Doug Phillips, President of Vision Forum is in Haiti documenting the Christian response to the earthquake in Haiti. The story you aren't hearing in the news.  He is also there to assist in the adoption of orphans by Americans. 

     His blog is full of footage that will help you see the tremendous struggle Haiti, and children in need of adoption now face.  Please pass this along so that this story can be told.  

Three Weeks Later

     I have learned a lot about the people we support in Haiti.  Wow, have I learned how really special they are.  The folks at Three Angels, Heartline, Troy and Tara, and Magnalie's mom have really shined through this terrible event.  Nothing stopped them from digging in an serving the Haitian people when it was needed.

     I also learned how quickly one can be humbled.  A couple weeks ago, I was talking to a friend Tim Wampler who is Director of Shoes 2 Share about Heartline's need for medical supplies.  Tim was quick to offer me anything they needed and in a frenzy I tried to make contact with Troy, Tara, or anyone at Heartline to find out what they needed.  Thanks to the efforts of others, Tara was contacted on Facebook about my question and she responded, " Morphine and Gentamicin" (major pain relief and super strong antibiotics). I instantly felt sick to my stomach and cried.  What they absolutely needed, I nor Tim nor anyone else for that matter could get for them.  I cannot tell you the feeling of helplessness that came over me.  Truth was I could get them all kinds of stuff, but not what they really needed.

     I also learned how kind and generous people can be.  Not that I haven't felt this so many times before, but this time people just reached out in an extreme way to meet an extreme crisis. 

     I am sure I have a lot more to learn. 

     There is a change now with Haiti in our response.  Donations are still going in everyday through MFI, but now there is a large back log waiting.  MAF I believe is also flying in donations. The medical crisis has eased a little, and the types of donations required is changing a little.  I am contacting everyone to get updates on needs and goals so I am prepared.  We will be ready to ship the moment we are given the go ahead.

     I will keep you posted as I learn about each organization.  Thank you everyone for caring so much.

The Ladies Sewing School at Heartline is Open

     In wake of the earthquake and all the the medical care that John and Beth McHoul are providing right now in Haiti, the sewing school has opened it's doors and the ladies have come to work.

     Because everyone is still quite frightened about being inside buildings the sewing machines have been pulled out into the yard and a tarp is being used to create shade.

     This is such a blessing.  Praise God that the sewing school has not been destroyed, that the women are able to come, that this jewel of a program that truly allows women to earn a living and sustainable wage has been kept safe.  Truly this is a huge blessing.

Drop off location for Worcester, MA

     Anyone in the Worcester, MA area who has donations and would like a closer drop off location can bring their donations to 79 Mill Street, the home of Ella Thayer.  She has volunteered to do this for us.

     Specifically we are looking for crutches, medical donations, formula, diapers, and other items.  If you scroll down the blog you will see the many lists that have been posted.  If you have any questions please feel free to contact me, Kathy at 508.839.9972.

     Thank you!  Everyone has been so generous.  If you tape your name and address to your donation a tax receipt will automatically be sent to you.  Again, Thank you.

Adoption of Haitian Children

     I am getting many calls from families wanting to adopt from Haiti, and I realize that the messages out there are conflicting and confusing at best.  I am going to post all accurate adoption information as I get it to keep you informed, however I would like to share this.

     If you are truly wanting to adopt a Haitian child, just be patient.  I know you want to tell me, "Easy for you to say", but Tyler and I are experts at the waiting game.  Magnalie took us three years to adopt from start to finish and we are presently in the process of adopting two children who we thought we were adopting 2 years ago.  Adoption is a waiting game, but it is also a trusting game.  It is a time to trust God's authority and leadership.  He knows you want to love on these children; He knows when they are supposed to be in your care.

     People become frustrated when they hear that there are going to be hundreds of thousands of orphans and then they hear that the Haitian government is putting the brakes on all adoptions.  There is a reason they are doing this.  They do not want to make orphans of children who are not orphans.  Would you want your child sent to another country and adopted because you were injured and nobody knew where you were?  I think it is fair to slow things down a little and be sure.

     There is also the child trafficing issue.  We want to make sure these children are safe and go to loving homes.  This is a big process. 

     But there is one more thing to consider.  I agree that adoption can be a beautiful, wonderful, loving, fulfilling event, but I also know the reality, and that is, some adoption fail; a lot of adoptions fail.  Adoption requires a child to be abandoned.  For some this is a little bump in the road that makes them embrace their new family with open arms; for others it causes brokeness that cannot be repaired without the birth parents un abandoning them or a total Jesus intervention.  You see adoption is kind of a sad/happy thing.  There are lots of issues at stake: abandonment, personality styles, cultural differences, and many more.

     If you truly want to adopt from Haiti or any where else you will wait. I can tell you from personal experience it will not make it go faster if you fret and worry, it will only tarnish your testimony. 

     However, if you just know you are going to wait and give it over to God, the one who is faithful and just, you will enjoy and treasure for years to come the time you waited, thinking about your child, falling in love with them from a distance, imagining all the fun things you would do together once they finally get home.  You can also use this time to read and learn more about adoption, the country you are adopting from, and even learn to cook that countries food.

     Adoption is a wonderful thing when it is done right.  I encourage those who would like to adopt, that children all over the world need you.  Read some books, learn about the issues, determine if you really, really want to make this commitment that may be two or three years in the making.

      From personal experience I can tell you it was worth the wait.

