Whoop!

My sister Emily (who is also my closest friend) moved back to Rwanda! Read about the new adventure she is beginning in God's grand story: emilyhaas.wordpress.com

A Change of My Plans... For His.

So.... this whole Spring while working for Show Hope, I thought I had my summer and next school year all planned out, which at the time I did. I was looking forward to going back to Guatemala in July and starting the Discipleship Training School with YWAM, to returning to Antigua where I lived last Fall, reuniting with my friends again and being a part of my church there. I had been planning this return every since I left seven months ago. After the DTS would end in December, my plan was to take an awesome job opportunity for one year with CURE International in Honduras, getting some international experience with nursing and continuing with my love of Spanish before starting school for nursing in Philly.

Well, God started changing my heart when I went to China in May. I was there, in the middle of real life medical care- watching surgery and helping with post-op care, watching a complete 180 take place in these children's lives. I was so fired up for more.

Shortly after I got home, I had a meeting with my boss at CURE about plans to start next January. In talking, I felt strongly that I was supposed to start with CURE and nursing training sooner and not return to Guatemala at this time. I couldn't figure out why- I had been planning this for so long. I've wanted to do a DTS since before I sent out one college application. Despite my wants, I knew that God was leading me in this direction, and as much as I was bummed, I was at the same time excited at the prospect of starting with CURE sooner. As I accepted this direction without at first really wanting to, I felt so at peace like never before, and I saw several reasons why this really was the right decision- there were some selfish reasons getting in the way before and I wasn't seeing clearly. Yes, I felt at peace while applying and planning to attend the DTS, but when that door starting closing, I kept pushing and was loosing my peace. I thought I had this all figured out. I needed to remember, one step at a time. Follow Him one step at a time. In sharing this change of plans with one of my friends, he simply quoted to me Proverbs 16:9: "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." That was it.

So that was settled and I would be moving to Honduras in mid-August. But there was one more thing. What were my new plans for the rest of this summer? Literally as soon as this this decision was made and before I had time to think about the next two months ahead of me, I got offered a job to work with kids in my own backyard- for exactly the next two months. Some dear friends of my family run a non-profit organization called The Ark, and they were getting ready to start their summer program working with at-risk kids in nine developments in our area. They needed another counselor for this program called Swim Pals, taking these kids to a variety of state parks and recreational parks, to connect with these kids and build relationships with them that will continue with The Ark for hopefully years to come. On top of this, I also was asked about tutoring Spanish-speaking kids one day a week for the summer. Could I ask for a better offer?!

The coolest part about this is that for a while it's been my prayer to be able to work with kids in our area in some way. I've had quite a bit of international experience, but I wanted to be able to reach out in this area where I grew up. I didn't give it too much thought, it was just something I had a desire to do but didn't know when or even if it would happen. To take a step back and look at God's perfect timing is very humbling. I mean, I got offered a job in exactly what I wanted to do, right when I needed it, for the exact amount of time that I needed it... How ashamed I am at how often I fret about the future, essentially saying I don't trust God's sovereignty in ever aspect of life at every moment. Why do I so often put the star-breathing, galaxy-making Creator of the universe in a box, doubting His sovereignty? Don't I realize that even if I can't see the way, He can?

I'm so thankful for this opportunity, for this little reminder He's given me that it's all in His hands whether I realize it or not. Getting to work with some great friends and getting to know some awesome kids. It's only the first week of work and I'm convinced that I'm going to learn as much, if not more than the student in the program. As I reflect on this gift, I pray that we can all remember His sovereignty in times when the darkness of whatever sort seems to have no end. Remember His timing is never wrong.

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

-1 Peter 5:7

So, that's my update, and if you've stuck with the post to this point, I want to say I'm SORRY it's so long!

The Heart of The Matter

My mom recently gave me a good piece of advice, and in pondering it I've come to greatly appreciate its benefits. It's very simple yet very profound, because it can be of good use throughout one's entire life, really everyday. Basically, before making a decision in any situation, I need to ask myself, what's the motive behind my choice? Lately I've felt very bombarded with decisions, some being thrown at me without much time to think beforehand. Some are big, and many are small, but they are all decisions and they all affect myself, the people around me, and our futures. In feeling like I'm drowning in big decisions recently, this piece of advice has made me able to think more clearly and to choose wisely. The most important part of making a decision is knowing what the motivation of my choice is. Am I making this choice to get away from a situation that I need to face? Am I making this choice because of fear? Am I doing this to serve myself or to serve others? Is this people-pleasing or God-pleasing? It's not so much the action itself, but what's in the heart. Sometimes selfish motives get in the way, and sometimes the voices of others shouting out their opinions and advice can overwhelm and drown out the quiet whisper of His voice. I want to glean as much godly advice as I can from the people in my life, yet I don't want to be swayed by human opinion- I want to hear from God for myself and not have to always hear through the opinions of other people. I want to seek godly counsel and always remember, what's my motive? What is the motive behind the advice I'm being given? If there's one thing I know for sure it's that I don't want to miss out on anything that God has for me, whether my flesh likes it or hates it. I want all that He has for me, and I want my decisions to be aligned with His will. There is nothing that doesn't matter to God, whether something seems big or small, my every choice should be made out of selfless love toward others, with honoring God the goal. As Paul wrote in First Corinthians 10:23, everything may be permissible, but not everything is beneficial.
I, just like everyone, am not perfect and in this time on earth never will be, but praise the Lord that His grace is sufficient for me, that He can take my bad choices and use them for His honor in ways that I can't even imagine, that He desires to grant us His strength and guide us every step of the way.

