Nicaragua Journal Entry #1... Travel Day

Left at 6am to depart for Nicaragua.  Very painful good-bye with Rylan.  He was so very sad, which broke my heart!  Mom and Bill were at the church to see us off too.  Mom and Jeff had tears which made it even more difficult.  My heart is so very heavy for Rylan.  I've never seen that kind of sadness from him before :(

Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Nicaragua Family Team

Now awaiting our flight.  Been waiting a long time!  The boys have been very patient waiting for their first airplane ride.  We are a bit anxious about the flight because our seats are not together.  The boys are very nervous.  We're being put to the test!

While emotions are high, we opened our ENGAGE partners, Jim and Becky Cates, daily encouragements.  They were perfect!!!  All about Trust!  "When I am afraid, I will trust in you."  Psalm 56:3... I am now wearing the trust bracelet as an amazing reminder and encouragement :)  Thank you Becky for blessing us from afar!  The boys are wearing their necklaces... so cool!

It was difficult but we were able to sit together!!!  Grateful for that answered prayer!  Due to mechanical issues, our flight was considerably delayed.  Therefore, we missed our second flight... ugh!!!  We waited at the rescheduling booth for over 2 hours in Miami to get 26 new seats on a flight for tomorrow along with hotel and food vouchers for all 26 of us!  Got our vouchers at 10:30pm.  Everyone is SO hungry and tired.  We grabbed dinner and took a shuttle to a Comfort Inn and Suites.  It once again, took forever!!!  We got to our room at 11:45pm.  This has certainly been a LONG day...

Surviving at the airport!

Waiting for our hotel key!

Although this was a difficult day, I believe it unified us as a team!  We are ready to impact many lives this week... we are strong and courageous!!!

Prayer Requests :)

The packing is complete!  It took a lot of rearranging for all of our suitcases to weigh less than 50 pounds!!!  Our luggage is on the bus and ready for departure at 6am tomorrow morning.

At this very moment I am filled with so many emotions... enthusiasm, fear, giddiness, anxiousness, joy, sadness (leaving hubby and Rylan), and yet feeling blessed with calmness and peace.  We have seen God's mighty hands in our preparations for this trip.  I am certain that this is what and where he has called me and my boys to embark on.  I am honored to have this opportunity and I can't wait to love on the people in Nicaragua.  As with any work on the mission field, there comes some fears.  If we are not willing to experience some fear in life, then we won't have the opportunity to feel the exhilaration of true joy!  For all of my prayer pals out there, will you join me in prayer this week?  I am praying that the Lord would plant the Holy Spirt deep into the souls of our mission team so that we might impact the world for the good of Him!  More specifically, my prayers are...
Braydon - A physical prayer for Braydon is to not get sick during travel.  He gets motion sick very easily.  I have Dramamine packed and ready for the drive and on the plane.  Spiritually, I pray that his heart will be transformed from a "me" perspective to a bigger picture.  That he would be able to love on this community as willingly and easily as he does on children here in our own community!  My biggest prayer is that Braydon sees Jesus in everything we do!  That he grows closer in his personal relationship with Him.  That when he returns, he will shine God's light in middle school!

Bryce - That he would come home and not be so concerned about what we have/don't have.  That he would be impacted by the poverty of what we see and that his view changes on materialism.  I pray that he will be able to overcome any fears that he may have during this adventure.  He's my anxious one :)  I'm concerned about his tummy.  He has a weak stomach and the food concerns me as well.  He's not one to be outdoors due to extreme allergies.  The allergist stated that it will be tough for him in this environment... prayers that he physically feels well enough and sustains the stamina to keep going each day.  Lastly, I pray that his relationship with Jesus will also deepen during our time away.  I hope that he bonds well with Wilberth, our sponsored child, and begins passionately praying for this young boy.  My greatest desire is that Bryce would grow deeper in his faith journey.

Shandra - Where do I begin?  Ha!!!  I am praying that first and foremost, I relax and enjoy loving on the people in Nicaragua.  That everything I do there is kept in line with what Jesus has in store for me!  This is for Him, not me!  I'm praying for stamina during the heat... I don't like being hot!  When I get super hot and am in the sun for great lengths, I get extreme migraines that make me nonfunctionable!!!  I'm praying that I can lead well... with a constant smile and nurturing spirit for our team... I tend to get frustrated when things don't go according to plan and I understand that flexibility is key but when I'm hot and tired, my smile tends to drift... praying that the Lord intervenes and gives me more strength and patience than I even knew possible!!!!  I get tired very easily due to my thyroid and I am praying for the Lord to shower me with much energy!!!  I'm a pretty fickle eater... praying that I can eat with a thankful heart!  Emotionally, I am going to need lifted often that my spirits stay strong during the heart ache of leaving my husband and youngest at home.  I've been gone so much lately as it is that I am already missing them terribly!  And to know that I won't have much contact with them while I'm gone is difficult to think about.  On top of that, I need to be lifted to stay emotionally strong for my two boys that will be with me.  Without having my husband to help lead the way for my boys, I need to stay strong for them.  I pray that I can be a Godly example for my own children!  

