Tim will hopefully be able to update what we’re doing every once in a while. If he is able to there are a few places where you can stay in the loop. Including the Adventures in Missions website.

Adventures in Missions:

http://www.adventures.org/a/reports/r3re.asp?id=3493

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Tim’s twitter:

http://twitter.com/timschmoyer

Tim’s facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/studentministry

Alexandria Youth Webpage:

http://www.alexandriayouth.com/

Alexandria Youth twitter:

http://twitter.com/alexandriayouth

Alexandria Youth facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/alexandriayouth

We also have a facebook group for our Haiti team:

http://www.facebook.com/alexandriayouth#!/group.php?gid=107843972577549&ref=ts

Please be praying for all of us. Hannah was picked up this afternoon by Cindy. She is in great hands for the week. I had a harder time yesterday than today with knowing we wont see her for over a week. Through prayer God helped me not to concentrate on my sadness of being away from Hannah. I need to have a clear head to focus on God’s will for this week.

We will get to Miami before noon on Friday. We’ll spend the day in several different training sessions then head to Haiti on Saturday morning. We’ll spend  the week in Haiti and head back to Miami on Friday April 30th. We’ll have a short evening and head home Saturday morning.

Pray pray pray for us!

I am officially stressed and nervous about going to Haiti. I think mostly about leaving Hannah behind. She will be in great hands, it’s just the fact that we wont see her for over a week. I’ve been trying to hold strong about it. Tim has been telling her for a couple days now how much he is going to miss her. I’ve just tried to ignore those comments. Yesterday I started packing my bag of supplies to take to the Haitians. That’s when reality hit that we leave on Friday.

I was able to get 7 small cans of formula that someone donated. And yesterday I went to Target and got 7 bottles to give with the formula. I need to rummage through Hannah’s box and get 7 cloth diapers to go with it. I also found some small games of jax for kids we’ll see. And I grabbed a few bags of candy. I almost broke down in the store yesterday as I saw things I could take for kids. I already know I’m going to have a hard time seeing the conditions they live in. It’s going to be tough to see a little baby. And it’ll also be tough to see a pregnant lady. Although sleeping in a tent on a small air bed will be hard on me with being pregnant, it’ll still be way better than what most people in Haiti have. Oh, and I also picked up a couple bottles of prenatal vitamins to bless a couple ladies, and a couple things of infant tylenol.

I have such mixed emotions right now of excitement and nervousness. I know God will take care of me though. My plan for today is to get everything packed up for the trip and to get Hannah all packed up for the week too. I’ll still have some last minute items of Hannah’s to do on Thursday before she goes away for the week, but if I can get most of her things in order it’ll be much easier. I think my biggest fear with that is she’s not going to remember us. Luckily we’ll be getting back in the afternoon on May 1st. So we’ll get to spend time with her before we all go to bed for the night.

Please be praying for us. Pray for health, especially for me and Baby Schmoyer. But also for the rest of our team, that no one will become ill, so that God can use us all to the fullest potential. Pray for safety with traveling and while in Haiti. I am very excited that my sister Katelin, and Tim’s brother Dan are going with us. It’ll be a great time to get to minister along side each other. Pray that God will move in all of our team and not only teach us through this week, but that God will be able to bless many people through the work he has planned for us.

It’s been a while since I’ve posted a video of Hannah and I found some videos from 3 months ago to add on to the one I wanted to add today. So the video is a little longer than I was planning. Enjoy!

Tim and I are wanting to go on a date this week before going to Haiti because we have been very busy and will still be busy after Haiti. As much as I was looking forward to getting to do things out of the ordinary after a spell of weeks in the winter where we had nothing going on, I’m ready for this busy time to be over. I wish our winter and spring/summer schedules were balanced where we had something once a month to do, instead of months with nothing and months with every weekend taken.

I looked back over the calendar and realized it’s almost been 2 months since we have been on a date just the two of us, no one else, no Hannah. We had a date the first week of March, then the next weekend was spent with us and Hannah, and then our busy schedule began. Our church had a day conference that Tim attended, we had our Jr/Sr retreat up north, Easter weekend, M.O.V.E., and now we have a free weekend minus needing to go to the cities to get stuff for Haiti next weekend and the week after, then the weekend following Tim is going to Kansas to help consult a ministry with stuff they need help on.

