The Pure Light of God's Sweet Love

I received this via email from a friend - thank you, Jody. It really touched my heart. It made me think of all the Haitian people I have come to know. It made me think about those who criticize my desire to serve in a third world country.

I am so blessed to have had the opportunities to meet and get to know many of God's people. I am even more blessed to be able to know His sweet love for each of them! I pray I can also express this pure love to others each and every day.

Breakfast at McDonald's

I am a mother of three and have recently completed my college degree. The last class I had to take was Sociology. The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had bee n graced with. Her last project of the term was called, 'Smile.' The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions. I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway. So, I thought this would be a piece of cake, literally.

*

Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning. It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son.

*

We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did. I did not move an inch...an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved. As I turned around I smelled a horrible 'dirty body' smell, and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men. As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was 'smiling'. His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance... He said, 'Good day' as he counted the few coins he had been clutching. The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation. I held my tears as I stood there with them.

*

The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted. He said, 'Coffee is all Miss' because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm).

*

Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes. That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action. I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray.

*

I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman's cold hand. He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, 'Thank you.'

*

I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, 'I did not do this for you... God is here working through me to give you hope.' I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son.
*
When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, 'That is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope.' We held hands for a moment and at that time, we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give. We are not churchgoers, but we are believers. That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love.

*

I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand. I turned in 'my project' and the instructor read it. Then she looked up at me and said, 'Can I share this?' I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class. She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God share this need to heal people and to be healed. In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald's, my son, the instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night

*

I spent as a college student. I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn:

UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.

With a Heavy Heart...

...I ask you to please pray for this little girl.

Kate

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mcraekate

Kate and her family have been on my mind since I first read their story and watched their video. http://www.youtube.com/v/ese3zYZ-NA4&hl=en&fs=1

I cannot even imagine what they are going through. I do not even try to understand the pain they feel. I will never be able to comprehend the anguish they are experiencing.

I am in awe of their faith in the Lord. I am humbled by their strength in Him. I am dedicated to praying for Kate.

At Bat With the Lord

What a night. It was the first game in the little league world series. We were down by 3 and Tim was up to bat. My stomach turned for him as he approached home plate. Tim had been in a slump for some time. Batting practice was always a success, but during games he would just freeze up. He said he couldn't get the thought of losing for his team our of his head. The pressure was too much and Tim would either strike out or walk every time. The ball had not met the bat during a game - not once in a very long time.

During batting practice, Tim would hit pop flies, grounders and line drives. I would watch him bat, sometimes talking him through the pitch. I would make jokes, remind him to watch the ball or tell him to lighten up. It seemed to help.

So, tonight when it was Tim's turn at bat, I decided to leave my usual place sitting in the outfield. I walked up behind home plate and gave my boy some of those reminders. His first swing was a miss, so I told him to relax. Stepping out of the batters box, he turned and smiled - letting me know he knew I was there. After two balls and my cheers for watching the ball, there came the perfect pitch. Tim hit a line drive which bounced past the pitcher and over the second basemen. Finally, my boy was out of his batting slump. Finally, he hit the ball without worry.

After the game, I asked Tim what was so different about this time at bat. He was relaxed and confident up at the plate - I asked him why and expected him to say the cheers were a good distraction, no outs on the board made him relaxed or it was one of the last games so he gave it his all. However, that wasn't it. He told me he was ready to hit the ball because he sat in the dugout and prayed about it. He asked God to ease his worry and allow him to relax up at bat. He prayed that he would just go out there and hit the ball.

There I was thinking Tim was using some sort of strategic baseball technique or allowing the cheers from the stands to help him... When all along it was his faith in God and allowing himself to be led by the Lord. So, while Tim took the time to turn to the Lord in his time of need, I learned I should never sell my son short at bat, by the dugout or in his heart.

Could a mom be any more proud of her son coming out of his hitting slump?

~Great game tonight, Tim, and great batting!

Summer Camp '09

My boy is at camp this week. We dropped him off Sunday afternoon. We will see him Friday evening when we meet up with him at "family campfire." I love attending this event. After 6 days of missing my first born, 6 evenings at the dinner table with his place left empty, and 6 nights of tucking in the girls and walking past his dark bedroom, I am thrilled to see Tim from across the campfire.

And, yes, I go right up to my boy and give him a big, fat hug and kiss! It's the only time I get to without Tim telling me I am embarrassing him to death.

A Ladies' Man

Oh, I think we are in for it with our handsome Haitian son...

GUESS WHAT???!???!!???!!??

One year after Mama Colleen brought down all the papers for our adoption, our file is finally in IBESR!!! That means our adoption is officially filed here in Haiti. We can now pray asking Social Services to approve our file.

It took a while for all the paperwork to be ready. Daniel had to be declared an orphan, have a birth certificate made and receive a Consent to Adopt filing from the mayor. All of that is now completed and Social Services will work on approving Mama Colleen and Papa Mike to adopt in Haiti.

Please pray with us everyday that our file will be approved and we can become part of the Monfils' family!

Love,

Daniel and Jonathan

Someone is enjoying having his picture taken lately....Thanks for the pic, Megan!

HA - LOVE IT!!!

Would you please join us in prayer this week? We are hoping for some movement with the boys' adoption file in Haiti. If movement takes place, Jonathan is that much closer to being in the United States recieving the medical care he needs.

Stingray City - Grand Cayman '09

We chartered a boat with our friends and headed out to Stingray City earlier in the week. This is the place in the bay where the stingray all migrate because tourists visit with chump, squid and other yummy treats. Although the stingrays are wild, they are gentle and swim around as if they enjoy the human company.
Tim was the only one of the kids who would get into the water. Megan and Kate preferred watching from the boat. I was able to get Meg to agree to dangle her legs off the side of the boat to at least feel the animals. That in itself was a huge step! Maybe next year, she'll even step onto the ladder.

Many of us spent the afternoon diving for conch shells, starfish and lobster. Only Mike was brave enough to eat the conch dip later on during the cruise, but we all enjoyed a taster lobster dinner that night.