Wild Animals!

Besides seeing the normal beauties of springtime like tiny baby birds in a nest and a spotted deer fawn with its mother, we've seen two other, much more rare, wild animals. First, Our property manager, Gary, was raking the road by the lake and he saw something abnormally large that was not a rock- it was in fact a 45-50 pound snapping turtle! We have small ones in the lake, but never have any of us seen on as huge as this. I'm so glad Gary saw it before it made it to the lake!

He was not happy to be relocated, but the boys were fascinated!

Then just the other day, I was getting ready to run up to the lake with Ace. Everyone else was ahead of me on the mule. Well, halfway to the bridge across the street, the mule was parked and everyone was out, staring up at a tree. A mother bear with two cubs! Last spring I saw a mother with two cubs in the same place. Only last year I only had my legs to carry me home as the mother started coming down after a barking Ace -thankfully this year I had the Mule to rescue us!

Here is the mother, she had her two babies hiding way above her

You can barely see one of the babies here poking its head out- the other one wasn't visible.

This Thing That Goes So Fast And Doesn't Stop...They Call It "Life."

The weeks since I've been home from China have been quite full of adventures and fun news. I went straight from the airport upon my return to China to meet up with my family at the home of some friends of ours in northern Virginia for a really nice time to decompress and relax. Although I didn’t allow myself enough time to sleep to get over jet lag because I was so busy catching up with friends and fam and holding babies and playing with kids that I didn’t even think about it!

Just a few days after returning to PA from Virginia, I was back in Danville to drive once again to Virginia, but this time to Smith Mountain Lake with Scott and Kerry to take care of their kiddos while as they had a family wedding to addend. The morning we were leaving, they found out that there had been a tragic accident causing the death of one of the sons in the family of some of their friends in Nashville, so after the beautiful wedding weekend, we continued on to Nashville and as Scott and Kerry attended the visitation and funeral, l I spent the days with sweet Cole, Maya, and Leah, and prayed for comfort for this dear family and they mourn this loss, while remembering the words of James 4:14, “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while then vanishes.” This reality reminds me that in joyous times and in sorrow, this life on earth is but a flash compared to eternity, and the Father alone is the One who knows the number of our days as is written in Psalms 139:16, “Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Only He knows. "Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today" (James Dean).

From Nashville I flew back to Philadelphia for the memorial service of my Great Uncle John, my paternal grandfather’s younger brother and only sibling. It was a beautiful service in memory of a great man, whose life touched so many. Because my Opa past away when I was just three years old, my Uncle John in many ways filled that space for me and gave me a connection to my grandfather who I so wished could’ve been a part of my life for a longer time.

Three days ago we returned from Orlando, Florida, where we were for my brother Jon's graduation from Full Sail University. It was a really special time for my family to be together to celebrate- I'm so proud of Jon and his accomplishments! During the ceremony, it made me a little sad that I had missed my sister Emily's graduation from Covenant College just a few weeks earlier due to the fact that I was in China. But I was there in spirit with the rest of my attending family and so proud of all her hard work!!!

Jon walked the stage with this mask from the movie V for Vendetta :) I love his creativity! As you can see, Olivia wasn't sure what to think of it!

Andrew, Aunt Janet, Dad, Mom, Sarah, Jon!, Abi, me, Dad's brother Uncle John, (Livi behind him), Emily

Now that I’m in Bear Creek again, our most recent big news is that our foster brother Jeremiah who has been with us for the past seven months has been placed with his adoptive family. He now lives in Allentown, about an hour from us, with his mom and dad and older brother Nick, and younger sisters Ally, Maggie, and Kate. As I get used to the quieter house and seeing Nathan doing school and playing alone, I’m realizing this is the new norm and we’re in fact not missing anyone, and as it still seems odd at this time, I’m so grateful for Jeremiah’s new parents, Gary and Cathy. So thankful for their heart for adoption and to take in children who have had troubled pasts. I’m also grateful for my own parents’ heart to give so much of themselves to help those that God has placed in their path, mostly to my mom who for the past seven months has poured herself into Jeremiah’s young life, has stuck with it through the thick and thin, and because of her patience, perseverance, and sometimes really tough love, so much healing has come into his life, he’s grown so much in the Lord even at his young age, and I believe that God had him in our lives not only to teach us lessons and bring us laughter and fun, but to bring him closer to Him, and to heal in preparation for the new life that lays ahead of him.