Of course, safety for all three of us is heavy on my heart as well!  

I leave tonight with this planted on my heart...

Matthew 25: 34-40

³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’


³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’


⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

An Upcoming Adventure!

While in Cincy last weekend, I worshipped with my Aunt and Uncle at their church.  I'm certain that it was no coincidence that I was meant to hear that sermon!  It was titled... Adventure!  The sermon took us to an amazing adventure in the Bible with Cornelius and Peter in Acts 10.  Cornelius wasn't a believer in Christ, but he was seeking God and was reverent and generous.  Therefore, God sent Peter to tell Cornelius about Christ.  During this adventure Peter was called to the table with Cornelius.  According to Jewish law, certain foods were forbidden to be eaten.  The food laws made it difficult for Jews to eat with Gentiles without risking defilement.  In fact, the Gentiles were often seen as "unclean."   Peter had a vision that meant he should not look upon the Gentiles as inferior people whom God would not redeem.  Before having the vision, Peter would have thought that a Gentile Roman officer could not accept Christ.  Afterwards he understood that it was his responsibility to go into a Gentile home and tell Cornelius the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ!

Like any great adventure story, there is always conflict just around the corner.  When Peter brought the news of Cornelius' conversion back to Jerusalem, the disciples were shocked that Peter had eaten with the Gentiles.  Can you imagine the reaction... "What in the world has Peter done now?" "What trouble has Peter generated for us?" "Who does Peter think he is?"  Moving into Acts 11, we see that even the disciples couldn't believe Peter would gather with the Gentiles.  These were people that had walked with Jesus!  However, once Peter began to explain, the Holy Spirit took root.  When they heard his story, they too believed that even those impure, unclean, contaminated people could come to Christ and be saved!

As I thought about my upcoming trip to Nicaragua, these were the words that were pressed on my heart during the message...
Peter's dream was inviting him, challenging him, to be different.  God was asking Peter to move from comfortable to courageous.
When we go out of our comfort zone, it can be exhilarating!  If we are not willing to experience some fear in life, then we won't have the opportunity to feel the exhilaration and joy!  
If we always choose to stay in the safety mode in life, we'll never experience what it's like to live an adventure.    
We need to be willing to take the seeds that the adventure provides for us and be willing to allow God to use them deep in our hearts to help them begin to grow our character... to change our lives for the better, to look more like Him!
We love adventure stories because an ordinary person is willing to step outside their comfort zones, strap into the ride of his/her life, somehow through all of that, the world becomes a better place!!!

The sermon concluded with these questions...
Who in your world is that unwanted, impure, or unclean person or people group?
Who in your world is God calling you to pray about, to think differently about?
What adventure is God asking you to go on?
Will you step out?  
Will you take a risk?  
Will you move from your comfort zone to see what God wants to do in your life?


Wow!  The Lord is preparing me to head off to the mission field!  For those of you that don't know, I am co-leading our first FAMILY Missions Team to Nicaragua from August 4-11th.  Braydon and Bryce will be going with me to serve in the community of El Pourvenir, and yes, they were sitting next to me during this sermon!  The exciting part is that we will be meeting our sponsored child, Wilberth!  As the date is nearing, I have many emotions... yet I am so confirmed that I am doing exactly what the Lord has called me to do!

We would greatly appreciate your prayers during our ADVENTURE!  If you are willing, please pray that we would be willing to step out of our comfort zone and into the adventure that He has waiting for us.  That He would plant the Holy Spirit deep into our souls so that we might continue to change and impact this community for the good of Him!  Thank You!!!

We are also seeking financial support to take the three of us out of the country.  If you feel it on your heart to support us, please send donations to...
Emmanuel Community Church
c/o Shandra Hathaway
12222 West Jefferson Blvd.
Fort Wayne, IN  46814

We'll keep everyone posted along our ADVENTURE...

Summer Schedule!

