As I sit here in my easy chair, fighting off the chill from our single pane windows with my grandma’s old comforter wrapped snugly around myself, I’m taking joy in the little things like watching Wheel of Fortune and listening to my little boy coo his heart out. Life is good. Jake has a new obsession with sucking on any type of cloth he can find…bibs, shirts, blankets, towels, whatever. I find it rather cute, but my sweet wife finds it revolting. She has a strange aversion to cotton against her teeth and seeing Jake happily chewing his bath towel covered in ducks is almost more than she can handle. It makes me think about the strange things that freak some of us out but don’t bother others in the slightest. Here’s another one:

I read alot and sometimes when I’m turning a page my fingernails will scrape against the paper. For some reason, it makes me shudder and want to stop reading almost everytime. Since I am given to fits of insanity, I will invariably become distracted by the thought and feeling of scraping the stupid page over and over again. Sometimes it leads to thoughts of another paper related faux pas of mine and I can’t get the idea of deep manilla envelope paper cuts between my fingers out of my head. I hate even writing about it and my fingers are tingling nervously as I type.

I could go on an on about things that make me cringe. Seeing someone turn an ankle on TV; hearing a fork scrape against a plate; thinking about biting my tongue off (strange, I know); thinking about having a splinter shoved under my toenails; thinking about shutting my finger in a car door; and the list goes on and on. So, I’ll put it to you: Do you have anything like chewing on socks or scraping a paper with your fingernail that really bugs you and gets under your skin? If so, tell the world all about it.

Before I go, here are a couple more recent pictures of Jake, who has apparently decided 7 pm is his fussy time of the day.

I know many read this blog, and due to the Appalachian Trail info, many of the readers are from around the world. As such, I feel right now is an appropriate time to use it as a means of letting everyone know about the daily trials and successes of my dear friend Tina Isenhower, who is being used in amazing ways, serving as a missionary to the people of Haiti. This is the 2nd email update of hers I am passing along and will continue to do so in the coming days. If you have questions about how you can help, please feel free to respond here on the post or at joe.wisley@rainbowcamp.org.

FROM TINA ISENHOWER 

January 18, 2010

      Dad, a couple of my workers, and I went into Jacmel today to look for food to buy.  We were able to find some.  But it took us all day.  We were not able to find what we needed to feed the kids all in one place.  We could not find more than a couple 100 lb. bags of rice or beans at any one place.  But we are thankful that we were able to make 4 trips to town today with food.

     Dad and I went to the hospital today to visit people.  We still have no foreign aid or Doctors at the hospital.  People are still sleeping outside because the hospital is so damaged.    Everyone has a story of how they survived or of people that they have lost.

     The lady with the fractured arm still hasn’t had it amputated.  Her flesh is literally rotting off and there is nothing worse than smelling rotten flesh except burning flesh.

     The little baby who is about 26 days old is barely hanging on.  They can not find oxygen for him.  His grandma was holding him and tears was running down his mother’s face.  This is their first child.  The only thing the Haitian Doctors and Cuban doctors can do it give him IV’s to keep him hydrated and hope help will arrive soon.

     I am so overwhelmed I do not know what to do.  I feel exhausted mentally and physically.  It is hard to sleep.  When I close my eyes I keep seeing images of demolished buildings, dead people laying on the street, and faces of little children.  We are still experiencing tremors from the earthquake almost daily.  People are still sleeping in the streets and in open lots.

Tomorrow is another day of service for the King.  I pray God will lead me to the people who need it the most.  I am trying to access the damage done to my workers homes, but the saddest thing is that I haven’t found a family yet who has not lost someone in the earthquake either in Jacmel or Port-au-Prince. 

     I am so thankful to have my parents and Linda Roller here right now helping me.  Dad and I go out in search of food to buy to give to the people while Mom and Linda sort and repackage it, getting it ready to distribute.

January 19, 2010

     Today Dad and I got up at 5:00 a.m. and went to Marigot where the merchant ships come in 2 times a week to sell in bulk to businesses.  We were not able to get rice or beans but we were able to flour, sugar, oil, fish, and salami.  We were very thankful!  This took most of the morning.  It still amazes me how God has been providing for us.

