Haiti Relief Effort

Last Sunday as Maddie and I made our way home from Costco my radiator started pouring white smoke.
All I could think was Lord, please don't let me brake down on Barrett Parkway, please!
Next, I prayed, God, please let us make all the lights so we can get home.
I had taken out my phone to call Dan and tell him he may need to come and get us when I noticed I had a missed call.
It was my friend Laura and her husband Burt calling to tell me about someone who wanted to help us with our work in Haiti.
They had been at church, talking to someone who had come to a benefit I spoke at last October at their house.
She had been giving them an update, when another friend said he had been praying during church, asking the Lord what he should do to help the people of Haiti.
After overhearing Laura's conversation, He had his answer, they wanted to donate their plane to us.
These are wonderful words, words you dream of hearing, but not the kind you should hear while driving.
I was stunned, I am still stunned to tell you the truth.
I started to cry, Maddie said, Mom, stop, I need to get home in one piece.






Going to Haiti and back all in one day just doesn't seem possible to me.
Haiti isn't called the land of endless impossibles for nothing.
The goodness and kindness of people has been overwhelming!
We left out of Briscoe Field in Lawrenceville, Georgia on Friday morning.
Mr. and Mrs. Vinson, the owners of Kids are Kids, so very graciously donated the plane, the pilots (Rash and Don), and the fuel.
It all still blows me away that the plane was filled with medical supplies and doctors in only a few days.
Here is our first team:
Cliff, the Ortho Doc
Ty, the ER Doc
Elizabeth, the ER nurse
Nick, the jack of all trades, pilot and water guy
Steve, the Anaesthesiologist
They all made their way to Atlanta and Fort Lauderdale to go and help the people of Haiti without even really knowing all the details. Most of them didn't sleep for two days to get to us.
I gave them as many details as I could think of after we left Fort Lauderdale.



This whole experience has been surreal.
I kept thinking, I need to be praying more and doing something more to make sure this all works.
I was reminded that this trip is really about years of praying for Haiti coming together suddenly.
It wasn't like I hadn't been bugging the Lord about stuff like this for the past ten years and now here it all was in my lap.
I would like to say I walked it all out in great peace and slept like a baby!
Ha!
I was sick to my stomach for days, not sleeping at night and sending emails at all hours of the night when my mind would start to race.
But, as is the case in everything that happens with God, when we step out of the way and let the Lord work, it all falls into place.
Many countless people made this happen.
Many that we don't know, many that we are proud to know, all who we are thankful for.
In so many ways it feels like they just happened to pick me to go on the plane with them.
But we know the Lord has plans that we don't know about as of yet. This I love!
There are thousands of people working to make the lives of the Haitian people better all around the world and it is heart warming to see.
I am at a loss for words right now, I am not sure they can be expressed, I don't think there are words for this level of thankfulness.
Yet, it would be wrong not to say, THANK YOU a million times over.
My heart is broken and full all at the same time.
It is with His grace and peace that we can do this work!

.....and people like you!

Thank you!!

Crutch

It is has been said that "religion" is a crutch.
If we are purely talking religion and not relationship, I wouldn't disagree.
Yet, many things in our lives serve in this function and capacity.
Some we are aware of and some we are not, some we choose and some we don't.
Limps are good.
They remind us we can't do things in our own strength.
I think this may have been why Jacob walked with a limp after he wrestled with God.
He would always be reminded of his need for God.
It had nothing to do with Gods ability to heal.

In the past week, I have not seen anyone with a crutch.
Many have limps, yet operate out of love and compassion.
They know what it is to be in need of love and kindness in the unmerited form that Christ gives to us.
Call it what you will, a limp, a crutch or a weakness, maybe you could consider calling it a relationship.
I am calling it the hands and feet of Jesus in action in one of the biggest ways I have ever seen it in action.
I will take this kind of crutch any day!

God's Plumbline Ministries - PAP, Haiti

God's Plumbline from Corrigan Clay on Vimeo.

Through It All

"Through It All"
By: Kenneth Gatewood

"Through it All" was originally a photograph taken by Lisa Hojara.
We had been on a medical trip up in the mountains of Haiti near Pestel.
It was May of 2000, our team ended up being divided up into to clinics because of the number of people needing care in different places. During all of the commotion of clinic this curious little boy couldn't stand it anymore and peaked his head in through the walls made of palm fronds to see just what was going on.

This signed and numbered limited edition piece comes with a beautiful custom frame.

Image Size: 29" x 22" LE/AP, 27" x 31" RM
Edition Size: 500 LE, 50 AP, 20 RM

We are thrilled that John and Candy at The King's Gallery will be holding a silent auction to benefit Haiti.
Bids will be accepted until January 23rd.

It you are interested in this piece please contact The King's Gallery.



The King's Gallery
1110 Main Street
The Villages, Florida 32159

Phone: (352) 259-6998 Fax Number: (352) 259-6948

Email: thekingsgallery@embarqmail.com


About The Artist Kenneth Gatewood:

Positive images, a return to the past, and the spirit of innocence are the trademarks of watercolor artist Kenneth Gatewood. Gatewood's delicate focus on the innocence and spontaneity of children provides him with his greatest satisfaction and acclaim. "I want to capture the special moments, the innocent expressions, and the impulsiveness of children", said Gatewood. His art reflects a continuous evolution of personal growth.

