Hello! Goodbye.

Oh, Blog, where did you go? 

The answer:

To the back of my mind, where only cobwebs dwell. 

It is completely insane how consumed my life is with work. I don't really care to bother with the details, but I basically work, sleep, wake up super late, catch up on a few shows on DVR, then get ready for work again. I have no life. 

But it's ok, I like my job. It is the main source of stress in my life, but I like it nonetheless. It's weird, too, that before my job, I always thought I knew what stress was, but man, I've never experienced this kind of stress before. 

Social Work is NOT for the faint of heart. 

So, until I can better manage my time, I am going to take an Interim from The Interim. 

As if you didn't notice that yet. 

BYE!

Isaiah 58

     "Cry loudly, do not hold back;

Raise your voice like a trumpet,

         And declare to My people their transgression

         And to the house of Jacob their sins.

     "Yet they seek Me day by day and delight to know My ways,

         As a nation that has done righteousness

         And has not forsaken the ordinance of their God 

         They ask Me for just decisions,

         They delight in the nearness of God. 

    'Why have we fasted and You do not see?

         Why have we humbled ourselves and You do not notice?'

         Behold, on the day of your fast you find your desire,

         And drive hard all your workers. 

    "Behold, you fast for contention and strife and to strike with a wicked fist 

         You do not fast like you do today to make your voice heard on high. 

    "Is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to humble himself?

         Is it for bowing one's head like a reed

         And for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed?

         Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the LORD? 

    "Is this not the fast which I choose,

         To loosen the bonds of wickedness,

         To undo the bands of the yoke,

         And to let the oppressed go free

         And break every yoke? 

    "Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry

         And bring the homeless poor into the house;

         When you see the naked, to cover him;

         And not to hide yourself from your own flesh? 

    "Then your light will break out like the dawn,

         And your recovery will speedily spring forth;

         And your righteousness will go before you;

         The glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. 

    "Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;

         You will cry, and He will say, 'Here I am '

         If you remove the yoke from your midst,

         The pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, 

    And if you give yourself to the hungry

         And satisfy the desire of the afflicted,

         Then your light will rise in darkness

         And your gloom will become like midday. 

   "And the LORD will continually guide you,

         And satisfy your desire in scorched places,

         And give strength to your bones;

         And you will be like a watered garden,

         And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail. 

    "Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins;

         You will raise up the age-old foundations;

         And you will be called the repairer of the breach,

         The restorer of the streets in which to dwell.

    "If because of the sabbath, you turn your foot

         From doing your own pleasure on My holy day,

         And call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of the LORD honorable,

         And honor it, desisting from your own ways,

         From seeking your own pleasure

         And speaking your own word, 

   Then you will take delight in the LORD,

         And I will make you ride on the heights of the earth;

         And I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father,

         For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

Road Trip

I started this blog out with complaining about the snow. Then I realized that I sounded like the most annoying Debbie Downer ever. A few taps of the delete button, and I'm forcing myself to redirect and think positively. 

I had a great visit with a great friend last night. We did what we usually do, plan our weddings. This time, though, it was for real, which is always a nice change of pace! We searched for the perfect songs for different parts of Sam's upcoming wedding, and mostly ended up with the most inappropriately hysterical songs. 

I slept over, and while her bed was the most heavenly piece of mattress that had ever graced my spinal cord and extremities, for the life of me, I could not fall asleep. It's not like we stayed up that late either. We went to bed shortly before 12:30, and after laying there for a while, I looked at my phone and was shocked to see that it was 2:57 am. I'm thinking I eventually fell asleep around 3:30-4, because the dog woke me up and it was still dark out, so it was probably around 6. I finally got up at 9. Crazy. 

My hour and a half drive home went a lot better than my drive there. Let me just recap. 

I was already running late, and my stop to Shop Rite and Wawa for gas only made me later. 

I was getting on the Expressway, and it wasn't until I was already on the ramp that I realized I got on the wrong ramp. I was supposed to go west towards Philly, and instead, I was headed into Atlantic City. My brain is so programmed from work that it just happened automatically without thinking. So I had to get off at the first exit and turn around (2 tolls later!)

