Devastation Is Hard To Swallow

Devastation is all around but somehow hope seems to abound. As each car pulls into this church parking lot that has blossomed into a fullblown disaster relief center, I am struck over and over again by the strong smiles on each person's face. Yesterday I was helping a woman out to her car with all the food items she had picked out as well as some bags we had filled with sheets, blankets, towels and silverware for her. This woman was one of the many who had "LOST EVERYTHING" written across her sign in form. As I picked up one of the bags to put it in my wheelbarrow a box of brand new pots and pans was revealed sitting there with her other bags. This precious womans reaction was to cover her mouth and whisper, "oh Lord, pots and pans." She said it with such awe in her voice and tears began to run down her face. My heart was so broken for her and we just stood there in that relief center hugging and crying over pots and pans. We were two people from totally different walks of life who had never created a single memory together but the love of the Lord brought us together like sisters. Every day I talk to people and hug perfect strangers who offer up a brave smile and share their deep heart pain with me. They tell me about the family members they buried or how the Lord has blessed them by sparing their family despite the loss of everything else. These people are my heroes even though they keep telling me I am their hero for coming and helping them. I haven't done anything and I wish I could do everything. Prayer feels futile until I see the peace it brings to thier faces

Into The Great Outdoors

For 5 days we hiked into the wilderness, carrying everything we needed on our backs. Our destination was a group of the most crystal clean, pristine lakes I have ever seen. Almost untouched by humans. As we went we meditated on the character and nature of God and how His creation spoke to us. I loved every single second of it. There is nothing on earth like being in the middle of God's creation, raw, rugged and breath-takingly beautiful. I feel more alive than in any other place, I am faced by my littelness and thrilled by my ability to survive. My body hurts at first and then becomes strong and invincible.
One morning we awoke to find a winter wonderland around us. The lake we were camped beside was a frosted jewel reflecting the ice blue sky. As we hiked that day the sun warmed our skin and quickly melted the snow.Later when we returned to base camp I found a perfect cliff to jump off of into the previously frosted lake. The clouds reflected on the lake creating the illusion of jumping into the sky.
If I had it my way, the DTS would backpack once a month, life would be heavenly. The trip really brought us all so close together as a team, we became more than a team, but a family, fighting for each other and encouraging every step of the way.














Here is the team on our way back out of the wilderness



I hope you appreciate my 5 year old crouch stance, the braided pig tails and my stuck out tongue as I clean my dinner