I have recently found a old and dear friend...we haven't talked yet, just been reading each others web page at another place online.  I have recieved a group email of their holiday plans...and wish to share.  She is a dear friend who I met as a teenager, living with my aunt while I was deeply troubled....and didn't know who Jesus was.  I didn't get led to know Christ then, but her and her family were a very important cornerstone in my life.  Below is her plans as she shared in her own words.  Please pray with me for them....thank you:  God Bless and Merry Christmas....acraisydaisy

We are completely in shock that the holidays are here already.  Wow,
where did the time go.  We are counting down the sleeps not just for
Christmas but we are off to the Dominican Republic on the 26th which  we
drive to Calgary and fly to Punta Cana for 2 weeks!  YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
For you that haven't heard, Daniel and I and the kids are heading South
to work for up to a week and relax for a week.  It's a working
holiday. 

We were there this last March and our hearts were touched by seeing the
need of helping and reaching out the lost and needy.  Witnessing 2
little boys on a dirt hill playing with 2 rocks making car sounds broke my
heart and made us realize what we all take for granted.  I told the
mother that in some ways it looks like they have nothing but in many ways
they have everything.  She had 2 boys with an imagination. 
We knew right then that we would be back with our children and helping
out wherever we can.
We made some contacts there and have now received a complete Itinary
including working in three schools handing out supplies, doing 3
different concerts, working in the nearby villages driving back and forth each
day from the resort. 

We start our mission trip off by driving to Santa Domingo (the capital
city) for supplies which is 3 hours away and then continuing on towards
Haiti for another 5 hrs.  This area is where the hurricanes hit hard
and is desperate for relief.  We are there for 2 days and then we head
back to Santa Domingo, supply up and then back to our resort where we
will go to nearby villages and work from, for the rest of the remaining
days.
We've made amazing contacts and are working with people from a Baptist
church and a local Catholic church.  The people heading up our trip is
a married couple that are both teachers in a very elite International
school in Punta Cana. This has stirred up many of the local people that
are wanting to help us out getting all the supplies to where they are
needed.  They are pitching in as well which is great!
Daniel and I are starting out by plowing a way and scouting out the
land.  Our vision is to take our construction company "Exterior
Connections" and put together a team of construction workers, people to hand out
supplies, spread the word and love etc....   This last week another
connection happened.  God is sooo good.  I met a Doctor that him and his
wife (which is a dentist) wants to go with us next time and offer their
services too.  He says he knows a couple more Doctors that would help
out as well.  We see an "Exterior Connections Team" in the near future.
This is the kids first trip, so they are blown away with excitement!
  The Christmas hustle and bustle has taken a backseat compared to this
trip and just being a blessing.  They are excited about even their first
airplane flight.
This Christmas, you may not be traveling far like us making a
difference giving gifts of love, supplies, other gifts and time.  But, you can
still make a difference everywhere you are this season.  When you are
with your families, friends, co-workers, etc...  give your gifts, spend
some time cherishing memories and making new ones.  Help out a stranger
or someone in need this holiday season and make that difference.
Please keep us in your prayers while we are away, we would so
appreciate that.  We fly out the 27th and return Jan 11th.  Pray that we are
safe on the resort and in the villages. That we are all free from disease
and sickness.  Pray for safe travel in the air and on the land and
water.  Pray for more devine connections and that we come in contact with
the right people and opportunites.  Finally, pray that we touch many
lives!
I could go on and on about our vision and mission for this but just
stay tuned for when we get home!

This Christmas season make sure you take more than just a couple
minutes to focus on the real meaning,  Jesus deserves more than that!
Enjoy your time with friends and family and we look forward to talking
and keeping in touch with you all in the New Year!




Be blessed
Candace, Daniel, Madison and Nathaniel