     We got almost all of our staple items in 100lb bags.  Mom and Linda Roller and the little girls who are staying with us temporarily, repackaged all the food we have gotten so far into smaller packages to give away. 

     Dad and I went back to Jacmel to try and find more beans and rice.  We didn’t make it back until around 3:00 p.m.  I was exhausted.  I went straight to bed and slept for a couple of hours. 

     I did not go to the hospital today because I just couldn’t handle it emotionally.

     Tomorrow is a new day.

January 20, 2010

Between 5:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. this morning my dogs and all the other dogs started howling.  The first thought that ran thru my mind was someone else has died in the area, but then the whole house started shaking again.  I jumped out of bed and was met in the hallway by Rachel, LeeLein (her friend), and Linda.  I ran to check on Mom and Dad and Rachel and LeeLein ran to check on the little girls.  I heard Rachel calling them.  She said why did you stay in your room, Jeanette(9 years old) told her the only thing we knew to do was get on our knees on our bed and pray.   

    So our day began early again.  I helped distribute some food from our mission house to employees and people in our area who needed it. 

     Mom and Linda finished packing up the food boxes with the help of our littlest house guests.

     I felt so overwhelmed today that I snuck off by myself and went to the hospital.  I was very excited to see that the Canadian Army had arrived the night before and had started putting up hospital tents to protect the people from the rain and sun.  The Doctors were trying to do what they could.  Some of the platoon was sorting supplies but still waiting on other supplies to arrive.  I talked to them a little bit and offered to translate for them if they needed me.  They said they were in good shape for right now but wanted to keep in touch with me, so I gave them my cell phone number.

     I was sad to learn the little boy who needed oxygen died right before they arrived.  I saw another baby about a month old and talked to her mother.  The mother told me the little girl was only 15 days old when the earthquake hit.  Her mom put her on her bed and went outside to get water.  When the earthquake hit she ran to get her baby and saw her house crumble before her.  She was devastated.  She thought her baby was dead.  Eight days later later when they started removing the rubble, they found the baby still on the bed and alive!!!!  Her Mom said she was a gift from God and she had to have a Bible name.  She named her Elizabeth.  The baby was barely breathing but she was put on IV’s and the only other thing wrong with her is her private areas had diaper rash because there was no one to change her.  This story brought tears to my eyes.

     I talked to a lady whose sister and 8 month old baby girl were pulled from a collapsed house.  The baby has severe head injuries and a broken leg.  I am hoping the baby will make it now that the Canadian Army is here.  The mother is not doing well either.  The Aunt is staying with the baby.

     Every where I look there are injured people.  What is hardest for me to handle is the children.  I saw a 4 year old today and he also had severe head injuries as well as several broken bones.  He also was in a house that collapsed.

    I am so thankful to have my parents and Linda here helping me right now.  They are a big blessing.   Tomorrow we are expecting around 1,500 children to feed.

January 21, 2010

     Today all of us got up early and went to the school by 6:00 a.m. to help get food ready since we were feeding extra children and adults.      I was in town (Jacmel) by 8:00 a.m. with Dad and Linda looking for spoons and bowls.  We were not very successful.  We had so many children we did not have room for them.  We gave out tickets so we wouldn’t have a mob.  Everything went well until a little after 12 noon.  Another tremor hit and moved cafeteria tables and other furniture in the school.  I thought we were having another earthquake.  Everyone ran outside.  Food went everywhere in the kitchen and Linda got knocked down by people trying to run out of the building.  Thankfully she just hurt her leg and her injuries were not more serious.  While we were all gathered in the yard about 10 minutes later, another tremor came thru.    Everyone ran out into the road.

     I decided not to feed the kids at school any more because we are still having bad tremors.  We gave out tickets again and tomorrow we will give everyone rice, beans, oil, canned herring and other food items to cook at their house. 

     Supplies are running low in Jacmel.  It is very difficult to find rice. 

