Haiti

My parents are heading to Haiti on Saturday for a Medical Missions trip... Please pray for them!!

July 24th - 31st , 2010

I'm attaching their prayer letter here so you can see specific needs to pray for:

THE TEAM: Bala & Ann Rao, Nadine Pelham, Patricia Garcia, Emma Ocampo, Susan Augeri, Brandon Proctor, Al & Judy Melton.


Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere was devastated by an earthquake in January. Since then God has been moving in a phenomenal way and there are a reported 135,000 new converts. We go as a team to provide needed medical care and join God in the evangelism effort. We will be doing medical clinics as a way of attracting people so they can hear the gospel.

God chooses to work through the prayers of His people. So would you partner with us by praying for the team. We count on your prayers.

Pray that our hearts would be transparent and right before God so we can be usable and useful servants.

Pray that the details of the trip: medicines, transportation, housing, food, interpreters and travel will come together.
Pray for team unity and travel safety.
Pray for good weather as we work and as we travel.
Pray for stamina for the team and the ability to work in the heat.
Pray for supernatural ability to diagnose and treat illness in primitive conditions.

Pray we will stay well and not be affected by local food.
Pray that those who come will have hearts prepared and receptive to the Gospel.

Pray for anointing on Al as he preaches Sunday.
Pray for Al & Brandon as they present the Gospel to each one who comes for treatment

And whatever you ask in my name I will do that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

John 14:13

Would you ask God for a great harvest in Haiti?

Endurance

Summer Swim Meets. They are what we call Developmental Meets... mostly for the little ones to get them ready for "real meets". They don't really count in the realm of official USA Swim Meets, but they are important none-the-less. Carly did a great job tonight! She is learning how to dive off the block this summer. Ben is learning how to do the concession stand, since he is "beyond" the developmental meets.



So, here's what I really loved about tonight's meet: Dana. I mean, I think that's her name. Pretty sure that's what her parents were yelling to her. "Go Dana! You are almost there! Keep going!!!" We get it because we are big screamers, too! I mean, CHEERERS. But there is just something so incredible about seeing a little kid (and I mean LITTLE... Dana is TINY!) swimming their heart out... probably the longest distance they've ever had to swim! and being WAY behind the others in their heat and yet they keep going. You know, because there are people cheering them on. And when they get to the end of the race, they jump into their Daddy's arms.


I just don't want to forget that very poignant picture.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,
let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles,

and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,

who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame,

and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1,2

Anyways, that is what I needed today.

Baptism

This morning was a really special day for our family.  Ben and Carly (and several of their friends!) were baptized.  They were pretty excited to share their faith in God with everyone by following Christ's example... We just love to see their faith grow and to see how each day they learn more and more ~ it's pretty exciting.  I was unable to post the video's here, but they are on Facebook.  Here are some picture that my mom took:

                        

I know I've said it before, but one of my favorite things about our church is the great community and family atmosphere it has!  There are kids everywhere and they are completely encouraged to be hands on with their worship, and are totally integrated into the body.  We started attending Tampa Covenant Church when Carly was 3 weeks old and even then we kept the kids in the service with us for the worship part of the service... no one cares if they are talking or fussy, and they learn early on by watching their parents and other church members.  We love that!  As you can see, the portable baptismal (which was outside in the courtyard) is surrounded by kids, all getting their hands wet!  Carly was surrounded by people who love her and support her!  LOVE THAT!!  Also, my Dad was able to pray over her and give a blessing, which was very special.  Ryan's best friend, Rodney, is the Worship Pastor at our church and he baptized her (and Ben) with Ryan's "help" (my Dad, too!)  they encourage the father's to have a hands on part in the baptism, and I just thought that was really great, as he has such a MAJOR role in the spiritual upbringing of these kids! 

LOVE the look on her face!  So joyful.  I guess now would be a good time to add that immediately after this look, she stood up and took a bow.  *Sigh*  Working on that.

Praying over Ben.

So happy to see this day, and to know that our children came to this decision to be baptized on their own.  Above all, we are so thankful to our Savior for redeeming us, who are so unworthy, so we can be with Him forever.  