Born and raised in South Central Los Angeles Gatewood graduated from Dorsey High School. Upon graduation, Gatewood received a summer school scholarship to the Otis Parson Art Institute at Los Angeles Trade Tech College where he studied life drawing, oil painting and still life painting. He later studied watercolor painting under a private tutor.

Gatewood's artwork has been commissioned by major motion picture studios, television and music production companies, and various corporations, as well as by individual collectors.

As the original creator of "baby sports" artwork, Gatewood took the sports licensing world by storm. At one point, Gatewood became the only artist in the world to be officially licensed with the National Basketball Association, National Football League, National Hockey League and Major League Baseball. The world embraced images of such greats as Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Shaquille O'Neal, Joe Montana, Wayne Gretsky, Larry Bird, John Elway, Jack Nicholas, Cal Ripken and others. Classic originals like "Baby Dream Team" and "Let's Play commanded sales prices of $50,000 and $25,000 respectively.

Gatewood boasts an incredible collection of autographed fine art sports paintings including Jordan, Ali, Stockton, Malone and many others. In addition, Gatewood's artwork has been featured in SPORT Magazine, Sports Collectors Digest, Trading Cards Magazine, the Encyclopedia of Sports Memorabilia, KABC Channel 7 News and on the hit show "My Wife and Kids", "Boomtown" and the nationally syndicated television show, "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air". Commissions include Naismith Foundation, Black Enterprise Magazine, Keyshawn Johnson Foundation, UCLA, University of Michigan, and others.

Gatewood possesses an unyielding commitment to the inner city and frequently reaches out to the community to nurture the talents and aspirations of others. His volunteer work with schools across the country offers guidance and hope to children. "I want children to know the importance of education, respect and self-expression." Gatewood works with battered women and children and is currently a volunteer with the Naismith Foundation helping disadvantaged children in the Caribbean. He has also garnered recognition for his volunteer work with a large AIDS organization (NAESM) in Atlanta, Georgia.

With each delicate stroke, Gatewood empowers the viewer with a visual slice of the human spirit.
In doing so, Gatewood captures the spirit within all of us.

No One Sleeps In Peace

Madisen Lynch
January 13, 2010


No One Sleeps In Peace


No one sleeps in peace tonight in Haiti.

Why?

Because of the screaming cries of death in the air.

Dead bodies lay under debris of buildings that have
fallen down on top of them.

No one sleeps in peace tonight because of the darkness
and death that has fallen on top of this land.

Some prayers have been answered but some have not.

No one sleeps in peace tonight.

Hospital beds are full, and some the bodies lay dead,
or half alive or crying for their loved ones to come and join
them back in this hard and cruel life.

No one will sleep in peace tonight in Port Au Prince, Haiti.

Let's Get Personal

The days and hours of watching CNN have taken a toll on me emotionally and I can't watch anymore.
Seeing Haiti on it's best day can be hard enough, now it seems like my mind just can't wrap itself around all that has happened.
So many questions for God.
I am not understanding, but I am praying for something good to come from this.
It will be the kind of good that only God could find.
Nevertheless, this is personal and painful!
People I consider family, who I love deeply are there and still have not heard from.
Haiti is home for us in many ways.
In order to stay connected and make this real, I wanted to share with you the faces of the sewing ladies in our program, that as of yet, we have not heard from and are praying that each of them and their families are OK.


Carmel


Sara


Mary Charles


Vanette


Suzanne


Igemene


Roseline


Myrielle


Marjorie
Note: 1/14/10 - Marjorie has been located!!


Vadette

Forget Sleeping

Wednesday, January 13, 2010, it is 3:22 AM
Who knew that Harley Boy snores just as much as Dan.
I am on the couch trying to escape the thunder coming from the left side of my bed by sleeping on the couch and it seems that Harley Boy snores just as much as Dan.
Oh well, I guess it really doesn't matter, I can't sleep anyway.
An earthquake registering 7.0 hit Haiti on Tuesday.
Even on Haiti's best day things didn't look good for the people.
I can't imagine what things must be like there.
I have been running every scenario known to man in my mind of what must be going on right now.
Wondering what will be happening when it is day light, how long it will take to get Aid in and how long it will take to get this mess cleaned up.
All of this has been replaying in my mind blocking the process of sleep.
It is much like a yo-yo.
So many things seem like they should be private and yet this is Haiti's chance for the world to step up and help.
As Maddie said, "why did this have to happen so the news would ask the world for help"?
Good question, Sweetheart.
I feel guilty that I am even thinking I should be sleeping.
Earlier in the day I had posted a link from PBS about all the new possibilities coming to Haiti with the hope that the garment industry will start to bring in businesses and jobs for the people of Haiti.
I have been glued to the television, on the telephone and checking Facebook for updates every few minutes.
When the news of the earthquake finally made it's way to our house around 5:30 p.m. my kids grabbed Sharpies and paper to make signs to hang from our mailbox asking people to be praying for the children of Haiti.
This still makes me cry!

I can't help but think of all the people that I know wondering if they are all OK.
I am thinking about all the kids from the creches sleeping in the Buxman's driveway because it isn't safe to go back inside.
What about all my sewing ladies?
Dear God in Heaven, please take care of them.
I was just talking with Marjorie today about coming to visit.
They need fabric and thread.
Dear God, please let her be safe.
Surreal is the word I would use.
Yet I am lost for words.
Lord, please let the world get it.