Heaven

Last night I heard a song called "Can I stay here forever?" (Starfield), and it made me ponder heaven.
I had this thought...what if Heaven was like a dream..? Like you go to this place, and it's wonderful. There's a warm glow that warms you to your insides, and makes your face smile. It's so peaceful. The weather is just right...not too hot, not cold. It looks like spring - flowers everywhere. Everything seems so alive! Some children run past you laughing. "This is a cool place" you think to yourself. Everyone you meet is so joyful, and so kind. But they also seem so real and down to earth, you feel so comfortable just hanging out with them. You feel youself, letting go...of everything. It's like whatever you're missing, it must be here. You breathe in...and breathe out...smiling. You love it here. A man approaches you. He smiles as he comes. Right away the two of you hit it off and start talking...you end up talking for hours! This guy is super cool, and he's funny too, but he is also the most loving person you ever meet. He likes to listen to you, really listen to you. You don't feel judged in anyway at all, and you pour out your heart to him, the good and the bad. He doesn't mind at all...He tells you about forgiveness found in Jesus, and asks if you want it. You say yes, and pray together. He tells you your sins are gone, and to "Remember them no more, you're free my child!" You like that he calls you his child..you feel so special and so loved, and also so light, and so free!
You feel like dancing. So you do! Your friend joins you, and someone starts playing some music, and other people join in. It's a party! You can't help but to think how awesome this place is.
When all calms down, you go to eat with your friend, on the hillside. Just chillin and taking it in... and continue talking. He's delighted to see you, and tells you he really enjoys talking to you. You still can barely believe that you have meet someone so caring, so thoughtful, so nice...so fun. You love it, and your heart is so happy and pure feeling...you can't contain your joy - it is written all over your face. You are overwhelmed by the love that pours from his eyes into yours...During a moment of sweet silence..you look out at the distance...and ask..."Can I stay here forever? Here, with you?"

That's when you wake up. You realize the man you were talking to was Jesus. You can't believe Heaven could be a place so awesome...You're in awe, and yet you still feel so happy. You can't wait to go back!!

My (Ann) eyes have been opened! For me, Heaven was always something that I struggled with...I can't gasp it with my mind...it seemed so distant, so far away...so fake. (All lies from the Devil!) But for a long time...I just didn't understand. Thankfully, God has really opened my eyes through this song, and his word, and now I can't wait to go to Heaven! I realize now, it's a place where I'm gonna go when I die, and I won't want to leave. I'll want to stay there forever. And when I ask Jesus if I can stay forever, he'll look at me and smile, and say "Of course!"

I've had a paradigm shift, and just wanted to share this with you all! :)

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only son (Jesus) [to die in our place] that whoever believes in him, should not die [and go to hell] but have a everlasting life [Heaven!]"
John 3:16

Believe in Jesus! I want you in Heaven with me! :)

I will serve you while i'm waiting...

