I will keep my words brief... This young family, Rachel and Evan Clinkscales and their 3 kids, with #4 coming in February, is so inspirational to me!

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They have been in China for the last 8 years sharing the gospel (they learned the language!), and now they are answering God's call by moving to Mexico (they know Spanish too!). Their love for Jesus is contagious and their desire for others to know him presses them radically forward.

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As the year ends, would you consider helping them in this transition? Here is their newsletter. If you feel led to give financially or prayerfully, I know they would be so grateful. It is good to support the body of Christ.

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The Clinksdale's FUNDRAISING NEEDS FOR MEXICO MOVE

What is happening in January, 2023?

Through prayerful consideration, we are moving to Mexico at the beginning of the year to have our baby!

This will allow us to put down deep roots for the future as Baby Clinkscales will be a Mexican/American citizen, also making us permanent residents.

There are many reasons this makes sense for our mission as well as financially for our future. Due to increased living costs in Mexico with our growing family, we have immediate financial needs.

We pray you will consider partnering with us as we move forward.

What: We need $2,200/mo. to cover living costs, including rent, transportation, schooling, food, clothing, insurance, etc.There are also large setup costs with this move, including purchasing beds, desks, drawers, couches, tables, chairs, oven, microwave, refrigerator, dishes, etc.If you feel led to help with one or more of these needs, please let us know. Thank you!

When: We are asking for monthly support ASAP! And we will begin to set up our house in January.

Where: You can designate one-time or recurring gifts online at www.KaleoInternational.org.

‍Under the Donate tab, click on the Give button, select Missionary Support and write The Clinkscales in the memo section.

You can also send checks marked

The Clinkscales to:

Kaleo International

PO Box 971511El Paso, TX 79910

Blessings,Evan, Rachel, Hannah, Isaac, and Joseph

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Over this final week of 2021, a thought has come to my mind more than once. I've asked myself, (or maybe the Lord has asked me):

"Chris, what are you going to do to help push back the darkness in 2022?"

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This is a good question for all who claim Christ as Lord and Savior; for he has called each of us to be his Light bearers.

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Here is one place that I am excited to share the Good News:

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A wonderful ministry called Girls Living for God wants to use a bible study I wrote called Picture Scripture. This seven-week study uncovers seven biblical images in order to teach and encourage its readers in God's word. In this case, the participants will be teenage girls. The word of God is the beacon of light in their culture's darkness and my prayer is that these young ladies would learn it, trust it, and cling to it not only in their younger years, but all their lives.

Will you join me in this endeavor?

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If you would like to make a year end donation to help fund this project please do so at this link: http://GL4G.com/partner

Once on the donation site, check these boxes: "Dedicate this gift" and then "Picture Scripture"

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Thank you in advance and with sincere gratefulness.

Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power. Psalm 145:4

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My sister Peggy Lively and I just completed our 16th marathon in our 16th state. We have high hopes of completing one in all 50 states. We are often asked, "Why in the world are y'all doing this crazy thing?". Honestly, we just fell into it. Maybe I shouldn't use the word "fall" when talking about marathons. But truly, we've sorta gone into this adventure blindly (hmmm, another poor word for safely accomplishing 26.2 miles). Before my first marathon, I had never run in ANY race. Well, I do remember the three-legged race on field day in elementary school, and that wasn't very pretty, at all. Peggy and I can't explain it; something came over the both of us at the same time and within only minutes, we both decided to "just do it". And so, the 50 marathons in 50 states began.

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With this being number "sweet sixteen", I took a moment to think about the marathons to date, and these are the things we have gained in this journey:

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‍Togetherness. Our marathon weekends, believe it or not, are therapeutic for the both of us. We cover a lot of ground even sitting in our hotel room as we listen to each other's triumphs and trials of life. We laugh a lot, and we cry too. Also, throughout the weekend and the race, we pray for the particular state we are in. We pray for ministries, schools, communities, government, marriages, and families. The 26.2 miles cover not only the roads within the cities we walk, but our words reach heaven's throne with fervent faith. These extra long treks have helped me understand the meaning of "persevering in prayer" (from Eph. 6:18), and it helps me stay the course when I get back home.

