of.  This is not the first trip here.  Members of our group have been here three times before.  We have attempted to provide help, training, and mentoring in hopes to improve the situation, but nothing has changed.  Therefore, today our mission is essential.  We are entering as a tourist group interested in the orphanage when in all actuality we are there to take as many pictures as possible.  "Take pictures of EVERYTHING," we are told.  Our leader then instructs us, "Smile.  You will want to cry but don't.  Hold it in.  Smile at these children.  Show them love through your face.  Their lives are miserable enough.  They don't need you to show them."  That was the extent of our instruction-take pictures and smile.

Pastor then arrives and speaks briefly.  I will not even waste your time with his words because they were all lies.  He then gladly opens the gate to the right of the beautiful church.  My life will never be the same after seeing first hand what was behind that gate.

The stench was something indescribable.  A mixture of feces, urine, and stale hot Haitian air.

To my right was a group of "adults" ages 16-mid twenties.  They were huddled together.  Obviously scared but working very hard to show joy and casualness as we entered the gates.

In front of me was a large wooden box similar to a backyard shed here in Oklahoma.  About 30 young girls sat on benches in a square in front of the box.  We are then told that we will visit with the boys first.

A bit to the right of the girls is another box.  About 25 boys aged probably four to ten are stationed on their benches.  Pastor excitedly speaks to them in creole and the boys begin to sing.  I know they are singing a worship song because I hear certain words I know: Jesus, joy, heaven.  I heard the words come out of their mouth but could only concentrate on what I saw.  I saw empty eyes.  They looked at me as they sang of our heavenly father but it was obvious they had never experienced His love.  Their eyes looked right through me.  I wondered how many times visitors had come and how many times they had sang these songs-hoping for a savior, if they even knew what that was.

Their legs were sticks of bones with skin stretched ever so tightly around them.  Their bellies were distended-full of worms and parasites that were stripping their bodies of the very minimal nutrients that they rarely received.  I looked at their beautiful faces.  Chocolate brown with white salt streaks down each cheek, remnants of tears they had cried.  Tears that were now dry.  Tears that yielded nothing.  Now empty.

Our leader then wanted to take a moment and show us the living conditions for these children.  Behind Pastor was the box.  He gladly unlocked the padlock that secured the "room".  As I stepped inside, my heart raced and my breathing stiffened.  I saw bunk bed, three high, around the perimeter of the room.  By the door was a shelf of clothing-dirty, waded up, torn clothing.  The smell was very distinct.  It was that of urine, obviously from the soaked, uncovered foam mattresses that were placed on the bed frames.  I couldn't stay in that box any longer.  I quickly exited.

We were then ushered to the back of the compound while Pastor was "entertained" by our leader.  We were quite obviously entering an area that was not seen by other visitors.  We carefully stepped inside a make-shift lean to.  Underneath the metal covering was a tent.  A camping tent-covered with dust and dirt.  We carefully unzipped the door and peaked inside.  No mattress.  No blankets.  No clothing.  Nothing but a pile of dirty, damp cloths possibly used to mop up the water that entered the tent when in rained.  There were two of these tents surrounded by empty bottles, shards of glass, broken chairs, pieces of metal-essentially in the midst a pile of trash.

We walked around the perimeter of the compound, very carefully watching were stepped.  Careful of trash that could cut us, careful of piles of feces which could possibly carry Cholera or other deadly diseases.  We pray as we walk.  "Lord, these are your precious gifts to this world.  We know you have a plan for each and every one of these children.  They are kings and queens.  Lord, help us to know what to do.  Help us to be your skin.  Help us to live our lives as you."

We then find ourselves back at the front of the compound with the girls.  Same situation as the boys yet they lack the energy to even greet us in song.  They simply sit there with empty, blank expressions.  Their living conditions were even worse than the boys.  The bunks were falling apart.  How could all of these girls ever fit into this room, this box?

