Carson and Sophia

Carson and Sophia have been friends for a few years. They loved going to the Ocean City boardwalk together this summer.

exciting news...

Carson scored the winning goal Saturday in soccer. This was his first goal of the year. Sorry, I forgot my camera-

Guatemala Mission Trip recap

Guatemala Mission Trip-To God be the Glory

In the early morning hours of 03August, a team of 16 willing volunteers met at the Atlantic City Airport to begin their journey to the wonderful country of Guatemala. For some members of the group this was their first time traveling outside of the US as well as their first mission trip. For others, this would be a return to the place they grew to love during the mission trip there a year ago. For everyone, this represented a step of faith in obedience to the call God has given to serve others in need. Despite the gloomy forecast calling for many rainy days, the weather was dry and beautiful for the entire week which allowed the team to accomplish more work than originally planned. Upon arrival, the team was met by Chris Mooney and Dick Rutgers of Bethel Ministries International as well as a 17th team member, Becca from Kentucky, a long-time friend of mine (who I met through blogging). The team loaded up 2 large vans and headed to the beautiful city of Antigua. The team spent the first few days at the Hermano Pedro orphanage and medical clinic. For everyone, especially those that had never been there before, this proved to be an intense emotional experience as they witnessed firsthand many young children and teenagers suffering from muscular dystrophy, muscular dystrophy, or cerebral palsy. As one team member put it, “this was a game-changer for me.” You see, when you hold a child who can barely move and can only communicate with her eyes, make some guttural noises, and smile, it impacts you in a very deep way. Within minutes of arriving, Chris Mooney placed a child into the arms of each team member. This proved invaluable as it pushed many of us out of our comfort zone and prevented us from giving in to the fear of the unknown. As the day progressed, the team continued to minister to the children as God ministered to the team. By the end of the second day, it was amazingly clear the team members had grown fond of these precious kids/teens and were reluctant to say good-bye.
Subsequent to our visit to the orphanage, over the course of the rest of the week the team moved on to complete the construction of 3 homes in Chimaltenango, distribute food to 12 families, and in Chichicastenango fit/distribute over 50 wheelchairs to adult and children who, prior to receiving a wheelchair, had to be carried from place to place by friends and loved ones.
The week ended with the team giving a monetary gift to Chris and Donna Mooney totaling nearly $3000 which represented excess funds that were raised prior to the trip. The team had identified some specific needs throughout the week and asked that the additional love offering be used to address those needs. These included:
• Food sponsorship for the 3 families for whom we built a home (est. $480 per family= $1440 total)
• Education sponsorship for 2 of the 5 kids from the 3rd home we completed (the mother has AIDS) (est. $25/child or $300/year = $600 total)
• $500 towards a water connection for a family in Tecpan to whom we distributed food and whose father had some significant medical needs.
• 2 tires for the truck used for wheelchair distribution (est. $400)

Overall each member of the team was stretched and tested physically, emotionally, and spiritually and returned home with new understanding and appreciation for how blessed we are to serve such a mighty, loving God.

Mark 10:45:[Soft Break]45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

The head cold

is going around our home and its my turn. UGH!

Happy Birthday Best!

Today is my sister's birthday.
This note is from Carson as you call him Handsome...

Best,
Happy Birthday. Do not work to hard on your homework. Make sure you remember your bible verse for tomorrow. Maybe we can go to Pizza Hut for your holiday. I love you too, Best. I have a few lego's to share with you. I will bring them over in 50 seconds. Oh, and thanks for taking me on the ride that goes around in circles really fast last Thursday.

The above is from the lips of Carson to you Best on your special day.
Thanks for being a 'great' sister. Have a wonderful birthday :) I love you!

I love this boy.

fat flat

Tonight at dinner Carson asked Jonathan
Carson: "Is this fat flat?"
Jonathan: "what?"
Carson: pulls a small piece of steak out of his mouth and says again "Is this fat flat?"
Jonathan: "what is fat flat?"
Carson: "you know that chewy stuff?"
Jonathan: "do you mean fat?"
Carson: "No Daddy, Mommy calls it fat flat?"

