by jimmy | Jun 30, 2013 | Blog, push to costarica site |
We get so wrapped up in our worldly realities. So sure that what we are doing or creating is the best. The best for us. The best for our kids. The best for our family. It is what we were taught as kids. There is nothing wrong with it, but sometimes letting go of our plans creates a whole new level of ‘best’. We are again in Costa Rica but this time for the month of July. It was a difficult road to get here because at many times, I did not want to come. Business is crazy. We have a ton of work to do and I really felt like I needed to be there to help get it done. I was worried that we did not pray enough about coming and that we were doing it in our flesh, mainly because we were scared of what still lies ahead. I worried if we would be able to find our way around alone in San Jose for a month. There were so many things that had me worried and awake early. I had many bad dreams the nights leading up to leaving. I only write this because sometimes it is good to get it out. To shine a little light on some of those fears that keep us trapped. I was believing the lie that I was in control. I talked to a few guys before leaving and they are always great about giving me truth and that was a huge help. I don’t think I bought all the way in on this visit until yesterday. We got...
by jeannie | Jun 29, 2013 | Blog, push to costarica site |
Hello Friends! We had a great sendoff, Wednesday night when our Pastor, Thom and his wife, Celia came over to pray with us, and drop off a dinner. Thank you to all of you who have sent encouragements and prayers our way. It means so much to be loading the plane and get txts from you with prayers. Thank you. It feels like we’re in it together, which I know is how God intended this to be. We arrived Thursday to Costa Rica, and we had lunch, worked out an international phone (AND Maps more importantly) and then arrived the house where we are staying for the month. We are staying in the Regional Director’s home while his family visits the states. Young Life gave us a van to drive while here. We are up in the mountains, slightly isolated, and it’s cold up here! It’s beautiful, too. Here’s a view from the back patio: But as you drive the streets of San Jose, it mostly looks a lot more like this: We began our first day here with a meeting at the school we are hoping to send our kids. It’s an American school, on an American schedule. (but starts August 5th and goes longer in June) It’s the smallest of the International Schools here that we visited, and we dropped off test scores, report cards, etc.for them to begin the kids’ files and we’ll go back later in July and drop off our applications for admission. They did not seem to see any issues with admission which was a big deal. Another GREAT thing is that we...
by Hampton | Jun 18, 2013 | Uncategorized |
We gathered in our den last night for our first gathering to share the vision, answer questions and got some great feedback from some of our friends on how to deliver the message and vision more clearly, and we felt so loved and supported! Both those that showed up last night and all of the people reaching out and telling us they are praying for us. It’s incredibly humbling. If you haven’t yet seen it, watch the short video we put together for YL Costa Rica. YL Costa Rica VIDEO We think it lays out the different things happening there currently, and lets each of you see the kids’ faces in Costa Rica. We spent some time with these kids on our last advance trip, and we were so blessed by meeting them and some of their...
by jeannie | Jun 14, 2013 | Blog, Videos |
by Hampton | May 30, 2013 | Uncategorized |
WOW. Today is May 30. We are excited to have launched the site. We are off and running. We now officially have a prayer team. We have a committee and we are blessed to be 4% funded. God is good. We are working on planning a meeting to share more about joining our team and will have some dates soon. We really would love to get coffee with you! If you know you want to be a part of what God is doing through us in CR reach out to Jeannie or I, because we know the Spirit is leading and putting it on people’s hearts and now is the time. Please be in prayer for our presentations with two churches this Sunday as we tell the great story God is writing. Thank you Jimmy and Jeannie Emails: jimmy@3rc.com jeannie@hamptonworks.com ...
by jeannie | Apr 23, 2013 | Blog |
Today I spent a long and precious morning with Jesus, and the beauty of Him astounds me. How often have you had what you would call a ‘breakthrough’ or the process of being unstuck? I know it well. Gloriously delivered and given the gift of seeing and feeling His presence with you. Remembering how important to stop, surrender and offer it all back up over and over again. It’s crucial really. We have to figure out how to really see these times of feeling stuck. Lord, give us new eyes. How it secures our understanding of intense need for Him, and certainly validates the futility and limitations of our own desires, hopes and plans. The beauty of seeing our entire reality change from one moment of feeling stuck, to letting a truth in scripture wash over us. ”Because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life, you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Psalm 16:10-11 “Eternal pleasures” paints a good distinction in my heart, from all I see here, surrounding me, and the contrast and pull of us settling for the temporary rather than the eternal. Limping rather than running. Wanting resolve and continuing to have questions. Today I see that it all flows from the truth of Him making known to us the path of life. Real life. Not the life we try to create, but the one we seek only in Him, and learn to walk through. It’s so simple and yet so completely impossible without the Spirit of God doing it all in You. In us. For...