     Tyler is home from Haiti.  We have been working on our web site at www.homeboundmissions.org and it is up and running with new Haiti news and photos.  Tyler has uploaded all his pictures in an album that you can view.

     Tomorrow I hope to start writing out some of the stories Tyler has told me.  The Haitian people are very special and you will understand when I share these stories with you. 

     Thank you for your interest and support.  Everyone seems to be responding to this crisis and I hope it will be a blessing to Haiti for years to come.

     Today Tyler was able to leave Haiti and fly back into Florida.  He will be arriving in Boston at about 4:45 pm tomorrow.

     When Tyler left for Haiti, some dear friends of ours who also have a mission in Haiti, called Coastal Haiti Missions came to bring us some solar flashlights to give to our families and others.  Tyler says that these lights were a tremendous hit and everyone was thrilled to get one.  Thank you Clint and Ken for seeing this need and providing for it.

     You know there are some really special people and organizations that have just shined since the moment this crisis hit Haiti.  I want to bring such an organization to your attention because they are working round the clock to bring supplies to the NGO's in Haiti, and what is especially good is that these supplies have not spent a moment on the tarmac, but go immediately into the hands of people to get taken to the organization/persons they belong to.  It must also be said that they are also the sole reason that missionaries have been able to get in and out of Haiti from day 1.  This organization is MFI also known as, Missionary Flights International .  Please check them out.  Right now they are receiving a good amount of donations but at $10,000. a trip money gets used up fast. 

     MFI is the sole reason Tyler was able to get into Haiti and check on our families.  I now understand what MFI really does, and in some ways it is no less than a miracle.  They have become one of our priority organizations to support.  They are the reason that the NGO's who were already on the ground when the quake occured have been able to immediately and swiftly start treating and assisting the people they serve.

     I was able to talk to Tyler for the first time today.  He confirms that Job Lira lost his son in the quake.  He also tells me that Vilia, the daughter of Jean and Venise is in a hospital in Jimani DR with a head injury.  Tyler was not able to find out more.  He thinks she will be ok from what he was told.

     Tyler tells me he  looks like a walking misquito bite, so thankfully he is on Malarone (we just hope it really works).  He told me he was covered from head to toe with a sheet but the critters were biting him right through it.

     Magnalie got to see her mom last night on the Help for Haiti Now Telethon.  Peirre Alexis is the Director of an orphange that we source AKA For His Glory.  He was being interviewed and then they showed the children.  Magnalie's mother and sister were there fanning the babies to keep them comfortable.  It made her evening, mine too.

     A lot of people are asking me about the possibility of adopting the orphaned children in Haiti.  I have copied something off the Heartline Haiti blog below.  I will continue to post adoption information as I get it.

  Tyler had lots to tell me and I will try to break it down and continue to send out the information.  Thank you for caring.  Thank you for all you are doing.   "This is Haiti's moment", I heard a Haitian Lawyer say on TV today, Magnalie agrees.  I hope this becomes her moment to rise from the ashes and shine.

     Tonight is supposed to be Tyler's last evening in Haiti.  He tells me they are sleeping outside and that he is in the Croix de Bouquets area.

     I received very sad news today.  Although Tyler found Job safe, he learned today that Job lost one of his children in the earthquake.  Job had two children, a girl Cassandra age 8, and a son Rodlin age 4.  Tyler tells me that Job told him his daughter died, but Matthew is saying his son died.  I do not know yet why there is a confusion.  It may be that Job tried to tell Tyler in English and used the wrong word.  I spent most of the day in tears as my heart is broken for Job and his wife Yvette.

     If you participated in our Investment Fundraiser last year to provide food for our families you may have received a photo of Job and his family.  Please continue to pray for them.  They need you now, more than ever.

     I also learned today that Millen's Uncle's home is gone and that the family is no longer there.  I have gotten word that Millen is safe and with Barbra Walker at her orphanage.

     I also received some very good news today.  Tyler sent me a long list of people he could confirm were well.  Here is the list:

Hyppolite and his family
Hilio and his family
Obenson and his family
Venise and her family
Mimose and her family
Lubin's and her family
Maria Michelle's family
Julma

     I still do not know about Stanley and his family or Fanfan.  We will continue to pray that they are well and send others out to look for them.

     We are collecting medical supplies right now.  Heartline as you may know has been turned into a clinic/hospital.  They presently have two Doctors there with more teams headed down over the next many weeks.  Heartline along with Troy and Tara Livesay are just over the top.  I want to make sure they have everything they need.  I am posting the list I received this morning.  There are many organizations working together on this so if you have donations, please call me and I will tell you who to send them to.  We can conserve funds this way.  Kathy Kangas 508.839.9972 or e-mail at tkkangas@aol.com

  Non-medical supplies:

Peanut butter

Protein bars/snack bars/granola bars

Individual serving/"lunch box" serving sizes of cookes, crackers, trail mix, etc

Individual servings of Crystal Light, kool-aid, etc

nuts: peanuts, cashews, almonds, etc

Crackers

"easy cheese" (cheese in a can)

Packets of tuna (in the foil packs, not cans)

And other similar non-refrigerated foods

Toilet paper

Paper towels

Disinfectant wipes (and a medical one here too---we could use more of the medical-grade disinfectant wipes)

Liquid hand soap and liquid body wash (like Softsoap brand)

Dishwashing liquid soap

Liquid laundry detergent (like Tide)

Blank DVDs (about 25)

Supplies:

Battery powered neb machine!!

