Isaiah 41: 9-10 I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Stories are powerful
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Rainy Season
We are on the tail end of dry season, getting ready to start the official rainy season, here in Peru. Today did not get the memo that we are in the end of dry season, as it rained all day. The rain impacted the amount of work the men were able to accomplish, as they were only able to work inside under cover. The men worked hard to mix 16 wheelbarrow full loads of dirt and cement, and get it poured during the morning, but were unable to do anything other than this.
The ladies worked hard in the sewing room again this morning, working tirelessly to help the ladies finish the shorts they started yesterday. The ladies that are learning to sew are incredibly excited at the new skills they are learning. Several of them have already made some of the bags they were taught to make on Monday.
Tonight our team headed out to the South American Mission prayer meeting: a gathering of missionaries from the area from different missions organizations getting together to pray. We had a great time sharing our stories with them, and hearing them share their heart and passion, for Peru, with us. We had a great time getting to know them, ministering to them through the international love language of ice cream socials, and spending time doing arts and crafts with their kids.
Please continue to pray for us, as we work on our projects, and for the rain to hold off as we continue to work on pouring cement in the entrance to the institute. Please also pray for the ladies, as they continue the most important work of the trip: teaching these women valuable life skills they can use to support themselves and their families as they go through the institute and share the gospel with the Indians in their villages.
Tuesday!
Today several of the Indian ladies from the institute brought their homemade crafts to where we are staying and we were able to buy them. Not only are these items well made, it was satisfying knowing that we were helping out people who need it, with our purchases. Needless to say, we are happy to have purchased a large portion of our gifts and souvenirs without having to leave our lodging.
Besides having a great opportunity to shop, today we continued our work projects. The men mixed and poured two sections of cement; and cut and laid the rebar for the sections to be poured tomorrow. The ladies continued in the sewing room, teaching the women of the institute, in the morning, how to make shorts; definitely a necessary skill. In the afternoon, the ladies of the church were taught how to make wallets. One lady in particular, Celestia, was apprehensive, as she has been scared of sewing machines since she suffered an injury to her hand, in her youth. It's been rewarding to hear that since we started, on Saturday, Celestia has been going to her sister's house daily to practice her sewing. Today, she used the machine to make a wallet, and loved every minute of it; she was so excited to be caught up and enjoying the activities all of the other ladies were enjoying.
Regardless of how many square feet of cement the men pour, how many feet of rebar they cut and tie; the sewing room will be the most useful project of the trip. It is great watching the women teach the local ladies skills that will benefit them for years to come.
Please continue to lift us up in prayer as we continue to work. Today we had several members from our team encounter difficulty with dehydration. Also, please pray for us as we go to the South American Mission prayer meeting tomorrow night, that we will be an encouragement to them.
Monday, September 24, 2012
monday, day 4
The Peruvian people, especially those we are working with, are very stoic. However, when the local ladies we are working with finished their purses this evening, in the sewing room, it was near impossible for them to not want to take model-posed glamour shots. Needless to say, the ladies of our team were happy to oblige. Our team was encouraged to further develop the relationships with these women, especially since several of the women have been working with these local women for several years during this trip; and of course, they loved to pose like models for pictures with their brand new handbags.
The men worked hard pouring sections for new sidewalks, and an entrance to the institute. In Peru, one mixes the concrete with only a shovel; needless to say, the guys are a little sore but feeling more than a little accomplished.
One of the more interesting, and encouraging things, about the day was the opportunity we had to interact with different people. The construction team had a great chance to play soccer with some of the children staying at in the institute's lodging rooms. It was neat to see the children smile, and laugh and have a great time doing something as simple as kicking a flat soccer ball, on a dirt field.
Regardless of the work projects we accomplish, what we teach the local people, what we accomplish to assist our partner; the most important thing we continue to do is to build relationships, to share God's love across language barriers, and to show the Indians and the Peruvians the gospel, with our actions transcending language barriers.
Another incredibly encouraging thing is the way we interact as a team. Each evening, around 8:00 we get together to have Bible study, and just talk about the day and the different things we took away from it. It is nice to see the different perspectives our team brings to the discussion, and the way we constantly encourage and lift up one another. God is a great God, and has put this team together on purpose, for a purpose; it becomes more and more obvious each day.