     I came home played with the little girls who are staying with us, ate, and then I was finally able to get a couple hours sleep today and woke up less tired and my mind is a little clearer.

     I think at least 75% of the schools we had in jacmel have now been destroyed or damaged to the point they need to come down and be rebuilt.

     Many of you have asked what is needed.  I am still accessing everything.  After the bad tremors we have had this week we have even more damage.  Houses that were damaged before are no longer standing and houses that were not damaged are now damaged.  We all feel like we can’t even start cleaning up because you start and then a tremor goes thru and you have more damage.

      I was happy to see that the Canadian Army and other organizations gave out pup tents.  So now the people who are sleeping outside and in the streets have something to keep the rain off of them.

     I am overwhelmed by the prayers and e-mails we have received.  I will try to get to everyone’s e-mails as soon as I can.

God Bless

Tina Isenhower

Missionary to Haiti

Many of you may know I traveled to Haiti with a team from camp last spring and spent some time working on building a church camp about 40 miles south of Port au Prince, near Jacmel, on the south coast of the island. We stayed with a lady named Tina, who was also our missionary out at camp this summer. She grew up in Indiana but has lived in Haiti over 25 years, building a school for over 1000 kids, starting churches, and changing the world. She’s done all this while being almost blind due to some nearly lethal anti-malaria meds she was given when she first arrived. She was in PAP during the earthquake and I wanted to post her story of the first few days. It is long and hastily written, but well worth the read. Please take time to read this and pray God continues to use her in amazing ways. The picture below shows Gerard Eustache, a wonderful man who lost his home and about 15 people in his church.

Gerard and me, talking into the night @ Tina's

Tried to post these for a while, but had issues…Got this old fella the Saturday after Thanksgiving using a gun made by my brother John, the .358 Wisley. Shot him on the run from about 60 yards. I’m guessing around 175 lbs dressed out…sure makes great chili!