I almost missed the exit to 295, my next leg of the journey, and had to cut off 2 lanes of high speed rush hour traffic to make the exit. 

On 295, I legitimately missed my exit for Florence, NJ. My directions called the exit something else, so I didn't think it was it, until I passed it, then I realized it was in fact the right exit. I got off at the next exit, turned around, and got off the right place.

So far, I messed up each leg of the trip. I got to Rt. 130 without problems, and even got off at the right street. But then my directions called for a left on 9th street, which would be the 3rd left. Except there were no streets named 9th street. So of course I passed the right street, which was not called 9th street, and Sam's fiance had to talk me through until I made it. 

Phew. 

It was exhausting! But worth the visit. :-)

PS - I'm so excited, she's having her wedding cake made by THE Cake Boss! How fun!

PSS- I'm so excited, she's wearing my dream dress! Like, the exact dress I picked out! (For fun, of course)

Adjusting

Adjusting is hard, especially when it comes to new schedules. 3 days into my new routine, and it's not going so well.

I get home from my shift between 12:30-12:45 am, and on a good night, will be ready to sleep by 1 am. Then I sleep until 9, but am usually still so tired that I lay in bed "waking up" until 11 am. So by the time I get out of bed and downstairs, my mom and sister are usually getting lunch ready. I say hi to Jake, make lunch, talk about work the night before (if I can even remember anything), maybe catch up on a TV show that was DVRed, etc. By 2 - 2:30 pm, I need to shower and get ready for work. By 3:30, I'm ready to fly out the door. I manage to catch a glimpse of Jonny, say hi and bye, grab a snack and a water bottle, and I'm gone. I haven't seen my father since Sunday. Collectively I've exchanged one lonely hug and a few sentences with Jon over the course of 3 days. I haven't eaten a meal with my whole family in days. Somehow I managed to get out of bed by 10 today, a new personal best, and even made it to the gym for 45 minutes with my sister. (!!!)

This is my new life.

It's weird.

Thursday and Friday are my new Saturday and Sunday.

I'm going to need a little more time to let this sink in.

Plans (and How They Change)

Finally, an update on my own life. I've been blog lazy, what can I say? Too much real life happenings, not enough internet telling time. 

I guess the big thing that is going on is that a full-time position opened up at Covenant House. I was encouraged to apply for it, and I did. A week after I applied, I was asked to come in for an interview. Then a few hours later at work, another per diem employee stopped in to fill out the same job application. I was nervous at that point because the job is for the boys team, and for obvious reasons, male staff, in my mind, would be preferred. As this particular per diem employee is, in fact, male, I thought for sure that the job would go to him. I was a little disappointed at the fictional outcome that I created in my mind, but it didn't take long for me to create a "Plan B." 

I found out about an orphanage in Haiti, that is in dire need of financial donations as well as volunteers. It is run by a selfless, God-loving woman, along the North Haiti-Dominican boarder, roughly 9 hours away from Port-Au-Prince. She was asked to receive orphans that survived the quake, or became newly orphaned after the quake. Like any determined and faith-filled missionary, she said yes. To 200 orphans. She has no idea where they'll sleep or how she'll feed them, but she said yes. After visiting her website (www.danitaschildren.org) and a website created for the post-quake help she'll need (www.helpdanita.org), I decided that if I didn't get the full time position, I'll continue working per diem and have the flexibility to take 2 weeks off to go to Haiti to help. 

Plan B was set. I was getting excited. I felt peace that whatever the outcome, I would be ok and have something to look forward to. To be honest, I was leaning a little bit more towards Plan B, as I really feel the need to help Haiti in their time of distress. 

So my interview came at 9 am Friday morning, and it went well. It was one of the easiest and most pleasant interviews I've had, which is probably due to the fact that I already work there and know the person interviewing me. She told me that I'd hear from HR by Tuesday.

After the interview, I went home and made plans to visit a friend in Virginia for a few days, from Tuesday to Friday. We were both really pumped about the visit. I've felt the urge lately to do something sporadic and random, so this trip would do the trick. 