Looking at our busy schedule really makes me long for some special time with Tim. Just the two of us. I’ve enjoyed these busy weekends and time with other people. I need that time too, but I need my husband. To my self. Yes we have our evening at the end of the day when we’re both tired and wanting to go to bed, but then we stay up late just so we can be together. This week before Haiti has been crazy, and is still going non-stop. Earlier this week Tim realized that he has 7 nights in a row out. Starting this past weekend on Friday & Saturday night we had MOVE, then Sunday night Impact, Monday night Haiti meeting at our house, Tuesday LT meeting, Wednesday Journey, Thursday YFC banquet. And Friday we have a break!

Friday!

Hopefully we can have a date on Friday.  We’re bad at budgeting for a baby sitter, so hopefully we can fudge a little or get money somewhere for someone to watch Hannah.

While longing for this time with Tim I felt God tug at my heart and say, “You know, I long for time with you too.” Ouch. I have way more time in my day that I should give to God. I spend time with Hannah, clean stuff up, spend time online researching things, checking up on people on facebook, then with my free time I just want to relax. But God can help me relax more than anything. God is the one who can truly give me rest. I bet God longs for time with me even more than I long for time with Tim.

April 23 Tim and I leave for Haiti with 16 other people from Minnesota. 14 from our church and my brother-in-law. And my sister Katelin is going too!

The day I needed to decide if I was in or out we had a doctors appointment for Baby Schmoyer and part of that visit was discussing if it was okay for me to go to Haiti in April and Mexico in July. I got the okay for both trips.

We discussed Haiti for a little bit. Last year I had read somewhere online that pregnant women are not supposed to use DEET. My doctor had not heard that before and did some research. She said I’m okay, and I can take the malaria pills they recommend. She gave me 100% support to go saying there is no reason at all that I shouldn’t. But I do need to take every precaution possible to not get malaria, and I’m assuming anything else I could catch.

So with getting the doctor’s permission to go, there is nothing holding me back. I committed. The week after I was pretty stressed about the decision. I’ve been on many missions trips. Most of them to Mexico, one to Venezuela and one to Belize, and a lot in the USA. As I think back to those trips I was never really out of my comfort zone. I was in highschool for most of them and loved the adventure and opportunity to serve. And then when we went to Belize with the youth a couple summers ago it didn’t really feel like a missions trip. It was the most plush trip I had been on.

So now I am transitioning from the nicest missions trip I have ever been on to going to Haiti where we will be camping in tents on a concrete slab most likely, during the rainy season. That is out of my comfort zone. No hard roof over my head. Last time I went camping was in 2000 when I was way younger and sleeping on the floor didn’t make my body sore.

I’m not too nervous about my health with being pregnant and going. I know the precautions to take, but I do want to be covered in prayer anyways because I do not need to chance the health of the precious baby God is developing inside of me. I am more nervous about what I will see. Seeing the children in Haiti will break my heart. I’m not sure if I’d be able to hold it together if I see a pregnant woman or baby around Hannah’s age or younger. I want to see how little I can take for myself so I can pack formula and prenatal vitamins. I know it wont be much. Checking a bag to take the Haiti is going to be ridiculously expensive. So if anyone wants to donate money to pay for a bag, or help pay for it that would be a huge blessing, and I can leave all the contents and the bag in Haiti so I don’t have to pay the fees on the way back home.

I’m sure I’ll have another blog or two before we leave for Haiti. And I’m sure I’ll have a lot to blog about when we get back. God is going to do huge things in me through this trip. I pray that he will do huge things through me for the people of Haiti.

This morning as I’ve been getting our house ready for company to come for Easter I’ve been thinking about Jesus Christ and what He has done for us. Every Easter season since high school I always replay the days when our church put on a huge production of Jesus Christ Superstar by Andrew Lloyd Webber. We used the city theatre and packed out the place each night we performed. Our choir director changed some of the lyrics to make them more accurate and we had a huge cast involved, including every member of my family.