We didn't stay long.  We had our pictures-our proof.

While this story is horrendous, the tides are beginning to turn for many of these children.  With the help of many of my dear friends, this "orphanage" is being shut down.  While some of these children are now happily running in heaven with full bellies and eyes now filled with joy, some have been returned to extended family members who didn't even know they existed.  The remainder of the children have been moved to a new orphanage.  The Justice Rescue House is now home to about 25 of the children, aged four to a pregnant 16 year-old.  They have been rescued yet have so far to come.

We will never know the hell that they lived through.  We will never be able to comprehend what they encountered on a day to day basis.  What we can do is help to change their future.

Paul and I have an incredible opportunity in just a few months.  The two of us will be traveling to Haiti yet again.  This time our mission is to spend time with these kings and queens.  We don't know exactly what we will be doing.  At this point, we don't know we will need to take.  We are spending time in prayer with our Heavenly Father and in correspondence with our friends in Haiti.

We do need your help!  We need funding.  Could you help?  Whether you can spare $5 or $500, we would greatly appreciate your donation.  While a very small portion of the money will be used for travel, the majority will be used to better the lives of these rescued children.

It is so simple to help us out.  Simply paypal your donation to email address iluvkiddos@hotmail.com.  If you cannot paypal, please email me and I will send you my mailing address for a check.

Thank you in advance and I look forward to giving a beautifully positive redemption story on behalf of these children.


For an insider's view as to the situation, please read this article by one of the blessings instrumental in the rescue of these children: Set Apart Girl article.  The article starts on page 66.

A short journey with Jami's hair

Okay, so many have requested this post.  Crazy huh?

Let me preface this with the fact that these pics are all from the last 4-5 years probably.  

All out of order.

Enjoy my craziness!

Enjoying a concert with my baby girl.

Calm hair for Boot Camp.

Little too short for my liking but easy to manage.

WAY too short.  Never get your hair cut less than 2 weeks before a special day.

BTW-What was Tony doing in this pic?!?!

Shades of red=not my fav.

Love the dark!

Crazy beach hair.

NO good hair days in Haiti.

I think this pink is my fav of the crazy colors.

Eeek!  More Haiti hair.

My current choice...the faux hawk!

This is where all the crazy colors began.

Absolutely LOVED my hair this night!  A bit of a retro vixen feel.

WOAH!  Had to throw this in!

This is actually my motivational "stay thin" pic.

A pic of me at my heaviest weight.

AND bad hair to boot!

Hmmm...

Faded Haiti hair.

But my precious Daniel makes the pic amazingly beautiful.

My kids enjoy some crazy hair too.

Kenz rockin the pink.

Too much spray tan!

A little fun!

No-that is not my real hair.

Need some decoration some times.

Well, I hope you enjoyed some of the good, the bad, and the uhhhhhh....Adventurous!

Add a little adventure to your life!

It's just hair.

Wardrobe Malfunction

So I have discovered that my blog had taken a certain turn.  A turn to the serious and thought provoking.  While I really don't mind that, it really doesn't describe who I am.

I am crazy and zany.  I am loud and outgoing.  I am unpredictable.  I tend to get myself into crazy situations at times too.  Allow me to describe one situation:

The year was 2004.  I was in my first year of teaching precious, innocent kindergartners at a local Catholic school.  I loved my job!

It was a lovely Spring day and I was dressed comfortably in long, somewhat fitted, basic denim dress.  (Don't judge me.  I was a kindergarten teacher and it WAS 2004!)

The day was going just peachy, except for one problem.  I had this pesky stubborn hair that was somehow attached to my bra that kept tickling/itching right under my bra line.  Well since I had on a full dress, I couldn't very well quickly take care of it.  I shifted and wiggled to the best of my ability to release said hair.  Nothing worked.  It continued to annoy me for the remainder of the morning.

