Simple Grace Ministries

Quarterly Update

2010-03-25T19:50:00.000-07:00

Beloved,

I missed blogging for the whole first quarter, so I guess I'll just fill in the gaps by sharing some highlights! Simple Grace traveled throughout the southeastern states during January, February and early March. Cold weather stalked us everywhere!

The early part of our tour included the annual WE CARE Prison Crusade

One of the prisons we ministered in was Bullock Prison near Union Station, Alabama.

Even though the institution looks formidable, a strong church resides

within these fences and the inmates were receptive to Jesus Christ and His gospel of love and forgiveness. It was our tenth year of prison ministry. We joined over 400 volunteers who visited 20 institutions with the united purpose of redeeming lives!

Our southern tour always includes Henderson State Beach near Destin, Florida.

While others on the beach wore parkas and stocking caps, Bristol and I plunged into the chilly water! Pretty obvious we are Northerners!

Simple Grace in Concert

Sunset at Henderson State Beach, Florida.

"They who dwell in the ends of the Earth stand in awe of Your signs;

You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy." Psalm 65:8

The Atlantic Ocean was cold and gray while we were there. Yet every day it appeared different from the prior day. We didn't swim! =)

Just a few days after this, we encountered a white-out snowstorm in Atlanta and up to 4 inches of snow in South Carolina and Georgia! It was party time for the locals.

Sterling and Havilah enjoyed the sunshine and fresh air at Atlantic Beach, FL.

This campground resembled a tropical rainforest. Signs warned of alligators!

We found fish in the sky!

"You who ride on white donkeys, you who sit on rich carpets, and you who travel on the road - -

Sing!" Judges 5:10

"Have you ever in your life commanded the morning,

And caused the dawn to know its place?" (Job 38:12)

"If I take the wings of the dawn

If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,

Even there Your hand will lead me,

And Your right hand will lay hold of me." (Psalm 139:9-10)

"But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,

That shines brighter and brighter until the full day." (Prov. 4:18)

"Then your light will break out like the dawn,

And your recovery will speedily spring forth;

And your righteousness will go before you;

The glory of the Lord will be your rear guard." (Isaiah 58:8)

Sharing testimony about God's faithfulness and mercy.

Bristol steps up to share a song about our Savior.

Another chilly day near Sarasota, Florida, with friends Dale and Mary, and Roger and Evie.

Worship with Gospel Express at the Sarasota auction. Soon we were on our way back to Nebraska!

Sterling had medical tests scheduled the day we arrived home. He received a 'normal' report on every test. Hallelujah!

This stinky little critter met us on our porch the minute we arrived home after seven weeks!!

He didn't live long enough for regrets. . .

This quilt was in the mail waiting for us when we got home! Avery made it for my birthday and sent it to Pennsylvania to be quilted by the Amish. What a gift! Beautiful!

Avery's dog had 9 puppies while we were gone! They are adorable! (And available!)

(smile)

Our bus burned a quart of oil about every 25-30 miles as we left Florida.(groan!)

It required an entire engine rebuild, which necessitated traveling by auto, SUV and travel trailer to our concerts when we returned to Nebraska. The bus is repaired and back on the road, PTL. We all have a new appreciation for traveling by the comfort of our coach!

"Bless our God, O peoples,

And sound His praise abroad!" (Psalm 66:8)

Kathy, for the Hitch family

CANCER - Peace Amidst A Storm

2010-01-13T17:53:00.000-08:00

Friends,

The following blog is a record of our email communications as our family faced a cancer diagnosis for our 18-year-old son, Sterling. To start from the beginning, scroll down to the first entry of this blog post which begins on January 1st, 2010. (There are two January 1st entries; start at the 8:29 a.m. entry.)

We are expecting a full report from Sterling's oncologist on Thursday, January 14th. We will update here on the blog and through our e-letter. You can sign up for our weekly ministry e-letter by visiting www.simplegrace.org or simply send an email to kathy@simplegrace.org and request that your name be added. The usual e-letter has only our schedule and a short devotion.

......Kathy

January 21, 2010

Sterling’s report from the CT scan and the oncologist is that there is no evidence that the cancer has spread to the rest of his body. ( Praise and thank the Lord!!!!) While there is the possibility that some cells may have migrated (25-30% chance), the plan is for aggressive surveillance for possible spreading. What that means for Sterling is monthly blood checks and chest X-rays, and every three-month CT scans to check for tumors. The plan is to do this for one year. The good news is that 70-75% of men with this type of cancer need no further treatment ever!

We ask for your continued prayers that God's perfect will would be accomplished through Sterling's life. Thank you!

January 9, 2010 (11:03 pm)

Friends and Family,

“Purpose” by Sterling Hitch

You know one of those families that seem to have danger follow them absolutely everywhere? I’m talking about one of the few that actually cause insurance companies to lose money? Well that’s us. Those who follow us may know that we had three barns burn down, lightning strike our house, a car fire that destroyed the vehicle beyond recognition, and a bus fire all within 18 months’ time.

Allow me to rewind however, to September 2009 before the occurrence of the last incident listed. After our series of misfortunate events we thought it wise to purchase a fire-extinguisher. I picked it up when no one was looking and put it in a spot in our bus no one knew of except me. (For kids reading: Don’t do this at home. Always put fire-extinguishers in semi-obvious spots) ;) Anyway, I did this so that I would single-handedly be fully prepared, not if, but when, the next fire took place. I was like a child before Christmas waiting for it to happen also. I just knew I would be the one to prevent the next big catastrophe in the Hitch household (or bushold) and save the day. Note that I am almost 18 years old at this point and still dreaming this childhood fantasy.

Shortly thereafter, as I was lying in my bunk-bed half asleep on our East Coast tour, low and behold, I smelled smoke. This was a smell so vague no one else really smelled it at all, but because I had my senses trained I picked up on it right away. I leaped out of my bed, determined the bathroom as the PDL (Potentially Dangerous Location), grabbed the fire-extinguisher from my secret fire-extinguisher stash, and ran toward the danger zone locked and loaded. I then considered kicking the door down just to add effect but I reluctantly decided against it realizing the door pulled, not pushed. So I swung it open, located the smoking breaker box and a near-by hand towel to open the latch in case it was hot, swung the breaker box open, aimed my extinguisher finger on the trigger ready to fire and realized the fire was already out.

Now how many of you know that my “purpose” was to put out that fire? It’s what I was meant to do. And when I got there to discover the fire was already out, a little piece of me was let down. It’s like a calling that was in me that was never fulfilled.

So, let me ask you this. What is your “purpose” in this life? Somewhere deep inside all of us there is a longing in us for something greater; a longing to fight fires. I used to think this longing was simply for Christ. Which is true, but what after we’ve given our hearts to Him? We somehow tend to think that after we give our hearts to Christ, the adventure and search ends there. But let me tell you friends, that is precisely where it starts!

Wednesday of last week I was diagnosed with Testicular Cancer. This news hit me like a freight train bound for Chicago. I am a strong, healthy, 18-year-old kid who didn’t even have a hint anything was wrong until that Monday. I was told I likely had some common condition that was not cancerous and should never affect me and I would be only mildly inconvenienced ‘til death, but to get screened just in case. After the screening they told me everything looked good and they’d get in touch with me within two days. They called me twenty minutes later on my way home and told me I was cancer positive.