Getting to be in the musical is one of my favorite memories. Not just because of the great people I got to work with, but the lesson I learned through it all. I remember so clearly the night we were practicing in our church gymnasium and it came time to rehearse the scene of Christ’s crucifixion.  All the little kids (including my sister) were taken out of the room because the scene would be too hard for them to be around for, and we got our instructions. With angry faces and fists in the air we were to yell, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” I couldn’t do it. I think I uttered, “cru” and that was it. My eyes swelled up with tears and my mouth closed tightly. I went home that night and cried myself to sleep. I can’t even begin to fathom what it must have been like to be there in person when Christ was going through so much agony for me. For me! I still cry thinking through this. The next couple of rehearsals went the same for me, it was so hard to act out the scene because the cross became real to me in that moment. I finally was able to perform through that scene, and realize how much Christ really does love me, and everyone here on earth.

Something about going through the motions really brought Christ on the Cross into reality for me. I know a lot of people who said they felt that way after watching The Passion when it came out in theaters. That movie almost brought me back to where I was that first night in the gym, but actually acting it out was harder for me than watching it. I talked to my Dad about it after the movie, and how much more real the musical felt being in it. He seemed to agree with me.

I don’t know if you’ve sat down and tried to put yourself in the situation of any of the people involved with the crucifixion. After having Hannah I have tried to put myself in Mary’s shoes. Being Jesus’ Mom and going through this whole situation. I couldn’t do it.

But I am so glad that God used Christ to die on the cross so that we can all live in eternity in Heaven with God. What a wonderful maker. And to know that Christ loves us so much, that He was willing to go through all of that agony for us. He wrestled with the decision, but knew what was best because He loves us. We don’t deserve that. He didn’t deserve to die for our sins. But that’s love. And to think of the all the times I fail daily. That has got to be frustrating for God to watch. He showed us the ultimate love, and I am still selfish.

Take time to read through the Easter story this week. Personally read it. Don’t wait for someone else to read it to you during a church service this weekend. And when you go to church don’t let it be a ritual that you always do. Let God touch your heart and really dig in to what Christ did for us.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what traditions we are going to do on Easter. Growing up I loved waking up and seeing an Easter basket full of fun stuff for me. I’m not sure what I understood about Easter as a little kid. I remember being excited about my basket and my new dress and shoes I would get every year. I also loved getting to walk up to the front of the sanctuary with others who brought flowers to stick on to the cross, then go back and sit and stare at the beauty of the cross. I knew the story of Jesus and why we celebrated Easter, but I don’t think I really appreciated it until I was older. So I really don’t know what we’ll do with Hannah and Schmoyer Baby. While in line to check out at Wal-Mart the other day I overheard a conversation of two women saying that instead of giving candy in their kid’s Easter baskets they just buy a favorite video game or movie, or summer toys or whatever. The last thing I want Easter to turn in to is a holiday where my kids expect to receive gifts and then miss the meaning and purpose of Easter.

My grandmother saw this recipe in the newspaper yesterday. I love the lesson they put with it. It’ll be great to do with Hannah when she is older and can understand. I may try it before then though to see how it turns out for myself. Or just try it with our niece and nephew and Hannah when they come up this weekend. This might be a fun and meaningful tradition to start. I also put this recipe on my recipe page so it’ll be easier to find in years to come.

Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients: 1 cup shelled pecan halves, Plastic zipper bag, Wooden spoon, 1tsp vinegar, 3 egg whites, Pinch of salt, 1 cup sugar, Tape, Bible

Directions: In the beginning, preheat oven to 300 degrees. (It is important to do this in advance. Don’t wait until you’re half finished with the recipe!)

Place pecans in zipper bag and let the children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1tsp vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to the vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11

Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with electric mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God’s eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto cookie sheet covered with wax paper. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn off the oven. You must not open the oven door until the next morning. Give each child a piece of tape to seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.

Go to bed! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus’ followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9.