Our first day at Haiti Home of Hope was slow paced as we unpacked into our wonderful studio cottage on the second floor above the classroom and clinic. Let’s see if I can give you a glimpse of our world – There are five screened windows with wooden shutters and a wrap around porch (completed a few days ago just for Zoie) Our backyard is the mountains and orphanage. There are little green lizards darting across the outside walls begging to come inside. The breezy air gently cools down the cottage all day and night. My favorite thing is hearing the voices of all 40 children waking up in the morning and getting ready for school (6:30am sharp) I can’t believe we’re living here for 2 months … it’s a dream come true. Our girls are relaxed and peaceful here and that makes my mommy heart happy. Zoie jumped right in and started playing with the Campbells two daughters, Lina and Chrissy, as well, as the precious girls that live here in the home. I braided her hair with ribbons to match all her new Haitian princess friends. An added blessing is the 23 year old American, Danielle who lives here full time as a live-in teacher and nanny to many children. Her spirit is compassionate and kind and gentle.. the perfect combination for the mission field and serving at HHH.

Jennifer Campbell invited me to visit the Pignon Hospital and find out what blood type I was to help one of the clinic moms who has TB and 8 months pregnant. She has had to stay at the hospital for 2 months. I had to laugh, jumping right in the cold water and swimming on my first day. I was a little nervous walking inside the crowded hospital, especially when Jen said, “Don’t breath too deep, just take shallow breathes.” What??!! I started to giggle and sucking in too much air! I had no idea how to properly breath shallow so I started puffing lightly and laughing as I prayed for our protection against nasty germs floating around the hospital. Giving blood here is about a 4-5 hour experience, but worth giving life to a mommy who needs extra help giving birth. About 20 minutes waiting in the busy hallway to start the lab work, we were told to come back tomorrow. TIH

I think one of the biggest challenges going on the mission field is constantly battling fears. As a mom, I fear that my kids won’t be safe or exposed to dangers I don’t have any control over. We have had a few people voice their “beef” with us about taking the girls to Haiti. The only thing we can do is thank them for their love and concern, but as parents stand firm in our belief that God has called us for this season to serve as missionaries and share the gospel to the unreached. Matthew 16:25, John 12:24, Matthew 19:29 brings my heart peace, humbleness, and clarity. They ground me with perspective for living well. Yes, there is much to fear living in a 3^rd world country. Things that could happen to our family cause me to lose focus and feel afraid. But we made a decision to – do it afraid!!!! I love these words from missionary, Amy Cleveland who lives with her husband and 3 children in Somalia: I know there are costs, some I can see right in front of me, some I don’t see or never will. I am the bride of Christ! What joyful life do I have if not to take my children where my Lord brings me? For me there is no choice or thought of choice. I am His. (Live-Dead Journal) I can’t think of a better place in the world to have our children join us for a God-adventure … this beats any prom, mall outing, or going to the movies. Together we are serving the Lord and sharing the gospel to the lost.

“Jesus says, “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or field for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.” Matt. 19:29

God has proven Himself over and over again in our lives. He has opened up supernatural doors for our family to walk through. I have experience some of the greatest days of my life and some of the most challenging. I will not allow my heart to be manipulated by the fear “feelings” or other people’s negative opinions or the evil one as we walk in obedience. It’s impossible for me to explain why God called our family after 20 years living a very comfortable, safe, convenient, easy life-style to give it all up for missions. But, He did ask, and we said yes.

Do you have the courage for God to move in unpredictable and uncontrollable ways? If you are not open to the unprecedented, you will repeat history. If you are open to the unprecedented, you will change history. The difference is prayer. (The Circle Maker)

If you would like to follow our Gibson family mission-adventure newsletter, please sign up here. Support us with your prayers and cheers as we are His hands and feet in Haiti for the next 2 months. We can’t wait to see what God has planned for our family… living out-of-the-box missions! Your Love God is my song, and I’ll sing it! I’m forever telling everyone how faithful you are. I’ll never quit telling the story of your Love. Psalm 89:1 If you are supporting Simply Love Haiti … I will be blogging and sharing photos as often as I can so you can see where every penny is going to love and serve big!!

If you would like to invest in our mission-adventure and give a one-time gift or monthly contribution to our non-profit ministry, Simply Love: : donations are tax deductible

1. OPERATION: HAITI (Paypal)

Simply Love

National Christian Foundation
706 North Lindenwood Drive
Olathe, Kansas 66062

If you had the opportunity to invite a family of 5 to live with you for 2 months, would you open up your doors and let them in? This would mean allowing a family to be in “your space” and probably often sacrificing your time and focused attention and valuable resources. Hospitality like this would be called radical, maybe even crazy. During our last days in Ethiopia, we received an email from our best friends asking us to consider living with their family for the 2 months we were home in the states, instead of trying to find a place to rent. At first, Roger and I couldn’t imagine someone offering something so big, and we didn’t want to hurt our friendship or be an inconvenience. We tried to come up with every excuse why this might not be a good idea, but in the end they sent several more amazing emails and convinced us that living as a family of 12 would be a wild, fun adventure!

