V's BLOG

                        9/2/08 LOLA's STORY:

From Left to Right: Lexi, Liz, Me, Lola and Lori

About 2 months ago, my mother and I were driving home one day together. We live in a hilly area and were coming around the last bend just seconds from our home. As we came around the bend, we noticed a car blocking our way parked in the middle of the street. The driver door was open and a women was bending over looking under the front of our car. My mother put the car in park and hopped out of the driver seat to see what was going on. I peered through my passenger seat window and noticed a small yorkie terrier sitting close to the front tire under the car bleeding. I was unsure if she had been hit, but being the pet lover I am I, of course, jumped out of the car following my mother. As I walked over to the car I noticed 2 large dogs behind it barking towards us. The woman then informed us that she had not hit the small yorkie, but that the yorkie somehow got under her car to get away from the 2 dogs who had previously attacked it. She scooped up the yorkie and handed it over for my mother and I to care for. My mother and I rushed the dog back to her house and I cleaned the blood off of her mouth in our bathroom sink. She was as quiet as a mouse and didn't seem injured any other places. I soon noticed that her backlegs were crossed and she could not stand up. My mother, having to leave to take my younger brother to an appt., told me she would post signs around the area when she returned. I left the house (knocking on a few neighbors doors) and then took the dog to an emergency pet hospital down the street. I soon found out that the dog had bite marks on it and it appeared that the 2 dogs had attempted to rip it apart and in the process snapped it's back in half causing it to be paralyzed. "If you can't pay for the dog, then we can't keep it," said the nurse. No collar, no ID, no information on an owner and as broke as I am...no money. I begged and pleaded with the nurses to let me see the doctor. The doctor agreed to keep "her" which is now being called "Coach" according to the coach collar she was wearing, overnight and place her on IV's due to the agony she was most likely in. My mother soon called me an hour and a half later after posting only 2 signs and informed the owners FOUND HER while posting signs! They asked my mom, "Have you seen a yorkie???" hysterically desparate to find their lost baby. My mother informed them of the hospital and they quickly went down and paid for their dog, "Lola's" back surgery while knowing that she would only have a 50/50 chance of ever walking again. 2 months have now passed and Lola is doing MORE THAN WALKING! She is running! Jumping! Playing! She has the most energy! Lori and Liz (Lola's parents) wanted so badly to give back to "Lola's Angels." After receiving information about the mission trip to Uganda, they decided to become my first contributors!!! It's amazing how God will use you in other's lives and the blessing comes back. I expected NOTHING in return from these people who barely knew me, but even still God moved them to provide! Thank you Lori and Liz for being such a Blessing upon my life!!! He is AWEsome!

8/29/08 Earlier this summer I applied to go with my church on a missions trip to Uganda. I had a lot going on, especially when it comes to financial challenges, but I felt I was being called to this specific mission. I decided to step out on faith and apply. At the beginning of August, I got a called telling me I had been accepted to go and was more than thankful to be chosen for something so amazing! The next week, I had my first meeting and met the rest of team. Wow! I couldn't believe where I was placed. Being around so many other people having the common goal of being a servant was overwhelmingly the most warm feeling I have ever felt! This team includes extremely blessed people who realize the importance of blessing others with the necessities we so often times take for granted: clean water, basic food, electricity, health care and even education. To the people of Uganda, these are luxuries that they can only dream of having at the very least. Our team is going over with the hope of making some small difference in the lives of the people we are able to reach, but know that it is us who will be forever changed.