Living Life Together

Sometimes it hits me out of nowhere, how blessed I am by the community and examples of Christ-followers God has given me.

My whole extended family, from the time I was born, has prayed for me and nurtured my relationship with Jesus. Our homeschooling group growing up was not just fellow-homeschoolers, but fellow Christians. When we moved to Indiana when I was in middle school, He allowed us to join a small group of homeschoolers who became my best friends for many years. This group gathered twice a week for singing, prayer, and Bible study. The children were not only included, but were expected to sit through the “service,” and participate, asking and answering questions. Outside of these times of Bible study, we gathered multiple times a week to play and have fun.

When I got a little older, God moved in some huge ways (I’m not going to detail them at this time, but they’re rather ironic and funny) to place me in a small group of “young professionals” who attended my church and other area churches. We met for Bible study one week, and game night the next. We interacted and encouraged each other in our daily walk with Christ. This group is what got me through nursing school.

Now that I’ve moved to Haiti, God has consistently surrounded me by the most incredible Christian women who share my love of Haiti and are always around to listen to me and challenge my thinking. I am so blessed!

Most recently, I have started attending a home church here in Haiti. Most of these families homeschool and have many children – I feel like I’m back in the States as I was growing up! This past Sunday we had our normal morning service – singing, prayer, a sermon, and more singing. Afterwards, we shared lunch, and then the kids went outside to play and the adults continued to talk. Then it was suggested we needed to have a prayer time for several of the families in the group, and without question, all of the adults gathered around for spontaneous prayer. What an example! We don’t just gather for church, but we gather to share our love for Christ! He’s not just a Sunday morning service requirement, but He’s included in all of our interactions. He isn’t an after-thought, but the reason we exist and the reason we gather together.

I’m in awe of how God has worked in my life. I’m so grateful for the community with which He’s surrounded me. He is too good to me!

Mother’s Day

I know most of you think you were given the best mom in the whole world, but that’s not possible because God gave ME the best. 🙂  No, seriously, God knew what He was doing when he gave me to Mary Katherine Stalder Smith.  She taught me that my relationship with Jesus Christ is the most important thing I will ever have.  She taught me how to be kind, loving, and respectful to others.  She has given me advice when I’ve asked and supported me through every decision I’ve made.  She’s loved me no matter what I’ve done.  She has set an amazing example of how to be a wonderful, loving, patient, persistent, and responsible wife and mother.  She has encouraged me to chase my dreams and has been there to pick me up again when it hasn’t turned out how I wanted.  She’s my mentor, confidant, and my best friend.  I can tell her absolutely anything and know that she’ll never treat me differently.  She has taught me that it’s possible to raise a Christ-centered family.  She’s taught me that ministry and serving are vital to being “others-oriented” and not becoming self-centered.  She’s taught me that motherhood is not a secondary calling, but is the highest calling a woman can receive – to raise the next generation to love God, serve others, and lead others to Him.

I’m so grateful that God put us together.  I look forward to many more years of my mom’s example, love, and support.  I love you, Mommy!