Haiti mission trip pics

Here are some pictures from Eric's trip to Haiti. He is coming home tomorrow and although I know he misses us, he is sad to leave. He really loves it and I know he feels "at home" when he is there. I can tell, by just looking at the pictures of him, how happy he is. His face shows true joy and it's such an amazing thing for me to see. He is so stressed all the time from work and all the expectations on him, plus school and now leading up missions at church. It's a lot for one person to take on and it takes it's toll on him. I wish he could give something up, but I don't know what. Part of me hopes and prays that one day, he will be able to quit his sales job and do something full time with missions. I know that's what's in his heart and I don't even care about the money. We will figure it out and make it work. I just want him to be happy, and in turn, we will all be a happier family. I just hope that God will make it clear to him (and us) how this can happen.
If it were up to Eric, I think we'd move to Haiti and help the orphanage out full time. I just don't feel this is where we're meant to be, so I'm waiting to see if he comes up with anything else. I hope he does. I want to see him as happy here, as he is when he's helping out those kids in Haiti.
I know that God will show it to us, in time...we just have to be patient and wait...

off to Haiti!

Well, Eric leaves for Haiti on Saturday so I thought I'd share a bit about that.

He is leading a group from our church to Port Au Prince, Haiti, for the 3rd time. They are going to an orphanage where our best friends, Missy and Chris adopted their sweet son, Nicolas 4 years ago. 

There are 15 of them going, about 1/3 are kids between the ages of 14-17. It is the first time for most of them, except a few that have gone on previous trips.

The first time that Eric went on a mission trip, I have to say I was a little nervous. I didn't let it get the best of me, though, and anytime I started to worry, I would just pray and know that he was where God wanted him to be. And even though it's quite morbid, I knew that if something were to happen to him, at least he was doing God's work. Is there a better way to go?....

But on the positive...Eric hasn't been the same since his first trip. Although he came back home and was in a "funk" for a week or so, it changed his life dramatically. 

He is now in charge of missions at our church, and is planning to organize mission trips to all 7 continents in the next 3 years, which is part of our new vision at Parkway.

He has found a new passion, which is helping kids and I see how much it excites him and it makes me so happy. I just wish he could do it full time and make a living doing it so he could spend all his time dedicated to it instead of sales. I know that is his wish, too.

I am excited about this trip and hearing about all that they will do. They spend a lot of time at the orphanage, playing with the kids, helping the nannies and doing lots of work around the grounds. They will also visit Mother Theresa's hospital where all the patients are kids that are terminally ill. It's very sad, but a very moving experience, I've heard.

Mia is so cute and knows exactly where Eric is going and when. She keeps saying that "Daddy's going to Haiti on Saturday and I'm having a sleepover with mommy". (I let her sleep with me when he's gone)

It's hard to see him go, but I know we'll be ok and that this is something that he is meant to do.

Mia is on spring break the week that he's gone, so we'll probably be lazy and just stay around the house. Maybe I'll do some "spring cleaning". (or maybe not!)

The first time he went to Haiti, the girls missed him so much and cried the first night he was gone.Mia held one of Eric's tshirts and started crying, then helayna and then me. So, we were all hugging and crying and then the phone rang and it was him! They were so happy to hear his voice.

It was easier the second time and will probably be even more so this time around. He will call us when he can, but it's VERY expensive so we'll probably do most of our communicating through email and maybe Skype. I love hearing about what they're doing every day...which I will be posting on the Haiti blog at: http://pcchaitimission.blogspot.com/

So, please pray for the team as they head to Haiti and for us as we stay home....

xoxoxo

Michele