Update on Janice's Trip to Haiti

From an email I sent to Janice's email list regarding her trip to Haiti.

I’m going to do my best to keep you all updated on Janice’s trip to Haiti. She has an international Blackberry, and hopefully will be able to use it while down there. We agreed that she would email me updates. I’ll then pass them to you via email. Also, I’ll be updating our family blog at www.hidalgothamily.blogspot.com, and my Facebook account, so you can keep tabs there too.

We found out yesterday, that she’ll be flying this afternoon (Sunday) on a private jet to Miami. The plan is to hotel there, then head to Port-au-prince a day early (Monday).

She’s a little concerned that she brought too much, and needs to figure out a way to pare it down, so please pray for her to have practical wisdom in that regard.

Below is an email from our friend Nate who is leading the trip, just to give you some more insight.

Blessing to all of you…

Jay

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Hello again friends. Tomorrow I leave for 8 days in Haiti. I am leading a team of 14 RN’s, doctors, and paramedics. This will be our church’s 3rd team.

The reports coming from our returning teams are really heartbreaking. Whatever you see on CNN doesn’t do it justice. I encourage you to do whatever you can to help the Haitians! Pray, Give or Go! But do something. Don’t look on passively.

Our teams say that there are children orphaned by the earthquake just roaming the streets without a place to live. In many cases, 5 year olds are taking care of 3 year olds as they fend for themselves on the street. Others are being preyed on by traffickers or people looking to gain something from them.

Pray for us as we go. We are in this for the long haul! Part of my purpose in going is to scout out a section of the city that we will commit to rebuild from the ground up, much like we did in Sri Lanka after the tsunami. I need to connect with the right people and have the wisdom of God as I go! Pray for Jamie too as she’ll be staying behind.

Another desire of ours is to see if we can help the process of getting Haitian kids adopted. Jamie and I have offered to adopt, and we have rallied 11 other couples in our movement who have stepped up to do the same. I love the body of Christ! We don’t know where this will head, so pray for that too!

Just getting into Haiti has been an incredible effort. Two different Texas businessmen have offered the use of their private jets so we can get there. And the interesting thing is that neither of them are believers. They just wanted to help. I call that the FAVOR OF GOD! At this point we have no clear plan on how to get out, but that isn’t our concern at the moment. We just want to get there.

Thanks for praying!

Nate & Jamie

CORRECTION

Sorry to all, but I gave you the wrong Antioch Church. Janice is going with Antioch COMMUNITY Church, not Antioch Bible. Here' s the correct donation site: https://antiochcc.ccbchurch.com/app/trx_submit_bp.php?type=public_gift. Select "Emergency Relief" from the drop down menu.

Giving to Haiti

With Janice's trip to Haiti (see previous post), some have asked if they can give. Best thing is to give to the group she's going with: Medical Relief International. Go to https://members.abchurch.org/giving/index.html, scroll down to the third option.

A note from Janice

OK it is official I am going to Haiti next week. For some of you this is the first you have heard of it. So let me back the story up a bit. It has all happened very fast for us also. Last Friday night I was invited to go to Haiti from our good friend Nate Bobbett. His church in Waco, TX has much experience in going to places for immediate relief work in many parts of the world. They have had 2 teams dispatched to Haiti already. He knows I am a nurse and asked of I would like to go. Surprisingly it did not take long for a yes answer to come from me or my family. He had to work out the logicistics and then called us later last night and confirmed that I could go. I will be leaving on Saturday morning to Dallas to stay with family and then leave on Tuesday morning for Haiti. Nate's latest email says he "thinks we will be back the 8th of Feb." so we will see when I actually get home. I am not on facebook, but Jay is and I will send him info and he can take it from there. I don't have many other details. I will let you know what I know as things happen. Please just keep all of us in your prayers. Janice

Cruise

Janice turned 40 in October, so instead of trying to surprise her, I asked her what she wanted. Her answer was "I want to go on a cruise in January. And it was so...

The links below will take you to the pictures:

Cruise Pictures - Part 1
Cruise Pictures - Part 2

Race for the Cure!!!

