To see more of their photos, check out my photography blog :):
January 31, 2010
January 28, 2010
My First Trip to Canada
Here are a few snapshots from Aubrey's first trip up to Canada! We had so much fun relaxing at Nana & Gramps' house...and it was so great to see friends and family. I wish that I had taken more photos of people that she met for the first time! Notice the photo with Nana, she is in the drooly stage that is for sure!
Stranded in Peru
Remember Lindsay and Dav? Well they were hiking in Peru when the mudslides hit, leaving 2000 stranded in a small village! Here is an email from my mom :
I talked to Lindsay tonight and they are doing well. Our phone connection kept cutting out but we were able to talk for quite some time. The evacuation has been slow but it is getting there. About 475 of the 2000 tourists have been taken out. They started with pregnant women, families with young children, the ill, and elderly 60+... oh and a few others who paid their way out (I think there is a story there). IF the weather tomorrow allows the helicopters to fly all day, there should be another 800 or so evacuated (those in their 50's, then 40's etc...) SO Lindsay and Dav (in their 20's) will be several more days.
Dav was quick thinking at the very start and secured rooms at the hotel for the 40 persons in their group, they have beds, hot water and electricity (sometimes).
There is still some food in the village, restaurants are down to offering only spaghetti. the stores still have water, as well, the helicopters are bringing in supplies. By the river there have been large 'campfires' with people cooking large quantities of rice and beans that are being brought in and they are feeding hundreds.
The locals of course will be there for the long haul and have to protect what they have... Lindsay said they kept busy today by helping fill sandbags. I hope she is taking lots of pics... their blog will be very interesting!
I am so thankful I talked to her this evening... I had too many moments today of what could happen... it wasn't always good.
So I will sleep better tonight.
hugs and good night,
I talked to Lindsay tonight and they are doing well. Our phone connection kept cutting out but we were able to talk for quite some time. The evacuation has been slow but it is getting there. About 475 of the 2000 tourists have been taken out. They started with pregnant women, families with young children, the ill, and elderly 60+... oh and a few others who paid their way out (I think there is a story there). IF the weather tomorrow allows the helicopters to fly all day, there should be another 800 or so evacuated (those in their 50's, then 40's etc...) SO Lindsay and Dav (in their 20's) will be several more days.
Dav was quick thinking at the very start and secured rooms at the hotel for the 40 persons in their group, they have beds, hot water and electricity (sometimes).
There is still some food in the village, restaurants are down to offering only spaghetti. the stores still have water, as well, the helicopters are bringing in supplies. By the river there have been large 'campfires' with people cooking large quantities of rice and beans that are being brought in and they are feeding hundreds.
The locals of course will be there for the long haul and have to protect what they have... Lindsay said they kept busy today by helping fill sandbags. I hope she is taking lots of pics... their blog will be very interesting!
I am so thankful I talked to her this evening... I had too many moments today of what could happen... it wasn't always good.
So I will sleep better tonight.
hugs and good night,
January 25, 2010
Articles about the Medics
I wanted to share some links to articles that talk about Ben's unit. This first one, in our local newspaper, is about his medics. At the end of the article, they talk about a man being treated for gunshot wounds to the back of the head. Ben told me about this on the phone last night...what the article doesn't say is that he was shot by the police. Since the prison was destroyed, the police are shooting prisoners, execution style, on sight. Talk about corrupt.
FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER ARTICLE
There are a lot of good news clip videos with our guys on this site :
VIDEO CLIPS
Things seem like they are moving along in Haiti . There is less chaos now. Here is another excerpt from an email from Ben :
You talked about pain the Haitians are in... I don't know what percentage are in pain, but as you walk through the tent cities, or drive through the towns you see markets up and running, countless numbers of people on their cell phones and people in the street trying to sell whatever they can. Talking with the locals this isn't how it was before the earthquake, not because people weren't selling, but they have been displaced from where they used to sell their goods. How much of a difference that makes in their lives who can say. You look at these people and you see how quickly they're adapting and you can tell that this nation has been through tough times time and time again. They appear to be used to this and are just evolving to this new way of life. I wouldn't say they are moving on as a nation but absolutely they are moving somewhere.
