I want to brag!

So I want to brag about my future husband!
He is so book smart, If he is not top of his class he is top three, he knows his stuff when it comes to cars. He can be sitting on the front porch and if a car passes buy sounding weird he can tell you whats wrong with it and he doesn't have to stop it and look under the hood. He has a desire, a desire to grow and develop a stronger relationship with God. He wants to be different then what he was a year ago and he brings so much laughter and Joy in my life!
We went to register the other day at Kohls and Walmart and it took all night for us to do it! At kohls I had a little sticker shock problem just because some things to me were more then I thought would be but we compromised, he scanned then told me what to cross off so I wouldn't have to deal with it. We were tired after kohls and then had to drive to the other side of town for walmart and he was a kid in a toy store with that scanner in his hand! He doesn't show emotion for very many things but when he does his whole face lights up with that smile of his and I am so excited to be spending the rest of my life with my best friend! God knew I needed him especially with directions.. He always has to write them out for me!
Okay I am done bragging about him now! I don't want his head to get any bigger! :)

The Title An Adventure still fits Oh so well!

So It has been a while since I have written anything.. Last time I updated I was talking about Haiti.. NOw I am going thru another Journey in my life and I figured I could fill everyone in here. I hope this is what you want Bethany!

So As most of you know I am engaged!
April 29,2011 Aaron asked me to be his Mrs.Regedanz and I said Yes!!
We are getting Married October 15th 2011!!

Aaron and I met Feb of 2010,his cousin steven actually introduced us but we actually just remained friends, to be honest I didn't want anything to do with him! It actually came in a turning part of my life. Looking back I see the hand of God. For the longest time I never thought I would get married I actually wanted nothing to do with guys I mean sure I was a girl and I looked from a distance but nothing came out of it and I am so glad that God did not give that feeling to me. He saved me I believe for Aaron. in April I made the commitment to God that I wasn't going to date anyone that summer. I was headed to haiti in August and I just wanted it to be God and Me time. Yes God still showed me the small things to like about Aaron but I still kept my promise. We went on a youth activity because College kids were invited and it was there that we actually talked and got to know each other more.. he pursued me, was it weird.. HECK YEAH.. I had never really known that feeling so to have I had no idea what I was doing. God was still in control. I still would not let myself however think about dating him.. Well until my wiser older Brother kinda pushed me to think about it :) I was so focused on my trip I wasn't really realizing what was in front of me but at the same time I was grateful for Aaron's heart he didn't push or pressure he didn't keep asking me out he let me have my God and me time. While I was in haiti He wrote me a letter a day, sometimes if the internet was out there would be two emails there just wondering how everything was going. It was about a week or so until I came home.. I was ready to be home that I finally said "okay what are we?" :) (I can be the type of person that wants to know then and there!! ) We talked it out knowing what both of us had wanted but of course did not want to officialize it over an email (I mean really) Well I came home Sept 15th but two days later hoped in a car and went to Texas to suprise my mom and my sister for their birthdays.. They had wanted to see me too. It was until Sept 22nd that we had talked and actually seen each other face to face we both know that we wanted to date. SO then October 2nd it became official we went out on our first date! Still loving the fact of seeing God work I love how God saved me for him. I am excited to be marrying him he is a man of God that i feel I have been waiting for and would never take that back!
Okay so I am done being mushy.. a friend of mine asked me to tell our story and as wedding plans progress I am sure there will be more! :)

God Is Good all the time

Wow...

It's hard to imagine that yesterday was a year since the earthquake in Haiti... I have to say this year went by rather fast for me... I question that without the earthquake I wonder if I would have ever gone to haiti at all.. I am amazed at what God has opened up this past year.. My heart being the biggest thing he has opened up. I can honestly say I have nothing to really say about the earthquake itself.. was it devestating yes, do I pray for Hiati of course... I pray for the people, from what I saw they were almost becoming accustomed to people just giving them things.. They were wanting more and more people to come "help" when really in all true sense I do think that they need to start helping themselves.. It's really the only way they are going to be able to pick themselves up! Do they have our resources of course not but as much as we give I pray with our giving we are teaching them as well...