I wish I could say that I thought “Hmm, You won’t give me more than I can handle” and kept driving. But…that’s not what happened. My hands started shaking so badly I had to squeeze the steering wheel tightly to keep my truck on the road. Just about that time is when I felt an enormous peace come over me. It was like nothing I’ve ever experienced, and I didn’t even ask for it. It was neither mine to keep nor mine to give away. It was simply God’s peace being bestowed upon me for He knew I neither deserved it nor could I get along without it. And now, I am not doing all right. I am doing so well! I walk with a smile and a sparkle in my eyes. When I tell people I was diagnosed with cancer many simply don’t believe me. I had to pull out my ‘Medical Release from Work’ paper to convince the guy I work with. “You’re too happy” he told me. God’s joy is radiating from me. And right now I may not know where my life is going, but I sure know Who it’s following.

Recently I had someone ask me, if I could tell the world or my generation one thing, what would it be? I thought about this for a long time pondering what would be my message to those around me. If I go in for my CT scan this Monday and they tell me my cancer has spread and I now have leukemia giving me 2 months to live, this is what I’d say; this is the message I’d want to deliver:

So many of us are lying down half asleep waiting to smell smoke, but by the time we arrive to the PDL, the fire is already out. We grow up and hit adulthood having never really quenched that desire. We wander around as 18-year-olds, 30-year-olds, 45-year-olds still having that childhood fantasy but knowing it doesn’t really come true. Don’t you ever wonder if there is something more? 1 Peter 2:9 says: “But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD’S OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the Excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” A royal priesthood? Mmm that just gets me all excited! We are called out of darkness into marvelous light. PEOPLE! THIS ISN’T ADVENTURELAND AT SEAWORLD! WE ARE IN AN ALL-OUT WAR AND YOU HAVE A PLACE IN IT. I’m standing sword drawn and armor on. There is still blood on my face from my last battle and I’m marching towards another. That childhood fantasy you wonder about? I live it every day, and so can you.

Get off your couch. Go venture into the unknown! God wants to lead you.

Young Men: Start viewing girls as daughters of Christ. Serve them and their hearts more than you serve yourself. Start becoming an example to those around you. Be the first on the dance floor. Show them what it’s like to be in-step with God. Consider going into ministry work. Sound crazy? Well then, we’re on the same page. Let’s win a war, Gentlemen.

Young Women: Start searching for God more than you’re searching for that perfect guy. They keep letting you down and you’re starting to wonder if any good ones exist. Your Father will not let you down. He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever and He’s wanting you to chase Him in the most exhilarating love story you’ll ever experience.

Seasoned (not old) Men: Start serving your wives as Christ served the church – to the point if death. You made a vow never to leave her. Good, let it be done. You also made a vow to “have and to hold, to love and to cherish as long as you both shall live”. Little more than just sticking around, isn’t it? Start becoming the knight of her heart like you did when you were dating. She’s still crazy about you.

Seasoned Woman: Begin enabling your husband to make tough decisions. End the critical words towards him altogether. I am not talking about letting him make bad choices and I am not talking about putting up with sin. But there is nothing that takes the wind out of a man’s sails like the woman in his life not believing in him. Speak words of life into him. “She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” (Psalm 31: 26) Feeling like both of you are far apart? Start running toward God and I guarantee your and your man’s paths will cross and you’ll begin running hand-in-hand. God wants to do a miracle in your marriage.

Find your purpose; it’s not too late. God has so much in store for you. He has so many dreams for you it’s unfathomable – and I assure you they’re not to sit on your couch and wonder about why life isn’t fulfilling. Start expecting the unexpected. If He is with you and it’s the Creator of the Universe that’s dreaming these dreams for you, what have you to fear? After all, the only thing keeping you from the impossible is acknowledging it as the impossible.

Postscript: I had surgery on January 1^st. The lab results indicated that there was a 1.2 cm tumor removed and that it was cancerous. The cancer had not spread locally. I have a CT scan scheduled for Monday, January 11^thto check the chest, abdomen and pelvis. This will determine whether the cancer has spread to various parts of my body (I.E. leukemia, lymph node cancer) or whether it is gone. I see an oncologist on Thursday and will know the results then. We are believing it is gone. Your prayers for complete healing and cleansing of any cancer in my body would be greatly appreciated – but moreover, for the total and unreserved Will of God in this situation – whatever that may mean. Sincere thanks to every person who has prayed and continues to pray for me and my family. I really couldn’t have been where I am without you and I know that peace I talked about before was because of so much prayer going up.

Also, for those of you who would like to follow me on a more personal level, my facebook URL is www.facebook.com/sterlinghitch. I would love to hear from you and your messages and comments are always so encouraging.

In His Service,

-Sterling Hitch

Beloved,

You are so dear to us! Thank you to each person who took the time to write and inquire about Sterling. Your prayers continue to encourage and inspire our family. Heartfelt appreciation to you!

Passionately pursuing Christ,

Kathy Hitch, for the family

January 1, 2010 (1:31 pm)

Dear Friends,

We are with Sterling in his hospital room. His surgery went very well. The surgeon removed the tumor and sent it to Pathology for evaluation. We will not know until next Thursday what those results will be. Our prayers will continue to be focused on complete recovery with no cancer in any other part of Sterling’s body. We rest in the assurance of God’s affection, grace and care, and we are surrendered to His will and faithfulness.

Right now, Sterling is in very good spirits and enjoying some visitors. He was expected to be in the recovery room for 30-40 minutes but was moved in 5 minutes because he was alert and felt well.

Your letters and prayers brought us to tears! Thank you for your faithfulness and friendship! We appreciate you all; every prayer, every thought, every encouraging word. Your love means so very much. We know many prayers were lifted up silently on our behalf and we thank you all for your faithfulness. We request your continued prayers.

With appreciation and love,

Kathy, on behalf of Sterling and the Hitch family

www.simplegrace.org

January 1, 2010 (8:29 am)

Good Morning!

It is New Year’s Morning and our family has an urgent prayer request for our brothers and sisters in the Lord.

Sterling (our 18-year-old son) was diagnosed on Wednesday with testicular cancer. He is scheduled for surgery this morning around 10:00 CST, to remove the tumor. We are requesting prayer for a successful surgery and recovery. Our greatest concern and prayer request is that the cancer is restricted and has not spread to any other part of his body. Also prayer for the surgeon and a safe surgery procedure and protection from infection would be requested.

PLEASE lift up Sterling before the Lord today. We are completely sure of the Lord’s care and sovereignty for Sterling’s life. We also know that He hears and answers our prayers. Sterling has had a great peace throughout this challenging situation, and we are so thankful for the Lord’s grace over him.

You can write back to this address for encouragement or prayers if you wish. We will let you all know how our situation progresses.

Thank you so very sincerely! We appreciate your love and support so much! Praises to our Faithful and Loving God!

Love in Christ Jesus,

Kathy, for the Hitch family

Simple Grace Ministries

The baby has arrived!

2009-11-27T09:29:00.000-08:00

Everett Lewis Wilkie
born to Brandon and Lacey Wilkie
November 26th, 2009, 4:51 pm
6 pounds, 3 ounces, 19.75 inches

Full Recovery!

2009-11-10T18:41:00.000-08:00

Look, Bristol is back in full swing!

Clowning around with a horseshoe crab.
(Sort of appropriate, I'd say.)

These are photos from Jekyll Island on the coast of Georgia. Our family spent a couple hours there one sunny afternoon between concerts. Sand, seashore, shells and sunshine made for a memorable and relaxing day. This was my favorite photo from the day - just seeing Bristol run along the beach without a care. Many thanks are due to the Lord for his recovery from the riding accident he had on August the 18th. (Read more below)

Thanks to everyone who lifted our family up in prayer. Jim says Bristol found one thing out for certain from his hospital ordeal: He knows he has a brain!

A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words...

