Down Mulberry Lane

Kate's HOME!

Well, we are finally crawling out of bed.  It's hard to stay in bed with animals screaming at you!  Chickens are clucking and crowing, sheep are baaing, the dog is antsy...

Kate arrived at the airport around 1AM.  Her flight was late and with a little one we really struggled with her to keep her contained.  She was up and down and up and down... she was sooo tired.  But she fell asleep in Dad's arms just 10 minutes before Kate arrived. 

On arrival Kate and her friend looked very tired...through the gates.   But they perked up as they got closer to us.   Kate's first words were... Do you know how freaking tired I am?    On the way home, however, she talked nearly the entire way home.  I offered her rest, but she kept talking.  It was good to hear of her adventures and know that she was doing well. 

Kate's appearance showed signs of bites from bugs called no-see-ums that she got at the beach the last day they were in Ecuador.  She said they slept outside instead of in tents and one side of her body got bit up pretty good. 

I am happy she is safe at home.  I asked if she'd do the trip again and she said, yes.  There were good and bad times, but overall she felt God was there with them.    I am sure she will start telling stories of her trip as soon as she recovers and makes it to the computer.  She journaled to try and keep track of her days, which was good as she said she never knew what day was what they were so busy.    To hear more of her adventures, keep checking back to her blog... branded4Him .

Warmly, ~Melissa

Praising God...

Dh has been keeping up with Kate's adventures with her mission trip.  She is not able to get online, but the organization Maranatha updates on a blog as to where everyone is and what they can expect to see and any pertinent information...

Before the trip, we had a hard time even with Google earth to locate our daughter's destination.  Now on the blog it gave us a bit more information about the town and what she will see, etc.  IT listed a larger town nearby that we were able to find on google earth.   We chuckled at the goodness of God in giving Kate her last choice...

Some positives about this site are:  1) it is a low elevation... 27 ft.  Kate has always struggled with nosebleeds in higher elevations.  We were a little concerned about that, but really didn't have enough information at the time  to make a decision as to work around that.  God is good... he placed her where her health will be optimum for her.  (even if it is a malaria infested area)  2)  Her site is a poverty stricken town, but they will be laden with little children and working around these little ones every day as they are staying near the preschool.  She loves children.    3)  It is a farm community with very few professionals... so seeing cows, goats, etc. walking through town is a common occurance... she'll feel right at home! 

Anyways, I just had to share.  I just keep praising God for his Goodness in taking care of my daughter... His child... while we were/are unable to do so.  

Warmly, ~Melissa

Kate's Mission Trip has begun...

Well, all, she did it!

Kate left early this morning for Ecuador.  We got to the airport around 5am.  We got in and got her boarding pass and her luggage checked in by 5:45 am... Her flight wasn't until 8am.  So we went to Starbucks... the only snack place on our side of security that we could go with her... and got a muffin and some juice.  Kate didn't like her muffin.  We sat and talked until nearly 6:30.  We ventured back up to the security checkpoint and saw that we were lucky to have gotten there early... the lines were horribly long.  We met some coming in that we "think" were going on the same flight and they sure would be rushed.   Kate had already gone through security as that line had also lengthened and had slowed down.  We were trying to meet up with a friend, but we didn't see him until Kate had already gone through... we thought maybe they went through when we were downstairs eating. 

She called upon arriving to her next destination and after she had done her necessities (checking in luggage, got her boarding pass, gone through security).  She was doing well.  This was her first flight.  She said coming down made her real sick to her stomach... but she didn't throw up... a great relief to her, I'm sure.  She was going to search for some medication for the next leg of the flights to see if that would calm her belly down.  But overall was doing well for her first flight and flying alone. 

We are all very exhausted.  We tried to go to the zoo, but we just couldn't put our hearts into it... we were all tired and hot and did I say we were tired and hot?  We finally left cuz no one was enjoying it... I'm glad it was a free zoo!  We are home now and all are attempting to nap a bit this afternoon.  We got up at 2:30 am to get Kate to the airport.  I think I am ready for a nap as well. 

Oh, I should share a funny... after leaving the airport we are looking for a Denny's or Perkins or some type of sit down breakfast restaurant.  Everyone in the car knows this...  (or so we thought).  We drove around for a half an hour in a huge metropolis not finding anything... we finally back track to get near the zoo and say... hmmm, there's that target store we saw... and I say, "you'd think there would be a Perkins near here"... and my dear sweet Megan says... there is, it's right there.  We said right where?.. .she said there's a sign under the target sign for the Perkins restaurant.  We still NEVER saw the sign and she said... it was there the first time... was that what you were driving around looking for?  I knew it was there all along.  UGH!  We all groaned and looked at her and said... what did you think we were looking for ???  And she says?  I don't know... the zoo?   UGH... we left the airport saying... now lets get some breakfast... somewhere we can sit down and have a decent meal... not just snacky stuff... UMMMM where was SHE then?  LOL.  Oh we had a good laugh.  I guess that's what happens when you are tired. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

Garage sale, done...

