Finally...Pictures!

OK...so I was reminded today that with the exception of children in the sponsorship programs, I never really posted pictures from the October trip. I have to admit...I have been a little scattered lately between having a hard time readjusting to life in the U.S. (this will always be a problem for me) and trying to get ready for the December trip all at once. I did share a few pictures on Facebook and some of the team did as well, but I will post more here. Dana took so many pictures and in the end left me with over 600 photos. Deciding which ones to post is hard because all of them are "my favorite", so I am just going to have to overload Blogger over the next few posts. I will try to keep it organized according to what we were doing at the time. Today's pictures are from the days we held a dental clinic in Pueblo Nuevo.

(Note...Dana was so sweet to create a montage for us and I will share it here whenever I figure out how to upload it. It has a lot of the pictures that I will posting in it, but sharing more than once is OK, right? After our December trip, I will be creating a montage (maybe with Dana's help, but she doesn't know that yet...until right now...hi Dana...did that get your attention? LOL!) with a lot of pictures from October, but also pictures from our other trips, including December, to be used whenever we speak publicly. I am so impressed with how hard Dana worked to capture every little detail of our time in Guatemala. In case I haven't said it before...we love you, friend!)

Alright...pictures from the dental clinic....

We were so blessed to have the help of a World Race team each day we were there. They were quick to help in any way that was needed, spent time with those waiting in line and ministered to/prayed with children and their families as they waited for their names to be called.

Kasey, our dentist, is incredible. The love she poured into these kids while she worked amazed me. I could go on about her all day, but will just say...Kasey...you were more of a blessing to me, personally, on this trip than you will ever know. I love your heart! In addition to Kasey, 2 dentists that work with Servants 4 Him also worked at the clinic...another blessing. Without their equipment and their help, we would not have been able to hold a dental clinic so soon.

I love this picture. Kori (an AAB board director) was a huge help during this trip and always. Without knowing it, she did a great job keeping me grounded and having the most organized person I know travel with me really spoiled me because I never have to worry about things getting done if she is around. How I will make it through the next trip without her there is beyond me.

One of my favorite pictures EVER and I don't know why. Every time I felt overwhelmed inside (because with so much going on and knowing so little about dental stuff, it gets a little overwhelming), I would walk outside and see this and begin to catch my breath quickly.

C. was one of the nurses that traveled with us and will be returning with me in December. I cannot say enough about how much watching her fall in love with the people of Pueblo Nuevo meant to me. I will be talking about her much more over the next month, I'm sure. For now, all I can say is C. - THANK YOU! You are blowing me away!

I am so happy that in 3 weeks, this won't be a problem for many children in Pueblo Nuevo anymore!

Sweet Claire...another one of our nurses. I love this woman and her gigantic heart! (I told y'all that you would hear this from me a lot...did you doubt it?) This was at the end of the clinic when we could not see any more patients and Claire went outside to help pass out our remaining toothbrushes, toothpaste and medication and to see what types of needs were left unmet.

This is probably my favorite picture of all from the trip and I can't explain why. I barely know Claire, but I do know her heart and it is beautiful. I can just feel her compassion in this picture and it still brings me to tears.

I will never forget this moment. Many of the children that we met in June had been told that we were coming back and they were expecting us. So many remembered me which really shocked me. Jesenia and Mildre are two of the children that really grabbed the hearts of some of us in June and when they walked up to me on the first day of the clinic like they had known me their entire lives to hug me and to tell me (through a translator) that they remembered me, I didn't know what to think. They both arrived very late the first day and because they were so far down on the list, we were unable to get to them this trip. As the second day came to an end and I realized that we were not going to be able to see them, I began to panic (really...heart racing, on the verge of tears, short of breath panic). Both need dental work badly, but so did everyone else on the list above them. There was nothing I could do at the end of the day, but tell them that I was sorry. Tears and more tears flew when they both came to give me a hug and to tell ME that it was OK. I will never forget what it felt like to have to watch so many people walk away because we could not see them all...and I know that it was just the first of many times that I will have to do that during my life.

And Dana...well, she spent the entire time behind the camera so we have very few pictures of her, but I will be posting a few over the next few days.

I will try to post pictures from our family visits in the next couple of days.

