Frazier's 2 Month Check-Up

Well, he's come a long way from the stats on this t-shirt.



We had a really good check-up last Friday, especially since he didn't have any shots since they discovered an ear infection (didn't want to give him shots in case he got a fever - then we wouldn't know the cause of it). He is meeting all his milestones and the doc got him to roll over twice by putting him on his elbows. He is a really loud breather, so we asked about that, and found out the cartilage in his trachea is pretty floppy/underdeveloped. There's nothing we can do about it but we need to watch him when he gets a respiratory illness, and it should go away on it's own as the cartilage strengthens.

Here are our big boy's stats:

13 lbs 4.5 oz. - 82nd percentile
23.5 inches long - 69th percentile

90th percentile in head circumference
65th percentile overall

Happy 2 Month Birthday Frazier!

Our Dear Frazier,

What a wonderful addition you are to our family. I am just so so smitten with you I can't stand it! And everyone else is, too, including your big sister. You have definitely learned her voice, and I find you watching her often when she's close by. She also really makes you smile, which you're doing a lot these days. You have a big toothless grin and often make the sweetest cooing noises while doing it. It truly melts my heart, and I'm trying to store those moments in my heart and mind for a few years from now when you might drive me crazy with your boyish antics. :)

You still get me up once or twice every night, but that is because you are such a growing boy. I can't wait to find out how much you've grown at your appt. this week. You're probably still getting up because I haven't been so good about getting you on a schedule like I was with your sister. Now that your Daddy is home from Africa I am really going to make an attempt for your sake and my own.

You are really an amazingly good baby and really only cry if you're hungry, need to be burped or your paci has fallen out during naptime (so far you don't need the paci at night). You are eating about 7-8 times within a 24 hour period and getting pretty efficient at eating. You used to take a good 30 minutes, and now you take about 15 (on average).

You are pretty much out of 0-3 month clothes and have moved on to 3 month sizes. You have lots of little fat rolls that I find so cute. Let's hope the doctor is ok with them, too!

Thank you for being such a sweet little blessing to us. What a joy you are.

Love,
Momma

Daddy's Home!

To say that we missed him would be an understatement. We are all relaxing and enjoying all the amazing stories and God moments that occurred while in Africa. God is good...no, make that awesome!

2012 Business Vision Discovery Mission Departs Niger

Dear Family and Friends,

Well, here we are, on our day of departure and it seems a little surreal. We are excited to see you all and give you great big hugs, yet we are sad to leave. Niger, Africa is a very special place and for those of you who have not been here yet, you have an experience of a lifetime waiting for you.

How fitting it was to spend our last day, worshipping God with our brothers and sisters in Christ here in Niamey. We sang (in French and in English), danced before our Lord, and shared God's Word. And then, we shared a meal together in fellowship, celebrating Pastor Carter's birthday! We shared a special time of prayer for one another today and are now heading to the airport to make our way home. We will see you all soon. Thank you for your prayers. We love you all!





*Please keep this team in your thoughts and prayers as they make their way to back to the states tonight and tomorrow. According to the Air France website, their plane has departed Niamey, Niger and they are due to arrive in Paris @ 6:00 a.m. tomorrow (France time). They are expected to arrive at Dulles at 1:10 p.m. Monday. If you wish to track their flight, please visit Air France Website. (Niamey, Niger to Paris, France: Air France Flight 547 and Paris, France to Washington DC: Air France Flight 028). We'll update you again once they arrive in the US.

Thanks for following the team with us.
The LINK™ / Effective Ministries Staff

Update #6 from the LINK Business Discovery Mission

(received Saturday, 2/18/2012)



Dear Friends and Family,

How quickly this week has passed...tonight is our last official night in Niger. As with every other day of our mission, virtually every minute was filled.

We started the day driving out to the bush to see giraffes: how incredible those animals were to watch. But the drive there, passing dozens of small villages, was the best! It was like going back to biblical times - the primitive nature of the environment, stick and clay houses, livestock. We could almost imagine Jesus walking along the dirt paths, meeting people where they are, not backing away because of filth. This made a lot of us reflect on a quote repeated many times this week: "Live simply so others may simply live."

As you can see, we've had time to reflect on God's grace and provision while we've been here; yet not all of our time has been serious! We've had great fun getting to know one another, laughing (hysterically, at times), giving each other nicknames, and playing practical jokes on one another. See if you can figure out who "Nomad" is.

Our visit to Le Bon Samaritain (The Good Samaritan) orphanage touched our hearts in ways that are indescribable. This orphanage houses roughly 60-70 children who have been abandoned due to death of their parents or unfortunate circumstances. These kids are some of the most resilient and inspiring people we've encountered so far. Despite their situation, they greeted our group with huge smiles and hugs galore! We played a game of soccer (they won of course!), had a huge water gun fight, danced, and most importantly bonded. Many of us became connected at the hip to one or more kids which made it very difficult to leave. These kids followed us and clung to us - it was clear they just wanted to be loved and touched. What a wonderful feeling, for them and for us.

