As you walk down the concrete-cracked steps to The Hole many things pass through your mind, especially if it's your first time there.  The houses are brimmed with rusted, tin roofs and the children are missing shoes.  Stray dogs scurry from drain to drain hoping a good second-hand meal might make its way to them.  Old men sit in groups, smoking unfiltered cigarettes, drinking rum through missing teeth.  Not exactly the place you'd go to find hope, or even a friendly handshake.Every time I make my way to the bottom of those unending stairs I can almost feel the weight[…]

One of my privileges serving with GO is to introduce people to our ministry on the field, check out the brief video my friend and coworker, Reid Olson, put together about Exploratory trips with GO on the island of Hispaniola.

 My perspective was different than most everyone else.  From the front of the room I saw neutral-hued hands lifted high, the glory of God filling the place.  Four countries represented, one hundred and eighty chairs filled with people unified by international partnership.  Voices of every tone, many tongues, one language -- worship.I believe with all my heart that God knew exactly what He was doing when He placed sound in our voice boxes, music in our souls.  He knew that for most, just words preached or hands clenched or eyes closed wouldn't be enough.  That song would bring Heaven to[…]

 You can trace the lines on her face to the years of hardship she has endured.  Day after day, harvesting and sorting beans to sell in order to provide what little she can for her family.  In the early morning she sits below a sparcely-leaved tree, protecting herself from the already blazing sun.  It's her spot, hardly comfortable but its familiarity somehow comforting.On every trip I've taken to Phaeton, I have wanted to take her picture.  But in Haiti, because of Voodoo, there are many adults who believe that by taking their photo you can steal their soul.  Other Haitians[…]

We walked on down the narrow alley for just a short time.  We were almost there.I hadn’t seen her in months. I heard she was walking. I heard she was defying what the doctors said she would never be able to do. I couldn’t wait to see this miracle child with my own eyes.We turned the corner and ducked under shanty balconies and we continued our way to Yasmin’s home. In was quiet in this neighborhood, not the way you would typically describe where they live, but it was early in the morning and most were sleeping after partying until[…]

Haiti.It is a special place, magical even.It has a way of getting under your skin and piercing your soul.Redemption.Renewal.Restoration.It has it all.Pain.Turmoil.Angst.Hungry bellies crying out.It has it all.I found myself, 8 years ago standing for the first time on Haitian soil in Ounamenthe, Haiti, trying to keep pace and take it all in as we winded down dusty roads lined with cactus hedges. Little kids shouting "blanc" ("white") with fascination and wonder in their eyes. They poured from out of their houses to greet us, touch us, slip their hands in ours and run alongside of us for a brief[…]

I recently was cleaning old documents off of my computer and found this article I wrote for a women's ministry blog from a large church. God really spoke to me during this time and continues to reconfirm the same truths today that he did then!This was originally written May 30, 2011 (just a few days after my twin daughters turned 1). The photo below, however is from 2013! I am a wife missionarymother of twinsdaughtersisterencouragerand above all things, daughter to the King and image bearer for my sweet King Jesus who, because of his great unfailing love, donned a crown of[…]

Remember the story of Abram in the Bible? How God promised to give him a child, but Abraham and Sarah got anxious and ended up making a big mistake. The remarkable thing is, God still  kept his promise and blessed them with Isaac. God loved them, despite the fact they doubted and panicked and took matters into their own hands. (Genesis chapters 15,16 & 21).Living in poverty can put a person in a constant state of fear and worry. Studies show that people living in poverty tend to live in less than sanitary conditions and have less access to nutrition[…]

Here is a new opportunity for you to support the work I do on the island of Hispaniola!  Several people run to raise money and that is good but I am a non-competitive person!  What I do excel at though is "work"!  I was raised with a very strong Midwest farm work ethic!  Since I usually spend one month working to help prepare for Derby a friend (Eric) gave me the idea of asking people to sponsor me in; steps, miles, or (since the pedometer actually monitors this) calories!Above is a new picture of my pedometer!  Please prayfully consider sponsoring me[…]

a really good friday six families from knoxville, tennessee decided to do something different for spring break this year.  a group of people that have spent a lot of time sitting on bleachers at baseball games watching their 10 year old sons play sports found their way to santiago, dominican republic, this past week.  this particular week in the dominican is called "semana santa (holy week)" and everyone takes off for the countryside, rivers and beaches.  at church last sunday morning down in "the hole", pastor felix abreu spoke about the week before Jesus's death on the cross.  the people of israel awaited a mighty king who would more[…]