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‍Outreach. "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds" (Hebrews 10:24). Both Peggy and I have come to realize that the marathon weekends are about much more than the 5 1/2 hour-ish trek on marathon day. It's about the people we meet (airplane passengers, hotel managers, marathon participants) and the friends and family we visit (old neighbors, nieces and nephews, ministry partners). I will not be able to express in a small paragraph the giant things God has done in and through our travels. Our hopeful goal each time we go to these cities is to spread the love of Christ and encourage others in their own personal journey. Just like a marathon, life is not a feel-good-all-the-time-experience, and if Peggy and I can help encourage someone even a little bit, we call it a successful weekend. In our different travels, we've met complete strangers and they are now dear friends. We've reconnected with people from years past. As a result, the blessings of these relationships have been immense. I'm excited for what's in store.‍

Adventure. I must add here that our dear mother sends Peggy and me off with some spending money each and every trip. Bless her for making these trips doable. She supports "our mission", which is real simple: live full, love well, and pray much.  With that being said, who knew we would go to a World Series game in St.Louis, or see the Grand Canyon in AZ, or peer out into the Atlantic ocean in Maine, or go to the Dairy Queen in North Dakota? That's pretty awesome for this introvert who loves her comfy chair in the confines of her own four walls! I'm thankful for each of these trips and eager for more. God knew I needed to GET UP and GO FORWARD...to His people and to His world. I'm thankful for the privilege.

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I finish these memorable moments with an encouraging word for your very own marathon of life. Hear the Forerunner say:

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‍Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

Over the next several days, I will be posting thoughts and pictures of my recent mission trip to Haiti. This project will look much like theEthiopian Scrapbook, that can also be viewed on my website. Today's post is entitled Unity and One-ness.

page 1--Unity

Months before our team's trip to Haiti, I know that I know that I know the Lord wanted me to pray for unity among our team. We had 21 members of various ages from teenagers to 60's, so the diversity was obviously present. Therefore...I obeyed...and prayed (along with others) that the Lord would put His sweet blessing of unity within our group.

The main passage I claimed is found in Ephesians 4:1-6:
I therefore, prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call--one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

I'm so thankful to report that God answered this prayer in rich and beautiful ways. The 5 adult men encouraged the 4 young men in their 20's, who encouraged the 3 teenage guys. Likewise, the 2 older women, loved on and laughed with the 7 younger ladies in the group, who each contributed to the unified bond.  We worked side by side all day, and then "circled up" together at night to share the great things that God had done in and through us.Thank you Lord, that Your bond of peace held us together while we were in Haiti. I pray that each of us would desire Your unity back home--may Your Spirit infiltrate our families, our friendships, our workplace, and our churches. Amen.

page 2-- One-ness

The verse that immediately follows the passage mentioned above is Ephesians 4:7
But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.

Inside the unity is individuality, and it was remarkable in our group. We had surgeons, medical doctors, and nursing students, all giving their knowledge and skill in the jungled-hills of Haiti. We had creative Young Life leaders who played games, and taught God's word, and poured out love to the children of Hands and Feet. We had a work crew that pounded large rock, and shoveled the small gravel to help the new development on the grounds. And we had those who gave spiritually through sharing the Good News and prayer. The one true God... poured Himself out through each one of us. 

Dear Lord, make us confident in how you made us. Cause us to shine Your glory in this appointed place. Help us not to crave someone else's gift, but to rise up to the great work You have already designed for each our lives. Amen

Yesterday, I submitted pages 1 and 2 of my Haitian Scrapbook; today, here are pages 3 and 4, entitled Creature Comforts and The Creator Comforts.

page 3--Creature Comforts

Today as I sit with my warm cup of sweet creamy coffee in my over-stuffed chair, I reflect on last week's trip to Haiti. Like I said in my last post, there were 9 women on our team; 7 of these ladies are age 22 or under, and then there is my dear friend Brenda Jeffries and me. Our ages DOUBLED the years of these pretty young things.

Neither Brenda nor I ever considered ourselves in the "high maintenance" category of women; however, spending a week in Haiti gave me a new perspective on this term. Brace yourself, I am about to complain.

1. There are big hairy spiders in Haiti. Oh my!
2. It was HOT. A kind of HOT I've never experienced. I knew I had sweat  pores, but wow, my sweat has never poured so much--7 days/nights non-stop.
3. Electricity is not over-rated. The lights and anything plugged in (like a fan) turned off about 2 am until 8 am. Getting dressed in the early morning was quite an adventure for all. (I lost my right eye-contact on the bathroom floor--thought it was best to not look for it.)
4. Unfamiliar food to the taste is also unfamiliar to the GI tract. Over half our team found ourselves running (literally) to the nearest potty the second half of the trip.
5. Haiti driving can be compared to going the wrong direction during an intense Nascar race. However, instead of race cars, you're dealing with oncoming trucks and donkeys and motorcycles and pedestrians with baskets on their heads. I actually thoughtour sardined-packed van just might drive on through the pearly gates a few times as we whipped around mountain curves in the passing lane.