Many are still hurting and children are missing mothers and fathers. Parents are missing kids. Some homes are totally destroyed while others were spared. I can't make sense of it and I don't know if God wants us to. I don't know how it worked out but over 80 orphans were just adopted from families in the states. I had the opportunity to see them come in on the bus and get in the c-17 for Denver and that was pretty cool. (I got a picture with one orphan for the memory) If I start asking myself why did these children get saved and others not I know I will get bogged down in nothing good. The focus should be thank you God for saving these 80 and please save many more. God is sovereign and for now I'll leave it at that. (this is one of those things I know in my head but it hasn't exactly made it's way home for me so i think I'm doing more lip service then anything)
You talk about famous people helping out. Well check this, Sean Penn just sat in on our update brief to the SCO tonight. He and his team are trying to get supplies, especially medical, without having to go through the red tape. I was briefing him on how I think he might be able to get the supplies in... It's cool but really I could care less. Great actor but give him another name with no famous part to it but with the same ability and I'd be just as happy. It's nice to know they're coming out here.
FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER ARTICLE
There are a lot of good news clip videos with our guys on this site :
VIDEO CLIPS
Things seem like they are moving along in Haiti . There is less chaos now. Here is another excerpt from an email from Ben :
You talked about pain the Haitians are in... I don't know what percentage are in pain, but as you walk through the tent cities, or drive through the towns you see markets up and running, countless numbers of people on their cell phones and people in the street trying to sell whatever they can. Talking with the locals this isn't how it was before the earthquake, not because people weren't selling, but they have been displaced from where they used to sell their goods. How much of a difference that makes in their lives who can say. You look at these people and you see how quickly they're adapting and you can tell that this nation has been through tough times time and time again. They appear to be used to this and are just evolving to this new way of life. I wouldn't say they are moving on as a nation but absolutely they are moving somewhere.
Many are still hurting and children are missing mothers and fathers. Parents are missing kids. Some homes are totally destroyed while others were spared. I can't make sense of it and I don't know if God wants us to. I don't know how it worked out but over 80 orphans were just adopted from families in the states. I had the opportunity to see them come in on the bus and get in the c-17 for Denver and that was pretty cool. (I got a picture with one orphan for the memory) If I start asking myself why did these children get saved and others not I know I will get bogged down in nothing good. The focus should be thank you God for saving these 80 and please save many more. God is sovereign and for now I'll leave it at that. (this is one of those things I know in my head but it hasn't exactly made it's way home for me so i think I'm doing more lip service then anything)
You talk about famous people helping out. Well check this, Sean Penn just sat in on our update brief to the SCO tonight. He and his team are trying to get supplies, especially medical, without having to go through the red tape. I was briefing him on how I think he might be able to get the supplies in... It's cool but really I could care less. Great actor but give him another name with no famous part to it but with the same ability and I'd be just as happy. It's nice to know they're coming out here.
January 21, 2010
Updates from Haiti
I was so excited to receive another email from Ben yesterday....he writes :
babe i love you and aubrey so much. i am very thankful for the opportunity here but it has its ups and downs as you can imagine. don't have any sort of time line of events or what is going on. living day to day trying to coordinate medical supplies to get out to the clinics. a medic and myself are going around to all the different NGOs picking up supplies they can't use or can't transport and delivering it ourselves. you begin feeling like you make a difference but realize it will be a long long time before any of this is cleared up. ....it is pretty safe here so don't worry about me. pray for the children because clearly they are the ones that will hurt the most. who knows when they will ever get a chance for an education again.. .not that it was great to begin with. met a 7 year old boy today who lost all of his family and has a broken leg that needs to be set but we don't have that capability. surgeries are being done with handsaws... i've seen it. without antibiotics or pain management. they're a tough people but i fear they are so used to "hand outs" that it is hard for many of them to develop a sense of pride in their country and begin to build it back up....
