2007 Desiring God National Conference

A bit late, but a few of my highlights from the DG National Conference


1) Registering people and giving them their nametags, I so want to do it again next year.
2) Walking (running, really) around the Convention Center sock-footed.
3) Eating mints from the information desk, they were great!
4) Worship, it's incredible being apart of thousands of Christians praising the King.
5) Hearing Helen Roseveare say "Jesus", she said it with such deep affection.
6) Spending time with Hannah, Emily, Bethany, Katie, Andrea and Steph.
7) Meeting Randy Alcorn and getting a picture of him with Piper.

There were many more, but these were my happiest!

I also would like to say that I cannot ever remember being as exhausted at the end of a day than I was Friday night! Taylor and I volunteered for about 12 hours packaging gift bags, restocking materials, and registering attendees. It was so much fun, but my entire body ached by the end of the day!

Hannah

Some pictures with Hannah. She can do the Piper smile too!

Piper in a Basket

Piper saw me with the camera and at first she's doing her smile face, then she's pretending she's pushing the shutter button.

She didn't think it was as much fun this time!

Smile!

So, this is Piper's "smile" face... yeah.

This is her normal smile.

Hurricane Dean

Only a week after I return from Jamaica and a hurricane is rushing toward the small island. I've spent the last few days asking the Lord for His protection on the people we stayed with in Montego Bay, and also on Michelle and the children at Robin's Nest.

Everytime I heard "hurricane Dean" I thought of Dean, and how I wanted to hold him because he didn't have a mom to hold him when he was scared.

Throughout the weekend, I have received several update emails from the leader of our missions team. The only damage done to the Nest was a tree falling on the fence. Everyone is so grateful for God's protection during this storm!

My Babies in Jamaica

This is Dean. He's five years old. I spent a lot of time playing with him. Dean is so full of joy and loves to sing and dance.

This is Shammoy, he is 9 months old. He is a very content baby.

Enoch is 1 1/2 years old. He loves attention, and, of course, I didn't mind giving it to him.

This is Ian. He is also five years old. Ian is eating a Guava in this picture. His twin sister and 3 year old sister are also at the nest. Ian has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from the terrible things his young eyes have witnessed.

These are just four of the sweet, beautiful Jamaican children at the nest.

A few of my highlights were:

1) Meeting precious Tamara whom I have been praying for since February.

2) Listening to 8 year old Gabriel sing. I have never heard a more pure and beautiful voice!

3) Rocking 3 babies to sleep on Thursday morning.

4) Seeing the love these children have for each other.

5) Experiencing the joy all of the children have, demonstrated by dancing and singing to Jesus.

6) Walking into the room, and seeing Ion (who has CP) light up with the most beautiful and contagious smile.

7) Playing spoons with the team.

8) Riding the bus up to the nest, at the very top of a Jamaican mountain, everyday.

9) Swimming at Glistening Waters.

A few of the harder things on the trip were:

1) Getting used to the heat and humidity

2) Having to do concrete work most of Tuesday and Wednesday.

3) Being completely worn out by 1:00, and then working your tail off until 7:00.

4) By far the hardest part of the trip was leaving the kids on Thursday afternoon, and knowing that I was going back to America, and that some of them would never know a real family.

A huge blessing on this trip was that everyone got along perfectly. There were no conflicts, whatsoever.

After leaving the nest on Thursday afternoon, our bus driver, Chris, gave us a tour of the "real" Jamaica. While riding through the slums, Courtney commented that all of this injustice will one day be made right. That tour is one of the things I will remember most vividly about Jamaica.

Jamaica Missions Trip

Hey everyone! On August 4th, I will be leaving for Montego Bay, Jamaica, where I will be working in an orphanage called Robin's Nest.

I am very excited for this trip, and, by the Lord's grace, not at all nervous.

Would you please pray that the Lord would bless the ministry of my team as we encourage the people of Jamaica.

More when I return...

If you would like to know more about The Robin's Nest, visit: http://www.robinsnestchildrenshome.org/