2009-09-02T16:10:00.000-07:00

...so I'll let this one speak for itself!

Shalom!

2009-08-26T19:41:00.000-07:00

God gave me this message ten days before Bristol's fall from a horse that resulted in head trauma and bleeding on his brain. He was in ICU in serious condition for several days. (See the story below.) Even in the depths of uncertainty when his recovery was completely unpredictable, He kept us in His peace and steadied our hearts. Praise and honor and thanksgiving to our Lord Jesus Christ for His unfailing trustworthiness and kindness to His beloved! Bristol is recovering well.

Beloved,

Psalm 3, verse 8 caught my attention this week. The verse says, “Thy blessing be upon Thy people!” Since I had studied the word ‘blessed’ in the New Testament, I looked up this word in the Old Testament lexicon. The word is translated blessing, but also means a benediction, benefit, favor, peace, and referred me to the root word ‘shalowm’, meaning welfare.

As I followed the study of ‘shalowm’, I recognized the familiar Jewish word ‘shalom.’ This word is a very important word in the Bible, used 237 times. It denotes health, security, tranquility, success, comfort, peaceful, whole, safe, friendly, healthy and sound. ‘Shalowm’ is clearly depicted as a satisfied condition, an unconcerned state of peacefulness; having a sense of well-being. One definition is, “a harmonious state of soul and mind, both externally and internally.” Jesus said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you” and “these things I have spoken unto you, that in Me you might have peace.” (John 16:33) Two radically different conceptions of peace were indicated by Jesus, the peace reflected by two entirely different kingdoms.

The only true source of peace is God! We, as believers reconciled to God through Jesus, can expect to enjoy a tranquility that is the result of our salvation through Christ. We need fear nothing from God. We can rest contentedly in our earthly circumstances, no matter what they are. I am grieved to notice that the majority of people who confess to know God still do not abide in His peace. I’ll be the first to admit that I feel stressed, concerned and anxious entirely too often. I forget that My heavenly Father is completely in control. I forget that He holds me securely in His love, and nothing touches me that doesn’t first pass through His hands. I forget so quickly that my welfare is His great concern.

Only by pursuing a continual understanding of Who He is, and discerning the unbreakable relationship He has secured for me in Himself, can I live confidently and without anxiety. I destroy my own peace by focusing on earthly problems and potentialities instead of Christ’s promises and possibilities. The sense of confident well-being that I possess when I have spent quality and prayerful time with Jesus could be my constant perception, if I would focus on God’s shalowm in my life. To possess an unshakable security through every storm would reflect a redeemed life in Christ. It would give glory to God! That is my prayer and focus today. For me, and for you. That we would “be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let our requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7)

Blessings and peace! They are myriad and mind-boggling in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ! Blessed in every way imaginable, and in ways incomprehensible and unfathomable! Indwelt by God, out-of-this-world, unending and totally consuming peacefulness.

Stay in it! Live in it! Glorify God in it! Never settle for less, Beloved!

Passionately pursuing Christ,

Kathy Hitch, for the Hitch family

(See also the blog entitled "Blessed" for more on this subject.)

Home at Last!

2009-08-22T20:46:00.000-07:00

Bristol is very happy to be released from the hospital! After making drastic improvement on Friday he was released in the afternoon. All of us except Mom and Bristol left for Iowa after saying goodbye to Bristol at the hospital Friday morning. It was wonderful to have him carry on a conversation and his room was filled with joy and laughter as we gave him gifts and said our temporary goodbyes.

For Bristol's entire hospital stay the hospital staff had to endure a full waiting room and a crowd of people in Bristol's room. We are so thankful to everyone who came and visited!

Sharing stories and opening gifts.

When Bristol first woke up on Wednesday he requested a wild cherry Pepsi so friends brought him a six-pack all his own!

A Husker t-shirt held special significance to Bristol, as Robbie Crespin is a CU fan and "sacrificed" to buy it for him.

Bristol was very happy to change into regular clothes! Even on Friday before he was released he had a hard time staying awake and had a very bad headache but he endured his company well and it was sad to say goodbye.

Since we had to leave while Bristol was still in the hospital, we left this sign for him when he got home.

We are very thankful to have Robbie and Danny travel with us this weekend! Not only are they very fast at setting up and tearing down but they have spent time practicing some of our songs to fill in for Mom and Bristol. It makes singing so much easier when there aren't so many holes.

Danny fills in for Mom on the bass.

Robbie plays mandolin, guitar and drums for us.

Danny doing his best to sound like Bristol on the drums!

Since we are gone for the weekend the house is very quiet for Bristol, which has been good for him. He is still on pain medication for a bad headache and his short-term memory is very challenged. He asked Mom this morning where we all were and when she told him we were singing he wanted to know why we didn't say goodbye to him. He forgot he was in the hospital and has no recollection of us bringing him gifts or spending time with him! He has a long road ahead of him in regaining his memory but the doctors say he'll recover fully. We just have to give him time and be patient through the repetitive questions and comments that Bristol doesn't remember.

It's amazing how quickly our mortal bodies can be altered and how much time it takes to heal! Thinking back on this week we are so glad it's over and Bristol is at home and resting up. We have the last weekend in August off which is God's perfect timing being played out on our behalf. We're so grateful for the rest HE offers and His faithfulness to us!

Hospital Stay - Day III

2009-08-20T11:58:00.000-07:00

Another day has come and gone and almost all of it was spent in the hospital waiting rooms again. Today Bristol was moved out of ICU to a regular hospital room, which is a big blessing--large and with couches and a recliner! Mom has been staying overnight with him, accompanied by a friend, Linda Crespin, so Dad can be at home with the family overnight. The new room will be much more comfortable for her and quieter and more private for Bristol.

For a recap on the last few days, we've uploaded some pictures to share with you. You can see the hard road the little guy has traveled so far!

Tuesday all day and night, Bristol wore a C-collar and was on a ventilator and also had a feeding tube down his throat. You can see the massive amount of tubes and wires hooked up to countless machines! The most disturbing part about this phase was that he was so combative he had to be strapped to the bed because when he came even a little bit out of sedation he would try to rip the tubes from his throat and body. It was tear-jerking to watch him struggle and see the nurses continue to tighten his straps to protect him from himself. We're VERY thankful that is over!!

The first words out of Bristol's mouth on Wednesday were when they removed the tubes from his throat: "O my goodness!" He rested much more comfortably on Wednesday, and was awake for a few seconds at a time, although still very confused and dazed. We all cried when we heard his voice!

This morning Bristol was very brave and took a short walk around ICU. He was nauseous and dizzy and had a headache but he was a trooper. It was a relief to have him conscious and coordinated enough to walk...it's so easy to take these things for granted.

Bristol even forced down a few bites of breakfast this morning.

He slept most of the day away, as a splitting headache made him miserable when he was awake. He underwent many cognitive and speech/occupational therapy tests today and they say he's doing well considering the injury he had. The speech therapist recommended he doesn't start school immediately to give his brain time to rest. Bristol's short-term memory is poor right now, so he asks many times an hour if it's time to go home yet. After completing an extensive and very tiring speech test this afternoon he threw his feet over the bed and said, "Ok, let's go now." He was very disappointed that after enduring the hard work of the test it still wasn't time to go home.

Friends Robbie and Danny Crespin and Havilah were on the horseback ride with Bristol when he fell off. These three were terrified when they thought Bristol was dead because he was seizing and eventually became completely unresponsive. Havilah ran a horse back to the house because the cell phone didn't have service and Robbie and Danny stayed with Bristol. They did an amazing job making every right decision to get him to the hospital as quickly as possible. All three of them were extremely relieved to have him in the capable hands of the hospital staff and now are thrilled that he's recovering so well!

