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 | Apr 5, 2012 | Uncategorized |
Hello Friends! I’m home and so tired, but happy. Thank you so much for all the amazing notes of encouragement, prayers during my trip. I’m blessed by you. I know the emails were long, how busy you guys are, and so appreciate how you guys went through it with me. I couldn’t write much for the rest of the trip. It was usually either power outages, no electricity or no ability to stay awake! We did so much and I’ll post pics and stories soon online, but left my laptop in London. I guess I was a little groggy during my 18 hours of travel before my connection into Dallas. it’s ok, though, I always save photos in two places so I made it home with my photos. 🙂 pray for safe return of my laptop. I would so love NOT to have to buy another one. The trip continued to be one of friendships, new understandings of one another and how Jesus has changed us, and opportunities to speak into each others lives and be spoken into, as well. it was beautiful, even on the hardest days. We visited the new school location (can’t remember if I already told you about that) but it was great to stand and see the buildings with no roofs and know kids will move in within the next 12 weeks. We drove out to Paraa to a beautiful lodge there for one night of comfort and relaxation. it’s beautiful and sits on the Nile. If anyone remembers Moses, that’s kinda cool… and we drank coffee on giant patios and rode...
by Hampton | Apr 5, 2012 | Uncategorized |
Its so late and I miss you! I’ll try to be somewhat brief since it’s after midnight here. We are going nonstop, but loving every minute. I’m putting two days worth of events.It’s all been pretty wonderful to travel with this small group and visit and encourage and love on people here in Africa. We started our day at Invisible Children. He met with the leaders here in Gulu, and out of respect for all they’ve been through, we put our cameras up. They have always said it wasn’t about them. It still isn’t. It’s about the children of Africa and trying to stop a great injustice. All I can really say is they are amazing, beautiful hearts and they love Jesus. We got to speak into them, telling them we still believed in them and to stay the course. Then we put them in the middle and prayed for them. It was powerful. Pray for these people and their families. We then headed to Sister Rosemary’s where we learned about all their mission there. I took photos, and a great portrait os Sister Rosemary, which I’ll post at some point. – travels and power outages make it difficult to write/post. Sadly, due to the death of a teacher, we went to her funeral. It was quite heartbreaking to watch the kids grieve. Kids were bent over crying, and it was so raw and we were all crying with them and among them. They do the burial there and it’s much different than the US. They have men digging, and when it’s time for the burial, they lower the...
by jeannie | Apr 5, 2012 | Uncategorized |
Its so late and I miss you! I’ll try to be somewhat brief since it’s after midnight here. We are going nonstop, but loving every minute. I’m putting two days worth of events.It’s all been pretty wonderful to travel with this small group and visit and encourage and love on people here in Africa. We started our day at Invisible Children. He met with the leaders here in Gulu, and out of respect for all they’ve been through, we put our cameras up. They have always said it wasn’t about them. It still isn’t. It’s about the children of Africa and trying to stop a great injustice. All I can really say is they are amazing, beautiful hearts and they love Jesus. We got to speak into them, telling them we still believed in them and to stay the course. Then we put them in the middle and prayed for them. It was powerful. Pray for these people and their families. We then headed to Sister Rosemary’s where we learned about all their mission there. I took photos, and a great portrait os Sister Rosemary, which I’ll post at some point. – travels and power outages make it difficult to write/post. Sadly, due to the death of a teacher, we went to her funeral. It was quite heartbreaking to watch the kids grieve. Kids were bent over crying, and it was so raw and we were all crying with them and among them. They do the burial there and it’s much different than the US. They have men digging, and when it’s time for the burial, they lower the...
by jeannie | Apr 5, 2012 | Uncategorized |
While I was gone, I updated some friends via email. When I got back, I realized so many of my good friends hadn’t been included on the list or I accidentally missed. Here’s a recap: DAY ONE This morning, we had breakfast, met some people of the home we were going to visit, and hung around for a bit just getting to know each other better. We had an amazing day. Went to the home where the girls were pulled out of prostitution. Average age was 14-15 at this particular home and many had been there 3-4 years. There were about 17 girls at this home. We heard their stories and got like a hundred hugs. They shared their stories and our hearts broke. They talked about how people thought they were nothing. One sweet girl drank poison b/c she wanted to die. Many of them chose prostitution or were forced by a parent or simply needed to eat. One girl had her dad die, and then her mom just left her alone. Many girls have no one but the home, the other girls and “Aunties” to care for them. A few girls were pretty new and it was a crazy time hearing from them literally being off the streets for just a few months, and seeing them struggle to talk, but thanking God for coming to the home. We met and exchanged emails with the two women, Helen and Jane, the “aunties” of the homes. These girls were so courageous. I was covered in hugs from girls with the saddest stories I’ve ever heard, prostituting at the same...
by jimmy | Mar 28, 2012 | Uncategorized |
One of the things I have written about most over the years is mission trips. I typically journal at the end of each day and recap and talk about what I saw and how I felt God. I love it when these happen but recently it happened in here in town on the East side in a entirely new way. Jeannie was in Africa and I was at the ballpark watching Beck’s game and my phone rang. It was a lady named Kim she is a sweet lady and took care of me and some other guys on a homeless retreat I went on many years ago. Kim took us into her world walked us around town. We even ended up serving other homeless folks early one Saturday morning. She is turning her life around and attending school online to become a nurse. I will be totally honest. I never felt called to love on the homeless. I have a heart for them but never felt the pull like Mexico. I think I missed it though. I know I did. John 13: 34-35 This verse doesn’t say love those that fit your schedule or those that are like you or those that you visited. Pretty much it talks about loving people. I didn’t get it. Kim called me and I sat there listening to her talk about needing paper products and food. I wish what I said was “I would be there soon and we could go shopping.” Instead I let the silence do my talking. It was wrong. I hung up and knew it was wrong. And I...
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 jimmy | Jan 31, 2012 | Uncategorized |
In the movies it is pretty clear when God is talking to you. He shows up and looks like either George Burns or Morgan Freeman. But in real life? How do we know when we are walking in God’s wisdom or when we are led by God? Does he encourage us? We know he loves us and the bible describes Him as a small still voice. There have been a few times recently that I truly felt that God was speaking to me. He encouraged me. This morning was one of those times. I may write about the others another time. Last night Jeannie and were talking and I told her how I felt I was being disobedient by not pushing further into a place of “going”. By this I mean leaving the US and going abroad. It is something Jeannie and I explored before and after we moved from North Hills. But lately I could not shake that somehow because I had not left that I was not trusting God with my life or that I was somehow wimping out. This feeling has been on me for months until this morning. Every so often I wake at the same time for a number of days in a row. By the same time I mean the exact same time on the clock. A few times in the past I have been encouraged by God in these moments. This morning was one of those times. I had dreams of Daniel and lions during the night. I do not recall exactly what was happening but the context was lions and danger....
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...
