Christmas Day Departure

Christmas Day Departure

Alarm clock set for 3:30am. Rick hits snooze. My eyes open at 4:`14am. Rick what time is it? He looked like he had been shot out of a cannon and landed on both feet as he left the bed. Two showers, final items in the suitease, boys awakened, we are off and it is 4:36am. Whew! Rick is in a dither now – he hates to be late and Wesley is driving cautiously as we are pulling a horse trailer with 44 pieces of luggage. Rick is tapping his foot in the back seat as we ramp onto Red Mountain Expressway and there are very few cars on the road. Of course not - it is the wee hours of Christmas Day. In the middle lane of the road is a car stopped – Wesley applies the brake slowly as we approach (All 4 of us are thinking – what in the world) and then we see – a red mustang, front end totally smashed, sitting sideways in the road. We slow rolled up onto the median to the left as another car pulls over to the right. The car looks empty – no one in site. Wesley throws the car in park - Rick and Wesley jump out – I dial 911 – Spencer opens the passenger side door , puts one foot onto the road and here comes another car who thinks he is the only one on the road at this hour and surely isn’t expecting people in the middle of the road. We missed another crash by inches. Wesley glances into the car and the only thing in the driver seat is feet. The driver is on the passengers side –OUT COLD, the doors are locked – they can’t get to him. Within a couple of minutes – several people calling the man’s name is yelling into the car standing beside Rick and Wesley. They must have been following close behind him – The man was still unresponsive as my guys walked away, we must get to the airport and there was really nothing they could do.

We were the last ones to the airport – but Jim had already started the process of checkin – God had already provided for a safe arrival and an angel to check us in without weighing a single piece of luggage.

We are OFF…..

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Remember the Reason for the Season.
Remember Christ is Christmas.

Heavenly Father, Thank you so much for the life and family that You have given to me. I thank You for all of the opportunities to share Your love. You have blessed me with more than I deserve and for this I am so humbled. I give You all of the Glory, Honor and Praise. Thanks for our Savior!

Scatter Christ
Lisa

Bye Toto

Cleaned out Toto today and put everything in my new Pearl. Took Toto back to Royal VW and said Good-Bye. It was a fun 36 months but time to move on. I still love Beetles, but too old for convertibles. Maybe it will be sold at auction quickly for a big refund. No more ANGFR (Angel Friday) tag - it went with the car. All of my men are so glad Toto is gone, they did not like to ride or drive it.

The Pearl

Tonight was a real SURPRISE! I am usually not surprised because I am too nosey and I don't like secrets. The children have all gone home after our Christmas Party, Spencer and Wesley are in and out of the house, Rick is getting ready for bed and I was not paying any attention to any of them. The next thing I know all three of them were standing in front of me dangling a set of keys. I still did not catch on. WHAT! Merry Christmas! I get up and walk to the door and in the driveway was a brand new Cadillac! It is beautiful and I am so excited and surprised. It will turn off my radio and answer my cell phone, it has leather seats, a heated steering wheel and seats, a navigation system, xm radio, automatic windshield wipers, a beep beep when you are backing up, no keys - you push a button to start it, the door opens when I stand beside it, it talks to me when I get in and who knows what else. Sweet ride and fast.....

Thanks so much to my husband and boys for making Christmas so much fun. I love you all dearly.

Lisa

All My Children

The Richard Mitchell's had Christmas tonight! Is was a great time of chicken fingers, chips, mac n cheese, mashed potatoes, cupcakes and pecan pie. Oh yeah - and sweet tea. Our family is growing and we are so thankful for each and every child and grandchild that God has provided. Richard and Leslie have three children - Josiah (6), Caleb (3), and Maleah (18 mo) with "Jace" on the way. Joanna and David have three children - Kainaan (9), Elijah (4) and Libby (3). Wesley and Spencer are still single, working and going to school. Merry Christmas to ALL!

The WEDDING

Today Rick, Lisa, Wesley and Spencer attended the wedding of Jason Sandlin and Mallory Jones. Jason is our nephew and the only child of Rick's sister. There has been so much animosity in the family lately that this was a very tense moment. The wedding was beautiful and very sweet. Jason and Mallory were both emotional. Mike Alexander spoke to us as we entered the church and was very nice. Rick's sister turned the other direction as if we didn't exist. After the ceremony, Rick's parents kindly hugged us and told us they would see us before Christmas. We each wished them a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. That's all folks....

Choctaw Christmas

Tonight was wonderful! We shared Christmas with two families from Choctaw County in our home. After much work and many phone calls, Tikisha Brooks-Graham, the social worker for Choctaw County Schools, was able to get a van and bring a family to Birmingham for the first time. Bobbi Bolden and her six boys, Imani, Edna Brooks (Kesha's mom), Kari, Demondre, and Mrs. Anderson, the school counselor arrived around 6:30pm. Mr and Mrs Santa Claus arrived with gifts and stockings for all of the children. Many friends and family attended to bring good tidings and hugs for these precious children. Bullen and Andrew from the Sudan were here, as well as Ricky Barwick from the Alabama Children's Home. We had chicken fingers, cupcakes and sweet tea. What a blast to watch these precious children look to Santa with respect and love. Rick told the Christmas Story about baby Jesus to all of the children. This will be a night to remember always. Thanks you Jesus for allowing our family to provide many needs to these families. Our prayer is that seeds were planted and each and every person present will know you as their personal Lord and Savior.

