Guatemala cont.

Well, time has passed and a new year has arrived!! I started a continuation of Guatemala and lost it....I guess I am starting over. This year I am starting over as well. I am hoping to send my teenager to Tewantin-Queensland Austalia. This adventure is with Teen Missions Int'l in Merritt Island Florida. They have the 2 weeks of boot camp and then the teens go to their chosen Country/mission. This one happens to be a skateboard team. The teens will help with various jobs around the bibleschool and spend their afternoons at the local skateparks with the Aussie teens-youth. They get to hold competitions and barbeques. How fun to share Jesus and enjoy your passion while you're doing that! My son loves skateboarding and expressing himself. He is struggling right now with his faith and self confidence. I know being with other teens also stuggling, will give him a chance he otherwise might not get, to find God for himself. I know it won't be easy, it will be downright hard to adjust to spending 8 weeks with teens you just met, becoming a team, depending on each other, learning you are not on the throne..... God is a personal God. We generalize Him because we really don't know Him. Once He gets personal in your life, you really begin to grown in Him. I am giving up doing things "my way." I haven't gotten any further these last years than losing my job amd watching a decline of satisfaction in myself and what I am doing to help my son in his growth. I am working but not at what I enjoy and talented in. God is pushing me out of my safety zone and the only way is by Faith....Noone really understands, they even try to stop you but the voice calling me out is stronger than the fears of failing. I haven't signed on the dotted line yet, but going as an assistant leader, is getting more and more desirable to do. My son is feeling the nervous panicky feeling like he should run from it all instead of running to God.

Christmas can be exciting and it can be a a painful reminder of what you left behind. Brandon spent Christmas with his sister and her husband. He also visited his dad and grandma and other relatives.
His sister is overcoming her life of addictions she never understood until now. Brandon had to see how his dad just gave up trying and his life is behind closed doors living in a world of darkness and alcohol. He can make a choice and pick himself up and get the help he needs, or remain in the destitute state of emptiness.... Brandon knows he is talented, creative, can do all things thru Christ so why not give it your best shot! He has ridden his dirtbike with the adults on trails and the testosterone ladden men couldn't keep up with or at least couldn't pass Brandon. Now that Brandon has hit puberty he has strengths that give him a feeling of boundless energy! I always tell him no matter if he is snowboarding, dirtbiking or skateboarding be asking for grace that you don't have any accidents!

Teenagers are so difficult to raise by yourself. It seems they can be defensive, sensitive, rebellious and loving all at the same time.... I can only hope for something in his young life to give him the identity he is seeking but in a uplifting way. There are no "geeks", "jocks", or "nerds" just different kids expressing themselves. My daughter used to stick up for the underdog to the point of defending a little 85lb. girl in front of a class of rich defiant girls. They were looking for a fight but would have to get thru my Jessica to get to the girl they wanted to harm. Colorado is good for problem charter schools. My son will not get to experience that, thank God! So, my solution is to get a teenager to join Brandon on this adventure that doesn't mind rules and has a desire to get away from home... I have just the nephew, God willing, in mind. I may go just to keep it all together. I have learned all to well how plans not securely made, unravel all too fast. We have to raise money before June 2008, but then again faith can move mountains. This last Christmas I felt blessed by alot of clients who just wanted to give, I really have never recieved so many generous tips from working class people that just wanted to give. I realize self sacrifice really isn't sacrifice at all. Every time I give for a good reason it just comes back to me! Giving of yourself you only get blessed in seeing the fruit in someone else's life. So Brandon, this one's for you.......

Guatemala continued...

I was so happy to find an old friend in the middle of nowhere!! God is faithful to show us He is there even when we least feel it. We really can't go by how we feel because our emotions can certainly lead us ustray. Pity parties are really a waste of time and while for a moment it feels good to release the negative "why me?", there really is no benefit in it! I still feel moments of being all alone but then God will remind me with kindness from a loved one. If my son and I have a argument over poor choices he's made while it may end in a loud "end of discussion" from me I always let him know after he goes to bed, that I love him no matter what and sometimes mom does know what's best!! He heard of our trip to Guatemala with his sister. He has a chance to go to Austraila for a skatepark crusade with the same Teen Missions International. I am hoping he will want to go versus feeling pushed into going. Teens really want things to be their idea and not all mom's... A little encouragement is usually neccessary.

Our teens were incredibly creative with their project. They knew that their supplies had been ordered in advance and to buy more would be nearly impossible as the money was already spent and to go looking for more cement was not close by. One teen decided for everyone to stop and pray before they ran out. So they did, some laughing at the thought and others were just hopeful. When they came in for chow so full of energy and excited I coouldn't wait to see what the new was. I have to spend my day organizing meals and planning for tomarrow that I don't always get to the work site. One girl just exclaimed how they stopped to pray for God to stretch the motar as they were nearly done with that part anded only needed so much. They said the wheelbarrow kept poring and poring cement that they even had 12 coffee cans left over! They were primed to keep working, put on the roof and be done. They loved going into the nearby village and doing their puppet ministry to the children. They also liked the freetime of swimming in the nearby lake Flores. Teen certainly need a little time to be just teens. It seemed not everyone wanted to apply sunscreen that day and ended up coming to the first aid unit (me) for some aloe vera treatment. We recieved 1 week of leader training that really prepard us for uncertainties and I was in the health care field so I didn't mind helping wherever needed and we gave tylenol for pain.

