Reflections

Two and a half years ago Zach was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer.  At that time they told us the average life expectancy for someone with this diagnosis was 2 1/2 years.  We praise God that the chemo continues to be effective in keeping the cancer from growing.  Since his diagnosis Zach has had two surgeries and continues to suffer intense pain because of complications from his first surgery.  In August, he stopped working as the Administrator of Christian Care because the pain and side effects of chemotherapy made it difficult for him to work.  Since then our family has adjusted once again to a new normal which includes having Zach at home almost all the time.  On his good days he spends a lot of time playing with and taking care of the kids, so that I can focus more on my passion for adoption through my work at Gateway Woods.  We are so grateful for the many prayers for Zach's health and our family.

 

A few months after Zach was diagnosed he felt lead to Redeem his Cancer through a special project to help fatherless children.  We spoke to Loving Shepherd Ministries and with their support started a fundraising Campaign in December of 2010 to raise the funds to build four Homes of Hope in Haiti.  We sent out hundreds of letters to family and friends as part of our annual Christmas letter.  The response was amazing and God has blessed the project in so many ways.  Ed Schwartz told us early on not to limit God, so as the funds continued to come in the project grew and continues to grow.   The Cancer Redemption Project Campus sits on a ten acre property at the top of a mountain near Cavaillon, Haiti that LSM purchased in April of 2011.  Since the the campus has been busy with Haiti construction workers.  At this point there are four houses, a fellowship building which was constructed to hold solar panels, a storage building, and an two outhouses. 

 

In April of this year, Zach and I traveled to Haiti for the grand opening and the placement of 24 children with their new families in the first two homes (Ezekiel Home of Hope and Abba's Home of Hope).  We just return  from our second trip to Haiti and the opening of Mount Zion Home of Hope and Mount Moriah Home of Hope.  Ten orphaned boys and seven orphaned girls now have parents and siblings.  There is space for two more boys and five more girls to move into the homes in the next few months.  Our trip including playing with the 24 children who we placed in April and wonderful fellowship with their parents an other LSM staff.  As I looked over the Campus I was amazed by how much has been done in such a short period of time.  What was an empty hill  two years ago is now a thriving home for 41 children and their new parents.  The construction and gardens/landscaping work has provided jobs for over 50 Haitian people.  Gardens are growing to provide food for the campus and fruit trees are abundant to provide food in the future.  Many dump truck loads of stone have been brought to the church/school location and construction is scheduled to start in early 2013.  Land has been leveled for the 5th and 6th homes (Daniel and Esther Homes of Hope) and  we are hopeful that construction will start before the end of 2013.  We praise God that the capital has been raised for all the building projects and monthly/yearly supporters have committed to provide for the ongoing expenses of the first four homes. 

 

One of my favorite Bible verses is I Peter 1:17.  "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: (KJV)"  We feel like our faith has been tried over these past 2 1/2 years more than any other time in our lives.  Many days we wonder how we can press on or if God can really use us in our weak human bodies.  I often get frustrated at my human limitations and I know Zach feels the same way.  While we hate the suffering and struggles, we are so thankful that God is giving us a wonderful glimpse of how HE is using the trials we are facing to bring Praise, Honor, and Glory to HIS Name.