Our New Addition

It is with exciting and overjoyed hearts

that we announce...

Baby #4

coming March 14th!

To say that we were surprised is a bit of an understatement.

Truly, this sweet gift was not on our radar and that is why we are overjoyed 

knowing God has plans for this ever-growing Maiocca family.

I am officially 12 weeks this past Friday and 

YES

we will be finding out what we are having! :-))

I have to know. I've already had enough surprises.

I have to say, the last 8 weeks has been utter torment.

Whoever created the tern "morning sickness" apparently was a man.

I have been struck down with "morning sickness' 24/7 for the past 8 weeks.

Sleeping on the bathroom floor became my new bed. Ugh!

Someone said that the "morning sickness' gets worst with every pregnancy.

I am here today to say,

Yep, I agree.

With all that being said, I am excited that I believe I am finally moving out of this sick-stage of pregnancy.

(I never thought I would see the day.)

I have had several good days scattered around and I am hopeful I will be normal SOON!

Whatever "normal" is: I want it!

I'm excited again to start writing about my Uganda trip as my heart LONGS daily

to be in that country with those beautiful people.

Something happened to me while I was there and I truly will never be the same.

Sometimes I just sit and look at all my pictures and I can still smell the smells, hear the sounds,

see the big brown eyes filled with tears, feel their hands holding mine.

I left my heart in Uganda and I pray for the day we return.

But until then, I will continue to unfold the memories from my heart onto paper.

I will continue to relive those precious moments and treasure all the memories

and share them with you the best I could.

They are simply priceless.

But first things first... 

Entering second trimester strong and well. 

I'm praying everyday, this will be the day.

Stay tuned...

"For you created my inmost being;

    you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made"

Psalm 139:13-14

Thank you Jesus! ♥ 

Does She Know?

One of my most favorite pictures of the whole trip:

She was walking down this dirt road, 

alone

barefoot,

pregnant.

Where is she going?
What is her name?

Does she have other children?

What has her life been like?

Is she hurting?

Does she have a home?

Does she have enough food and water?

I wonder all these things as I look intently at her face.

Her eyes tell a story.

Do you see it?

I would do anything to sit and listen to her share her life.

My heart breaks for this woman. 

I don't know why.

I believe she is hurting.

Does she know Jesus?

Has anyone ever told her of His unfailing love?

That He sent His Son to

DIE FOR HER?

Does she know this?

Does she know she can live forever in eternity with Him

if she would just believe?

"For God so loved the world

that he gave his one and only Son,

that whoever believes in him

shall not perish but have eternal life."

John 3:16 

Has anyone ever told her about Jesus?

I feel it is my job.

I need to go back.

I need to tell her about my Jesus.

If I don't, who will?

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.

Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest

to send out laborers into his harvest."

Luke 10:2

Miles Upon Miles - Uganda

After we landed at Entebee International Airport we quickly loaded up into 3 different taxi's and begun the trip to our 'African hotel' where we would be staying for the next 2 weeks.

Like I mentioned before, I thought I knew what it would be like.

What it would look like. What it would NOT smell like.

I clearly had no idea.

For the next hour we drove through town-after-town, passing

village-after-village straight into the capital city of Kampala.

My mind could not accept all that I was seeing.

For miles upon miles, as far as the eye could see:

Poverty.

100% poverty!

Aside every dirt road

Behind every "house"

 Up every hill

Around every corner…

POVERTY.

Miles Upon Miles … 

complete POVERTY all around.

Little toddler children alone next to extremely busy roads.

Dogs wondering the street. Sleeping anywhere they could.
(Some piled 3 high, dead on the roadside,

waiting to be burned.)

Goats roaming the streets looking for anything to eat.

Mopeds called "bota-bota's" (taxi's) coming within HAIRS of slamming head-on into your vehicle.

People everywhere.

Dirt everywhere.

No running water.

No trash system.

No plumbing.
No sanitation. 

The ‘homes’ are mounded together by cardboard boxes, brick and mud.

Children everywhere.

Babies with no diapers.

Toddlers with no clothes.

Shoes? You tell me. 

My mind was spinning.

Miles upon miles.

Endless poverty.

I believe it was at this point that my spirit
and my heart went into a bit of a shock.

I truly had no clue how to process or make sense
of much of what I was seeing.

Maybe it was just me. Perhaps everyone expected it to be like this…
I sure didn’t

My spirit was paralyzed.