God has a sense of humor...

I remember when my husband and I got the "bug" to go on a mission for God. A couple of teen sisters brought a video of a group "Teen Missions Int'l" to our church in Salmon Idaho. It was a video entitled "Getting dirty for God". We watched it including my 18 month old daughter. Well the sisters needed sponsers and before we knew it we found ourselves giving what we could as well as signing up as much needed leaders. Africa was our choice and we were sure that was where God wanted us to go. We paid our registration fees, training fees and soon were getting our passports and shots to leave the country. It seemed like we were accepted as head team leaders but could not get which team we were leading and where we were going... Just be patient the girls explained as there were over 20 summer teams going out all over the world and they had to put leaders where they felt led to.


This was January, days were ticking by and by March we discovered we were chosen to go to Guatemala where 2yr. children were allowed to go with their parents. Our Jessica would just be two after our boot camp. I was a little leary about taking a two year old, but they said leaders take their children all the time....Little did I realize the pressure cooker we would go thru just getting there but no time like the present. We had to raise money for our 2 weeks of bootcamp in Florida, leader training, 6 weeks in San Andres Guatemala, fly in to our mission site and bus to the orphanage where we would be helping construct a 2 room school house from the ground!


We made new friends from our bible school in Hamilton and soon found out who the true prayer warriors were. My family thought it was too dangerous and tried many schemes to stop me right up until boot camp graduation. Then they schemed my brother. a police officer, to visit our boot camp. He decided he could find me in the jungles of Merritt Island and rescue me if I needed it. Funny, I thought I heard my name over the loud speaker but who listens to loud speakers in a jungle boot camp with about 900 people graduating from their bootcamp and getting ready for the candle lighting ceremony. I was hurrying thru the trees to get to the big top tent where everyone was seating in groups when I ran into this police officer, albeit my brother!! Jody said " I was sent here to see how you are doing! Do you mind if I watch the ceremony?" I said to please join us. I was amazed that Jody found me at all! He said they really didn't want to let him in but didn't argue with a 6' strapping police officer with a badge, dressed in plain clothes. They tried to page me on the loud speaker....


After watching 10 teams do their skits, lighting their candles, graduating and getting teary eyed... Jody decided to contribute to our needs and wished us well!! I laughed until I cried as he was a welcome sight and encouragement after 2 weeks of boot camp with 22 teens and not all of them were delighted . I almost backed out because my daughter was a little firecracker and was wearing me out. I found out my mom and Aunt were praying that I would quit and go home. I decided then and there I was not a quitor!!

There is nothing like a little outside pressure to see what you are really made of. We had to send one team member home because she was suffereing from anorexia and our assistant leaders warned she was already relapsing during bootcamp. We would be miles from a decent hospital so let her go home . She was complaining rather loudly about the food already and not eating much. I walked her to the office where a family member would pick her up. She would miss an adventure of her lifetime but her desire to quit already was wearing on the rest of us. We were still in Florida, day 5 of bootcamp! This lesson made me realize that you can quit anytime

but what will you have to show for it when already you have paid a high price just to be there, why not ask God for strength and see what He has in store! I felt relief when I knew that I had more in me and I would press on for this incredible journey that surely God was in the midst of...

Well the last day of bootcamp brought a giant wedding ceremony where 2 former team members fell in love and were getting married right there! The cake was a giant boot baked by incredible bakers, assembled and enough for all 900 of us!! That really impressed me and of course after living on bootcamp food for 2 weeks....

Well, we were finally loading our bus with all the luggage, food, puppet ministry material, duffles and bodies of excited teens and adults! We flew out of Miami straight through to Guatemala City.....

We landed, got most of our luggage (all the puppet materials were missing) met our missionary and bus (sort of a rough bus made for a baja trip). We left Guatemala city and headed to the orphangage 12 hours away. It was named after some orphans that died in a fire that took out an entire building. The children had a oil lamp that caught some cutains on fire and the low ceilings escalted the action of the fire, several children were unable to escape. They named the property El Rancho Los De-Ninos. It was rebuilt with higher ceilings and smoke alarms were installed.