Sutures (1-0 through 6-0 nylon, 1-0 through 6-0 absorbables, like gut and vicryl)

Crutches

Knee immobilizers

Ankle immobilizers ("air casts"/etc)

Casting/splinting materials (orthoglass/preform)

Cotton padding for under splints/casts

CAST CUTTER!!

Finger traps for upper extremity ortho procedures

Penrose wound drains

IV filter needles

IV fluids!! (NS, LR, D5 0.9NS, D5 0.2NS) + tubing

Anesthesia supplies (tubing/needles for doing axillary blocks)

Portable pulse oximeter or other portable telemetry/pulse ox monitors

Adaptec or other non-adherent dressings

Powder oral rehydration packets (like individual servings of Gatorade or pedialyte)
Non-sterile gloves (need all sizes but especially medium)

Medi-Plus Pre-folded Self-Seal Pouch 5 1/4 inch by 10 1/4 inch, 100 pouches per box, Reorder #98-53028

Baby wipes

Baby diapers in all sizes but especially larger sizes (3, 4, 5, 6)

Big blue plastic basins and emesis basins

Disposible cautery (for example the devices we use to trephinate fingernails would work great)

Disposible plastic urinals (for men)

Urinary catheters and supplies

Autoclave

Scalpels

Clipboards (priority)—for clinic charts (flat basic ones—nothing fancy)

Portable x-ray machine

Miscellaneous meds:

Tetanus immunizations

Premixed vials of Albuterol or Xopenex

Antibiotic eye drops

Saline eye drops

IV/IM medications:

Morphine!!

Fentanyl

Ketamine

Versed

Gentamicin

Ceftriaxone

Clindamycin

Unasyn

Benadryl

Epipens

Steroids (dexamethasone, methylprednisolone)

70/30 insulin

R insulin

N insulin

PO meds:

Vicodin

Percocet

Amoxicillin

Clindamycin

Ciprofloxacin

Levofloxacin

Augmentin

Azithromycin

Fluconazole

Malarone

Albendazole

TUMS or similar

Prilosec

Griseofulvin

Prednisone

Glucophage

Glyburide

Metformin

Liquid meds (powder for reconstitution is preferable to liquids as they are lighter--we can reconstitute the meds here):

Lortab elixir

Amoxicillin

Augmentin

Keflex

Bactrim

Azithromycin

Infant's/children's acetaminophen

Infant's/children's ibuprofen

Griseofulvin

Prednisolone (Prelone or Orapred)

Mebendazole

Creams:

Anti-fungals

Antibiotic ointment

Silvadene

Scabies treatments

     I want to Thank Karla Brown and the many others who made sure that Tara knew I needed a medical list from her.  I got her list, but today I also got the list I have posted.  I know they are terribly busy and I am just thankful that I have the information I need to move forward on their behalf.  Again, Thank you.

     For His Glory has been on the news again.  I have not been able to reach Kim Harmon.  Please pray for them as I think they are having difficulty in getting the children to the US.  If Tyler is delayed I am going to send him there to check on everyone.  My sister tells me that John Walsh is headed to Haiti tomorrow just to help get the children out.  Thank you John Walsh.

     I am sure that when Tyler comes home on Sunday he will have lots to tell me.  I will do my best to continue giving you information.  Please continue to pray for the people of Haiti as there are so many who are suffering.  Pray that resources will get there as needed, swiftly.  Thank you

     There is so much going on I feel like I am running HM relief headquarters, and well maybe I am.  Tyler and I, are still only able to communicate by texting.  Still looking for the teenager.

     Tyler has been able to cover a lot of territory.  Today he told me that Carrefour is really bad.  I knew this in my heart and was already feeling really sad knowing he was there and that it probably wasn't good.  The good news, however is that he was able to find Lubins, Herbie and their family safe.  He also looked for Maria Michelle's Mother but I do not know as of yet her status.

     He has sent me a list of all the people he has found but I have not gotten it and so I have asked for a resend.  I will post everyone on it.

     Earlier Tyler asked for more information about Maria Michelle's mom's address.  To get this information I had to contact some adoption friends for some telephone numbers.  In the process, I spoke with Tim Wampler ( www.shoes2share.com ).  Tim says he can get us all the medical donations we need just name them.  For this reason I am urgently trying to reach Troy, Tara, John, or Beth.  If anyone reading this has contact with them please tell them to read my e-mail marked Urgent.  I want their wish list ASAP so that we can get these donations together and shipped at the speed of light.  I am watching Tara's blog and so I know they are knee deep and aren't doing e-mails right now.  Tyler has tried to text and call them and it isn't getting through.  He will try to stop there but is running out of time.  If you want an inside look at what some of the heroes we work with are doing just check out the livesay blog at http://livesayhaiti.blogspot.com these people are worth investing in.  Add it to your toolbar or favorites, so it is just one click away.

     Tomorrow Tyler and Yves will be going to the UN to try and get a Visa for Yves son.  Please pray that this will happen.

     More good news.  Magnalie's mom, Mimose still has a house to live in, she is just too afraid to be in it right now, understandably.  I guess that is it for now. 

     Tyler and Yves reached PAP, Haiti today.  Tyler is communicating with me through text messaging.  I desperately need a teenager!  LOL  No, Magnalie doesn't text either.  My cell phone is so old that it is probably the original, you can text model.  I suspect this because I have to wait 15 seconds between each letter, until it stops flashing in order to add the next letter.  I may be the slowest texter in the East.

     As you may have heard Haiti had another earthquake this morning registering at 6.0.  Tyler was still in Florida when that happened.  He arrived in Haiti at about 1:00.