Children in Pueblo Nuevo to Receive "The Jesus Story"

I had the privilege this morning of meeting and spending a little time with Don Hammatt, author of The Jesus Story and Jesus in Me and left our meeting with 300 Spanish books containing both The Jesus Story and Jesus in Me to be distributed to children in Pueblo Nuevo in a few weeks.

Don also created DVDs of the books (The Jesus story is available on their website...Jesus in Me will be available soon) that I was able to watch during our time together. During one of the movies I couldn't help but think of what it will be like to distribute these books and how my learning about Don's books was perfectly orchestrated.


Since early this year I have been looking for an inexpensive source for Spanish children's Bibles. During our June trip, we noticed that only one child in the children's ministry has a Bible. It was obvious that some of the other children also longed for a Bible. That led me to search even harder when we returned to the U.S., but finding affordable Spanish Bibles (or at least affordable to us in the large quantity we would have to purchase) was difficult and by September I was giving up on the thought of being able to distribute Bibles during the December trip. Key words...I was giving up.


God wasn't.


During a chat with our Bible study leader, he mentioned a children's book that was also printed in Spanish that his mission team was taking on a mission trip to Puerto Rico. He brought one to church the next week to show us. PERFECT!! It wasn't an actual Bible, but it was the perfect book for children...2 stories in 1, easy to get them to Guatemala in bulk and only $1 each! We heard that the author lives in Baton Rouge and his daughter goes to our church. And so began my excitement (again) about being able to not only share the love of Christ with the children (and their parent(s)) in a number of ways while we are IN Guatemala, but also being able to leave them with these books that have helped lead so many children to Christ around the world.


Thanks to all that have contributed to the purchase of these books! If you would like to purchase one of these books for a child in Guatemala, you may do so by clicking "donate" on the side bar and contributing just $1.


To learn more about these books or to purchase them or the DVD in English or Spanish, please visit their website HERE.

Pueblo Nuevo - Christmas Food Baskets and Community Feeding Program

As I have mentioned before, many children throughout Guatemala are severely malnourished and that includes many of the children living in Pueblo Nuevo. We know that most of the children in Pueblo Nuevo eat only 2 or 3 actual meals a week. If they eat in between those meals, their food consists of tortillas and an occasional serving of beans. I have personally seen children eat a couple of pieces of candy in place of meals simply because a piece of candy is much cheaper than a meal. We all know that there is not a lack of food in Guatemala...that isn't the problem. The problem is that people cannot afford to feed their children what will keep them healthy and are forced to feed them whatever they can which is rarely what they need.

The need for nutritious food in Pueblo Nuevo is as great as every other area of Guatemala. We know the need exists and believe that meeting this need in as many families as possible must be a priority.

To launch this long-term community program, we will be distributing Christmas food baskets to families living in Pueblo Nuevo in December. Each basket costs $25. Included in each basket is a variety of well-balanced ingredients to provide meals for a family of 6 and necessary items to make tamales for Christmas Eve. Each child pictured below and their families are in desperate need of this gift. Please prayerfully consider providing them with food this Christmas season by clicking the 'buy now' button at the top of the side bar. If you would like, you may indicate the name of the child and his/her sponsorship number during check out that you want to provide a basket for. If no number is listed, AAB will select a family on your behalf.

After we receive your food basket donation, you will receive an email asking if you would like to consider monthly sponsorship of the family you are providing a basket for. Feel free to make this a one time gift, but we ask that you consider sponsoring a family for $25 a month. Through monthly sponsorships in 2010, you will provide children of Pueblo Nuevo and their families with more consistent well-balanced meals. You will also be a part of our 'chicken program' as we begin organizing and carrying out the distribution of chickens and feed to families that want to be involved with the program and are able to care for chickens. This program, as part of the community feeding program, will provide a source of protein to all family members through the eggs that are produced and meat as well as provide supplemental income for families that are able to sell eggs. Through this sponsorship program you will receive photos of the family you sponsor and updates about them several times a year as well as a Christmas card from the family (beginning Christmas 2010). If you become a monthly sponsor, you will receive a sponsorship package with more information about your family in the days following Christmas.

