Three years ago...

     I can't believe it was 3 years ago today that Haiti was forever changed by the shaking of such a large earthquake. A country where people were already in GREAT NEED. I can not imagine the thoughts that the people must still have. So much devastation in only a minute or two. The U.S. has had some recent times of rebuilding with Sandy hitting the east coast and of course Katrina. Even our rebuilding is still in progress and we are blessed to have knowledgeable people able to assist.
     Last April, I was in Rwanda and I was reminded of how I have been so guilty of assuming everyone had certain things. It was evening and we were on the bus on our way back from touring a history museum of Rwanda. It was raining at a good steady pace and then, fairly close to our turn, we were stopped. No police, no flashing lights, no one directing traffic. Just stopped! We had no idea why. Some of the men tried to get out and see what was wrong or if they could assist. They returned to the bus soaked from the rain but found out that a large tree on the hill beside the road had fallen on to the road making it impossible for any traffic to pass on either side of the road. After waiting, and then trying to turn around and take another road (which was usually a dirt road but now nothing but mud) we were stuck there to wait. When the traffic was finally able to start moving again and we passed by this large tree lying on the road we all saw something that none of us ever see at home...men all with small hand held hatchets cutting away at the HUGE  tree. It was so unbelievable quiet. No chainsaws, no trucks with large chains trying to pull the tree, just several men doing the best they could with what they had.
     Haiti was not able to just have all the local construction companies join forces with all of their large equipment and just clean up the rubble and start rebuilding with new floor plans in hand. They had to do the best they could with what they had. The process is not even close to being finished. It has taken a lot of very generous people to help stand in the gap for the people of Haiti. I believe God has brought good out of this tragedy, I know people that have never been on a mission trip, decide to go to Haiti and help. Organizations that were already established in Haiti began to go into immediate action. People helping people is that not what we Christians are called to do.
     In the days to come please continue to lift Haiti up in your prayers. They are a people that have lost so much, but have so much to gain. If you would like to offer financial help please find an organization and donate. Compassion International has been in Haiti for years,  helping the local churches to develop children to be all that God has called them to be. Three years ago Compassion saw and felt a greater need and began offering relief aid and is helping rebuild. Teaching the adults building skills. Giving the people of Haiti HOPE. Hope in this life and in Eternity.  Partner with Compassion and help make the world a better place...one child at a time.

Happy Birthday Eric......

     Happy14th  Birthday Eric!!!!
     Today my heart is turned toward Eric, the first child we sponsored with Compassion. Today, October 1st, 2012 is his 14th birthday. He had just turned 8 years old when our relationship began. God brought him into our lives to be a blessing to him and to change us also.

      I remember the first time I saw his picture.  It was November 2006. We were at a Bebo Norman concert and he was sharing about Compassion. Jon asked me what I thought (we wanted to sponsor a child for a while but just was not financially able). I told him that I thought we were supposed to do this. We agreed that if God wanted us to step out in faith and sponsor we would get to sponsor a child close to one of our four children's age. Jon raised his hand and the packet passed to us was .......Eric! Immediately, I checked his birthday and saw that it was EXACTLY 15 days (to the year) older than our oldest child. We knew right then that he was the one God had for us. We were excited. We decided that we were not going to tell our children, but instead, we would wrap the packet (along with the packet of Lizet who we also decided to sponsor that night) in wrapping paper and give it to them the morning of Thanksgiving. The next couple of weeks, I would go in and pull out the packets and just look at the pictures. Finally, Thanksgiving morning came and we sat our children down with their "Thanksgiving" gifts.  They were surprised and excited. They had never been given "Thanksgiving gifts" before.  They opened the gifts and looked at us waiting for an explanation. We began to share with them about Eric and about Compassion. I will never forget Josiah asking, "Can we get him a pair of shoes?  His toes are hanging over these." Oh, the lesson right there, Josiah was able to see someone his own age in need and that we could supply that need. We spent the day thankful for what we had and what we could give.

     Next, we began to exchange letters. I have saved every letter and treasure them. 
 I will never forget his second letter to us. He shared that his brother recently died and that God was keeping them strong in this difficult time. It is unbelievable how much you and get to know about someone in letters....6 years of letters,.I feel like I know Eric. In Eric's 7th letter he began to ask to meet "face to face".

Five months ago I traveled to Rwanda and we met "face to face". I had the blessing of spending the day with him, giving him gifts, talking, and placing my hand on his shoulder and praying over him.

Eric, because of you, my life will NEVER be the same! I pray that you have a very blessed birthday, that you realize who you are in Christ, that you continue to follow the purpose and plan that God has for your life.
I will never forget the day we met "FACE to FACE".

    

Volunteering .......nothing like it!

     Last night, Jon and I had the great privilege to volunteer at the Compassion booth of a Matthew West concert.  It brings me great joy to meet other sponsors and share compassion stories. Living in a small rural area we do not get enough opportunities to do this.  Last night was wonderful; 33 children were sponsored! That does not mean 33 lives are now forever changed. It means many more than 33 lives were changed last night. Of course the child and the sponsor, but that child's entire family will be affected by that sponsorship along with the entire family or youth group that sponsored them. Also, the friends and neighbors of both parties will be changed. The child's family will be able to have an unbelievable testimony to all in their communities. The sponsor will now find themselves eager to share about this child, who has, by divine appointment, stepped into their world and who prays for them regularly!
     Distance and time is nothing for God! I have found that a fourth of the way around the world or even half way around the world really is not that far!
     If you have never sponsored a child I encourage you to do so. Go to www.compassioninternational.com and become HOPE to a child! You will be changed FOREVER! Who doesn't like to help children......they are the future!

One Meal One Day

     It is here November 9, 2011. Today is "One meal One day" with Compassion International. What a blessing to be part of something so much bigger then we are. In case you don't know what it is I will explain. Today people all over will be giving up one meal and donating the money from that meal to Compassion International to feed children in extreme poverty. I would love to challenge you to be a part. It is not to late! For the past several days our family has been preparing. It has been exciting to see our children want to help. They have also been able to see the big picture, the fact that we have everything we need to end world hunger in this generation. It is just a matter of everyone doing their part. To see the reaction in their eyes when they realized that 43 cents a day is what it cost to feed a child in extreme poverty. The light bulb in their head went off, that is so little compared to what we have. I am so happy that we get to be the hands and feet of Jesus today as we are hungry today so a child won't be!
     Lord, use us to make a difference, let us join in with so many others and give up what we have in order to help those you don't have. God, thank you for Compassion International who is standing in the gap for "the least of these". Let this not be a time of  me, me, me but a focus on what YOU can and will do thru us if we are willing to step out of our comfort zone and allow YOU to use us in YOUR plans. Jesus I am believing that you will bless this effort just as YOU did the fish and loaves and the multitude will be feed! In Jesus name, Amen.

Investing in Eternity,
        Jenny