Wish I could think of a clever title

Life never seems to happen as fast or as furious as when there is a newborn in the house. Throw in 3 more kids aged 5 and under and it's an up-all-night-tornado of a party.  Fun? Most definitely.

Unfortunately, it is also the reason that I'm busting this blog out in an old t-shirt that smells of sour milk while downing coffee from a mug that I found behind the couch. (It was cleaner than the kitchen alternatives.) I believe in prioritizing. Reading stories and playing at the park are Always more important than laundry and dishes. ;)

Another important thing that ranks really high on the Karge family priority pyramid is our up and coming  internship in the Dominican Republic with G.O. Ministries. Even in our sleep deprived state we are totally excited for this experience. There is nothing as awesome as coming together as a family to meet the needs of others. Some of the things we hope to do while in the D.R. are :

My construction expertise.

• Furthering construction on a nutrition center that we have worked on in the past
• Working with medical teams that will be conducting free clinics
• Repairing the computers that have been donated to the schools
• Translating for other teams that come to work

In order to go on our trip, we need to raise the necessary funds for both travel and the service projects that we hope to do. $6,800 is the amount that we are aiming to raise. We plan to do that by asking anyone who supports what were doing to donate, selling our stuff, and requesting support from area churches.

We figure with the sheer numbers of our Facebook friends we will have no problem meeting our goal. If everyone we know just chips in 5 bucks, we will be working to better the lives of Dominicans and Haitians by July easily. We even installed a donate button right on our blog to make it as convenient as possible. Anyone super pumped about the whole mission can also send checks with our names in the memo line to 

They call him Rebar Reece.

G.O. Ministries

11501 Plantside Drive, Suite 14 

Louisville, KY 40299

G.O. Ministries is a non-profit 501(c)(3) and will send you a receipt for use on your tax forms. For more information visit: http://www.go-ministries.org/give/donate

We will be posting updates on our Facebook page and sharing what kind of progress is being made. Some things to come are getting the kids passports all worked out, the internship training conference at the end of May, and then putting together a yard sale to turn our stuff into money that we will put where our mouths are.

A New Adventure

Dominick Karge Born 2/17/12

It's been an interesting and busy year since the Karge family's last mission trip. We've made some big decisions and had some big additions. Welcome, 9lbs 14oz, Dominick Judah Karge. :)

Back in December we felt led to apply for an internship with GO Ministries. We were unsure if we would be considered for the month long experience because of our large family and our limited availability as far Reece's work schedule was concerned. Fortunately, God doesn't ask for anything to be done that He doesn't enable one to accomplish. We were accepted to serve in the Dominican Republic for the month of July.

It has been really exciting to see how God has worked in the life of our family in order to make this opportunity possible. A few specific examples of His work in the details:

1) Reece and I were planning for a June 2012 baby and were pretty freaked out when we learned that we'd been given a February baby. A summer internship simply would not have been an option with a new born June baby- not even for me.

2) We wondered why God led us to Friends of Fort Liberte and Haiti last April. GO Ministries  works both in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. During our time in Haiti, we learned a lot about Haitian culture and the Creole language.

3) Reece was concerned that he would be unable to be away from work for 4 entire weeks. His job worked with him because the project he works on is due to be completed at that time. 

It has been an amazing ride. It's still a little scary, but it definitely helps to have so many examples of God at work. Another blessing has come in the form of GO Ministries itself. The staff's  willingness to give us an opportunity to serve as a family is awesome.

Family has nothing to do with appearances.

GO Ministries consists of a unified body of believers that values Jesus above all else. The Gospel goes forth as needs are met, and God receives the glory. It is a very special ministry in that it not only serves the people of the island of Hispaniola, (made up of the Dominican Republic and Haiti) but it equips its citizens to do the same. Relationships are facilitated between American short-term missionaries and Dominican Churches. Cultural gaps are bridged, everyone involved is blessed, and God is honored. 


GO is multifaceted in its ministry. It is involved in many different areas of service including:

• the construction of churches, nutrition centers, and a medical clinic
• sport camps designed to reach out to children and teenagers 
• facilitating short term mission trips of teams from the United States
• child sponsorship programs

For more information, check out their website. http://www.go-ministries.org/ You'll see a photo of the last team I went with on the home page. :) Caden was so small!