The children below are just a few faces in the sea of faces that we will see when we return to Guatemala in a few weeks. Many other children and families in Pueblo Nuevo are in need of food baskets and we are working to obtain sponsors for as many baskets as possible. The number of families in need of sponsors continues to grow and as families are sponsored, we will continue to add others. If one of these faces grabs your heart, please do not ignore it.

(Please excuse the layout of photos...Blogger doesn't want to cooperate tonight. All names and ages of the children are listed to the right of their photo.)


Astrid, age 15
#PN001



Marcos, age 10
#PN002

Angel, age 6

#PN003

Wilmer

#PN004

Yenifer, age 10
#PN005

Evelin
#PN006

Jaquelin, age 8
#PN007

Maria, age 10
#PN008

Doris, age 8
#PN009

Keny, age 10
#PN010

Jesenia, age 9
#PN011
SPONSORED!

Yoni, age 10
#PN012

Samuel, age 10
#PN013

Rutman, age 7
#PN014

Carolina, age 10
#PN015

Lucila, age 12
#PN016

Paola
#PN017

SPONSORED!

Jairo, age 10
#PN018

Edy, age 10
#PN019

Jamie
#PN020

Christina
#PN021

Paola, age 11
#PN022

Cristop
#PN023

Wuendy, age 9
#PN024

Julio, age 7
#PN025

Nancy, age 8
#PN026

Mildre, age 8
#PN027

SPONSORED!

Oscar, age 9
#PN028

Oswaldo, age 11

#PN029

Sponsor a Child at Rehoboth Children's Home

Pictured below are some of the children living at Rehoboth Children's Home that are in need of sponsors. Most of these children have lived through severe physical and emotional abuse and all have lived through tragic and often horrific events. If you would like more information about any of the children listed below, please email Terry at terry@acrossallborders.org.

Your gift of at least $30 per month will provide your sponsored child with food, clothing, medical care, counseling, education, home security (many are under protective custody), other necessary living expenses and transportation to and from church and other activities.

We believe that it is extremely important for sponsors to be able to communicate through letters and small gifts to their sponsored child. AAB will happily deliver letters and cards to your sponsored child on any occasion and will deliver small Christmas and birthday gifts upon request. Should you ever travel with AAB to Guatemala, you will be able to meet and spend time with your sponsored child. Several times a year, you will receive updates and photographs of the child you are sponsoring (either from AAB or the directors of Rehoboth Children's Home), letters from them twice a year and a Christmas card.

To become a sponsor, please click the appropriate PayPal button on the sidebar and list the name of the child you would like to sponsor when prompted. To mail your first monthly gift, please send a check or money order made payable to Across All Borders with Rehoboth - plus your sponsored child's name in the memo section. Mail to: Across All Borders, P.O. Box 14086, Baton Rouge, LA 70754

More children in need of sponsors at Rehoboth Children's Home will be listed soon.

Edgar X.
age: 17 years



Camilla L.
age: 5 years





















Noe C.
age: 5 years


Mafali L. (Betzy)
age: 6

Marisol V.
age: 3 years

Jose C.
age: 17

Denis G.
age: 10 years

Silvestre A.
age: 9 years




















Jose J.
age: 9 years






















Maria E.
age: 9 years



Moises A.
age: 15 years





















Miguel A.
age: 17 years









Wesler L.
age: 2 years

Orphan Sunday

From the Orphan Sunday website:

On Orphan Sunday, Christians stand for the orphan.

We are a people called to defend the fatherless…to care for the child that has no family…to visit orphans in their distress.

From many sources, one voice. Hundreds of events across America and beyond, all sharing a single goal: that God’s great love for the orphan will find echo in our lives as well.

Each as they are led. Sermons and small groups, concerts and prayer gatherings—each rousing believers with God’s call to care for the orphan…and what we can do in response.

November 8, 2009. Orphan Sunday is your opportunity to rouse church, community and friends to God’s call to care for the orphan.
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My heart aches just to hear the words "Orphan Sunday" as I long for the day when there will be no more orphans, no more suffering, no more pain. I am certain that day will come, but until then there are literally millions of reasons for Christians to rise up, not just one Sunday a year and not just during National Adoption Month, to care for these children. It's time for us to stop looking at them pitifully and then turning our heads to try to forget their faces. It's time for us to stop thinking, "How sad...that could have been my child." Because they are God's children, they ARE our children to love deeply and to care for.