By lunchtime/recess, the hair had stopped bothering me so, I really didn't think much about it while I had a chance to remove it.

The kids then returned to the room after recess to resume class.  During storytime, I noticed the itching getting astronimically worse.  Driving me crazy in fact.  Then as I looked down at the bodice of my dress while I was reading, I noticed a wet area on my dress.  Now, Mackenzie was a toddler at this point so I knew it was not a breastfeeding mishap.  It was just after lunch.  Perhaps I had splashed some water unknowingly on myself as I rinsed my dishes.  Not true either.  I noticed the wet area was expanding.  "What in the world?"  A tickling hair in my bra and a mysterious wet spot on my dress.  I was so confused.

I ended storytime a bit short and got the kiddos focused on an activity while I asked the teacher next door to keep an eye on my class.

I zipped down the hall to the teacher bathroom closet.  (Yes, I said closet because that is exactly what it was-a closet with a toilet and sink.  No room to move let alone get a long straight denim dress pulled up to investigate what was happening!)  As I shimmied the dress up, I noticed a small stream of liquid coming down from my bra.  It was clear.  I touched it questioningly.  It was oily.  Ewww!  "OH NO!"  My water bra had sprung a leak!  What was I going to do?

Well, I wiggled the oily dress back down and rushed back to my classroom trying to brainstorm a solution.  I didn't carry an extra bra around.  I couldn't go braless around my poor innocent kindergartners-or could I?

I figured it out!  You see, I could be president of the "itty-bitty committee"-hence the need for the water bra.  Support was really not an issue.  I had a solution in my classroom after all-----wait for it----the "BooBoo Box"!  Yep-bandaids!  

I zipped back down the hall to the closet.  This time was even more difficult.  I had to completely remove the dress in order to remove the defective bra.  No simply task in a closet that also contained a toilet and a sink-but I did it.  Remove bra.  Clean oil.  Apply bandaids to protect "virgin eyes" from an even worse wardrobe malfunction.  Then get on with the rest of my day-oily dress and all.

I know you are wondering, so NO I have not purchased another Water Bra since this incident.  I will stick with the (less that realistic) push up bra with fabric padding.

Lucky

I hear it often, "You are so lucky."  I hear it about many aspects of my life and it irks me every time.

I have a blessed life-not lucky-but blessed.

I am writing today's blog, not to brag or boast, but to give some perspective on my perception of why I have a blessed life.

You are so lucky to have such a good husband and a good marriage!

Wow!  I am honored for people to think so highly of my marriage.  What they do not see is all the times, present and past, that have taken work to get along.  Yes, my husband is definitely my best friend, but there are also times we don't get along so well.  I do attribute our successful marriage to some key bits of advice.

• If it is bothering you, let them know.  You don't have to be hurtful or harsh, but let your spouse know when something is upsetting you BEFORE it builds into a large wound.
• Tell them often how much you love them.  Better yet, show them how much you love them.  Paul and I never hide our affection for each other, especially around our kids.  We kiss and hug often and a little squeeze or pinch on the backside every now again isn't a terrible thing either ;)
• Pay attention to what he (or she) says.  Give in every once in a while to what he (or she) wants to do.  I really could care less about deer hunting, but I do know more than I care to admit about food plot strategies and where to place a good tree stand.  This is because I know hunting is his passion so I will humor him every now and then by listening--really listening--to his stories.
• Pray for your spouse.  

You have such awesome kids.  You are so lucky!

Now, I DO have awesome kids, but trust me, they were not born that way.  It has taken 12 and 10 years to help guide them into choices that have made them what they are today--and we are still working on it.

I am NOT my kids' best friend-I am their mother.  I love spending time with my kids and I hope that they can tell me anything that is on their mind, but I will not hesitate to discipline them when needed.

I started from day one requiring my kids to use good manners, speak properly, and respect adults.  Yes, they are allowed to be kids, but they will also grow into amazing adults!

