Simply Love Haiti – We Made It!!

I’m sitting here on Day 1 living in Pignon, Haiti celebrating Thanksgiving Day!!! We made it!! The American Airlines flights were boring and non-eventful (yay!) We landed in Port-au-Prince and all 8 of our bags made it off, too! There was a wonderful driver, Johnson who met us as we stepped out of the airport. He was holding a sign with our names, Roger & Kari Gibson. What a blessing to have so many friends who helped with every step of the way for our family to arrive safely in Haiti. We drove a short distance to MAF and boarded a small Cessna plane for a 25 minute flight up the mountains with stunning views welcoming us with arms open wide.

We are serving as “Happy Helpers” with the Campbell family for the next 2 months at their ministry, Haiti Home of Hope. They run a weekly medical clinic and parents to 40 orphans. They have two beautiful adopted daughters, Lina and Chrissy who have a big collection of doll houses and girlie toys. Zoie looked at me and said, “I like Haiti.” I can’t wait for you to fall in love with my friend, Jennifer Campbell … she will be my guest blogger with me here in Haiti. She’s the “mama” to all 40 children and one of my biggest heroes!

Our family jumped right into things when we arrived to Pignon. There were women still waiting with their infants for clinic and mother’s milk program. One grandmother was holding a tiny infant who lost his mother a few weeks ago from Cholera. She was there to receive help and formula for the baby boy. I could see the desperation in her eyes when she asked Jennifer to keep the baby. It broke my heart knowing this grieving grandmother was now going to be the mother of her grandson. Life is so hard.

What a joy and privilege it is for us to have our daughters here serving with us in Haiti. God has provided ministry opportunities and keeping His promises, answering prayers, performing miracles, and fulfilling dreams. Celebrating Thanksgiving Day here in Haiti has opened up my heart to so many things I’m thankful for. He has provide a home all over the world for my family, fellowship, caring friends, and support as we serve and love Him. The beautiful mountains behind our little cottage, that we will call home for the next 2 months makes my heart dance. We are living our big dreams and drawing prayer circles… and “the bigger the circle you draw the more foolish you’ll feel. But, if you aren’t willing to step out of the boat, you’ll never walk on water. If you aren’t willing to circle the city, the wall will never fall. And if you aren’t willing to follow the star, you’ll miss out on the greatest adventure of your life. In order to experience a miracle, you have to take a risk.” (The Circle Maker)

It’s hard to believe all the hard work raising support and sharing our mission at local churches helped fund our 2 months in Haiti. It was an impossible quest, but God was faithful. I want to personally thank James River Assembly, Woodland Hills Family Church, Hope Community Church, Ohio Home Church and the many mission-hearted people (YOU!!) who have invested in our family mission-adventure this year. This would be impossible without your support, prayers, and cheers. We are learning, as we are living each day on the mission field to live out-of-the-box.

Many of you have asked how you can help … we are grateful for your contributions and monthly gifts! We still need 32 people to give $50 a month until September 2013, as well as one-time gifts for our living expenses throughout the year. Click here to read how you can give to Simply Love Ministry online or with a check. All gifts are tax deductible. We continue to circle our 12 month support goals and trusting God to provide all our needs. We want to work hard as we serve in Haiti and beyond in Nicaragua and Ethiopia caring for orphans and sharing the gospel to the unreached people groups.

I will work really hard to blog 5 times a week and keep you updated on the exciting things happening in Haiti. God sold our home when we said yes. I hope you will join me on My Crazy Adoption Blog as we watch together God do the impossible and simply trust His Spirit to do in us what we cannot do in ourselves. (Live Dead Journal)

If you have any questions about adoption or missions, please leave a comment for me. Your comments will be my life-line here for fellowship in blog land.