Haiti Trip!

Hey, this is McKenna! I wanted to blog a little about our Haiti trip! For those who don't know, Dad, Luke, and I went on a 6 day mission trip to Haiti last week. It was an incredible experience and I would love to visit again. Here are a few of my favorite pics:

We're off- on our way to Florida! Luke was allergic to something on the flight and broke out in hives. Luckily, God healed him really fast.

After a late night in Florida with Jack Walker and Sam Caire, we left for the airport at 4 a.m. We were all really sleepy and probably a little delirious...

There was something that made us a little uneasy about the crashed plane waiting for us at the end of the runway...

Our truck, with the rest of our team, was waiting for us at the Haitian airport.

There was trash like this EVERYWHERE driving down the street. My dad and I realized that you can't really capture Haiti though unless you have a scratch-and-sniff picture because the smells were a big part of it! They burned parts of their trash, so driving down the street, it smelled bascially like burning trash and dead animals. Gross.

Church behind a church building

Counting pills at the hotel for the next day's clinic

Monday was an awesome first clinic - at least for me. Dad got to pray for a lot of people, Luke got to help count pills, and I got to love on a lot of little kids.

Luke helped out a lot - in the pharmacy, taking pictures for the doctors, and playing with kids.

I got lots of special souvenirs after passing out crayons and index cards.

I met this girl named Vanessa who's also twelve. She spoke a little English and she and I hung out all day. It was really nice having someone my age there.

On Tuesday, we did a clinic at a place 2 1/2 hours away. It was a little more challenging than the day before, especially when Patti Griggs and I got CROWDED with kids who wanted to make their bracelets first. I can't even describe the grace God gave me that day though. Had he not given me Patti, I might not have survived! :) She helped by taking the kids and singing songs with them. I learned a lot from that day and think it was productive despite the challenges.

Daddy praying with a little girl

This is one of the few kids who would smile for the camera.

This was the building where the nurses did the pharmacy and the doctors examined people. The blue table in the back was the pharmacy.

Teaching (and learning) some songs with the kids

On Wednesday, we visited an orphanage. We did a small clinic for the kids, but mostly just played with them. I had tons of fun!! We passed out paper and crayons again, and I received LOTS of pictures!

"Smiling" for the camera

Lagina loved to sit on my lap and be tickled!

LOVE this pic of a little girl named Anne!

This was my favorite girl I met. Her name was Dielle and she was probably 5 or 6 years old. After a while, she fell asleep in my lap. I REALLY wanted to take her home with me! :)

After I told Dielle I had to leave, she didn't smile again. I was so close to tears, I couldn't talk to anyone. :( Really hope I get to see her again someday...

On Thursday, we went to a school right next to an orphanage to do a clinic. This day was nice because we left from there a little earlier than usual.

This boy wanted Luke to take a picture of him with the mermaid coloring book...? Lol!

Orphans watching us drive away

When we left the orphanage, we didn't notice the enormous rain clouds in the distance. A few minutes into the hour and a half drive to the hotel, it started POURING rain! The tarp we tried to drape over us was completely ineffective due to the many rips in it. Despite the amused looks from the community, we sang hymns ALL THE WAY BACK! By the end, no piece of luggage or person had a dry spot on them!

Patti Griggs and Tori wrestling with the tarp

This breathtaking sunrise yesterday morning looked like it belonged on a postcard.

This is the waiting area at the airport in Haiti.

A few pics from the Mighty Men "manhood" retreat

Since my daughter tells me that a blog is completely boring with no pictures, here are a few from the Mighty Men retreat last weekend. Randy had the boys swim from the middle of the lake to shore and then pull this railroad tie for over 2 miles in the blazing heat. They did an AMAZING job of working together! A FAR cry from where they started 4 years ago! :)

Cousin Annie came to the end of the retreat and then came home with us for a week. I'll try to post more from that visit soon...

This was the best pic we could get of these mighty warriors on the sleepy Sunday a.m.

Garry and Corey - lots of fun in the water. I love these guys!

thankful for friends

Okay, so I'm 37 years old now and I guess you could say that I feel the "middle-aged" season approaching. Life just feels different. I've got a daughter who will be a TEENAGER next month, I don't care near as much what people think about me, and I'm pulling out these crazy gray hairs (which are well-camoflauged - sp? - due to the fact that I'm a ditzy blonde)! And, oh yeah, I think it's time for some sort of makeover because I can't seem to conceal the dark circles under my eyes anymore. Whatever. Here's what I'm overwhelmed with in this new season: I am so incredibly thankful for the friendships that have been orchestrated by God over the past several years. OVERWHELMED with gratitude. I mean, really. If I didn't have the handful of women who have walked with me through lots of life, this season wouldn't be as sweet. If I didn't have them, I'm pretty sure I would go bananas. If I didn't have them, I wouldn't know the sweetness of Christ. I wouldn't be able to taste His beauty in the same way. They are the ones who have shown me what it means to be vulnerable, to walk in grace, to walk by the Spirit. They are strong and confident prayer warriors and are powerful forces in the kingdom of God. I love to laugh with them and raise my kids with them. I love my husband better because of them. They have seen all my junk and I have found the unconditional love of Christ in them. I am just utterly AMAZED and OVERWHELMED with GRATITUDE ladies! I know this is a cheesy post, but I've been pondering it a lot lately - you know who you are and you are deeply cherished! Praise God for the gift of your lives!

song for the week :)

Lyrics from "The Desert Song" by Hillsong's United

Verse 1:
This is my prayer in the desert
When all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in the hunger in me
My God is a God who provides

Verse 2:
And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flames

Chorus:
And I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon forged against me shall remain

I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

Verse 3:
And this is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on it's way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand

Bridge:
All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

Verse 4:
This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be emptied again
The seed I've received I will sow

Heard this song on a cd I've had since Xmas for the first time a couple of days ago. Need these words over and over again right now!