Our bus trip was a long one stopping for refreshments, meaning Fanta sodas, which we were glad to have in the middle of nowhere. Our bus would not start after one stop and we found the driver was using a semi dead battery! They were paid some in advance and should have gotten a new one! Ever see 22 teens push start a bus with one semi crazy Guatemalan bus driver? We learned that prayer was a much needed time out to keep on this journey! Later we met a large truck that had gone off a cliff about 50 feet. Our bus came to a stop and then the driver told us to hurry and get off! He was rolling backwards towards the same place the truck had gone off due to slippery traction... We wasted no time with the help of out interpretor evacuating the bus. The driver was able to stop but now what? Our team prayed for a brainstorm...Soon we decided to hook a cable to the front of the bus and pull the bus up the hill! We had only a few adults pushing behind the bus as we did not want any accidents if the bus rolled backwards. We made it up the hill with the numerous Guatemalan bystanders excited about our Jesus who answered our prayer! Back in the bus and we were off again. We had 3 extra children on board who were going to the orphanage. They were very curious at all the goings on and attention from the team they received. Some had parents but they were to poor to take care of them so they were going to the ranch.

We finally arrived at the ranch, unloaded the bus and were resting. we had to set up our tents in a circle and make them waterproof for the daily rain showers we would be having. The children were happy to see us and welcomed us warmly. The orphanage was beautiful with about 20 acres. They used machetes to cut down rapid growing foilage and used the cattle to graze it down occasionally. Day 2, I was sitting on the porch of the cafeteria when suddenly I was overwhelmed with heat, humidity, fear of the unknown and hopelessness. What am I doing out in the middle of nowhere with my 2 yr. daughter and a husband I really wasn't sure he could handle his part? I almost couldn't stop the tears when I noticed a handsome Guatemalan man walk right by me! I recognized him as Carlos, a man who cooked at a restarant I worked at during my college days. We were good friends and laughed about alot of things. He said "Jennifer, what are you doing here?" I said the same only" Carlos!" we laughed and talked excitedly about what we had been doing since I left the restarant. carlos was married and living in San Andres nearby. He and Bo, the missionary, worked together to provide food for the many people living at the ranch, including chickens and cows. Soon we found Bo and he said take the jeep and go to San Andres and have a moment! God has a wonderful sense of humor! I laughed more than I cried on this trip and learned life is not an accident nor the precious people we meet! If we wait on the Lord He does take care of us and even more! His love is an all providing means to meet our needs and even more! I truly liked Carlos and he used to tease me at work because I had a highschool boyfriend and a college boyfriend at the same time... He wanted to help me choose, instead he only made me laugh....Laughter is the best medicine. When life gives you lemons, just make some lemonade and have a party! To be continued......
Jenn

What does knowing the truth mean to you?

I am a single mother of two children. One is grown and just married. The other, a teen of 14. Brandon looks up to me for answers. He can go either the way of our God given truths or trade it all for the delusions of our world system. So, after living in an alcoholic marriage for 10 years, going to church with a man who played games with truth or deception....I decided life on our own was better than playing games with a man who I never knew if he wanted to know God or just go along for the ride and see how much deception he could create. Brandon was 4 when he no longer had to look up to a father who never took our church seriously. He only liked the ease it gave him. Drinking was easy, pretending to want the truth was easy, counting the cost was not.
Living on a beautiful ranch in Montana was not enough to put down the bottle. Looking into a child's questioning eyes was not enough to put down the bottle, even when that child was a mirror image of himself but eyes of brown, not blue. The daughter was equally puzzled by her dad, his Jekyl or Hide was unending. The church was full of God's love, forgiveness, learning about the HolyBible, the truth.... I find it almost funny that it is such a struggle to find God's truth because there is always someone or thing that would rather you don't. "Stay here with me and we will just go along for the ride but if it gets difficult settle for a lie." "Don't pray like that, I don't want to face the truth, I may have to change."

I used to hate change when I was full of my Catholic upbringing. I didn't read my bible, know that the Holy Spirit is a person, the very spirit that draws us to know Jesus and the father. I liked my limited view at that time. This very man changed my thinking when he insisted I go to a nondenominational church in Hamilton Mont. I followed him in there and EVERYONE was standing in awe of the presence of God in that church. The music was praise but the minstrels were playing like they neede no notes to read, the piano player wasn't using ANY!! Everyone was singing in their spirits to God and I fell on my knees...The tears wouldn't stop and I knew I would have to let them go because god was washing my soul from years of deception of who He is and His unconditional love for me!! I joined in the worship and knew that being in God's presence was all I wanted....
My daughter was born in that town, that church became her 2nd home and she sang her own melodies. "This is the day the Lord has made" became her favorite song everywhere we went. I understood her words, not everyone else did!! That experience, living there for several years, finding God and letting go of religion gave me strenth for all the hardships that came later.

I believe there are two forces working in this world. Good and evil. Evil does not want us to know our Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior. He will allow a little truth but much deception is better. Our journey as a family had me praying against the dark forces that wanted to divide and destroy my family. We met James Spencer, ex mormon bishop/leader. he told us his testimony and how much he wanted us students and congregation to be open to witness to mormons and churches that were deceived. My catholic upbringing had some truths but was dead, no life, no Spirit there, and no life changing power!! I vowed in my heart that I would be open to helping any mormon/exmormon find the true Christ, if they would listen!! James has a book on line that is a must read. It is funny, enlightening and you can't put it down.