Oh goodness, it is time to update the blog! Our trip to Haiti was epic. We went with YWAM Dayton (Ohio) and Reach Out to Haiti to a place called Ruuska village. Ruuska village is a safe place where women can come to get jobs, and children are sent to be adopted. Barbara, "the General" is in head of the place, and makes sure each of the kids goes to a christian home. Praise the Lord.Ruuska village is not very big, but there is normally about 70 children there. However, because around 78 children were able to be adopted right after the earthquake on medical visas, there were only about 12 kids and babies while we were there. I can't imagine how crazy it must have been with all those kids; how much fun!
Our first couple of days there, we worked on organizing the medicine, clothing, and food depos, but most importantly getting to know the kids and babies. I love babies! My heart was immeditely drawn to this little guy named Maki. He just had the kind of personality that makes your face light up with a smile, and big brown, happy eyes. Then I meet baby Stephanie. I do not think there could be a cute baby. This baby was just so, so cute! She has big fat cheeks, and we had endless fun squishing them and making her look like a chubby fish. Oh goodness, and how she would laugh! It would make me so happy! Then I meet Missy. Missy was three months old, but she was so frail and tiny. She lived in a house with very strong voodoo presence, and we could tell that was what was holding her back, so our team prayed, and prayed, and prayed for her to be set free, and to grow strong and healthy, and wow - God is faithful, and he heard our prayers! That little girl grew stronger, her skin became softer and darker, her hair started growing, there was an unmistakable light in her eyes. She was free! Thank you Lord! Then there was baby Bernadine. Oh my, she was a cutie! So healthy, so happy, full of joy from the Lord. Just looking at that kid made my heart so happy. I know, that just like with all the other babies, God has a plan for her, for them. Plans to prosper them, and not to harm them. Plans to give them a hope and a future.
The next baby arrived during my second week there. Now I don't know what it is about this little guy, but he captured my heart. I literally feel as if my heart is missing...but not lost. Because I know who has it. That would be Leo. Leo's mom died in child birth (I think), and he was given to relatives, who for some reason or another didn't want him or couldn't take care of him, so they left him on the road. On the side of the road. People that's just crazy. Sometimes I'm sad because I feel like nobody wants me, yea, but really, I know I have people who care about me. Leo. Leo was abandoned. He had nobody. His life was left to the mercy of anyone who would care. Anyone. They could have been good. They could have been bad. But God. God is good, and somebody brought him to us. Leo wouldn't smile. It was like he couldn't. There was no love in this poor little baby's life. His first two months in this world, were probably harder than mine, or yours, ever will be. So man, I spent every second I could holding that baby and loving on him with everything with in my heart and then some. God's love just poured out of me in a way so intense I knew it couldn't possibly be me. And guess what? By the end of three weeks, Leo tripled his weight, his eyes were bright, his skin was darker, he had little wisps of hair starting to come in....and he could smile. He smiled! I have never, ever, seen anything so beautiful in my entire life. Really he is not a pretty baby, but when he smiled it was like all of heaven broke loose. I could not contain my joy. There were sometimes when I was so happy, my heart felt like it would leap out of my chest, and my eyes would weld up with tears longing to be shed. Tears of pure relief and of joy. Joy. Joy!
God does care. God takes care of everyone. He cares about me, he cares about you. God answers prayers. God listens. God is just God, and God isn't pocket sized. He's just, and he's powerful, and he's crazy. The amount of his love just absolutely blows me out of the water. There is no way I could ever life without it, and I want everyone to have it. Every single person on this enire planet - "until the whole world knows" - JESUS IS AWESOME! Because Jesus is God, and God is love.

Love wins. Love always wins.

Haiti'10!

We are for sure going to Haiti! David got his passport yesterday, and all the payments are made! Now it's just time to focus and school and finish well! Graduations is only 12 days away!

Haiti Trip '10 Team David

Hello Again!
This time, God willing, we're off to Haiti - Me, and my little brother David! This is going to be the best! When I'm gone, I miss him like crazy, so I am soo excited to share this experience with him! There is also a lady from Burlington, and a team from Ohio going, whom we'll meet on the plane, or in Haiti.
Our hearts are so broken for the people (especially the children) down there, and we expect the trip to be heartbreaking as well as wonderful. Have you heard of the revival going on there? PRAISE GOD! Thousands of people are giving their lives to Christ!
I'm not %100 sure what we'll be doing over there, but I suspect its going to be along the lines of building, and taking care of kids (i believe we're staying at an orphanage-like place called Ruuska Village).
Financial status: Both of us need to raise $620 dollars before we go. If you'd like to donate, let me know! As it is, we plan to have some sort of fundraiser at church, hopefully a car wash, and maybe a krispy kremes thing. If you have anymore ideas, let us know!

We are SO excited, and so blessed to be able to go on this trip. We leave June 26, and return July 17 (3 weeks).

Countdown: 60 days...