Scatter Christ
Lisa

TLC - The Lovelady Center

Tonight I met some new friends. Jennifer, Donna, Amy & Pat. They all live in the Lovelady Center in Woodlawn. Woodlawn is not the best part of city and as we arrived to have a Christmas Party with these ladies - an armed robbery was taking place at the center. Guns were pulled and the ladies running the front desk lost their purses and belongings. God protected us as we went in to minister and share the love of Jesus with these ladies. TCAB provided new Bibles for these ladies as gifts and we had subway sandwiches and chocolate desserts. It was so much fun to talk and share our life stories with each other. Janet Thorn and Janet Tatum will be continuing their Bible study with each of them on Monday's after the New Year. Thanks for allowing me the opportunity to come to the party.

Behind the Wheel

It is after 8 pm and dark by the time we arrived home with the Sudanese, but I had promised them they could drive a car this week. We have a big parking lot really close to our house, so Bullen, Andrew, Rick, Lisa, and Spencer went for a drive. Rick explained to both of them where the gears, gas pedal and brakes were and how to use each. Andrew wanted to go first. Their first drive was in a Chevrolet Avalanche. Andrew was very rigid, but he did great. He only hit the curb twice as he cut the corner short. The guys were so excited to be behind the wheel of the car - as a person who has been driving since I was 15 (long time) - it is hard to believe that they have never driven.

Scatter Christ
Lisa

Pass off and Pick up

Busy Busy Day. Up early for church and a lunch meeting with Bridget Loland from Pensacola, Florida. Bridget is working with Lighthouse International Missions by making deposits in America and also publishing and printing the newsletter for the Lighthouse. I had a very enjoyable lunch while listening to her testimony about Jesus and learning about her family.

Joy and Yancy Carpenter passed off Bullen and Andrew to us this afternoon in the Home Depot parking lot in Sylacauga. They had a wonderful weekend in Auburn with Joy and Yancy's family and received many Christmas gifts. We are so glad they will be spending the week with us.

On our way home - Bullen and Andrew were asked to speak to a team of people who will be leaving for Mundri Sudan two days after Christmas. Rick and I went with them to Sherri and Mark Whitehead's house. A good evening for all and lots of questions answered for the team.

Scatter Christ
Lisa

God and Stoves

What a great story I have to share with each of you reading this blog.

I am the co-leader for our trip to Guatemala leaving on Christmas Day at 5am. This means that for the past 6 months many lists have been made, sermons selected, international phone calls and translators scheduled, parties planned, crafts constructed, meetings with our team, money collected and raised, hours of planning for reservations and travel, etc etc. Mission trips involve much time and effort as you prepare to be Jesus' hands and feet in a third world country.

About the time this journey started, David Platt preached to our congregation about helping the poor and how God commands us to share. Dr. Platt encouraged each of us to take a hard look at ourselves and our material possessions. Great friends of ours, Robin and Jana Roberts, talked with us about donating funds for our trip. Robin told us that God had been speaking to him about giving lifelong gifts such as houses, property for farming, plots of land or something that the families could use for years to come. Robin asked us to check on how to purchase property or land while in Guatemala.

Of course, my wheels begin to turn and the search on google started for housing information in Guatemala. Each search produced information about cooking and stoves in the Mayan Indian villages around Lake Attilan. More research showed that most of the families cook on what is known as a three-stone fire. I found a construction team in Canada that travels each year to Guatemala to do nothing but build stoves. I emailed the "contact us" for information on the Guatemala Stove Project. The response led me to another source located in San Marcos, who selects families and schedules for stoves to be installed as they are purchased. I then began trying to connect the dots between how much do they cost, how do I transport them to Solola, who will build them, who will receive them, how will the family be selected and the list goes on and on. I had no idea where to begin to put this together and was very frustrated by lack of contacts and information. Little did I know (although I should have) that God was at work. He is in control of all things -EVEN STOVES in GUATEMALA.

Frustrated? It may be because you're trying to make something happen that only God can make happen. This is the weekly wisdom from Christ Notes.

More to come........

Santa Claus is coming

I called tonight to confirm with Bullen and Andrew about meeting them on Sunday afternoon in Sylacauga. I told them that on Tuesday Night at our house, Santa Claus was coming. They agreed, OK. Do we know him? I don't know? Where does he live? The North Pole. Is the North Pole in Alabama? I knew at this point they did not know Santa Claus. They will be very surprised when they see him!

Holiday's for JOHN

A 15 year old boy named John wanted to go to Mundri from Uganda for the holiday's to visit family. The trip is very long (2 or 3 days) and cost about 100.00 usd. Thanks to Western Union (Quick Money), John is on his way to Mundri by bus and taxi. Kamaru Martin - helped John, who is under age, pick up his money transfer. He will visit Andrew's sister in Juba, which is the first stop, while waiting for a taxi to Mundri to be with Andrew's mom and dad for the holidays. Thank you, Jesus that we are able to help one another in a time of need. We give You all of the Glory.