Once when Bristol woke up today he requested a chocolate milk and a white chocolate mocha from Starbucks! Some of the kids were running errands in town so they brought him his order. When Robbie and Danny delivered it Bristol said to them, "Dude, I wish I had my jeans. I mean this nightgown is like my great, great, great, great, great, great Grandma's."

I asked Bristol this afternoon if there was anything I could bring him; his quilt from home, his laptop, a movie, anything from town? His answer was: "Ashton. You could bring Ashton." So, directly after school his cousin Ashton came to spend the rest of the evening with him. For the first time Bristol had enough strength to have many people in his room at once. We had a regular party, telling him stories of the things that have been happening the last few days that he doesn't remember and showing him his black eye. It was wonderful to see him smile. L-R: cousin Ashton, Bristol, Sterling, Robbie, Danny and Lucas.

Although Bristol makes every effort to be happy and is constantly cracking jokes when he's awake, this picture is somewhat deceiving! He's still in a lot of pain and wants to go home very badly, and is sleeping most of the days away. But in contrast to the first picture in this post, he is looking 100% better and we're so happy to have him on the safe side!

We are so grateful for every prayer that has been said on our family's behalf this past week and continue to covet your prayers as all of us except Mom and Bristol prepare to leave tomorrow to sing over the weekend. We'll feel many holes in our music without two band members! Please continue to keep Bristol in your prayers as well as his body works hard to continue healing his brain.

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (Eph 3:20 -21)

A Hospital Day

2009-08-19T19:54:00.000-07:00

Our day today was spent having a regular family and friends reunion at Lincoln General Hospital! With Bristol still in ICU our family spent the entire day in the waiting room, taking turns seeing him 2-by-2 and very much appreciating all the visitors we had who showed so much concern and care.

Robbie Crespin and Lucas race on the Rubicks Cube on the hospital floor...

...Board games to pass the time...

...Baby smiles...

...and a few and VERY treasured seconds of having Bristol awake!

Bristol is doing much better than yesterday but he still has a long way to go until he feels 100%. He has slept most of the day today and was awake only for a few seconds three times. Every time he woke up the first thing on his mind was a drink! His throat is very sore from the vent and feeding tubes he had in yesterday.

An early-morning CT scan showed the bleeding has stopped in Bristol's brain and he has two deep contusions. He has little physical evidence of falling off the horse--only two scrapes on his head and some bruising on his torso. We are very thankful for that!

Bristol is still in ICU and they are hoping to move him into a regular hospital room in the morning. The release time is not yet set, so please keep him in your prayers the next couple of days! He has a bad headache and is uncomfortable all the time. He is confused and although he recognizes people he can only stay awake for a few moments at a time and doesn't really understand what's going on. The doctor said to expect him to take 4-6 weeks to fully recover.

We are so THANKFUL to God that this accident turned out as it did, and not much worse! Thank you to all who have prayed--we have heard the list is in the hundreds, if not thousands, with prayer chains going from coast to coast. Thank you, thank you, thank you! It's been a scary and stressful last couple of days for our family but the support we have felt has truly carried us through. We appreciate all of the notes and comments and thoughts, and give glory to God that although we are soberly aware of the brevity of this life, God has perfectly planned every day!

We are full of praise to HIM!

Prayer Request

2009-08-18T17:23:00.000-07:00

Please pray for Bristol! He acquired a head injury in a horse accident today and is currently in ICU in Lincoln. He had some bleeding on his brain and also bruising and is completely sedated. The doctors anticipate a full recovery and will try to bring him out of sedation in the morning. He needs prayer tonight that the bleeding would completely stop and the bruising would get better and not worse. Please also pray for our family as we spend time at the hospital and are hoping to see much improvement tomorrow. Thank you for your prayers.

Blessed!

2009-08-14T10:23:00.000-07:00

“Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these. But if God so arrays the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you, O men of little faith?” Luke12:27-28.

It’s lily season! These are from my gardens. Each flower pictured is a daylily, so named because it blooms in all of its glory for one day ONLY, and fades away. How extravagant is our Lord!

Beloved,

I did a word study recently, and it’s just so illuminating, I’m delighted to share it with you! We, as a fellowship of believers, use the word ‘bless’ frequently and almost offhandedly. ‘God bless you!’; ‘Have a blessed day!’; ‘Blessings!’; ‘He/She is so blessed!’ It is a very familiar term and we all use it to express affection, goodness and wellbeing.

The word translated ‘blessed’ in the New Testament is like many Greek words in the Bible; their English translations have several possible meanings that should not be lumped into one literal translation.

Usually when I say, “God bless you!” I mean “may your circumstances be favorable,” or something vaguely positive like that. One word translated ‘blessed’ is makarios, which means, “to be declared as indwelt by God and therefore fully satisfied.” Makarios means possessing the characteristic of deity, and indicates the state of the believer in Christ. The believer is indwelt by God because of Christ and as a result is fully satisfied. The Greek word ‘happiness’ (eudiamon/eutuches) which means ‘lucky’, never occurs in the New Testament. The Lord never promised happiness, good luck, or favorable circumstances to the believer, but ‘blessedness.’ This means His indwelling and the consequent peace and satisfaction to the believer no matter what the circumstances may be. To be makarios (blessed) is equivalent to having God’s kingdom within one’s heart; the one who is in the world, yet independent of the world, because his satisfaction comes from God and not from favorable circumstances.

Another translation for the word ‘blessed’ is from the Greek word eulogeo, which means, “to speak well of.” Our familiar word ‘eulogize’ has its basis in eulogeo, and we all relate that word to funerals and the eulogy, or favorable words, spoken on behalf of the deceased. When we ask God to bless us, or speak well of us, we are asking Him not merely to approve our plans but to interfere in our lives. God’s words are God’s actions. He acts for our benefit as He sees what we need most, and not merely on what we desire. Therefore, having God eulogeo (bless) us is His perfect will in action for us.

Whew! What a different perception of God’s blessings! Not connected with circumstances?! Blessed in tragedy and sickness and lack and challenges? Yes!! Blessed in prosperity and fruitfulness and joy and good times? Yes!! Always, because we are inhabited by the Spirit of Jesus Christ! Every circumstance becomes subject to the reality of believers being the habitation of the one, true, holy and living God of the universe.

Oh, my goodness! I am blessed, every moment, every place, in every situation because He has promised that He will never leave me nor forsake me. I will desire earnestly His blessings! Inhabit, Lord, and interfere!

Beloved, God BLESS you, now and forevermore!! And I do mean makarios and eulogeo!

Passionately pursuing Christ,

Kathy Hitch, for the Hitch family

Information from Lexical Aids to the New Testament, Spiros Zodhiates, The Hebrew-Greek Study Bible, NASB, AMG.

Treasures, Here and There

2009-07-13T14:55:00.000-07:00

Beloved,

My thoughts this week have been repeatedly drawn to the brevity of life and how quickly my focus stays on the things of this world instead of heavenly things. We returned from a 2-1/2 week trip on Monday, and I am strangely noticing my closets, home and outbuildings harboring things that I don’t use much and keep packing a little farther back or burying a little deeper from view. You may know what I mean: Rubbermaid containers stacked and labeled with obscure items; quilt fabrics folded and stored on dreams; projects that, all things considered, will never materialize; bargains that seemed too-good-to-be-true on the purchase date. I’m painfully aware of things I purchased with money that we took the time and effort to earn, but which proved to be unnecessary and not very useful. Please don’t think I don’t recognize the need for storing legitimate things and owning seasonal and not-often-used items. I’m referring to the great American surplus.

