Jim and Tom raising the roof on a very hot day!Sunday, May 23, 2010
JR don't worry the owlets are just fine
Don't worry JR the youngest owl is still in the box. He may come out tonight so I'll take lots of pictures for you. They will hang around the owl box for another week or so. So when you get home you can get back to staying up all night watching the owl activity on ustream!Love ya,
Meshelle
Hi bloggers! I am back to about 70%, I went to church service this morning, it was tough getting through it for me because of the heat, I think one of the pastors saw me turning green and put a fan up by us, poor Jim was the next to fall victim, Amanda was smart as soon as she got home yesterday she started antibiotics, but still fill a little queezy. Dr. Steve left for home this afternoon and he felt terrible too! We did our group devotional meeting tonight, each had a night and tonight was mine. Back to the grindstone tomorrow... I will get to see my beautiful wife and adorable daugters Tuesday night! I am so excited, I cannot wait! I have missed them all so much. I am so glad we have so many pictures and videos of this trip, it would be hard to explain any of this to you without visual aid. Vince has recorded a lot of video time, it should be really cool. Miss you and l
Well Done Friends!
Hey maybe you guys can post a picture of Vince so Cris will believe he exists! LOL!
Matthew 25:35-36 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.
Matthew 25:40 The King will reply," I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
*what we do for others demonstrates what we really think about Jesus words to us, feed the hungry, give the homeless a place to stay, look after the sick and look after the orphans and widows.
* what each of you have done on this trip seperates you from mearly hears of the words to doers of the word. You have walked your worship, even when you were sick you still were the hands and feet of Jesus. I thank you all for your service, love and hard work to help the Haitian people. I'm sure they will never forget you! I know I won't!!
Finally, Matthew 25: 21a "Well done my good and faithful servants" those will be the words you will hear when you stand before our Lord Jesus someday for a job well done! Praise God for each of you!
With much love and respect,
Michelle Ridens
PAP Airport
OMGoooooooodness, I don't look forward to going back here to fly home.. It is total chaos there... Bags and carts everywhere... Lot's of people wanting LOTS of anything.. Extremely hard to go thru that part of the city, right outside the airport..The airport itself is just an open building, walk in one side, find your bags, and exit thru the other side.... I'll try to get more pictures on the way out..
Can't wait to see you!
I hope you all are feeling a little better, we are still all praying for you. So glad you all got some time to relax. J.R. me and the girls miss you so much we can't wait to see you. Just one more full day for you guys and then off to AMERICA on Tuesday! I am sure you all can't wait to get home and see your families.
What are the pick up plans? Are you all riding back to Black Berry Campus together and I pick up the guys from there or should I plan on picking up J.R. and Vince at the airport? What time you all getting in and what FL. #. Sorry for so many questions but J.R. wasn't told this info before leaving. I will continue to pray for you all to feel better for your travel home.
Jesus, I pray that you continue to watch over J.R. and his go team, that you continue to keep them safe. It has been a rewarding yet hard journey for them. May they have the strength to get up in the morning and finish your work. May they fill the kids hearts with joy and with your WORD as they leave them on the final day. Lord, you are a good, loving and forgiving GOD, you are my savior and we know we are not worthy of your grace. But because of you we can travel to Haiti and spread your love and grace, you are the ALL mighty!
Amen
Psalm 37:28
For the LORD loves the just
and will not forsake his faithful ones.
They will be protected forever,
but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;
Love,
RC
What are the pick up plans? Are you all riding back to Black Berry Campus together and I pick up the guys from there or should I plan on picking up J.R. and Vince at the airport? What time you all getting in and what FL. #. Sorry for so many questions but J.R. wasn't told this info before leaving. I will continue to pray for you all to feel better for your travel home.
Jesus, I pray that you continue to watch over J.R. and his go team, that you continue to keep them safe. It has been a rewarding yet hard journey for them. May they have the strength to get up in the morning and finish your work. May they fill the kids hearts with joy and with your WORD as they leave them on the final day. Lord, you are a good, loving and forgiving GOD, you are my savior and we know we are not worthy of your grace. But because of you we can travel to Haiti and spread your love and grace, you are the ALL mighty!
Amen
Psalm 37:28
For the LORD loves the just
and will not forsake his faithful ones.
They will be protected forever,
but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;
Love,
RC
My NEW 2 BFF's from the Garden
These are my 2 new BFF's.. The older one has a notebook with songs writen in spanish but writen by Celin Dion.. She can sing almost as good as Celin.. She has a wonderful voice...
One more day
JR we hope you are feeling better and will be able to finish strong tomorrow! Please take care of yourself. I know your beautiful wife and daughters can't wait to see you! We are praying for your health as well as the rest of the team and of course safe travels home!