Also my heart was opened to those kiddos.. I can Honestly say that I miss my little Nephew Marcos.. It's hard because I am also thankful he no longer has to endure what I saw but he is wrapped up in God's arms and how can I ask for more for him.
I had a momnt yesterday were I missed Mahanata.. I know that she is not physically mine or is she mine on paper.. However in my heart I kind of felt like she is. It's weird feeling one I have never felt before but I know that if I were married and of age she would have been adopted in no time for me. I pray that a family adopts her. I know it is going to be difficult having a mentally challenged child but they need loved just as the "normal" ones do.. She showed so much improvement when I was there that if she just got a little attention how much more would she grow almost to realize would she one day be able to talk with full words or go to the bathroom by herself. In Haiti the Menatlly challenged are looked down upon.. that breaks my heart..
I can't say the earthquake rocked my world.. I can say it was God who rocked my world and showed me his presence, showed me just how majestic he is...

God is still God and God is still Good..
Praying..

Another Update from my friends in Haiti!

Keeping them in Prayer!

Haiti - Update #9

Wednesday evening, 12/29/10, 8pm

Hello, Friends & Family of the Haiti Interns...

I just got off the phone with Greta... her call came in two installments tonight, because Noelle Gonzales called as we were first talking, and I assume there was stuff to talk about regarding the Frontier Camp trip next week, which Noelle is part of. Noelle has been to Haiti several times, too, and will return with the group on Jan. 5th but will stay down there all semester, I believe. After Noelle's call, the guys were organizing things in their "house" (in the common room, used as a tool-shed/garage, etc...) so she called back after helping some with that.

The Valcins have been at camp since Sunday night. When the Valcins are at camp, they have a special person who comes to cook for everyone (Alicia.) Tonight they had GOAT lasagna... Greta said it was pretty tasty but the butchering of the goat was very different than anything she's seen in her animal science classes at TAMU! Haha!! (I'll let them tell you about it later.)

Two cabins are completely done, regarding the bunk beds, etc. There are still a couple of cabins on the hill that need flooring put down first, before they can assemble the beds inside. The Haitian workers are doing the flooring, but the team has done all the side-boards, etc. so that they can assemble them quickly inside the cabins, once the flooring is completed. Since they were at a holding-point because of the floors in the cabins on the hill, the Valcins took them to the beach for a rest-day with their daughters home for the Christmas break. Greta said it was very nice, relaxing, and fun.

The Valcins leave for PAP tomorrow, to be "home" for the New Years celebrations there. Their daughters go to school in the US, so will leave in early January to come back to TX. Once the FC team arrives on Jan. 5th, Betty & Gersan will accompany them to Jacob's Well. Everyone is looking forward to the camp that will occur that week!! If any of you received the Frontier Camp newsletter that came out today, there is an article about Haiti and a picture of two Haitian girls that were displaced after the earthquake but are now living up in the area of JW and plan to attend camp next week!! God is ALWAYS at work in EVERYthing. How wonderful when we can be a part of it!!

Some Friends!

Just incase you wanted to know I have a few friends who left for Haiti on the 15th! This was a little insert they had before they left!! If you guys could pray for them it would be much appreciated!!

Second, THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone who has been praying already for our trip. God is good, and it looks like we will be able to make the trip as planned. If you had not hear, there has been a lot of political unrest, especially in the capital (Port Au Prince) and in Cap Haitian, due to the recent elections and the corrupt government. For the past few weeks, we have not been completely sure whether or not we would be able to go tomorrow, but after talking to Gersan and Betty today, it looks like "Operation Bunk Beds" is a go. (Jack's words). So, thank you to everyone who has been praying for us as we've been waiting and trying to make this decision.

Here are some prayer requests for now....
1- We are meeting at the Monson's house tonight to finish packing. Pray that that goes well and everything fits and weighs the correct amounts.
2- We fly out at 6AM in the morning- pray for safe flights and arrival in PAP tomorrow afternoon.
3- Please pray for safety for the entire trip- safety amist the political unrest, cholera epidemic, and just being in Haiti in general and doing construction.
4- Pray that the Lord would use us to serve the Haitians well and that we would be able to share the Love of Christ with them, both in the way we act as well as in what we say (however broken our Creole is) :)

Thank you guys so much! Expect to hear updates through this group every few days or so. If you are not getting updates and would like to, let Karin Monson know, and she will make sure you get them.