My thoughts compelled me to re-read the story Jesus told in Luke, Chapter 12, about the man who became rich in this world’s goods, built bigger barns to store it all and decided to retire and live comfortably from his excess. The truth of the situation was that this man’s life was cut short and God called him to accountability right then. His earthly goods were dispersed, and tragically, he had stored up no heavenly treasures with God. “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’” (Jesus continued) “So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:20-21)

I realized that I have closets full of futility and a barn full of potential, but my heart’s real desire is to be called heavenward with checks in the mail to ministries carrying the Gospel of Jesus, and my bank account uncomfortably low because I support the poor and destitute around the globe. I really want to be leaning hard on the Lord for my own needs because I focused on the needs He presented to me for others. I deeply yearn to walk in His two greatest commandments, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:28)

Oh, dear God! Let me deny myself, take up my cross, and follow You, disregarding my own desire for possessions and worldly security! As I thank You for each new morning, may I exhibit Your generous heart; may I be a living river of blessing and not a stagnant puddle that reeks of decay! Increase the storage of my heavenly home, Lord, ‘cause I’m cleaning out the closets here below and my treasures are taking on an ‘Otherworldly’ aura! Moths and rust, be gone! Let me not fear this day if it were my last, but invest this day and all its benefits in ‘futures’ with a guarantee of unbelievable return. The checks are in the mail, Lord!

"Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions." (Luke 12:15)

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.”

(Luke 12:32)

Passionately serving Christ,

Kathy Hitch, for the Hitch family

The New Work Continues. . . . .

2009-07-11T00:01:00.000-07:00

Sterling climbed a 50' tree to capture this sunset over the Rocky Mountains

Beloved,

We had the weekdays uncommitted this week (June 20th) , and spent our time camping high in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. As the fire faded one evening, the night sky was brilliant with stars and constellations and a multitude of heavenly lights. We talked about quasars, the Milky Way, the sun, moon and planets, and time in light years. The vastness was incomprehensible.

My heart cried out to God, “Who are You? I cannot fathom Your eternity, your enormity, Your magnitude!” His night sky alone speaks volumes about His Sovereignty. His creation reveals His glory!

How astonishing that He knows me! Not just knows me, but He dwells with me, in me! How can we contain Him? We cannot!! How does the Infinite indwell my heart? Somehow He condescends to live in His beloved, and yet His habitation is unspeakably limitless. He knows my thoughts and the meditations of my heart. In Him, my potential is beyond my imagination.

Beloved, why do we wonder if God can complete the work He has started in His people? Why do we worry about our loved ones’ walk with Him? Why so much concern for our children finishing the race and receiving their crown? Why do we not trust in the leadership He has placed throughout His Kingdom? How can we look at the churches around us and not believe that they are the body of Jesus Christ, the work of His hands, being brought to completion under His authority? Why can we not be “confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” ? (Philippians 1:6) If we are redeemed, purchased with the blood of the Almighty One, where is our confidence that the Almighty One can lead His own to fulfill the dreams He has ordained for them?

Consider today the infinite ability of the Lord, Jesus Christ; meditate on His unsurpassed power; multiply that thought with His unsearchable love, and “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Phil 4:6) If we can remember each moment who He is, we can stop criticizing the hands and feet and toes and elbows that He has placed around us to complete His body here on earth! We can stop worrying, fretting, and fearing the outcome of the walk of our loved ones who journey with Him. Comparing, evaluating, judging and dividing the Church He called to unity and peace, have the beginning of their end right here in the middle of our redeemed hearts! We have received every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus our Lord. He has boldly revealed His glory! If the whole universe exists in orchestrated harmonious symphony, can we not also make one, unified joyful noise unto our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and bring Him glory?

I guess I must confess to you today that answering the call to work among the many and varied churches across this continent also places us in the midst of sheep from many flocks, but we all share the One Shepherd. Seems we all vie for the most-favored position, not realizing that that position simply does not exist.

"For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” (2 Chronicles 16:9)

Abba! Our Father! Jesus! One Lord! Let us worship Him in spirit and in truth!

Passionately serving Christ,
Kathy Hitch, for the Hitch family

"You thought that I was just like you."

2009-06-19T23:45:00.000-07:00

Psalm 50:21

Sunrise over the Gulf of Mexico, Henderson State Beach, Florida

Copyright Simple Grace Ministries, 2009

Beloved,

One of the things I love about being on the road is that without a two-story house, a yard and flower garden, or extended family and friends nearby, my time for reflection, study and prayer increases dramatically. The hours spent traveling afford opportunity to pursue Godly things without neglecting any responsibilities.

This week, through a series of “coincidences,” I have been pointed three times through different sources to the scripture in Psalm 50 which says, “You thought that I was just like you”. (Ps. 50:21) Somehow amid seeking His will and following His call, feeling His love and studying His word, I still find it difficult to absorb how empirically and intrinsically different He is from me. I long to comprehend His GOD-ness, His indescribable sovereignty that scrutinizes the universe from wide expanse to micro-atomic detail, and yet is somehow devoted to me in my obscurity. I am chosen by Him. I am beloved. I am His defended possession, treasured more than His life, for He gave His life for me. Not like me at all!

In the familiarity of scripture, He can sometimes be sensed as too common, too much a peer, and it is tempting to reduce His majesty to a fraternal level. Though I am not tempted to consider Jesus my ‘buddy’, He is my closest Friend and I confide in Him all day long. Casually. Intimately. Informally. He is my ‘Abba.’

Existing far beyond that capacity, I am thankful to be reminded that sometimes I DO think He is just like me. Tragically so. Limited by earthly boundaries. Restricted in resources. Perplexed by circumstances. Wounded by words or relationships. Broken by sin.

“You thought that I was just like you.”

Those words are a wake-up call to consider Him. From Genesis to Revelation, He is NOT like me! I delight in pondering His untouchable holiness, His limitless power and astonishing creativity. If at any time I entertain thoughts of being ‘like Jesus’, a moment’s consideration of Who He is places me back into the realm of reality.

I am simply an extremely grateful servant who, in humility, passionately desires to be His disciple. Transformed by His love and redemption. Dependent. Vulnerable. Sustained by grace. For today, at least, I am awestruck by the King of Kings: He who alone puts the ‘Awe’ in Awesome, the ‘Wonder’ in Wonderful, and Who loves me personally enough to remind me of Who He is.

Passionately serving Christ,

Kathy Hitch, for the Hitch family

To Everything There Is A Season

2009-06-13T13:02:00.000-07:00

Beloved,

Today (June 11th) was a display of variety of seasons! We are traveling in Colorado for two weeks, and we can’t decide exactly what season we are experiencing.

This morning Avery, Sterling, Havilah and I went skating/rollerblading/jogging along a sparkling mountain stream in blazing morning sunlight with short-sleeved shirts and summer clothes. This afternoon we traveled over Berthoud Pass to Grand Lake, Colorado, and experienced a freezing blizzard, hail and rain as we ascended and descended the 11,307 foot pass. It simply took our breath away to experience the dramatic change of climate as we traveled the switchbacks and made the steep climb up and over the Continental Divide to arrive in the picturesque mountain town of Grand Lake.

Blowing snow near the top of Berthoud Pass, 11, 307 ft.

This is a rushing mountain stream covered in freshly fallen snow.

The storm passed and we sang outside in the gazebo in Grand Lake, but the storm wasn't over yet, and we had to quit in the middle of the concert due to rain. =)

We camped for the weekend at Winding River Resort, in this beautiful meadow that boasted spectacular scenery in EVERY direction! This was our sunset view that very same evening. I know you can't see them in this small view, but grazing in front of the tree-line is a herd of elk!

