Sunday, October 28, 2012
The Shepherd's Cafe
So last night was my last night at The Shepherd's Cafe. I have been on staff with TSC for the past 2 years and it has been an incredible blessing in my life. We (the staff) are like one big family. We have laughed together so hard that we end up in tears, we have prayed together, we have shed tears when things are hard, we have made things work when we it seemed impossible, we have journeyed with our beloved CFR friars, and we have been blessed to meet several Catholic artists that are truly seeking after God's own heart - all the while enjoying some great coffee and having the privilege to enter into the Lord's vineyard through Mission Coffee Ministries.
Words can't fully describe how much I love my Shepherd's Cafe family - the transition from full-time missions back into working at a hospital in a totally new city (I moved from Georgia to Dallas in 2010) was one of the hardest things I've done. I left my family, my friends & my missionary family all in one fell swoop. When God opened the door for me to join TSC, my heart was just so encouraged. I was welcomed with open arms and time and time again I was told that "we are a family" and that "we are here for each other." It's amazing to me that I have grown to love a group of people so much - and to be honest I'm tearing up thinking about the fact that I won't get to see them as often as I have been blessed to over the past 2 years. But alas, I know we are united in the Eucharist so that gives my heart consolation.
Last night, at the very end of the cafe, Yong asked me to come up in front of everybody to be prayed over...so I'm pretty shy depending on the setting, and since I wasn't prepared for this, Lauren (one of our staff members) and Becca (a dear friend of mine) had to literally push me so I would walk towards the stage haha :) I'm glad they did, I was prayed over by the staff and whole bunch of people that attended the cafe that night (a large crew from UD was present) and I was very blessed. It was an answered prayer because given my crazy work schedule (I work in the Emergency Department at a children's hospital, night shift) I have not been able to settle down into one particular parish. I go to mass wherever I can given my work schedule, so I haven't gotten a chance to get to know the people at any particular parish. I was thinking it would be nice to be sent off in prayer by one of the parishes I have been a part of, and last night that desire in my heart was answered :)
If you are ever in Dallas, check out The Shepherd's Cafe. I know you will be blessed just as much as I have been.
This song is pretty appropriate, I was listening to it while typing this up :)
Words can't fully describe how much I love my Shepherd's Cafe family - the transition from full-time missions back into working at a hospital in a totally new city (I moved from Georgia to Dallas in 2010) was one of the hardest things I've done. I left my family, my friends & my missionary family all in one fell swoop. When God opened the door for me to join TSC, my heart was just so encouraged. I was welcomed with open arms and time and time again I was told that "we are a family" and that "we are here for each other." It's amazing to me that I have grown to love a group of people so much - and to be honest I'm tearing up thinking about the fact that I won't get to see them as often as I have been blessed to over the past 2 years. But alas, I know we are united in the Eucharist so that gives my heart consolation.
Last night, at the very end of the cafe, Yong asked me to come up in front of everybody to be prayed over...so I'm pretty shy depending on the setting, and since I wasn't prepared for this, Lauren (one of our staff members) and Becca (a dear friend of mine) had to literally push me so I would walk towards the stage haha :) I'm glad they did, I was prayed over by the staff and whole bunch of people that attended the cafe that night (a large crew from UD was present) and I was very blessed. It was an answered prayer because given my crazy work schedule (I work in the Emergency Department at a children's hospital, night shift) I have not been able to settle down into one particular parish. I go to mass wherever I can given my work schedule, so I haven't gotten a chance to get to know the people at any particular parish. I was thinking it would be nice to be sent off in prayer by one of the parishes I have been a part of, and last night that desire in my heart was answered :)
If you are ever in Dallas, check out The Shepherd's Cafe. I know you will be blessed just as much as I have been.
This song is pretty appropriate, I was listening to it while typing this up :)
Friday, October 19, 2012
Update from the Haiti Mission Base!
Hello all :)
The team in Haiti has sent an update. Amazing - God calls us to step out in faith and He always provides. I love how he calls us to simplicity in order to draw us deeper into His heart which is so beyond words. Please pray for us all and if possible, consider making a financial donation
Here it is:
"We received phones yesterday. Sara and Paul & Anna's had to be unlocked in Port-au-Prince and that took 2 days. We have no internet just using phones right now.
The team in Haiti has sent an update. Amazing - God calls us to step out in faith and He always provides. I love how he calls us to simplicity in order to draw us deeper into His heart which is so beyond words. Please pray for us all and if possible, consider making a financial donation
Here it is:
"We received phones yesterday. Sara and Paul & Anna's had to be unlocked in Port-au-Prince and that took 2 days. We have no internet just using phones right now.
With just one week here we have had a lot of physical needs to attend to. A few days without water and intermittent power. Sean &; Sara spent a day with Fr. Louis at a monastery. It sounded awesome. There was not enough room to transport the whole team so Paul, Anna, Nathaniel & Stephen stayed at the base and busted walls to make a doorway for the nursery and a window in the chapel.