Have a great day, and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

- Daniel, Jack, & Greta

This was my Thank you letter!

Sorry this is a little long, but I thought I would post this.. sorry if I forgot to send you one!

November 3, 2010

Dear loved Ones,
Whether you have supported me financially, emotionally, letter writing, praying for me or all of the above I thank you from the bottom of my heart that you guys would sacrifice for me.
It was a crazy forty-four days that I got to spend in Haiti but if God told me to do it all over again I would without hesitation, say yes! It was an amazing experience and God has opened my eyes in so many ways and I am so thankful that I had the many doors open in order for me to do this. To sum my trip up is a little hard; I have struggled with what to say and what people actually want to hear. So I am just going to start and if you would like to hear more I still have my blog up and will post the website, my email address and a number if you guys would want to call and get together.
From the first day of my trip, God taught me contentment, flexibility and patience. We had to stay the night in Detroit due to an airline mistake, which then led to us missing our flight to get to Haiti from Florida but I can honestly say that the hassle was worth it. There are some things that you cannot change and ya know ya just gotta let it go. I decided to try to make best of the predicament that we were in. While were going thru all of this I got to know Hal and Chris better, got to understand how the orphanage was founded and what they had to do to get there and I also got two meet two special little boys, Richie and Christopher. They were in the states on Medical visas and were having some things done way before the earthquake even took place. Richie was four and had a leg amputated due to cancer and Christopher was about a year and was hydrocephalic and was getting a shunt put in. To be honest, there were some kids that I came into contact with and just had to sit back and ask God why... Why the pain for this little one and not that one? Why the suffering for one so small? Christopher was one of them, if he were living in the states he wouldn’t have had to go back to a tent to live, he would have had the medical care that maybe could have helped more then what he was getting at home, to me humanly he would have just been safe. God knows what he is doing though. When we were staying the night at the hotel in Florida we were able to take the boys swimming. It was fun to see Chris take Christopher swimming. That may have been his first and last time doing that but the joy in his eyes of just calmness and fulfillment touched me. God is still God and God is still good. This trip was really going to be life changing.
There were some things I was ready for and thought I prepared my heart for and then there were some things that I did not even think of. I never imagined seeing families torn apart. You can call me naïve I admit it but again something I just didn’t really imagine I would be seeing. I got the privilege of meeting seven children who came into the orphanage, one of those seven I now sponsor. The family of four however was probably the hardest to see. Their parents still want them, they still crave to hold their children but they just can’t support them the way that they should. Can you imagine giving your kids away all four of them at the same time because you can no longer support them anymore and there is no family to really help you out either? Craziness...
Beyond the emotional trials I had there were also the physical trials as well. Getting use to showering outside, electricity going in out the dirtiness everywhere, having to throw the toilet paper away rather than flushing it, using a water bottle to brush your teeth rather than being able to use the water because it would make you sick. Those things however became routine day in and day out and really by the third week was so use to it I never really thought about it at all. However the infections are what hurt the most. I had gotten three while I was there one in my finger, one in my arm and the last one was on my foot. I thank God for the healing that he gave me I did have to get shots in which were hard for me because I do not like needles whatsoever. But God healed in his time and was there every step of the way.
There were also so many joys while I was there that it is hard to sum up all the events that happened. One thing however was taking the kids swimming. There was a ten year old and a six year old that have never been swimming before and I got to witness firsthand the joy on their faces when we first took them. The face was priceless… They were so joyous and grateful that they were able to go, what seems small to us as Americans is huge for them. For us we get to go as infants, early in life our parents try to teach us and help us along the way as we are just starting out, we have classes filled so we can learn the right way with floaties and water toys that overflow the pool sometimes. I am not saying all of this to make anyone feel guilty so if I am, I am sorry for that. I am just simply making the observation of how different it is for them. To be ten years old and never being able to go swimming was just different for me to hear, I remember being little and having my dad having me just jump in to try to teach me… he was there to catch me of course but still I got to try early. There were even fourteen and fifteen year olds clinging to us because they couldn’t swim, it’s one thing that I know I surely wouldn’t have thought twice about without going on this trip just a small blessing I realized while I was there.