Not 10 minutes after I finalized plans to go to Virginia, my phone rang. It was Covenant House. They offered me the job. 3 hours after my interview. I accepted. They want me to start on Monday.

I was really surprised. I thought for sure that Mr. Per Diem was getting the job. I thought for sure that I was going to Haiti. I know I'm crazy, but I have to admit, I was (and still am) a little disappointed that I can't go now. Obviously this is where God wants me right now, and the timing is still not there for me to go to Haiti (a dream I've had since 2003). I am very excited about the job and finally having a full-time position (and salary!), it's just funny how these things work out. 

Then I realized that I have to cancel my trip to Virginia, since I'll be in the full time schedule. That was a little disappointing, too, but again, it just wasn't the right time I guess. Who knows why, but I have to trust that God's plan is better than mine. 

So now that I legitimately am a working woman, I have to shuffle my life around to fit my new work schedule, which essentially eliminates any hopes for a social life. But it's ok, it's what I need to do and where I need to be right now. The reality of being a real adult now has started to set it, and it hasn't been that nice to me. I think I have a phobia of commitment. Working per diem helped facilitate that phobia, as my schedule was unpredictable and unstable. As long as I had that instability, I felt like the "real world" was in the far distance. I  realize how ridiculous I sound in this, but the transition from dependent to independent has not been an easy road for me, especially since I'm 25 and still living at home.  

So here's another step in the independent direction. Not sure how it'll go, but I have no choice. This is the life God has given me, and I'm honored to live it, even when it doesn't go exactly (if at all!) how I planned. (And it usually doesn't!) 

Though the book is far from over, one more page in the interim is turned. 

Anyone Out There Have Some Camping Tents?

Latest update from Lubens in Jacmel, Haiti

Hey there,

Today I called the mayor and ask him how the mission can pray for him he said that he needs tents for the homeless. I ask him how will I know these people dont have a home, he told me to go to the soccer field. I went there and I tell you what I see can not be describe. The soccer stadium of Jacmel has a government refugies camp. I have videos where people actually talk and express the pain and trouble going on there. Their home are made with sticks and sheets, their beds made of paperboards. 

They're only feed one meal a day and that meal is between 12:00 and 4:00, they never know exactly when they will have it. When the food is ready they have to fight in order to get it.

In this little soccer field is 2500 people, mojority of them are women and kids. You find all kind of people: thieves, prostitutes, dreadlock with marijuana. Girls are beeing raped at night time, by the time the few guards that are there arrived it already over. A few girls are there doing protitution under a sheet house, they get paid between $3 to $10 Haitian about $0.40 to $1.25 USD.

This is crazy, main reson is that lots of these people are from ghetto area of Jacmel that has breakdown with the quake. Coming from a place where there were little rules to a place where there is no rules, some trouble makers are becoming the king of the soccer field at night. they become pirates out get whatever they can.

I really feel that we need to do something and if we dont, this may come out of control. The mayor seems open if we can get things organized there for him, but at the same time he has needs, like the tents, water and food. Tents for now are being the primary need.

I have lots of pictures and some videos of people expresing what's happening but the internet I am using is not allowing me to upload pictures. 

In our area the quake did not hit that much but we have at least a few hundred right now out of home to sleep. A neighbor offer us his field if we want to do something to help. We have about 30 people that only sleep there at night. we did make a few nights where we served a meal, now we dont have any ways of doing that. 

How can we help? and what do you want me to do? About the registration how do we start? should I come over and get the program so I get started?

Talk to you soon.
God's blessing, 

Lubens

Haiti

I realize that I'm the worst blogger alive, besides Megan. My work schedule is unstable and unpredictable, and when I'm not working, I'm sleeping. I'll get back on my blogging game soon, perhaps. 

In the mean time, I want to pass along an email I received from my Haitian friend, Lubens, in light of the earthquake. Lubens married my friend, Andie, who I did my DTS with in 2003. They opened a YWAM base in Jacmel, Haiti, south of Port-Au-Prince. 