I am finally getting a chance to post this.  The garage sale went ok.  IT wasn't extremely busy... but we did sell some stuff.  I have yet to go through the items.  I will do that later this week.  My fil told me not to worry about that, but to get other things worked out first.  And I think I am taking him up on that. 

We sold $110.60 to go towards Kate's mission trip.  My mil sold around $120 to go towards the organ fund at church.  I think the next couple days I will be focussing on getting Kate ready to go on her trip.  The other two are helping out with VBS next week, so it will be jostling between have to's and need to's.  I am not helping with vbs this year...I just knew I couldn't get one ready for a mission trip and get my section of VBS ready at the same time.  I am really glad NOW that I decided that months ago.  I am really full of last minute preparations for the trip and I just know I couldn't handle any more on my plate. 

Tonight we had a wonderful vespers at a friend's home.  We enjoyed their hospitality, a small bonfire and singing around the fire.  I really enjoyed my friend's husband who showed me the entire place and all the flowers and gardens... he is in a garden club and he does such a nice job... not a weed in the gardens!  My gardens really are shameful compared to his... but I realize he doesn't have little ones under foot and they do produce food for our family and that is the point of the garden, right? 

I am heading off to get some rest.  I'll need it this coming week. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

Daughter's mission trip, update...

Well, it has been a while since I updated.

We're getting close to send off.  She leaves in less than 2 weeks.  She is getting excited and now is the time we need to finalize her packing and get all the little details worked out. 

We found out a week or two ago that the place she will go to in Equador is a Malaria area... so she will need to take precautions as she will be close to the river.  We got her prescription from the doctor, just haven't picked it up from the pharmacist, yet.  She's not looking forward to taking pills for 6 weeks!  We'll also need to purchase a mosquito netting for her to sleep under. 

With all the news on passports being delayed we were getting a little nervous, but Dh called our local congressman and his secretary was doing the footwork for us.  She called on Monday to tell us her passport was completed and it should arrive around the 4th of July... LOL... NO MAIL!  Well, it came today and she is relieved that it is here... as is her Dad. 

Now, it is just trying to finish up the payments of the plane tickets and purchasing those needed supplies.  So far Kate has gotten over $2,000 from donations and working at Farmer's Market.  We are planning a garage sale next week and we will be doing a booth for Ragbrai ( the bike across Iowa).  The funds from Ragbrai will be split between Kate for her mission trip and a worthy student fund for teens at our church who want to go to a boarding academy.  Ragbrai goes on during her mission trip, so it is mom and sisters doing the work with others from church as well. 

So, it looks like we will make it.  Once funds are in the bank, I can make payments on those plane tickets which were over $1700! 

We are breathing easier around home... although now the time crunch is pushing us for final arrangements. We Praise God for his workings in all of this!  We continue to pray that this experience will be one that will touch other's hearts and Kate's as well.

Warmly, ~Melissa

Kates Mission Trip

I announced that Kate got accepted to go.  I thought I would share the process as we go so that we remember it and also we see progress in getting the many things done and needed for the trip.

In February, Kate applied for going on the Maranatha Volunteers Ulimate Workout for Teens mission trip.  This year they are going to Ecuador and will be building churches at 5 sites.  Doing medical outreach at two sites.  VBS at all sites and some door to door evangelism.  Two places have a high malaria precaution... so prevention measures will need to be taken. 

Last week we received notice that Kate had been approved to go on the trip.  She was so excited... and still is... it is all she thinks about!   In getting ready, this is what got done last week.

Notarized the permission to fly without a parent at the courthouse.

Applied for a passport, please pray that she gets it in time... I guess they are backed up. 

Kate tested a monster cookie recipe for cost and best cooking method for a cookie to be good at day 3 and 4.  

Today we will send in payment for the remainder of the trip cost through Maranatha.  We will then still need to come up with funds for airline tickets which are running close to $1700.   Plus there is a fairly good sized list of things she needs to purchase for the trip... a trowel, a hardhat, work shoes, work clothes, plus some items for the locals like prenatal vitamins and lots more... I am not doing the list justice and Kate is fearful of how to get it all packed into her luggage and still be able to fit clothes in for herself.  LOL. 

Plans are being concocted for fundraisers, but Kate is still looking for some that she would enjoy doing.  So if you have ideas... she is all ears.  She is currently trying to figure out wording for a letter to send out to friends and relatives. 

Kate also is sending in with her payment some paperwork that has to be updated.  She also is sending in her site requests... they get to pick 1-5 of the different sites.   In June, she will find out what site she has been assigned to officially so that we can make last minute preparations for that specific site. 

Warmly,  Melissa