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8 years ago this holiday season, I spent some time with my bride-to-be in Chicago, celebrating Christmas with her family. The month before, I had asked her dad for permission to marry her, at a Denny’s restaurant no less, and I was happy to have been given the go ahead. Things were running along smoothly over Christmas break until my 1993 Blazer, Old Blue, threw a serpentine belt in the parking lot of Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park. A belt isn’t that expensive, but I barely had enough money to my name to cover gas on the way back home. Without knowing my situation, Mel’s dad, Bob, offered to pay for the belt and I gladly accepted. Melissa knew I didn’t have much money, and also knew I wasn’t working that semester (I’d saved my money from my summer job and decided I would enjoy one last semester spending time with my friends before real life called my number!). What she didn’t know was the reason I had no money was because I’d purchased an engagement ring for her with my savings, and that I was planning to start working as soon as second semester started. Armed with the limited knowledge she had of my finances, she shared with her dad all of her concerns about my lack of funds and that she had no idea how I would even be able to afford an engagement ring. This prompted dear sweet dad to take his future son-in-law on a little drive around town. I knew what was coming, and to make the conversation a bit shorter and sweeter, I stuffed the little ring box in my pocket and pulled it out at just the right time. After seeing I had already purchased a ring, Bob breathed a bit easier knowing I would work hard to care for his daughter, and we had a good ole time visiting different parts stores trying to track down the aforementioned serpentine.
          Later in the week, as we were celebrating at her Uncle Joe and Aunt Deb’s, Mel’s worries finally got the best of her and she let me have it with both barrels. She had tons of heated questions about my work ethic, money saving principles, ability to care for her and a family, you know, all sorts of fun stuff! I tried to reassure her I would always take good care of our family, even pick up an extra job if needed, and she didn’t need to worry, but it finally came down to me blurting out “I’ve already got your freaking ring!” At that point, her eyes leaked a little bit, the conversation took a much brighter turn, and we were able to move past her concerns. It was a Merry Christmas indeed, as less than a month later, we were engaged!
           I tell you all that to bring us to the present. Due to my job at camp which requires me to raise my own support, we’re at a point financially where I’ve had to pick up that extra work I promised I was willing to pick up 8 years ago. We just picked up health insurance and were charged for the first 2 months at one time, plus recently picked up a car payment, plus have the expenses of having a new son, plus lots of other stuff I won’t bore you with. As it stands, after paying our necessary bills, we have a little less than $100 to get us through the month. I know this is something of our choosing, and I’m perfectly happy with our position in life, but it has made for a very busy Christmas break around our house. Aside from a few days in Chicago, I’ve spent most every possible work day just outside of Bedford, my hometown, at Crane Naval Base, working with my brother on a job remodeling one of the office buildings for the Army. It’s an hour long drive from my brother Josh’s house, where I’ve been staying, and we’ve usually been on the road by around 6-6:15. I generally get back around dark, and have just enough time to shower, get something to eat, and think about bed. It’s a tiring schedule, while trying to keep up with things at camp, but the extra money has certainly made a difference the last few weeks. I’m hoping to be able to keep up some extra work on the side for as long as necessary to make ends meet. We’re currently at about 65% of our monthly fundraising goal, and if I can avoid hitting myself in the knee with a sledgehammer again in the near future, I should be able to make up the difference until our fundraising allows the extra work to yield extra money, instead of necessary money. This is the part of the blog for the obligatory “If you’re looking for a place to send your tithes and offerings, I know a guy working at a camp whose family could really make a difference with it” speech! Seriously though, if you’d like to partner with us to make a difference in the lives of thousands of people both here and around the world, let me know and we’ll chat.
         To further explain the sledgehammer comment, I was working on Tuesday, trying to bust off some bolts that were hopelessly stuck in 60 year old concrete where we are doing the remodel. I was on my knees with a 3 lb sledge and swinging it hard enough to bend the 1/2 inch bolts one way and then the other to break it off. I had managed to bend one away from me and was trying to hammer it back when one of my swings glanced off the bolt and found it’s mark on the meaty part of my knee, just above the knee cap. For that, I was fortunate, as hitting my knee cap would have probably shattered it. I did what I generally do when I’m in so much pain I can barely speak, I laughed. For me, that’s my general response to pain, as it keeps me from crying or cussing! The next couple days were rough, as I had to keep my leg out straight to even bend over, but it feels better now. The only bad part is having to tell everyone that yes, I was a big enough idiot to hit myself with a sledgehammer!
            To close this one off, I know I’m not the only one whose ever had to pick up an extra job, so let the world know what your craziest side job has been. I know there’s some weird stuff out there. I think mine was dressing up like a two-legged horse and spouting off about how great 1340 WBIW is as a radio station. Perks: $25/hr and no one can actually see your face. Drawbacks: Wearing a 50 lb horse costume in 90 degree+ heat, having to keep bags of ice in your “hooves” to keep the blood circulating past your wrists cool enough to keep you alive!

Happy New Year everyone!

Last year, after the hike was over, I was intent on keeping the beard as long as possible…that lasted all of 3 days since we were heading to Mel’s 10 yr reunion…So, here are the pics of the beard coming off…thinking about growing it back, what do you think?

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I was raised with the mantra above continually being repeated to me as it related to any facet of my life. My dad never cared if I got straight A’s, as long as my best effort didn’t result in straight A’s. If I could produce at that level, then I’d better bring home every report card covered in A’s, the more +’s, the better. Thus, it was second semester of my freshman year of college before I ever got anything less than an A on any subject on any report card. The class was LART, a snore of a class at AU that teaches the history of the church of God movement and other junk I didn’t really care about. Halfway through the semester, I tore ligaments in my ankle and had to miss a few classes as a result. My doctor visits were mostly during LART class and, since I was working to get my education at a place that gave you lower marks for poor attendance and not just poor performance, I received the aforementioned lower grade (a B+) and was livid. I called my dad, looking to get a sympathetic ear and some empathy for my anger, and his flippant response was simply, “Life sucks, then you die.” For him, he knew I’d tried my best given the circumstances, and that was enough.