Please continue to pray for our safety and health as we are continuing on our work projects. Please also pray that God will continue to put people in our paths for us to interact with and love on and share the story and love of Christ with.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
bridging the gap
and listening to a sermon where not every word was clearly understood,
yet we connected with the global body of Christ nonetheless. The
church is located in the heart of the city and as traffic and people
hurried on outside, the inside provided a glimpse of heaven: prayer
and praise bridged cultures and languages. Most of the ladies that
worked on the sewing project the day before were also in attendance.
In the evening we were invited to play volleyball and soccer with the
youth groups of several churches and we were able to make connections
and relate through common interests. As our relationships, both within
the team and with the locals, deepen, so does our fascination with
this beautiful place and its people.
One of our team members mentioned something that peaked my interest in
conversation, regarding perceptions and expectations going into a
mission trip. I've asked him (Rick Day) to put some pen to paper to
share his thoughts, please enjoy reading them below.
"As a mental health counselor for thirty plus years, I'm in touch with
reality enough to know that cutting wire to build a foundation for
laying concrete is not my area of expertise (and I have two blisters
to prove that point). But a more important reality I've learned is
that laying a foundation that can positively impact the lives of
others for years to come changes one's perspective. An even more
profound reality is that rather than focusing on building my kingdom
on earth (which I'm guilty of) we need to realize there's only one
kingdom that's truly significant- the Kingdom of God. "
Please continue to keep us in prayer as we get back to our work
projects tomorrow. The ladies are excited to have an opportunity to
run multiple sewing rooms, while the men mix and pour concrete to
create a walkway in the institute.
We also covet your prayers for us to be intentional in meeting and
ministering to the local people of Pucallpa.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Handbags and Rebar
There are several things in life that are universal: the desire for food, water, shelter and a woman's desire for an adorable handbag. Today we kicked off our work projects, in earnest, with the ladies teaching several of the local pastors' wives how to sew handbags; the ladies were thrilled to learn a skill that is useful and profitable while also allowing them to create something they love. While the ladies were teaching useful life skills, the men worked hard at the Bible Institute preparing the entrance to have concrete poured early next week. The men cut, laced and tied rebar together after carefully leveling the ground. While working at the institute, several of the men had an opportunity to meet and get to know a student by the name of Wilart who is in his first year. Wilart was excited to meet the team and to have an opportunity to hone his English language skills; he told the team about the tension he feels, as his family does not support his decision to become Christ follower and pastor. We pray that God will continue to strengthen him and prepare him for a life of service, especially as he continues to minister and share the gospel with his family and village.
As a team, we are excited to worship tomorrow at a local congregation, knowing that worshipping God transcends all language barriers and cultural differences. We are also excited to continue the different work projects and continue to develop the relationships between our team members and our partners as we work towards advancing their vision and mission to reach previously unreached people groups with the gospel and to continue to develop strong, capable, national leaders to reach their own villages.
Please continue to lift us up in prayer as we continue our work projects that they will be helpful and useful to our partners and that we will be safe while working. Pray for our partner, Tom, as he faithfully works to share the gospel with the people of Pucallpa as well as unreached people living in the jungle.
Pray for the Indians, attending the Bible Institute, as they return for classes Sunday September 30.
Friday, September 21, 2012
Here We Are!
After a long, uneventful, flight from Miami to Lima we were thankful to have the opportunity to sleep in the food court of the Lima Airport. We then boarded our final flight, over the mountains, to Pucallpa, Peru. We arrived at 6:30 am; twelve hours after taking off from Miami International Airport; needless to say we were all beyond exhausted. We arrived at the home of our missionary, Tom Hough, where we were thrilled to have the opportunity to have a short rest until lunch. Following our lunch we quickly unpacked all of the supplies we were able to bring with us and then headed out to take a seaplane ride and view the area where our missionaries work with the indigenous people. For the majority of us it was a unique experience to ride in a seaplane.