As bad as it may sound (and at times I admit it sounds negative)

it is truly not the case...

I fell in love with Uganda.

In all the chaos, in all the filth,
in all the pollution, in all the need,
the Lord was revealing Himself to me
in ways that only He can
in a situation like this.

To the average Joe, it looked horrible.
It smelled horrible.
No one in their right mind would bring their family
here for a vacation. 
This would be absurd.

However, as my spirit went into shock,
my God was there ministering to me.
It was as if He was sitting right next to me
in the taxi whispering in my ear.

It was as if I could hear Him say,

“These are my people.
The children represent me.
What will you do? 
Will you humble yourself and love my people
or will you turn your heart against them?
I did not call you for your own selfish gain.
I called you to deny yourself,
pick up your cross and follow Me,
no matter what it looks like.
I am calling you.

What will it be?”

The taxi ride to our hotel was a great trial for me.
Every ounce of my spirit was tested
in ways I could not explain.

However, I can tell you this,
I weep now at the thought of going back.
I would leave tomorrow if I could.

The smells, the filth, the poverty,
the hunger, the needs… the children… the people…
they have stolen my heart.

I asked the Lord months ago
to break my heart for what breaks His…

I believe He has started His work.

"He defended the cause of the poor and needy,
    and so all went well.
Is that not what it means to know me?'
    declares the Lord."

Jeremiah 22:16 

The Unfolding of Memories - Uganda

Here I am finally sitting down to write about my

experience in Uganda. Its about time, right?

I know.

To say it's been hard to download all that I witnessed and had the privilege to be part of is an understatement. Little did I know that the days following my return would be some of the hardest of my life. I'm an emotional mess person anyways and thus

"coming down the mountain," coupled with severe jet lag,

nearly put me over the edge.

I found it difficult even to verbalized to my husband many of the experiences. The suffering I witnessed has left a scar that will forever hurt to touch.

Much of the sorrow I internalized and shoved down into my heart. I realized later this was not good. For several days I found it hard to leave my house. I dreaded seeing anyone I knew for fear I would just collapse in tears when they asked, "So how was your trip?" I had no way of answering that without crying. So I basically went into hiding. (note to self: don't do that again.)

It's been a little over a month since I have returned and I feel that I am ready to start writing. Many times I sat down to write and had no idea where to start. A part of me still feels that way but I realize I must start somewhere, right?  "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." This is what I am telling myself anyway.

I have 900 stories I want to share with you but I need to do it one at a time. Please join with me on this journey as I re-live much of my trip and journal it; not only for my friends, but also for myself, my husband, and my children. This trip was beyond precious to me, life changing and faith building so I need to do 'this' right.

While we were in Africa, my friend Jessica said:

"God knew what He was doing when He created Africa.

And God knew what He was doing when He created America." 

WOW! It's so so true!

My friends, Africa has become the center of my heart.

I have fallen in love with a nation, a people and a culture that is simply breathtaking. I am exciting to walk through this journal of memories with you as they unfold in my mind.

Many people have asked, "Was it just what you imagined?

Was it everything you had thought it would be?"

The best way I can answer this question is like this:

It's like that person on the phone who you have never seen in person but you have talked to several times. You have created a picture in your mind of what you think they look like but you really have no idea. Then the day comes when you get to meet face to face. When you see them, you are taken back because they look totally different than you had imagined. There is nothing wrong with how they look, it's just different than what you had in mind.

That is how Africa was for me.

I pictured it a certain way. I looked at many pictures and surrounded myself with different stories and faces. I thought I knew what it was going to be like....but I had no idea.

I had no idea that the poverty would be so appalling.

I had no idea that the smells would actually be a stench.

I had no idea how many people I would see in dire need,

everywhere!

 

I simply had no idea!

I walked into the unknown of Africa as a girl who had no clue of anything outside of the comforts of my American lifestyle.

(I quickly came to realize,

I've never been in need of anything a day in my life.)

Today, I walk as a woman who knows.

I have seen. I have touched. I have smelled. I have loved.

Stay tuned...

"Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor

will himself call out and not be answered."

Proverbs 21:13

I Am One

As excited as I am,

I am also terrified.

I KNOW I am going to see things

that will break my heart

and change my life forever...

However,

we only live once.

It's time to make a difference!

"I am only one, but I am one.