In Nebraska, the tulips and daffodils have finished their blooms for the year. Lilacs and peonies are fading, and the roses are in beautiful bloom. We’ve backed up a whole month by being in Colorado! The park in Grand Lake is boasting delicate daffodils and tulips, and the lilacs are barely budding. The roses have tiny, new leaves, and the peonies are sending up their thin, burgundy-hued legs. They are in a whole different season!

God’s Word speaks of lots of different seasons, too. “I shall give you rains in their season” (Lev. 26:4), “Like the stacking of grain in its season” (Job 5:26), “Can you lead forth a constellation in its season?” (Job 38:32), “He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season” (Ps 1:3), “He made the moon for the seasons” (Ps 104:19), “They all wait for You to give them their food in due season.” (Ps 104:27), “Even the stork in the sky knows her seasons.” (Jer 8:7), “And I will cause showers to come down in their season; they will be showers of blessing.” (Ez 34:26), “And when He (Jesus) came to it (the fig tree), he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.” (Mark 11:13), “He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” (Acts 14:17)

If you live 500 miles in any direction from where I live, you are most likely experiencing a different season than I am experiencing. Chances are though, even if you live right next door, you are experiencing a different season spiritually than me, or most of the friends and family you encounter. Some of us are in a lush season of drinking up the heavenly outpouring of God’s wisdom and affection and fellowship, growing in understanding and harvesting the fruit of a season of hard work and dedication. Others of us may be in a desert region, parched and dry, longing for precious time with the Lord and aware that we are enduring a thirsty, unfruitful season. Some may be laboring through a planting season and savoring the anticipation of new sprouts and harvest a long way off. Still others may be praying through a stormy and intense season, hanging on through wind and hurricane, or frightening clouds obscuring the Son. It may be winter where you are, still and sparkling and beautiful, or cold and dark and foreboding.

If lightning is blazing and thunder is deafening, or summer flowers are peacefully smiling, know that any season is ordained of the Lord if you are making this journey as His child. We must be ready in season and out of season to know and trust His sovereignty. When the weather changes from sunshine to snow, we can retain our contentment in Him because He rules the seasons, on the Earth, and in our very personal lives as we abide in Him. As temperatures dip into the low 30’s tonight in Grand Lake, I am truly thankful for the variety of seasons that my Lord so deliberately orchestrates for me as I continue this precious journey that He graciously began with me!

“To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heaven.” Ecc 3:1

Passionately serving Christ,

Kathy Hitch, for the Hitch family

True to Course

2009-06-05T20:57:00.000-07:00

Beloved,

Today as I studied Psalm 107, I started thinking about how easy it is to get off course in my walk with the Lord. Whether it is by the hand of the adversary (v. 2), my own wandering (v. 4), my rebellion (v.11), my quests for adventure and prosperity (v. 23-34), or when I am needy and afflicted (v. 41), just straying the tiniest bit can prevent me from treading the straight and narrow road where I need to be.

As I pondered how imperative it is to stay true to the course set before me by the Lord, I thought of an airplane whose pilot sets the course for his destination. To illustrate the point, I asked a friend of mine who is a licensed pilot to do the math on a flight from Los Angeles, California, to Denver, Colorado, with the compass only one degree off of the true heading. On the 849-nautical-mile flight, an error of only one degree would cause the plane’s landing to be 14.15 miles off course. Now you may think that 14 miles is staying pretty close to target, especially after 849 miles, but if a pilot missed the Lincoln Municipal Airport in the city closest to me, his error could land him smack into the side of my house! We live almost exactly 14 nautical miles directly south of that airport! There could be serious and deadly consequences for missing his mark by only one tiny degree.

Staying true to the course set before us as believers means that we must deliberately and diligently follow the Lord~~ through His word, His appointed leadership and His still, small voice~~ on a daily basis. Though it may seem safe to travel in the right general direction spiritually, straying off course with the Lord, even slightly, can have severe consequences. Jesus Himself warned us that “the way is narrow that leads to life and few are those who find it.” (Matt 7:14)

Now, I’m not downplaying God’s grace and mercy, or His fatherly attention to guiding discipline and generous lovingkindness. Especially when I wander. He has made me aware today that complacency and distraction can alter my route significantly enough to put me in peril. Unfortunately, it’s in my human nature to downplay the seriousness of being “almost on course.’ I just love verse 30 in this same Psalm 107: “So He guided them to their desired haven.” The haven I desire is with Him, in the shelter of His wings. I am so comforted to know that, “The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” (Prov. 16:9)

“Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness,

And for His wonders to the sons of men!” (Ps. 107:8, 15, 21, 31)

Passionately serving Christ,

Kathy Hitch, for the Hitch family

Memorial Day Week

2009-05-25T13:49:00.000-07:00

A water fight was one of the Memorial Day activities in Big Springs, Nebraska, where we ministered at an All-City worship service on Sunday morning.

Our family was scheduled to minister in Lexington that same afternoon, so we couldn't stay to find out who won the fight. It looked very refreshing, and once-in-a-while, the opponents would shoot the water at each other instead of the barrel.

Avery, Sterling, Havilah and Bristol traveled to central Nebraska for their annual Rodeo Bible Camp, and stopped in the lane just long enough for me to snap this photo. It's going to be quiet this week, with only Lucas and Jim and I home! Don't know if that's a good thing or not. . . .

This bleeding heart is dedicated to all those who grieve and mourn this Memorial Day, 2009.
We also thank those who have served or are serving in the United States Armed Forces, and to those who have borne the loss of loved ones who paid the ultimate price for the freedoms we enjoy.

This is my garden today, and the beauty I came home to after the last trip. Bet you can't tell my favorite flower color! Our God is so creative!! There is joy in everything we do, at home or traveling in ministry, because of Him. It's that simple.

Enjoy!

Posted by Kathy.

Mt. Rushmore

2009-05-17T13:28:00.000-07:00

On the road again, and enjoying the scenery in South Dakota today! Though we have traveled extensively in South Dakota, we have never visited Mt. Rushmore and explored the history of the site. The Black Hills are so beautiful and the stone carvings are amazing. Another great family day!
We will be singing in Belle Fourche tonight! See you there!

Kathy

Pruning

2009-05-12T16:03:00.001-07:00

Pruning Lavender Plants

Beloved,

I've been spending every available moment working in my flower gardens the past few weeks. The spring work includes cutting back the dead and unproductive branches of my roses and lavender and many other perennials that died back during the cold winter months. It's a lot of work cleaning out the spent flower stalks and reshaping the plants so that they will produce an abundance of flowers to enjoy throughout the season. Right now, some of my precious plants look harshly chopped and decimated. If I didn't know what the end results will be, it would appear that I had ruined my garden!

All the work brought me to thinking about Jesus' teaching us that He is the true vine and His Father is the vinedresser. He said, "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit. " (John 15: 1-2) As I studied the word "prunes" in that verse, I found that the word means 'to cleanse, purify, to be pure, clean, without stain, without spot.' (1)

I've been through some pretty painful pruning in my life. I've felt the painful 'snap' of His pruning shears removing the things I've allowed to taint my life; to stain my heart or mind or emotions. I've resisted His tender cleansing of my dreams and hurts and expectations that had the potential to consume my fruit for Him, or worse, allow unchecked growth in a destructive direction. There have been times I've felt completely cut back in freedom or liberty, only to realize that I have been saved from myself and my own selfishness.