Try saying Fat flat 10 times. haha!

week two of the private christian school

It's the second full week of Kindergarten and Carson is still loving it- He gets up and dressed in the morning without a fuss. He does his 'homework' when he comes home from school and is eager to keep learning. Carson tells some of the funniest stories about his day. Yesterday he said they were playing the game rocket (rocks), planes (paper), scissors. lol
He went on to tell me about a girl who thinks he is cute but he does not like her because he has a girlfriend. Really?!
There are 5 students in his class 2 boys and 3 girls. Carson is really getting a lot of one on one attention from his teacher. So far I am very pleased with the school.

I am not really feeling

"it" right now...
what is "it"

people
work
cleaning the house (it is clean)
driving
listening to music (which I love)
keeping my friendships going
dealing with drama
people's feelings
people trying to suck the life out of me
lazy people
planning our upcoming trips

I just want to love on my children all day....

wordless wednesday

first day of school photos

Carson did not say much about his first day of school. However he kept talking about everyone in his class (all 5 of them) wishing him a Happy Birthday. Carson thinks when someone says, Happy Birthday to him, he needs to reply Happy Birthday to you too.
At dinner tonight, Carson said a beautiful prayer it went like this-
Dear God,
Thank you for the air and the birds. Thank you for all my toys and please oh please give toys to other kids. God please help baby Cinderella sleep tonight and do not make her sick. Please God, Please God help me with my homework and Thank you for the food.
Amen from Carson

A milestone and a birthday

Carson,

Today is an exciting day for you and a sad day for me as you start Kindergarten. Carson, school is going to go by so quickly. I know it may not seem like it because of all the homework, test, projects and peer pressure; however, I really want you to enjoy school and take one day at a time. I also know there will be life choices that you will face that will not be easy to handle. I pray you will do your best to make the right decisions, seek God for answers and keep the lines of communication open between us. Remember, keep your head up, ask questions, get involved and be polite. Have a great year!

Not only are you starting kindergarten you are turning 5 years old today. Carson, I cannot believe 5 years has gone by already (minus eight months). You are an unbelievable tender-hearted boy. This past year you have matured so much. I am so proud to be your Mommy. I think about you all the time when we are not together. You make me laugh so hard with the things you do and say. You can bring tears to my eyes in a matter of seconds when I just think about you. Carson, I can never express how much you mean to me. I love our little sayings….

I say to you …”Be that..” and you reply “special boy”.

I say to you… “Best Buddies..” and you reply “forever”.

We give each other thumbs up meaning everything is OK.

Happy 5th Birthday sweet baby boy! I love you!

what is starting tomorrow ?

Carson
had a new hair cut
took a shower
finger nails are clipped and clean
clothes are picked out
lunch is packed
book bag is filled with supplies
not really asking to many questions
in bed by 8:00pm asleep by 8:10pm

From the back seat

Tonight as we were driving home from the horse stable Carson was singing... I hoe rock in roll, I hoe rock in roll"
The conversation:
M: Where did you hear that song?
C: Best was playing it in her car
M: Oh really
C: Yea, Best loves I hoe rock in roll
M: carson it's I love rock in roll
C: No, in Best car it's I hoe rock in roll
M: Oh...I see :)

shopping in Delaware

Fun day of shopping...Shauna and I took the Cape May Lewis Ferry to Delaware to shop at the outlets. We 'scored' some really great deals. We enjoyed the day as we had plenty of laughs, told stories and carried tons of shopping bags back to the car.

Jonathan, Carson and Cinderella enjoyed the beautiful day at a birthday party for Caleb. Carson was so excited to tell me about the picklota (pinata) at Caleb's party.

Wordless Wednesday

Where did

August go? Wait! Where the heck did the summer go?

Crazy hours

I have worked crazy hours (12-16 hour days) since Thursday due to evacuating the entire nursing facility. Praise God "Irene" brought us high winds and rain for two days. We are so lucky. However, I am really missing my children and family....