Thank you all for your continued support while we were on this trip. There are several ways you can continue to lift us up
- We are very exhausted as a team, please pray for rest as we start our work projects tomorrow
- Pray we will continue to grow our relationships with each other, as well as create new ones with people we will come in contact with
- Pray for our continued safety, as a team, especially as we work and travel within Pucallpa
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Wipeout Kick Off Party
The Charity Event is October 13th at the Lake Front Pavilion on the Waterfront in Downtown West Palm Beach. The theme this year is Wipeout - classic Surf. And I am chairing the logistics....so you know it is going to be a great party.
Our Kick Off Party is this Wednesday, Aug 29th at Cha Cha's on Palm Beach. There will be free Sangria and light bites. And stay for dinner and receive a free pitcher of Sangria.
Hope you can make it...we would love the support and to continue to raise funds and awareness for CF.
Friday, August 3, 2012
Kate's Golden Birthday
Back on May 30th, I turned the BIG 3-0.... Not only was it a monumental birthday, it was also my Golden Birthday {turning 30 on the 30th}. I took the liberty and informed Jeremy that a Golden Birthday is a big deal. He then created "30 Days of 30". The most Amazing Birthday Celebration Ever!
For the 30 days leading up to my 30th Birthday, he gave me a gift every day. Yes, everyday I got a gift! I LOVED every minute of it and did not want it to end.
Here is a highlight of some of the gifts he gave me....
If you didn't think he was the most amazing man when he donated his kidney to my best friend.... now you really have to think he is the best husband ever! Over the 30 days, I posted pictures of all my gifts.... we found that every girl was jealous and wanted her husband to do likewise AND that every man was mad at Jeremy for making them look bad. But no matter who it was, they all agreed it was a very special birthday celebration!
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Happy Birthday Ashley
Ashley at a bowling fundraiser a couple of weeks ago. |
We are so excited that we can celebrate another year with her - and a healthy year at that!!! We only wish we could be in NC with her.
Ashley on her 30th Birthday - a Surprise party in the hospital |
This Birthday we Give so much Thanks for all the Blessings this Year has brought.... and we Wish Ashley many more Healthy Birthdays to come. We Love You!
Monday, July 30, 2012
6th Peru Mission Trip
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
The past 5 months
For many of you, this is the first that you are finding our story. Recently the Ashley/Jeremy/Kidney Cutie story has been in the press. Catawba College, Ashley & Kate's alma mater, featured the donation journey in this article. And Ashley wrote this article for her local town newspaper.
A while back, Jeremy wrote a Cliff Notes version of the donation - that post is a great overview of where this journey has taken us and the time frame of all the events. The entire story of the kidney donation is just beautiful, and I would highly recommend you reading it all. You can simply click on the months and each post on the right side of the blog page. Below is my shortened version of the story with a ton of links. You can click through and read all the highlights of the donation.
If you are new to the blog, you can read where it all began in this post that Jeremy wrote. Jeremy told the story of him meeting Ashley really well in this post - make sure to read this one, it has been known to cause a few tears. The posts that followed were a way to tell the story and bring everyone up to date.... there was much talk about our engagement, our wedding (our love story according to Kate), trips, and the testing process to become the kidney donor.
There are some great posts and stories in all these entries, really I could link to each one. If you have a spare hour or two, start at the beginning and read the whole thing. I am not promising a perfectly written book, but it will be a great story that will renew your faith and inspire you.
This is a fun little post Jeremy did about the things you learn when donating a kidney. And this one is Kate's List.
So back to the Kidney Donation. After all the waiting and the waiting, this is where is all starts to really happen. This is Jeremy ready for surgery. And here is the Successful Surgery Update. February 21st, the day of the surgery, was a very emotionally charged day. We felt so much love and support from our friends and family and we knew we were wrapped in Prayer and God's protection. This is the post I wrote in reflection of that day - it still brings tears to my eyes reading through it now.
Once we made it through the surgery, it was on to recovery. The recovery highlight came when Jeremy and Ashley first got to see each other - another tear filled moment captured here. There are several posts talking about the long road to recovery. We talked about finding a new routine and the ripple effect of the surgery.