Okay, am I spoiled rotten or what?! When stripped away of all these creature comforts that seem so basic, I saw the real me... and it wasn't all that pretty...

page 4--The Creator Comforts

I want the real me to know Jesus... the spoiled rotten me. I want Him to come in and speak to me there. Then I want Him to take over and clean me out and fill me up, so that I can pour Him out to others, not my complaints. God is faithful and ever-present and gives us what we need exactly when we need it. But sometimes He has to take something away first to show us just how needy we are. Then, He graciously meets us in this place. He is able to come closer than ever before...
The heavenly presence of God did show up in the earthly absence of things while in Haiti. As I, and the rest of the team, received comfort from the Lord throughout the week, He replaced our neediness with immense love for the Haitians, joyful laughter in the van rides, and beautiful bonding time
as we shared together at night. Where we were weak, He became strong.

Whom  have I in heaven but You? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:25-26
Yes, may I always desire my Creator who comforts more than the creature comforts of this world.

Here are the last two pages of my Haitian Scrapbook, entitled Depravity and Hope.

page 5--Depravity

When talking with a missionary who is currently living in Haiti, he stated this fact: The struggles of sin may be different from nation to nation, but the common denominator for all people worldwide is the innate depravity of the human heart. Well said.

The bible confirms this statement: The heart is deceitful above all things , and desperately sick; who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9)

The Haitian's heart may wrestle with voodoo and greed and sexual promiscuity, while the American heart may wrestle with materialism and self-centeredness and...sexual promiscuity. And then there's other nations, like France and Italy, who wrestle with living for the moment and complete non-interest of God and...sexual promiscuity.

Let the every tribe, tongue, and people group face this truth together: we are all depraved.And like the picture beside these words, we're left in darkness.

The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned said; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. Psalm 14:2

page 6--Hope

But there is hope for all nations!The Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. (I John 4:14). 

In Him (Jesus) was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:4-5). So there you have it, Jesus Light of the world, is our only hope. When we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, He enters our messy hearts, cleans us up with His overwhelming love, and then sets us in right standing before Him.

THEN, the amazing thing is this--Jesus calls usthe light of the world. (Matt. 5:14). Webecome His lamp-bearers and are now called to go into to the world (our own homes, our classrooms, our workplaces, across the street, and across the ocean) to bear this marvelous light. What a privilege!

I will finish my HaitianScrapbook with pictures, pictures, pictures. My son Bink went to Haiti for 3 months...to be a light for Christ. He was able to touch lives of both children and of workmen, day in and day out. We then joined him as a family with our team for his last week at the Hands and Feet Project. There is no greater joy for me on this earth than to be a powerful force of radiant Light while serving alongside my husband and children. The trip to Haiti, for this reason, was an immense blessing to me. I will be forever thankful.

For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength! Ascribe tho the Lord the glory due His name. Psalm 96:4-8

Do you have someone in your life that you have invested so much of your time, energy, and effort into concerning God’s love? You’ve given your heart, soul, mind, and strength to this person, desperately wanting him or her to know and understand who the Lord Jesus is and all that He has to offer. Through your loving words and Christlike ways, you’ve plowed the field,  you’ve dug up the rocks, you’ve pulled out the roots, you’ve planted the seeds, you’ve watered, and you’ve waited. And the result is….nothing. You’re tired.

I have a couple of young friends that have won a place in my heart; I love them with God’s love so it’s deep and rich and full. Right now, when it comes to each of them believing in Jesus Christ as their Savior, there seems to be only an empty plowed up field. Rows of nothing. Will the blinders ever come off their eyes? Will they ever bend their knee to His love? Will they ever receive His grace, His mercy, His peace?

Will I ever get to see a small green shoot pressing through the deep rich soil?

This is when I must turn to God’s word, and claim His promises. To the same degree I want my young friends to believe in God as Savior, I must also believe in Him as Promise Keeper–the one Who keeps His word. I must have faith too! I must leave no room for doubting Him in my own heart… this is the very thing I am asking of my loved ones, isn’t it?

