Right On Time

Very recently I read two timely pieces about time. Shared below, the first was written by author Henri Nouwen; the second by my former employer and forever mentor Jesse Palmer. I read them upon my abrupt return from Haiti, when I was reeling from the whirlwind trip. It was a revelation that the number of hours I spent with the children wasn't what determined whether my trip had impact; instead, I was in Haiti "for such a time as this" - God's timing, His call, His purposes. I invite you to read these two passages and consider Jesse's question: "How do you keep time?"

Clock-time is the time we have in this world. That time can be measured in seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years. Our clock-time, chronos in Greek, can become an obsession, especially when all that we are is connected with the clock that keeps ticking whether we are awake or asleep. ... All these concerns about our clock-time come from below. They are based upon the presupposition that our chronology is all we have to live. But looked upon from above, from God's perspective, our clock-time is embedded in the timeless embrace of God. Looked upon from above, our years on earth are not simply chronos but kairos - another greek word for time - which is the opportunity to claim for ourselves the love that God offers us from eternity to eternity. And so our short lives, instead of being that limited amount of years to which we must anxiously cling, become that saving opportunity to respond with all of our hearts, souls, and minds to God's love. ~ by Henri Nouwen

In Greek there are two words for time - chronos and kairos. Humans are consumed by the former. For us it's "real" time. It's the way we measure the length of life and schedule our the spending of heartbeats and breaths. For God, on the other hand, a thousand years being a day and a day a thousand years has a divinely different tick on time. We're all about time. He's all about timing. We're chronic about chronos while God really cares more about kairos. The mother of Gospel music Mahalia Jackson had a great saying, "God doesn't always come when you call, but He's always right on time." He's never too early or too late, always right on time ... the right time. His time! How do you keep time? ~ by Jesse Palmer

A Day at Doe River

Soon Seth will have his first summer camp experience, so today our family checked it out as we enjoyed DayQuest at Doe River Gorge in Elizabethton. The lake, the zipline, "The Blob," the train ... they were all part of a great time. Here are pictures from our fun day:

The manmade lake has clear water, a sandy beach, inflatables, and other fun amusements.

One of the first "musts" on our day of fun was the zipline. Unfortunately Reed was a year too young to zip, but Seth and Tim went for it. On top, you can see them all rigged up for the ride. Next, you can spot their green and blue shirts whirring through the trees. Splash down happened too fast for me to catch it on film, but they enjoyed a calm swim to the end. In the last photo, you can see where their ride started from on the platform up in the trees.

Next, Seth and Tim tackled "The Blob." From the wooden platform, you jump onto this inflatable. Then, you scoot to the end and wait. The next jumper propels you into the air when he lands on the inflatable. On top you can see Seth in the green as he's launched into the air. In the second photo you actually see Seth's first "Blob" experience - quite a shock! The third photo shows Tim launched into the air. And the last photo shows what happened when Seth tried to launch his dad ... not much. He didn't weigh enough.

Here's another lake amusement: brave souls tried to walk across this spinning tube without getting tossed into the water. Reed scampered across it time and again like a crab. Maybe he had an easier time because of his smaller size, but Tim and Seth repeatedly took a dive.

After lunch we enjoyed a few "dry" minutes on Doe River's train ride. The 30-minute trip took us through two tunnels into the Gorge.

DayQuest was a great way to spend a summer day. We enjoyed a little rest ...

... And a LOT of fun!!! Seth is really looking forward to his upcoming week here.

Fast Dash

If you've travelled on I-40 through Knoxville during the past two years, then you know that a stretch of road has been closed. Before it re-opened to traffic on Friday, the Knoxville Track Club hosted a 1.2-mile foot race on Thursday evening. Since one doesn't often get to run down the middle of the interstate, Tim, the boys, and I joined in the fun with 1,600 other runners. Below are pictures of our "fast dash."

Tim and Seth start running the 1.2-mile race.

The boys and I make our way UP the road to the turn-around point (thankfully it was downhill the .6 miles to the finish line).

The boys finish the "Fast Dash I-40."

This wasn't planned, but apparently I'm number one and Tim is number two. ;-)

Here we are after finishing our first family race.

The bus sums it up nicely: "Special."

A Family Affair

This past Sunday, Tim's brother Charles (or Tuck as we call him) and Kristy were married. It was a wonderful weekend in Chattanooga, with a fun picnic on Saturday evening and the beautiful wedding on Sunday afternoon. Here are some pictures of the festivities:

Here are the bride and groom-to-be with Tim and Tuck's 95-year-old grandfather, Rev. James Horton. "Big Dad," as we call him, performed the marriage ceremony (as he has for five of his other grandchildren, including us).