Also, an update from our troop FRG (Family Readiness Group) :
Capt. Buddy Davis talks with an international relief agency doctor at a
local hospital in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Jan. 18, 2010. Davis is a
physician assistant with the 82nd Airborne Division's 1st Squadron, 73rd
Cavalry Regiment. Davis visited the area hospital trying to find a place
to send critical patients who show up at the forward operating base the
squadron has established in the city. (Photo by U.S. Army)
All the Way!
babe i love you and aubrey so much. i am very thankful for the opportunity here but it has its ups and downs as you can imagine. don't have any sort of time line of events or what is going on. living day to day trying to coordinate medical supplies to get out to the clinics. a medic and myself are going around to all the different NGOs picking up supplies they can't use or can't transport and delivering it ourselves. you begin feeling like you make a difference but realize it will be a long long time before any of this is cleared up. ....it is pretty safe here so don't worry about me. pray for the children because clearly they are the ones that will hurt the most. who knows when they will ever get a chance for an education again.. .not that it was great to begin with. met a 7 year old boy today who lost all of his family and has a broken leg that needs to be set but we don't have that capability. surgeries are being done with handsaws... i've seen it. without antibiotics or pain management. they're a tough people but i fear they are so used to "hand outs" that it is hard for many of them to develop a sense of pride in their country and begin to build it back up....
Also, an update from our troop FRG (Family Readiness Group) :
Combat medics and Haitian medical volunteers treat patients at the
forward operating base set up by the 82nd Airborne Division's 1st
Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti Jan. 18, 2010.
The squadron does not have the supplies to establish a clinic, but is
seeing patients brought to the FOB with the supplies they have. They are
looking for additional medical resources such as clinics or hospitals in
the area to refer the more critical patients. (Photo by U.S. Army)
forward operating base set up by the 82nd Airborne Division's 1st
Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti Jan. 18, 2010.
The squadron does not have the supplies to establish a clinic, but is
seeing patients brought to the FOB with the supplies they have. They are
looking for additional medical resources such as clinics or hospitals in
the area to refer the more critical patients. (Photo by U.S. Army)
Capt. Buddy Davis talks with an international relief agency doctor at a
local hospital in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Jan. 18, 2010. Davis is a
physician assistant with the 82nd Airborne Division's 1st Squadron, 73rd
Cavalry Regiment. Davis visited the area hospital trying to find a place
to send critical patients who show up at the forward operating base the
squadron has established in the city. (Photo by U.S. Army)
All the Way!
January 18, 2010
Email From Ben
Here is an email from Ben that I received this morning :
hey it's me. this has been an experience. i have been on the ground for nearly 2 days and we're getting into the swing of things now. the medics are doing amazing and are saving lives. one of my medics single handedly has saved 12 hatians and has found evac for them from a private jet setter like your dad who is flying them out of the country to nearby hospitals...in other countries. talk about finding resources.
gotta go love you
hey it's me. this has been an experience. i have been on the ground for nearly 2 days and we're getting into the swing of things now. the medics are doing amazing and are saving lives. one of my medics single handedly has saved 12 hatians and has found evac for them from a private jet setter like your dad who is flying them out of the country to nearby hospitals...in other countries. talk about finding resources.
gotta go love you
January 15, 2010
2BCT Deploys to Haiti
Dear Friends and Family,
Please keep Ben and his unit in your prayers as they begin their Response to the devastation that has occurred in Haiti. I am not sure what communication will be like, or how long he will be there for, but if I hear from him I will post updates on the blog.
Here is a news video that the Fayetteville Observer did of their unit preparing to deploy.
FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER VIDEO
Also here is an email from a woman I know from a bible study. I wanted to add this to the blog because before she sent it out, this is exactly what the Lord had put on my heart to pray for Haiti as well....