So, I will stand boldly on His promises, and wait, not with hopelessness, but with expectancy, because I believe in His word:

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.  Isaiah 55:10-11

Keep your hands to the plow, my fellow co-laborer in Christ. Do not be discouraged when there seems to be nothing. God is at work in ways we cannot see; and He is working, right now. Trust Him. Water your seeds with steadfast love, ongoing prayer, unwavering faith, and expectant hope.

Then sooner (or later) you and I can rejoice in that tender green shoot sprouting up from the furrowed ground.

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As I mentioned in my last post, I asked the Lord to "break my heart" as I traveled to Ethiopia on a missions trip with my daughter Emmy, my son Bink, and our family friend Christian. We were with an organization called Ordinary Hero whose primary goal is to "change the world for one." Over the next several posts in the next few days, I would like to share my Ethiopian experiences and photos with you. Here are the first two pages, labeled Seeking and Finding,of my Ethiopian Scrapbook:

Page 1-- Seeking

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One of the places our team visited was Korah, a poverty sticken community that survives primarily through the provisional garbage dump that it sits next to. The first day we visited this village, I met several young children, one in particular whose name is Eshetu. This 15 year old boy was content to just sit by my side and smile; occasionally, we attempted broken conversations about his life and about Jesus. When it was time to go, we hugged and went our separate ways. The next day our team went back for another visit. I had barely stepped off the bus in Korah, and there was Eshetu, waiting for me. He sought me out, grabbed hold of my hand, and  stuck close by me the entire day.



 Page 2-- Finding

Also, during my first day at Korah, I went into a home, which was no more than a one room scrap metal shack. The mother of six who lived there proceeded to roast us coffee beans over some burning embers in a small pan so that she could welcome us properly. While waiting for the coffee to brew, I sat and talked to two young Ethiopian men, Kennedy 19 and Takley 21. They were both Christians, and I could tell by their peaceful expression and the words they spoke to me about Jesus, that they loved the Lord with all their heart. They told me that they were leading a group of young boys through Romans; I was so thrilled to hear this news! Somehow, I wanted to bless them. My team leaders said that they both needed money to help with their education. So, the next day, while holding Eshetu's hand (mentioned on page 1), I kept a keen eye out for Kennedy and Takley. It was about time to leave...and finally... I found them. When I blessed them with the financial gift, we rejoiced together as brothers and sister-in-Christ.

Thoughts on Seeking and Finding

During the time I was in Ethiopia, I know full well that I had to depend completely on the Lord to do the things that I did. All my senses are ulta-hyper, so the sights and smells of Korah were almost too much for my wimpy disposition. As I walked through the community, I found myself praying, Jesus come alive in me... please rise up in me...overcome me...claiming,it is not I, but Christ who lives in me. And then, by His grace, I would experience both His peace and joy to do all that He asked me to do in each particular moment I was there. So I was "Christ-like" when Eshetu sought me out, and clung to my side; and I was also "Christ-like" when I found Kennedy and Takley and blessed them. These actions made me think of my own personal walk with the Lord:

Do I seek Him, and cling to Him the way Eshetu did to me? The psamist says it well: O God you are my God; earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You... my soul clings to You; your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:1, 8

And do I realize that Jesus pursues me and gives me blessing upon spiritual blessing when He finds me, the same way I did physically with Kennedy and Takley? And do I know that He rejoices with me in the blessing? Again scripture speaks to this: What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the niety-nine in the open pasture, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. Luke 15:4-5

I am thankful for Eshetu, Kennedy, and Takley. They each tenderly broke my heart and brought me closer to my Savior. I will continue to pray that God will stay ever so close to them as they walk and live in desperate city of Korah.

Here are the next two pages of my Ethiopian experiences, entitled Waiting and Hoping:

Page 3--Waiting

On another day while in Ethiopia, our Ordinary Hero team visited a Catholic Orphanage. The sweet children flocked around our young team members as they played basketball, blew bubbles, and handed out suckers. I loved seeing Bink and Emmy walk into this place completely unihibited by the poverty all around them. They both loved the children so completely, so beautifully.