Because of Him,
Michelle & Kevin Ridens
Because of Him,
Michelle & Kevin Ridens
Tom getting the ROYAL treatment from the girls
Justine, TOM, Amanda, Debby and SarahTom deserved the ROYAL treatment for all his hard work at the church so we carried him around to cool hime off!!!
BIG turtle!!
Heres the turtle.. He wouldn't talk to me, he just wanted to get away.. hehehehe.. Isn't it cute??
Picture of the day (YESTERDAY)
Amanda, Justine, JR, Debby and Sarah...FINALLY cooling off and BOY DID IT FEEL GOOD!!! Here's JR & Sarah just an hour or so before they started with the stomach virus... At least they enjoyed themselves before getting sick... One of the Hatians brang a big turtle up to shore, I took pictures and will share them IF i can get them to download today..
Our construction Team
Our incredibly HARD WORKING construction team!!!Jim, JR, Pastor Jules, Mike, Vince and Tom.... YEAH for the construction guys!!!
Medical Team
Here is a pic of the Meidcal team on the roof of the hospital.. Boy is it a site to see from the roof.. The hospital is only 3 stories but you can see for miles around PAP...That is going to be a place for the patients to go when they are able to get out of bed and walk around.. There has only been about 2-3 patients, but they will be full when they can finish the hospital... There are about 4-6 beds in each room with about 6 ot 8 rooms... Right now there is I think about 28 total employees at the hospital, nurses, 2-3 doctors including Dr. Marquette and his wife Dr. Junie we call her, maintanance staff.. We have 3 interpreters helping us at the hospital which makes thing run much smoother..
Left to right... Amy, Dr. Marquette, Sarah, Debby ("ME"), Amy and Teri!!!
WHAT GROUP HUH????
This was the Beach
This was a Haiti Resort.. We paid a daily rate and got the beach, a pool, some used it, and lunch.. The beach was mostly rock BUT it had the ocean and we all enjoyed getting wet in it... It definately was a luxury for Haiti and us while were are here...Some of us even took showers on the beach in a real shower, well a pole coming out of the wall outside with water coming out of it.. For me it sure beat the bucket bath/showers I have been taking.. We all really enjoyed ourselve this day.. Except poor Sarah got bit by the stomach virus and then JR by the time we left...Both are still recovering.. JR did get up and go to the church service this morning but Sarah, Steve and Amanda were all under the weather still..
Church project
Here is a pic of the Church.. Nothing like I was expecting.. AMAZING work the guys are doing there.. UNBELIEVABLE... This is the main floor... They started setting up for church with all the chairs...
Phil 4:4-9 Calm our Anxious Heart
4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
For some children, all sorts of situations cause worry. They have paralyzing fear about homework, schedules, and teachers. They agonize whether they are going to fail a test or have friends to sit by in the cafeteria. The fear can even make them physically ill. Psychologists say the cause of anxiety disorders in children is both biological and conditional. Some children are more prone to being shy or perfectionists, and these tendencies show up during the school years when pressures increase. Anxiety disorders are not limited to children, but also plague countless adults.
In our discussion about our self-image and identity, we often focus on external characteristics like appearance or possessions or accomplishments. But what about internal issues that threaten to derail our secure identity in Christ?
Today’s passage in Philippians is worth committing to memory, for it offers advice for those who are anxious in spirit. It begins with a command, “Rejoice!” (v. 4). The command may seem puzzling, worry has just been mentioned. When are we to “rejoice”? The answer is “always.” But the source of our rejoicing is not found in ourselves or our circumstances, but “in the Lord” (v. 5). Our lives are embedded and transformed in Christ. We are not our old selves.
The reason we can rejoice is found in verse 5: “the Lord is near.” God is near to you today. He knows you and your circumstances. He knows what you will do and say. He goes before you. Therefore, the next verse makes sense. “Do not be anxious about anything” (v. 6). This is perhaps the best advice that can be given. We can tell everything to God—even all of our worries. God is the only one who can see the future. He is the only one who can truly help. In return, “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (v. 7). What better news can we get? The peace of God is ours.
TODAY ALONG THE WAYIn order to find peace, we have to spend time in the presence of God. Too often we fill our lives with talking, reading, or doing something. Today, meet with God in silence. Close your eyes and meditate on His character. Be still, and know that He is God (Ps. 46:10). You can cast all your cares on Him, because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). Not only does He care, but He is all-powerful and able to bear any burden. Allow the peace of God to calm your anxious heart.
Rejoice in the Lord today!!!
