7 days!!!!!

Well, we are down to days.... 7 to be exact!  How did the time go by so fast??  I have to admit my nerves are getting the best of me lately..  Oh the thoughts that are running through my mind.  I am so excited but maybe just maybe equally nervous.  I hear so many great things about Colombia but, the facial expression on a person face when I tell them where I am going, is anything but joyful!  Many people just say they are worried about the safety.  I know there are risks.  There are risk's anywhere or anything we do.
I am so excited.  I really am.  And GRATEFUL, beyond words can explain.  But, I think it wouldn't "normal" if nerves didn't over come me--right??
Chad informed me today that he has to admit to me, that he is getting a little sad and worried about me leaving.  He said he is just worried about not having me here.  I fought bought tears and just assured him that everything will be great!
I think I have everything in place or somewhat in place...... Now just have to wait for Saturday to arrive.  Bright and early we will be on our way!  Please pray for our medical team.  Hoping to make a difference in as many lives as possible.  
Thank you family and friends!  I will continue to update the blog as often as possible.  :)

Four weeks in counting.....

Well, the holiday's have passed and now we are on the count down to the final weeks until our first trip!  We are all so excited we can hardly stand it.  We have everything set in stone.  We have attended our orientation and got some burning questions answered.  We also were able to meet some of the wonderful people we will get to go on this journey with.  I think the three of us were more excited then we thought possible.  I know we learned some very valuable lessons already.
1. Fundraising is hard work!
2. We are like kids awaiting Christmas waiting for our departure!
3. Three sisters attending a first mission trip is fairly rare.
4. We have a really amazing church family!
5. We are going to be joining a pretty amazing group of people that we will likely be    
     connected to for life :)
6. We absolutely have the most generous people in our lives willing  
   to give as they can, whenever they can! 
7. Lastly, and most importantly we have learned that when there is a will there is a   
  way!  My!!! how I didn't know this was going to be the biggest lesson when I made the title of this blog!


Addressing the last point, We met so many hiccups trying to get this trip planned and paid for.  With this being our first trip we really struggled to figure out all the small details.   We set out on a mission.  As soon as we thought we were turning the last corner, we would soon have a new mile of hurdles to overcome.  We were able to tackle it and got through it, just the three of us.  We all played a big role in making this trip a reality.  So now, we have our passports ready and we are just awaiting our departure date!

We are now down to the very last minute details and we are off!  We look forward to sharing our every detail.  It is going to be amazing...

We now know where we will be spending our week;
Jennifer will be giving the people around a new vision :) She will be in the clinic all week doing eye exams, glasses fittings, basically she will become an ophthalmologist  for a week :)
Teresa will be bring bright, clean teeth to the Colombian people.  She will be cleaning teeth and even extracting a few.  She and Doug Harty, MD will be doing some great things together.
Michelle will be doing a variety of things.  In the hospital with Bryan Perkins, MD doing Gyn surgery, in the clinic helping do ultrasounds, and also in the maternity ward seeing OB patients and making sure they are getting the care they need.

Overall it is going to be a very eventful week!  We plan to work hard, really hard and relax when able.   We hope to eat some great food, meet many fabulous people, and also possible even get a hot shower!  (We hear they only have cold shower's).  We can not WAIT!

SSOOOO Close!

Well, we are so close to having all the money to fund our trip.  When we first started this journey I made a promise to Chad that I would not need any of our personal finances to fund the trip that I would set out to earn all the money that I needed to pay for my trip and all the donations to sponsor the people of Cartagena.  So, it has been a bit of a challange but we are so close to meeting this goal.  We started back in July and Teresa and I had a huge combined Garage sale.  We did amazing and were able to earn a large chunk from that and then thanks to all the wonderful people that we have in our lives we have collected some very generous donations.  We have had some little fundraisers along the way from thirty one.
We are now down to the last two fundraisers.....  Thursday, Nov 8 Chick- fil-a is hosting a spirit day for us in Avon.  We get 20% of all sales that come in from us.  The customers have to say they are there for us.  But, WOW what a huge event it can be.  We are really thrilled to have such a oppurtunity.  So, please come eat with Chick Fil a on Thursday from 06- 9pm.  But, please don't forget to mention our trip!

Also, we have a Thirty one Fundraiser going until Nov 15.  It is a great chance to get some Christmas gifts and help!  We also get 20% of all the sales!  It is a great month to stock up.  If you spend just 35.00 you get this amazing medium utility tote for only 5.00.  This bag has soooo many uses.  Trust me I use it for everything.  There are several prints to choose from.  This is a gift that anyone would enjoy getting!  So, do some shopping and know you are helping a grreat cause!  Click Here Now!

Again, we are so excited and honored to have such wonderful people in our lives.  We are so close to the goal we only need to raise a little over 1800.00 to be at our goal!  So, it is in arms reach!  We love you all and are so grateful!

HERE WE GO......

Ladies and Gents.....

You all need to take a minute (or 5 mins and 15 seconds) and watch this video  CLICK HERE.  This is the very place that we will be in approx 2 and a half months!!  The three of us, Jennifer, Teresa and myself Michelle will be headed to Cartagena, South America.  We will be serving on a mission trip for the people of Colombia, South America.  .We have been blessed with such an opportunity to join together with a wonderful foundation, Bridges of Hope international.  It has been a lengthy journey that started way back in April 2012.  It fell into place and what once felt like a thought, hope, and possibility has turned into a date....... January 26- February 4th. Those are the dates that we will have the honor to go to a foreign country and try to offer a gift that God has given us.
 For Jennifer, she has a way to talk to people.  She is wonderful at educating people on important topics.  I know that there are going to be some amazing lives that she is going to change just by bringing education to them.  There are so many important things that the people of this area need to know.  They are so neglected with knowledge that just having someone to take 5 minutes of their time to explain the very basic, common knowledge things, will make an amazing difference.  I would say that Jennifer will fulfill this job and so many more!  She is going to an amazing job.  We are so excited for her to join us.
Teresa, well she has a way with Teeth :)  She will join aside Dr. Doug Harty and help bring the people of Cartagena the Hygiene that they need.  She has the gentle touch that it takes to care for the nervous, delicate people we will serve.  She is going to even be stepping out of her comfort zone and helping to extract the teeth that are causing injury to the people.  She is such a warm comforting individual that I know everyone that has the pleasure of meeting her will find peace.  She is going to do an amazing job at leading in faith.  I know that everyone will be able to just feel her love for God.
Well, then there is myself.  I am going to go and assist in the OR along side Dr. Bryan Perkins.  I am going to assist when possible. I am going to help in clinics to see the sick, injured and the young.  I  might even get to birth me some Colombian babies :)  I hope to get to join in prayer with my new friends.   My hope is that I will develop some great relationships with people that we can never forget.  I hope to get to snuggle some little ones.  I hope to get to bring some of my American traditions to them-- might even put some bows in some little girls hair (those of you that have worked with me at HRH know me).  I want to be able to comfort someone when they are worried, scared and uneasy.  I hope to bring peace and a smile to someone!

We are just hoping that God will use us in ways to improve the living there. Even if we each just touch one life while being there then it is a trip well worth while!
We are all three excited, scared, worried, relaxed and blessed to being going on such a wonderful journey.

Thank you to everyone that will be walking this journey with us.  THANK YOU!

Well, FINALLY I have got around to starting our blog for our upcoming journey.  I am super excited about this journey we about to embark on.  Welcome to our journey into an experience that will change our life.  Cartagena, South America here we come!!!