     Tyler texted me right away to tell me that he had found Hyppolite, Matthew, and Hilio.  Because I was trying to text him the name and address of someone else to find I never got the chance to ask if he had talked with Mimose, though I suspect he did.  I also do not know the condition of her house.

     I got another e-mail today from another orphanage, Answered Prayers.  All of their children are now home.  Three Angel's is also empty.  TA's is checking the soundness of their building and if given the thumbs up will start providing medical care there.  They did suffer some damage and this is what is holding things up.

     Darlene came today and we processed and packed donations.  We presently have thousands of pounds of donations ready to go.  We also have many people gathering more donations and will soon receive and process them.  Of the utmost importance right now is medical supplies, specifically wound care, pain relief, bandage type items.  As I mentioned yesterday we have already shipped 16 boxes of medical supplies and they have been received and processed by TA's.  I will continue to send them to TA's as they are sharing all their supplies with other ministries.  Great organization.

     I was told today that His Home is OK.  I am hopeful that many if not all of their children will be able to go home.  Chris and Hal, I am sure are working very hard to help the Haitian people at this time.

     I am sorry to say that our site is completely down.  Many people have been calling and or e-mailing to ask how to donate.  Our mailing address:  Homebound Missions 1225 Providence Road PMB #129 Whitinsville, MA 01588  Thank you.  The donations have been over the top and will go directly towards assisting Haitian families and getting donations to the organizations we source.  Homebound Missions is a completely volunteer organization serving those less fortunate.  Again, Thank you.

Haiti Earthquake Update

     Tyler and I apologize for our inability to stay in touch and inform all of our supporters and friends regarding the Earthquake in Haiti.

     Just a few weeks ago our web site was shut down because someone had hacked into it and used it to send spam.  Our web hoster suggested we update our site into a newer version of Joomla, which we started immediately, but not soon enough to have the newsletter components moved over before the crisis in Haiti.  Therefore we had no way of contacting all of our newsletter subscribers with information.  I am using my personal address book in hopes of getting this to as many people as possible.

     As soon as we heard about the earthquake we were on the computer reading tweets from people in Haiti.  Troy Livesay was able to get the word out that they were oK, a great relief to us.  Before we would go to bed that evening we would learn that Haiti was in ruins.

     The next day we immediately started contacting everyone we knew with works in Haiti.  We were relieved to learn that most of the ministries we source were ok (that term is relative).  We tried to contact our families to no avail and began to pray especially for our daughter Magnalie's family.  On Saturday, we heard from Mimose, Magnalies mother that they were well but living in the street.

     On day 3 after the earthquake Homebound Missions sent out 16- 18 X 18 X 24 boxes of medical supplies to Three Angels.  These supplies were requested as they had medical teams leaving right away.  We also wrote up letters for schools to collect donations.

     We then heard from Matthew that he and his family were well.  He also told us Job was well.  When I spoke with him I let him know that Tyler would soon be in Haiti and asked him to look for all of our families so we know if they are safe or not.  On Friday, we learned from Three Angel's that Obenson and his family were safe.

     Tyler left this morning to go to Florida with a friend of ours, Yves.  Yves is Haitian and has family in Carrefour, one of the areas we are going to be looking for families.  They will be on an MFI flight at 6:00 tomorrow morning headed for Haiti.  We have Highpointe Church to thank, along with Josh George for this opportunity.

     Tyler's plan is as follows:  He plans to find each of our families, bring them money to help sustain them for the next few weeks, and evaluate each families situation to establish what Homebound Missions can do next.  He and Yves are going into Haiti with the clothes on their back, food and water.  They are also bringing solar flashlights that have been donated by our dear friends Ken Johanson and Clint Goddard of Coastal Haiti Missions.  A very small help in a time of great need, but descrete enough for us to get them into Haiti safely.

     Here is a list of our families. 

Those found safe:

Mimose, Rebekah, & Junior

Mathew & Sonel

Venise, Jean & all the children

Job, wife & children

Obenson, wife and the twins

Those we are still looking for:

Millen's Family

Hyppolite's Family

Stanley's Family

FanFan

Lubin's and her family

     Please pray that Tyler will be able to find each of these families.  Our hopes and prayers are that they are safe and well.

     I will update again tomorrow as I learn more.

     Making Butter

     Making butter is easy and fun.  So easy in fact, that you could make it in a simple jar with a lid, however I will use a contemporary method.

     What you will need:  Heavy cream, a mixer, a sealed container for the butter and a sealed container for the butter milk.  I use an antique glass lid canning jar just because I like the way it looks.

     It is good to take the heavy cream out of the fridge, so that it can come up to room temperature.  Some folks recommend leaving it out for a full 12 hours to age the cream, which adds to its flavor.

     You can use any type of mixing device whether hand held or a self standing unit like Kitchen Aid.  Pour the heavy cream into the mixing bowl and begin mixing at medium speed.  The cream will gradually take on an appearance of whipped cream (because that is what it is at this stage) and then after a few minutes it will turn into butter.  You will notice that all of a sudden the cream looks yellowish. This is your que that it is changing which it will do very quickly.

     You will see when the cream turns to butter that there is also a milk like substance in the bowl.  This is the buttermilk, the special ingredient in buttermilk pancakes and biscuits.  Buttermilk is fat free and you will want to pour it in a sealed container and refrigerate until your ready for baking.  It will stay fresh for just a few days.