Scatter Christ
Rick_Lisa

RICKY Bobby Barwick

As a front row sitter at the 11 o'clock service at The Church at Brookhills, Rick was given the opportunity to meet and pray with a boy named Ricky from the Alabama Youth Home to accept Jesus Christ as his Saviour last year. This 18 year old young man has no mom or dad, has grown up in foster care most of his life, has one real sister a few years older, a brother in Tennessee who isn't his real brother, many health problems, no concept of real life, no clue on how to take responsibility or provide for himself, has repeated the 9th grade 3 times, has lived in every southeast state as foster families passed him on, has lost every job given and all of his stories are exaggerated or fantasized. Ricky has been given a new opportunity to go back and live with a former foster parent in Remlap, Alabama. It is a single divorced man named Commander. Ricky went to Remlap for Thanksgiving and fell off of a 4 wheeler and hurt his arm. After he was returned to the Youth Home, he was playing basketball with the other boys, tripped and fell hurting his arm again. To the doctor - Broken Arm from the 4 wheeler accident. According to social workers - Ricky will be leaving and going to live with Commander forever. Ricky just wants a family and to be accepted and loved. We will see Ricky one more time before he goes to his forever family.

Anita to Sudan

Hey mama i just want you to pray with me Anita is going to Sudan and she will be there for Christmas and she will come back next year for her final year in high school and let us pray for her

thank you i will talk to you
Snow man Tawil

I Found JUNIA

Junia is a precious girl that I met will working in the slums of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. I had to tell her during my last visit there in 2005, I could not be her mom. I love this girl so much.

Stephanie Feitosa sent me this email today.....

Lisa,
I just wanted to tell you that I found Junia. I told Bel to get the word out that I was looking for her. and she showed up at the LightHouse looking for me. It seems as though she left for a while but now she is back in the same area, but with her father. Yesterday I went to her house to visit her home. Very simple but SHE keeps it very neat and tighty. I told her that you were crazy to contact her. So she wrote you a letter and sent you a picture and I lot lots of pictures of her for you. I haven’t downloaded them yet. But she is so cute. I actually became very proud of her, after she started speaking of how the LightHouse had helped her find the Lord and continue to seek after the Lord. Even though she is no longer in the Project. I saw some really good fruit in her that came from our work at the lighthouse. I will try and call you because she has said a lot in this letter of hers and the thing is that her birthday is coming soon and she wants to talk to you on that date, and the letter will not get to you by then.

She is crazy crazy to see you Lisa. She asked if you could come down for Christmas….I said it isn’t likely. Maybe at a later time though. You are mommy to her. Ya, I realized that. The mommy that she never had and still does not have. It looks like her mother still has not changed a bit. But Junia has faith in God that some day she will come back home. Poor thing. She is so precious Lisa. Very sweet girl. So much that it scares me because of the environment she lives in. Anyway, we got to get together to talk about her. Ok. my phone is now working, I will see if I can call you soon.

Hope this news makes you happy! It did me!
Love ya Lala.
Steph

Out of Control

Ok, I give - God, You are in control, not me. It is not about me, it is all about YOU. I received an email this morning that my Sudan sons schedule has been altered so that they can come and spend some extended time with us. The Guatemala stove project is just crazy - I have no idea where to go from here with six+ people needing stoves in Solola. I talked at length with Choctaw County and the stories will break your heart. Everyone is cramped for money due to the economy slump - but we are by no means poor. We are RICH!

Snowman asked his flower to wait for him today or yesterday (its a different day here than in Sudan) with a promise of his return to marry her. How exciting this must be for "A", thousands of miles away with only a promise. Life is so different in every country and God made and planned it ALL.

I know from Bullen and Andrew's perspective - It is a big task understanding our culture, its a big task learning to like our food or even knowing what you are eating, it a big task learning to study in our colleges, its a big task being away from your family, its not easy being cold instead of hot, its a big task making new friends who understand you, its a big task understanding our slang. As I sit and think about these precious young men who are pressing on toward the goal for Christ Jesus and have put their very lives in His hands with much FAITH. I am so thankful that I have been able to witness the example they have set for many to see. Thank You Jesus!

Scatter Christ
Lisa

Frustrated?

Monday is here again.  The weekend was great, now back to the grind.  I am feeling a little frustrated, overwhelmed, and worried this morning.  We had a Guatemala meeting last night, but much to do to get ready to depart, feel a heavy heart for Choctaw County and the holidays - really want to do more, Bible study teacher for our small group is not going to be able to teach the next precept class, Sudan sons are not going to be able to come to our home during the holidays, family feud is still multiplying, should I go on......  

When I arrived at work, opened email - weekly wisdom from Christnotes was in my mailbox. The message was as follows:

Frustrated? It may be because you're trying to make something happen that only God can make happen.

Eliminate everything unnecessary in your life in order to put first things first.

Lord, thank You for everything in my life, walk with me every step of the way and teach me Your ways and what I need to eliminate.  

Scatter Christ

Lisa