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...
by jeannie | Apr 10, 2012 | buildingaboat, buildingaboat, Uncategorized |
While we visited the location where the new school was being built, we kept greeting people who lived nearby. This woman walked up and talked with us and I got a shot of her with one of the men in our group of travelers, Ted. The way he greeted this woman is how he greets everyone and he was a blessing to all of us on this trip as we watched his interaction with the Ugandan people. Having been to Uganda before, he helped give context to what we were experiencing, but also let us experience Uganda in our own way too. The woman was incredibly warm, like most people that approached us. She has so little, but seems to have everything she needs to be thankful, to be smiling, and to be so gracious to strangers. Ted lives a life of faith. He steps into their culture more than most of us, eating what they eat while some of us ate the safer rice & curry or pizza, and always open to any experience, smiling with overflowing compassion and love for the sweet people there. On our second night in Uganda, knowing there were several days and nights left and being overwhelmed with what I saw, I felt a sadness that I was feeling a sense of void, being closed off or even an unwillingness to truly do “anything” God asked of me. Praying, I just asked for courage, and God gave me sleep. But in the morning, God gave me Ted. Without knowing, Ted invited me to sit across from him, and began sharing his life, his...
by jeannie | Apr 7, 2012 | buildingaboat, buildingaboat, Uncategorized |
While in Uganda last month, we visited the new location for Restore Leadership Academy in Gulu. We approached this land and stumbled upon some beautiful children and women walking up and down the roadside and being there close to sunset caught some great images while there. We walked through what will be the school, the dorms, and talked about the plans and dreams for the place. Since 2004, Restore International has been part of rescuing, rehabilitating, and leading efforts there to bring justice to Uganda. When we visited the existing school, I spent only one afternoon there, but while there, made friends and was overwhelmed at how they greeted us, welcomed us, and wanted to be with us. The teachers, kids, and leaders of the school were all equally welcoming and loving. I am so excited for the kids to move into their new school and dorm as soon as next month, and that the next time I visit, they’ll be in the new location. While there, and as you drive away, you can’t help but wonder how you might respond if it was your life or your children that were displaced and changed by poverty & war. The goal is to bring opportunities to those that might never have any, and raise up a generation of leaders who might in turn lead their country into a restored Uganda. While at the existing school where the kids currently attend school and live, we sat under a tree with Sr. 6 Graduates. Watching Bob and John Niemeyer (Country Director) talking to those Seniors and inviting us into it with...
by jeannie | Jan 31, 2012 | buildingaboat, Uncategorized |
A little over a week ago, we were blessed to go alongside the leaders to retreat this year to kickoff the season. Billy Suess, Andy Baxter and Michael Boone did a great job leading prayer, worship and guidance. The next morning, many of the leaders entered the main dining hall with blankets over them, and there was a giant huddle around the coffee. They were so cold from sleeping in screened in bunkhouses the night before, but happy to be together as a family. Billy gave a strong talk of renewal, challenge, and encouragement and sent teams into groups. While Friday was a beautiful night of play, worship, barefoot soccer & late night snacks, Saturday was spent in discussion and breakout sessions. Jimmy and I loved hearing from these leaders about their semester and preparing for the Spring Semester. Our kids enjoyed the time there playing alongside the College Leaders, too. Worship time was convicting listening to these college leaders pour out their hearts to God and seek renewal before heading back into the lives of kids. Thankful for our time there, and the impact it has on our community and families when they return. Allowing God to lead all things, surrendering each morning again and experiencing true joy in serving....
by jeannie | Jan 14, 2012 | buildingaboat, God Sightings |
Many have asked specifically about my 13 year career that I left in December of 2010. Now that a year has passed, it seems the time to tell the story. Most around me saw it as a perfect opportunity: Flexibility. Lots of Money. Many stay at home moms would say, “I’d still be working if I had what you have.” So as that part of our life changed, and we left the money, career, home and downsized, questions raised. I’ve never sat and written out how this was a God ordained opportunity for us. God’s timing for Jim and I both to step away. I had a side business for my photography but protected my time and work there due to my corporate job. With many new friends in Mexico and actually knowing people living in poverty, the tension for us just became too strong that there was more than staying in a job to protect a lifestyle we liked. Both our hearts were passionate about something else and that was growing. Parallel to all this, the same tension existed in my corporate work. My career. Back and forth, being thankful for it, but disagreeing with some of what we were doing, and it was the one area of my life that didn’t bring much joy anymore. Being part of the small group that got the business really going early on, I felt a sense of ownership, a sense of obligation to stay. A time had come where I felt a longing to be doing more of the other things I was filling my life with in missions...
by jeannie | Jan 14, 2012 | buildingaboat, God Sightings |
One day after much work and the exhausting staging process of preparing our home to sell, we were done. One of the first moments I had gotten to sit down, I was home alone, and I sat on our couch looking out at the pool and feeling very sad. Remembering all the memories, I was starting to think about our kids, how sad it was taking them away from this place, questioning whether we were doing the right thing, etc. As the tears were about to begin, the doorbell rang and I got up and answered it and saw a girl selling magazines. I was struggling b/c I wanted to be alone, but started talking to her and asked her if we could order some magazines but not have them come here since we were moving. She stated we could have them delivered to a women’s shelter. I agreed and got her some money. She started talking, saying, “You smiled at me. Everyone’s been so mean to me.” as I paid her, she said, “You’re such a blessing.” I responded, “You are a blessing too.” She turned her eyes to me, and smiled, and we ended up talking for a while. She told me about wanting to give up but how God had different plans for her. She was very poor and struggling. We had this incredibly intimate conversation about God, and as we hugged goodbye, she whispered in my ear, “God bless you.” I walked in and immediately felt this Godly passion return and a clear message in my spirit… “You need more of that… Not more...