Another day Sean and Stephen went to Port Au Prince with Fr. Louis to get material goods which included shopping at a Home Depot type store and an amazing visit at Food for the Poor where we witnessed 1500 families being provided cooked meals EVERY day! Wow touches the heart. But their resources have been serioulsly cut. We were able to receive a container filled with furniture for the mission base. Great! Trip turned out to be an overnighter. Fr Louis went back today for a washing machine and stove.
We joined 100s for an amazing procession on the First Day of the Year of Faith. It was beautiful. We walked miles to the church singing and praying. The Alberts followed in truck. Bishop Dumas was so glad to see us and had us stand up in the Mass that followed the procession as he spoke of our mission to the entire crowd.
We attended Sunday Mass at St. Charles in Charlier where we will start Life Teen very soon. We drove because Fr.Louis Was running late but normally we will walk. There were lots of kids there. They hung around with us after. Life Teen will be so welcomed at this parish! With the exception of the two Masses at local churches and the two outings we have been here at the CJPIINE (JPII Center of New Evangeliztion) bonding and serving alongside one another. Needs are being appraised (and often put on hold) with respect to available funds. We also have bigger ideas but they need to wait like replacing the old leaky cement water storage tank on top of the bath house with plastic storage tanks. Not only does that require funds but a lot of labor in the demo of existing tank. We have agreed we need less "nice" food. 'Tite-Seour has prepared very good food but we are up for more simple meals allowing her more time to be missionary with us rather than for us.
Monday on JPII Day we are hosting a big celebration with 500 guests at the base!! Ought to be spectacular with praise and worship. The bishop will be here for that.
Our rhythm of prayer is good. We have Mass scheduled at 6:15 AM followed by Holy Hour and Morning Prayer. Evening Prayer before supper and night prayer after that. All of our liturgy of the hours and Mass celebrations have been English/Creole but more and more Creole each day. We’ve enjoyed increasing our personal use of the language in conversation, prayer and song. All are doing well and Sean is really determined to speak the language.
Our little community is not so little. In addition to Paul, Sara, Anna, Sean, Nathaniel, Fr.Louis and Stephen, we have 'Tite Seour who cooks and has 2 helpers, Marc Arthur, Reginald our "guardian. Clement has come to help with plumbing and electric and Rueben with masonry. So much to be done. Meschel, Fr. Louis’ brother, has also been here. Joe and Katy have come to visit from Moving With the Spirit. Local priests have come to visit. In fact, our first 2 days we had 20+ people here representing local parishes who were on retreat. In a few weeks 10 seminarians and a priest will
begin formation for a year. The school is still here for now but we have been so busy we haven't really been part of that.
Sean & Stephen are in a beach facing room in the guy's "dorm" the one just beyond the "main house."where Fr. Louis, the Albert’s, and Sara live. (We need to name these buildings.) We listen to the waves crash into beach that greet us in the morning and are like a lullaby at night. In the next room there has been one who keeps a Hatian radio station on all night. Pretty sure it is mostly praise and preaching. I can pick up parts.
The government is doing a great job of paving the road and making nice concrete ditches but we had no way to cross into the mission until late today. It has been a little awkward carrying stuff in and out.
This mission family is amazing and we love being part of it. It seems like we've been here longer than a week especially when you look at what we have had to do in order to get settled. Next week language classes will begin every day but Fr. Louis and Stephen will both be leaving for the US. We all really love having Nathaniel, especially Stephen Smith with 10 grands back in US. We have not done much laundry, just a few undies and diapers in a sink. No fresh water river here to wash in and we were without water a few days too. Most of us have had enough clean clothes so far. Today Fr Louis will return with a washing machine.
If the cement is hard and dry today we will paint and set up our Adoration Chapel for immediate use. It is the old radio station. I had to bust out the center wall that made it two rooms (2 day job with a small hammer) and a hole in the back for a moved window. All that's done now. Exciting!!
Thanks for your love and prayers."
Another day Sean and Stephen went to Port Au Prince with Fr. Louis to get material goods which included shopping at a Home Depot type store and an amazing visit at Food for the Poor where we witnessed 1500 families being provided cooked meals EVERY day! Wow touches the heart. But their resources have been serioulsly cut. We were able to receive a container filled with furniture for the mission base. Great! Trip turned out to be an overnighter. Fr Louis went back today for a washing machine and stove.
We joined 100s for an amazing procession on the First Day of the Year of Faith. It was beautiful. We walked miles to the church singing and praying. The Alberts followed in truck. Bishop Dumas was so glad to see us and had us stand up in the Mass that followed the procession as he spoke of our mission to the entire crowd.
