My Epic Journey

 In an effort to help the earthquake victims in Haiti, EPIC is partnering with Lifeline Christian Mission out of Westerville, OH.  The following items are needed.  If you could bring them to the church THIS Sunday, January 24th, we will get them to Lifeline.

The items needed are as follows:

First Aid Supplies:

· Band Aids (all sizes and shapes)

· Gauze (rolls and pads)

· Sterile Dressings, Neosporin

· Adult Tylenol

· Children’s Tylenol

· Ace Bandages

· Medical Gloves

· Alcohol Wipes

· Medical Tape

Other Medical supplies:

· Suture materials

· Alcohol & peroxide

· Over the counter medicines (those that do not require a prescription)

· Antacids, Tums, Cough Meds, Prenatal vitamins, etc

Food:

· Peanut butter

· Meats (canned or foil package)

Baby items:

· Baby cereal

· Infant formula (must be powdered due to no refrigeration in homes)

Clothing:

· Clothing for children (new or used in good condition)

· Shoes for children (new or used in good condition)

Linens:

· sheets; twin bed sized sheets needed most

· towels (new or used in good condition)

Items not needed:

· Medicines that have expired

· Shoes that are used and badly worn

· Used adult clothing

· Winter clothing

· Used underwear

· Books or games requiring English to understand/play

· Secular music or videos

10 of our students are leaving with my family and I as we head to Indiana to run a VBS program for my dad’s church, Brown County Community Church.

I hope to send pics and updates through out the week.  Pray God uses us to transform the village of Helmsburg, IN.

Well, it is the end of DAY 3 of Anna being away.  I am not going to lie–it is REALLY tough not having her here.  She has gone away on mission trips before and every October I send her to Chicago to spend an extended weekend with her aunt, but for some reason, this time is really hard.  Perhaps it is because we can’t hear her voice by talking on the phone.

As I sit her I have come up with some other reasons why:

1.  We miss Mom most at bedtime.  It is hard for me to put the kids to bed and hear them ask if Mommy can tuck them in.  Every time I hear that, my heart just breaks for them.

2.  We miss Mom when we pray.  When the kids pray, either at meal times or at bedtime, they always pray for Mommy and that she will tell people about how much God loves them.

3.  We miss Mom when we eat.  Really no need for explanation on this one!!

Overall, Mom brings such a smile and joy around here and to not have her here just makes the house feel just like that–a house and not a home.

We are all anxiously anticipating Mom coming home.