Upstairs in the orphanage, I found a small room of disabled children. There, laying on thin flimsy mats, were two young girls with what I assume was muscular dystrophy. One girl's skin was so cold and damp, and she was so motionless except for her eyes, I had a sad sensation that she was dying. The other girl could only move her stiff arms in quick back and forth motions; she also could make a sputtering noise with her lips when she was happy. I sat beside these girls and held their hands, rubbed their forearms, and...prayed: Please sweet Jesus, heal these girls. I know You can...please do this for them...nothing is impossible with You...You are the healer...do something!!!! I waited...and nothing. What did I expect, that they were going to get up, take up their mats and walk? Well this very thing happened in Jesus' day, and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, isn't He? Yes, I know and believe He is. But at this moment in time, as I sat with these crippled girls, I had to just trust in the Lord and His ways. These girls are waiting... waiting for this world to pass...waiting for a future hope and a future home. I prayed for them as they lay there: that Jesus would come to them as their Savior, that He would comfort them in ways that I cannot understand, that He would speak to them somehow in the long days and nights, that He would someday dance with them in heaven. My heart, once again, broke. After a while, it was time to go; I gently kissed them on the cheek, got up and left these sweet girls, with Jesus, in the room. They will wait together. Yet those who wait upon the Lord will gain new strength...they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. Isaiah 40:31

Page 4--Hoping
One more place we visited was called Hope 4 the Hopeless. This ministry's goal is to pull the suffering children off the streets and give them a place of refuge. I embraced this ministry 100% because their desire is to give these homeless kids a bed for their weary bodies, food for their hungry bellies, and the word of God to their lonely hearts. The two Ethiopian leaders are mighty men with a divine call, and I was so thankful to support them through funds from a generous friend back home who asked me to meet a need wherever the Lords leads me. I loved to see evidences of God's word impacting the children who had been living in this shelter 2 weeks, 2 month, 2 years...

The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure; making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgements of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether; they are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them your servant is warned; in keeping them, there is great reward. Psalm 19: 7-8

I pray that God will continue to bless these children both now, and those who are rescued from the streets in the future, with the living hope, Jesus Christ.

Here is one more page of my adventure in Ethiopia, labeled Abounding:

page 5--Abounding 

One of the most disturbing things to me while I was in Ethiopia was how the street kids in the big city of Addis Ababa would come up and tap on our bus windows and beg for food or money (or anything!). One afternoon, we were surrounded by these children, but we couldn't hand anything out due to the dusruption it would have caused amongst them. My heart ached as I just sat there and I watched these desperate children at my window. I wrestled with this unsettling question:Why am I on the inside of the bus? And:Why am I not the one out there tapping on the window? I took this thought to bed with me that night, and woke up to it the next morning. In my quiet time, the Lord began to answer my searching heart in His word: ...for I have learned , in whatsoever state I am...to be content. I know how to be abased and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. (Phil. 4:11-13). So that's it? It's okay that they are the ones suffering need, and I'm the one who is full? We are to be content with our lot that is handed us? Hmmm....I kept reading in Philippians, and was struck by Paul's words only a few verses later: But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received...the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God. (Phil 4:18). Ahh, I see...God uses His people to pull the suffering and needy "into the privileged bus", so that they too, may abound.

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Interestingly, the same day that I read these verses, we were traveling to our next destination out in the countryside. Our bus made a pit stop at a hotel for all those who needed to go to the bathroom (and yes, "a pit" is what we got...just a hole in the ground for us ladies). Outside this hotel, was yet one more young boy who lived on the streets. We asked about him, and invited him to spend the day with us so he could get a meal and receive some TLC. So...Tadaluu got into the bus. The whole afternoon, he watched us quietly and received love gratefully. When it was time for him to go home (?), he said he had nowhere to go. He didn't want to take our money because he knew he would be beaten by others. His parents were both dead. And he said of his remaining uncle, Why would he come look for me when he has already forgotten me? Our leaders, Kelly and Shane Putty, with the help of Bissy, a Christian Ethiopian who is wise in situations such as this, decided to call Hope 4 the Hopeless (mentioned in my last post). By God's design, one remaining bed was open at this shelter. I had the privilege of holding Tadaluu in my arms on the bus for two hours as we traveled to the shelter...all the while, I prayed for him: that he would find rest, that he would adjust well, that he would not be afraid, that he would someday be a mighty man of God who would spread the gospel in Ethiopia, and that he would come full circle and rescue kids off the street.

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That evening, we dropped him off at his new home; he was warmly received, and was shown to his room which he shared with another young boy who was also saved from street-living. Tadaluu had a bed for the first time in who knows how long. He was safe, secure, abounding in Jesus' love.

The next day we saw him, and the transformation in just 24 hours was remarkable. I am so thankful that God used us, His people, to pull Tadaluu into the bus. It must be our business to do our Father's business: to reach outside...both spiritually and physically...one individual at a time and bring the needy and suffering into His love. Through Christ we can be abased, and through Christ, we can abound.