Pruning is good and necessary for the gardener. It is hard work and must be deliberate and consistent. How I wish to submit myself to the most ruthless pruning possible in the faithful hands of my Heavenly Father! I pray for the courage to surrender myself humbly to His tenderhearted cleansing.

"By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples." John 15:8

Passionately serving Christ,

Kathy

(1) Spiros Zodhiates, Lexical aids to the New Testament, The Hebrew-Greek Study Bible, NAS Bible, AMG Publishers 1984 & 1990, page 1843.

The Raffle Quilt Winner!

2009-04-27T12:01:00.000-07:00

On April 1st, we held our drawing for the beautiful, hand-pieced, hand-tied quilt that was made by our daughters (including Mardel!).
The quilt was won by Irv and Melody Jennings from Arnold, Nebraska.
Congratulations Irv and Melody!

Another quilt is in the works and we will be offering raffle tickets at our concerts.
Thank you to all who participated in this fund-raising project for Simple Grace!
We raised $400 through raffle sales, which was a huge blessing.
The quilt raffles are taking the place of Barn candles, which are no longer available to us.

Salty?

2009-04-24T16:51:00.000-07:00

Our family visited a salt mine 600 feet below the city of Hutchinson, Kansas.
Illumined behind us in this photo is a 6,000 pound salt rock. The pillar in
the far back is unhewn salt supporting the tunnels we explored.
Amazing!

Beloved,
My passion recently is the message that there is NOTHING more important than Jesus! NOTHING. There is no relationship, no job opportunity, no spouse, no romance, no child, no project, no emergency, no financial crisis, no ministry, no dream or possession that we can permit to take priority or precedence over Jesus!

If we allow any other thing to take first place, (or when we allow it, since it happens to all of us so easily) we compromise that one-on-one relationship with our Savior. We are tempted to look at circumstances with eyes of doubt instead of eyes of faith and trust. We forget why we are here, and what purpose we have been called to in Christ. We get our eyes on the things of earth instead of the eternal.

He has called us to "love the Lord our God, with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind and with all our strength." (Mark 12:30) That means Jesus first. If we pursue Him, He will be found by us. (Jer 29:13) It is so beautiful to live our lives hidden in Christ, surrendered to Him and giving Him first place. He has promised that if we seek Him and His kingdom first, all necessary things will be added to us. I want NOTHING to get ahead of Jesus!

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee:
because he has trusted in Thee." (Is 26:3)

Passionately serving Christ,
Kathy

Resurrection Joy!

2009-04-10T19:22:00.000-07:00

Beloved,

I wish for you this week the time to contemplate the depth of love and the totality of forgiveness that you are clothed with in Jesus Christ, your Savior and Lord!

I wish for you the solemn remembrance of the death of God the Son, His torturous and ghastly death on the cross of Calvary, to present you, righteous and spotless and redeemed, before God the Father, delightfully beloved, a child of the Eternal Father.

I wish for you a time of quiet reflection for realizing your costliness to Him, that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

Finally, I wish for you the overwhelming joy of new life, resurrection life, in the Risen Savior, Jesus Christ, the Lamb who was slain, who died and was raised and of whom "there will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace." (Is 9:7)

Precious Sibling, rejoice! Your Light has come!

Haiti Journal, part II

2009-03-31T16:22:00.000-07:00

by Kathy

First, I'd like to apologize for taking so long to continue this blog. I'm a novice at this and fight with the technology every time I tackle it! Please forgive my slowness!

On to day two in Haiti. . . . .

Tuesday began for us at 3:30 a.m., and the couple hours of sleep were precious to both Sterling and me. We freshened up and had our bags packed and down in the hotel lobby before the 4:30 schedule demanded. Our taxi driver raced us back to the Miami airport where we checked in, went through the boarding process and finally had the time to get a decent breakfast. (It was airport food, but it tasted great!) We had missed a great dinner scheduled at the Port-au-Prince hotel the night before.

The airline had chartered a special flight back to Haiti, and it was scheduled to leave at 7 a.m. The flight went very well; on time, peaceful and smooth. Haiti's airport is known for luggage-napping and passport theft, so we were alerted to keep our passports close and pay attention. Sterling and I had been advised to pack lightly, so we each had very heavy backpacks and one carry-on piece of luggage. We avoided the possibility of lost luggage by keeping everything with us. Others on our trip were not so fortunate. All the luggage of those from Nashville was lost en route to Haiti! We waited a couple hours as the authorities searched for it, but were forced to continue on with our trip without it.

Our itinerary was completely amended due to the flight changes, and we flew a chartered small plane to the northern Haitian city of Cap-Haitien. We missed our first project visit, and after a hair-raising drive through the streets of Cap-Haitien, we arrived at a Compassion Project. We were not prepared for the grand welcome that we received! Mothers of the project's children met us at the van doors with handmade corsages for each of our tour members. They were wearing banners that read, "You are Welcome!" Everyone was gathered around, smiling and waiting for us to join them. They had a program planned that included songs and speeches and testimonies of how Compassion had changed their lives. It was a very big deal! The children crowded all around our group, pressing close and holding hands with us all. It was so precious!

This project included a Child Survival Program, which includes pregnant ladies and ladies with children up to age three. Every baby was wearing a hand-made hat that said "You are Welcome", too!

The program includes teaching for these young moms on early childhood development, nutrition, cleanliness and health. I was so impressed by all the smiles.

We were invited by one of the mothers whose child is enrolled in the project to visit her home. I wish I could take you along the road we traveled and then the paths we walked to see this home! It had rained for two days, and there is no drainage system to take care of the run-off. The cement block homes, most with leaky tin roofs, fill with water and flooding is widespread. Below is the home of a man and wife and their TEN children. They were forced to go stay with friends during the storm the night before, the same storm we encountered as we attempted to land in Port-au-Prince.

Below is our group walking to the home above. Those are family homes behind us.

We enjoyed our first full-sized meal of the trip al fresco at a quaint cafe' in the city of Cap-Haiten. Always mindful of what we were eating and if it would be safe for our American digestive systems, we passed on the fresh salad, and ate fried chicken, french fries and corn. Many of our group would suffer from traveler's digestive reactions as the week wore on. We were strongly warned to eat only hot, cooked foods and to drink only bottled water or bottled beverages.

The day ended at a beautiful hotel overlooking the city, and far from chaos and crowds. We lodged high up on a hill where it was quiet and peaceful. Each day ended with a debriefing meeting and a time of group sharing and fellowship. I found it very challenging to process the myriad of images of the day, from the intensity of Port-au-Prince to the abject poverty of the slums of the cities. The roads were beyond description. Drivers were weaving from right side to left side in their attempts to dodge the craters of potholes in the roads, horns constantly blaring and vehicles barely missing pedestrians on every side. Venders lined the narrow streets and garbage was everywhere. U.N. trucks and Humvees patrolled the streets. Motorcycles, commonly with four passengers, zipped between and around traffic incessantly. It was dizzying!
Truly, the pictures are worth a thousand words, so I'll end with this for today.

Blessings,
Kathy

Haiti Journal

2009-03-10T17:19:00.000-07:00

by Kathy

Sunday, March 1st

It's hard to know where to start as I attempt to tell my story of our Haiti visit. When the opportunity came up to have one family member go with Sterling to visit Haiti with Compassion International, I told the Lord, "Pick me! Pick me!" But then when I started learning about Haiti and the instability of this island nation, I changed my prayer to, "I would love to go, but I must know that You are sending me." It didn't help to hear stories of armed guards, UN occupation, American hostages taken in 2008, and civil unrest.