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
For some children, all sorts of situations cause worry. They have paralyzing fear about homework, schedules, and teachers. They agonize whether they are going to fail a test or have friends to sit by in the cafeteria. The fear can even make them physically ill. Psychologists say the cause of anxiety disorders in children is both biological and conditional. Some children are more prone to being shy or perfectionists, and these tendencies show up during the school years when pressures increase. Anxiety disorders are not limited to children, but also plague countless adults.
In our discussion about our self-image and identity, we often focus on external characteristics like appearance or possessions or accomplishments. But what about internal issues that threaten to derail our secure identity in Christ?
Today’s passage in Philippians is worth committing to memory, for it offers advice for those who are anxious in spirit. It begins with a command, “Rejoice!” (v. 4). The command may seem puzzling, worry has just been mentioned. When are we to “rejoice”? The answer is “always.” But the source of our rejoicing is not found in ourselves or our circumstances, but “in the Lord” (v. 5). Our lives are embedded and transformed in Christ. We are not our old selves.
The reason we can rejoice is found in verse 5: “the Lord is near.” God is near to you today. He knows you and your circumstances. He knows what you will do and say. He goes before you. Therefore, the next verse makes sense. “Do not be anxious about anything” (v. 6). This is perhaps the best advice that can be given. We can tell everything to God—even all of our worries. God is the only one who can see the future. He is the only one who can truly help. In return, “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (v. 7). What better news can we get? The peace of God is ours.
TODAY ALONG THE WAYIn order to find peace, we have to spend time in the presence of God. Too often we fill our lives with talking, reading, or doing something. Today, meet with God in silence. Close your eyes and meditate on His character. Be still, and know that He is God (Ps. 46:10). You can cast all your cares on Him, because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). Not only does He care, but He is all-powerful and able to bear any burden. Allow the peace of God to calm your anxious heart.
Rejoice in the Lord today!!!
1st Day at the Clinic/Hospital
This was when we 1st arrived to the hospital on Wednesday..
We had no idea what we were in for but we took the challenge in stride and have made it 3 days with no major problems.. The patients that come to the hospital clinic are most patients that have had symptoms for months if not years and have never seen a doctor.. A lot of stomach and indigestion/intestinal problems that have gone untreated.. Also a lot of the women give birth at home and have no prenatal or after care so they have female problems.. Some have old injuries from the earthquake but very few of them.. We have had a few follow up bandage changes from injuries that are still pretty fresh, from injury or minor surgeries..
When the Haitian Doctor at the hospital found out that Justine, one of our team, he brought in many patients of his to have her consult and treat.. Justine found a lot of treatment devices that will help these patient for long term. KUDO'S for JUSTINE:)
There is loads and loads of supplies that have been boxed up and set aside so Amy and Teri have spent days unpacking and organizing all of them for Junie and set up a stock room.. They and label HUNDREDS of supplies that now can be used..KUDO'S to AMY AND TERI!!!They also Painted about 4 or 5 rooms that had been damaged and repaired from the earthquake..
As for the construction team, they have done the MOST PHYSICAL WORK of anyone here!!! They have been more or less working in a cement box, think of a HUGE HUGE cement basement with a cement ceiling and a here there in it.. The floor is just completely fille with boulders and rubble.. It is like a dusk factory inside not to mention probably well over 100 degrees in there.. and also a gas generator running while they are working in there...I was only there to help for a 1/2 of a day and within 30 minutes of mixing cement with a shovel on the ground and scooping it into wheel barrels I was so and dizzy I had to go outside for fresh air, which was not fresh at ll.. The water and running down the narrow street was from the suers so the smell was awful.. KUDO's KUDO's KUDO's to ALL the construction team, Mike, JR, Tom, Jim, and Vince!!!!
Amanda and Sarah worked for hours in the clinic and had incredible patience for the staff we were assisting.. They do things much different than we would but we took direction from them and did our best...KUDO's to the nurses on our team.. Sarah also helped Steve (our Dr) suture up a very deep wound in a little boys head.. It was open all the way to the skull.. He had tripped or fallen on the stairs.. Steve admited him into the hospital for the night and he left to get Xrays elsewhere as we don't have that equiptment set up at the hospital yet.. She also assisted Steve in suturing a boys hand which was cut pretty deep...
I was the help wherever need person, clinic taking vitals, bandage/dressing changing person, phlebotomist drawing blood for tests, PLAYING WITH THE CHILDREN while they were waiting to be seen, unpacking boxes, organizing, what ever needed to be done and I was available..
OOOOOOOOOOO and our construction-Videographer VINCE has gotten some amazing video with a huge nice movie camera and he will be sharing it with all of us once he edits it at home.. UPDATE, he is feeling much better now, he was our 1st team patient with the stomach virus and boy was it bad...