Here are pages 6 and 7 of my Ethiopian Scrapbook, Trusting and Serving:

Page 6--Trusting

On Sunday while in Ethiopia, we worshipped at Besa International Church; there, I met a 16 year old girl named Alamnesh who was invited by our leaders to join us. She was resuced from the streets five years ago... street life for any child, especially for a girl, is nightmarish. When I first saw her, she seemed hesitant and timid of our team. She and I sat beside each other on the bus as we traveled to a nearby restaurant; by this time in the trip, I had learned that a wonderful way to overcome the language barrier is to use physical touch... so, I reached out and held her hand. During lunch, we sat together and I did the best I could to pull her in, mainly by just smiling and looking directly into her eyes. When our eyes would meet, she would turn her head quickly, yet not without producing a small grin--a barrier was beginning to break.

The next day, we visited her and many others at Hope 4 the Hopeless. When she saw me, she grabbed my hand, looked into my eyes, and smiled. She showed me her room, and her few belongings. A little later, she was teaching (or trying to teach me!) how to count to ten in Amaric. The more time we spent together, the more she trusted me.

I think our walk with the Lord can be compared to my developing friendship with Alamnesh. Jesus desires each of us to spend time with Him, so we can know, understand, and believe in Him as a trustworthy Friend. After quiet intentional time spent with Him, we can undoubtedly say, But this I know, that You delight in me. (Psalm 41:11). And we can hear Him proclaim to our hearts,...you are precious in my sight and I love you... (Isaiah 43:4). I am thankful that Alamnesh risked trusting me; and I am equally as thankful that she reminded that trusting Jesus as the one unfailing Friend is worth it all.

Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Psalm 62:8

page 7--Giving

Our team wanted to bless a group of women who carry extremely heavy loads of eucalyptus leaves down a mountainside for their livelyhood; they return up the mountain again and again for load after load. With funds raised from sponsors in America, Ordinarey Hero was able to purchase donkeys for these ladies; now, their backs would be free of the tremendous weight. What a beautiful physical picture of what our God does for our spiritual hearts:

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, the God who is our salvation. Psalm 68:19

Another way in which we wanted to bless the ladies was to wash their feet. It was a privilege to serve alongside of Bink, Christian, Emmy and others on the team. As we washed these women's feet, I thought about my Savior who did this very thing to 12 men the night He gave His life. This humble act brought me ever so close to understanding the selfless love of Jesus, King of kings. I prayed these women would sense His love as they felt our hands lathering, rubbing, cleaning, and pouring water over their mud-calloused feet. Our team's hope was that each woman would be abundantly encouraged as they walked away from us, wearing their new flip-flops and leading their new donkeys.

This act of feet washing was also a personal reminder-call for me to live like Christ every day. Jesus was and is and always will be a constant outpouring of sacrificial love. Do I give of myself each day in the way He coninually gives to me? I can only do this through His Spirit that empowers me. He says to His followers, For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master; neither is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. I was indeed blessed to wash the feet of another.

True living... is truly loving...like our Savior Jesus Christ.

While Mac experienced "aftershocks" in Haiti, I am currently experiencing "after thoughts" concerning his trip.

Due to viewing his pictures and videos several times, I can attest to the fact that Mac's more-than-sharp surgical knife was put to use on the severe wounds of the earthquake victims. To begin these operations, anesthetizing took place; then Mac made his initial entry-- cutting cleanly, quickly, efficiently. Once "in", he administered whatever was necessary in order to bring about optimal healing.

With this information in mind, listen to this verse:

The word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of the soul and the spirit, of both joints and marrow and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

I love this analogy. The Message translation actually calls the God's word a surgeon's scalpel. So, just as Mac's operating knife began the healing and restoration of the physically injured Haitians, God's Word can and will bring the same spiritual healing and restoration to our hearts. He know us, inside out. Let His Word of love "in."

I have a picture I would like to share with you; hopefully, you will be able to "stomach it" long enough to get a beautiful glimpse of God's wonderful ways. I sincerely pre-apologize if it's too much, but just look for a few seconds in wonderment of the human body, and of God's love for each of us. (If you are reading this via email, click twice on the title and it will take you to respitefortheweary.com to see the photo should it not appear).

When you look at the picture, think of the Surgeon's scalpel, the word of God, in your own life "hurts". Be confident that through the peace of the Holy Spirit living in you, His Word penetrates in the just the right way-- carefully, precisely, and accurately--for your benefit. You are His beloved patient.

