THIS is Why We Do All That We Do!

It's been a whirlwind few days!  I flew into Seattle late Saturday night so that I could attend an Apparent Project Board Meeting on Sunday.

What a wonderful time that was!  It was so nice to all be in one room instead of on a conference call.  We just sat and shared our thoughts and ideas and before we knew it, four hours had gone by!  God continues to do exciting things!

This also gave me the opportunity to see the new Apparent Project Shipping Center!  It's completely and totally awesome!  More on that later as I interviewed each of these lovelies so you can get to know them a little better -

We were missing two office staff in this pic - but these gals are what keeps Apparent Project going all over the United States and they do a marvelous job!  Can't wait to tell you about them!

This amazing guy right here is Pierre.  He is an artisan for Apparent Project and he is visiting Marilyn for 3 months.  He is learning the ins and outs of all that goes on in the US office as well as improving his English, grammar, typing and computer skills.

When I say he is amazing, I'm not even kidding!  I'll tell you more about him in the future as well.








One of the best things we did was go into Seattle.  Since neither Pierre, nor I had been there, it was a new experience for us both.  I think it was more fun experiencing it with him!  He was in New York this past winter helping Shelley with the Trade Show and I remember thinking how awesome it would be to experience things in America through his eyes.  I'm so thankful I got to do that!

 

Ferry Ride into Seattle

This was his favorite part!  He had been on a boat once when he visited the Statue of Liberty - but this time, he got to experience our driving the car on the Ferry.  He had so much fun!

Our happy tour guide - Marilyn

Coming into Seattle

Of course, we visited the famous Underground Tour AND

Pike's Place Market - where they throw fish back and forth.  Now that's an experience!

Now what is a trip to Seattle without going to the Space Needle?  This was the other favorite part of the day.  I loved it when Pierre looked at us and said, "We are going up in that?"   He loved it!

And I can't forget the fact that we introduced him to his first Bacon Cheeseburger and Onion Rings!  I think he was finished eating before us!

On Tuesday night, I flew out and arrived in Haiti this afternoon.  What a trip!  I like the short hop from Jacksonville a lot better.

Zidor picked me up from the airport, I got somewhat settled at the Guesthouse and went to see Shelley.  After dinner, we took a walk in Little Clarvil.  This community is so amazing.......

I got to see the bridge!  Everything has grown up around it and it's just become part of the community.  Monet told me tonight that they love it because when they have a big load to bring in from market, they don't have to carry it so far because the moto-taxi can get across the bridge and bring everything right into the community.  So awesome!

I hiked to the top of the hill behind Little Clarvil with this gang!  So much fun!!!!

Keziah discovered a skull - we think it was a goat......

View of Little Clarvil from the hill.  Love the Apparent Project house in the upper left corner.  Now its red roof is covered with Solar Panels.  So very cool.

We visited with the ladies sitting around and roasting coffee beans

We watched this young man skin and gut a bird for dinner.  Definitely drew a crowd!

 We visited with old friends (we helped this man paint his house last year) 

 He always has the rubber boots on - I LOVE it!!!

Made some new friends - These little guys kept wanting a photo and then they would laugh hysterically when I would show it to them on the back of my camera.  So cute.

But this......

This took my heart.  THIS is why we work so hard.  THIS is who we are fighting for.

These are Monet's baby twins.  6 weeks old.  A boy (right) and a girl (left).  Right now the baby boy has Chikungunya.  Poor little guy was in so much pain when if you moved him very much. 

Monet is now the mother of 6.  She works for Shelley and is currently on maternity leave.  When that is over, these two will come to the Daycare center while Monet works. 

 I can't imagine them being anywhere else.

THIS is why we are here this week.  To better train the nannies and help get things organized.  THIS is part of helping to keep families together - by not only providing jobs.  But by providing a safe place for the babies to go until they are old enough to go to school.

Pray for Joyce and Erin - they fly in tomorrow around 2:30 and they will be doing trainings on Friday.  Keep checking back - I'll be blogging all week!

Until next time.........

Chikungunya and Faith

Two weeks from today I will be sitting in Haiti again.  I'm really excited to be returning so soon.  I am traveling by way of Lacey, WA (Seattle area).  I know - long way around but we are having a  Board Meeting and we want to be able to sit and really communicate in person instead of via conference call.

