Haitian Horror

As a new parent I can only imagine the horror and panic the parents of the 4 American students who are missing in Haiti feel right now. To think you're sending your daughters on a relief trip where they'll pass out food and come home with boosted self esteem after realizing what good people they are for setting foot in a dirty third-world country, and then awake to the horror that you just sent her to a third world country that isn't prepared financially or organizationally for crisis...
Earth quakes are horrible. I experienced the CA quake of '92. I woke up as my mom pulled me into the door frame; I'd been vibrating down the hall she said. We were lucky enough to only see the destruction and not experience it first hand. I know it's scary and can imagine how horrified the parents in the states are.
Here's what I don't understand though: Did these parents not know Haiti is a third world country? Did they not know that acts of God like tornados, hurricanes, and earth quakes sometimes happen unexpectedly? Did they not know that Haiti is far enough away that rushing to their daughters' sides in an event might not be possible? My parents recognized this and I only moved to Portland OR. So if they are the average adult who is aware of all of these truths, then why are they so outraged? And more confusingly (I understand rage is an easier emotion than sorrow, and often is sorrow's mask) why is it the US governments job to be these girls' parents? Why should the US be responsible for finding their daughters any more than it is responsible to help the haitian citizens? US has the recourses to help and for that reason I think we should, but no parent has a right to be outraged that the government didn't protect their child in a foreign country; a child's protection is a parents job. I do know that the airport in Haiti is not in working condition, and the roads to it are impassible, but if someone should be going over to dig out those girls, shouldn't it be their fathers and brothers? Shouldn't it be the people who love them and feel a responsibility to protect and prosper them?
The constitution promises us the right to pursue our happiness; it doesn't guarantee our happiness. It promises to protect us from people who would threaten to take our right to pursue life, liberty, and happiness... not to protect us from ourselves or from nature. So ask the government to help, but don't act like it's their job to protect or raise your children. Be careful what you wish for, your wishes may come true... imagine a world where we're all parented by the government... yikes!
Again, my heart goes out to these families. What a hard thing to go through; just be careful at whom you point the finger.

for Godliness with contentment is great gain...

Every time I am close to being content and thankful, I check my facebook and it all goes crashing down. I see my portland friends living their (what used to be our) lives and being happy. The hardest to see I think is Polaris approaching a major break through (any of you reading this, go see them downtown friday and saturday as they perform iCHANGE). I thought I'd be a part of it, and here I am 1,000 miles away with a baby who's hungry but won't eat because it is a soothing experience that might make her sleep (and we all know how dangerous that sleeping business is).
I'm subbing which I should be thankful for, but then I see MY students on facebook and then I miss my "family". It's amazing what a difference it makes to teach someone whose life you're invested in as opposed to teaching some random kids.
My baby is beautiful, and humorous, and a gift from the Father... but then I see little Avery and wish they could be close and have baby play days.
I know now why my mom took down the pictures of me when I moved away... it's painful to be reminded of the ones you love when they're so far away. It hurts to remember who they were last time you saw them knowing that for all the moments and hours life has walked them down since that time they have changed.
Having two homes is a painful business. I guess loving is a painful business. Choosing what's best for Olivia brings me joy and contentment, but it sure is a hard choice.
The question of the hour of course is: "when are you coming back". As much as I ache for you all in Portland, it's so beautiful for Olive to have her grandparents close. They are so in love with her and she has benefited much from being near them in just these 8 weeks she's been here. I haven't closed the door, but I'm definitely waiting on God's voice for guidance. Until He calls me forward, I stand still. In the meantime, I'm going to improve my phone use skills and install skype. : )