by jimmy | Apr 15, 2013 | Blog |
I know the plans I have for you It’s funny, we think we can figure out the plans God has for us. Well, I think that I know anyway. There was a time when I had it all figured out. I knew the schools and the area of town we wanted. I did a pretty good job of getting to a nice comfortable spot. I pretty much did it all on my own though. I never sought God’s will in any of it. I sought His help in accomplishing my plan which was awesome because He was in it and I was just learning really who He was. There is an app called pocket god. I am not sure how this game works but I think I played pocket god for a lot of years. If I got to a turn in the road or needed some help with something I would remember. Hey wait, I have a pocket god. I can get him out and pray and he can help me. We can do it together. Love it. And for a while, it worked. Problem was God was not in it the way I thought. He was watching and leading but He was not on my plan. Because His plan is WAY WAY bigger. Stupid bigger. My pocket god prayers were keeping me from His plan. He wanted my heart but I was not about to give it to Him. He wanted my stuff and I was not about to give that to Him. He wanted my kids and my wife but I GOT it. I can...
by jeannie | Apr 11, 2013 | Blog |
Hello Friends! We had a great advance trip to Costa Rica. We saw many things, schools, various parts of San Jose, and met many people. Thank you so much for notes and great sendoffs as we were leaving, and thank you for praying! There is so much ahead of us! We met some great people there, and learned a lot about what’s already happening in Costa Rica. We were blessed to meet with pastors, supporters of Young Life, leaders, Interns, staff, moms of YL kids, and met with a few families there that were wonderful and offered to help us find a place to live once we get there. We spoke with them about schools, transitions for themselves and their kids, and we really think they will be great friends and support once we arrive. We met up with the International Schools team, which isn’t big, two staff people, and 3 interns. We heard about how they came to Costa Rica, what they enjoyed about the internship, what could be better, and then we got a chance to share our story, and some of what we hoped to do during our time there. I especially liked this time b/c we’ll be working closely with interns once we get there helping to refine what internships will look like going forward. It was so great to get a front row seat into their world, and hear about the many needs they have. We visited many international schools while there, and got a great sense of schools and community for both the West and East sides of San Jose. One of my...
by Hampton | Apr 11, 2013 | Uncategorized |
Hello Friends! We had a great advance trip to Costa Rica. We saw many things, schools, various parts of San Jose, and met many people. Thank you so much for notes and great sendoffs as we were leaving, and thank you for praying! There is so much ahead of us! We met some great people there, and learned a lot about what’s already happening in Costa Rica. We were blessed to meet with pastors, supporters of Young Life, leaders, Interns, staff, moms of YL kids, and met with a few families there that were wonderful and offered to help us find a place to live once we get there. We spoke with them about schools, transitions for themselves and their kids, and we really think they will be great friends and support once we arrive. We met up with the International Schools team, which isn’t big, two staff people, and 3 interns. We heard about how they came to Costa Rica, what they enjoyed about the internship, what could be better, and then we got a chance to share our story, and some of what we hoped to do during our time there. I especially liked this time b/c we’ll be working closely with interns once we get there helping to refine what internships will look like going forward. It was so great to get a front row seat into their world, and hear about the many needs they have. We visited many international schools while there, and got a great sense of schools and community for both the West and East sides of San Jose. One of my...
by jeannie | Feb 28, 2013 | Blog |
Friends & Family! We had a great mtg today with Kevin – Regional Director Young Life there in CR. We are moving forward and will meet next with Kevin’s boss, Kevin, Chad (our placement guy), and Jeff (our fundraising helper) Looks like we will try to go in April/May to visit as Kevin’s schedule is really busy. We’ll try to visit schools, areas, find out about homes, etc. Probably what will happen is that we will live in San Jose for a year, then move into the town we choose. They suggested we decide over that year what school and area best fits our family. Here’s the school we’ll likely attend. http://thespanishinstitute.com/home/ They suggest we do this as we will meet other families going through the same thing and our kids will be at the same school we are in, so we’re literally together all the time, for a year. We were told today we just need to take as much support as we can in that first year, culture shock, etc. And the school has counseling, housing, and all sorts of practical help for the first year to help you know how to do life in CR. So I’m praying over the knot in my stomach about living in San Jose… not initially what I wanted, but also want to lean on the advice of ones that have gone before us. Today, this all feels very real. Anyway, love you and wanted to give you a heads up. Sounds like the vision for our roles are the same as we had thought, international schools, and there’s a internship...