My three handsome guys: Reed, Tim and Seth.

Tim's sister Camie with three of her four children: Landon, Brennan, and Madison.

Kristy with her soon-t0-be sisters-in-law and niece.

Seth with his new cousin Blake.

Wedding day at Camp Dixie: brothers Tuck and Tim.

Tim with his mom, brother, and sister.

Our family. (Looks like from now on we'll have to stand Seth in front of Tim. He's getting too tall to stand in front of his mom.)

The cousins: Madison, Blake, Preston, Seth, Reed, Landon, Mario, and Brennan.

The beautiful bride and groom during the lakeside ceremony.

The day was beautiful; the flowers lovely; the food delicious; the cakes yummy, but what everyone will remember was THE DANCE. Tuck and Kristy brought the house down with their first dance as husband-and-wife. (The picture is blurry because they were moving too fast!) We were surprised by their exceptional skill on the dance floor. Well done and congratulations!

Shorn for Summer

This school year Seth was very particular about his hair -- specificially, he didn't want it cut. So, we left it alone. However, with summer camp only weeks away, it was time for much cooler and easier hair. Seth finally agreed to a cut. Here's the before-and-after:





















P.S. Don't tell Seth, but I really like his hair long.

By the Numbers...

When you see these beautiful Haitian children and the conditions they are living in, you wonder, "How can I help?"

First, I would encourage you to go. I am so thankful that I was able to meet the children, to hold them, and to see their great need. One Vision International has several upcoming trips planned to minister to these children, so pray about your participation.

Next, I would urge you to sponsor one of these children. One Vision provides clean drinking water, food, and medicine for these 125 orphans, but they need financial support. For $50 a month, you can sponsor a child and help One Vision to provide vital supplies for him or her.

Finally, I would ask you to pray about how you could financially support One Vision above and beyond child sponsorship. Consider these numbers:

For approximately $400, One Vision can obtain vaccinations for these children. Dr. Noel, a Haitian doctor already partnered with One Vision, is in place to administer these vaccines.

For $5000, a home that has been donated to One Vision to house these children can be completed. The children can be moved into a more spacious, more sanitary living situation.

For $80,000, One Vision can purchase 15-acres that they've already identified, build a wall to surround the property, and construct adequate buildings for the orphanage's permanent situation.

The need is great, so financial support - whether a regular monthly gift or a one-time donation - makes a difference. Please visit http://www.onevisionintl.org/ or e-mail Rachel at rachel@onevisionintl.org to find out how you can become invested in this ministry and in the lives of these Haitian children.

Not in Kansas Anymore...

Oh, we weren't in Kansas or Tennessee or anywhere in the United States, for that matter. In fact, it was hard to believe that we were still in the Americas, but we were. Welcome to Haiti - only an hour-and-a-half plane ride from Miami.

As we surveyed our new surroundings, it was clear that a force of nature had swept through the area. In August and September of 2008, Haiti was struck by Tropical Storm Fay, Hurricane Gustav, Hurricane Hanna, and Hurricane Ike within a four week period. Valley and lowland areas experienced massive flooding.

It's actually difficult to reconcile the natural beauty of the landscape with the dismal situation of the local people. The above pictures give a glimpse of this stark contrast. On top you see the breathtaking ocean waters that surround the island of Hispaniola and the countries of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. On the bottom you see one of the several rivers we passed over - a current of muddy, dirty, polluted waters that the Haitians use for everything from washing cars to bathing.

Upon our arrival in the country, our team travelled from Port-au-Prince to the town where the orphanage is located. Along the way, we passed in and out of towns - small settlements of people, with housing "communities," a marketplace, and a school. Children walked up and down the streets, wearing their school uniforms. Ladies with baskets or bowls perched atop their heads made their way home from the market. Men sat grouped in market stalls talking with one another. So similar to our world, yet a world away. Above you can see typical homes we passed - small metal buildings in a row, a hut made of woven screens, and the more typical block house with a metal roof.

Most residential areas were surrounded by walls such as the one shown above. Notice the broken glass bottles atop the wall in the top picture. Most locals travel on foot (see the woman in the middle photo and the two boys in the bottom photo), on tap-tap buses, or by motorcycle. At times our own bus had to travel down narrow dirt alleyways hemmed in by the walls.

The statistics are grim: Haiti is the only country in the Americas on the United Nations list of Least Developed Countries. Approximately 80% of its population live in poverty. The literacy rate is only 52.9%. Yet, one finds herself looking at the stunning landscape and trusting that restoration can come, or holding a Haitian child and believing that he or she has a future, or listening to a group of Haitian orphans sing and knowing that there is hope. There is Hope.

The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. John 3:35