We can't wait to return to the place that has changed our lives. While there, our family will be serving in every and any capacity-from sharing the Gospel to cleaning out garbage cans. (Is it crazy that we are so excited about it?) The goal is to put our family in every ministry position possible in order to learn where we would fit best as long term missionaries. This is sure to be a learning and growing experience for all of us. 

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we begin to start raising the necessary funds for our trip.

Re-entry: Who we are after Haiti

It was two weeks ago that we arrived home to Worley Ave from our ten day mission to Haiti.

The view from our Haiti home in Fort Liberte.

We have been editing photos, building slide shows, reading trip journal entries, and processing. I am still struggling with how to convey our experience. 


The effects of a short-term mission trip are far reaching. They are ripples that touch areas of one's life unexpectedly. They are inexplicable cravings for chicken, beans, and rice covered in red sauce, tears of thankfulness that appear when handing a child a cold bottle of clean water, and a despondency that sets in while aimlessly pushing a cart through the local super store. 


As short-termers we have asked:
Why doesn't anyone else care about this great need?  Why were we called to go? 
We have wondered: What are we doing with or American Life? 
And stressed: How can we make  a difference?

First, I would like to say thank you to all of our supporters. Whether financially, prayerfully, or both, your continued encouragement makes coming home a hundred times easier. We don't have to wonder why other people don't care. You all show that you do. Having people who care about where we have been and how we have been serving is balm for hearts that have been broken for people in need.

This photo taken by Kris Woodrum.

As for what we are doing with our "American Life" ...this is a really plaguing  question. Reece and I are Go-ers. We love the adventure and the purpose that comes with serving the Lord full-time and out of our comfort zones. We enjoy seeing the Big things that God is doing.  

The joy of the Lord is my strength and all that kept me going.

In our missionary life, we are brave, sacrificial, and persistent. We help build feeding centers and orphanages. We evangelize the saving power of a real relationship with Jesus Christ. We give away our money, our food, and our clothes. In our missionary life, we are bold warriors for Christ. 

NERD!

In our American Life, we are Reece and Angila Karge. Reece is a software engineer. He is a devoted husband, and wonderful father. He likes comic book movies and pocket watches. Angila is a stay-at-home-mom. She cloth-diapers, home-schools, and evangelizes the evils of processed foods. In our American Life, we google how to speak with a Scottish accent. In our American Life, we are nerds.

For the Karge family, it is so much more difficult to fiercely pursue God, when we are Peter Parker. The small details are what ultimately snowball and run us down. Over the past few years, God has been teaching us to be obedient in the mundane seemingly insignificant details of daily life: what we eat, what we watch, how we parent, how we spend our money. The nerd in is us understands that time is the greatest variable. We can see that long-term obedience will yield great benefits. Every dollar we save can go toward one more brick in a wall of a feeding center. Every second we spend instructing our children in the ways of the Lord will go toward the salvation of another generation of missionary Karges. This is what we are making the purpose our American Life: To glorify God and enjoy Him forever. 

I wondered why she was born into strife, while my daughter was born to me.
This photo taken by Cherra Taylor.

Finally, we have come to accept that we can not make a difference. We can only be the instruments that God uses to make a difference. This has been simultaneously humbling and uplifting. It can be tough to realize that its not all about you, but it is also freeing. I am not going to save the world, but the world isn't depending on me to save it either.

This is how Fort Liberte, Haiti has impacted the Karges.

More Packing Fun...

It's more than enough.

Well, the group packing was finished on Saturday, but the Karge family is still going strong. While trying to get everything I need for eleven days in Haiti stuffed into a carry-on is difficult, trying to anticipate the needs of three children who will also be away from home for eleven days is by far the greater of the two evils.


It has actually been a great exercise in "What do I REALLY need?" Also, it puts all that I have into better perspective: "I really own 10 solid colored t-shirts?" Being a person that enjoys the simplicity that comes from owning less stuff, I was surprised to learn that (when not looking through the American lens) Im a shopping happy, materialistic, sale-monger.

"You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God."- 2 Corinthians 9:11.  This applies to so much more than just stuff, and Im excited to share every gift I have been given. These are the bits of wisdom God has been sending my way while packing. I can't wait to see what He reveals when we are actually serving.

Partying while Packing for Haiti: Part One

With somewhere around ten days till departure, it has been all about the details.

Tons of items were donated for the people of Fort Liberte.

