by jeannie | Jul 5, 2012 | buildingaboat, buildingaboat |
Visiting Matagalpa, Nicaragua was up high on the list of things we’ve experienced that renew our strength, build our faith in how the darkest of circumstances will never eliminate anyone from experiencing renewal if there’s an intersection with Jesus. In fact, story after story of Him meeting them in the brokenness spurs us as North Americans, with all our entitlement and ease of life, to consider joining those who have no such understanding of such carelessness, ease, or even our striving for such things. The stories we heard of gangs, abandonment, and truly a past of hopeless poverty has actually refined so many of these leaders here in Nicaragua to be strong in faith, and desperate to introduce Jesus to others. Here’s a few shots of La Finca Vida Joven Camp in the mountains of Matagalpa, Nicaragua. A place God uses well to bring kids to Himself, in a safe place to make a decision about eternity....
by jeannie | Jun 20, 2012 | buildingaboat, buildingaboat |
“There are still valleys to walk through during our remaining days. The disappointments, the frustrations, the discouragements, the dilemmas, the dark, difficult days , though they be shadowed valleys, need not be disasters. They can be the road to higher ground in our walk with God.” Phillip Keller Here’s a snapshot of the face of Vidas Jovenes in Costa Rica. A beautiful truth is being told to many teen moms while they are being loved well by Michelle Suwyn & her team of mentors, volunteers & committee. We spent the day with these girls, their children, and their mentors, and heard some of their stories. Being around them and watching them interact with each other and with the leaders, you can see that they have a new hope. If they come in weary, they leave renewed. They feel supported and trust in the love that their mentors pour out. Through the time that the leaders lift up and present the Gospel, the girls are drawing closer to their Creator that loves them perfectly. I am reminded to be thankful that even in difficult circumstances, there are new mercies every day. Without that truth, all of our futures would be hopeless regardless of our weaknesses, mistakes or situations. My time in Costa Rica has been rich and beautiful in the way of a growing awareness of being human and needing a savior, and how we’re all the same in any way that matters. ...
by jeannie | Jun 16, 2012 | Blog |
We made it! Danny came over this morning, and he showed us around for a few hours. We went to the grocery store today, (quite the experience) and currently have no internet but we can use our neighbor’s until we work it out. We drove over to a place and had dinner tonight as a family and found our way home just fine. The kids swam all afternoon. ( see picture below) A little culture shock on Ella’s part but she’s ok. They notice there are guards at each location we visit. This morning we were greeted by Katia, wanting rent. It was a big reminder of how bad our Spanish is. We had a hard time b/c we could NOT remember the word for “paid.” (among other words and she knew NO English) Rent had already been paid and got worked out fine. But now I’m carrying the Spanish/English dictionary. 🙂 Later today, Marcia showed up and proceeded to clean our house, start laundry and was still here cleaning when we got back from the store, helped us put up our groceries and sliced up our mangos and pineapple for us and put them in the refrigerator. She works for the Normans but we are so glad she’s still coming and we’ll see her 3X a week while we’re here. She joined us for lunch, (sandwiches) and she is helping us with our Spanish already. We were greeted at the airport by Danny Sharpe last night. He showed us homes on the way back to the Norman’s that the government builds for teachers and other public servants (police,...
by jeannie | Apr 30, 2012 | God Sightings |
I think it would have been impossible for me to share this story a year ago but as I sit tonight thinking about the wonderful night we just had I feel it may be time to share. Tonight we told the kids we were going to Nicaragua for the summer. It was an amazing time. They are so excited and can’t wait. Beck actually asked if he could pack tonight. We had to tell him he needed to finish school first. But we then went upstairs and started talking about Nicaragua and I felt led to tell them about sometihng that had happened to me a year ago. Almost to the day. So we all got in Libby’s bed and with the lights out I told them of one of the most amazing experiences of my life. It is hard to share but I hope it blesses you. It was in our old house. We had just gotten back from the international weekend with Young Life. It was a powerful weekend and another story for sure. We were a couple of weeks from moving out of our house. It was a very difficult time for us all. One morning I woke up very early for me and was pretty wide awake. It was 5:16 am. This is not the normal time that I wake up, I’m more of a 9:16 kind of guy. But as I laid there I felt a nudge to pray. To get quiet and listen really. I seem to talk too much when I pray and this was a time that I was really just...
by jeannie | Apr 12, 2012 | buildingaboat, buildingaboat, Uncategorized |
I recently wrote Sister Rosemary a letter, sending photos, dreaming about another visit, thanking her for spending time with us, for how she lives her life and looks so much like Jesus. She’s a woman that you can’t help but feel changed by when you meet her. It’s her joy, perseverance, and love of the people she serves that stands out. St. Monica’s was among the places we visited while in Gulu, and we had met her a day before one night on the deck of our hotel eating pizza. She had a great impact on me personally and our group as we listened to her and learned all she’s done for the people of Gulu. This video does a better job telling the story than I will, but this great work still goes on today and expands much wider now. CNN Heroes, Sister Rosemary (click link to watch video) Here’s a beautiful shot of one of the most beautiful women I’ve had the privilege to meet and becomes friends with: Sister Rosemary Gulu is a more peaceful place now. Many of the people there remember when it wasn’t, but will tell you that they feel much safer there now. Thanks to much of the work Sister Rosemary has done there, women and children have a new start and a new hope. There’s a great blog you should check out. Jim Gash and his family are living in Uganda helping reform some of the judicial practices there, and they have a great blog worth following. I enjoyed meeting them, and appreciated them sharing their experiences with us. Jim and...
