"Hasn't anyone told you?"

He shot the question at Matt as Matt squeezed past him down the aisle of the plane, returning from the bathroom on our flight back into Haiti.

"Hasn't anyone told me what?" Matt asked the stranger, stopping for a moment and eying the older gentleman, whose dog sat next to him, buckled creatively to the seat of the Douglas DC3.

"Hasn't anyone told you that missions is for before children, and for after children, but NOT while you have children? What are you thinking taking that tiny baby to Haiti! Hasn't anyone told you that family is your first priority?" he quizzed, catching Matt off guard.

It was not as if we had boarded the flight to Haiti Tuesday morning without doubts. Just that morning, as we hurriedly prepared to leave our hotel to make the 6 am flight, fleeting thoughts of "Is this the right thing? What are we doing!" passed through our minds. It was one thing to board the plane to Haiti two years ago, almost unaware of the risks, but something entirely different to board that morning clutching this tiny fragile bundle that we have come to love so deeply, taking her far from family, her doctor, and everything she had known in her short life.

It was by sheer faith and nothing else that we climbed aboard, only to have our concerns vocalized by a stranger.

As Matt and I discussed the incident later that evening, the Lord brought so many things to our minds. Where in the Bible does it say, "Follow the Lord's call on your life, but if that call comes with risks, wait until your children are grown?" Where does the Scripture tell us to put down our nets and follow Him, whenever we are good and ready? How often do we see the Bible examples of men and women called to risk-free lands and callings?

In our minds, it boils down to this: DO we trust the Lord to take care of us AND Lily? Do we trust Him enough to obey before all else? When it is easy, and when it is hard...before children, and WITH children...to England or America or Haiti...do we believe that obeying our Lord is THE most important thing in life, or don't we?

"Is He going to help Himself to your life, or are you taken up with your conception of what you are going to do? God is responsible for our lives, and the one great keynote is reckless reliance upon Him" O. Chambers.

Have we not but one life to give Him? Perhaps bringing Lily to Haiti looked like "reckless reliance" to this man, and I realize now that we are ok with that.

As we have prayed the last few days that the Lord would strengthen our faith and give us unwaveringly obedient hearts, we pray it for you as well!

Meanwhile, He blessed us abundantly yesterday with many joyful reunions, most precious of which was at the Seminary. We slipped in at the end of chapel, and when it finished and the students saw us, I must say I have NEVER been so joyfully greeted. Students that are normally respectfully distant literally attacked us, and I don't think either of us or Lily have ever been kissed by so many men :)

The predominant comment about Lily has been that she looks just like her father...and then that her hair is exactly like his. I'm not sure anyone in the States said, "Oh my, doesn't her hair look just like her daddy's!" but, hey, culture difference number 900.

I'm relatively confident that many of them did not expect we would return or that they would ever see us again, and the joy on their faces, NOT because of who we are but because of Christ in us, was every blessing needed for each sacrifice the last day or so had held. God does take care of His children, not just physically, but He also takes care of our emotional needs...abundantly.

Thank you for all of your prayers that carried us in His hands from this place pregnant 2 months ago, back to this place again with a healthy baby and happy hearts now. We are blessed to be on this journey with you and blessed by so many of yours' encouragement that we cling to Christ and not to this world.

We've had nothing but rain, rain, rain since coming, but we'll have some photos to post soon!

May we each allow God to be responsible for our lives today!