It's summer time!!!  And that means that the summer calendars have started for the Hathaway Family!  For the past three summers, I have been very intentional about my time together with my kiddos.  This year will be a bit different for my boys because they will be with a "sitter of very mature boys" three days a week.  I am not rigid about these calendars... they are just ideas if needed each day.  Some days we'll do them, some we won't.  I have had many friends ask for a copy of the calendars.  So, I tried to download the calendar documents onto this blog.  After several hours and lots of frustration... technology beat me to a pulp and I gave up.  If you are interested in a copy, send me your email and I'll get it to you.  Although it isn't the calendars, I did make a list of all the websites for the activities below.  Here you go friends... Enjoy!!!

FREE Kid Movies at Foellinger
http://www.fortwayneparks.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=117&Itemid=182

Rave FREE movies
http://www.ravecinemas.com/ffff_2012.aspx

Kids Bowl Free all summer (ProBowl West - 2 free games a day!)
http://www.kidsbowlfree.com/

FREE Summer Activities at the Aboite and Main Library
http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/kids/pdf/Programs2012.pdf
http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/kids/pdf/SRP%202012%20Prgms%20by%20PlaceDate.pdf

Lowe's Build and Grow FREE Saturday Workshops
http://stayathomemoms.about.com/od/activitiesandfun/p/lowes-build-and-grow-workshops.htm

Behind the Scenes Day at the Embassy Theatre
http://www.fwembassytheatre.org/behind-the-screen.htm

Letterboxing... Treasure Hunt... oh so fun!!!
http://treasuringtimetogether.blogspot.com/2011/05/letterboxing.html

List of Farms around IN to pick different berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, apples, etc)
http://www.pickyourown.org/index.htm#states

Reading Log from Barnes and Noble (earn a free book)
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/summer-reading/379003570

Buckner Park - Playground and Splashpads
http://www.fortwayneparks.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=293%3Abuckner-park&catid=38&Itemid=33

Fox Island Summer Pass (swimming at the lake, hiking, environmental center)
http://allencountyparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/annpassbrochure2.pdf

Fox Island Day Camp
June 25 -29  Fish ‘N Fun Camp
Rig a fishing pole, catch bait, learn to canoe, fish, net a tadpole, frog or turtle along with other fun stuff at this camp!!   http://allencountyparks.org/programs-day-camps/summer-day-camps-2012/   

Camp Michindoh... Church Camp
http://www.michindoh.com/program2.htm

Three Rivers Festival Activities

http://threeriversfestival.org/index.php/events

Fort Wayne Museum of Art - FREE admission on Sunday and Thursday's

http://www.fwmoa.org/

Zoo Membership
http://www.kidszoo.org/informat.htm

Fort Wayne Firefighter's Museum... my boys LOVE this museum... stop by sometime while you are at the downtown library... it is right next door :)
http://www.fortwaynefiremuseum.com/

Preparing for the Last Day

My life keeps moving faster, stealing precious days that pass.  I want to hold on longer, I want to recognize your lasts...Let me hold on longer, God, to every precious last.   Karen Kingsbury

The year went by so very quickly.  I will send my children off today as a kindergartner, third grader, and fifth grader.  They will return home as a first grader, fourth grader, and MIDDLE SCHOOLER!!!  I plan to savor this last day of elementary school with Braydon.

I am so very grateful for all the teachers at Haverhill that worked so hard to make the transition to their new school as smooth as possible.  I appreciate their investment in my children's emotional and academic being.  I put together some fun gifts for those special people today!

For the classroom teachers :)

For all the special area teachers that also poured into my boys this year!

I switched my day off this week so that I could be part of this day with my children.  I'm looking forward to taking them Subway for lunch and enjoying Zesto's after school with some close friends :)

Friends savor today!  Take time to celebrate and hold onto this day with your children!  As you look ahead and dream of days that haven't come to pass, don't miss today's sweet precious last!!!

Dinner Theater - Beauty and the Beast!

For fourteen years, I watched the fifth grade plays at school and felt such pride watching my previous students up on the stage performing!  It was always so wonderful to see how mature "my" kids had gotten  since kindergarten.  This year I wasn't the teacher in the audience, I was the mom and WOW, I am bursting with pride!  Where do I begin?!?!?!

Braydon has grown up so quickly this year.  For the past two months, he has set his own alarm and gotten up early every day on his own!!!  He gets dressed, makes his breakfast, and gathers his items needed for the day.  He has exhibited such grown up independence!  This in itself, makes me proud of him!