Friday night I dropped the kids off for a trial sleepover at the Asberry residence. Then, Reece and I went to pick up a few trip necessities: Sunscreen, bug spray, and batteries. I spent most of the outing checking my phone and trying not to worry. There was planning about donations and getting them to the church, and some dinner somewhere in there too. I took my daughter's blanket to bed with me. I'm praising God that Bethan has been so patient with my neediness. She texted to ask if I was okay because apparently the kids were doing great. :/ I would never had noticed that I had such trust issues concerning my children if God hadn't required this journey. This is another praise because trust and obedience are so entirely connected.

 This is a blurry phone pic, but still proof of my packing prowess

Saturday morning was a group packing day at Clarksburg Baptist Church.  We battled a group of bikers to get downtown.... and by bikers I mean racers on bicycles. It was an excellent time of fellowship and team-building. We were very blessed by the generosity of all the people that donated items to be taken to the Haitians. It was incredible. People were beyond generous; the items were thoughtful, and it was awesome. We loaded these gifts into 50 lb. army duffel bags that will be nearly impossible to carry.  :D Excitement is starting to edge its way past the terror. There is no better remedy for selfishness than serving others.  

Mission Haiti: Short-term with the Friends of Fort Liberte

We are three weeks from our date of departure, and in hindsight, I should have started this blog much sooner.

This has been a new challenge in the Karge family's walk with the Lord, and I really want to include our supporters in the amazing and exciting (sometimes difficult and painful) thing that God is doing. So here is a recap:

I wasn't quite up to caring for this crew on a plane.

May 2010: Alyssa Lillian Karge was born. A short-term trip to Batey Cuchillo was scheduled for that June. For the first time, the Karge family stayed state side while a group from Morgantown went to minister to dominican haitians living in bateys. 

October 2010: We were challenged to get more involved with our new church family at Fellowship Bible Church in Bridgeport. We joined a great small group and were really starting to feel connected here in Clarksburg.

Reece II in Batey Cuchillo

November 2010: We received the sad news that any further short-term mission trips to Batey Cuchillo have been put on hold, as our former church  endured a season of change and growth.

At this point, Reece and I were distressed because of passion for overseas missions and the deep love we have for  Batey Cuchillo in the Dominican Republic. It was during this time that we were challenged to break with the comfort zone that was our previous experience in Morgantown, and embrace fully the new family  God had given us in Clarksburg.

December 2010: It was during the December 26th church service at FBC that a trip to Haiti was announced. We were told that there were 8 spots available for people who wanted to go and serve there.

This meant that our children would be unable to accompany us for the first time ever.

 I thought, "No way." 

God said to both Reece and I, "Go."

We spoke with the pastor in charge, and I was secretly relieved to learn that there was an application process. "This is a very large body of believers," I reassured my self. " We are relatively new here and just getting settled. What are they odds that they will actually accept us?"  Obviously, God doesn't ask for something and, then not provide the way. They warmly accepted us, and the war within my heart began.

January 2011: The Karge family made serious overhauls in budget and lifestyle in order to better steward the blessings we have received. We prayed for God to send like-minded believers to partner with us in prayer and financial support. We asked that He provide someone to care for our three small children while we were away for ten days. Although joyous at the prospect of serving in Haiti, I secretly hoped that no one would come forward so that I would not have to trust the Lord with the care of my children.

February 2011: As we worked with the other members of Team Mission Haiti, it became more and more apparent that the Lord had left no escape hatch. This team is a group of God-loving, sacrificial, servants that will leave no one behind. They will help us find a way to get to where God has commanded us to go. I stopped secretly thinking anything because it was completely useless. God had somehow found me out anyway. I full out panicked. 

The Lord lovingly reassured me in every moment of doubt:

He made His presence known at the Valentine's Dinner fundraiser. The body at FBC came together to support the team in full force. I was humbled and very blessed.

God provided  dear friends to care for our kids. An amazing lady of the Lord volunteered to to take the entire ten days off of work to make it as easy as possible on the children. She and her husband expressed great excitement over serving in this way. 

Caden in the midst of madness.

I surrendered and am continually surrendering. 

March 2011: The Lord opened up the floodgates and blessed us in abundance. FBC got behind its team again with an amazing turn out at the March Madness for Missions rummage sale. Other members of our family in Christ stepped forward to partner with us. 

Reece and I are absolutely staggered by the awesomeness of God. Our faith and trust has grown exponentially in the light of His mercy and patience during this time. This is the God we are honored to serve. This is the beginning of Mission Haiti. Thank you for your prayer and practical support. I can not wait to see what the Lord has in store for when we are actually there.