And now look at the main forearm bone in the picture. Do you see the fracture that was set back in its proper place? A stainless steel plate was inserted right beside the set bone. This plate is much like your God-- where you are broken and weak, He is supportive and strong. With Him, you are now better off than you were before.

So let your Healer come to your rescue. And let the Surgeon's Scalpel, His word, do its beautiful work where you are hurting. Then let Him bind up your wounds. Know and believe this promise:

He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation. Psalm 149:4

Ah... relief. Mac's home from Haiti, and I'm one thankful wife.

After five giant hugs (and then some), the kids and I gathered around our Man as he downloaded his pictures on the computer; of course, each one had a story. I loved the tenderness in Mac's voice as he spoke of the people, combined with the toughness of the job that he was able to fulfill while there. He spent a week, giving, giving, giving, and said he felt a little guilty for leaving his "post." The need is still so great. Thankfully, an orthopedic team arrived the very day he and Rick flew out of Jacmel. Please "hear" his own words of gratitude:

Thank you all for praying for me while in Haiti. God was good to us and allowed us to help many people. We did more than thirty surgeries, treating severe fractures of both arms and legs. We told the Haitians of God's love for them and that we came to tell them about Jesus; we wanted to give them hope... spiritual and physical hope.

I asked Mac questions like:

"What did you eat?" (rice, beans, and goat);

"Where did you sleep?" (in a bunk bed with my clothes on, ready to race out of the orphanage in case of another aftershock);

"What about the devastation?" (immense, overwhelming, heart-breaking);

"What about the people?" (friendly, appreciative, tough-as-nails, non-complainers even with their terrible fractures--amazing).

I will close out this Haiti adventure with one more question I asked Mac: "Was there a particular Bible verse that kept going through your head while you were in Jacmel?"

Without hesitation, he responded, "Yes, I John 3:17; it's what got me there." It reads:

But whoever has the worlds goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in Him?

Mac went with his goods--his surgical gifts--and took God's love to the hurting people of Haiti. For seven days he and Rick were able to give them ... ah ... relief. Mac went to Haiti, and I am one thankful wife.

I am all too familiar with the term "emotional roller coaster." But I have to confess, this past week will definitely be one for the personal record books. Mac's trip to Haiti, of course, "locked me in" for a topsy-turvy ride. Since roller coasters are enjoyed (or not!) on an individual basis, I will let you decide where each of these emotions belong on the tracks:

FEAR-- My "ride" started here, with the what ifs coming, just like the clack-clack-clack of the train slowly ascending: What if the six-seater puddle-jumper Mac's on takes a plunge into the ocean-blue?... What if an after shock catches him at the "wrong place" at the "wrong time"? ... What if ...? You name it, and not only did I think it, I lived it.

JOY--Then a phone call from my honey would send me sailing! He's safe; he's good. And he's safely doing God's good work. I felt a surge of joy when I heard that he helped bring a newborn into this world. And then another heart pounding rush came when I read this update:

Mac spoke this morning in a church about his call to come and help the people of Jacmel. He was able to share with them that the reason he was there was because of the great love of Jesus. He shared the gospel with all who were there and then they returned to their operation clinic to resume surgeries again.

With this information, I wanted to do a loop-de-loop with my hands in the air. I absolutely love Mac's love for Jesus!

CONFUSION--Roller coasters "boggle" my mind--am I going up or down, right or left?-- As I was reminded in church this past Sunday, I am "glued" (the Hebrew meaning of the word "cleave") to my husband. So all week, it has seemed odd that he's there in chaos, and I'm here in comfort. While he's fixing broken bones in a make-shift tent, I'm folding loads of laundry in my red-brick house? While he's using a surgical knife on hurting Haitians, I'm spreading peanut butter for my "hungry" kids? While he's sleeping on a cot in an orphanage, I'm snoozing under my electric blanket? The Bible tells me I am one with him, and I believe it. We are knit together in love. For now, however, our "calls" are vastly diverse, and a world apart.

RELIEF-- This emotion is experienced when the roller coaster makes its entrance into the loading/un-loading zone and comes to a complete stop. In other words, Lord willing, it will occur when my babe's big old GMC truck pulls into our garage on Thursday afternoon. Ah... he's home. And when he walks through our door, Maggie, Bink, Davis, Emmy, and I will all embrace the "doctor who went to Haiti" as their very own (until the next time). We will all say with relief, "Thanks for going to them, and thanks for coming back to us."