Earlier in my life, one of my chores was taking out the trash at our house each week. It was the only time I ever ventured into the room on the right at the end of the hall. My two older brothers, James and John, called those few square feet home and kept Josh and I out under threat of death and dismemberment. At one point though, someone (it wasn’t me) snuck into the room, poured a bottle of deer pee (used for hunting, not medicinally!) on John’s bed, and lived to tell about it. While the culprit will remain nameless, he’s the best twin brother ever! I remember one particular chore day when I cautiously made my way into the filth hole where James and John slept and reached for the red plastic barrel-shaped trash can just inside the door on the left. I knew if I went in further than needed to reach the trash, my life was forfeit, so I determined to quickly dump the trash into my bag and be gone before anyone saw reason to harass me. I got the trash in the black bag and had turned to leave when I felt a hand grab the back of my neck and pull me back into the darkness. I was sure I was a goner! I held my breath and waited for the beating I was certain to endure, but it never came. The lights came on, and there stood my oldest brother, clutching my shoulder in one hand and the trash can in the other. My look was one of sheer terror, but for once, his was a look a kindness, sort of. He pointed to the inside of the trash can and asked what I saw. As I looked, still expecting death at any moment, I managed to stammer about the contents inside. There was a snotty tissue, some nasty gum stuck to the side, and a few other unmentionable items. Once I’d given inventory of the remaining trash, he told me to go ahead and get the rest out of the can and reminded me again that anything worth doing was worth doing right.

I’ve never forgotten that advice, and, to be honest, it is one of the reasons I’ve struggled mightily to keep this blog up to date. When we were hiking, every day was a new adventure, a new gripe, or some new experience to write about. I also had countless hours to think about what to say each day. These days, when the monotony of life gets in the way of adventure, I find it hard to continue bringing interesting things to the world wide web for everyone to read. I honestly wish I could do better, and I would like to promise I’ll be more consistent, but I’d hate to say that and make myself a liar. So, for those who like to comment and call me names for not blogging often enough, keep them coming. It reminds me to stop slacking!

We’re visiting family in Chicago now and everyone is crazy about the boy. It’ll be fun to see what he gets for Christmas, not that he’ll know any better, but fun just the same. Jake did role over on his own for the first time yesterday, which was pretty cool. I guess he’ll be driving soon! Merry Christmas everyone, and hopefully this won’t be my last blog of the year!

Wow…I was just cruising past the ole website and I discovered it has been two whole weeks since I’ve posted anything. I wish I could give a good reason like I’ve been doing c-sections on at risk bovine babies or digging a hole in which to bury old Oprah episodes, but I guess I’ve just been lazy. I have done some deer hunting the last week and a half, but that endeavor has yet to yield anything but wet clothes and wild theories about what all the squirrels do with their time when they’re not chattering wildly at each other, crashing through the leaves like little deer deterents, and/or just making a general nuisance of themselves. I’ve spent probably close to 20 hours in the woods and have just seen the butt end of 3 measly deer. I have, however, seen enough of the aforementioned chattering rats with fluffy tales that if I were to somehow speak their langauge, and entice them to assemble with promises of free walnuts for everyone, their numbers would probably be enough to overthrow at least a handful of small countries!

In other news, Jake is growing like a weed and getting more and more animated daily. On Sunday night, Melissa was playing with him and actually got him to giggle for the first time. Having him around is such a blessing and source of joy for us. I’m looking forward to so many things we can do with father/son time…”late night pitch-n-putt, cruise the livestock auction for 4-H babes, throw stuff of a bridge”…

Last weekend, around 20 or so of us associated with the camp packed up and headed west across the cornfields to Peoria for the National Missionary Convention. We set up our booth, complete with a giraffe, a baboon, a tiki bar, my old red truck with the Tap Tap on the back, a fake fire, a creepy old animatronic man named Mr. Feather, 10,000 s’more bars, and loads of other tacky crap, right in the middle of all the flannel boards, cardboard displays, and general tackiness you’d expect to find at a convention for and by people who haven’t lived in the states for most of their adult lives! It was a beautiful disaster! What came out of the event, aside from crazy comments about our booth and the civic center staff eating their weight in our s’more bars, was a good number of contacts with missionaries from around the world who are interested in partnering with the camp on various different levels. It was amazing to talk to so many people, working in so many different countries, doing so many different kinds of ministry, who were willing and excited about partnering with the camp. We also saw many old friends, including a guy I did a choir tour with in high school called Highest Praise whom I haven’t seen in 10+ years. He is doing ministry in China and changing all sorts of lives for the Kingdom. I look forward to this event every year, as it is a great reminder that God is active all over the world and wants me to be a part of that.