We attended Sunday Mass at St. Charles in Charlier where we will start Life Teen very soon. We drove because Fr.Louis Was running late but normally we will walk. There were lots of kids there. They hung around with us after. Life Teen will be so welcomed at this parish! With the exception of the two Masses at local churches and the two outings we have been here at the CJPIINE (JPII Center of New Evangeliztion) bonding and serving alongside one another. Needs are being appraised (and often put on hold) with respect to available funds. We also have bigger ideas but they need to wait like replacing the old leaky cement water storage tank on top of the bath house with plastic storage tanks. Not only does that require funds but a lot of labor in the demo of existing tank. We have agreed we need less "nice" food. 'Tite-Seour has prepared very good food but we are up for more simple meals allowing her more time to be missionary with us rather than for us.
Monday on JPII Day we are hosting a big celebration with 500 guests at the base!! Ought to be spectacular with praise and worship. The bishop will be here for that.
Our rhythm of prayer is good. We have Mass scheduled at 6:15 AM followed by Holy Hour and Morning Prayer. Evening Prayer before supper and night prayer after that. All of our liturgy of the hours and Mass celebrations have been English/Creole but more and more Creole each day. We’ve enjoyed increasing our personal use of the language in conversation, prayer and song. All are doing well and Sean is really determined to speak the language.
Our little community is not so little. In addition to Paul, Sara, Anna, Sean, Nathaniel, Fr.Louis and Stephen, we have 'Tite Seour who cooks and has 2 helpers, Marc Arthur, Reginald our "guardian. Clement has come to help with plumbing and electric and Rueben with masonry. So much to be done. Meschel, Fr. Louis’ brother, has also been here. Joe and Katy have come to visit from Moving With the Spirit. Local priests have come to visit. In fact, our first 2 days we had 20+ people here representing local parishes who were on retreat. In a few weeks 10 seminarians and a priest will
begin formation for a year. The school is still here for now but we have been so busy we haven't really been part of that.
Sean & Stephen are in a beach facing room in the guy's "dorm" the one just beyond the "main house."where Fr. Louis, the Albert’s, and Sara live. (We need to name these buildings.) We listen to the waves crash into beach that greet us in the morning and are like a lullaby at night. In the next room there has been one who keeps a Hatian radio station on all night. Pretty sure it is mostly praise and preaching. I can pick up parts.
The government is doing a great job of paving the road and making nice concrete ditches but we had no way to cross into the mission until late today. It has been a little awkward carrying stuff in and out.
This mission family is amazing and we love being part of it. It seems like we've been here longer than a week especially when you look at what we have had to do in order to get settled. Next week language classes will begin every day but Fr. Louis and Stephen will both be leaving for the US. We all really love having Nathaniel, especially Stephen Smith with 10 grands back in US. We have not done much laundry, just a few undies and diapers in a sink. No fresh water river here to wash in and we were without water a few days too. Most of us have had enough clean clothes so far. Today Fr Louis will return with a washing machine.
If the cement is hard and dry today we will paint and set up our Adoration Chapel for immediate use. It is the old radio station. I had to bust out the center wall that made it two rooms (2 day job with a small hammer) and a hole in the back for a moved window. All that's done now. Exciting!!
Thanks for your love and prayers."
Thursday, October 18, 2012
A couple of pics from Haiti
I wanted to share a couple of pictures I have of Haiti. One is from the clinic that is located right next door to the mission base. I hope to serve in the clinic given my background as a pediatric nurse. The second picture is the truck we were able to purchase with the donations people have made to the Haiti Big Board
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Waiting...
Yesterday my fellow missionaries arrived in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. I am very excited for our new mission team and the ways God has been providing. I would have never imagined this is what the Lord had in store.
I think their moving makes my upcoming move in January more real and at the same time, it still feels a bit surreal. I'm still living in Dallas, going about my daily grind, still checking off things on my to-do lists...still waiting. This whole waiting thing seems to be a theme in my life in the past, well, maybe 2-3 years.
In my limited perspective I feel like there are many aches and longings that I communicate to the Lord, and I often feel as if I'm still waiting for Him to respond. Given that I feel I've been in a season of waiting for quite some time, adding on Haiti to waiting list can be challenging for me.
But you know how often times, something in your life keeps happening over and over again? The circumstances are different, but the same struggle seems to raise its little head up to meet you? That is usually when I come to realize that maybe, just maybe, the Lord is trying to teach me something, and He is using different avenues to do so. He is so patient, and at the same time so relentless in His pursuit for every part of me.
So maybe, even though I feel like I've been waiting forever to rid myself of insecurity, or enter into my vocation, or be sent on the Lord's mission - maybe He has already broken many chains of insecurities that I've failed to even notice, maybe I can begin entering into my vocation by allowing the Lord to have me exactly where He has me, maybe I've already been "sent" many times but it hasn't looked like the way I would have expected. So yes, I am in a season of waiting but that doesn't mean the Lord isn't invested in my heart, that doesn't mean that nothing is happening - because believe me a whole lot has happened in the past 2-3 years.
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