My kids are limited on certain activities (video games and ipods).  I do go through their room, read their texts, and will check in on them when they start dating and going out with friends.  I will "invade their privacy" because that is my job as a parent!

Best of all, I have sought out Godly counsel on the raising of my kiddos through classes and literature from respected authorities in the church.

You have such a successful Direct Sales Business.  You got in at just the right time.  That was lucky!

I started my Scentsy business in October of 2008.  This was NOT the start of the company.  In fact it was over 4 years old.  Far from "ground floor" where it is perceived that you must be to be successful.

I have worked my tail off to grow and team and build a customer base.  I do not take my business or any aspect of it lightly.  I have learned from some of the best and continue to be a life-long learner in the area of business.

You are just so lucky!

Lucky?  No.

Blessed?  Yes.

I struggle every day to live by the word and not by my flesh. 

My family tithes.  I am confident that because we live by this biblical rule, our finances are guarded and protected.  Now that does not mean we can be frivolous.  I am still frugal and we take guidance on our finances.  However, there have been many times when our finances didn't "make it" on paper, yet we always have the money to pay our bills.

We did not have the money to enroll our kids into Christian school but we were passionate that it needed to be done.  The money simply wasn't there.  We continued to tithe and take care of our financial obligations and somehow we had the money for tuition.  Don't know how-but we did.

We keep our relationship priorities in line.  God first.  Spouse second.  Kids third.  period

We choose relationships wisely.  

We guard our minds.  We do not have cable TV.  We actually rarely watch TV unless it is some silly show like "Wipeout" or "America's Funniest Home Videos".  We also enjoy the new line of inspirational reality shows like "The Biggest Loser" and such.  CONFESSION: I am a sucker for Celebrity Apprentice which I doubt fill my mind with anything of value ;)  

I still desire to be stronger in my daily life.  I desire to be more disciplined in the Word.  I desire to know Him more and more every day.  

I am so thankful that He has blessed us the way he has.

Please brag on your blessings!  I love to hear about them too!

Commentary

I was sent the following quote from my dear friend, Becca Levie, and asked to make commentary on it:

"The individuals attitude and effort are very important elements in personal revelation.  If they are CONTENT to DEPEND upon their own LIMITED CALCULATIONS and interpretations, then of course, the Lord will leave them to THEIR CHOSEN fate." -Spencer W. Kimball

Wow!  This quote says a lot.  I have read it over and over many times to try and get it to all sink in to this little brain.

The first thing that stands out to me is ATTITUDE. 
I have spoken before on the importance of attitude.  I am a firm believer that your attitude can change your life for the good or for the bad.  Attitude is so much a part of our day to day life that we do not even grasp the gravity of how we perceive our life.  I really enjoy the view that this woman has taken on our thoughts (which feed into our attitude):

Watch video here

The next thing that stands out to me is EFFORT.
I am reminded of a sermon that I heard Pastor Willie George preach many times.  You see Pastor wanted to travel around a teach others on how to teach kids using puppets.  He knew the Lord has called him to this teaching ministry and didn't understand why it wasn't happening yet.
As he was praying about not getting any "gigs" yet, he heard (in a still small voice) "Are you ready?"  He thought well of course I am ready.  I have been doing this for years.  The more he thought about it, he was not ready.  If someone had called him to book a training session, he had no way of getting his puppet stage or his puppets on a plane or ready for any type of travel really.  We was ready mentally, but he was not physically ready!
This sermon was very important to us as we were hoping to adopt several years ago.  We had done everything that we thought we needed to do.  Our homestudy was complete, we had taken all the required courses, we were mentally ready.  However, we did not get a referral until we had purchased a bed and dresser for the then empty room in our house that was waiting for a child.  The Lord was waiting for us to be physically ready.

