I thought I would let everyone know that we're home safe and sound.  It was an amazing trip!  We had a lot of struggles, from before we arrived, when we got to the Toronto airport all the way to when we arrived back at the Toronto airport.  I don't have time to tell you about them all; it would take far too long.

Despite all the difficulties we were able to give medicine and care to 3144 people in 5 days.  We heard some incredible stories and gave medicine, food, clothing, sandals, and even the boxes containing these things to people who needed them.  We treated scabies, lice, arethemia, diabetes, asthma, STDs, colds, aching bones, rashes, terrible coughs, and more.

I was deeply affected by the standard of living these people deal with.  Shacks made of metal siding, with no windows or doors, holes in the ceiling and walls, and a dirt floor.  Most of them had open cooking fires inside their homes. Even with the beans and rice we gave them, they probably wouldn't have lunch. 

I had to see the doctor when we got back and all it took was a phone call and I had an appointment the next day.  My daughter gets to choose what she wants on her sandwich and my son wears good diapers, not underwear because I don't have diapers.  We live in a comfortable home, where we can keep the bugs out easily and we aren't causing asthma in our kids whenever we cook.  We really do have so much to be thankful for.  We take so many things for granted.  It's terrible how demanding we can be when we have to wait in line at the bank machine to take our money out.  These people waited all day just to see a doctor!  There is no bank holding their money, although I'm pretty sure they'd wait all day for that, too.

I am so grateful for the chance to go and share God's love with these struggling people.  I couldn't really speak a whole lot to them so I made sure I smiled at every person who handed me their prescription sheet.  And you know what?  Every one smiled back at me.  It's a universal way to communicate. 

So I'm sending a smile to each and every person who reads this.  I hope it brightens your day as it does mine.

I'll try to post some photos in the near future.  I've taken so many it may take a while to sort through them all.  Stay tuned!

I can hardly believe it, we're flying to Nicaragua on Saturday morning!  I'm excited and looking forward to this amazing experience helping so many people get medical care and the medicine they need.  But, I'm also nervous about it and dreading the good-byes.  Especially now that Nathaniel is sick with... something.  We thought it was chicken pox, but now we're not sure.  He's got his 13-month check-up at the doctor's tomorrow morning, so hopefully he'll be able to shed some light on what is going on in my little guy's body.  It won't keep us home, but will make it harder to leave and I know I'll worry about him while we're gone.

This morning in church they commissioned us, which means we stood at the front while elders and our friends stood around us, laying their hands on us, to pray for us.  Wow, what an experience!  It brought me to tears, in fact my eyes are welling up a bit as I type this.  To be surrounded by our friends and church leaders, knowing that they will be praying for us and thinking of us now and while we're gone.  I felt so supported.  I love our church so much! 

Well, this afternoon is probably my last chance to make some cards and maybe do some scrapbooking, so I'd better get at it.  Think of us, pray for us.  We'll be back November 2.  I'll be sure to blog about it, when I get a chance.

Hugs everyone!

This is what Arianna did yesterday after church.  She quietly got out her paper and markers and sat at the kitchen table while I was in the living room keeping an eye on Nathaniel and my hubby and mother-in-law were making lunch.  Chris came in to the living room and said, "Did you know our daughter can write her name?"  She didn't stop there, and only needed help with the capital N.  We haven't really sat down with her and written out everyone's names and had her trace them or anything like that, just exposed her to the letters in books and on the computer.  I was completely floored!

In our great country, we as citizens have all kinds of opportunities to be of service.  Well, I just got something in the mail that I didn't think would be my way to serve.  I received a letter saying I was being considered as a potential juror.  What!!  I may be called upon to be on the potential juror list and then may be asked to actually sit on a jury for a civil or criminal case! 

Woah.  Wait a second.  I'm sure there's nothing to keep me from being on the list and there's probably nothing to keep me from being called to the courthouse.  It's a little scary.  But I guess if that is something I'm asked to do, I will do it, with grace and pride. 

I never thought I would get this letter.  I wonder what will happen...