     Now that you have butter you will want to use clean hands to knead it.  What you want to do is knead (squeeze)out the rest of the buttermilk that is trapped in it.  Buttermilk sours easily and will ruin your butter if left in.  After kneeding, for about a minute you can pat dry with a paper towel.

     Some people like their butter sweet and some like it a little salty.  If you would like to mix a small amount of salt into your butter you may do so now.  I personally prefer my butter sweet.  When complete put the butter in a sealed container and refrigerate until you are ready to use it.

     Making your own fresh butter is fun and is a great addition to home baked bread.  It's guaranteed to make any meal extra special.  Here is a video to show you just how easy it really is.

Recommended Reading

Uniting Church and Home
a Blueprint for Rebuilding Church Community
by Eric Wallace

     Uniting Church and Home is an outstanding work.  If you want to learn how the family can be strengthened by the church and how the church can be strengthened by the family this is your guide. 

     Mr Wallace not only sets a vision for the household approach to church, he also lays out a step by step plan full of the unique ways in which different churches have used the household approach.

    This book captured the things I feel are extremely important in these times; strong Christian family units mentoring the youth and new baby Christians, integrated church, hospitality, deep fellowship with one another that goes beyond Sunday morning/ evening services, and evangelism within our neighborhoods.  It was as if Mr Wallace wrote this book from my own heart.  It will absolutely encourage and equip you for ministry from the home.

     For similar works on the intergrated church go to Visionforum.com

Scripture of the Day

And above all things have fervent love for one another,
for " love will cover a multitude of sins."
Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another,
as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

1 Peter 4:8,9

Inspire Life

     Inspire Life is a new campaign put out by Care Net to strengthen and defend the sanctity of life and to counter Planned Parenthood and others. 

     Their hope is to reach more abortion vulnerable women with positive life affirming options through their Option Line web site and call center which will be aggressively advertised; to provide Life-affirming help to women struggling with unplanned pregnancies, and serve women through their pregnancy centers.

       Secondarily, the purpose of the Inspire Life campaign is to engage the next generation and energize thousands of new pro-life activists.

     Their web site is very informative and very positive.  There you will learn more about Inspire Life and can visit their store.  Check out Inspire Life and see if you become inspired to help them launch this program.

Mr Make Change in the Offering Plate Guy

The video is just to make you laugh.

Scripture of the Day

In your presence is fullness of joy;
Psalm 16:11

Christians in Orissa, India

     Orissa, India is in the Eastern part of India and is home to tens of thousands of Christians who have been suffering severe persecution from radical Barakhama Hindus.

     In August of 2008, the Barakhama's leader, Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati along with several of his followers were killed.  A group of Maoist rebels took public responsibility for the killings, but the Barakhama believed that the Christians played a role, so they went out on a bloody rampage to kill Christians in Orissa.  Christians in Orissa adamantly deny any involvement in the killings.

     50,000 Christians were forced to flee into the jungle to save their lives.  Pregnant women and children who fled were exposed to Monsoon rains without food or shelter.  In the end, 120 people were killed, over 250 churches were destroyed and fire was set to more than 74 homes.  The Kandhamal area of Orissa being the hardest hit.

     Today over a year later, the Orissa Christians are still facing persecution.  Over 20,000 have still been unable to return home due to threats of persecution.  They need your help; they need your prayers.

What You Can Do

     The very first thing an Orissa Christian would ask you to do is pray, so please pray everyday for these dear brothers and sisters.  However, they also have other needs including food, medical, shelter, and Bibles.  Do you know that when an Orissa Christians receives a Bible it is often the very first one they have ever held? 

     Go through the links I have provided.  Don't close your eyes, open your heart and seek God for a way to be His hands and feet.  We are in a Spiritual battle that is not going to go away.  These radicals could soon be coming to a neighborhood near you.  How would you like your brothers and sisters around the world to respond?  Then, do likewise.

Scripture of the Day

"For to me, to live is Christ,
and to die is gain."

Philippians 1:21

Making Homemade Root Beer

     I grew up drinking homemade root beer, as my grandmother, Granma Riani made and bottled her own.  You can also make ginger ale, ginger beer, and many other flavors at home. It is super easy and lots of fun.

     The supplies needed are real simple.  I will make links for any item that you might want to get online.  To make homemade root beer you need bottles, caps, a capper, root beer flavoring, sugar, wine yeast, and pan or bowl that holds 4 gallons. 

     For fun you can go to the redemption center and get large and small beer bottles.  My favorite ones are the old fashioned type with porcelain cork and rubber ring, but any will do. Wash them clean with soap and water.  For extra sanitizing put the bottles into the dishwasher without any other dishes or soap and run on sanitize.  Your bottles are then ready.

     Specific directions will come with your root beer flavoring, but the technique is really simple.  You will add the yeast to warm water and some sugar and let it rest for a few minutes.  You will then add it to the rest of the warm water, root beer flavoring, and sugar, stirring well.  It is then time to put it in the bottles and add the caps.  You will want to leave an inch and a half space from the top of the bottle and lay the bottles on their sides for a few days.  It takes 3 - 4 days to carbonate.  Be careful not to put them in the sun as they will explode.  At 2 weeks, they should taste their best, however be sure to store them in a cool place after 4 days.  Enjoy!

      The kids will enjoy making up a silly name for your new brew and you can design your own label for that extra personal touch.

Recommended Reading

Passionate Housewives Desperate for God
By Jennie Chancey & Stacy McDonald

     I absolutely loved this book and couldn't put it down until I was finished. The book is written from a Titus 2, Proverbs 31 perspective and offers encouragement, vision, and perspective for the Christian wife and mom.

