8.26.2011

Jounral Entry by Ben: A Child is Born

June 20, 2011

A child is born. Halfway across the world a child is born into complete poverty. A child is born. Across the sea a child is born into war and chaos. A child is born. No wait- he never made it out of his mother's womb before he was scratched out. A child was born and then sold as a slave then she was six. A child was born and taught how to hate! A child was born for what? You see the man was lost--even before he grew up!! A daughter to love, a son to cherish thrown away with words of hate, guilt, anger and aggression. A child is born already rich with nothing to cry for only to be left for others to care for her. The village can't raise a child when the village is full of kids who were never raised by the village they happened to be a part of. Who you become will determine "who" you will make. A child is born. Halfway across the world-- BUT WHO CARES!


Wow! I read this and thought- how powerful! I had Ben's permission to post a few of his journal entries. He began journaling after starting an English class. Sometimes journaling seems so hard, but when we put a pen to paper or begin to type on a blank doc, we can really become amazed at what's inside our little heads! So, what's your thoughts on A Child is Born...?

8.20.2011

Updates...

Adoption News? Nope. None yet! Bummed & disappointed, but resting... or trying to rest in knowing that His time is best, even though I may want it NOW! =)

Family Update: In the past month, our sewage grinder pump went out and is still out, hope to fix next week; our A/C unit went out, and the Suburban broke down... oh, and my Uncle was diagnosed with Stage 3, Lung Cancer! I could look at life and think of how much it SUCKS! Really?!

But then, I see the smile on my son's face; I see the hope in a patient. I talk with my Uncle who says he's not scared of dying... I see beauty all around me... even in the midst of chaos... that is- when I stop and take a minute...

It can be really hard sometimes to see that "something beautiful," especially when bombarded with the negativity all around us and on tv/internet. I'm pressing in and pressing forward. I want to be happy. I want peace and joy... I want to, really want to "rest" in His presence, in His peace... I want to do more than just say I'm resting in him...

Please pray for our family, my uncle, whom I adore, my daughter, whom we are yet to meet in Colombia, and the family unit as a whole, that these "little" things like the sewage issue, and all the other stuff be resolved quickly... that we might be able to bring others hope and peace... that God could use us like Ben mentioned in his journal entry in the previous blog post...use us to bring hope to someone else today, tonight...right now. We pray blessings over you all and all that might read this blog and be encouraged... thanks so much!

"I thought God had forgotten me, but..."


Colombia Mission Trip
Journal Entry dated June 28, 2011
by: Benjamin Wood

Tuesday Morning: I don't think I will ever get accustomed to watching hungry children saving their food to take home to the rest of their family. Yesterday, we fed one hundred and fifty children and another twenty or so adults. How it is painful to know that we can't do more but also comforting to know that yesterday they ate, even if it was only for a day. This morning, we will deliver bags of food to families. Our plan is to give some physical food, as well as; some spiritual food. First, the natural, then the spiritual. We have a mile walk and we will carry 25 pounds each. That's around 100 pounds for each male team member to carry on their back. They don't know it yet. I hope the load gets lighter when they see the faces of the people they meet. Faces are so important in these types of situations. They're real people with real dreams and hopes. What would I do if I had no food to feed my family and someone showed up at the door with enough food to feed us for 2 weeks? I think I would thank God for not forsaking me. We gave food to a lady yesterday and she broke in tears. She said, "I thought God had forgotten me." But He hadn't...he sent us to help.

There is hope. God has given us His light to share to others. We have so much... We can do so much! Make a difference in someone's life today! Father, I pray for that woman this team encountered. I pray peace over she and her family. I pray that you meet their needs and let her know without a shadow of a doubt that You are near... and You will never leave nor forsake her...

Depressing News...

I'm so sick of all the depressing news on the local news channel! Another soldier-dead- only 19 years old! A robbery- A teen assaulted... what else? I'm just wondering what if... news stations all over the world took just ONE week and did nothing but report the POSITIVE news stories happening in their towns/cities... What if they captured the beautiful people and landscapes all around us, locally even...and highlighted those? Would it change our attitude? Would it make a difference? Would it inspire us to do more? Be more to others?

Thoughts?

Any positive news stories in your family life lately? Do share.


8.19.2011

Day 5: Final Day of Tatiana's Bday Pics



Today, Tatiana gets to pose with her father! Ben turned 35 today!!!

Whoops, Where's My Day 4?



No more pictures, Mami!!! Oh, but Tati, you're just such a cutie... just one more!




8.17.2011

DAY 3: TATIANA'S BIRTHDAY WEEK IN PHOTOS


HOW I WISH I KNEW WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH HER MIND AT THIS TIME!


OUR BEAUTIFUL GIRL...

FEATURED HERE: AN ADOPTION SHIRT WE PURCHASED TO HELP ANOTHER FAMILY BRING HOME THEIR NEXT SIB GROUP...FROM COLOMBIA! WILL ADD THEIR LINK SOON (IT'S ON MY OTHER LAPTOP- SORRY, BETTY!)

WHILE WE CELEBRATE OUR DAUGHTER, WE ALSO CELEBRATE IN SPIRIT OUR DEAR FRIEND IN NASHVILLE, NATALY B!!! CHECK HER OUT AT ANDTHENTHEREWERE2.BLOGSPOT.COM


8.16.2011

Day 2: Tatiana's Birthday Week in Photos!

She's EIGHT! and oh so cute!


Stay tuned for more pics tomorrow!

8.15.2011

My Princess...



8.14.2011

There's an EIGHT year old in the house again!


Our beautiful daughter, Darly Tatiana, will turn EIGHT years old tomorrow morning. It's hard to believe! What a precious gift God gave us when he blessed us with her and her brothers! We are so very blessed... this girl has the most genuine heart; she is so compassionate and loving... I love her so much... to the moon and back, we say! Love my girl!

To celebrate and honor her this week, her birthday week, I'm going to make an effort to post a picture of her the next five days... gives me an excuse to capture a smile and brag on my girl while celebrating her birthday!

8.07.2011

A success AND a blessing!

Our FIRST Foto Fundraiser, and I was really nervous, because it was a BABY/Newborn Session! We got some really great shots though, and I think the parents and grandparents are really pleased!

What's more exciting is that the Mom has someone else who wants to book a session! Thanks for prayers and thoughts! Wouldn't it be exciting if I could earn enough money to pay for a plane ticket with just taking photos??

The sessions are only $50 for Mini-Sessions... but this first session, I was blessed by the family and they donated $125!!! So, if airline tickets are about $1000 a round trip flight to Colombia, I need to raise $875 more... Oh, wow, that's alot of photos... well, never underestimate Jesus! =)

On the other hand, WHERE OH WHERE-- is our APPROVAL from Colombia?!?!!