Connecticut State Capitol

Ah... Hartford, Connecticut.  Very impressively large Capitol Building.  With an underground walkway system leading to more offices. 

And proudly displaying their replica of the Liberty Bell.  Each Capitol was given one cast from the same mold as the original.  Most have cleverly PAINTED on the crack that is only in the original (you know, in Pennsylvania.  You saw National Treasure, right?)

The "new" part of the capitol...

Back in the original building, The Genius of Connecticut protects the rotunda.

A tree trunk that has been preserved and put on display as it sports a cannon ball from the Civil War.

The Hall of Flags

Click on the picture below so you can read about Layfayette's very cool bed...

Inside the massive House of Representatives.  We loved all the beautiful stained glass windows and light fixtures. 

Interior of the Dome...

Look closely at the white portion and you can see the spiral staircase leading to the outside.  My boys REALLY wanted to climb up there... not allowed.  Rats.

The Senate

The Charter Oak Chair... also known as the Wishing Chair...

... and not just because Little McGregor's made wishes there...

... they weren't the only Wishers this day!  I'm pretty certain Ben was Wishing the tour would be over soon!

Back in the "New Part"... we loved the floor!!!

Optical Illusion!

You know how we are about the historical details! 

Beautiful flowers and grounds...

Amazingly beautiful building!

Notice the statues...

... and the empty spaces.  For Future Famous People.

... or according to Carly, "A statue of Carly!"

The view from the side...

...and back

... and Ben so appropriately rolling down the back lawn of the Capitol Building.  I'd say we can't take these kids anywhere, but I'm pretty sure I told him he could!

... and the newest McGregor obsession.  Being Statues.  All you need is an empty slab of concrete... You will be seeing this again.  Note Ben's Sonic pose.  Nice.

There was a small museum in the Supreme Court building (behind the statues)... and I felt pretty old when I realized that I used to have that curling iron (although, it was brown, not yellow!), the hair dryer, makeup mirror, and can opener.  Grrrrrr.

North Carolina Capitol

It wouldn't be a McGregor Vacation without a trip to capitol buildings... Yes, we planned out our trip to hit as many as possible!  Our first stop was Raleigh, NC.  The first thing we noticed about this building was how WONDERFULLY symmetrical it is!  I love order.

As we are finding, most Capitol Buildings have BEAUTIFUL grounds... this time Ben and Carly discovered many cannons and guns, which they thought were pretty cool.

This was a REALLY moving statue... I actually caught my breath when I looked up and saw it for the first time...  A Vietnam War Memorial.

                                    

We were visiting right after Father's Day, and someone had put these cards in the gun.

And a flag that was in the grass at the base of the statue.

Inside.  When we first went in, a receptionist was standing behind this desk explaining the "Self Guided Tour" to us... she went over a brief history of the State House (NC's is now a just a museum).  She brought up that the first one was made out of wood, and burned to the ground (a common issue with MANY of the State Capitols) so "they built this one to be FIREPROOF".  And probably no one will find this NEARLY as entertaining as we did, but please, appreciate the fire alarm pull station which we were staring at while she was telling us this.  Ok, we are admittedly easy to entertain.

The Library... it has been refurbished to how it looked in 1859.  Loved it.

The House of Representatives.  Ryan got ahead of me at this point and I called out, "Ryan, where are you?" and he answered... "I'm in the House".  Again, easily entertained.  They do not pass bills here anymore.

Looking up into one of the smaller oval shaped domes.

Senate Chambers... again, restored to 1859 era.  Loved the top hat! 

We also enjoy all the old light fixtures...

And I personally enjoy all these cute people.

Carly with our Capitol Book now bearing the North Carolina stamp!

The Fire Proof Lady was kind enough to snap our picture as we were about to leave.  They have a very interesting statue of George Washington in the rotunda... the artist who sculpted it in the 1800's was Italian and had obviously never seen GW, so he went with a picture someone sent him, and decided he needed to look like a Roman Emporer.