I wanted to add to the prayer requests for Haiti. I remember a speaker at Manna who talked about Haiti. The speaker talked about how the nation was cursed and in the past, the head of the government had dedicated his country to Satan, asking him to be the god of their nation. The speaker also mentioned something I thought was incredible. See Haiti and the Domincan Republic share the same island, but they have very different terrains. The DR has a lush country, something you would expect in a tropical island while Haiti is more desolate and brown. He said you could see the border from the air. The curse is visible from the air.
All that being said. The Lord is going to do something miraculous there. He is bringing His soldiers of light, those in the military who are Christians to be His ambassadors there and advance His kingdom. Pray that the spiritual darkness would be lifted because it's God's desire that all would enter into His blessing and love. Pray that the spiritual powers there would be like the rubble on the street and that God's kingdom would reign there and the Lord would be the one to rebuild the nation. Our soldiers are being sent there to do kingdom work, not just humanitarian aid. I saw that there is a church there in Haiti, so pray for them as well that they would be able to reach out to those around them and give the people hope.
God Bless
Christy
Please keep Ben and his unit in your prayers as they begin their Response to the devastation that has occurred in Haiti. I am not sure what communication will be like, or how long he will be there for, but if I hear from him I will post updates on the blog.
Here is a news video that the Fayetteville Observer did of their unit preparing to deploy.
FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER VIDEO
Also here is an email from a woman I know from a bible study. I wanted to add this to the blog because before she sent it out, this is exactly what the Lord had put on my heart to pray for Haiti as well....
I wanted to add to the prayer requests for Haiti. I remember a speaker at Manna who talked about Haiti. The speaker talked about how the nation was cursed and in the past, the head of the government had dedicated his country to Satan, asking him to be the god of their nation. The speaker also mentioned something I thought was incredible. See Haiti and the Domincan Republic share the same island, but they have very different terrains. The DR has a lush country, something you would expect in a tropical island while Haiti is more desolate and brown. He said you could see the border from the air. The curse is visible from the air.
All that being said. The Lord is going to do something miraculous there. He is bringing His soldiers of light, those in the military who are Christians to be His ambassadors there and advance His kingdom. Pray that the spiritual darkness would be lifted because it's God's desire that all would enter into His blessing and love. Pray that the spiritual powers there would be like the rubble on the street and that God's kingdom would reign there and the Lord would be the one to rebuild the nation. Our soldiers are being sent there to do kingdom work, not just humanitarian aid. I saw that there is a church there in Haiti, so pray for them as well that they would be able to reach out to those around them and give the people hope.
God Bless
Christy
January 9, 2010
Merry Christmas & Here We Come 2010!!!
"I know I look darn cute but it's a little cold out here mommy!"
Christmas Eve Dinner - fresh oysters and clams
Dav gets a copy of Lindsay's baby book
Chelsa gets a sewing machine!
We had fun decorating eachothers wrapping paper this year ....
Who else felt like Christmas just totally snuck up on them this (okay "last") year?! So we didn't send out any Christmas cards, but decided to do a "Holiday Blog" to let all of our family and friends out there how much we love & appreciate you all!
We are so excited to experience all that God has in store for our family in the year 2010, but first, a little recap on our 2009 :) About this time last year Ben was in the field training with his unit, preparing to take over the Global Reaction Force of the US Army....when all of a sudden an angel appeared to me - oh wait, wrong story.....well anyway, you know the rest! We got the best present we could have asked for Christmas in 2009! If you knew that my goal going into 2009 was to get into the Dental Hygiene program at college...well I did it! Yay for me! But I chose instead to give up that slot and stay at home with my sweet little girl who was about to brighten up our lives all the more!
My side- Chelsa's - of the family came to North Carolina this Christmas to spend it with us on Bald Head Island. We had awesome weather, perfect for touring the island in golf carts, walking the paths along the marshes, looking at all the beautiful east coast homes, and as you can see in Lindsay & Dav's photos.... walking along the beach. Aubrey's first Christmas was wonderful!
Who knows how much longer we will be living on the East Coast...you'll have to keep up with us on our blog! We plan to try and see as much as we can before moving. Isn't there a button somewhere on blogs that you can "subscribe" to and get notified when there is a new post??