As a family, there were several who volunteered to go, but it became apparent that the Lord would send me with Sterling. (Sterling was going as an official representative in the Independent Artists Program with Compassion, where he works alongside Compassion as a child advocate to get sponsors for children in poverty across the globe.) I received an undeniable peace about going - the peace that passes understanding - and Jim's encouragement that I go with his blessing cinched it for me. I made last-minute plans to get my passport in Milton, Florida, and all the necessary inoculations from the Savannah Department of Health, as our family was traveling in the southeastern states right up to the week before we left for Haiti.

Before we left, Avery and Havilah made lap-quilts for each of the three children we sponsor in Haiti, and Sterling and I bought backpacks and filled them with special gifts to give the children when we got there. We were so excited about meeting the children!

Our flight left Omaha at 6:05 a.m. on Monday, so Sterling and I spent the night in a hotel in Omaha, and arrived at the airport by 4:45 a.m. The flights from Omaha to Dallas and Dallas to Miami were uneventful, until the last one from Miami to Port-au-Prince. We were delayed from the beginning because of a fuel container issue on the plane, and waited on the runway for over an hour, only to disembark that plane, wait hours for another plane to be readied, and then reboard that evening. After two hours in the air, we flew into a terrible storm centered right over the Port-au-Prince airport. The pilot had the landing gear down and was within 10 feet of the runway as the lightning flashed and rain was pouring down in sheets. The plane was shaking and rocking and at the last second, the pilot brought the plane back up and aborted the landing. It was a very tense moment, and the plane was full of praying and cursing (depending upon your eternal perspective) and screaming and all sorts of commotion. It was too stormy to make another go of landing, so foregoing the option of landing in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, we headed back to Miami, a two-hour flight.

The day's flights were Sterling's first experience with commercial flying, so he asked the male flight attendant if the attempted landing in Port-au-Prince was sort of normal in the flight industry. After 13 years of working as a flight attendant, that near-landing was the first and only he had ever experienced so close to crashing. He said it was highly unusual and he had never had a pilot get so near the ground and abort the landing. When we landed in Miami, the plane was filled with applause and shouts of rejoicing. It was a time for thankfulness!

As I had prepared for this trip, I felt a very powerful sense of my own mortality; that the possibility that I would not come home was very real. I can honestly say that at the moment that a crash seemed very likely, I was talking to the Lord and asking if in the next few moments I would be seeing Him face-to-face. He had given me the thought before I left that "If you are walking hand-in-hand with Jesus, what difference does it make if the next step is on earth or in heaven?" I was calm; my heart didn't even race or flip during those intense moments. Somehow in all the heart preparation for the trip, I have acquired a sense of continuity with earth and heaven - - with life here melting into life there - - and I'm so comfortable with it all. It's hard to explain. I'm so content to be in His hands. . . .I don't know how else to articulate it.

There's a glitch in the international customs law that says if you close the doors on an international flight, you are technically out of the country, so when we landed back in Miami, we had to go through Customs, filling out the paperwork and claiming items brought into the country and go through the baggage check as though we were returning from out of country, even though we had never left the plane. It was a long process for the couple hundred passengers. We were given some food vouchers and our tour leaders made hasty accommodations for the Compassion group. We were taxi-ed to a hotel, waited for our rooms to be prepared and finally settled for the night. It was past 12:30 a.m., Tuesday morning. By the time we made the phone calls to loved ones about the journey, it was 1:40 a.m. when Sterling and I turned out the lights. We were scheduled to be in the lobby at 4:30 a.m. for the taxi ride back to the airport. Z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z.

Port-au-Prince after Monday's rain storm

More about the trip tomorrow. . . .

A Year Ago Today...

2009-03-08T12:32:00.000-07:00

We watched sadly as our two barns and shed were engulfed in flames and burned all the way to the ground. Our emotions were mixed with thankfulness that our horses were all safe and the flames had been stopped before reaching our house, and overwhelming disappointment that we had lost our historical barn built in 1909, along with our milking barn, shed, and all our tack, bikes and tools.

Looking back on the past year we have been so blessed by the dozens of people who have donated tack (we now have more saddles than we started out with!), time, money and resources to help us clean up and reconstruct the barn. We were able to settle with the insurance company for enough money to build a smaller but adequate barn.

And now, a year later our new barn is up and on its way to being completed. We have been so blessed! Just as Romans 8:28 promises, God has caused the barn fire to work together for our benefit. We count it a BLESSING that the fire happened, and praise God for the way He has "caused all things to work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose."

To God be the glory, great things He has done!

They're Home!

2009-03-07T09:11:00.000-08:00

Mom and Sterling arrived very late last night and we were up until 2am listening to stories and looking at pictures. They had a wonderful week and are still getting us caught up on all that went on. Watch for a picture journal of their trip soon!

Update

2009-03-04T15:08:00.001-08:00

From what we've heard it's been an intense last couple of days for Mom and Sterling. Their flight to Haiti was filled with broken airplanes, extended waits and shifting schedules. They were supposed to fly into Haiti on Monday afternoon but we got a phone call from them Monday night and they were back in Miami, Florida. Their plane made it all the way to Haiti and was landing in Port-au-Prince when a severe storm hit Haiti. They were ten feet from landing on the runway when the pilot had to abort the landing. Mom and Sterling said it was very scary as the plane shook and the passengers were screaming and praying. They had to fly back to Miami and spend the night in a motel. They said goodnight to us at 1:30 am and had to be back at the airport at 4:30 so they were going to be very short-rested!

Since then we haven't heard from them, although we weren't anticipating that we would because of no cell phone reception and very limited or no ability to call from the motels in Haiti. So, we are assuming no news is good news but please keep Mom and Sterling in your prayers! We are looking forward to their homecoming on Friday, and sharing pictures and stories of their time in Haiti.

They're Off!

2009-03-02T09:03:00.000-08:00

Their bags are packed...

...Loaded with treasures for the Haitian children and parents...

They're on their way to Haiti!

Mom and Sterling flew out of Omaha early this morning and are soon to board a flight in Miami. They'll be in Haiti this afternoon!

If it comes to your mind please pray for:

Safety in the dangerous country of Haiti

Time to get to know our sponsored children

Mom told us this morning that the luggage they were intending to carry on the plane wouldn't fit so they were forced to check the luggage and it went all the way to Haiti ahead of them. Please pray it makes it to Haiti and is waiting for them when they get there!

Project: Quilts for Haiti

2009-03-01T08:29:00.000-08:00

Mom and Sterling have the incredible opportunity to spend a week in Haiti on a missions trip sponsored by Compassion International. Since Sterling became a spokesperson for Compassion in March of '08 he has helped find sponsors for over 100 children. Because of this, Compassion International wanted to send him and one family member to Haiti to meet the 3 children we sponsor there. So, a couple days before they were supposed to leave Havilah and I (Avery) decided to make quilts for the children.

Lots of sewing...

...and then tying.

The finished product.

We are looking forward to seeing pictures of the children receiving their gifts!

Schedule Change!!

2009-02-17T11:48:00.000-08:00

Sorry! The concert at Liberty Baptist Church encountered a conflict and will not be happening on Friday, February the 20th! Come and see Lucas on Thursday at Westminster Presbyterian at 7:00 pm.

Schedule Additions

2009-02-17T07:43:00.000-08:00

Attention! We have just added two concerts to our schedule and don't want to miss YOU!

Thursday, Feb. 19th, Lucas is giving a solo concert at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida, at 7:00 pm.

Friday, Feb. 20th, Simple Grace will be giving a concert at Liberty Baptist Church in Milton, Florida at 7:00 pm.

Please tell your friends and neighbors. We are short on time to publicize these events!

See you there!!