So, on May 31, I will fly to Seattle for the Board Meeting and will be there until late Tuesday night.  Then I will take an overnight flight and arrive in Haiti on Wed, June 4.  Joyce and her daughter, Erin from my church (both run Daycare Centers) will join me on Thursday and we will spend the week helping to work out details at the new Apparent Project Daycare Center.  Soooo very excited about this.  Joyce is going to focus on administration, scheduling, etc. and Erin will be training the Nannies in infant CPR, first aid, etc.  It will have been running for a month when we get there and they will observe and see how things can be tweaked and improved.  We are already seeing such a great improvement in the health of the babies that are being cared for.  Having healthy food and stimulating play is so good for them!

The biggest concern that we have right now is the Chikungunya virus that has hit Haiti.  It is spreading rapidly through the country via mosquito.  It's incubation period is 3 - 7 days so you don't know that you have it.  A mosquito bites you and then goes on to the next person and gives it to them.  Last week, a third of the artisans were down with it - including Shelley.  It leaves you with a very itchy rash all over your body, high fever and severe joint pain.  There is no inoculation for it and no cure.  Just Tylenol to keep the fever down and lots of rest.  The good thing is that once you have had it - you are immune to future attacks.  It came into the Dominican Republic via Asia and Africa at the beginning of the year and is spreading quickly across the entire island.  It came into Port au Prince about a month ago.  It is not typically fatal but is most dangerous to the babies and elderly.

I tell you all of that to ask you to pray.

I'm having a hard time putting my feelings about this into words.  There is always a risk of "something" when traveling into Haiti.  It is a third world country after all.  I've had all my immunizations - Hepatitis A, Typhoid, I've taken the malaria meds.  No matter what I do - I always wind up with a touch of some kind of stomach bug when I go.  But having taken "precautions" I've never worried much because my risk is low.

It's funny how you become a little more apprehensive when the risk becomes high.  There is most likely a 95% chance that I will catch this virus while I am there.  I'm planning on covering up as much as possible and wearing lots of repellant - mosquitoes everywhere LOVE me.  They always have. 

Knowing this, I began to second guess my trip.  Even though it has been obvious that God has put it all together.  Everything has fallen into place perfectly and I am supposed to be there.  But who wants to get sick?  Right?

It's only a virus.  Lasts for 3 - 7 days at the most.  It's not fatal.  There could be long term joint pain for people over the age of 45.  I'm 43 in July.  Does that include me?

Wow - God is not telling me I'm going to die if I go on this trip  - just risk getting a nasty virus.  And yet I second guessed myself.  No matter what He is asking - I need to be obedient.

I had such an overwhelming peace when I went to Haiti the very first time.  And that was really walking into the unknown.  I have a peace and a confidence now - I just have a little more knowledge of what is going to happen.

Maybe knowledge isn't always so good.  But then again - maybe it is!

This will be my 4th trip to Haiti.  It's becoming "comfortable."  Comfortable in that I can get through the airport okay and I recognize places and things.  Comfortable in that part of my heart feels like it's "home" when I'm there.  It's what I'm supposed to be doing.  Comfortable with Shelley and the artisans that are becoming more than just acquaintances.  Even comfortable with the language difference.  All of these are good things.

Then there are the not so good.  Comfortable in that I forget about the dangers and the risks.  Think that I am somehow immune to them.  Comfortable in that I become self sufficient.  Ouch.  That's it right there - that's what hit me.  That was my "aha" moment.

Self Sufficient.

I never want to travel into Haiti self sufficient.  Confident in my calling - yes.  Self sufficient - no! Truth is - I can do all the immunizations I want - take all the precautions I think necessary but most things are completely out of my control.  Mosquitoes are not in my control.

There is nothing in Haiti that I can control.  Each and every trip that I take is orchestrated by God and has a purpose.  It always leads to the next thing.  I have made myself available to Him.  And with that comes risks.  Comes dying to myself.  Comes the willingness to be UN-Comfortable. 

I never want it to be so comfortable that I forget to pray.  That it no longer stretches my faith.  I want it to ALWAYS cause me to look to Him for protection, guidance, wisdom, discernment - peace.

