Life in the Hamptons

I hope everyone has fun plans for the weekend to get out and enjoy this beautiful weather! I am headed to Memphis to help out my sister who had surgery on Wednesday. So in honor of Memphis (and my sister and brother-in-law), I wanted to share their blog Life in the Hamptons with you.

"The Hamptons" in Memphis is what residents of Binghampton have nicknamed their neighborhood, but don't be fooled. It is one of the poorest, neglected neighborhoods in inner city Memphis. It is also, historically, one of the first African American neighborhoods and also happens to be where MLK, Jr. had his last dinner before being assassinated. Liz and JD have been trying to move into the neighborhood for quite sometime and doors have repeatedly been closed. But God had a bigger and better plan, as he always does and has provided JD with a job at a charter school in the community. That job just happened to come with the stipulation that they had to live there. Perfect! So they are in the process of building their house across the street from the school and hopefully by this summer will be living there full time.

I will no longer try to tell you their story. JD can tell it so much better, so just read their blog. I am not kidding when I say I cry every time I read it (you HAVE to read Matario's story). I have also had the privilege of meeting a few of the kids JD works with from past visits and I love to see the role model he has become to a lot of kids who don't have a man consistently in their lives. They inspire me more than they will ever know and I love them so, so dearly.

photo of the wilsons by j. lauren.

Haiti Nutrition Project

my friends, mandy and joel busby (who i have mentioned before) have given blood, sweat and tears to this mission called the haiti nutrition project. i love getting to talk to them about all the Lord has done down there. they have such amazing stories. they go down a few times a year to work and they take groups a few more times (i'm really hoping to get to go on the "friends" trip this year!).

anyway, i'm just really excited that they now have a great website courtesy of some friends (josh hausen, bob miller, caleb chancey and cary norton). so add the blog to your reader and keep updated as they share what God is doing through a little peanut butter.

Haiti - Canaan Orphanage Malnutrition Initative from andrew hudson on Vimeo.
oddly enough i had written this yesterday afternoon (scheduled to post today), yet it seems to be quite timely. today a 7.0 earthquake hit haiti. please pray for the people that have lost loved ones and those that are injured, that they will receive adequate care. i spoke with mandy (who lives in the states) to see if she had spoken with anyone and everyone at canaan is doing well. please pray that perhaps this awful occurrence will bring attention to the conditions the majority of haitians live in on a daily basis. for more information, check here.

Mango Lips

my sister moved to honduras 3 years ago, and one of the things she loved to do was pick fresh mangos off the trees and eat them with the kids...turned out she was allergic to mangos.

she emailed this to me to today in hopes of making me laugh - which i did. liz, don't hate me for this.