As I close for the day, it seems appropriate, given the season, to ask any and all who are willing what you’re thankful for today. I know, everyone always asks that question this time of year, and I know, you get tired of answering. To that I say, don’t be a turd! Give some thought to the blessings in your life and pass those thoughts on to the rest of us. Cause if there’s anything we could all use, it’s the chance to be reminded of our blessings…does turd have a “u” or an “e?” Peace. Out.

Yesterday was my monthly sabbatical day and I spent it taking stock of some of my life experiences thus far and putting down of paper some things I’d like to experience before I die. Let’s call it a bucket list. You’ll find the current list below. I’m certain I’ll be adding more to it as time goes on. As a point of reference, the many hiking items with (BP) after them refer to the BackPacker magazine edition in which I first discovered the particular hike. If you have any suggestions I should add, please pass them on. I’d also love to see your own list, if you have one. What a great tragedy to wake up at the end of life only to discover some of the finer moments have slipped through your grasp. The final bullet is empty so the list is never really complete. Enjoy:

Joe’s Bucket List

• Hike the Pacific Crest Trail
• Hike River to River Trail
• Hike Knobstone Trail
• Hike America Discovery Trail
• Bike across United States
• Run a mini-marathon
• Run a full marathon
• Hike Grand Canyon
• Raft Grand Canyon
• Visit Redwood forest
• Stand on highest point of every state in US
• Hike Florida Trail
• Compete in a triathlon
• Attend Winter Olympics
• Hike Wonderland Trail around Mt. Rainier
• Mountain bike in Utah
• Hike a slot canyon in Utah
• Hike Cathedral Canyon Gorge – Fredrickstown, MO (BP 5/09)
• Hike Katahdin and see view from the top, Knife’s Edge on the way down
• Visit Glacier National Park
• Visit Banff National Park
• Hike Bowen Lake Loop – Never Summer Wilderness, CO (BP 5/09)
• Ford Jacks River Trail – Cohutta Wilderness, GA (BP 5/09)
• Rock Scramble up Castle Peak, ID – (BP 5/09)
• Hike Rocky Mountain Grand Loop (BP 8/09)
• Hike to Spider Glacier, Glacier Peak Wilderness, WA (BP 8/09)
• Hike Paintbrush-Cascade Canyons Loop, Grand Tetons N.P. (BP 8/09)
• Hike Copper Canyon, Divisadero, Mexico
• Summit Snowmass Mountain, CO
• Hike John Muir Trail
• Visit every national park
• Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro
• Go on African safari
• Sky Dive
• Bungee Jump
• Hike Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Peru, South America
• Hike across Corsica in the Mediterranean via GR 20 (BP 3/09)
• Hike New Zealand’s Milford Track (BP 3/09)
• Hike across England on Pennine Way (BP 3/09)
• Hike Pyrenees, France
• Hike Cape Wrath Trail, Scotland (BP 3/09)
• Hike Zillertal Alps, Austria (BP 3/09)
• Visit Sweden/Norway
• Hike Vermont’s Long Trail
• Go to Hawaii
• Go on a cruise
• Visit Alaska
• Visit Australia
• Visit Paris
• Go dog-sledding
• Raft the Gauley River, WV
• Apply for “Amazing Race”
• Visit every National Park
• Hike Mummy Range, Rocky Mountains, CO
• Ride entire Blue Ridge Parkway on a motorcycle
• Spend a week in the woods with only a knife, flint, and the clothes on my back
• Get Pilot’s license
• Canoe from Converse to New Orleans