Jacmel was damaged by the quake, though not as severe as in the capital, it's still bad. It's been said that 20% of the buildings in Jacmel were destroyed. Lubens was in the States at the time of the quake, though Andie and their two children were in Jacmel. Praise God that they are unharmed. 

This letter is a quick account of what Lubens has seen on his journey from the Dominican Republic to his home in Jacmel. 

"Jacmel...Never the same"

I am in Jacmel now and I really dont want to tell you all that I go thru in Port Au Prince from the border of Domnican republic to Jacmel. I took a motocycle from the border to Jacmel, a five hours trip, believe me, when I dont see dead bodies on the side of the road I see spots of burned tires. The moto guy told me that's where they have burned bodies that stank too much.

Its chaos, the mountain road to Jacmel become an obstacle course, you never know when a load of stones will fall, we had at least 3 of them and the motor guy keep saying he wants to quit. Sometimes I had to give him a raise on the fee we agreed on from the border, so a trip that was going to cost me $110 US ended up costing me $200 US. By the way a gallon of gasoline is about $18 USD. Not at the gaz station because gas station are not open, ...somehow the gaz end up to those on the streets that are making the black market.

Jacmel to me may never be the same and right now I already anticipate more chaos, unless somehow something get done. People are getting hungry and there is no water. Yes lots of houses are lost but people have lost family and friend and now they hungry. because we had a ministry base in Jacmel people keep coming and hoping somehow we will have something. All I could tell them is to pray and hopefully God will send some food.

Here is an estimation of damage in Jacmel and its surrounding in the south Est:

DEAD: 356
RUINDED:420
NEW HOMELESS: 11958 PLUS ANOTHE 8000 THAT WERE PUT IN TEMPORARY HOMES.
HOUSES DESTROYED:2591
HOUSES DOMAGE: 8335

This estimation is from the UN Multimedia office.


One school called LA TRINITE COLLEGE was crushed with the students in it while in session, it was a three story school. And that school had afternoon sessions. Must of these kids we know them since we used to do special sport program with them.

One Lady was in her house with her two kids and they are crushed.

Me and my familly have lost some people very dear to us.

I have a good friend and from Gonaives who is also a YWAM staff: Illioney St Fleur that has lost his wife in all that. I think they were in Port. I have tried to call him but still cant get him. I have news that he and his daugther is okay. Illioney if you ever read this, I am sorry and I keep imaging that it could have been me, just the thought of that bring too much pain. So I am sorry... I love you bro and we all know that she has run a good race and fight a good fight and now Jesus is welcoming her.

One good friend who was recently the president of Congress: senator Lambert Joseph was under the chamber for two days along with another friend that use to play soccer with me, his name is Stephane. Lambert did survived but Stephane did not.

This is the only cyber place here and its not a business, so I have to leave because I just have been ask to., this report may not be that complete and my gramar in it may be very difficult to read since I dont have time to go over it, so good luck reading!

Please pass on the message and so people know at lease we alive.

-Lubens Romulus

From what I've heard from other missionaries in Haiti, the images and facts captured by the media and news are only a fraction of the devastation that Haiti is going through right now. Though the loss of life is mind blowing, it's those who are still alive that are suffering the greatest and will suffer in the days, weeks, months, and years to come. While the financial response from people world-wide has been a blessing and encouragement, it can't end when the cameras stop rolling and newscasters return to their posts behind their desks. 

Food, water, blankets, clothes, shoes, medicine, hygiene supplies, electricity, gasoline...

The list is endless, and doesn't even scratch the surface of the needs Haiti will have in this aftermath. Not even mentioning the people who provide services such as doctors, therapists, counselors, builders, etc. 

Some dear friends of mine in the Dominican Republic left for Haiti over the weekend to distribute food and water, and to search for some of their family members who were missing in Port-Au-Prince. 

My awesome friend Emmanuel works in YWAM DR, and when he couldn't get in contact with his father and brother, he left with the group to look for them. The day after they left, I received an email from YWAM DR telling us that when they got to his father's neighborhood, the houses on either side of his father's house were completely flattened. But his father's house stood with minimal damage. Both his father and brother are safe and well. What an awesome God we have! 