     Jennie and Stacy, confront the myths of the 1950's perfect wife and give a reality based view of the Christian wife and mother at home.  I love how they present the role of wife and mother as critical to the Biblical family and the Church at large.  Passionate Housewives Desperate for God will truly give you a passion for home. 

     I truly loved this book and hope you enjoy it as well.

Scripture of the Day

    Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not  on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5,6

    For His Glory Adoption Outreach 

     On Saturday, September 9, 2009 the Board of For His Glory met in Omaha, Nebraska to elect a new President, Mrs Kim Harmon.  Kim along with her husband Lonnie have adopted 5 children and are presently waiting for their sixth child.

     I was thrilled to learn that Kim had become President and immediately contacted her to ask about her vision for Maison des Enfants de Dieu, the Haitian name of the creche (orphanage).  For His Glory is the supporting organization for Maison.

     Kim's story is inspiring.  She and her husband first went to Haiti to visit the three children her daughter and son-in-law were adopting.  They were there to meet their new grandchildren.  God had other plans and by the end of the week they had already committed to three children themselves.  Six weeks later they added another.  Those children came home in July, 2006.  In 2007, they returned to Haiti for a visit and God added a fifth child, she came home in May 2009.  In 2008, they returned to Haiti once again and God blessed them with their sixth child, whom they are in the process of adopting.

     In 2007, Kim started becoming involved in the actual working of FHG as Missions Coordinator.  When the leadership change came up, Pierre and Kiki who do the actual running of the orphanage in Haiti, and the rest of the Board asked Kim if she would become President.  Kim says, "It is a joy and honor to serve the children and people of Haiti".

     The first priority of Maison is to provide a temporary home for orphans and abandoned children; to find Christian families to adopt these children, while also providing for the children's physical, spiritual, and educational needs.

     Maison's second priority is to be an outreach to the people of Haiti, the staff and their families, and the families of the children at the creche.

     For His Glory Adoption Outreach will provide the financial support, physical donations and other services to Maison, along with holding Maison accountable for the care of these donations and the care of the children.

     In the next year, FHG and Maison hope to purchase land and have plans drawn up for a new facility.  In the next five years, they hope to build a new orphanage.

     Homebound Missions is going to assist FHG with sourcing of the orphanage.  We are well aware of the needs they have as our daughter, Magnalie was adopted through Maison.  We know the nannies, Pierre and Kiki and always try to visit Maison while we are in Haiti.  We have many fond memories of the people there.

     The current wish list includes:

Towels & Wash Cloths                 T-Shirt Dresses
Cloth Diapers                             Crib Sheets
Formula                                     Powdered Milk
Plastic Cups, Silverware, Dishes      Iron & Board
Docker Pants (9-14)                    Collared Polo Shirts (9-14)
Older Children's Tennis Shoes

     Go to FHG's web site and check them out.  They have missions teams going to Haiti in June and this would be a great opportunity to visit the children.

     We welcome Kim Harmon as the new President and will be praying for the Lord to bless her, as she does His work.

Video

Scripture of the Day

Learn to do good;
Seek Justice,
Rebuke the oppressor;
Defend the fatherless,
Plead for the widow.

Isaiah 1:17

     Children Around the World

     The Video is called, Children of the Secret State.  It is a documentary of the orphaned children in North Korea.  North Korea says that it hands out food to these children, but watchdog groups say this is not true.

     A young man has risked his life to document the plight of these children.  He calls himself Ahn Chol.  He escaped North Korea when both of his parents starved to death.  He is returning to North Korea under the threat of death to shine a light on what is really going on there.

     It is not a short video, and it is difficult to watch mostly because of the hopelessness you will feel to help these children, but it highlights not only the bravery of Ahn Chol, but of the many Christian Chinese people who are also risking their lives to help the North Korean people.

     If you can imagine, this is only one country with hundreds of thousands of children, maybe even millions of children suffering.

     How could this be and why?  In his book, Adopted for Life: The priority of Adoption for Christian Families & Churches, Russell D Moore takes on this issue from a Biblical perspective.  He brings his readers all the way back to Egypt when the Pharaoh was threatened because God had blessed the Israelites.  The Pharaoh's solution was to kill all the infants born to the Israelites.  Then there was King Herod who was threatened by the birth of Jesus.  What was his solution?  Kill all the male infants!  Moore writes, "The demonic powers hate children because they hate Jesus.  When they destroy 'the least of these' (Matt.25:40,45), the most vulnerable among us, they're destroying a picture of Jesus himself, of the child delivered by the woman who crushed their head (Gen. 3:15) ".  One solution for children is Christian adoption and a church culture supportive of adoption.

     However, the plight of children around the world is so diverse, devastating, and overwhelming that you are left wondering what else can we do.  Children in China are being aborted against their parents will, right through delivery.  Those born alive are killed.  Thousands of children are living underground, in Romania.  In Cambodia and in the Philippines, children as young as 3 and 4 years old are prostituted for money by their parents.  Who you might ask would want to violate an innocent child?  Perverted tourists who have discovered a loop hole in the system.  In Haiti, millions of children are just plain starving to death.  Many others are sold as slaves, called Restavek. because there family cannot afford them.  In Africa, more children are orphaned than anywhere else in the world because of HIV/AIDs.  What about America, the land that guarantees the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?  She aborts hundreds of thousands of babies a year.  Children of an older gestation are born up to their heads alive and then stabbed in the back of the head to suck out their brains, called partial birth abortion.  And, for some American "pro- choice" folks this isn't enough.  They believe children shouldn't be given birth certificates until a set period of time after birth so parents can decide if they want their baby to be alive or not.  Since when does a birth certificate mean a child is alive?  I thought breathing demonstrated life.  Our New President, Mr Obama  considered it his first priority to make abortion available all over the world at American taxpayer's expense.  This legislation was passed within days of him getting into office.

