by Hampton | Feb 28, 2013 | Uncategorized |
Update February 28th 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...
by jeannie | Feb 18, 2013 | Blog |
Updates to family and friends: February 14th Jim and I got off the phone this morning with YL International, and are proceeding with Costa Rica. COSTA RICA!!! Based on many factors, it seems we are a great fit for Latin America. Actual town will be narrowed down over time, but we most likely will take an advance trip in the next month, determine schools, language school for us, and where we might live, as well as meet staff, confirm the vision and hope for the area are in line with theirs… Pray for wisdom, guidance and really that the hand of God move here, as we have a lot ahead of us in figuring out what this looks like. Fundraising is very daunting, humbling and scary for us. Jim is in conversations also with some people interested in building a micro business there in Costa Rica that might sustain the ministry over time, so that is a long term option too. I’m sure that regardless of what we plan, God will do likely something entirely more great and bigger than anything we came up with. As of now, one of our main focuses will be working with, building a team, and ushering in/sustaining YL for International Schools. The idea of international schools, is that you literally impact every country there and our role will be to pour into nationals and raise up local leadership there, as well as those that will leave and go back their own countries. It’s also a culture where English is spoken, so it’s good to be able to work as we...
by jimmy | Feb 11, 2013 | Videos |
by jeannie | Jan 11, 2013 | Blog, buildingaboat |
“Guard well this gift I have planted in your heart.” In reading this today, I immediately had thought after thought flooding my mind. How the recognition of each gift, and the awareness of its value are crucial to my walk with Jesus, and my peace in Him. What is the gift? While the list could be lengthy, I think we could just say it’s Himself. This seems important to remember as many of us want to see change in our world. With so many things in the world being so difficult to understand, values, our nation’s direction, I think maybe it’s becoming clearer to all of us, the only answer really is that in our best efforts alone, we are helpless, and that the only answer is to rest in Jesus. All knowledge is His. I was reading Psalm 46 this morning, and was reminded that for those of us seeking refuge in Him alone, we genuinely need not fear anything. “God is our refuge and strength an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way.” -Psalm 46:1-2 Two nights ago our small group discussed our burdens and our hope for change in our nation, and our world. We discussed everything from the heart of people, how the church has been fragmented and broken, what we can do about it, and arriving each time back in agreement: Pray, do the little things God asks of us, and rest in the truth that He is who he says He is. It’s really all we have. Our small group may be one of the...
by Hampton | Dec 22, 2012 | Blog, buildingaboat |
I’ve always thought that I believed all the claims of Jesus; what we were supposed to look like if we knew Him, the power He would provide us to have peace, feel compassion and how we’d be new and want what He wanted. But each time we take a leap of faith, one that invites us to say yes, we always seem to find it harder to actually walk through it. We keep learning that maybe our belief was maybe just a thought. An idea. Or maybe something we should think. For us, walking through various invitations is what grew roots, deep roots that now give us Him in a more real way. No longer a mere idea, thought or something I should do… But simply a reality worth betting on. We bet on the fact that our fridge will work as we purchase hundreds of dollars of groceries, and we bet our phones will help us reach help if we need it. We bet on truth that our kids will do better on tests if they study, and we know we’ll be warm if we put on a coat. It didn’t occur to me really until each season of growth in our own understanding of God, especially in the last few years, that maybe we can’t really know what we believe unless we walk it out. Maybe that’s why He tells us in James not to read His word and deceive ourselves, but to do what it says. How long did we deceive ourselves of our belief and then learn during the trials that ‘belief’ had to...
by jeannie | Dec 22, 2012 | Blog, buildingaboat |
I’ve always thought that I believed all the claims of Jesus; what we were supposed to look like if we knew Him, the power He would provide us to have peace, feel compassion and how we’d be new and want what He wanted. But each time we take a leap of faith, one that invites us to say yes, we always seem to find it harder to actually walk through it. We keep learning that maybe our belief was maybe just a thought. An idea. Or maybe something we should think. For us, walking through various invitations is what grew roots, deep roots that now give us Him in a more real way. No longer a mere idea, thought or something I should do… But simply a reality worth betting on. We bet on the fact that our fridge will work as we purchase hundreds of dollars of groceries, and we bet our phones will help us reach help if we need it. We bet on truth that our kids will do better on tests if they study, and we know we’ll be warm if we put on a coat. It didn’t occur to me really until each season of growth in our own understanding of God, especially in the last few years, that maybe we can’t really know what we believe unless we walk it out. Maybe that’s why He tells us in James not to read His word and deceive ourselves, but to do what it says. How long did we deceive ourselves of our belief and then learn during the trials that ‘belief’ had to...
by jimmy | Dec 6, 2012 | Blog, God Sightings |
Searching out my faith. I work in downtown Austin and there is a large group of homeless here. They have high instances of schizophrenia. I often see people talking to themselves. Lately I have been thinking about this one woman I see. One morning in my quiet time I felt that Madeline might be her name. I feel led like I need to go and speak with her and tell her about Jesus. And let Him free her from some kind of bondage that is trapping her. I don’t even know about schizophrenia other than it has been a part of my family. It is a big part of my life and I feel like I am walking out some of the darkest days of my life not in a bad way but in a way that is going to help me and my family. Some way that will shed light on our past and the life of my grandfather. I don’t know; just feels that way. I think or feel that these people are oppressed by something. Something we cannot see. As I walk through this little mini mission trip downtown, I feel like I am putting together a jigsaw puzzle and can’t make the pieces fit. I feel the Lord working but I am just not confident that I am making the right moves. As I left lunch yesterday I walked back up Congress Ave. with a good friend, Chris Bourne. He and I talked more after a great lunch. I had my leftovers and as I walked up the street I caught the eye of a...
by Hampton | Sep 18, 2012 | Blog |
A beautiful first service for Austin Christian Fellowship (ACF) Northwest! Small Groups have been gathering for months at the direction of Thom Fulmer, Pastor of ACF Northwest, growing relationships, community and preparing for this day. So many have been working toward this day for a long time and it felt a lot like family watching so many families and kids from area schools walking in the door. God’s done great things through the Fulmers and the many families that show up to help set up on Sunday so others can come hear the Gospel. ACF Northwest meets at Murchison Middle School at 10 a.m. on Sundays....
by jeannie | Sep 18, 2012 | Blog |
A beautiful first service for Austin Christian Fellowship (ACF) Northwest! Small Groups have been gathering for months at the direction of Thom Fulmer, Pastor of ACF Northwest, growing relationships, community and preparing for this day. So many have been working toward this day for a long time and it felt a lot like family watching so many families and kids from area schools walking in the door. God’s done great things through the Fulmers and the many families that show up to help set up on Sunday so others can come hear the Gospel. ACF Northwest meets at Murchison Middle School at 10 a.m. on Sundays....
by jeannie | Sep 10, 2012 | buildingaboat |
Last summer we were blessed to spend part of our summer with Young Life in Central America capturing a little bit of what they do. I remembered that I sent this to some friends, but never actually posted online. This video was for the special purpose of thanking donors and supporters across North America and locally. I loved being able to spend time with these people at club, in their homes, and seeing how this community comes together on behalf of the families they serve. ...