I leave the house in the morning and they are asleep-
I get home at night and they are asleep-

I called home the other day to talk with Carson:
Me: Hey Carson, how are you?
Carson: Mommy, is that really you?
Me: Yes, its me
Carson: how is your trip going? are you safe?
Me: Yes, honey I am ok
Carson: Mommy, I really miss you, please wear your seat belt.
Me: Ok, I will
Carson: If you do not wear your seat belt you will get a time out for 5 minutes. 5 minutes because you are 5 years old, Mommy.

I thought

I saw you today....
I heard our song....
I heard your 'walk' down the hallway....
I heard your laugh as I was passing by....
you wanted to come back to church....
I smelled your scent....
someone said you were on the phone for me....
I heard your voice....
we could get our favorite ice cream at the custard hut....
someone was wearing your favorite jeans....
I received a letter saying you were sorry....
you invited me out to our favorite place to play arcade games....
you wanted to meet Carson and Cinderella....
I saw your phone number on my cell phone....
you just passed me on the road....
you wanted to see me....

wordless wednesday

What do you think is she my

daughter
sister
niece
cousin
friends daughter
just a random little redhead
?

wordless wednesday

When I grow up...

I want to be a

baseball player
nurse/doctor
and
a golfer.

Mommy, Can I be all those characters?

Left to die or left for help

I had the privilege of meeting 21 day old "Marie" who was wrapped in a towel and left on the streets of Guatemala. Once she was found, she spent five days in a local hospital were she was diagnosed with hydrocephalus (water on the brain). "Marie" will have surgery next month to remove most of the water on her brain. The physicians have high hopes that she will be 'normal' once her surgery is complete. In the mean time she will live in an orphanage located outside of Guatemala City. Since "Marie" has not been recognized/claimed by any family members she will spend the rest of her life in an orphanage after her surgery. She will not be adoptable as she will be awarded to Guatemala.
As I looked at this beautiful baby my thoughts grew weary and my heart was heavy. My thoughts were two fold, how does this beautiful baby feel and what was the person thinking who left this child on the streets of Guatemala? While I wonder, make up stories in my mind and pray the only one who knows the truth is our heavenly father.

lots of laughs

Carson says to Cinderella- "how much is the baby?" "so big"

Mommy I am going to hand-cup you.

Carson can I have a kiss? No Mommy, keep your lips for Daddy.

Mommy, Are you a ward (war) hater?

Carson would you like some ham? Yea, I will have 15 pounds of it.

Email received and photo review

Dear Jonathan GretaJo and Group
I want to thank you for all that was accomplished while you were here. Each and everyone of you played such an important part of what God wanted for the the days spent here in Guatemala. Your faithfulness to him has allowed so many to be blessed- they smiled and laughed with us, they played with us and worked. Their lives were filled with your presence, and most of all with His. As you think back over this trip I pray that the faces of those that you came in contact with, those that you shared joy with, will always be imprinted in your mind and heart that you will remember them in your prayers as I know they are remembering you.
Let us always remember that all this was made possible by God's grace and that His grace was and is and will be sufficient for us each time we step out of our comfort zone to do mighty exploits in His Name.
I love each one you and I can see what you bring to His Kingdom. Thank you for coming, thank you for laying your life down and taking up His.

I hope your trip home went ok!
We hope you'll want to come back! It would be great to confirm that as soon as possible.

Lord Bless you all!
Chris, Donna and all those of the Bethel team
P.s. Please forward to those of the group, or if possible, we'd love the emails addresses to be able to stay in touch personally as well. Thanks.
Christopher and Donna Mooney
Directors
Bethel Ministries International
Chimaltenango, Guatemala
cell: 011 502 5826-5320
t/fax: 011 502 7839-1513
headquarters@bethelministriesinternational.com
www.bethelministriesinternational.com















More stories and pictures to come regarding our trip to Guatemala

The Guatemala mission team is home

There is so much to write about however I need to get my house in order first.