     There is definitely an assault on the most vulnerable in our society.  Who would have ever thought that the womb wouldn't be the safest place on earth, or that parents themselves would sell their children, or that a disease would ravish an entire generation of parents.  Who would have thought that anyone could look at a child and say, "No, you have no value here".

What you can do

      As Chrisitans we must pray, pray, and pray.  We need to seek to know about these issues and inform others.  We need to reset our culture to one of Life, through example, love and compassion.  We need to respond when the opportunity presents itself.  We cannot turn our backs on these children.  Jesus said, " But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea".  Matthew 18:6  He also tells us of the blessing, " Assuredly, I say to you, in as much as you did it to one of the least of these My bretheren, you did it to Me." Matthew 25:40.

     Jesus also says, For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  Let us take our treasure and invest it into rescuing 'the least of these' the little ones who have no voice, those who have been forgotten, our brothers and sisters in Christ who are being persecuted.  Do we really need anymore new things?  Do our churches really need the latest and greatest?  I challenge you to put your treasure in these forsaken ones.  Your heart will automatically follow and you will rethink everything that you ever thought was important.

     Scripture of the Day

Let brotherly love continue. 
Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.
Remember the prisoners as if chained with them-those who are mistreated-since you yourselves are in the body also.

Hebrews 13:1-3

     Happy Thanksgiving

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise,
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

Psalms 100:4

     Thanksgiving is my favorite day of celebration; unincumbered with materialism and paganism it is just plain old Song of David worship.  For me it is a time of sincere reflection on all that I am truly thankful for, and the list is huge. 

     The thing that I am sinecerly most thankful for is my salvation.  I was very lost and shudder to think what my life would be like had I not invited Jesus into my heart and life.  Without Him there was a disaster on the horizon.  But instead, He stood at the door of a very troubled heart and gently knocked until I invited Him in.

     With Jesus everything changed for me.  He put protectors in my life, people who would love me with His kind of grace and be a witness to me of who He is.  It doesn't mean I haven't gone through some very difficult times, however, I have not gone through them alone.  He has time and time again proved Himself worthy of thanksgiving.

     Every year we have a huge gathering of family and freinds.  This year we have a new neighbor and her son sharing Thanksgiving with us.  I love preparing the food and serving on that day.  The prayer before we eat is especially good as we thank God for all His goodness and ask for His preparations for the year ahead.   Sometimes I place three grains of rice on each plate and ask everyone to share three things they are thankful for; this year I hope to sing some Hymns. 

     There is something very healing about thankfulness. It seems to wash away needing and wanting, and replaces it with a heart for others.  I pray that God will bless you and your family on this Day of Thanksgiving, with the fullness that is found in Christ.  Happy Thanksgiving!

New option for Blog Readers

     For those of you who read this blog regularly we have added a subscribe button to the right on the side bar.  This is for your convenience.  When I post it will be sent directly to your inbox.  This will be approximately three times per week as my present goal is to post Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  I hope this will make it easier for you.  Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.

Scripture of the Day

Let your gentleness be known to all men.  The Lord is at hand.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:5,6,7

November Is National Adoption Awareness Month

     From the very start of our family adoption was my dream.  I had hoped to have a very large family with a mix of birth, foster, and adopted children. 

     Tyler and I became foster parents just a year after we were married.  I was 19 years old and he was 21. After our first foster child had come and gone we were blessed with a 12 year old girl, a boy (3), Amanda (2), another boy (1), and I was pregnant for my son Landon.  I thank God everyday for that time, because shorlty after my son was born our family would experience some extremely difficult, life altering events.  My dream to adopt would have to wait, brokeness would take over for a very long time, and then God would come and heal it all.  As icing on the cake, He would lead us to a little girl in Haiti, named Magnalie.  This is where our adoption story begins.

     For weeks I had been feeling the Lord's proding to look at children available for adoption on the internet.  I kept pushing the idea away thinking I would just get myself in trouble, as I couldn't adopt.  Then, finally I gave in thinking that God was going to use this to help me release this desire and put closer to it.

     I began to look at children all over the world who needed families. Sometimes I would feel a need to pray for one of them and would print off their photo and put it in my Bible.  Then one day, I stumbled upon Precious in His Sight, an orphanage in Haiti, and there I saw the picture of two sisters, the older Magnalie with her thin arm around her little sister.  I printed the photo off to pray for them.

     Everyday I faithfully prayed for these little girls.  I soon learned that there was a brother, also.  All three photos decorated the front of my fridge as a reminder to pray.  Tyler and I briefly discussed adoption, but didn't feel like we could adopt three.  We were concerned based on our foster parenting experience that if the children had difficulties we could have a failed adoption.   So I continued to pray.

     Then, I learned my Brother in Law's sister had adopted a baby from Haiti and was looking for someone who would take the trip to Haiti with her to pick up her new daughter.  I gladly volunteered.  I made plans ahead of time to go to the orphanage and visit with Magnalie and her siblings.  I even got to spend the night with them and many other adoptive parents at the hotel.  It is a night I will always remember.  There are some really special people out there and I had the priviledge to meet them.  I cannot even tell you how much fun it was doing little girls nails and hair, playing games with the boys, just lovin on the children.  Meeting Magnalie was the most wonderful gift.  She was everything I imagined from her picture. 