This has NEVER been about me and I don't want it to start now.

So thankful for God's forgiveness and grace.  He knows my heart - knows I am human - knows my thoughts and my fears.  He could make me comfortable all the time - but I would never grow.

I don't want that at all.

It is out of our comfort zones that God does some of His best work.  Because we have no one to rely on but Him.  That's exactly where I want to be.

Funny it took a silly sounding virus to remind me of all of this and I haven't even come down with it yet.  Maybe I won't.  But - whatever Lord.  Your calling on my life - the artisans and their sweet babies - are more important than rather or not I'm comfortable!







Pray for me as I travel.  As always - that God's Will will be done in my life and in the lives that I connect with.  Keep checking back - I'll be blogging!!!!!

Until next time.....

Celebrations!

What a whirlwind my life is right now.  I am literally going out of town 3 weekends in a row.  Two down, one to go. This doesn't leave much time in the week to keep up with my normal stuff, let alone being able to sit and blog.  But - before I go out of town AGAIN this weekend, I will sit down and document the last two.

Our Anniversary Getaway

What a wonderfully, relaxing weekend!  It was much needed for both of us.  We have decided that two nights just isn't long enough - next year we want three.  Remind us of that - we always seem to forget.

 Almost sixteen years ago (on Oct. 15), Russell took me to Jekyll Island, Georgia to propose.  I was absolutely clueless.  Oh, I knew he was going to be my husband.  God had already shown me that very clearly - but I had no idea he was going to propose that night.

We decided to return and actually stay a few nights to celebrate our 15th Wedding Anniversary.  It was awesome.  It may become a regular place for us.  Why didn't we think of this before?  So close to us (an hour and a half) - and yet we felt so far away.

 Beach where Russell proposed.

 This was the view from behind our condo.  So nice.

 We didn't know this place even existed!  Thanks Chuck and Karesa for the great tip!

 On Friday, we rented bikes and rode all over the island.  So much fun - and so relaxing!

 Jekyll Island Club - gorgeous hotel.

 Russ loved visiting this chapel

 Sunset after dinner - gorgeous!  God is so good!

One last visit to Driftwood beach before we leave.

We absolutely LOVE our times away together.  So thankful to be married to my best friend!  Happy Anniversary my love - I can't wait to see what the future holds......

Amanda's Baby Shower

Sasha has loved on my children from day one and now she is finally going to be a Grandma!  My cousin Drew and his wife, Amanda, are due to have a baby boy in December.  This past weekend was the shower.  So Anne and I packed up on Friday and headed to New Port Richey to help with all the preparations and to celebrate the coming of baby Max!

I love the name!  Max was our Grandfather's name.  Russ and I had that name picked out if we were to have another boy.  Our baby days are over so I am sooooo thankful the name will be used in our family.   

Max Henry

 I was asked to make the cake for the shower - such an honor!  How cute is that?

These were so fun!  I made them as party favors - so many monkeys!!!!

Me and Amanda - adorable baby bump!!!!

Ashlea, Amanda and Tricia

Ashlea, Sasha, Tricia, Me and Anne

Can you tell we are related????

Max Henry - Greatest Ruler of the Home 

They are in trouble!  LOL!

Anne helped with the gifts - I loved this picture!

 Ashlea and Colin - they flew in from New Jersey

 Tricia and Jim - they came up from Miami

Drew, Amanda and Max

It was soooooo great to be with my family this weekend.  It's rare that we all get to be together and we really had a lot of fun catching up and just hanging out.  Such a wonderful time to celebrate!  Can't wait for little Max's arrival!

Congratulations Drew and Amanda!  

You guys are going to be awesome!!!!!

Until next time.......

Chloe Lynn is here!!!!

Chloe Lynn Mickle has finally arrived! Born at 7:15 pm and weighing in at 7 lbs. 14 oz. and 21.5 inches long! She's a beauty!!!!

Sam had a long day but mother and baby are doing fine.
My first photo


As soon as Daddy shaded my eyes from the light, I stopped crying..... Thanks Daddy!


7 lbs. 14 oz.

Daddy holding me for the first time.


First family photo


Kisses from Mommy.