As we prepare to leave Niger, we are cleaning up and packing our belongings. We have been reminded to check our rooms several times, so nothing is left behind. One thing is for sure though. Each one of us will be leaving a part of our hearts here in Niger.

Love to you all! We can't wait to share our stories and experiences with you in person. Until then, may God bless you abundantly.

The 2012 LINK™ Business Vision Discovery Mission

Update #5 from LINK Business Vision Discovery Mission

(received Friday, 2/17/12)

Dear Friends and Family,

We thought the first two days were eventful! Today was filled with a wide range of emotions. In one day, we experienced appreciation, sadness, humility, joy, praise, and laughter. We witnessed true gratitude when Rodrigo (the director of The LINK™ Outreach Center) shared the plaque he received at yesterday's dedication with The LINK™ staff here in Niger. The staff works diligently to help make The LOC successful and we are reaping the benefits.

We visited the Hosanna Clinic in Kollo which serves several villages outside Niamey. The director of the clinic painted a graphic picture of what the patients, specifically the women, face far too often. She told us the story of a woman who walked to this clinic from more than five miles away after giving birth to her tenth baby. Not one of her first nine babies had survived. To make matters worse, she had no interaction with the people in her village because they were convinced she was cursed. This woman appeared at the clinic broken but determined. Unfortunately, despite the hard work of the doctors and nurses, this baby died too. With gentleness, the medics continued their mission of sharing God's love with her and explaining that it was not her fault her baby died. This situation hit us hard. Imagine losing ten children and being shunned by your family and neighbors because of it. Perhaps those words, "it's not your fault" are the only words of love and support this woman will ever hear in her life.

We visited a young couple who pastor a church across the Niger River. They spread the word of God in their community while providing sustenance to malnourished children and nutrition tips to the mothers. They hope to teach women how to prevent malnutrition and maintain a healthy lifestyle for their families. This nutrition program is supported by generous donations to LiveTen24. The husband is so dedicated to his calling that he preached to an empty church for two months before anyone showed up for a service. When asked why he continued to preach even when no one was there, he said he was simply following what God had told him to do.

Later in the day, we thoroughly enjoyed our boat ride down the Niger River (which turned into a race, of course), our camel ride through the desert, and our time of praise to the Lord as we sat under the most beautiful stars on the dunes of the Niger desert: unbelievable.

We have bonded as a group in significant ways this week as we continue to do the work God has called us to do and we are excited about what the weekend has in store.





Thank you for praying for us.

The 2012 LINK™ Business Vision Discovery Mission
The LINK™/Effective Ministries, Inc. Staff

Update #4 from LINK Business Vision Discovery Mission

Dear Family and Friends,

Wow! As we reflect on today, it's hard to even express in words the mixture of emotions. Those of you who have been to Niger know exactly what we're talking about, don't you? It's that day that seems so busy you don't really have time to process it all... until we take time to sit down together as a team and share our experiences.

Today was a day full of driving on roads that seemed more like paths for cattle, walking through such high winds that the desert sand got in your eyes and mouth, and then listening to testimonies from the Gourmanche tribe that made you realize that potholes and dust are minor inconveniences. We saw faces of stone, women who are visibly weary from their 18 hour + workdays, but who still find the strength to travel miles a day to learn how to read and write for the first time so that they can read the word of God (the Bible will be the first book they ever read!) and learn how to sew to help support their families. We went to a well dug by ministry partners working together in Niger. As we started gathering at the well, children from the neighboring village began to congregate around us. They were curious about who we were and interested in why we were there. We asked if we could take a few pictures and then started handing out lollipops! You can only imagine the response - they were so full of excitement! And it was just a lollipop :)

We celebrated the inauguration of The LINK™ Outreach Center this evening with local missionaries and pastors who have been impacted by the work of The LINK™. It was a time of fellowship, prayer, and dedication. There were more than 6 countries represented, all serving the same mighty God! It was a tiny glimpse of what heaven might be like, with many voices lifted in prayer and song. With so many people calling out to God at the same time, it sounded like a beautiful orchestra; one that could only be directed by our one true Savior.

And to think...this was only day 2.

The 2012 LINK™ Business Vision Discovery Mission
The LINK™/Effective Ministries, Inc. Staff

Update #3 from 2012 Business Vision Discovery Mission

(sent on 2/15/12)

Dear Family and Friends,

Bonjour. It’s 11:40 pm here in Niamey and we have a lot to report. Since leaving the USA yesterday, our group has experienced many awesome things, bonding us in ways we could not have imagined, as we pursue the purpose He has for us in this nation and the world. Today was a busy and rewarding day. We visited four schools, an orphanage, a sewing school, a beautiful garden filled with loads of fruits and vegetables, heard fascinating testimonies from various Christian leaders, and enjoyed a wonderful dinner with General Wright and his wife.

