A letter to our children~

Dear Kennedy, Sydney and Joel~

Six days ago, there was an earthquake in one of the poorest countries in the world, Haiti. It was a massive 7 on the Richter scale and has devastated the capital city, Port Au Prince. As of today, the suspected death toll is likely to hit 200,000+ people. People were just going about their daily lives and in a second, their lives were over.

Pastor Doug led a time of prayer yesterday in our worship services for the people of Haiti. He was going to lead a team there and asked for volunteers to go and serve those who have been injured. Anyone with a medical background was asked to prayerfully consider leaving in a few days to fly down to help those who have been hurt. I wasn't sure if God was leading me to go or not but my heart was stirred. Your dad and I have been all over the world together. Your dad has been to Haiti and has helped minister to people there. He and I have been on mission trips to Sesto Calende, Italy and to Mafikeng, South Africa and many cities in the United States. We have been involved in Bible studies for adults and children...helped to construct church buildings...visited schools and hospitals and orphanages. Many times, your dad has led trips without me. Having more than enough female volunteers and chaperones and sometimes thinking it better that I stay home with you. But we've never gone to serve those who are in physical need like the people in Haiti find themselves in now. Don't get me wrong, it is of utmost importance to take the Gospel to the ends of the Earth. It is our call, our commission, our mandate from Scripture to do so. But none of those ends with just the Gospel. You can't tell people how much God loves them and not care about their suffering.

Jesus went into the hard places. He touched the untouchables. He loved the unlovely. And He says that if we love Him, we will do the same. The same verses that brought such conviction to me three years ago while we were considering adoption, from Matthew 25, were again speaking to me yesterday.

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'

"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'

The whole service, I couldn't quit thinking about it. I told God that if He wanted me to go, I would go. And I would do it gladly. It was an opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus. To those who are suffering. To those who are in need. To the least of these. We talked a lot about this at lunch. Pastor Doug asked your dad if I'd be willing to go. And so a long discussion ensued at our table. Sydney, you were particularly upset...not wanting me to do this. Right now, you all are 9, 7, and 3 years old. And while you are too young to really understand what has happened, your dad and I wanted you to know how important times like these are. It's important to know that sometimes God leads His people to give. Give their time, their resources and money. Your dad and I have given money for those in Haiti. God also leads His people to pray. We have, as a family prayed for Haiti several times over the last week. And we will continue to do so as this is going to be a long recovery for this country. Other times, God leads us to go. To go to those hard places. To the least of these. And it's important, that whatever He leads you specifically to do, that you do it joyfully. Obedience pleases Jesus. Obedience shows your love for Him. Obedience is never time wasted.

After much prayer and trying to work out logistics for the care of the three of you, I had to come to the realization that I will not go to Haiti this week. That's not to say that God hasn't stirred my heart for a time in the future to go and serve there. But as of now, despite my efforts, it is not a possibility for me to go this week. And while I'm in many ways disappointed, I know that God would have removed those obstacles if it had been His plan. So I'm grateful for these road blocks. In all things, the Lord is good and we trust that He is leading our family.

I say all of this to say...we pray that you all will have a deep and abiding love not only for Jesus and His church but also for the nations. For people who need to hear about Him. For children who need families. Don't be afraid to go. Don't worry about getting dirty. If He says "stay", do so with a commitment to pray and sacrifice. And If He says "go"...go with grace and humility and an attitude of service and represent Him well to the nations.

We love you~