It's been a fun 10 Days

The past few days have been a lot of fun. Labor Day weekend was gorgeous, so we squeezed out last drop of summer by spending a day at the beach. Two days later, school started. A good first week overall. The week was capped with Molly's birthday: 10 4th grade girls, a barbecue and outdoor movie night! Next up, Jack's birthday.

THE LAST DAY OF SUMMER

THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

MOLLY'S BIRTHDAY PARTY

Getting Shealie

Molly's Essay

You all know how much we love Glen Arbor. Below is an essay Molly wrote for an assignment in school. I couldn't have said or written it any better.

Click on the link to read the essay: Molly's Essay

dddddd

The Girls New Room

For Christmas of 2007, the girls present was a "new room". Our friend, Amy Pottenger, who is the owner of an interior design firm, helped us out. Recently, she showcased the girl's on her blog....take a look:

http://refreshdesign.wordpress.com/2009/04/29/before-after/

Spring Break 2009 - Gatlinburg, TN

Spring Break this year was spent at the foothills of The Great Smokey Mountains in Tennessee, just outside of Gatlinburg. We avoided the "tourist" areas of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge (except for one night at the Dixie Stampede). Mostly, we spent time in the Great Smokey Mountain National Park. Breathtakingly beautful. Very relaxing.
Would have loved to stay another week...

Our log cabin...

The view from right outside our cabin...


Nothing better than hanging in the jacuzzi, watching TV...

Wating to saddle up for a ride in the mountains...

Thrilled, isn't he?

Our most experienced rider...

Molly got to ride a horse named "Cadillac"

Jackie-boy on "Pumpkin". Half way through the ride, Jack's saddle slid off.
No harm done...whew!

Out on the trail

Dinner at Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede (Dolly wasn't there)...

...so we settled for a picture with one of the "Cowgirls".

Grey shirt, blue hat. North or South? Hmmmm!

One day of shopping never hurt anyone...especially when the boys didn't have to go :-)

Behind "Grotto Falls" in the Great Smokey Mountain National Park

A shot from behnid the falls (yes, that's snow in the mountains)

The Fam at Grotto Falls

Trail side break on the way back from Grotto Falls...beautiful

Lunch in Cade's Cove...ahhhhh

Jack loves being a boy...we don't need no stinkin' bathrooms!

Abrams Falls

Abrams Falls

The Fam on the way back from Abrams Falls...5 mile round trip hike.


Stopped in Indianapolis on the way back to have dinner with Aunt Jean and Uncle Gorden

Winter is Over...I think

It looks like the worst of winter is gone. For most of January through March, there's not much excitement except what the kids are doing in school. Take a look at some of their winter activities from the past few months...

Elegant Day 2009
The kids dress up at school to celebrate Valentines Day.

100 Day
"ZERO THE HERO" makes an appearance to help the kindergarteners celebrate learning to count to 100!

Poetry Coffee House.
Jack's class dressed up as beatniks, and hosted a coffee house
while they recited their poems.

Jackie Boy's Kindergarten Program Highlights

Christmas 2008 in Dallas

Joey's Birthday Puzzle

Grand Rapids Men & Boys Choir

In September, Joey was invited to join the Grand Rapids Men and Boys Choir. Since then, he's been practicing twice each week in preparation for their Christmas Concerts. This is not just a singing group. Joey is learning liturgical music, music theory, and much much more.


Below are some pictures as well as a You Tube video from the concert on Monday. The YouTube video is 1 hour. You can get a good feel by watching the begining, when they sing Silent Night. Also, there are close ups of Joey at mintues 12, 19, 44:36 and 50:48.


Yes, we're gushing, proud parents!!! Enjoy

Joey getting ready for his Sunday concert

Getting ready for warm ups...

Mr. Bosscher lining up the Choir

Joey and his pal Sam "loosening up" before warm ups

Joey in his vestments

Warms ups at St. Andrews.

The choir performing


Joey's girlfriend Carley came to the concert on Monday night