Jeremiah, I'm so happy for your new family, and that you all will always be a part of our lives! I will never be able to eat hot wings, strawberries, applesauce, or broccoli stems again without thinking of you! :) Whenever I’m counting coins or the days of the week I will think of you, whenever I go swimming I will think of you and how I think you’d turn into a fish if possible, when I have a phone or computer problem I will remember to “call Andrew!” Whenever I hold a baby I will think about how much you love to hold them too. And there is this one song by the Sidewalk Prophets that is my prayer for my younger siblings, and I think of you every time I hear it:

....Be strong in the Lord and,

Never give up hope,

You’re gonna do great things,

I already know,

God’s got His hand on you so,

Don’t live life in fear,

Forgive and forget,

But don’t forget why you’re here,

Take your time and pray,

Thank God for each day,

His love will find a way,

These are the words I would say…

From one simple life to anther,

I will say,

Come find peace in the Father….

China!

“You are demonstrating that you are the Messiah’s letter… written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” -2 Corinthians 3:3 (ISV)

About two weeks ago I arrived home from being in China for ten days with a medical team from Geisinger Medical Center. I had been assisting my friend Dr. Erica McElroy for the previous several months in preparing for our team to go to Maria’s Big House of Hope in Luoyang China, which is home to 140 medical needs orphans.

To see the seemingly unending list of supplies that we had to gather for the months prior to the trip being put to use at Maria’s was a huge blessing for me, seeing all the work paying off in such a big way. We had spent long hours making lists of the supplies necessary for surgery and post-op care, contacting our donors who generously gave us what was needed, and finally after some overwhelming moments when it seemed like it was impossible that we would really have all we needed, we found ourselves in the basement with a floor covered in about twenty-five suitcases and enough supplies to fill every last inch of space, all necessary items in hand. About thirty hours later, after a three hour drive to Newark, a thirteen hour flight to Beijing, and hour and half drive to Luoyang, and a short drive to Maria’s, we made it- all of us and all forty-four pieces of luggage, ready to unpack and complete the mission.

Neurosurgeon Dr. Amir Kershenovich and plastic surgeon Dr. Joseph DeSantis along with the team of 21 medical staff successfully completed a total of 15 surgeries for children with hydrocephalous , myelomeningoceles (MMCs), and cleft lips and palates. The first of our four days of surgery was Mother’s Day, and that had a really special meaning for all of us who were there because we were aware that there are many mothers who at that moment had no idea that on this day they were receiving one of the most amazing gifts a mom could ask for- healing for her child. It was one of the most fulfilling sights to see each baby as they came out of surgery, knowing they were on their way to healing and becoming a part of a family.

One of the best aspects of the trip for me was getting to experience life in the OR and the recovery room. I gleaned so much just being there, listening to the discussions between the surgeons, doctors, and nurses. The nurses, excited that I want to be a nurse myself, readily took me under their wings and allowed me to help them with post-op care for the babies, and explained to me the basics of everything and how it all works. Tara, one nurse educators at Geisinger even wanted to show me how put in an IV and wanted me to practice on her. I was nervous because I didn’t want to butcher her, but she insisted so I took up the opportunity and twice I got the needle in the vein, although it didn’t stay in as I was advancing the needle. I was so thankful for Tara and that she was so kind to teach me, although now I’m really anxious for more practice and to perfect this skill!

This experience was a big confirmation for me in deciding that I want be a nurse, and a time that I will always look back on with great memories. If I could describe this awesome team from Geisinger plus the staff at Maria’s in two words, it would be talented and funny! Amidst the seriousness of caring for these little ones in critical condition, this team had a way of keeping the humor coming and many of us unable to stop laughing! Above all, though, every person on this team was devoted to caring for these children with the best of their ability, the compassion in them clearly coming forth as they willingly came to be the healing hands and feet of Jesus to these precious children of His. What an honor it is to be a part of the redeeming work that He is doing all over His creation!

Below are pictures of Jillian and Gabriel, two of the 15 babies who received surgery!

Jillian, pre-op cleft lip

Post-op lip repair!

Gabriel received surgery for his hydrocephalus

Team Picture:

Top, l-r: Plastic Surgeon Dr. Joe DeSantis, Neurosurgeon Resident Doug, Show Hope Director Scott

2nd row, l-r: Me (Assistant to Erica, nurse in training, ect.), ER Doctor and trip coordinator, Dr. Erica McElroy, Pharmacist Paul, nurse Amanda, nurse Tara, Laura Botsford

3rd row, l-r: nurse Kerry, OR nurse Judy, Resident Ashley, Resident Diana, ER doc Sarah, Scrub Tech Deb, OR nurse Deb

Bottom, l-r: nurse Melissa, Pediatric hospitalist Dr. Fannon, PA Jennifer, Show Hope team coordinator David, Neurosurgeon Dr. Amir Kershenovich, PA Ashley

And our anesthesiologists, Dr. Ren Wu and Dr. Dale Jamison, departed prior to this photo shoot!