Throughout the blog, we also talk about Ashley's health and recovery. Her post surgery progress was a little bumpier, with a few set backs.... but she is now healthy, strong and doing better then ever. Ashley wrote her first entry in the blog back in May, and of course it was just beautiful. You can read all about her trip down to visit us here.
Now that the kidney donation journey is coming to an end - with much joy and praise that both Ashley and Jeremy are healthy - this blog is taking on a new purpose. As you read through the beginning posts, much of story began in Peru. And now we are heading back to Pucallpa for our 6th mission trip. Jeremy wrote all about it in this post, and I will be writing about it soon.
We hope to continue to post and share our hearts and our life with you all. Plus, we have some fun posts in the works - like recapping the wonderful birthday celebration Jeremy had for my 30th. So we hope that you check in from time to time and share in our life. We have truly come to cherish all those who have been praying and cheering us on during the kidney donation process.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Pucallpa, Peru 2012 Support Letter
Monday, July 9, 2012
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Grateful Article
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Catawba Article
You may also find the full issue HERE
and the article HERE
Thanks Catawba for sharing our story!
Friendship, faith and a kidney have come together to irrevocably connect two Catawba College alumnae and the husband of one.
In February, Jeremy Morris of West Palm Beach, Fla., husband of Kate Merrell Morris '04, donated a kidney to his wife's best friend, Ashley Quinones '04 of Sanford. For Jeremy and Kate, the decision to donate the kidney was one grounded in faith.
"We just really felt like it was something we could do ... that God called us to do it," Kate explained in a phone interview before the Feb. 21 transplant surgery took place in Chapel Hill. "We have a strong belief that God has put us on a certain path back in 2007 and this has been the largest project for us to speak God in our life. It's much bigger than just a kidney."
Kate first met Ashley while both were students at Catawba. Kate remembered, "The first time I met Ashley, I was working in the Student Center doing my work study. Ashley came to see Jan Gillean [Catawba's director of student activities] and Jan wasn't there. Ashley laid down on the couch in the office down there and went to sleep. That was right before her double lung transplant.
"Later in the fall of 2002, Ashley and I sat next to each other going over on the plane to England. We went over and studied for the semester. Ashley and I really struck up the friendship on the first plane ride. She was adventurous like me."
Ashley's Cystic Fibrosis necessitated her double lung transplant in 2001 while she was a student at Catawba. Her studies were interrupted for most of the year due to her illness and recovery from the transplant, but the campus rallied around her. In April of 2001, her fellow students in Dr. Karl Hales Discussion and Parliamentary Procedures class organized a fundraising dance for her, "65 Roses for Ashley Quinones." All proceeds went to the Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA) in Ashley's name. The name "65 Roses" was chosen because many children with CF cannot say "Cystic Fibrosis" and the term comes out sounding like "65 roses."
While Kate and Ashley became dear friends while students at Catawba, Jeremy entered the picture after their graduation. Jeremy, a graduate of Palm Beach Atlantic University, and Kate attended the same church in West Palm Beach, Christ Fellowship. Ironically, Kate recalls that her relationship with Jeremy also really started when she sat beside him on the plane ride to Peru in 2007, where the three of them were going on a mission trip. The relationships formed on that mission trip in 2007 resulted in the marriage of Jeremy and Kate in 2009, where Ashley was a bridesmaid.
"In Peru, we talked about how we had this sibling type connection to each other," Ashley recalled about Jeremy in a phone interview shortly before this year's transplant operation. "Now, he and I are going to share an organ — something that I can't share with anyone else.
"It hasn't been easy. It's been a rollercoaster this past year and a half and they've [Kate and Jeremy have] stuck with me. They've had every opportunity to pull out of this process. It's something that the three of us over this process have really had to come to terms with — that God is going to take care of it — we have to accept life on God's terms not on ours. It has been daily new lessons in our life that this process has taught us. They've chosen to stick with me. If Jeremy's scared, he doesn't show it — he's been a rock. Through my eyes, I see a really brave, courageous Christian man, and I see how lucky my best friend is and I'm happy for her. He says, 'Don't worry.' He says that no matter what happens he'll never regret this decision.