Please pray about how you can help the people of Haiti. They need our help so much. If you are looking for a safe place to send money to, I highly recommend YWAM Haiti or Dominican Republic. Both places are dedicating all of their time and resources to anyone who needs it in Haiti. Food is running out, water is tainted, and transportation is sketchy at best. Any money sent will directly be used for the quake relief. 

If you would like to help, please send an email to let them know how much you're sending so they can begin to make purchases before the money actually gets there. 

For donations to YWAM Haiti:

Email:  relief@ywamhaiti.org

Send checks to:  

(with a separate note designating the money to "Quake Relief")

YWAM Haiti

PO Box 236

Akron, PA 17501

For donations to YWAM Dominican Republic: 

Email: info@ywamsantodomingo.org 

Send checks to: 

(with a separate note designating the money to "YWAM Santo Domingo Haiti Earthquake Relief")

YWAM

PO Box 3000

Garden Valley, Texas 75771-3000

For online contributions:

https://www.ywam.org/secure/donations/donate.asp?project=10&bhcp=1

Thank you!!!

Bring Becky and Kyle Home!!!

First of all... Happy New Year! It would appear that I've forgotten about this blog entirely, and that would basically be true. The holidays have been a crazy good time at my house, and I hope they were the same for you. 

Now the serious stuff. I'm not sure if anyone reads this blog that isn't my friend on facebook, but just in case I am reposting a letter concerning my friend Becky, written by Becky's friend Mary Kay. This letter is just a brief description of the journey Becky has been on for the past two years in India. It has been a trying and difficult time for Becky, but her sacrifice is a true example of love.  

I want to share a story about my amazing friend Rebecca who needs your help. 
Rebecca traveled several times to India to work with street children and orphans. Two years ago, at the age of 29, Rebecca’s compassion for the street children of India, led her to move there. Two months after Rebecca arrived in India she received a call that would change her life. 

A young woman in a nearby village gave birth to a baby boy. The baby was sick and the young woman did not want him. She determined to discard him. The nurse that assisted with the delivery knew that a young American woman was working with orphans and street children. The nurse called Rebecca in hopes that the American with an open heart would save the baby’s life. 

Rebecca traveled three hours on the back of a moped to the hospital where the baby was. At the hospital she was met by foul smells, unsanitary conditions and a tiny baby who’s fate was about to be changed forever. Rebecca thought that she was there to help many street children but found that she was there to save one child, the baby boy that became her son. 

Rebecca nursed baby Kyle back to health and began the process of adoption. Although she knew adoption would be difficult, she did not anticipate it being near impossible. She learned that no American has ever adopted a baby from India where the baby was handed directly to the adoptive a parent without Indian agencies being involved. This made her case groundbreaking. It took Rebecca eight months before she could find a lawyer who said the adoption was even possible. Political unrest and an inefficient Indian court system elongated the process and it took two years before Rebecca could make history in India and change the adoption process forever. Kyle is officially Rebecca’s son. Unfortunately, the adoption was only part of the process. Now, Rebecca and Kyle are stuck in India working through the tedious process of getting immigration papers, visas, etc. Immigration is struggling with how to process her adoption because her case is unique and thus, Rebecca needs help to expedite the process. 

Rebecca’s DC advocate suggested that media attention would help expedite the process. I ask you to please give her story of compassion and blind love attention. Rebecca and Kyle’s story is both inspirational and a call to action. Her story will speak to the millions of people with a heart for street children and adoption. Her story is about doing what is right and fighting the long and hard fight for love. 

She and baby Kyle spend their time visiting children’s homes and spreading their compassion to the people they come in contact with. However, Rebecca longs to return to America. She wants to be able to work to support herself and Kyle. She would like to raise him at home near her family and friends. I ask you to help tell her story so that Rececca and Kyle can come home. 

Thank You, 
Mary Kay Jensen 

Rebecca Morlock 
bringbeckyandkylehome@gmail.com 
011-91-9717-845-771 

Please keep Becky and Kyle in your prayers, and think of ways that you can help bring them home. Email bringbeckyandkylehome@gmail.com for more information!