I cannot do everything, but I can do something.

What I can do, I ought to do.

What I ought to do, by the grace of God,

I will do."

 

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

Matthew 5:13:15 

4 Days till departure

My Trip to Uganda and God's Faithful Provision

I’m ecstatic to share with you a breathtaking testimony that

God’s provision is UNDENIABLE.

True

Realistic

Honest

Faithful

Authentic

Factual

Genuine

Indisputable

Unquestionable

Irrefutable

Catchin my drift?

All throughout my marriage I have seen the Lord provide for my family in ways that are precious, powerful and sweet reminders that HE is in control, not us.  (phew)

From the moment Chris and I said “I Do”, the Lord has abundantly blessed us in ways that we know, without a doubt, are direct provisions from Him.

A few examples would be:

* Chris’s whole college tuition was paid in full.

* Surprise check in the mail that paid off our cars.

* Along with 100 other times the Lord blessed us with money

to help with the needs at that time.

* Family orphan fundraiser “Bread FOR Life” raised over $7000 to date.

(I mean, really, who would have ever thought that baking
a few loaves of pumpkin bread would do THAT?)

I am serious when I say; God’s provision is perfect and true.

You may wonder…

Are we rich?

Do we have fat bank accounts?

Are we swimming in $100 bills?

Do we blow our noses with $50’s?

No. No. No and NO!

We don’t own a house.

We don’t want to.

We don’t have new cars.

We don’t need them.

We don’t wear expensive designer clothes.

Thrift store shops have way more treasures

than any mall could ever.

We don’t own a boat.

We rather camp.

We don’t seek the latest and greatest of anything.

It’s all going to burn someday anyways.

Ha! That is seriously how I look at things.

I have told my husband 1000 times and I will continue to encourage this message to him…

we don’t need anything!

Now don’t get me wrong. I am not bashing or speaking ill of anyone who owns a home or a boat or anything like that. And hey, if you blow your nose with a $50.00 bills, more power to you. All I am saying, for our family, WE don’t need those things.

Life for me is about serving Jesus,

teaching my children to love and serve Jesus

and trusting Him to provide for our daily needs.

That’s it.

So anyways, here is my cool story I want to share:

As most of you know I am leaving for Africa in 2 weeks.

Uganda to be exact.

 I am traveling with a mission group 

“International Voice of theOrphan”.

We are going to love on the babies in orphanages,

feed the children on the street of Kampala

and lead a VBS for about 450 children while the men in our group teach a pastor’s conference for the men of Uganda.

Sounds pretty powerful, right?

I can’t wait.

Chris and I knew it was the Lord’s will for me to go on this trip.

We started praying.

Realistically, we do not have the almost $4000 needed to send me on this trip but we knew… we knew if it’s the Lord’s will,

He will provide. 

Several people from our church inquired about the finances and we left it at that. After some time went by,
it was time for me to send off a check.

In faith, Chris and I wrote the first check from our saving account.

 (Honestly I thought, “Well Hannah is going to be a missionary anyways, she doesn’t need to go to college. And Phoebe, well, she doesn’t need a fancy beach wedding, she can get married in our backyard and we can BBQ. Poor kids. Haha)

Thankfully,

 God’s plans are not our plans.

His ways are not our ways.

Chris and I were completely ready to write the second check.

We figured, God has always provided for us,

why He would stop now. He wouldn't!

He will provide the money for anything we need in the future as well as right now.

Within days of me sending off my final check,

it happened.

The news that shocked me, blessed me and made me cry.

We got the news that, 

My trip is being
PAID IN FULL!

Every penny of my trip is being funded.

Covered.

Provided for.

Every.Penny.

Praise GOD!

This is just another example to me that when God’s heart is the center of your heart,

He will take care of us.

He will take care of my family.
He will provide for ALL our needs.

I prayed that there would be support… but seriously?

The whole trip?

Paid?

YES!

My God owns ALL the cattle on a thousand hills.

(and He owns the hills too)

~wink~

He doesn’t need our little savings account to accomplish His work. In fact, He gives it back.

I just received a REIMBURSEMENT check from my first check.
 

Only HIM.

So I am here to remind you...

God’s provision is UNDENIABLE

True

Realistic

Honest

Faithful

Authentic

Factual

Genuine

Indisputable

Unquestionable

Irrefutable

"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 

Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever."

 Philippians 4:19-20