If you are waiting on an answer to prayer that seems to be taking much longer than you want, I encourage you to ask these two questions:

What is my attitude? ( Not just to this area of life, but to life overall)
Are you ready? (consider your effort)

Then comes the most powerful text of the quote: (my version) If you want to only depend upon yourself and not release it to God, then you will get what YOU can do.

I know it is so very hard but RELEASE CONTROL of your dreams!  Now that might seem counterproductive especially after I just told you to get ready.  Let me make it clear that you need to be prepared.  Be prepared for what you want and so much more-if you are willing to release the power and control.  Release the worry.  Release the stress.  Release the logistics.

Crazy how most of my posts are for my own thoughts.  I am definitely preaching to myself today!

I so desperately want to travel and spread encouragement and motivation to so many people.  It is MY DESIRE to become a public motivational speaker
BUT.....
How will that work with my kids?
Who will take care of them?
I can't leave my family.
What if nobody is moved by what I say to them?
They will wonder what is so special about me that I can speak to them.

This is where I must check my attitude, put forth my own effort in preparation and RELEASE CONTROL to the Lord.  (So hard for a "my way or the highway" personality).

I am confident that the Lord has called me to speak to nations.  I don't know what I will be speaking about.  I don't know when it will happen.  I don't know how it will happen.  But I know the Lord has given me this desire and I KNOW the Lord will grant me the desires of my heart...in His time...in His way.  He has planned so much more for me and my family than I can ever imagine!  I release my "fate" to Him.  I give Him control.  I am overjoyed at what will become for me and my family!

Freedom

What is your freedom worth to you?

I have noticed in my travels to other countries that those of us that live in America, where we are "free", are really the ones most tied in bondage.  We are tied to the bondage of having the best.  The best car.  The best house.  The best clothes.  The best of all things material.  In the other countries I have experienced-the countries with less money- they also want the best, but their best is different.  They want the best marriage, the best children, the best relationships.  To them it is not a competition.  It is simply living the best life that they can.

As you all know, I love traveling to Haiti.  While it is so different from my life here in the states, it is a release.  While I am there, I do not have to worry about many of the things that fill my mind here at home.  I am free to listen to the desires of my heart that are often drowned out.  They are drowned out by the obligations that I feel to other people.

I desire to live a life here in the states that I live in Haiti.  A life where God's plan is ALWAYS at the forefront of my mind.  A life where I answer His call without doubt or hesitation.  A life fulfilled-free of living up to what others want from me.

What will make you happy?

Have you ever said any of these things?

I will be happy when I get the right boyfriend.

I will be happy when I am finally married.

I will be happy when I finally have a baby.

I can finally be happy once we are divorced.

Or, maybe for you it was something smaller like:

I would be so happy if I could just have that designer bag.

I would be happy if I could have "those" jeans.

Do you realize that when you say these things, you are just putting off your happiness until the next big thing comes along?  Ask yourself, will you ever truly be happy if these things are what is filling your void?

As most of my posts, I am speaking to myself as much as to you.  I found myself, just today, measuring my happiness by "when I am done with these taxes, I will be so happy."  Then it hit me!

I am so very lucky to live in this amazing country-no matter how I feel about some of the choices of how our government spends my tax money.  

I am so lucky to be able to work for myself (which makes prepping for taxes all the more dreadful).

I am so lucky to have the financial stability to be able to pay these taxes.

I am so lucky to have ANYTHING!

It is so easy to get sucked into this life of comparing to "the Jones's".  Who sets these standards?  Who says what will make us happy?  Society? Ha!  

I look at what society says will make me happy and I want to move in the complete different direction.  

While I love some nice things in this world, I pray that I will be content with a simple and peaceful life. Do I enjoy nice things? Yes.  However, I do not want those nice things to consume me or my mind.

What will make me happy?

Fulfilling God's call for my life!

What has God called you to be?

Are you living a life chasing after what will make you happy?

Or are you happy now?  With what you have?  With where you are?  With what you are meant to be?

 Choose happiness in your circumstances!