The question that seems to come up a lot when I am talking to people is “okay, what exactly did you do?” well for the first week I was there I was pretty much a floater. One day I went grocery shopping with them in which total they filled eight carts full of food. For two weeks I was a nanny, one of the nannies had “vacation” time. I quote vacation because really theirs are different. They do not really go anywhere or see anything so it’s not like our vacations sometimes. While she was gone I got the joys and frustrations of helping out with the toddlers there were about thirteen of them and three of them had mental disabilities. Those three girls opened my eyes more than I thought they would. They all had the mind mentalities of two to three year olds yet they were 12, 9 and 8. Two could feed themselves and the nine year old we were trying to teach how to potty train. They lay heavy on my heart when I saw how the nannies treated them. Haitian’s in a way look down on those who are disabled and really do not show much attention to them. It was hard for me because I wanted to love them and bring them home. I wanted to show them how different life could be for them and just spend time with them. One girl particularly stole my heart. We had worked on affection the whole six in a half weeks that I was there. We went from hand holding to hugging and by the end of my trip she was playing with my hair and wanting to touch my face. For someone who cannot speak and struggles to be with someone to even let them touch her and for her to touch back is huge improvement... If this whole trip was only to spend time with this little girl and nothing else I would gladly say…thank you God for giving me this opportunity. For letting me see her, for letting me love her like you love all your children. After those two weeks, I was moving on to my fourth and fifth week; I was a teacher to the English speaking students. The curriculum is behind but I was still able to help with spelling and math. Some were advanced and craved to learn more while others struggled a bit but nonetheless it was a fun experience. We also watched the Ken Ham videos about creation and how it all evolved. I will say it was a little hard. I had to teach these kids words like Abortion and Homosexuality, They had no idea what it meant and on one of the videos both words popped up and for the longest time they just couldn’t understand why anyone would want to do that to their babies or why any man would want to marry another man. It was hard to explain just as it was hard for them to understand. But it all came down to sin and the selfishness of man. It was a humorous moment when two of the kiddos that were being adopted asked if it was in their state and how big it was in their state... I had to sadly say yes… One was going to California and the other to New York... They were not too happy about that. My last week in a half I was on what I like to call “Baby duty”, it was around the same time that I got the infection on my foot as well. I really wasn’t going anywhere so I stayed at the orphanage and helped Chris with a three month old. Around the same time, I was also helping set the new girl’s home in which they call H.I.S ER. It is a home for twenty-five girls who were in the tent cities and they are able to go through a program to be able to learn trade skills as far as hair styling cooking and clothes making. With these twenty-five, five of them are also pregnant they range from fourteen to sixteen years old... Hard to imagine being that young and pregnant, but being that young, pregnant and your baby having to go to an orphanage is a whole other story. They do not get to choose whether or not they can keep their children because Haiti doesn’t give them a choice and they cannot take care of themselves let alone a little one as well. Just one more thing to keep in mind and add to your prayers as well.
I will say it was hard to start this letter but now it seems harder to end. This trip was huge for me and God opened my eyes in so many ways. I have never experienced suffering in this matter but again this trip was worth it. Still adjusting to American life, I did end up taking this quarter off but am praying greatly for God’s future plans for me. Still trying to find that balance of what I learned on my trip and applying that into my life here at home.
Thank you again for supporting me, for praying for me...
God is still God and God is still good…
Teresa Crawfis