     Now I had a problem.  Knowing where she was living and how quickly she was growing I just couldn't stop praying, but my problem was that I didn't want her to have another forever family, I wanted her to be my daughter.

     A while passed and the burden on my heart grew to the point of being painful.  One evening, I went to my room early to pray.  I began pacing the floor praying, crying, worshiping, dreaming, pleading and finally asked God if I could adopt Magnalie.  If I couldn't, I asked that He take this overwhelming burden off of my heart.  I then, went to bed and fell asleep. 

     The next morning was Father's Day.  I woke up to my husband Tyler looking at me.  But, his look said something and in my spirit I knew he was going to tell me we could adopt, but not so quickly.  First, he took me to see an Imax movie, then out to lunch, then to the parking garage at the Providence Place Mall.  There, he began, "Tell me everything you know about these girls".  Question after question followed.  Then he finished with, "Let's get home and put the girls on hold before someone else gets them".

     Almost three years would pass before Magnalie would come home.  We would learn that we were not the best family for her sister and would help her to find a different family, that lives only a couple of hours away.  We sold our farm, bought another house, watched the orphanage change hands.  We watched the people protest against Aristide and his final departure, we experienced the corruption of IBESR, but none of it mattered, as I knew Magnalie was totally a God thing.  He had a plan and He knew when she was coming home and I didn't let that worry me for a moment.

     We had begun Magnalie's adoption when she was 10 years old.  Two weeks before her thirteenth birthday she arrived home.  What a journey and it had only just begun.  Magnalie is now 18 years old.  I can hardly say it, as it seems to have passed by so quickly.  She is committed to serving the Lord and has a vision to return to Haiti with the skills needed to serve and benefit the people there.  She has worked very hard on her studies to make sure she is ready for whatever calling the Lord has for her life.

     There have been so many joys in adopting Magnalie.  Having Bible studies together and growing close spiritually, seeing her make the commitment to go back to Haiti to serve, listening to her sing worship songs for hours every evening, seeing her step in to help as we try to do things to help Haiti, watching her grow, and knowing we played a part in her life.  I can only be thankful for this opportunity.

     Adoption can be a wonderful thing.  I encourage anyone considering adoption to pray and seek the Lord's guidance along with getting as much information as possible.  Talk to people who have adopted, read up on adoption and know the concerns, practice with foster parenting if you are unsure.  I know my foster parenting experiences really helped me, and often times foster children become available for adoption. 

     Remember that in order for a child to be adopted they must first be abandoned.  This means that they may have experienced brokeness and heartache and will need extra tender loving care.  They may also have other difficulties if their birth mom had a drug or alcohol addiction, poor nutriton, or other health issues.  Be honest with yourself about what types of issues you feel confident to take on.  Your adoption agency will help you make these evaluations.

     I would love to see our churches full of adopted children.  I cannot imagine a better place for hurting children than in the homes of loving Christian families who can direct these children to a loving healing Saviour.  I hope you will consider becoming a forever family.

Recommended Reading

Adopted For Life
The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families & Churches
By Russell D Moore  Foreword by C J Mahaney

          Adopted for life is an excellent resource for Christian families who may or may not want to adopt.  Within it's pages is Moore's personal experience of adopting two sons, along with the churches role in promoting adoption, and the story of our own adoption by God.  I gathered many insights into my own salvation and adoption that I had never considered.  I consider this book to be a great resource and highly recommend it to anyone even interested in adoption as a mere topic.

Scripture of the Day

Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Galatians 4:7

     Homebound Missions has added two new ministries that we will begin to provide resources for.  Today, I would like to introduce you to The Apparent Project.

The Apparent Project

     Corrigan and Shelley Clay are the Founder/Directors of The Apparent Project which they established in 2008.  They are also the parents of 5 children, three of whom they adopted from Haiti.  It was their first adoption that took them to Haiti and eventaully caused them to move there.

     The Apparent Project has a huge vision to address the needs of orphans and employment. 

      To address the needs of orphans they will have an orphanage, adoption program and guest house for visiting adopting parents.

     To address the employment issue they are using the arts.  By teaching jewelry making, knitting, crocheting, crafts, drawing, painting, sculpture, sewing, music, dance, video making, and photography they hope to help Haitains, "rise out of extreme poverty".

    This is where we (you and Homebound Missions), come in.  The Apparent Project needs the supplies to teach these skills to local Haitians.  These supplies are the opportunity to rescue the Haitian family and to grow families into a future of earning a living.  The Clays say, "We encourage people to give with the mind-set that teaching a person to fish is better than giving them a fish."

     Here are the current needs at The Apparent Project:

Jewelry Making Supplies                     Beads(glass, wooden, seed)
Crimp Beads                                     Spacer Beads
Jewelry Wire                                    Clasps
Mukisa Blue                                      Earing Posts
Jewelry Making Tools                         Beading Magazines
Paper (all kinds)                                Glue
Jewelry Displays                                Used Cards
Yarn                                               Knitting Needles
Crochet Hooks                                  Craft Magazines
Patterns

     Check out The Apparent Project's web site and see how you might be used to help create work for a Haitian man or women.

Video

The ApParent Project from Corrigan Clay on Vimeo.

Scripture of the Day

 But You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief,
To repay it by Your hand.
The helpless commits himself to You;
You are the helper of the fatherless.

Psalm 10:14