“Something unique happens when we serve in our homes, something that cannot be replicated in other places. Whether it is ministering within our own family, the great Body of Christ, or to unbelievers, I believe that our home is one of the most powerful arenas to affect a life for God. Hospitality is our faith in action. It is prayerfully preparing a meal, inviting the Holy Spirit to lead and bless the conversation and fellowship. Christ brings people into our homes and seeing each one as Jesus does- because hospitality is really all about the way we see people.”(Natalie Overturf, missionary in Sudan Live-Dead Journal)

We moved into the Neal home when we arrived back to the states and found a safe haven to recuperate and catch our breath from our time in Ethiopia. Missionaries call this time of rest, taking furlough. Yes, we were physically tired, but we also missed our adopted kids and village of Korah so much, it helped our hearts recuperate, too. Julie and I have been best friends for over 13 years, but living together took our friendship to a whole different level. We joked constantly calling each other, sister-wives. We helped each other with the daily routine of mommyhood, but also helped ease the load of carpools, cooking dinner, grocery shopping, watching the kids (we have 8 kiddos together) and cheering each other on as moms. Caleb, their oldest son and a senior in high school gave up his space and offered his room and teen cave in the basement. He never batted an eye. He was gracious and thoughtful every single day to our family. We bonded as a family of 12 and the time spent at their home will be one of the sweetest memories of my life.

“We are told in Scripture (Romans 12:13) to practice hospitality. Hospitality also defined the lives of leaders in Scripture (1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:8) To not seek to grow in the practice and grace of hospitality would be nothing less than disobedience.” (Live-Dead Journal)

A few days before moving to Haiti, their youngest son, Cruz told me that he was really going to miss our family, but was realllly going to miss Zoie. The two of them played non-stop everyday until it was time to go to bed. I had the honor of telling bed time stories of “Jimmy the Mouse” to the 3 little ones every night, and had a blast making up crazy forest tales of the adventures Jimmy had in the enchanted forest near the magic marshmallow mountain. I told Cruz when he missed us the most, he needed to look up at the moon and say a prayer for our family, we would be looking at the same moon in Haiti and praying for his family, too. I overheard him telling a friend that the same moon shining on him, was the same moon shining on Zoie in Haiti … and we would always be in his heart. sniff

“Hospitality isn’t about me. It is rarely, if ever convenient. It isn’t about appearances. It has everything to do with the way we see and receive people, in our homes and where we are. It is Jesus’ heart alive in us extending an invitation to all who will come. Come, live out the kingdom by learning to lavishly love and serve one another.” (Live-Dead Journal)

We can never find the words to thank the Neal family for opening up their hearts, home, and family to our family. I cried so hard pulling out of their driveway on our last night in Hotel Neal. Our 3 children were deeply affected by their hospitality, but most importantly they gave Michael, Hannah, and Zoie a safe, fun, beautiful home to call their own during our break on 12 months of mission-adventure. Living homeless to live on the mission field is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life. We understand there are many people who don’t understand why we are taking our children all over the world to serve in Ethiopia, Haiti and Nicaragua, but we know if we aren’t willing to take a big risk, we’ll miss out on the greatest adventure of our life.

God has provided EVERYTHING we need. When you tell Jesus, “I will go anywhere and do anything …” these altars where we commit our lives to God in this way are critical. However, when we find ourselves having gone to that place called “anywhere” and we are living out what often seem to be mundane tasks, we must regard these as holy before the Lord. It is here where ALL the details of Christ’s character being formed in us are put upon the canvas in much smaller strokes. If we are not careful, we can find ourselves busily trying to paint a beautiful picture for God instead of aligning ourselves with the Spirit and allowing Him to take the brush and have His way.(Live-Dead Journal)

Rob, Juju, Caleb, Josie, Rylie, Caden, and Cruz … we want to thank you for opening up your hearts and home to our family for the past 2 months. We love you with all our hearts, and will never forget your radical hospitality. You held our hands during some of the most challenging times and cheered us on and supported our big, crazy mission-dreams. We will miss Sunday pizza nights, late-nite cookie dough bakes, Hallmark Christmas movies, preschool days, soccer & cheer & birthday craziness, power clean-ups, and sitting on the floor eating an insane amount of Halloween candy. Thank you for decorating your home for both holidays we were missing in the states … Thanksgiving and Christmas!! The laughs and tears were healing to our family and gave us the courage to keep going. There is no way to express our gratitude for your grace grace and kindness. We love you!!

If you would like to follow our Gibson family mission-adventure newsletter, please sign up here. Support us with your prayers and cheers as we are His hands and feet in Haiti for the next 2 months. We can’t wait to see what God has planned for our family… living out-of-the-box missions! Your Love God is my song, and I’ll sing it! I’m forever telling everyone how faithful you are. I’ll never quit telling the story of your Love. Psalm 89:1

If you would like to invest in our mission-adventure and give a one-time gift or monthly contribution to our non-profit ministry, Simply Love: : donations are tax deductible

1. OPERATION: HAITI (Paypal)

Simply Love

National Christian Foundation
706 North Lindenwood Drive
Olathe, Kansas 66062

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, … 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.