An update from the orphange...

Haiti is still in need of our prayers.. As of right now there is no damage to the three homes and every one is safe.. However those in tents and living on the streets are still in need of our prayers it's been rough for them!... This was an update from Chris the other day...

HI Everyone! It has been a long time since I have updated things, but everything here has been on fast-forward since we returned in Aug. Just so you have a way to understand, as close as I can remember, we have had 1 day without visitors staying in Haiti with us since March 1st (except while we were in the states). We love the company, and the energy and supplies everyone brings, but also limits our available time to communicate.

We currently have 87 kids, and lots of them are kids with special needs. Have had lots of kids with colds and resp. infections, but that is improving. I had 2 babies in the hosp. for 12 days, but they are home now. Have also had Loubencia in the hosp. for around a month. She is in stage 4 aids, and in critical condition now. We are spending a lot of time back and forth to the hosp. Have a full-time nanny staying with her, but it has been very hard to both care for her at home prior to hospitalization (a month of her sleeping in our living room with IV's, and being very sick)), as well as sitting with her in the hosp. knowing that at this time prayer is the only thing we can offer her...Obviously the most imoportant thing, but still leaving us feeling drained. Also have a beautiful healthy baby boy sharing our lives, Baby James will be 1 month old tomorrow nd has been with us since he was 1 week. (Yes, that means I do not get much sleep...)

The new house (HIS ER) is doing well. Have 9 girls in the program, plus 2 adoptive girls living in the new house. Still expecting about 16 more girls, but have appreciated getting them gradually, so we could get to know everyone, evaluate their special emotional needs, and help them settle in. Everyone has completed medical exams, dental check-ups, labs, TB testing, and psych evals. This past week we have been blessed with a psych team from Canada who have spent a lot of time with the girls, and have advised us on things that we can do to help ease the transition. The girls are in Haitian school, and we are getting the vocational training established now. Lots of fun and exciting plans in store for the girls, and we appreciate the assistance of WAR (Women at Risk), an international organization working in 23 countries now helping us with some of the funding issues. Also receiving support from Mission of Tears in Canada.

With the cholera issues, we had a medical team here last Wed. from Haiti Baptist Mission Hosp. checking on the kids. The 2 doctors and 5 nurses examined all of the little babies, and will return tomorrow to follow up on them, and start on the toddlers. What a blessing! They brought their own pharmacy, and supplied lots of vitamins, pedialyte, etc. as well as meds for those with ear infections, coughs, etc. The dentist has also completed exams and treatments for all of the kids age 4 and older. We are stocked with supplies to treat the kids if they get cholera, but are limiting biofamily visits to try to prevent cholera from being brought into the home. Still have staff living in tents and coming to work, but encouraging handwashing, using hand sanitizer, etc.

With so many new kids, and many with specialized medical needs, we have had a huge emphasis on medical stuff since Aug. 3 of our new little ones were brought by IBESR/UNICEF. This is the first that I know of that UNICEF has brought abandoned babies to creches for adoption. Niko is 4 months and he has a crossed eye but is otherwise healthy. Kalandi is a beautiful little 3 year old girl who was in a coma when she was brought to Medicine Sans Frontiers (Doctors without borders). After a long hospitalization, they released her to us, with severe malnutrition, just learning to eat after having been tube fed. She was just starting to walk when she came a few weeks ago, but is all over now. Now she is loving her food! YEA! She is also deaf/mute, so we will be learning sign language. She has some cerebral palsy, but has good potential of overcoming many of her disabilities. Jackson is 1 year, and was abandoned in the hosp. with severe malnutrition and resp. distress. He als o has CP, and gets breathing tx. 3 times daily. As I said, Marlene and I spend a lot of our time distributing meds, and skin creams for new kids who came with scabies, ring worm, etc.

Related to Tomos, we have stocked food and have the house ready with the balcony cleared, laundry inside, and everything prepared that we can do ahead. Now we will focus on keeping enough staff to care for the kids. As the staff deal with their personal family issues related to living in tents, we know that it will affect staff availability, so am praying for mercy!

On the fun side of things, the kids have loved riding the new bikes, scooters, wagons, tricycles, etc! They have also enjoyed the new TV's which came in the container. Over the weekend the older kids went to an overnight retreat at the church, and the youth group program is growing.

Congrats to everyone who have completed adoptions!!! Hal and I were hoping to get back already to complete our adoption, but it sounds like it might be Jan. before we can get a court hearing date. We are scheduled to be in the US from Dec. 18-Jan. 9th. Am missing Berline, Michael, and Felineta, so looking forward to our first American Christmas together!!! What that measns is that Junior will be in charge when Marie Mika (one of our new girls from the tents) has her baby. She is due Dec. 30th. What an adventure for him!!! I told him that he can take the baby home to his mother until I get back... He didn't buy that!!!

Blesisngs to all and will stay in touch over the next few days as communications allows. Chris