Blessings to you all in 2010 ~
January 7, 2010
It is COLD in Calcutta!
"Lindsay & Dav"
- "Just Because" We all know blogs are boring without photos!!! -
Here is an email that I received from my girlfriend - Christina - the photographer who took our belly photos for us. She recently returned from a photo-journalistic/mission trip to India. (go to "Galleries" and the top one is "India" to see photos!).
Good Morning Friends!!!
I will make this quick and to the point as I know we are all about a busy day filled with activity. But we have a moment in this hustle and bustle that we can make a tremendous impact across the globe. I am not going to get preachy, but for the cost of an average order at Starbucks this morning {Venti Mocha & Cake}, YOU, can be the hands of Jesus in Calcutta.
It is winter all around the world but in Calcutta...the people who sleep on the streets {which are THOUSANDS} were not expecting such cold temperatures this year. Most people having NOTHING to pull over themselves to protect them from the elements; those who are lucky..may have a thin piece of salvaged fabric or at best, plastic from the street. Believe me I have seen it with my own eyes. I wanted to capture images of some of these families but I felt too intrusive. My heart ached to see children living in places you wouldn't allow your family dog wander to...and entire families..babies..nursing mommas etc..live there. PLEASE don't pass up the opportunity to answer this simple need to keep them alive.
My dear friend Jean is a teacher who has literally packed up her life in the States to answer the call of God to minister to children in India. I know her, prayed with her, walked with her, brainstormed with her.....she is of the utmost of Christ-like character...I say this, because I need you to feel as connected as I do. If you trust my character, than the following letter may as well be me writing it. Please stop and write that check and slip it in the mail today.
Thank you friends.
Very Sincerely,
Christina DeCamp
PS. If you dontate...email me back and I will send you a thank you gift. A beautiful image of the skyline with scripture....a screen saver!!
Following letter is from Jean Hicks:
Hi All,
I was happy to receive a note from Pastor Lowell and Sandy today and so surprised when out fell a check! I hope they don’t mind me telling that, but it gave me an idea.
The night time temperatures have fallen and it is cold here in Calcutta. As many of you know, it is a common sight to see entire families sleeping on the streets every night. This includes young children and babies. This is difficult enough in the warm weather but the temps have dropped to 10C-12C (50-53 F) at night. This is the coldest winter India has experienced in some time. Over 100 people in northern India have died as a result. Here in Calcutta many sleep on the concrete with a thin blanket or sheet to cover them. Blankets here cost about 600 rupees ($10-$12). If you would be interested in donating a blanket, I will purchase and deliver them.
You can have your friends donate to "Calcutta Mercy Ministries" and designate the check to a "Blanket Fund". This will allow your donors to get tax deductible receipts. The Finance office will make sure that 100% of the donations is sent to Calcutta.
The donors could donate online at www.buntain.org
Appreciate your heart and this effort.
Amitabh
January 1, 2010
[ Lindsay & Dav ]
Lindsay's boyfriend - Dav - came all the way from Peru to NC to spend Christmas with our family on BHI. It was so great to finally meet him, I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we all loved having him there! He is easy going & funny, and we can all see how happy he has made Lindsay! We love his good sense of humour, his cooking, and of course his french accent!!
To see a few more photos from our shoot together, check out my photography blog !!
Go Fire Antz!!
Although she doesn't look too happy here in our trial run, she loved it during out hockey outing!!Last night was the first time that I wore Aubrey in the Moby Wrap that our friend Ashley gave to us! I could never get Aubrey to enjoy being in it as a newborn sling-style, but last night at the New Years Eve hockey game Aubrey loved it! The wrap, not the game. It was way too loud, but she managed a short cat nap :) Afterward I took her up to the very top row of seats and fed her in the 2nd period, and she liked watching the little guys moving around down on the ice below!
She was so cute that people all over the place would nudge their neighbor to look at her, and I got lots of smiles and "awwww cute!" from people that we walked passed :)
The Fayetteville Fire Antz beat Columbus 4-3 :o)
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