Well I'm glad I had a few minutes to get this blogged.. I feel terrible for telling everyone to read the bog but not contributing to it so here it all is in a nut shell (BOOK I MEAN).... Love and miss everyone.. Keep your comments coming.. Even tho we all don't have time to blog, WE READ EVERYTHING you write......AND APPRECIATE IT MUCH!!! HUGS N KISSES TO EVERYONE..
Donna, Dawn, George, whoever reads this tell Mom and Dad I said HAPPY 50th and wrote mom a short email to her yesterday.. Sorry I couldn't call them but was thinking of them ALL day since I remembered the date!!!!! HUGS N KISSES TO THEM ALSO!!!! :)
We had no idea what we were in for but we took the challenge in stride and have made it 3 days with no major problems.. The patients that come to the hospital clinic are most patients that have had symptoms for months if not years and have never seen a doctor.. A lot of stomach and indigestion/intestinal problems that have gone untreated.. Also a lot of the women give birth at home and have no prenatal or after care so they have female problems.. Some have old injuries from the earthquake but very few of them.. We have had a few follow up bandage changes from injuries that are still pretty fresh, from injury or minor surgeries..
When the Haitian Doctor at the hospital found out that Justine, one of our team, he brought in many patients of his to have her consult and treat.. Justine found a lot of treatment devices that will help these patient for long term. KUDO'S for JUSTINE:)
There is loads and loads of supplies that have been boxed up and set aside so Amy and Teri have spent days unpacking and organizing all of them for Junie and set up a stock room.. They and label HUNDREDS of supplies that now can be used..KUDO'S to AMY AND TERI!!!They also Painted about 4 or 5 rooms that had been damaged and repaired from the earthquake..
As for the construction team, they have done the MOST PHYSICAL WORK of anyone here!!! They have been more or less working in a cement box, think of a HUGE HUGE cement basement with a cement ceiling and a here there in it.. The floor is just completely fille with boulders and rubble.. It is like a dusk factory inside not to mention probably well over 100 degrees in there.. and also a gas generator running while they are working in there...I was only there to help for a 1/2 of a day and within 30 minutes of mixing cement with a shovel on the ground and scooping it into wheel barrels I was so and dizzy I had to go outside for fresh air, which was not fresh at ll.. The water and running down the narrow street was from the suers so the smell was awful.. KUDO's KUDO's KUDO's to ALL the construction team, Mike, JR, Tom, Jim, and Vince!!!!
Amanda and Sarah worked for hours in the clinic and had incredible patience for the staff we were assisting.. They do things much different than we would but we took direction from them and did our best...KUDO's to the nurses on our team.. Sarah also helped Steve (our Dr) suture up a very deep wound in a little boys head.. It was open all the way to the skull.. He had tripped or fallen on the stairs.. Steve admited him into the hospital for the night and he left to get Xrays elsewhere as we don't have that equiptment set up at the hospital yet.. She also assisted Steve in suturing a boys hand which was cut pretty deep...
I was the help wherever need person, clinic taking vitals, bandage/dressing changing person, phlebotomist drawing blood for tests, PLAYING WITH THE CHILDREN while they were waiting to be seen, unpacking boxes, organizing, what ever needed to be done and I was available..
OOOOOOOOOOO and our construction-Videographer VINCE has gotten some amazing video with a huge nice movie camera and he will be sharing it with all of us once he edits it at home.. UPDATE, he is feeling much better now, he was our 1st team patient with the stomach virus and boy was it bad...
Well I'm glad I had a few minutes to get this blogged.. I feel terrible for telling everyone to read the bog but not contributing to it so here it all is in a nut shell (BOOK I MEAN).... Love and miss everyone.. Keep your comments coming.. Even tho we all don't have time to blog, WE READ EVERYTHING you write......AND APPRECIATE IT MUCH!!! HUGS N KISSES TO EVERYONE..
Donna, Dawn, George, whoever reads this tell Mom and Dad I said HAPPY 50th and wrote mom a short email to her yesterday.. Sorry I couldn't call them but was thinking of them ALL day since I remembered the date!!!!! HUGS N KISSES TO THEM ALSO!!!! :)
Drive back from the Beach, WOW!!!
The drive to and from the beach was an experience that none of us will ever forget... We had the oppertunity to see more of Haiti, 2 hours worth on the way there and back... All I can say is WOW!!! Like I said Brant, I had flash backs of your videos from Iraq except no military present.. There were a few UN Police but not what I expected..If the video goes thru you will experience a small piece of what we saw..
This was 1 of the MANY MANY tent communities..
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