The past few weeks, I had been spending time at the school preparing all the props for the Beauty and the Beast production.  The first time that I saw Braydon on stage performing as Maurice, Belle's father, I was in awe.  He was really good, no bias here of course!!!  Seriously though, he spoke clearly and audibly.  He seemed very comfortable on the stage!

Then, tonight to see my young man in full costume, just made my hurt burst with joy!!  He had a large fan club in the audience.  Six grandparents, Brothers, Friends of the Family, and Neighbors.  I am so grateful for the people that poured into Braydon this evening.  What a special and beautiful night for him to remember :)

I must say, to see him dressed and act like a father, made my heart skip a beat!  I'm watching my son grow up very quickly but I'm SO very excited for him!!!  We embraced the dinner theater as a celebration of the elementary years!  His time is almost complete and I'm choosing to celebrate that with him!  He's ready to move on to bigger responsibilities, more independence, and freedom!

As proud as I am of Braydon's stage performance tonight, I was just as proud of his kind spirit that he exhibited.  On the way home he was telling me, in a matter of fact way, that he would be praying for a friend to feel better before the next performance on Thursday.  He shared with me their conversation and the words of encouragement that he spoke.  That's my boy!!!  Then, he was concerned about two adults and the words that were spoken between them... he was very concerned for the one adult.... again, his words were encouraging and so very grown up!  The conversation then lead to Braydon sharing that one of the cast members had messed up on one of the songs.  Braydon said that no one in the audience would have even known but the fifth graders knew because of how much they had memorized all the parts.  He said that this cast member was ready to cry but that the kids were building him up and he felt much better!  Lastly, Braydon thanks me for all the work I did with the props...  Braydon, I am SO VERY PROUD of the man you are becoming!  My heart is full... you've made me proud to be your mom!  I know that the Lord has great plans for you.  I am truly honored that He has allowed me to take the front seat in the journey.  I love you buddy!  I'm proud of you!  I believe in you always!

Maurice, Belle's Father
Beauty and the Beast 

Haverhill Elementary
Fifth Grade Dinner Theater

Reflections from Mother's Day in Kindergarten

I heard Rylan when he was waking up this morning and he was whispering to himself, "It's mommy day, It's mommy day!"  Then, my bedroom door swung open and my sweet little man came running in to announce that it was "Mommy's Day"!!!  He was so keyed up.  He got all dressed up for this special day!  My attire was complete when I put on a beautiful pin that Rylan made me last year in preschool :)

Upon arriving at school this afternoon, the moms were waiting outside the kindergarten room looking at the artwork.  The kids wrote about their moms and drew a picture.  I first looked at the pictures and picked out the one that I thought was Rylan's.  I knew it was his after I started reading!!!  Oh, how this made me smile!

The teacher had the kids come out in the hallway and walk us into the room!  Rylan held my hand and pulled out my chair for me... so sweet!  The kids sang us two Mother's Day songs...

Then, we were invited to enjoy a few snacks.  However, we were to be treated as queens and the children had to serve the mom's.  So, Rylan went off to gather my plate.  Again, so sweet!

While we were finishing up our food that the children had prepared for us, the teacher presented some awards.  Each mom was awarded a beautiful flower pen for what she does the best.  It was our turn... "Rylan's mom is the best at being a church teacher!"  Rylan was grinning from ear to ear... he was so very proud!

To top off the afternoon, we were given a Mother's Day gift... a Kindergarten handprint!  I LOVE this!!!  I made these for my kindergarteners and I was so very pleased to have one for my little man!  I will cherish it always :)

The day together was beautiful!  I awoke this morning with a prayer of great thanksgiving.  A year ago today, I had a sub filling in for me for the Mother's Day tea because I had taken a medical leave just two days prior.  The day after the tea party last year, Bryce was admitted to the hospital and Jeff was gone for six weeks due to business.  One year ago, I was suffering... I was weak... I was broken... Today, I am healed... I am strong... I am full of joy!!!!  The Lord stood by my side and held me up.  It took several months of pain and sadness but I can honestly say, a year later, I am grateful for the journey!  Seeing the big picture now of what God had planned during all of that pain, makes me smile!  I love sharing my testimony... I love where God has lead me... Yes, today was wonderful and beautiful!  I woke up today with a healthy family, a wonderful new career, and a stronger faith... Wow!

If you are struggling today, I pray that you reach for the Lord's hand... he will lead if you surrender.  It may not be the answer that you understand but take his lead, He WILL comfort you, He DOES love you...
Happy Mother's Day to all you wonderful mothers out there!