We will be speaking at Christ Church in Prairieville, LA tomorrow morning about the plight of orphans and God's call for every Christian to care for His children. We will also be introducing the children we are committed to serving at Rehoboth Children's Home and launching our sponsorship program for these children late tomorrow night.

Whether or not you are leading or involved in any Orphan Sunday activities tomorrow, please join us in praying for every orphan and all vulnerable children...to have hope, healing and a future...beyond the bondage of fear and loneliness.

Rotary Club - McComb, MS

I am positive that I am going to look back on this post one day and laugh. I already find all of this a little funny, but I'm sure it's going to be hysterical one day.

I had the privilege of returning to my hometown of McComb, MS this morning and speaking to a packed conference room about our adoption, the world's orphan crisis and what AAB is doing for orphans and vulnerable children and families in Guatemala. As excited as I was about being able to share all of this, it was not at all easy for me in the beginning.

God has a sense of humor. Or maybe He didn't hear me when I told Him years ago that I would do whatever He wanted me to do...except fly or speak in public. (Kidding....about Him not hearing me...I really did request the other.)

Is it just me or is it a little funny that He decided to call me to a life that includes flying all of the time and now speaking publicly on a regular basis?

It's almost as if He wants us to trust Him or something. ;)

I won't go into details, but take my word for it...the last 2 days have been ugly and at one point last night, I thought I may need to go to the hospital because I was almost convinced I was having a heart attack (and I wasn't even having a full blown panic attack).

But the day went well and I am so happy that I was able to meet new people that are very interested in supporting AAB in a number of ways and was able to spend a few minutes with some people that I have known my entire life, people that watched me grow up and that want to support us however they can. It means so much to me to hear that people are praying for us, but there is something extra special about having someone that has known you since you were child look in your eyes (some with tears in theirs) and tell you that they are praying...and you know they mean it. I was nervous, of course, but nothing is easier to talk about than your passion, so it ended up not being difficult at all. I think my fear of public speaking will be a little easier to deal with from now on. It may never go away, but I will get through it.

We were blessed today to learn of people that would like to travel with us on upcoming trips (from dentists that would like to do another dental clinic to people that would like to work on upcoming building projects). Our first child at Rehoboth Children's Home is now being sponsored. Several people want to help with fundraising in MS, including working with us on an annual golf tournament there in addition to our annual tournament here. Some people would like to collect/donate supplies, others would like to collect monetary donations and several are planning to try to get speaking engagements at other local churches/organizations set up (which we REALLY need since raising awareness about the orphan crisis is just as important as providing orphan care & prevention). And through it all, at the end as person after person came by to shake my hand and ask questions, people were pulling out their wallets and donating money to help purchase Spanish Bible story books and food baskets or for whatever needs we have for upcoming trips. What a blessing!! I have no idea some of the names of people that placed cash on the table in front of me and then quickly walked away, but if you have found your way here, THANK YOU! We also received a large and very unexpected donation from Day Motors today. Saying "thank you" will never be enough and I am still speechless about it. You will never fully know the impact your contribution will have on the lives of people in Guatemala, but you are making a difference!

Ten years ago when we moved away from McComb, I never would have imagined that I would return to do something like this. I was reminded today that the people that live in the place where I was born and spent the first 20 years of my life are among some of the most kind-hearted, generous people that I have ever met.

Special thanks to Mitch Dorr for his constant support of AAB, for arranging today's presentation and for helping in whatever way was needed. Thanks also to Kori and Kevin Murray for creating today's power point presentation, hand outs and for continuously helping us however you can. You know that I could not have done any of this without you. Love y'all! :)

Flowers Spirit Award

My husband, Danny, would never write about this publicly, but since this isn't the blog he posts on (yet), I will write it for him because I am so proud of him.

Danny has been nominated by his co-workers to receive the L.S. Flowers Spirit Award because of his work performance, encouragement of others, the time and energy he spends on community service and in large part for what is going on at AAB. He won the Spirit Award at the regional level and will be receiving a monetary donation to AAB because of it. He now has the chance to be the overall recipient and receive company wide recognition along with another, larger donation to the charity of his choice (again, AAB).

I am so excited that he was even nominated for this award, let alone being honored at the regional level with the possibility of winning company wide.

Congratulations, Danny! We love you!