"We very rarely talk about what this means in the big picture. There are certain things you can't express in words and this is one of them. At the end of the day, a thank you doesn't cut it, but Jeremy doesn't want any thanks from me. He's doing it because it's the right thing to do, not because of recognition or approval."
Ask Jeremy why he decided to donate his kidney to Ashley, and he will tell you because it was the right thing for him and Kate to do as a couple. The couple learned that Ashley needed a kidney when they visited her in the hospital on her 30th birthday in 2010.
Ashley remembered that visit and telling her friends about her dire situation. "Kate and Jeremy came to visit me and once they were face to face with me, I told them I needed a kidney transplant. It didn't take them 5 minutes to offer to donate. They both asked me what blood type and I told them A+ and so are both of them. They knew how sick I was — they saw me. I shared with them how scared I was to go home."
The hospital would only test one person at a time as a possible kidney donor match for Ashley and Jeremy stepped up. "I knew Kate was going to do it, but we discussed all the pros and cons and decided I was the best option. It is something I can do, not only for my wife but also for a dear friend.
"You can't make a decision based on the what ifs and fears. We just really felt like it was something we could do and that God called us to do it. We wanted to share our story and our faith during this journey. That's why I've written the blog [jeremy-kate.blogspot.com] about our decision and process," he said.
That decision came to fruition on February 21st at UNC Chapel Hill. Both Jeremy and Ashley's surgeries were better than text book, according to their transplant surgeons. Two days after the surgery, Jeremy walked down to Ashley's room for what proved to be an emotion and tear filled reunion. There is an undeniable bond; "I am quite smitten with your husband" Ashley admitted to Kate. To which Kate replied "For you, I am ok with that."
The trio even named the kidney — JASH — a combination of Jeremy and Ashley.
Since the transplant surgery, Ashley and Jeremy have reached all their recovery milestones nicely. Jeremy has returned to his job as a systems administrator specialist and Kate to hers as owner and operator of Katydid Designs, a business she established while a student at Catawba. Ashley, who has used her undergraduate and graduate degrees in theatre arts and master's classes in mental health counseling to work with marginalized communities, returned to work as an ESL Instructor and CAP worker this spring. Ashley and Jeremy were even able to plan for Ashley to make a surprise trip to Florida for Kate's birthday celebration Memorial Day weekend.
"I keep asking God, 'What are you teaching me in all of this? Aren't you tired of giving me lessons?' " Ashley explained. "I always assume that's all about me, but this whole thing going on with my kidneys could be about someone else. The world doesn't revolve around me, and I forget that sometimes. Realizing that has helped me get through it. It's helped me fight to get through it. I've had to fight to get through it, fight to get the insurance, but it's never crossed my mind to ever give up on any of this. I look at Jeremy and see how brave he is through it and that helps as well."
EDITOR'S NOTE:Although Medicaid funded the cost of Ashley and Jeremy's transplant surgeries, many medical expenses remain. Those who wish to assist with this effort may make donations to COTA.
Friends may contact Ashley at www.facebook.com/kidneycutie and Kate and Jeremy at www.jeremy-kate.com.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Kidney Cutie in Print
The kidney donation of Jeremy, Kate and Ashley was featured in Catawba College's Campus Magazine. Catawba College is both Kate & Ashley's alma mater, and the birthplace of their friendship. Catawba is very dear to our hearts and we are so blessed to have them share our story.
Click HERE if you would like to open the entire issue of Campus Magazine. Page 20
Truth be told, this is not the first time for Kate or Ashley to grace the pages of the Catawba's magazine. While in school, Kate wrote an article about a mission trip to Mexico, had a feature article Katydid - the business she started at Catawba and was pictured at graduation. Ashley graced the pages several times for her theater performances and had a featured article when she graduated (which showed Ashley fixing Kate's hat..... which is REALLY funny, considering it was Kate who just finished getting Ashley dressed properly in her gown... but that is a whole post in itself). If I can locate these said article, I will make sure and post them.
Ashley was featured in The Sandford Herald. ; her local newspaper. In the article, Ashley recounts her journey through Cystic Fibrosis and the many blessings to be thankful for.
Check back tomorrow, we will try to have the full articles in an easier to read format!