by jeannie | Feb 27, 2014 | Blog, buildingaboat, missions, push to costarica site |
We leave for Costa Rica in 4 months. Sometimes people that don’t know us very well seem to think we’ve figured something out that they haven’t. I don’t think that’s true, but if it’s anything, it’s this. We are weak, and God is strong. And at the end of each day, it’s about what team you’re on not whether you’re always getting it right. And the reality is none of us are capable of such a life, regardless of how much we try. At some point, we all face our own brokenness, lack of faith, or lose hope. I imagine for simplicity I could just write about why Jesus is the answer to all of that. And He is. But really, what I think is more important, is that we all have a shared narrative. I don’t think God really needs me to tell anyone how I’ve figured it out, since I haven’t. But maybe He wants me to share more about how I never really ever got it right. About how grateful we all should be that it’s not up to us. About how it’s all about his mercy. I think he wants me to share how much we’re all really the same. For those that just don’t see how living for Jesus makes sense, maybe we have more in common than you’d think. There are so many different perceptions of freedom. Some are true and some aren’t. But I think we’re all trying to get more of it. Sometimes I think about the darkest parts of my own story, and I grieve it again. I don’t need...
by jeannie | Oct 10, 2013 | Blog |
I’m not sure I ever realized how vast the learning curve is in life. That no matter how old you get, if you bet everything on the reality of Jesus, you actually are amazed like a child over and over, and in awe of the hearts of the people he draws into your life. As we wander into the unknown waters of fundraising, and preparing to leave the U.S. in 9 months, it’s safe to say the most uncertain of times has been the richest. In this place of humility and surrender, Jesus is carrying us every step, and we see with clearer eyes, and hear his words with different ears. And we fall deeper in love every day. Rarely in my life have I experienced a lack of words, although there have been a few. Sitting in a room in Africa, listening to a girl rescued from sex trafficking do her best to tell her story, experiencing the courage of a special needs kid in Costa Rica, or the moment I embraced a witch doctor after they had just heard about a man named Jesus. These moments when emotions are new, foreign, and full of the Spirit of God, and you know that nothing you say will fully represent the experience. While these happen every day, all around us, I don’t always see it. This season for us, brings us again to places of seeing God work in mighty ways and we are surprised, overwhelmed, and filled with a gratitude that an ocean could not contain. But words are so hard to find. This is true with our...
by jimmy | Aug 3, 2013 | Blog, Videos |
by jimmy | Aug 3, 2013 | Blog, Videos |
by jimmy | Jul 15, 2013 | Blog, push to costarica site |
We are half way into week three here in San Jose. This trip has been very good. We have spent time with Young Life kids, with staff, and we have met new friends. We do miss our friends and family back in Austin and we are excited to get back and see them, but it is nice to know that when we move here there are some great families that are anxious to help us settle in and start to build a life here. Wow. That is hard to type. I think because as I type it I think of all the people we will miss. People like you reading this and especially our family. We went to a church yesterday called Vida Abundante. Abundant Life. I think those are marvelous words because I feel like more and more that is what Jesus is doing in our lives. I think our kids are learning that fear is not real. Maybe ‘worry’ is a better word. They are learning that when you trust Jesus and go to club even though you don’t want to, because you will be one of a few speaking english, Jesus has something to show you. When you get in the car and go, Jesus shows up and you get to laugh till you are just busting at the seams. Vida Abundante. I mean sure, maybe they were laughing because they were still a little timid but the emotion is so powerful and it is all built on Faith in Jesus. Trusting Him. Trust Him with something big. Something you think is impossible. But believe He...
by jeannie | Jul 8, 2013 | Blog, push to costarica site |
Hello Friends! Today is Monday, and after a slower week, resting and working on our Spanish, we had a busier weekend and have many things planned this week. We spent Saturday at camp with Vida Joven & Capernaum kids. And Sunday, we attended a church in Escazu. Escazu Christian Fellowship. (West side) They don’t have an actual building, but meet in the International Baptist building on Sunday nights and the service is in English. We plan to visit another church on Sunday, Viva Abundante on the East side, where they translate from Spanish to English in their earlier service. No English speaking churches on the East side that we can find. The service yesterday was done in a Taize tradition where it’s completely unplugged, no lights, no instruments. Only our voices and candles. They do this a few times a year. Candles lighting the words we sing, candles used to see the scripture readings, and long silences and moments of prayer throughout the night. It was a beautiful time to be still during a service with others to pray, be still, and then we took communion together with them as a family. We were introduced to the small congregation there, and were approached by many afterward with blessings, encouragements, offers to use their homes for YL mtgs, and to help us look for homes as time nears for our move here. We are hosting and cooking dinner for some staff this week; which we’re excited about. Our time has been filled with great moments, and challenging moments, but we’re starting to see and feel more that God is going...