PEACE THROUGHOUT--I must say these emotions were/are very real--up, down, loop around. BUT, I will also say, no matter the emotion, I have learned that I am never alone. I must choose to take every feeling and ground it in my faith. God is my "steady." So, I may be weeping, laughing, hollering, or sighing on the outside; however, on the inside:

My soul waits in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken. Psalm 61:5

Yes, I will continue to hold on to my God tightly; and He promises to keep His strong hold on me... as He sits right by my side ... on my all too familiar emotional roller coaster.

I am praying...

Whatever your hands find to do, do it with all your might. (Ecclesiastes 9:10)

These girls received prostheses in PhiladelphiaI am praying for my husband's hands. Through a brief and broken phone conversation late last night, Mac informed me of the continuous flow of surgical operations he has done since his arrival in Jacmel, Haiti. Yesterday's day lasted from 7:30 am-11 pm. The surgeries range from various fractures--hip, tibia, femur, foot--to limb amputations. Lives are being saved. I am praying that Mac and Rick, his surgical assistant, will have God's strength and might in their hands as they continue to provide medical healing to the masses of Haitians that are lined up waiting for care.

I am praying...

How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things! (Romans 10:15)

I am praying for my husband's (beautiful?) feet. As you can imagine, standing over an operating table all these hours has to be exhausting to Mac and Rick, not only physically but also emotionally. How does one cut off a limb to save a life without being affected with sadness and grief in the midst of the necessary care? I am praying for steadfastness as they stand on their Rock of strength, even though the ground has rumbled beneath them. (These aftershocks truly rattled Mac's nerves at the time it happened). I am praying that their medical care will bring good things to these people. And I am praying that each patient laying on the operating table will personally feel the love of Jesus Christ through the two men standing over them.

I am thankful that Mac and Rick were able to step away from the operating table this morning and stand in a worship service together; what a privilege to praise their God along side of the hurting but hope-filled Haitians. Mac said the message of the Good News was dynamic and that many people prayed to receive Christ as their Savior. Now this is reason for each of us to get on our own two feet and jump up and down with joy!

How ironic to me (but not to God) that Mac and Rick are staying at the Hands and Feet Orphanage in Jacmel. If you would like to see where they are staying and get a closer feel to the conditions over there, please check out this wonderful organization's web site at: http://handsandfeetproject.org/home.php. I am so thankful Mac is locking arms with these compassionate people.

For now I am praying... I am praying... I am praying. Thank you for doing the same. One thing I know for sure, when my husband gets home, I will hold his gifted hand and massage his beautiful (yes, beautiful) feet.

My husband Mac, an orthopedic surgeon, was glued to the news as the tragedies of the earthquake in Haiti unfolded--devastation, destruction, death. From the very first media report he kept saying, "I wish I could go"..."I need to be there"..."people are dying"..."I can help"...and then a resounding, "I've got to get to Haiti."

So I prayed, "Lord, if he's meant to go, open the door."

... phone calls, emails, texts, organization, tentative planning, coming together...

Mac woke me at 11:15 pm this Tuesday and said, "Chris, it's happening, I'm leaving tomorrow." Reality opened the floodgate of my heart, and the tears (of fear, of worry, of love) poured out. He told me he wanted to be someone that ran to the battle line, not away from it. I held my hero close, and prayed... "O God, bring him back to me."

Wednesday morning I woke the kids, Maggie(18), Bink(17), Davis(14), and Emmy (12), and told them the news of their Daddy's quick departure. We all met in the kitchen, speechless, but not emotionless; the air was thick with deep, deep love. Mac hugged each one--goodness, how they adore their daddy, and how he adores them. Bink called 30 minutes later on his way to school and asked pleadingly, "Daddy, is there any possible way I can go with you?".

I want to share a few verses from the chapter that our family just finished memorizing over the fall semester. Remember, God is always in front of us, preparing our hearts:

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change, and the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride ... the Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. (Psalm 46:1-3,7)

I must tell you, I've never loved my husband more than I do right now. I love his eagerness to leave all behind and then go "through the door" towards chaos and danger in order to help desperate people. I love seeing Christ in him. And I love that he knows and claims that God is his stronghold, both here in Brentwood, TN, and there in Haiti.

Right now, I pray that he has landed safely on the little air-strip in Jacmel, a city 30 miles south of Port au Prince; he will performing surgeries there at a medical site for a week. I also pray that he and Rick, his faithful assistant, will be the hands and feet of Christ to hundreds and hundreds of Haitians, giving them not only healing but also Hope.

And then, I will pray ... that God will open the door... and bring him back to me.