The schools we visited have expanded tremendously in both physical size and student enrollment due to the support of The LINK™, LiveTen24, Schools for Niger, Africa (SFNA) and God’s will. These schools are thriving as a result of the faithful support of both individual and corporate partnerships which have generously given their time and financial resources. Through the ongoing commitment to the continued growth of these schools, where children are learning and receiving the word of God, the future of Niger can effectively be changed.

The children at the orphanage were delightful. Parentless and potentially hopeless, they exuded more resilience than many of us might display in a lifetime. They were smiling, laughing, and filled with pure joy. It seemed all they wanted was to be with us and feel our touch; truly an amazing experience. They are the future of Niger and are already learning that regardless of what society has planned for them as orphans, they have a Father in God and He has a plan for their lives. We are so moved by what God is doing in this country through people dedicating their lives to the Lord and to caring for the many children of Niger. We look forward to what tomorrow and the rest of this week holds and we can’t wait to share our experiences with you.

Bonne Nuit.

The 2012 LINK™ Business Vision Discovery Mission
The LINK™/Effective Ministries, Inc. Staff

Update # 2 from LINK Business Vision Discovery Mission

(received at 12pm ET)

We just heard from the team and they landed in Niger ten minutes ahead of schedule. Upon arrival, they were greeted by Rodrigo, our LINK™ Field Director, and General Wright, a longtime friend of this ministry, who escorted them out of the airport with all their luggage and tubs intact. They are now on their way to check into The LOC (LINK™ Outreach Center) and settle in for the evening. After enjoying a meal together, they will have their first in-country team meeting then off to bed for a good night's rest. Please continue to pray for this mission. We look forward to hearing all the great things God has in store for them.

The 2012 LINK™ Business Vision Discovery Mission
The LINK™/Effective Ministries, Inc. Staff

Update #1 from The LINK Business Vision Discovery Mission

Please keep this team in your thoughts and prayers as they make their way to Niger, Africa today and tomorrow. We heard from the team after they boarded the plane and according to Air France, their flight has left Dulles. They will arrive in Paris @ 5:57 a.m. tomorrow (France time) and are expected to arrive in Niamey, Niger at 4:15 p.m. tomorrow (Niger time). If you wish to track their flight progress, please visit Air France Website (Washington Dulles to Paris, France: Air France Flight 039 and Paris, France to Niamey, Niger: Air France Flight 548). We'll update you again once they arrive in Niger. We look forward to keeping you apprised of their journey for the duration of their mission.

The 2012 LINK™ Business Vision Discovery Mission
The LINK™/Effective Ministries, Inc. Staff

And He's Off

Today we said goodbye to Daddy as he left on his God-adventure to Niger, Africa. Thanks to so many of our generous family and friends he was able to raise enough money to completely fund his trip and expenses (i.e. shots, medicines, etc.). Wow - what a blessing!

We won't talk to him for the 8 days he is gone, but we will get updates from the field through the ministry he's going with, so I'll be sure and post them here. Please keep him and the team in prayer - we know God is going to do some amazing things that will change him and those he encounters. We have heard that God is really moving in Africa because often where there is such physical need people tend to rely much more on the great big God we serve - in a way that we just can't comprehend here in America where you can hardly compare American poverty to African poverty. Though we have seen pictures and heard stories, I know seeing it in person will be incredibly impactful.

Other than a date night, a small birthday gathering for a friend, and church on Sunday we spent the weekend relaxing and enjoying each other's company before this time of separation (I don't know how military families do it!). Below are some pictures from the weekend and seeing him off this morning.

Oh, and did I mention how awesome so many of our friends and family have already been to us here on the homefront? We have had so many offers of help, meals and just opportunities to stay busy while Geoff is gone. Y'all are awesome.


You know who we are!


Daddy's girl as she fondly calls herself.


Making (ahem...eating in M&M's case) Valentine's cookies.


Talking and smiling with Daddy.


Sleeping with Daddy.


Frazier and Aunt Lem at Charlotte's birthday party.


Charlotte/Hoppy and Sherry Lee/Geoff enjoying some fine children's literature. :)

Just to See You Smile

Runway Debut

Mary-Michael's post-shower activity - tear up Momma's closet and try on any shoe with a heel! She sure is cute.

Our House Lately

With this unseasonably warm weather we've been doing our best to get outside, and there's no place our baby girl would rather be than running around the yard with the chickens and dogs!


Jumping on the trampoline with Uncle Kam. One of Geoff's clients was getting rid of this, and we were happy to take it off their hands!


Despite the warm weather our son is still dressed like an Eskimo.


Frazier and Momma.


Frazier and Grandma.


Our little country girl on the tractor.


Every night Mary-Michael gets a ride from her Daddy before bed, and if she's lucky, on her way up to bed, too.